Mom and Gma in Japan!

At the beginning of the month, I was fortunate to have my mom and grandma visit me in Japan! We went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagasaki. It was challenging to plan the trip, and to have the best Japanese language skills in the group, but I had a blast, and it was great to see some familiar faces! I think we tired grandma out a little bit, but we saw some pretty cool things along the way...
At Tokyo Station

Nagasaki Peace Museum

Geisha spotting

Kinkakuji Temple


They liked this guy. He is supposed to cure ailments...


Nara Park


Hachiko statue. Our own akita passed away that same day... :-(


The busiest crosswalk in the world!

Change is in the Air...

Right now, I am at the end of spring vacation. In Japan, the new school year begins in April (as opposed to August or September). So I am busy getting ready for a whole new batch of first year students. Another part of the new school year is the influx of new (transfer) teachers. Every year, each school sends teachers to other schools in the prefecture. As a teacher, you can put in a request, but there is absolutely no guarantee it will be granted. This year, only one of my JTEs is leaving, but a few other teachers I was fond of were sent off to island schools (ie really far away). I am told that teachers spend an average of 6 years at one school before being transferred on. Also, each teacher takes a turn at an island school. I am beginning to meet a few of the new teachers, but I have to admit, this whole system seems a bit...awkward. Can you imagine being uprooted every few years? Especially if you have a family?! Odd.

But spring also means...sakura season! The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and they are gorgeous!