Rainy Season

The rainy season is upon us in Tsu, dear friends, which means that each new morning brings with it the anticipation of what I will find when I open my curtains for the first time. In the past week, we've actually been quite lucky: it has hardly rained at all. But today was a "dogs and cats" day (my students often mix up the word order of that English idiom), and for some reason, that got me in the mood to get caught up on my blog. My blog has unfortunately fallen to the wayside in the madness of the past couple of months, though I suppose it's a good thing that life is busy here. I mean, you'd hate for it to be the opposite. The preparation that comes with the rainy season alone is enough to keep me busy: Do I need an umbrella? Should I put on my rain pants? Should I bring an extra bag for the rain gear? How wet will my bike seat be - do I need a different pair of pants? It's on days like today that I miss having a vehicle.

A couple of weeks ago, I started my Japan Bucket List, and after a few days of Freaking Out over how much I still wanted to see and do, I decided to throw it away and just keep living the way I normally do. Will I make it to Tokyo again before flying out of the airport there on my trip home? No. How about spending a day viewing Mt. Fuji? Maybe not. But I've already been pleasantly surprised by the things I've found to fill my dwindling days here in Tsu. I realized that, while traveling is great, I want to spend as much time as I can soaking up the daily life here in my "hometown" that I"v come to love so much. Plus, I've traveled a LOT, to which this blog can attest.

Here are a few of the things that have been keeping me happy during the month of June in Tsu:

Shopping in the rainy season = plastic cover over shopping bags. Japan is awesome.

I went back to Yakushiji to see my favorite pagodas.

Japan.

The competing mascots of Nara. I think you know which one I favor...

A beautiful Japanese garden was a must on my Amen trip to Nara.

That sign says "Free for Foreign Tourists." Even better.

Nara is my favorite place.

A year later...

Even swarming with school children, I'll never tire of this place.

At a Three Arrows game, we found NINE American flags sewn together. Oh, Japan.

But the Three Arrows WON! Can you believe it?

Shopping at Nagashima outlet mall with my students. So. Much. Fun.

Yep, those are three dogs in that stroller.

We got Cold Stone! Oh, and in Japan, the workers don't sing when they're tipped. They sing ALL THE TIME.

My student came over to our place to cook us his famous fried rice.

It was absolutely delicious. Followed by an afternoon of Wii? Yes, please.

Also, I've got to give a shout out to Sarah's parents, Jerry and Joanne Haugen, who visited last week. I had so much fun getting to know them, hanging out with them, and joining in on valuable family time with the two of them and Sarah. It was great to have, as I said to Sarah, "our kind of people," around for a while. They were a wonderful little reminder of home. Thanks for everything!

I hope the end of June finds all of you well, and that you're living it up this summer. I'll be home in just over a month!