March 27-April 2, 2006
Hello again everyone
Nice to keep in contact with everyone - thanks for those people who replied to last week's email. I am in the process of building own website, and it will feature a small BLOG, so I will add these emails to it soon.
Last week was very hectic, even though I am STILL ON HOLIDAYS!!
On Monday I had an interview at an English School - for a position as part-time teacher. I got the position thankfully and start their in 2 weeks. I will be teaching young kids from ages 3-10. It sounds really exciting, the hours are very flexible and the pay is amazing - $25-35 per hour!
On Tuesday I unwound from my trip away and did a bit of cooking for Kazuya (as he worked all day long). As usual, I studied, because I have an exam the first lesson back at uni which will decide the level of Japanese I am at and ultimately the class I am placed in.
Kazuya bought some ON SALE Dvd's whil I was away, so on Monday night we watched "Roman Holiday" - had never seen it, and on Tuesday night we watched "Love Story" - not a love story at all but a piece of trash!!! Good choice Kazuya!
On Wednesday I volunteered yet again - this time I went to Waseda Uni to help out the new exchange students with their preparations. Met some nice Australian kids who wll be at Waseda for the next year. Some seemed overwhelmed by the new scenes and new faces, but some were cocky and didn't really seem to care if I was there or not! Typical of exchange students though.. Had fun getting to know some new students - definately some new faces I will be seeing around campus. Came back home and relaxed with a DVD - "The Last Samurai" - saw it a few years ago when Iwas in Japan, but Kazuya wanted to see it.
On Thursday I met up with some friends whom I did the volunteer project with in Miyazaki in early February. Great to see them again - we headed to Ueno Park to part-take in HANAMI - it means "flower viewing" - this time of the year in Japan (Spring) all the sakura are out and blooming. They look stunning. The sakura tree blooms white and pink flowers and they brighten up the usually dull Tokyo skyline. So we sat down in the park with a packed lunch and a few beers and really took in this ancient tradition. Many years ago, the Geisha would entertain guests under the sakura at this time of the year. We decided our packed lunch didnt fil us up, so we had a coffee and then went to a sushi bar!! How typical of a Japanese!!!
On Friday I met up with a friend and we played tennis. Hadn't played for about 4 weeks, so following the 2 hour match, I was very sore! Then went to a games parlour and played table tennis -bet the court hire that I would win - I lost - so ended up paying the lot!!! Friday night, Kazuya brought home some snacks and another DVD he bought - "The Next Best Thing" starring Madonna - loved the movie, if not for a very very complicated plotline - has anyone seen it? Madonna plays the part of a single woman who ends up sleeping with her gay friend, and falls pregnant to his baby. She ends up having his baby, but it turns out the baby is someone elses. The movie goes into the custody battles between 2 fathers and Madonna!! Funny stuff! Does this mean that our lives are normal??? hahaha
On Saturday Kazuya had the day off, so we went out to Yasukuni Shrine - a controvrsial decision on my part. The Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi recently visited there on a personal appointment, which sent the Chinese government into hysteria. At the shrine are buried (enshrined) a number of World War II Japanese soldiers who, to the Japanese, are seen as heroes, but, to the Chinese are seen as war criminals. They raped and killed many Chinese civilians in Nanking. You probably all have heard of this before. So, I decided to go visit! I agree with the Chinese, yet, since I wasn't alive during WWII I feel it doesnt really concern me. The place was packed as usual...but I enjoyed the visit.
Kazuya and I walked through the nearby Park, and took in the Spring sunshine - it has been very warm and sunny here lately - can't wait for the Summer! We visited the Imperial Palace, before having lunch at an all-you-can-eat Asian buffet restaurant. The best food I have had for ages, and even better, cause I could pig out all for just $15!!
We then went and watched a movie - "A Sound Of Thunder" - not the best movie I have seen, but a new concept - you should go and see it if you get the chance.
Nice to keep in contact with everyone - thanks for those people who replied to last week's email. I am in the process of building own website, and it will feature a small BLOG, so I will add these emails to it soon.
Last week was very hectic, even though I am STILL ON HOLIDAYS!!
On Monday I had an interview at an English School - for a position as part-time teacher. I got the position thankfully and start their in 2 weeks. I will be teaching young kids from ages 3-10. It sounds really exciting, the hours are very flexible and the pay is amazing - $25-35 per hour!
On Tuesday I unwound from my trip away and did a bit of cooking for Kazuya (as he worked all day long). As usual, I studied, because I have an exam the first lesson back at uni which will decide the level of Japanese I am at and ultimately the class I am placed in.
