Last day of printmaking class

It was chaos!!!
Not for me personally, I had all my own work finished and ready to submit to the professor.
Some of the beginning students were not as lucky. I had to help and comfort several… So many tears! I think the pressure is too much for some of them.

The professor isn’t a monster. ( Well, she did continue to scold Annie even after she began to cry…) Perhaps they have reasons to fear the professor… Anyway, she won’t eat them if everything is not perfect! This lady is my favorite professor! I’ve never feared her, but she has made me very angry before.

There’s a great deal of talent in that class. However, most them don’t have enough confidence. I won’t be there every time to rub their shoulders, tell them how much they’ve improve, and that I’m proud of them.

Here’s a desperate text message I received from a student who was late.

She needed me to help her create a portfolio from paper and ribbon.
She was so worried I would be disappointed because she was late.

What’s going on? I’m not the teacher!! Please don’t apologize to be me! I never judge or think badly of these ‘kids’.

Book binding – Making books by hand

Book binding isn’t too far away from printmaking.

Deckled edged book

Same papers, tools, glues, and tape. Same skills needed! My favorite professor has taught me in her free time!

I’ve gathered together my leftover paper for class, and bargained for more from other students! So, the paper is all different sizes and some of it doesn’t match. Eco-friendly, though!

I’m trying my best to make it look professional…. I’ve kept the deckled edges because they are so lovely.

It’s difficult, but fun!

Trim paper to fit and bind them together with post screws.

Score and fold the pages at the spine so that the pages turn properly.

Put in whatever you like!

Using my iPhone in Japan

So..

I’ve been chatting with an international rep for AT&T about the best plans for using my phone in Japan.

I’m now signed up for AT&T World Traveler Service.

I can call to any US number as normal, and call any Japanese phone number after adding the country code. These calls while I’m in Japan will cost me $1.69 per minute. It’s too expensive to chat mindlessly, but it will be handy to have. Especially while I go shopping or sight-seeing alone or get lost… you know. “お姉さん…. ヘルプに迷ってしまいました!”

What am I saying! If I do that, Nao-chan will beat me with a futon stick! I’m sorry Americans are so troublesome and are lost easily!

AND! About the data package!

I’m going to tough it out on wi-fi alone. The international data plan is way too expensive. Robbery, really! I won’t get it, even if I know I’ll be miserable. Being able to surf the web anytime and anywhere has been very addictive.

Weekend wrap-up

This weekend, I got to play with Pandora and drink my favorite beer.
In other news, Anna was a brat!

Local shop

On the other side of town, there’s a comic shop called Great Escape.
They have a great deal of second-hand goods. Books, records, action figures, etc.
I like it there!