Bungee Japan!

WOW! What an amazing vacation I just had! Here are some images of me taking the plunge. I was so terrified! But I feel so alive overcoming that! I am afraid of heights, especially when I can see below my feet, so I feel very accomplished with this holiday. After bungeeing, we went to the Alpine Lodge and relaxed. We took a dip in the river and had dinner. The next day we went canyoning. That was great fun. Canyoning is basically going down a bunch of natural waterslides, ex waterfalls, jumping off rocks into the river, floating down some fast currents. We had an amazing day. We did the canyoning in the morning and went to Mt. Tanigawadake in the afternoon. What amazing views. We took a nice walk along the side of the mountain. The air was so fresh! I forgot what nature looked like! I should have some pictures from that posted soon. We (Em, Lisa, and myself) ended up deciding to stay an extra night last minute. So, we stayed Tuesday night and went white water rafting Wed morning (this morning). The rapids were only a grade 2 at this time of year, so it wasn't that thrilling. I can't wait to May or June next year and go when its a grade 4. We jumped off some more rocks and played in the water a lot. After that we decided to return home. We bought some omiyage, small gifts, for the office of course. That is a custom here in Japan, if you go somewhere on holiday, you buy a little something for the office. I bought them some wafer cookies. Just a little something to share with everybody. I still can't believe I bungee jumped. This was a thrilling vacation and I am so happy I did it. I will bungee jump again, I just have to convince some more people to go with me! I kinda fell off the top instead of leaping, and now I am ready to actually jump when I leave that little stand. I hope all is well in the states. I will have more to report on later. All my love!

Goin Bungee

Hey everyone, just wanted you to know I am going bungee jumping today! I am very excited! Should be loads of fun! I can't wait! I will give you an update soon. I think we are coming back tomorrow night so I will update then, hopefully with a picture or two. I am jumping at noon today, say a prayer at 11:00 pm PA time! I will call you soon MICHAEL!!!

M&Ms

Ifound M&Ms!!! YAY!!! I am so excited! They have never tasted so good. I couldn't believe it but I walked into the convini and there they were. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I bought a bag, right then and there. Today felt like a slow day at the school. I had a 2 and a half hour prep period and it was just boring. I had prepared most of my classes for the next few days so I had some down time. Above is also some pictures from the Uchiwa Festival. I am in a traditional jimbe outfit. It looks like PJs, doesn't it?!? Have a great day in the States! It's time for me to go to bed! Love to all!

The newest one!

First and foremost: CONGRATS FEROZ BROTHERS REUNION SHOW!!! I wish I could have been there to watch it. I heard it was an awesome show, despite the rain. All my love to the family! It was good to talk to you, even if just for a minute.

Well, this has been a busy week. Last Monday I went to the beach. The beach was a 2 and a half hour train ride there and a 3 hour train ride back. All in all, it was fun! Tattoos are very taboo in Japan, and we saw so many young people at the beach with them. Many workout facilities and hot springs will not allow you to enter if you have a tattoo. So it was kind of a shock when we saw so many. I got sunburned at the beach...and we played ultimate frisbee! It was a wonderful day. Its been so long since I have been in the ocean, I forgot there was salt in it! I had such a good time there and can't wait to go back to the beach.

This week has proven to keep me busy at work. My lessons are solidifying and I am becoming a better teach with every lesson. My time management is improving. I think my students are enjoying the classes even more. I wish I had more time to work on my Japanese. I will soon.

I have bought 2 Disney movies to help me learn Japanese, Bambi and Cinderella. There is a method in Japan called Ondouku where you listen to a short audio clip first in English, then read the translation, then say the Japanese while the English is playing, and repeat repeat repeat. Finally, you listen to the English one last time and you understand most of it. I am just reversing the process for me. I will use these 2 movies to help me. I hope it helps!

The Uchiwa festival was last week as well and that was a lot of fun. I wore a traditional Japanese Jimbe, which basically looks like PJs to Americans. They are very comfortable though. I loved them. I can't wait to wear them in America. I think everyone will get a kick out of me wearing them as well! The festival had many floats decorated with lanterns and drummers on them. It was amazing to see. Go to www.youtube.com and type in kumagaya uchiwa festival...you will get a glimpse of what I saw during the festival.

I finally found REAL peanut butter! I am going to buy it tomorrow. I can't wait! They have peanut cream here, but its not the same. I really want a PB and J sandwich. I am so excited for it.

As always, hope all is well in America. Miss yall!!!