Met Emily and Jeremy for the first time at LAX
Arrived in Japan
Serious Jet Lag
September 2003
Training for Nova in Ginza (AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!)
Started working at Nova in Kinshicho
Met Sonal for the first time in Shinagawa
Felt my first earthquake in Japan during a lesson - the students didn't flinch
Went to see Sumo in Ryogoku
Gost lost in Akihabara amidst the mass quantities of electronics
Attempted to visit the Imperial Palace w/ Emily & Jeremy (rainy day - no umbrellas)
Found my first Catholic Church after an intensive search
Went to my first Japanese Karaoke "box"
8.0 earthquake in Hokkaido biggest in the world for 2003 (far away - didn't feel it)
My LA hairdresser came to Tokyo and cut my hair and Sonal's
October 2003
Visited Asakusa - home of Senso-ji (temple) and the Golden Turd
Felt my second earthquake while on the phone with a friend in the US
Went to the Edo-Tokyo Museum
Went to Harajuku - home of crepes sold out of VW buses and the freak's store
Went to the Tokyo Motor Show and saw a see-through van that turns into a lounge
Girl's night out with Sonal and Vasuki (karaoke boxes, scorching food and sake)
Day trip to Kamakura (Big Buddha and TREES!!!! We dont have those in Tokyo!)
Interview for new job in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture
Accept new job. Give 30 day notice to Nova. RELIEF!!!!
November 2003
Sayonara Party from Nova crew (involving karaoke, tons of food and sake once again)
Called in sick the morning after the Sayonara Party (too much sake??)
Moved to Tsu
Bowling Welcoming party with Fuji Staff
Met Noriko (my Japanese teacher and so much more) and her family for the first time
Trained with Ron, the previous teacher
Had two more earthquakes - one in Tokyo (sayonara!) and one in Tsu (konnichiwa!)
December 2003
First snow!
Fuji Christmas Party & Fuji Bounenkai (forget-the-year party)
Christmas Eve in Kobe (saw the illuminations)
Moved into my new place on Xmas day
I have a shower toilet!!! WooHoo!!!
Got food poisoning day after Xmas - made good use of that new toilet
Emily and Jeremy came to visit from Tokyo - went to Kyoto and Ise
Spent New Year's Eve watching very entertaining Japanese celebrations on TV
January 2004
Happy New Year!
More snow!
Went to Noriko's for traditional New Year's breakfast
Went to Futami - wedded rocks, aquarium and Emily and I ate sea urchin - yummmm
Noriko and Kiyo, her husband, took me to Akame waterfalls in Nabari
The kindergartners put on an amazing hapyokai (big show!) of singing, dancing and playing musical instruments
Met Mariko and Motoko Hara for the first time in Osaka
Began Japanese lessons with Noriko
February 2004
More snow!
Noriko's Bday! Cake!
Went to see Mariko's Gospel Concert in Osaka - it was awesome -they even sang U2!
Went to an Asian New Year's Festival with Noriko and met Carmen for the first time
LA haridresser came back to Japan & cut my hair again-then we hung out in Osaka
short month, what else can I say?
March 2004
Yes, still - more snow! (It wasnt that much really - only a few days each month)
Carmen introduced me to Daniel, Nafisa, Jennie, Mark-basically all my current friends!
Went on my first hike in Japan with those guys - realized how out of shape I was in
Carmen's Bday
Plum Blossom festival with Noriko - flowers, dancing, monkeys - lots of fun!
Sakura's Birthday! (Noriko's daughter) More cake!
Fuji Kindergarten Graduation - very impressive! (they're behaved better than college grads back home!)
April 2004
Attended my first teaching seminar in Osaka - so great!!!
Easter Egg decorating and crepe breakfast at Carmen's with her and Nafisa on Easter
Wanted to spend no money - therefore did little this month, but....
Went back to the states for a week vacation - yahooo!!!!! Wanted to pack my nephew in my carry-on luggage with me, but didn't quite get away with it (had too many bottles of wine and boxes of mac and cheese in my bag)
May 2004
Went to the Tado Festival - where the horses try to jump over the 6 foot embankment for good fortune in the coming year... none of em made it :(
Had first Japanese BBQ at Noriko's ...yummmmmmmm
Went to Ueno - checked out the ninja residence and sword demonstrations
Hung out in Nagoya for the first time - saw my first live band in Japan- Motown, no less
Got hired as a waitress at a sports bar in Nagoya with no intention of doing so
I turned 27, my sister turned 30 (Sorry, Stace!) & my nephew turned 1! (in the same week)
June 2004
Carmen & her roommate, Oneika, both left for their home countries after a year in Japan
Another BBQ at Noriko's!
Another teacher's seminar in Osaka - and my first typhoon experince - not fun
Met Mariko for dinner in Osaka after the seminar - SO much fun!
Happy Birthday to Sarah at Hard Rock Cafe in Nagoya - best restaurant bday bash ever!
My friends Vernon and Chris arrived in Japan from LA
July 2004
Vern, Chris and I headed to Hiroshima for the weekend - amazing experience
We attempted to celebrate the 4th at the beach with some fireworks despite the fact that we were not in the US & the winds were not very friendly that night-we set off 5, I think
Went to the orchestra & a woodcut print show at the museum in Nagoya w/ Daniel - a very cool day - I felt very artsy
Went to Kyoto for the Gion Festival - missed most of the highlights , but at least I got to see a couple geisha girls
Extended my Visa for another year - yep, its official
August 2004
No longer working in Nagoya on the weekends - was a bit much, but fun while it lasted
Saw my first Hanabi - fireworks show in Hisai, close to Tsu, in Mie - very impressive!
Spent my summer vacation in Kyushu mostly - went to Beppu, Yufuin, Fukuoka, Aso-Kuju National Park, and then Kobe and Osaka on my way back home
Stayed with a host family and worked in their pension for 3 days in Kyushu - they have cute little mountain cabins in a place called Canadian Village
Got to stay with the Hara's in Ashiya finally - they are so aweome
Mr Hara gave me my first calligraphy lesson
Had natto for the first time at the Hara's (fermented soybeans, I think? Bad smell, tastes okay)
Olympics (Japan did great!)
Took my driving test... failed.
September 2004
Took my driving test a second time after a $50/hr lesson...passed...RELIEF!
Experienced the biggest earthquake I have ever felt - and then 8 more after that.
Decided to take the JLPT - Jap. Lang. Prof. Test - and have spent most of my free time studying, which means no exciting stories for you...
October 2004
Visited Tokyo for the first time since I moved - big thanks to Sonal and Binay!
Karaoke with Jason, Emi and Hiroyuki - always guaranteed fun
My kindergarten had their annual sports day - another amazing presentation!
November 2004
One year anniversary of moving to Tsu!
I actually got to have a Thanksgiving dinner with a cool bunch of people
Fuji English School Speech Presentation - I gave a 7 minute speech in Japanese!! Ahh!
December 2004
This month flew by! Xmas parties, dinners, decorations, trips to Nagoya, Kyoto, etc.
Brian came to Japan on Dec 23rd...fun times, fun times!
January 2005
Rang in the New Year at Kobe's Portopialand
Went to Nara for Jennie's bday - big buddha, temples, hills on fire, fireworks, etc...
Interviewing for new teacher at Fuji English School (and my future roomie!)
Still to come in 2005...
Sapporo Snow Festival
visit from Mom and Art
trip to the Philippines
bday in Okinawa
visit from Dad and Sandy
visit from Nancy
climb Mt Fuji
Baseball game(s)
Onsens
visit from aunties
yes, I'm holding you all to those visits you said you were gonna make!
