November 26, 2005 will always be remembered as the day Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released...in Japan...for as long as Harry Potter is popular... or maybe just as long as the movie is out. Anyway, movie review time!

I have to say that of all the books, this is probably the most gripping. The one where the climax comes to a head and suddenly the stakes are high and everything is bad. This is one where Harry has to deal with death head on. This is the one where Hermione goes on her rampage for the house elves.The one where the kids discover the opposite sex as more than just a playmate. Where Hermione is starting to notice and be noticed.

And the movie unfortunately, did very little justice to the books. Now I know what everyone's thinking, "Of course the books are better! That's always the case!" Maybe so, but usually I can separate the two enough to watch the movie on its own merit.

And I have to say that the effects were great. What the did, they did really well. I liked the dragon (did anyone notice that they only showed one?), I liked the special effects, damn those kids have grown up! But honestly folks, if you haven't read the book, the movie is going to make so little sense. It seemed like the screenwriter litterally read the book and then took scenes out from it and put those into the movie. Without the middle continuity bit.

Scenes jumped all over the place with no development. The pacing was too fast. So fast in fact, that sometimes the dialogue raced through and noone could understand each other. For example, in the book, Draco tried cursing Harry Potter with an Unforgivable Curse which Mad-Eye Moody (who was done really well in the movie) intervened. But in the movie, the scene happens so fast that you can't catch what Draco is saying. The timing is expertly rehearsed so as to rush the action.

Ron's animosity towards Harry, while understood in the book, doesn't make much sense in the movie. Suddenly he's mad because Harry didn't tell him a secret plan? In the book, it was much more developed.

Some of the changes I did like. I like how Neville is no longer this massive dunderhead. You actually start to see some heroics from the boy which will play out as the story goes. I like that he gives Harry the Gillyweed, except Neville was never one to steal anything, much less from Snape.

But I can go on for hours taling about what I wanted more of, so I'm going to close with this final comment. I hope that there is an extended edition of this movie.

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Over those two days, all the JETs in Shizuoka prefecture (my state) had a conference, mainly designed for the newbies but with the veterans presenting topics. Last year when I went, I remember thinking many times, "I wish they had told me this during the orientation." Almost every second year and third year JET has to present a topic. Mine was ways to involve a non JTE (Japanese Teacher of English). If this doesn't make sense, don't worry. It's more stuff that has to do with my work and not anyone else's. Basically, even within the JET community, my job and all the Hamamatsu Board of Education teachers (junior high in the city), are differenceso these seminars generally don't help as much. But this time, it was good. They separated us from the rest of the JET community and we talked about our own issues. Worthwhile.

But because it was busy as everything, I missed an American holiday, Thanksgiving! I forgot to call back home because the day didn't mean much around here. D'oh! Sorry Mom and Dad! Sorry Sajo! Sorry Family!

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"It really ties the room together." --from The Big Lebowski. Even Tiffany remarked that my Corridor no longer feels so cramped. It actually feels like a place in which somebody COULD live. Of course, the Corridor hasn't changed size (although THAT would be awesome), and Tiffany wasn't even talking about the new Transformer additions (Skids and BroadBlast, pictures soon), but rather, she was talking about a small kidney shaped table that I recently acquired through a game of chance. Actually, I picked it up at a Recycle Center.

The Japanese have a tendency for new things. Always new. But rather than destroy the old, they donate or sell (I'm not quite sure which) to these stores that clean them up and resell for much cheaper. Kinda like a national garage sale. Normally, I wouldn't buy anything from them either (you never can tell quality, can you?) but near Tiffany's place is a really nice Recycle store. It's where she found her vanity mirrow desk!

So she saw and pointed out to me this little desk, maybe a foot off the gound, and definitely kidney bean shaped. But also in masculine black and nor pink or any other horrendous color. And the best part: It only cost 500 yen! And it looks decent. Now the table that supported my computer is no longer necessary, I have reintegrated a television into my apartment. Ugh. Fortunately, I can't watch anything anything (no connection), but I think I'll hook up an XBOX 360. Soon, I'll put in pictures of the new Comfortable Corridor, with the new washer and the new bed!. Wow. So much new furniture. One would think I'm staying for a little while!

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Wow! Who could have EVER thought that it's been a whole year! 12 months this month, 365 days this day. And I have to say a big Thank You to you, my patient, bright, incredible audience who have made this site what it is...which isn't much, I agree. But just think. One year ago on this day, you saw the first page EVER published on GuruSugu.com. Impressive, isn't it? Those who have been with me the whole time may not remember the changes over the year. The rapid development. Many of you probably don't even remember the sleepless nights, the tears, and the anxiety, all just to give you a better product.

