For Want of Gardens

Since moving, I’ve been wanting to start my own garden. However, I don’t yet know much about my work status past September, so I hesitate to accumulate yet more stuff. I still have my cactus Saboten (bought when I still worked in Tajimi), which I brought with me to Anjo. It was a pain to bring, even though I hired a moving truck, so imagine if I do get more plants. Also, I never really had a green-thumb, so to speak. Saboten is looking quite worse for wear, despite my best efforts. I will have to think more about this.

Happy Birthday, Mom

We might be miles apart, but we’re always under the same sky, connected by the flow of the great oceans, and will never stop thinking about each other. I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Rolling Hills

It’s hard to believe that Golden Week is over. It went by too fast. My next vacation isn’t until August. I also can’t believe that it’s something I can find complaint about.

Back in the US, I never really had any holidays. If I was lucky, I might have Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Easter off. Since coming to Japan, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to not only have two days off a week, but to also have paid vacations.

When I speak to people from outside the US, they can’t believe that vacations aren’t the norm for us, especially if we don’t come from a white collar – middle class family. I’ve lived here for just under a year and I already find myself wondering if I could ever go back to living as I did back home. Something tells me I wouldn’t. it’s startling, but I wonder if I’ve left my home country for good.

Up High – Meijimura

In Meijimura, there is a tall partial building, which was once part of a bank. It’s about four or five stories tall and afords one hell of a view.

The Wild Derpfish

Last weekend I went to a garden with a large pond filled with Koi. For 100 yen, visitors could buy a cup of pellets to feed to the fish. The koi are actually really keen on people, since they associate them with food. Even if you don’t have food, they still come to the water’s edge. This gal (since there are usually only one male in a pond) tried to eat my camera.

Warm Roses

The mornings have been coming a little earlier and earlier each day. It hasn’t impacted my sleep cycle all too much just yet, but it will soon enough.

White like Snow

The weather has been pretty great recently. With the exception of a bit of rain, the days have been rather warm. Many Japanese people are super proud of their distinct four seasons, and it seems for good reason.