afraid of small animals

All about me!

It's the beginning of a new JET year and it's about the 3rd month in a row of absolute nonstop, everyday craziness for me.  After talking with my parents last night (for the first time in a month or two at least) I decided that I definitely need to have more balance in my year, especially since it is going to be my last.  Not only have I been to busy to post here for friends and family at home, but I haven't even had the chance to take any pictures!  The goal of my fourth (and last) year in Japan is definitely going to be balance.

 

Not this kind of balance, though.  Chito and Cally showing off their taichi moves at the bottom of the peak tram in Hong Kong before we went off to stuff ourselves at yumcha.   

Hong Kong 2007

Did I mention that I took another trip to Hong Kong this summer?  I went this time with Chito and Cally, aka Team Shikoku, and we did a whirlwind shopping and eating tour on a long weekend in July.

We got to take the ferry this time and catch some really nice views of Hong Kong Island.  The blue sky and clouds while we were there were picture perfect!

These are the instructors demonstrating at the Taichi lesson we went to one morning. 

We each had our own personal highlights of the trip.  I think this was Chito's--when we arrived at Hong Kong Airport, and then again when we left.

Pandas!  They were everywhere.  My favorite animal!

After some seriously crazy shopping and running through the crowds on a sweltering day to get there on time, Cally and I met up with Chito and his dad for a really delicious Chinese dinner.  It was the culinary highlight of the trip!

    

 

Yukata Season

Here is a picture of one of the nicest goodbyes I could ask for (stolen from Marina).  My tea teacher was particularly keen to see Marina one last time before she went home, so she made us dinner and invited Marina to make tea at her house during our lesson last week.  My teacher loves Marina for her "kind face" even though she doesn't speak Japanese, and was even more delighted to have her over because she taught my teacher's granddaughter this year.  The delicious home cooking and the good company was almost enough to make me forget that I was sweating buckets in my yukata.  It was the perfect goodbye to Marina, and hopefully for Marina, a nice goodbye to Japan, too.

It's been a while since I updated, and it's not just because I'm obsessed with my car (contrary to popular belief).  I'm busy, busy, busy, but should be able to fit in a post or two before I head off to Tokyo to pick up the next wave of newbies.