An Experiment

After talking with a friend, I set up a makeshift recording studio for the creation of youtube videos. The premise is talking about and reviewing interesting foods, drinks, and snacks I find here in Japan. The videos are mostly a way to share some of my experiences with folks back in New York and it looks like it will take me some time to get used to the new format.

That isn’t to say I’m giving up blogging. Hell no! But think of it as a suppliment to my usual content. If you are interested, you can find my channel here. It has a few travel and nature videos as well.

New Home

Last weekend, I moved from Nagoya to a city called Anjo, for work. I spent Sunday scrubbing my old apartment and packing up the rest of my stuff. Monday, the moving truck came, manned by the sweetest little grandpa I’ve ever met, and I registered myself (and my bike) at the local government office. Since thing I have been settling in to my new place and getting used to my new classes.

My room is a bit smaller than my last one, with no balcony, and a lower loft. However, I do have a proper closet and plenty of storage spaces. The best part is the 10 minute walk to work. It’s super convenient in the morning.

The kitchen is tiny, though. I love to cook, so although my last place had a small kitchen, I set things up so that I had at least a little space to do things like chop ingredients, mix things, and so on. Here, I put my dinner tray over the sink and that’s all I have to work with. I need to thing of how I can better utilize my space.

 

 

Winds of Change

Big changes are coming in June. I will be moving again as well as starting a new work contract. This time, however, it will be at a branch school. As a kids’ teacher.

It all happened so quickly. One moment I was trying to figure out where I was going to live this summer and how I was going to make the money in my bank account stretch, but now I’m trying to shove all my crap into boxes and clean up the place for the next person.

I’m excited for my next big adventure.

Oasis 21 at Night

The weather has been wonderful, so I’ve been trying to take advantage of it. After almost a year in the center of Nagoya, I’m being transferred to Anjo City. While it won’t be impossible to come to the big city, it will take much longer and be a bit more expensive.

During my walks, I found myself at Oasis 21 in Sakae. It’s a shopping area made of about four levels. These pictures were taken from the top level, which sports a reflecting pool/fountain and plexi-glass floor.

It’s also a pretty convenient location from where I am living now. It’s only a handful of stops away on the Sakuradori Line. I think I may visit this place from time to time, after my move.

Takashima Island

In Gamagori there is an island, just off shore, housing a collection of old Shinto Shrines. It’s a small island, not even a mile across.

Besides the shrines, there are beaches around the outer edge of the island which are known for their shellfish.

After paying respects at the various shrines, it’s a quick walk back from the exit, though not necessarily and easy one.

There is an uneven path set between the hill the shrines are perched upon and the surrounding beaches. Some places are quite steep, especially for those wearing inappropriate shoes. The walk is only about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how many pictures you stop to take or shells you decided to collect.

My friends and I took about 40 minutes for obvious reasons.

Children’s Day

Yesterday was a national holiday called Children’s Day. I met up with some friends for sightseeing in Gamagori, Nishio, and Handa.

We visited an island with a Shinto shrine on it, a miso factory, a vinegar museum, a tea house, and a costco.

It was pretty fun.

View from Gifu Tower 43

I recently had some free time, so I hopped on a train to Gifu. Since coming to Japan, I have never been to Gifu City, though I have worked in several schools in the prefecture. I thought it was time to remedy that.

 

The train ride was pretty short, since I took a rapid train. It was the afternoon rush hour (weekday), so I had to stand the entire trip, but the ride was only about fifteen minutes.

The station is pretty impressive, with a large plaza for meeting people and a long wooden boardwalk.

Nearby is Tower 43, a shopping mall, condominium, and observation area all in one. The observation area is completely free, which is nice. It is rather small however.

You can see a lot from the large windows and a one- sided-glass elevator connecting the first four floors and the forty third.

I ended up staying only about ten minutes, since there isn’t that much to see or do. The observation area is attached to a fancy restaurant, but when I was there it wasn’t open yet and really out my price range.

I would like to come back at night some time, to see the city lit up. I have a feeling it would be beautiful.