Well, It's literally been more than a year sinse I've last posted here.
I sort of left things unfinished, I know... It's basically because I still plan on going back to Japan some day and want to sort of pick up where I left off in terms of this blog when that happens.
In the mean time, some very cool related news! First off, my cousin Eric, 17 years old, is going to Japan as an exchange student at a Japanese highschool in Fujisawa, Kanagawa prefecture. I'm soooo excited and proud of him. Basically after I returned from Japan he had an interest in learning Japanese so I got him started with some basics and pointed him to a lof of the great resources that I've found useful in my journey through the Japanese language.
Now he's embarking on his own adventure (check out his blog @ http://eric-japantrip.blogspot.com/ )
Secondly, I get e-mail messages frequently asking me questions about Working Holiday Visa, GenkiJACS, Japanese study, and so on.. So, I've decided to start up a website/blog of sorts basically dedicated to sharing everything I know about studying Japanese including links to resources, reviews of tools, websites, schools, etc. and general tips and tricks.. I'm super excited to get this website off the ground and hope to nurture it and help it grow.
So, all you people with questions about Japan that you want to ask me, don't hestitate to continue writing me, but check out my website which might point you in the right direction aswell: www.SakuraBranch.com
Until I actually go back to Japan, any Japan-related posts I make will be on that website, so bookmark it, set it as your homepage, RSS follow it, whatever..
Sore dewa, mata ne~
Tim
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Trip to Niigata
I only have 6 days left in Japan, so I'm trying to make the best of the rest of my time here. I've recently been lucky to make a few new friends and we've really hit it off. Anyways, this past weekend Miho and myself took a tour bus to Niigata prefecture, famous for whine, mountains, and friendly people.
We got to visit a whine factory and sample a lot of different types of whine - I got a bit tipsy as Miho kept giving her samples to me in what was surely a conspiracy to get me drunk =P.
I got a lot of video but haven't had the chance to properly put it together just yet, so for now here are some pictures, please enjoy!
To get to Niigata prefecture, which is on the west-coast of Japan, we had to travel up and over, around, and often THROUGH a tonne of Moutains. Going through mountains was scary sometimes - the tunnels are up to 18KM long and they DO sometimes collapse but generally after earthquakes or heavy rains causing mud-slides. Anyways, we survived and came out in the middle of the mountains to be surrounded by beautiful fall colored tree covered mountain ranges!
We took a number of rest stops, one at a service area somewhere on Mount Akagi - my mom went there when she was here but it was my first time around Mt. Akagi - and another at a large dam. The above pic is Miho and me on that dam, the view was spectacular.
After we visited the winery and were treated to a very Japanese meal of rice, fish, natto (fermented soya-bean gue stuff, that actually to spite the smell was not so bad and is said to be really good for you.) We boarded a kind of cruise boat and took a tour down the river through the mountains. It was all very beautiful and ironically the scenery reminded me of Canada and Japan at the same time.
On a side note, I've been studying Japanese a lot while I still have time to be immersed in the language. I've become fairly fluent, at least to some degree, if I may say so myself, but learning new vocabulary is an ongoing process. For straight vocabulary-building, I've found a great (and FREE) website called IKNOW that has a number of games and spaced repetition systems available for learning vocabulary and Kanji (Chinese written symbols). I've embedded a couple gadgets in the right panel of the blog here showing my study time and even showing a review of the latest vocabulary that I've been learning. Many of the words I already know but hadn't learned the Kanji for yet so I'm trying to play catch-up in that regard as to not remain illiterate in Japanese. =P
Well, I'll try to get some video of my trip posted up here soon.
Tim
We got to visit a whine factory and sample a lot of different types of whine - I got a bit tipsy as Miho kept giving her samples to me in what was surely a conspiracy to get me drunk =P.
I got a lot of video but haven't had the chance to properly put it together just yet, so for now here are some pictures, please enjoy!
To get to Niigata prefecture, which is on the west-coast of Japan, we had to travel up and over, around, and often THROUGH a tonne of Moutains. Going through mountains was scary sometimes - the tunnels are up to 18KM long and they DO sometimes collapse but generally after earthquakes or heavy rains causing mud-slides. Anyways, we survived and came out in the middle of the mountains to be surrounded by beautiful fall colored tree covered mountain ranges!
We took a number of rest stops, one at a service area somewhere on Mount Akagi - my mom went there when she was here but it was my first time around Mt. Akagi - and another at a large dam. The above pic is Miho and me on that dam, the view was spectacular.