But it's here now. One year down and counting! Does anybody remember the very first story I ever published on here? The story that started it all? This is it. So different. It brings a tear to my eye to remember how the website first started, to remember how slow it was. How plain, how average, how bland it was. [tear] (for those who think it's still bland, don't say anything!)

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So, for the past year, if you remember, I had a bed frame which made me very lucky among the other JETs. Most people had only their futon which they laid on the floor and slept. This is the traditional (more or less) way of sleeping in Japan. So my frame was actually awesome in a few ways. One, I had storage space under my bed. Two, the frame was mostly metal wires, which allowed for air to flow through, which in turn meant I didn't actually need to air out my mattress as most other JETs do. Because I have free flowing air, then, the mold would not grow (I reasoned). However, after three years of guys living there (at least), most of the thick wire frame snapped, making the bed rather uncomfortable to say the least. I could feel the spokes under the mattress. However, as bad as it might have been, it wasn't THAT bad. Until I fell ill.

At that point, the bed was so unbearable, sleeping on the floor was the only other option. It was thus time to buy the bed that I have so jealously wanted. On Sunday, Tiffany and I picked it up. The lady asked if we had a car, and we said no. She asked how we were going to take it, and we wondered that too. It came with wheels, but when you buy new furniture, it doesn't come assembled. I asked if we could put it together in the store and wheel it out, she said no. Oh-kay. Tiffany talked about our options.

It was clearly too big to just carry it back. We could call a taxi. We could have it delivered, but it would get home on Tuesday, a day that I have choir. Most of our friends didn't have cars, so we couldn't ask them. The ones that DID were not around. Well, I guess that meant delivery was the only way to go. So the lady carried it outside on her cart for us and we were ready for our long walk. Confused yet? Don't worry because so was the lady. And so were we. We decided ultimately (after telling her we would have it delivered) to try and carry it. It couldn't have been THAT heavy.

It was. Pushing it on the road wore away much of the cardboard box and the metal frame started scraping. But four of my students were on their bikes, just hanging out (going to Mister Donut) and they noticed Tiffany and I obviously struggling with the box. They heard my cough (since I had missed school all this week for being sick) and they offered to carry it for me. I refused, saying that we were all right, but they wouldn't listen to me. Lovely Japanese hospitality (for the country, not their homes, of course). They picked it up and together we all carried it back close to my place. Many times I said we were all right from here, and thank you for all your help. But they just looked at me coughing and said that it was not all right that Tiffany and I carry it alone. They never put it down until we got really close to my place. Every time they asked how much further, I said about five minutes, which is TRUE...if you aren't carrying a huge bed. They were laughing about it, though, saying everywhere is five minutes away!

I still am not too comfortable with students knowing exactly where I live, so I had them drop it off a block away. But they were a lifesaver. Interestingly enough, I tried to give them money for their help (American custom), but they absolutely refused it (Japanese custom). They told me instead to speak to the Principal of the school and tell him what happened. Put in a good word for them. Which I will do tomorrow. I tried pushing the money on them, they refused, saying that if their homeroom teacher found out about the money, they would be smacked upside the head. I told them I wouldn't tell a soul, and they still refused. Wow! How's that for the Japanese courtesy? We had carried that thing for about a half hour. A walk that usually takes between ten and fifteen minutes. Yikes.

But the bed is so great! It's so comfortable! And it converts! So when I have the occasional guest over (since my Corridor is so small, I can't ever have a party there) I can remove the bed and turn it into a couch! Wow! One night in it and it's awesome!

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In Japan, the custom is to work until you are on your death bed. A concept I sort of agree with. However, they take it too far. The schools do not employ a substitute teacher system, so when one teacher doesn't show up for work, those classes are taken by another teacher to sit in. If there are handouts or grades or something of relevance, all is well. But for my class, there can be no other teacher except me. For more of what I do, check out the Careers Section here. Basically though, I teach English conversation, not English. For some crazy reason, the Japanese have seen fit to separate English language into two parts and so I take on the speaking and listening part. So if I get sick, the students don't have English Conversation at all, and their homeroom teacher gets another class with them.

Another thing too is that the only way to take a sick day is with doctor's approval. This means no more self-diagnosis, a common feature of the American work environment. If you call in sick, you have to go to a doctor if you are going to take a sick day. Otherwise, it stays a vacation day.

Well, unfortunately, I fell ill this week and I was gone for most of it. Monday, I woke up feeling like hell, so I called in sick and went to the doctor. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I was on the meds he gave me (a patch that was supposed to help bronchial problems, and about a dozen horse tranquilizer size pills, including antibiotics. Why?!). But On Friday, feeling incredibly guilty about missing so much, I stumbled out of bed and made it to school. The teachers took a look at me, and said after your class, go home and take care of yourself. Cool. At least, it's nice when the Japanese tell me to take it easy. Of course, that must mean I looked worse. I certainly felt worse. But oh well. I'll get better eventually.

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