I hadnt realized it had been so long since I posted the last update. I guess life here has been pretty busy. Its easy to see how Americans get sucked into life here in the states and dont have time to travel or do other things. Between trying to afford the cost of living and all the things that are on offer in your spare time, there isnt enough time in the day to do everything here let alone save to go other places to play.
Since I have been here I have only been in the water twice, snorkeling and surfing once each. Time has been really hectic. As soon as I get settled or find some kind of routine it has been disrupted and thrown out of whack. I stayed a month in the hotel in Waikiki, then found a house with some pretty cool roommates. However, after settling in, we were notified that the landlord was taking possession of the house at the end of the lease (end of March) for some family relation and we were given 20 days to find a new place to live. This sent us scrambling since every other real estate agent said they should have given at least 30-45 and we assumed the same so expected the lease to roll month to month. Anyway, a couple weeks of constant house searching, a few hopes dashed from early rejections and we finally got a real nice place. Well not yet, going to sign papers tomorrow, but it should be all done, finally.
Also sold the car and bought a 2000 GSXR-600 Suzuki. Passed my motorcycle license test for the first time, only took 3 tries. Guess you really should real the manual. And have been spending some time bringing the bike back to form. Overall it runs pretty well. There is a rattle that I cant figure out, hoping its the cam chain or tensioner, but going to take it for a safety inspection on Monday and hoping to finally get the registration sorted. Spent the better part of an hour trying to change the rear brake pads today, but can get the damn pins out of the caliper so I am going to have to leave that to the shop on Monday as well. So defeating to go in and hand them the parts and tell them that I couldnt do it. But, I dont want to waste any more time on that damn caliper.
Work has been going well. Now that I am into the flow planning classes is really easy. I have been making the morning run to Starbucks to get breakfast and plan class. The coffee situation is pretty strange in the house. A combination of make shift coffee makers and dangerous grinders. I ordered new stuff but it is still in the mail. Once that is here it should be much better and can breakfast at home in the new place instead of at the school.
Since I got the motorcycle I have not ridden my bike. Between the house hunting, running the half marathon, and going to kickboxing I am pretty run down. Add to that the new class semester for the masters program and a few other things on the side and I dont have much left.
I have been offered to take part in a smoker (amateur kickboxing event) in April and hopefully will be able to fight in that. I really wanted to go to boxing today, but just am feeling really run down and want to try and rest. Tomorrow may be the first day that I can sleep in in a while.
Also started teaching my first Muay Thai student. So now I also am doing private MT lessons, twice a week. Maybe can get lucky and pick up a few more students, it would be pretty cool to be able to make some nice cash working in the gym.
What else can I update... My roommates are pretty cool and the house seems to have a really good vibe to it. I am looking forward to the new house a lot. One it has an amazing view, and two I am looking forward to having a place that I can feel is my house instead of living in a room in someone else's house. One roommate is very into her garden and plants. A nice stream of fresh lettuce, herbs, and other vegetables are always around the kitchen. While the other has more energy than a sane person should and is entirely too happy. But together the house is nice. Its really good not having a TV in the house but instead having things centered around the foosball table. somehow I become one of the better players in the house and the group. Could only imagine if I was still playing at the level I was when i was living, i mean often at, the stadium playing for drinks.
Beyond that I just need to find some Chinese people to hang out with occasionally so I can keep my Chinese up. I have been meeting with a tutor, but really need some more regular conversation. Our new house is next to the University, so I am thinking of going by and trying to see if I can do some work with overseas students. Maybe tour guide or just English/Chinese conversation partners.
Thats enough for now, Ill try to get back into a more regular spread once we get settled into the new house.
Since I have been here I have only been in the water twice, snorkeling and surfing once each. Time has been really hectic. As soon as I get settled or find some kind of routine it has been disrupted and thrown out of whack. I stayed a month in the hotel in Waikiki, then found a house with some pretty cool roommates. However, after settling in, we were notified that the landlord was taking possession of the house at the end of the lease (end of March) for some family relation and we were given 20 days to find a new place to live. This sent us scrambling since every other real estate agent said they should have given at least 30-45 and we assumed the same so expected the lease to roll month to month. Anyway, a couple weeks of constant house searching, a few hopes dashed from early rejections and we finally got a real nice place. Well not yet, going to sign papers tomorrow, but it should be all done, finally.
Also sold the car and bought a 2000 GSXR-600 Suzuki. Passed my motorcycle license test for the first time, only took 3 tries. Guess you really should real the manual. And have been spending some time bringing the bike back to form. Overall it runs pretty well. There is a rattle that I cant figure out, hoping its the cam chain or tensioner, but going to take it for a safety inspection on Monday and hoping to finally get the registration sorted. Spent the better part of an hour trying to change the rear brake pads today, but can get the damn pins out of the caliper so I am going to have to leave that to the shop on Monday as well. So defeating to go in and hand them the parts and tell them that I couldnt do it. But, I dont want to waste any more time on that damn caliper.
Work has been going well. Now that I am into the flow planning classes is really easy. I have been making the morning run to Starbucks to get breakfast and plan class. The coffee situation is pretty strange in the house. A combination of make shift coffee makers and dangerous grinders. I ordered new stuff but it is still in the mail. Once that is here it should be much better and can breakfast at home in the new place instead of at the school.
Since I got the motorcycle I have not ridden my bike. Between the house hunting, running the half marathon, and going to kickboxing I am pretty run down. Add to that the new class semester for the masters program and a few other things on the side and I dont have much left.
I have been offered to take part in a smoker (amateur kickboxing event) in April and hopefully will be able to fight in that. I really wanted to go to boxing today, but just am feeling really run down and want to try and rest. Tomorrow may be the first day that I can sleep in in a while.
Also started teaching my first Muay Thai student. So now I also am doing private MT lessons, twice a week. Maybe can get lucky and pick up a few more students, it would be pretty cool to be able to make some nice cash working in the gym.
What else can I update... My roommates are pretty cool and the house seems to have a really good vibe to it. I am looking forward to the new house a lot. One it has an amazing view, and two I am looking forward to having a place that I can feel is my house instead of living in a room in someone else's house. One roommate is very into her garden and plants. A nice stream of fresh lettuce, herbs, and other vegetables are always around the kitchen. While the other has more energy than a sane person should and is entirely too happy. But together the house is nice. Its really good not having a TV in the house but instead having things centered around the foosball table. somehow I become one of the better players in the house and the group. Could only imagine if I was still playing at the level I was when i was living, i mean often at, the stadium playing for drinks.
Beyond that I just need to find some Chinese people to hang out with occasionally so I can keep my Chinese up. I have been meeting with a tutor, but really need some more regular conversation. Our new house is next to the University, so I am thinking of going by and trying to see if I can do some work with overseas students. Maybe tour guide or just English/Chinese conversation partners.
Thats enough for now, Ill try to get back into a more regular spread once we get settled into the new house.
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