Nothing to talk about but the weather

I have experienced a few firsts in regards to weather since coming to Japan that were exciting for me...

Earthquakes

Having lived in Southern California for most of my life, I am used to earthquakes. However, Japan provided a new experience for me. About two weeks after I arrived here, we had a series of earthquakes in Beppu. They averaged about one per hour for about three days straight. It was bitchin'! The strongest ones were around 5.2 or 5.3 I think. Some of you may think I am crazy, but I thought it was a lot of fun.

Typhoon

About two weeks ago, I had plans to go to Fukuoka and Oita. However, those plans were canceled due to a little nuisance called a typhoon. California doesn't get typhoons or hurricanes or anything like that; so, this was a very new experience for me. Essentially, there is a ton of rain and the wind's speed can reach some pretty incredible highs. Most local transportation was canceled because of that. So, my friends and I basically spent the weekend watching movies and drinking together and that sort of thing. It was an interesting experience, though.

A funny side note...

That week, we were studying how to express desire in the Japanese language ("I hope that ... "). One of the exercises in the book, coincidentally enough, was to translate...

"(Because) I forgot my homework. I hope that a typhoon comes and there is no class today."

Some pictures of the calm after the storm...