After we visited the winery and were treated to a very Japanese meal of rice, fish, natto (fermented soya-bean gue stuff, that actually to spite the smell was not so bad and is said to be really good for you.) We boarded a kind of cruise boat and took a tour down the river through the mountains. It was all very beautiful and ironically the scenery reminded me of Canada and Japan at the same time.
On a side note, I've been studying Japanese a lot while I still have time to be immersed in the language. I've become fairly fluent, at least to some degree, if I may say so myself, but learning new vocabulary is an ongoing process. For straight vocabulary-building, I've found a great (and FREE) website called IKNOW that has a number of games and spaced repetition systems available for learning vocabulary and Kanji (Chinese written symbols). I've embedded a couple gadgets in the right panel of the blog here showing my study time and even showing a review of the latest vocabulary that I've been learning. Many of the words I already know but hadn't learned the Kanji for yet so I'm trying to play catch-up in that regard as to not remain illiterate in Japanese. =P
Well, I'll try to get some video of my trip posted up here soon.
Tim
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
日本語でブログを書く
I figured Id start posting my Japanese blog entries to this blog too since I refer my Japanese friends here from time to time.
日本語で日記を書くのは久しぶりですね
このサイトを登録した時「もしかしたら 一日おきに日記を書けるかも」と思ったけど・・
もうすぐカナダに かえっちゃうから 本当にさみしくなちゃった・・
日本にいる間できるだけ生活を楽しみたいと思います。
カナダにいたとき、YESJAPAN.COMというサイトで日本語を勉強しました・・ そのサイトに、1ヶ月かん２回日本語について番組が出ます、日本に来る前によく見ました・・ この間、その番組に出ている人たちと渋谷へパーティに行きました！ 本当にたのしかった！ その番組を見てたので、なんか有名な人に会てた気がした。 あとは、そのパーティで友達を作れた。 またいっしょに遊びに行くと思う・・
今、カナダに帰りたいと思う気持ちもあるけど、本当はあまり帰りたくない・・ ちょっと寂しい気になった・・
日本語で日記を書くのは久しぶりですね
このサイトを登録した時「もしかしたら 一日おきに日記を書けるかも」と思ったけど・・
もうすぐカナダに かえっちゃうから 本当にさみしくなちゃった・・
日本にいる間できるだけ生活を楽しみたいと思います。
カナダにいたとき、YESJAPAN.COMというサイトで日本語を勉強しました・・ そのサイトに、1ヶ月かん２回日本語について番組が出ます、日本に来る前によく見ました・・ この間、その番組に出ている人たちと渋谷へパーティに行きました！ 本当にたのしかった！ その番組を見てたので、なんか有名な人に会てた気がした。 あとは、そのパーティで友達を作れた。 またいっしょに遊びに行くと思う・・
今、カナダに帰りたいと思う気持ちもあるけど、本当はあまり帰りたくない・・ ちょっと寂しい気になった・・
Monday, October 13, 2008
YesJapan party in Shibuya!
George and me in Shibuya -Well I feel really lucky right now. I had a rare opportunity to meet up with a bunch of fellow members and some of the hosts of YesJapan.com where I studied Japanese by myself before coming to Japan! Everyone had a really awesome time, and I will even say I've forged some new friendships. Two of the other members that came are living in Japan because their husbands are stationed here, and the other girl Rachel is here for pretty much the same reasons I am (study Japanese Language and Culture), so yea, everyone there was super cool! We all met at Shibuya's Hachikou statue (famous statue of a dog @ shibuya crossing) and then headed to Shakey's pizza in Shibuya to enjoy all-you-can-eat pizza and drinks and lots of good times. It was awesome to meet George and Hiro in person after seeing them on the YesJapan webcasts so many times over the years! I ended up missing the last train home (sinse I live far from Tokyo and have to transfer, that means the 9:07pm train) but it turned out for the better as we went to a bar in Ebisu to meet a bunch of foreign models (and some cute Japanese girls too) and enjoy drinks and chit-chat. Hiro and I really hit it off too and he's such a cool guy that he let me crash at his place. Great memories all around. I brought my camera of course, and did manage to throw a video together but unfortunately I didn't film as much as I'd of liked to in hind-sight since I was too busy having fun! Here's the video, check it out:
Monday, September 29, 2008
Video Memory
Well, I had promised a few posts ago that I would start to put up some of the unseen footage I had gotten when I was in Fukuoka. If you read my blog you already know that Fukuoka and my experience at Genki JACS school, aswell as the dorm I lived in there have easily become some of my favorite places in Japan, and I made friends at this dorm (most of whom are in this video) that I'm still in touch with and hope to meet again someday.
