Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kit Kat is part of my email address, I just stuck a ton of K related cat things in there though I guess. Kitty is in there too (and Kitty used to be one of my nicknames that started as a camp name).

Good luck getting everything together, traveler's checks will be good. That's what I had. My friends had a Travel-X (something like that) cash card, but they had problems with it, one hadn't approved her American card for use here so she could almost never use it, didn't have that much cash, and it was just a nightmare. I probably would never want to go to a foreign country only relying on a currency you have to hope a computer will read correctly. I no trust you computer!

That sounds like nice stuff, but will you be able to get the preserves there? Technically you aren't allowed to take fruit, however that doesn't mean you won't get away with it. I got mince pie by in my check in luggage (I think as you turn it in before going through security and don't have access to that for the duration of the flight they aren't as likely to scan it), it wasn't until I got off the plane and picked up my bag and went through it (mostly because I'm paranoid about my books actually, not to check to see if my stores were still there) and some security person took that as a sign I probably had something I shouldn't. She came over and asked if I had food, I said just chocolates. She was like any meats, fruits? I said no and she let me go, so she didn't even check. Which is good, because I lied! Also my mom mailed me an orange a few months ago, that was weird. xd I'm not sure if the fact that it is preserved makes a difference though. I mean basically the laws exist because of transporting foreign bacterias and insects (because after centuries of unknowingly and even intentionally doing this will really make up for it now), and if something is preserved properly that shouldn't be an issue.

Also haven't seen the new ep yet but watched the TF2 thing yesterday. It was kinda cute but ALL the dialogue was fast, and not knowing any of it it was kinda like, wtf, slow down I can't follow this unless I'm hyper concentrated. Which as I had been kinda multi-tasking getting ready for bed I was not. The voice that Jou had was smexy, the voice that Seto had was silly. However as now my only knowledge of the dialogue is from this clip, I can't really imagine a better voicing cast in terms of making that work. I mean in my head the voice Seto had has all the bad guy or other team dialogue, so while I don't think the voice is very Seto-ish, I can't say if I'd understand any logical recast based on what I have to go with. I think without knowing the series as far as voice acting goes it just comes down to hate that voice/love that voice. And pretty much hated most of the voices. Granted it was mostly Yuugi/Yami and Kaiba talking, and so other than remembering that the voice Jounouchi had was particularly nice, it's probably mainly those first few I attribute all voicing to. xd

Yea, pretty much any bank is going to take traveler's checks, at least in Europe, so I'm not sure what you're bankers are on about unless they were specifically talking about Japan. However electronically converting currency is a nightmare that I do not want to get stuck with. And the upside to checks is you can insure them so if they are lost/stolen you get all your money back. So they are as guaranteed to work as cash without the heavy theft/loss risks. I would say no offense to your bankers, but they are morons. Unless you are going to a country that does not have a bank (in which case you could probably leave your cash at home and bring some nice shinny pebbles to barter stressed ) you can find somewhere to cash them.

Well yea things are imported all the time. But by regulated and controlled companies, not by individual people. So yea, just warning you that they might stop you if they notice it. You could try crying again, by twenty something year olds tend not to be as sympathized with for tantrums, lol. Also international flights are more likely to make a bigger deal than a domestic flight. Hawaii is technically part of the US, so bringing something back and forth between there technically wouldn't be an export. But yea, totally lied. I wanted my pies! razz

Oh I thought the voice Kaiba had was not at all fitting, I just don't know game dialogue enough to know if there was a reason this was just the easiest way to put an episode together. Like maybe Spy has jerkish lines, but just not fitting to the context LK wanted. And I do like German accents, I'll go search a clip of medic sometime and compare. Sometime after I FINALLY watch the actual TAS episode, haha. Granted I feel no need to rush since sometimes LK will take months and months to update anyhow.

