Of Recent...

I have had requests for more pictures of things I have been doing recently... but I am hesitant to put up even more pictures simply of my classes and Kitakata, however those are what my pictures are of... day-to-day life.

I find that the longer I live here, the less I am intrigued by area festivals or going out with the ALT crowd for the usual [and inevitable] festival - karaoke pairing. I find myself sticking to saving money and staying in. To quiet nights in Kitakata rather than even venturing into neighboring Aizuwakamatsu. This is not to be taken as I am not having fun or enjoying myself. I assuredly am doing both. I am lucky to have fun people in my town and Rich living very close-by.

When I first arrived in Japan I was bright eyed and bushy tailed. The allure of a new country, culture, and chapter in my life elevated me to endless optimism. As the winter begins to settle in again and the days become shorter the sense of vertigo is dwindling...again. That is not to say that I am in anyway NOT enjoying Japan because I really am; this is where I need to be in my life, especially monetarily and I’m sticking to that...The difference is that my time here in Japan is becoming less like a vacation and more like…my life.

It is now November of my third year and there are less surprises and things are more of a routine. This might seem bad, however, it has given me the opportunity to maximize my involvement in the community and feel more like a resident rather than a guest. I am trying to take value in all of that and do what I can locally. I am feeling that combined with my feelings of being a resident, I am also wary of travel in and around Japan. The price tag can be steep... an average weekend in Tokyo [with its inevitable feelings of I'm on vacation! I should live it up!] can easily run me upwards of $200. [I compare this to living in Orange County and having a night out in LA...] so I am trying to keep my spending low and read more, cook more, bargain shop and generally SAVE.

In more of a true mistake than purposefully, come Friday I will have gone an entire month spending only $350. This includes EVERYTHING [besides rent, phone and electricity] gas, lunches, food.... It was certainly a challenge but one well worth it.

So for now I am looking very forward to 12/16 when Brad will be in Japan and our upcoming trip to Cambodia. Until then, I will keep trying to stay entertained with the new camera, planning for December and generally playing the saving game.

A recent picture of Brian, Rich and Julian playing the game Rock Band in my living room: