6 years in Japan!!!!

Wow - just reached my Japan-iversary...#groan#

BUtttttt, it is always exciting to recall how long I have been here because I left the UK with the plan to check out Japan and be back in a year (and collect my turtle!!). And, here I still am, sans turtle (RIP T.T) but with hubby, dog, hamster and SOOooooo much fun wrapped up in a big ball of memories.

Sure, it has been an emotional journwy what with recent events, but I would not change Japan for anything else. Not yet, anyway.

I have learnt to snowboard, I study Japanese - whether I can speak it is debatable. I am learning Taiko and I love origami and almost refuse to leave the house without my lunch looking 'kawaii'. 

A furoshiki does the amazing job of making a regular tupperware pot seem exciting!

I have (re) developed a crazy kitty obsession with possession ranging from hundred (yes) of hand towels with pictures of Hello Kitty dressed for each region, town etc...Chopsticks, socks, computer cleaners, stickers, ear muffs (modelled by one of my students!), a chair, slippers, bags and just regular toys, but the toys don't last long when Elbi is around!

It has been an adventure to say the least; I have explored some long-dreamt-of Asian countries and hidden places, not least Indonesia. I have taken a new path of life, not just down the teaching road (absolutely LOVE kindergarten work) but, also developed a deep interest in the environment around us and am furthering my studies in that field too.

When I left England, I had a suitcase that had far too many clothes in and had to be sent back; I cried more than buckets for I thought my life was over...Really, it was just beginning!! Woo Hoo!!!

3/11...one year one

The Blog has been neglected of late due to extra studies. But, I have to write my thoughts on today.

I thought it important to share today with friends given the sheer atrocity of this day last year. It was a lovely day in Tokyo; the sun was shining and positive vibes were plenty.

We ate a great (British) lunch and then moved to a nearby cafe. A few of us stopped on a bridge at 2.46pm to remember. It was peaceful, sunny and we all stared thoughtfully into the murky water below. What got me was that not a single car stopped; not another pedestrian paused for thought. It seems Tokyo really never stops. That made me sad, sadder than the events themselves.

Since last year, there have been endless stories of positivity, progress and peace. Residents of Tohoku have come so far (not all of them, it must be also noted and still many are suffering in shelters) and we have to take this as our inspiration. If they can move on and look ahead then, so can we.

 Japan, Tohoku - we love you.

Speechy!

Today I took part in the local speech contest in Kasukabe!

It was such a great (read nerve-racking) experience! I talked about volunteering and what it really means to volunteer. Actually, I enjoyed every second and had fun talking to new friends.

It is always such a good experience to do these things, no matter how many nerves come and tie up the insides of your stomach.

Next on the list is another proficiency test, so the study has by no means finished yet!!!

GAMBARIMASHITA!!!!

Natural Love

 So, I even found a little notebook, given to me so many moons ago...And, it is here that the ideas and research for PALM OIL FREE and home made goodness shall live!

I tried a new idea today for shampoo. Mix a peeled lemon and a peeled cucumber in the mixer and it looks like this...

Don't be put off; it smells amazing! This is the shampoo - rinse it into your hair and rinse it back out again. I read about this before and remember that there was a distinct warning. You should blow dry your hair so as to avoid remnants of lemon making it look like you have dandruff.

I never really blow dry my hair and now I have lemon bits in it! Still, let's give it time. If this is one way to help the environment AND give me nice hair, who am I to complain!

Ouch!

To say we are having a bad run of it would be an understatement.

I took a bad fall in Saturday on the snow and have done my neck in. We can add this to Ian's fall on the ice and a truck up his bum and ear infections with him and Elbi!


So, I am hauled up for quite possibly the entire week doing nothing but 'resting'. It's very hard to be immobile when you are used to so much activity and also, have so much work to do.

Ah well, my movie viewing is already excelling a regular weekend and, as I can't move, I am actually watching them all in their entirety.

There is a small issue of a speech contest next Sunday, but, I shall have to take each day as it comes; the speech is not yet finished and it hurts to write (and think in Japanese!).

Time for another movie...

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Lost in transit

Did I hit 'delete'?

Did I imagine writing a blog entry?

Well, it had been so long that maybe I really have forgotten how to actually blog!

Well,I was writing about January is long, cold and very long. I love the snow, the fresh breeze that the winter brings, but I just realised I do not like January.

Still, it's over now and we can move fruitfully, fun-ly and fantastically into February.


With my blog disappearing, it wasn't the best of starts, but I did write about January ending on a good note. A lost dog was found and not a moment too soon. Three weeks in the cold and the snow, she was suffering. However, thank goodness that all was well.

Let's move on with the month. More snow, but more fun!

Stay warm and build lots of snowmen!!


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First snow of the season!!

Just spent one amazing weekend in the north enjoying some of the loveliest snow and slopes! I love winter!!!

Winter is always such a busy time - busy keeping warm, busy trying to study all sorts of things (2012 is about working the brain is oh-so-many ways), busy trying to catch as much snow as possible, busy writing a list of things we simply have to do here in Japan, just in case we do leave sometime soon.

My poetry book is selling well for Kalaweit. It's so nice to have some support for such a great cause. Now, I just have to get my act together to finish my novel for the very same great cause. Wish me luck!

Stay warm this winter!!!