Hmm, I got checks at Wells Fargo less than a year ago, so not sure if that's just your branch or some recent policy. But yea I was just in a bank today trading in cash and they still have listed their buy rates for checks, so in England at least you can for sure still find a bank to cash checks. Most shops wouldn't take them, but (1) why would a shop take foreign currency (which is what a US check would be)? Especially when sell rates change everyday, they might lose money not knowing the correct transfer rate in that moment, and (2) a lot of stores don't take checks period anymore. You just can't guarantee them right away usually which is why stores are wary about them.

Sounds good.

Maybe LK just thinks Seto is a dork then? And Jounouchi is oh so suave, lol. Somehow considering how TAS casts them I highly doubt that, but ya never know. And medic has a nice voice, I like the one Jounouchi had better, but I also think because it's a younger sounding voice. I'm attracted to youth. xd

Hope it's just that branch, after my friends experience I'm not trusting a travel card and the international charges for using normal cards abroad are not fun.

Are you talking about character ages or voice actor ages? Cause I'm just talking about voice here, as that's the only criteria I have atm to really assess on. Although weirdly on actor age, was looking up The Big Bang Theory actors today, I knew they were older than what they were probably playing, but I didn't realize one of 'em is almost 40 (he's like 38 I think), and another is 35. The girl is around my age, and I already knew that (she'll be 26 in fall I think so she's about a year older) and the other two guys are about 30, but yea. Twas surprising (to me). razz

Sorry I have poofed, though unsure how often you are on here. I think you had updated on a Tuesday before leaving, so when I saw Tuesday again I did not check the date and am only just now realizing my mistake. Been a little busy with insanity lately anyhow I suppose. On the off chance you are on here before tomorrow, I'll try to get back to the rp tomorrow. Have been kinda ill, am totally exhausted, and it's going to take me awhile to reread and try and remember where I was going. xd

Glad you got the checks cashed though. How is Japan? Do you like it, are you having fun? Is the actual academic program nice? Cool people, good food, kit kats?! ETC ETC ETC! smile

As for characters...well, can't find ages on them all (mainly just voice actors), but as I was bored. Voice actor ages:
Engineer - 58 (59 in July)
Sniper - Around 59 (born 1952)
Medic has to be over 40.
Spy/Pyro has been acting for at least 20 years, and his first role is "executive #2" an adult role that makes him at least in his forties.
Soldier did his first voicing in 1997, he's thus at least in his thirties, though I'd guess older.
Heavy has been acting since 1979, adult roles (funny enough, like Spy/Pyro, his first role was #2 - but as a mechanic) so he's in his fifties at least.
Scouts first role was in 2004, he was at most in his twenties then I'd guess (based on the film being about the pitfalls of standard public school curriculum), so he's probably at most in his thirties now, though he could be younger.
Announcer is GLADos! Heh, she's only done voices, since 2004...so I suppose she could be between 20ish and a million.

So yup, Sniper, the voice I like, is verifiably aged. He also was originally a musician/instrumentalist/singer. Perhaps that is why he has such a lovely voice. razz Also, Medic is British. However he's proficient in over 60 dialects. Impressive Medic, very impressive. smile

Hey! In spite it seeming like I went poof (such as never getting back to the role play sweatdrop ) I have actually still checked this everyday. I've just been stressed, generally about life. I'm not inspired on my dissertation, and I feel like I'll never be able to fund a PhD and so what's the point. I know plenty of people in their thirties starting their PhDs, it just seems like I'm hitting a point in my life where I will have to choose what I want, career or family, because I'll no longer have the time for both. It really sucks thinking like that, but I can't stop. Also we had a fire alarm malfunction for 5 days, I couldn't sleep, even for awhile after because I was afraid it would go off (it particularly liked to go off middle of the night and then early the next morning). But yea, I'll try to get to the rp over the weekend, so if you're back by Monday it should in theory hopefully be updated. I guess I just haven't felt inspired on anything lately.

