I haven't even been here a year as of yet. But I am preparing myself for another year. Another year of teaching and everything else. At some points though teaching felt like a hobby and figuring out stuff to do and places to go was my full time job. Well that is why I haven't made a post in a long time. I don't have the internet at home, yet. Hopefully soon. And I usually spend my time somewhere outside of Miyama.
Over the last couple weeks I've gone to Hiroshima and made it back to Chicago. Hiroshima is a totally different city than Osaka and is more managable than the hugness that is Osaka. Chicago was just a big blur. What I ended up doing the most was just sitting and watching movies and flipping through channels. Of course with there was the ocassional party and nights of anarchy in the city.
Once back in Japan, I felt as if I were gone for months, almost a year. I still feel that way. Things are different though on the onset of another teaching year. For one thing a lot of ALTs have been replaced with new ones. I don't know the new people well yet, but I hope that there will be good times to be had in the future. Also, my town, Miyama, is now part of Hidakagawa-cho, which means I have to answer to a new and different Board of Education. They now want me to punch in every day before work and write journals everyday. Not really a big deal, but it doesn't help me in anyway. Oh and lastly, I have a new school for my one man travelling circus. It is the junior high in Nakatsu. I've been there once, but we'll see how that place really is starting next Thursday.
So that's the past and future. Recently I've visited my good friend Joe at his new place in Osaka. We hit he nightlife with his buddies on Saturday night and drank whisky till 1am. It was an early night. I guess because we are old now or something. Monday, after a quick private lesson I went to Gobo and had dinner at a small restaurant with Corri, Ben, and Lauren. Tuesday was another Miyoko's, a good one too, nothing exciting, just a bunch of yabbering and all. Good food too, except the gas, but that went away and made room for the apple slices. Hah ha. I saw the movie A Very Long Engagment yesterday during lunch. I wouldn't say it was sad, but it had sad moments. A good story too.
Today I have to go to the DMV in Wakayama to start the paperwork for my driver's license. It seems like it will be so painful. Today is just paperwork. In a couple weeks I have to go take a written and practical test. It will be nice to have a Japanese license once I get through the ordeal of having to get it.
There are a bunch of parties this weekend. I don't know if I am up for all of them, but I will try. Plus I am getting tired of the party scene. I also need to study Japanese. I have no confidence in my Japanese anymore, maybe an all time low.
Another year of teaching, well emphasizing English usage, I hope to see more of Japan and become friends with more Japanese people.
