On the 5th and 6th of May, I was with my girlfriend in Odawara, Yugawara and Hakone.  It was great fun because although we had a busy travelling schedule, there was a lot of traditions to see and enjoy.  Also, we enjoyed the black “onsen tomago” .  I will try to find the photos and attach a few later.  We also went for a walk on the Old Tokaido Highway.  That was a very crazy thing to do because we were already tired, but the good thing is that we had the opportunity to see how people lived in ancient Japan.

This year for Golden Week, I just relaxed for several days.  I also spent some time exploring Mejiro and Nakano.  Mejiro is a very beautiful city and unusual because its almost in the middle of a very  busy area.

I really enjoy walking around this country because of all the different architecture and the styles of the buildings.  On the other hand, I can enjoy the forests and all the nice greenery.

I`m currently on a two week vacation from work as it will be soon Golden Week.  I`m not really sure what I want to do this year because its been so busy that I`ve had no time to prepare or plan, but maybe I can come up with something soon.  I will be meeting my girlfriend`s second brother for the first time since I started dating my girlfriend which was 9 years ago.  That should be interesting… hopefully.  I don`t really want to talk about work right now because I want to focus on my time off, but I will mention more about it in another blog next month.

The Oakhouse location in Shiinamachi is alright because its located in a very convenient area and there are many people moving in… and out, but it makes for many interesting situations.  However, there are many personality clashes as well and sometimes arguements that don`t need to happen.  Other than that, its pretty good here.  I`m learning more and more about how people of this country are and how people from other countries respond to the Japanese people through living in this guest house and also through daily life.

There are many place so far that I`ve been to in Japan and one place outside of Japan in the past year.  Most of the places I go are part of work, but sometimes its enjoyable and intersting to see so many different little towns.  Some of them; although different looking, remind me of my hometown.  I`ve started seriously studying Japanese as of this past November or December and I still have a very long way to go, but I think I might be finally scratching the surface of this language and the culture.  There`s so much to find out and study while working so it keeps me very busy everyday.  I`m still very curious about how things are going to turn out for me here because currently I am teaching English for a fairly big company, but I am also looking to start my own company someday, but I`m not sure when yet.

The  past fews months have been very strange regarding the weather here.  Its been raining, snowing and sometimes very hot.  At times I thought I was back in Canada in the winter, but then I look around just to confirm and its Japan.  I love hot weather and don`t mind the summers here.  I was in Japan 3 years ago in the winter and it was warm so I guess I expecting that this time, but its a little different.  Its sometimes colder than Canada in certain areas and sometimes its the same temperature.  Hopefully the weather will get hotter soon.

Well, I`ve been in Japan for just over a year now and I believe its been one of the best years I`ve spent in my life.  I really love working and living in Japan and look forward to continuing doing what I`m doing because I now have a work visa for an additional 3 years.  Working here is not bad, actually its good, but what really tires me out is the constant travelling on crowded trains.  I love the work because I`m a teacher and its something that I`ve always wanted to do.  I will write some more later, but its getting late and I have to teach tomorrow as well.