Glad you like Japan, yea summer courses are always killer just because it's a full load in a compacted amount of time, but good to hear you are still having some fun. Food is definitely why I'd want to go to Japan, although sad to hear about the mayo. England puts way too much mayo in everything too. When I buy premade sandwiches I don't buy anything that includes mayo on the package name, such as Chicken and Mayo. There is already too much mayo on things that don't advertise it as a primary core. Sad to hear about the Kit Kats, where exactly in Japan are you, I'm not sure if I ever asked that. I realize my friends who make green tea kit kats one of their trip focal points always go to Tokyo. Maybe they are well hidden, idk.

Yea, I'm thinking about buying the orange box that has Portal, TF2 and Half Life. It's only 10 quid (about 20 bucks) on amazon.co.uk, as opposed to amazon.com (aka USA) where it's around $40. Considering there are no international codes for PC games (console yes, computers no) that means they are the exact same thing, but the US is charging way more. I also think Portal 2 is only 15 quid atm, however I probably am not going to allow myself to play until after I finish my dissertation (in early Sept, though I'm traveling after that so I probably won't get to it until October). So I might have TF2 eventually if I don't hedge on it until the price goes up or something. It's been that price for a couple of months now though. I've played Portal, haven't beaten it. I like it, but it gives me vertigo. So I suppose that game couldn't distract me too badly from dissertation. Still probably just won't install it until after.

Anyhow good luck with classes and hopefully finding green tea kit kats, heh. ^_^

It's alright, atm it's still mainly just me prowling around here and while I'm not as on top of my dissertation as I should be, less to do probably isn't a bad thing. Glad you at least got one good day of internet.

Yea, I mean if I can manage to fund/get into a PhD programme it's obviously the choice I will make, I more just worry about regretting it down the line. Feeling left out as more and more of my friends do the family thing. Feeling regretful and lonely when I'm old and dying alone. xd Not sure who would be best to talk to about any of that, other than bouncing worries of friends (and some have more helpful things to say than others). For now trying to survive the MA (though still having a hard time feeling motivated) and I'll figure out after when I get to after.

Snoring roommates are always the worst, I mean it's not their fault but that doesn't make it any easier to be completely unable to sleep. That sucks that you only get a couple of days in Japan without the stress of school, but it's good to hear you've enjoyed enough of your trip and the food. Curry from what I hear is easy enough to avoid in Japan. It's Thailand or India where curry becomes a really big staple. Although I rather love curry myself, the few times I've gone out to eat in the UK it's mostly been Indian. Good luck finding Kit Kats in Tokyo. Not sure I've heard of Akihabara, what kind of nerd heaven is it (besides possibly candy related)?

Yea I really want hard copies of games. Plus I like putting credit information on his few online sources as possible (I'm less worried with my UK account because that will close out soon and has no connection to anything in the USA), and I already had to have it on Amazon UK for school books, though those do sound like good deals. If I see something like that when I'm in the US in July I might get them, but if not I'm probably going to just buy the hard copies here when I get back in August. October is about when I'll have time to game (possibly, depending on what I can do with work) so I'd want them by then I think. I'll have a week in September probably as well, between when I turn in my dissertation and when I head to Amsterdam/Munich with my family. It was originally just me and my mom, but my brother is going too, which hopefully will be fun. My goal is to hopefully develop a better relationship with my brother. I want to he's just really against it. But we are pretty similar and we're close in age, so other than his eternal ability to not forgive me for torturing him when he was an adorable sweet child and I was a horribly envious one, there is no reason we can't be friends. xd I won't see him in July because he'll be working in Auckland, New Zealand July and August, which is pretty neat. Even if it's winter there I'm totally jealous of that opportunity (I say this as I currently live in Europe, heh).

Anyhow have fun with your freedom in Japan, though I assume you'll see this after that. I know Karma can't wait to have you back in AZ though.

On topic, finally saw that TAS episode where Mokuba gets kidnapped by Noa (I'd just say new but it took me so long I can't say for sure another episode hasn't cropped up). Yea other than the annoying cameo to Snot Him (again) I enjoyed it. Kidnapped Mokuba and motorcycles are always fun. And of course monkey Tristan is good too. I particularly enjoyed Jounouchi starting a bash session now that Tristan is gone.