Summer 2013

Summer 2013 has finally come to a close. The opening ceremony for the new term at Kanazu was today. Even though I’m excited to get back into the classroom and improve as a teacher, I will miss the summer time. Summer has always been my favorite season. I love the warm weather and the relaxed atmosphere.

This summer in particular has been amazing. I stayed in Fukui all summer in an attempt to save money for Anna’s trip to Japan (She’s here now and I’m loving it!). I enjoyed a relaxing summer full of sunsets and trips to the beach. I am so lucky to be living near a ton of great beaches and I took full advantage of that. The closest beach is only 10 minutes from my apartment! Living on the west coast has given me ample time to soak up the last few minutes of sun at the oceans edge!

 
Enjoy the photos.

Summer 2013: The Summer of Sunsets.

Sunset at Tojinbo Cliffs 10 minutes from my house.

Sunset in Kyoto from Fushimi Inari

Sunset Beach with Anna.

More Sunset beach.

Sunrise from Fuji.

The Beach Bar 10 minutes from my apartment

More Tojinbo

Tojinbo

Sunset Beach again

After a long day on the beach with a few friends. 

Photo Credit: Christen

One year Anniversary.

Its been a whole year since I began living in Fukui. It has gone by so fast.

I still feel like a novice everyday in Japan. I don't understand about 70% of what is being said around me. I can only read about 200 Kanji (Chinese characters- there are 2000 total in fluent Japanese). I speak like a caveman. I also make countless cultural and etiquette mistakes.

This past month about 30 new ALTs arrived in Fukui and I have been involved in a lot of their new welcome events and gatherings. Working with them has been super nostalgic. I remember asking the same questions and struggling with chopsticks and soup. I remember falling in my first Gaijin trap and other unfortunate occurrences. Even though I still feel like a novice, working with the new ALTs has shown me how much I have grown.

As I start my second year here in Fukui, everything looks familiar. Students are preparing for their culture and sports festivals. I have been here and done this before. This year is different though. Instead of only observing, I’m participating; Laughing with my students, helping them build giant sculptures and paint banners.  Looking back on what I learned in the last year makes me excited for all the things I will learn this year. Here is to another year of adventures, culture, learning, and teaching. 
楽しみにしています！