Saganoseki Fursato Matsuri

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Onna Matsuri Beppu

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fall

Australia continued

Darling Harbour


Hot chocolate break outside the Lindt Cafe


Featherdale Wildlife Park in Blacktown



Balmain Market




Glenda & Dennis' backyard Japanese garden



Nabe for two

Touring the Blue Mountains





Glenda and I went up to the Central Coast and checked out 3 beach areas - Terrigal, Copacabana, and Avoca

Australia!

I'm in Australia visiting my good friend Glenda who I met on the JET Program in Ehime, Japan a few years ago. I'm staying with Glenda and her husband Dennis and am having a great time. Glenda planned out lots of fun stuff. Here's some of the things we've done so far:

We went to Circular Quay and took the ferry to Watson's Bay for a lunch of fish and chips on the waterfront

We saw the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

Beppu July

Typhoon!


We had a couple of typhoons just before I left Japan for the summer. On this day I didn't have much food at my place so I ventured out. After walking about 50m down the street I was completely soaked even though I had an umbrella. I went back and changed and fashioned a 'rain skirt' out of a garbage bag.

Taiko

Posing with the taiko group after the performance for new members. I was supposed to perform with them but had to drop out for a while because of a leg injury.

Beppu Matsuri

Managed to get in one summer festival before leaving Japan for the summer. Although I've worn Yukata (summer kimono) several times in the past, this was the first time I managed to dress myself, obi and all!

Beppu June

beppu june

Beppu May

Flat Stanley


As part of a 2nd grade school project, Flat Stanley came to visit me in Japan. I took him around Beppu, out for sushi, to taiko practice, and introduced him to my students. I then sent him on to Australia to visit Glenda and Dennis.




Hit Parade

We discovered smorgasbord of entertainment all in one place in downtown Beppu called Hit Parade. You pay one price (3000yen/i.e.$30) for all you can eat, drink, karaoke, and live entertainment. The main attraction is the live entertainment which is a 50's/60's cover band which had everyone up and dancing. One of Beppu's best kept secrets!




Birthday


After wondering where everyone was for my first period class, the students all came in at once singing Happy Birthday and presented me with flowers!

Beppu April

Around Beppu during cherry blossom season







One day a couple of other teachers had the crazy idea that we should hike up Mt. Takasaki. In all I think we walked about 6 hours round trip. But a lot of that was finding our way to the mountain and getting lost a bit.



University campus

Relocated

I made it back to Japan in time to catch the cherry blossoms in both Tokyo and my new place of residence - Beppu, Oita. I'm in my second week of work teaching Introductory English to first year students at a university in Beppu which is at the top of a mountain with incredible views (photos of that to come when we get a nice clear day to take pics). In the meantime, have a look at my pics of Tokyo's cherry blossoms.