M.I.A.

I think it's time to put up a missing persons ad. After all, a certain Californian neglected her blog for the entire month of October. I would say she's been M.I.A., but missing in action does not seem like an appropriate description, I think.

Because, on the contrary, this Californian has been going back and forth between schools -- coaching students for speech contests and helping students prepare for university entrance exams -- getting involved in the community, and enduring the Halloween madness at schools. (As a cultural ambassador, I am strongly encouraged to teach about Halloween, and expected to be really excited about it. I decided to embrace it this year!) In addition to all of that, I've also been trying to study more Japanese. I started up lessons again. Currently, there's a battle dawning between my inner nerd and my gym rat tendencies. Don't feel sorry for me, though. I make the time to have a little fun here and there. ;)

So, ironic as it may be, I will apologize for being M.I.A. until someone comes up with a better acronym. I would do it, but as you've just read, I have bigger fish to fry. (As a vegetarian, can I even use that idiom?)

またね！