Kazuya bought some ON SALE Dvd's whil I was away, so on Monday night we watched "Roman Holiday" - had never seen it, and on Tuesday night we watched "Love Story" - not a love story at all but a piece of trash!!! Good choice Kazuya!
On Wednesday I volunteered yet again - this time I went to Waseda Uni to help out the new exchange students with their preparations. Met some nice Australian kids who wll be at Waseda for the next year. Some seemed overwhelmed by the new scenes and new faces, but some were cocky and didn't really seem to care if I was there or not! Typical of exchange students though.. Had fun getting to know some new students - definately some new faces I will be seeing around campus. Came back home and relaxed with a DVD - "The Last Samurai" - saw it a few years ago when Iwas in Japan, but Kazuya wanted to see it.
On Thursday I met up with some friends whom I did the volunteer project with in Miyazaki in early February. Great to see them again - we headed to Ueno Park to part-take in HANAMI - it means "flower viewing" - this time of the year in Japan (Spring) all the sakura are out and blooming. They look stunning. The sakura tree blooms white and pink flowers and they brighten up the usually dull Tokyo skyline. So we sat down in the park with a packed lunch and a few beers and really took in this ancient tradition. Many years ago, the Geisha would entertain guests under the sakura at this time of the year. We decided our packed lunch didnt fil us up, so we had a coffee and then went to a sushi bar!! How typical of a Japanese!!!
On Friday I met up with a friend and we played tennis. Hadn't played for about 4 weeks, so following the 2 hour match, I was very sore! Then went to a games parlour and played table tennis -bet the court hire that I would win - I lost - so ended up paying the lot!!! Friday night, Kazuya brought home some snacks and another DVD he bought - "The Next Best Thing" starring Madonna - loved the movie, if not for a very very complicated plotline - has anyone seen it? Madonna plays the part of a single woman who ends up sleeping with her gay friend, and falls pregnant to his baby. She ends up having his baby, but it turns out the baby is someone elses. The movie goes into the custody battles between 2 fathers and Madonna!! Funny stuff! Does this mean that our lives are normal??? hahaha
On Saturday Kazuya had the day off, so we went out to Yasukuni Shrine - a controvrsial decision on my part. The Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi recently visited there on a personal appointment, which sent the Chinese government into hysteria. At the shrine are buried (enshrined) a number of World War II Japanese soldiers who, to the Japanese, are seen as heroes, but, to the Chinese are seen as war criminals. They raped and killed many Chinese civilians in Nanking. You probably all have heard of this before. So, I decided to go visit! I agree with the Chinese, yet, since I wasn't alive during WWII I feel it doesnt really concern me. The place was packed as usual...but I enjoyed the visit.
Kazuya and I walked through the nearby Park, and took in the Spring sunshine - it has been very warm and sunny here lately - can't wait for the Summer! We visited the Imperial Palace, before having lunch at an all-you-can-eat Asian buffet restaurant. The best food I have had for ages, and even better, cause I could pig out all for just $15!!
We then went and watched a movie - "A Sound Of Thunder" - not the best movie I have seen, but a new concept - you should go and see it if you get the chance.
And yesterday I had a day full of parties - as I got the job at the English School last Monday, we had a welcome party for the new teachers there - a lunch buffet. Nice to meet the new teachers - there were 9 people there, but no one was from the same country!! Isn't that incredible! We had a Russsian, Peruvian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Phillipino, Korean and a lady from Finland!! And me from Australia! Isn't that incredible! Felt like the United Nations! Now I know what to expect! The ladies had been in Japan for about 10-15 years as they had got married to Japanese men. Very interesting, considering they were struggling with the language. Don't know why they hadn't learned it after so long!!
Last night we had a sushi party at my accommodation - another welcome party - because everyone has now officially moved in! Nice to meet everyone. Went to bed very late at the end of another hectic week.
This week is my last week on Spring break before I go back to uni.
I have uploaded more photos to My Gallery. Check it out:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=qe7k4zy.12ch28wq&Uy=-5p1le9&Ux=1
There are a number of albums to select. (The link MAY not work)
Take care everyone and keep in touch
Tim
xxxx
Last night we had a sushi party at my accommodation - another welcome party - because everyone has now officially moved in! Nice to meet everyone. Went to bed very late at the end of another hectic week.
This week is my last week on Spring break before I go back to uni.
I have uploaded more photos to My Gallery. Check it out:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=qe7k4zy.12ch28wq&Uy=-5p1le9&Ux=1
There are a number of albums to select. (The link MAY not work)
Take care everyone and keep in touch
Tim
xxxx
posted by Tim at 7:35 PM
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