So here's the first video I've thrown together, taken around valentines day. Students of both Fukuoka Industrial University who live at the dorm together with students of Genki Japanese and Culture school all celebrated Valnetines day together by playing a chocolate-covered-strawberry blindfold game, enjoy:
So here's the first video I've thrown together, taken around valentines day. Students of both Fukuoka Industrial University who live at the dorm together with students of Genki Japanese and Culture school all celebrated Valnetines day together by playing a chocolate-covered-strawberry blindfold game, enjoy:
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tokyo
Just thought I'd share this gem of a video with everyone; This video really captures the essence of all that is Tokyo. I still say my favorite city in Japan is Fukuoka, but Tokyo would take a healthy second place for sure. Please watch the following video:
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Good times in Oota
Not a heck of a lot exciting is happening in Rural Gunma prefecture. As such I'm hoping to do some traveling soon (details to come later). To be honest, I really miss Fukuoka lately; More specifically, I really miss the dorm life I had there. I found some old never-before-seen video from back at the dorm in my computer and I think someday soon I'll throw it onto the blog here.
Anyways, last night I went to Oota city to have dinner with Miho at one of our favorite Italian restaurants =). After, we went to the game center (arcade) and played a bunch of strange but cool Japanese games - unfortunately I only had the camera on for a little bit at the game center though, was too busy playing and sort of forgot to take footage. After that, I introduce my favorite dessert of Japan; The Japanese Crepe (I know it is french, but the Japanese version is just so much better so it deserves to be distinguished as the "Japanese Crepe" because I've had the french version too and this is just so much better).
The video is not overly edited and mostly is just strung together raw footage; To be honest it's more for my own memory's sake than anything else so I'm pleased with it. Enjoy!
Anyways, last night I went to Oota city to have dinner with Miho at one of our favorite Italian restaurants =). After, we went to the game center (arcade) and played a bunch of strange but cool Japanese games - unfortunately I only had the camera on for a little bit at the game center though, was too busy playing and sort of forgot to take footage. After that, I introduce my favorite dessert of Japan; The Japanese Crepe (I know it is french, but the Japanese version is just so much better so it deserves to be distinguished as the "Japanese Crepe" because I've had the french version too and this is just so much better).
The video is not overly edited and mostly is just strung together raw footage; To be honest it's more for my own memory's sake than anything else so I'm pleased with it. Enjoy!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Hey all, what's up?
This weekend was pretty frickin hot outside so I spent most of it in the comfort of my AC. However, I had a great time hanging out with Miho and I went to Japanese class on Sunday - which was pretty cool but the grammer we studied I already know like the back of my hand, however the kanji part of the class kicked my butt as usual. It's interesting going to this class because I'm the only student who speaks English, and a lot of the other students are Chinese (and the rest are brazilian, indian, etc.) The Chinese people in the class have one really big advantage and that is they can already read and write kanji for the most part. I feel really pressured to "catch up" with them somehow in the writing part, but I really think that will take a few years.
Anyways, I also finally went down to the post office and sent a package of goodies back to Canada to some friends back home (you know who you are), so I look forward to those being recieved finally. The package I put together was mostly filled with Manga, but also included stickers, some crazy Japanese erasers, and a postcard from Asakusa.
Lately this J-pop girlband has really gotten popular here, I'll post a video of one of their songs below, but it's interesting that a) they are not that cute (they are kinda cute though I guess, but I dont see why they're *all that*), b) their songs are catchy but get annoying quickly, and c) who the hell knows what their real voices sound like (take a listen to the track below to see what I mean).
There is also this song which realllly sounds like the 80s has returned. It's also featured in a commercial on TV so I hear it quite often; Catchy but too artificial to make it on to my favorites list.
And last but not least, everyone's favorite チョコレイト ディスコ Chocolate Disco
I just figured I'd share the ultra-pop music that is currently the top of the charts here in Japan. hehe. Mata~
This weekend was pretty frickin hot outside so I spent most of it in the comfort of my AC. However, I had a great time hanging out with Miho and I went to Japanese class on Sunday - which was pretty cool but the grammer we studied I already know like the back of my hand, however the kanji part of the class kicked my butt as usual. It's interesting going to this class because I'm the only student who speaks English, and a lot of the other students are Chinese (and the rest are brazilian, indian, etc.) The Chinese people in the class have one really big advantage and that is they can already read and write kanji for the most part. I feel really pressured to "catch up" with them somehow in the writing part, but I really think that will take a few years.
