I had a really happy yet sad last day. In my last class a couple of students surprised me with a small birthday cake and sang me Happy Birthday before presenting me with a mural of photographs and notes from various coworkers and students. <3 It was the best way to end my last day. I'm so happy and I can't wait to come back and visit all of ( Read more... )

I went to Nara yesterday. Some of the leaves were starting to change colour for autumn. There seemed to be a lot going on. I managed to see the pounding of mochi at a famous shop. It was impressive. First two guys hammer it, and then the other puts water or something on it with his hands while the second guy is STILL pounding away, and somehow ( Read more... )

Found this randomly online and it has amused me far too much. Reminds me a lot of feeding the fish here or watching them swarm if I don't have food too. The digital fish swarm to your mouse and if you click, they'll eat the food you drop in.

Heading to Nara today. Yay deer! :D

I went to my final Japanese lesson in Shijo today and walked around Sanjo/Shijo. I had my final ojii-san crepe which was delicious. I was lucky and the girl who gave me my first crepe when I came to Japan was working, and she has the timing PERFECT when she makes it so it's so soft and chewy. Good to know that my last crepe was as good as the ( Read more... )

Well I made it through my farewell party without crying (though I was on a thread at some points) but I'm making up for it now, especially after opening some of the farewell cards/drawings/presents I've received. I have met so many amazing people and I've had such wonderful students, it hurts so much to just leave. It feels surreal that in less ( Read more... )

Wow, I can't believe I only have only 12 more days or so left in Japan. D': I will miss it so much. Living here has been great. Good trains, great food, friendly people, and historical places EVERYWHERE make Japan...well, Japan. I'll be happy to see people I know again, though. Japan holds many travel distractions, but it's not the same ( Read more... )

Well, it has been a roller coaster ride of days, starting from bad to good. On Tuesday, I caught a small cold. It wasn't so bad, nothing more than a headcold at most, with a sore throat and stuffy nose. I didn't have much of a fever. Come Thursday night, something inside me broke down in my second to last class and my throat went dry and I ( Read more... )

I went to my Japanese teacher's house today. We made okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake) and yakisoba (fried noodles). :D It was yummy. I also got a quick informal run-through of the procedure of a tea ceremony. It was a lot of fun, and she and her husband are so kind ( Read more... )

Well, despite all the fuss, the typhoon only did last for the night and a bit of the morning, and the rest of the day was bright and sunny.

Walking to the plaza today I came across this neat little caterpillar. I thought he was adorable, even if one of my coworkers had a different opinion of him.


( Read more... )

The wind was super noisy last night, it was a little hard to sleep through. This morning when I went outside, I found the poor trees outside my balcony were too flimsy to withstand the wind. Luckily they fell away from my apartment (barring one whose top decided to pay me a visit). I don't think they could've done damage if they tried though, ( Read more... )