The Finger Game

   Japanese kids have a bunch of variants on rock-scissors-paper that they play, but they also have the finger game. The finger game is usually fast-paced and generally only ends when someone makes a dumb mistake because they were trying to hurry. You see, it involves very basic math: addition and subtraction.

   The setup is pretty simple; two people play and decide who goes first. Then both players stick out their index fingers. The game itself is also pretty simple -- you reach out and touch the opponent's hand with your hand and they add the number of fingers you have stuck out.

   So if you have one finger stuck out and tap a hand that has two, that person sticks out one more finger for a total of three. If you have three fingers stuck out and tap a hand that has three, that person goes down to one finger, because six minus five (the maximum number of fingers normal people have) is one. If you have two fingers stuck out and tap a hand that has three, that makes a total of five, and that hand is "out." You win the game by getting both of a player's hands "out."

   Additionally, since you have two hands, you can swap fingers between them. So if you have four fingers out on one hand and your other hand is out, then you can tap them and give them both two fingers, or give one three and the other one. The thing to consider is how many fingers your opponent has out on each hand -- if they have three fingers out on one, then going two and two isn't the best idea since they'll immediately knock one of your hands out, even though you can knock that three hand out.

   It sounds confusing when described like this, but it's really pretty simple.

   Does this game exist in America?

Neglect

   I've been neglecting a lot of things lately, mostly due to work. I haven't been taking pictures (though I tried -- more on that later), updated my resume, exercised/worked out, cooked, worked on the proofing company idea with rav, or punched up my blog's layout. What I have been doing is a lot of work and kendo followed by vegging out and not sleeping well.

   Read on!

First Elementary School Day

   I was a bit nervous today because it was my first day at the new school. I woke up around 8, which was fine, since my elementary days start at 10 for some strange reason. It means I miss the first two class periods of the day, which is inconvenient since it makes my schedule less flexible -- there are only six periods in a day and I'm only there for four of them.

   Since I have five classes to teach, that means that one class gets left out and the schedule gets lopsided as I skip between the two.

   Not much I can do about it, though.

   I left the apartment at 9:30 since I didn't know how long it would take me to get to the school. Since it wasn't cloudy, aside from some general light cover, I took my camera with me to get some pictures on the way down the mountainside. Yes, pictures for you, faithful reader.

   Read on!

School Introductions

   I haven't slept well for a single night since I moved here and it's been frustrating me, especially since I can't figure out why. It's not doing my mood any good that I'm always tired, either. It could be the light streaming in through the giant glass doors right next to my pillows -- if it is that, I need to get ANOTHER expensive curtain because the one I bought just isn't up to the job. I guess I can't just get by with only one layer of fabric.

   Another thing it could be is the neighbors; they tend to bang around a lot from five to six -- if that's what it is, I can just try going to bed earlier. I tried a few nights ago and woke up around three in the morning, though, so I don't know if that's it. I kind of wish it were that simple so I could just fix it, because I'm really tired in general; I just feel like I need one good night's sleep to get my mood back on track.

   Yesterday was probably the most eventful day I've had here since I moved, and I was actually kind of excited about it. Was.

   Read on!