Updates with us…

October 25, 2006

Things are going very well here.  We’re both busy with work, preparing lessons, learning Japanese, and extras on the side. 

Hakim has been busy with all of his sports – volleyball, basketball, and judo.  He has also been studying for the GRE test that he’ll be taking in December.  Aside from all this, he’s also in the process of applying to grad schools, to the Charles B. Rangel Fellowship, and to the Pickering Fellowship.   Oh, and also, some time on the side is devoted to online poker (but now he  says he’s not playing anymore).   

I just had an MRI performed on my knee yesterday, and for now, they say they don’t need to operate, and I can also play sports and ride my bike again… unless I have another problem.  I’ve been sewing a little more lately.  Mostly on things around the house.  One good thing about being here is that I don’t have to hem my pants anymore!  I’m also studying the japanese characters – katakana and hiragana – more because I don’t have them all memorized just yet.  Hakim, on the other hand, has it all down. 

Lately, we’ve also been battling mosquitos.  Yes…. you heard me correctly – MOSQUITOS!   They somehow get into our apartment and love to feast on us - ME – at night.  In one night, I had a total of 12 bites all over me – 1 on my toe, 1 on my foot, 2 on my fingers, 2 on my hands, 3 on my eyelids, and 3 on my forehead!   Yes… they went for all the exposed body parts!  So, now we’re looking into getting some stuff from the store to keep them away.  I guess everyone has this thing that, they say, works.  The weather is now starting to get cooler so we’re hoping the mosquitos will die down too.

This Sunday we will be attending a Japanese cooking class.  We will learn to make sushi, yakisoba and miso soup!

And next month we will be taking a trip to Hong Kong and Australia.  We will be there from November 18th through the 27th.  I finally get to meet Auntie Beth, one of my dad’s sisters, who lives in Hong Kong.  This will be our first time visiting these two countries, so we’re psyched!  Hakim is already searching different companies for bungee jumping!  I MIGHT try it this time… I’m saying I will, but I don’t know if I’ll have the guts to when I see the drop.