Anyways, I also finally went down to the post office and sent a package of goodies back to Canada to some friends back home (you know who you are), so I look forward to those being recieved finally. The package I put together was mostly filled with Manga, but also included stickers, some crazy Japanese erasers, and a postcard from Asakusa.
Lately this J-pop girlband has really gotten popular here, I'll post a video of one of their songs below, but it's interesting that a) they are not that cute (they are kinda cute though I guess, but I dont see why they're *all that*), b) their songs are catchy but get annoying quickly, and c) who the hell knows what their real voices sound like (take a listen to the track below to see what I mean).
There is also this song which realllly sounds like the 80s has returned. It's also featured in a commercial on TV so I hear it quite often; Catchy but too artificial to make it on to my favorites list.
And last but not least, everyone's favorite チョコレイト ディスコ Chocolate Disco
I just figured I'd share the ultra-pop music that is currently the top of the charts here in Japan. hehe. Mata~
Thursday, July 24, 2008
七夕
Hey everyone! Well, the summer is definitely here. Temperatures are so hot here I truly would take the cold Canadian winter over it any day!
However, with summer in Japan comes a wide variety of festivals, fireworks, and get-togethers.
This past week was my city's Tanabata festival. I previously showed a video I found on youtube of last years Tanabata, but I finally had the chance to make my own memories of it. So, to celebrate the occassion, Miho and I went out and bought Yukata and Jinbei. I made a video of the whole thing, so please enjoy.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Something funny
Well, life has been pretty relaxed lately here in Gunma, Japan. There's honestly not a heck of a lot to do in this really rural place.. But, I'm making the best of it, for the most part. Lately I've been studying Japanese, Kanji, and even MATH.
I've also been hanging out with Miho a lot. We generally go to the Mall, or to the game center or Karaoke, etc. And we usually eat dinner at either Primo - my favorite italian restaurant - or this Japanese ramen restaurant with a REALLY cute waitress.
Also, this is extremely unrelated but I found this and found it really funny. As far as political satire goes this video is one of the best I have seen. Better still, the website this video is from allows you to put yourself in the video, so look for me (kind of towards the second half. hint: my first appearance is marching with a campaign sign in hand).. Anyways, here it is:
Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!
And for an extra bit of fun, I made this one of Miho and myself:
Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Long overdue update!
Well, I'm FINALLY updating my blog after a month+ long hiatus! Lots and lots has happened! Lately I have been seeing some great movies at the theaters around here. I'm finding it's a great way to enjoyably practice my Japanese listening skills.
Recently, I finally saw the Hana Yori Dango: Final Movie! Which, although good, was just not as good as the TV series. It was still a great movie though!
Miho and I also went on a date and saw a cute romantic comedy called Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg and I enjoyed it so much. However, when I looked around youtube for the trailer for the movie I found that no one had yet translated / subtitled it so I decided to translate+subtitle it myself for practice! (I would love to get in to Fan-subbing of J-drama or maybe even Anime someday) Anyways, here's my subtitled version:
Also, to play catch-up a little with the time I haven't posted anything in. Just before May we went to Tokyo and watched a baseball game - which was a totally amazing experience and in some ways completely different from seeing a major league game back home. I put together a little video of that adventure:
And finally.. Being that summer is definitely here (the temperature is crazy outside), the summer festival season in Japan has come into full swing. Yesterday I was teaching an English class for an NPO in Maebashi, and got the chance to participate in the festivities of Tanabata - Summer Star Festival. This festival was really really great and I regrettably didn't bring my Camera, but my city will soon have its own Tanabata and I'll be sure to get some pics / video. In the meantime, here is a great video I found about Tanabata, check it out:
Well, that's all for now, but I'll be sure to get my blog back into gear. I promise!
- Timothy
Recently, I finally saw the Hana Yori Dango: Final Movie! Which, although good, was just not as good as the TV series. It was still a great movie though!
