Blood type

In Asia, it is very common for people to ask you about your blood type. Like our astrology signs, blood type is an indicator of personality traits. According to what I've read, Type -O people are outgoing, expressive and passionate. Type-A are sensitive, introverted perfectionists, Type-B are independent spirits with strong personalities and type-AB are an unpredictable, distant bunch.

A recent Korean movie, titled "My Boyfriend is Type-B", is the story of a frustrated type-A woman who falls in love with the bad-boy type-B guy. The movie is a big hit. I'm type-A; luckily Dave is type-O.

Wrapping up

Cherry blossoms are done. It has been a beautiful week. A few days ago we watched the petals rain down like snow-- then in the afternoon it rained, so now the ground is blanketed. It was so pretty while it lasted. The best part is you can grab a bunch and throw it at each other ... like leaves ... only softer. I'm trying to remember what is blooming in May back home. I think I will get two Springs out of this year.

Been cooking a lot of dinners to thank people etc. Putting ribbons on our bottles of syrup and preparing for the omiyagi (gift giving).

Sony held a team base ball game -cook out afternoon in our honor. Speeches were made and they did Korean barbeque style cook out that culminated in gift giving. Good thing we brought that syrup.

Elections

It is election time in Isahaya. It seems to local and not national. The first thing we noticed were large, wooden boards with numbered squares placed in front of public buildings (schools, post office). Then very professionally-done posters, showing a head shot of the candidate, appeared on the squares.

For the last week or so, the candidates and their minions have been driving all around town in vans with loudspeakers mounted on top screaming their name and message. It seems that they have each been assigned a different fluorescent color to wear and they wave their arms and hankies out the window of the van. They start at 8:30 in the morning and seem to go until 8:30 at night. Dave said he wanted to register to vote in Japan just so he could not vote for the loudest of the bunch.

I've seen a few in their fluorescent wear standing on street corners bowing at each driver as they passed.

What I haven't seen are political ads on t.v., so even though we can't hit the mute button, it does seem less distracting and at least they're not bashing each other!