Miho and I also went on a date and saw a cute romantic comedy called Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg and I enjoyed it so much. However, when I looked around youtube for the trailer for the movie I found that no one had yet translated / subtitled it so I decided to translate+subtitle it myself for practice! (I would love to get in to Fan-subbing of J-drama or maybe even Anime someday) Anyways, here's my subtitled version:
Also, to play catch-up a little with the time I haven't posted anything in. Just before May we went to Tokyo and watched a baseball game - which was a totally amazing experience and in some ways completely different from seeing a major league game back home. I put together a little video of that adventure:
And finally.. Being that summer is definitely here (the temperature is crazy outside), the summer festival season in Japan has come into full swing. Yesterday I was teaching an English class for an NPO in Maebashi, and got the chance to participate in the festivities of Tanabata - Summer Star Festival. This festival was really really great and I regrettably didn't bring my Camera, but my city will soon have its own Tanabata and I'll be sure to get some pics / video. In the meantime, here is a great video I found about Tanabata, check it out:
Well, that's all for now, but I'll be sure to get my blog back into gear. I promise!
- Timothy
Friday, May 9, 2008
Earthquake Update
Well, I thought they were over for a while, but I was wrong..
This morning at about 9AM Japan time, there was ANOTHER quake, and this one was not from Mikagi prefecture (the previous two were, and Mikagi is a ways away in the north part of the main island of Honshuu), the quake this morning was centered IN the Kanto area (where Tokyo is and where I live). It wasn't very big, but now there is some evidence from researchers and sensors that, you guessed it, it is related to the previous earthquake as the movement of one tectonic plate inevitably effects the plates around it. Now there is speculation that in the next while we may have another fairly large earthquake because one of the plates offshore from Tokyo appears to have shifted a little due to the previous quakes. No one knows for sure though, all I know is that to spite being semi-excited about being in an earthquake before I came to Japan, now that I've been in a couple (and they weren't even that strong, just average), I REALLY would prefer NOT to have any more of them. I don't trust the integrity of my house either, as it's a bit old (19 years - yes that is considered old here as most modern houses have a shelf life of about 30 years due to the earthquakes they have to endure) and theres now a small crack in part of my wall from the shifting that the ENTIRE HOUSE does when a quake hits.
Phew, sorry to rant, but I have quakes on the mind now.. Anyways, I'm brushing up my disaster plans as I write this - in my head - that's how I can do that and write this at the same time.
Anyways, take care until next time.
This morning at about 9AM Japan time, there was ANOTHER quake, and this one was not from Mikagi prefecture (the previous two were, and Mikagi is a ways away in the north part of the main island of Honshuu), the quake this morning was centered IN the Kanto area (where Tokyo is and where I live). It wasn't very big, but now there is some evidence from researchers and sensors that, you guessed it, it is related to the previous earthquake as the movement of one tectonic plate inevitably effects the plates around it. Now there is speculation that in the next while we may have another fairly large earthquake because one of the plates offshore from Tokyo appears to have shifted a little due to the previous quakes. No one knows for sure though, all I know is that to spite being semi-excited about being in an earthquake before I came to Japan, now that I've been in a couple (and they weren't even that strong, just average), I REALLY would prefer NOT to have any more of them. I don't trust the integrity of my house either, as it's a bit old (19 years - yes that is considered old here as most modern houses have a shelf life of about 30 years due to the earthquakes they have to endure) and theres now a small crack in part of my wall from the shifting that the ENTIRE HOUSE does when a quake hits.
Phew, sorry to rant, but I have quakes on the mind now.. Anyways, I'm brushing up my disaster plans as I write this - in my head - that's how I can do that and write this at the same time.
Anyways, take care until next time.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Day Trip / Earthquakes
Well I havent really done the best job lately keeping this blog updated. It is not due to a lack of excitment, in fact lately I have been rather busy and I have some great pictures and video that I will soon get around to putting together and posting up here.
So, two big things to mention for now though. First, we had a rather sizable earthquake last night. Actually, not sizable but only average.. However, this one lasted for a good 30 seconds, and about 2 minutes later there was another one that was even stronger than the first. Then there were some small aftershocks, and then it was over... so I thought.. about 2 hours later at about 3am I felt another big tremour.
Secondly, today I sort of did a spir of the moment thing and decided to take a train to Asakusa, Tokyo. I just really needed to go out exploring, and find that feeling that reminds me of why I came to Japan.. And that feeling of being able to go anywhere and blaze my own trail by myself. And to that goal, has been SUCCESS.. I am really looking forward to starting my Japanese class this sunday.
Anyways, until next time when I post some cool videos and stuff.. This is Timo, signing off..
*NEXT TIME* Gone to a baseball game in Japan, totally different experience, and geek-kingdom of AKIHABARA.. check it out here soon.. I mean it SOON..
So, two big things to mention for now though. First, we had a rather sizable earthquake last night. Actually, not sizable but only average.. However, this one lasted for a good 30 seconds, and about 2 minutes later there was another one that was even stronger than the first. Then there were some small aftershocks, and then it was over... so I thought.. about 2 hours later at about 3am I felt another big tremour.
Secondly, today I sort of did a spir of the moment thing and decided to take a train to Asakusa, Tokyo. I just really needed to go out exploring, and find that feeling that reminds me of why I came to Japan.. And that feeling of being able to go anywhere and blaze my own trail by myself. And to that goal, has been SUCCESS.. I am really looking forward to starting my Japanese class this sunday.
Anyways, until next time when I post some cool videos and stuff.. This is Timo, signing off..
*NEXT TIME* Gone to a baseball game in Japan, totally different experience, and geek-kingdom of AKIHABARA.. check it out here soon.. I mean it SOON..
Monday, April 14, 2008
Mom Came to Japan
Above: Mom and me under some Sakura trees while cherry-blossom viewing at the park near my house
Well, it's been some time between updates and I appologize to everyone who has been waiting to read. Anyways, my MOM came to visit me for two weeks and we had an AWSOME time! I was really happy to see her, but there are lots of people I miss from back in Windsor too and for everyone who can't come visit me I hope my mom can fill you in on my life here better than my blog does.
My mom stayed at my place in Gunma, but because Gunma has basically nothing cool to see or do (that's not true either as my mom found out) we also stayed in Tokyo for a couple days to see the sights and I think my mom fell in love with the city of Tokyo as much as I did when I arrived.
During her time here, she volunteered at the international kindergarten I was working at, saw many different sides of Tokyo including Shibuya crossing, Asakusa, Ebisu, Harakjuku, and so on, and even ventured for a hike up Akagi mountain here in Gunma. Aside from that, when she was stuck in the house while I had to work, she was brave and went exploring by herself and found her own favorite place near here - the local grocery store.Akemi-san was also very kind and showed my mom around the beautiful city of Yokohama (part of Tokyo) and they really had a great time together too I think.
It was great to see my mom, but also felt kind of strange to have her close by after being over here on my own for the past 4 and a half months. Anyways, I miss her every time I go to the grocery store (kind of inside joke). I got a tone of pictures, so I'll upload some of them below...
above: Mom and Akemi in Yokohama - My mom was very lucky because the Sakura trees were blossoming just when she arrived and it only lasts for about a week in terms of full bloom, so the timing couldn't of been better.
My mom had the chance to visit Yokohama, a very beautiful and modern city in the Tokyo area.
We made a point one night of venturing out to Tokyo Tower, which is pretty much a must-see. My mom and me both ate some cheap 7-11 Bento food for dinner afterwards to escape the high prices of the area's restaurants, but it was a memorable night anyways.
We also visited Harajuku (where the free hugs picture above was taken) and saw the great emperial garden/forest there. Here my mom stands under a giant Tori gate.
We got really lucky when in Asakusa one day and happened to see a young Maiko (apprentice geisha), she was so beautiful!!!
My mom was also a hit at the school I was teaching at! They don't have many clowns in Japan so she was a special treat!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Picking up Mom
Well, I am sitting in the internet kiosk room thing at Narita international airport in Tokyo. I'm waiting for my mom to arrive. Will she arrive? haha, I only say that because I can't be sure if she made her transfer in Chicago, if she is on the right plane, etc. We have no way to contact each other until she comes out of the arrivals gate.
Anyways, I should have lots of interesting posts about our time together. I am really looking forward to showing her around Japan! Right now though my head kind of hurts, but I think it's because of a slight anxiety about meeting my mom, I haven't seen her, or anyone else from my home town for that matter in over 4 months(except Mr. and Mrs. Taguchi who moved back to Japan from my home town after I came here by chance). Anyways, we have a long day of trains ahead of us to get back into Tokyo and get to Sakura Hostel where we'll spend the night before heading back to Gunma tommorow.
Anyways, I should have lots of interesting posts about our time together. I am really looking forward to showing her around Japan! Right now though my head kind of hurts, but I think it's because of a slight anxiety about meeting my mom, I haven't seen her, or anyone else from my home town for that matter in over 4 months(except Mr. and Mrs. Taguchi who moved back to Japan from my home town after I came here by chance). Anyways, we have a long day of trains ahead of us to get back into Tokyo and get to Sakura Hostel where we'll spend the night before heading back to Gunma tommorow.
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