Irasshai: August 2007

just some farms

juls and i went for a 'sunday drive' yesterday. we were in mennonite country and i kept being reminded of our bookclub book, 'a complicated kindness'.

just a shashin-less updato

well, those of you who know me well probably know that i've been dying to update my blog...but i've left my computer in ottawa and i've been in guelph and toronto for the last little while so i was kind of waiting until i had some interesting pics to post. but now it's looking like i won't be back in ottawa for a little while yet, so i thought i'd just write a little posting to keep my faithfull readers entertained.
it's too difficult or time consuming to think about all of the little things that make it great to be back, and also all of the little things that i miss about japan. the first few days were a bit strange, i was in a bit of a haze, my mind and heart was still in japan and only my body here. but as the days go by i feel more at ease and everything is starting to feel natural again.
almost immediately after arriving in ottawa i snagged a ride down to toronto and have spent the past week or so there and in guelph, between my sister's and brother's. most of my friends are down here now, and marijke is leaving on labour day to france for an indefinite amount of time, so i wanted to be here and spend some time with her before she goes.
in guelph i'm staying with nicolas and loralie and am therefore able to spend tons of time with natalie. i'm sure that every aunt feels that her niece is the absolute most beautiful and intelligent baby in the entire world...but actually i seriously think that natalie actually IS. ;)
haha but yeah - she understands almost everything you tell her, and she knows sooooooo many words and signs. everytime i go upstairs she yells "STINE!" which is pretty funny since she still hasn't quite learned how to say marijke...although today she did manage a "mawaka". i could of course go on and on here but i'll spare you the deets.
i still feel as though i'm just on holiday now as i'm not doing anything with my time but 'hanging out'. i'm kind of mentally giving myself until the end of august to just chill before i seriously start to think about what i'm going to do job-wise and begin to take some measures along that road. but it's stressfull watching my bank balance go down and down wtih nothing going in.
the weather was a bit chilly for a while but it's soared again today and is hot hot hot.
maybe nico can help me out with downloading the driver so i can upload some pics onto this computer - of course they're mostly natalie shots and guelph neighbourhood shots.
missing you all. comment onegaishimasu.

my last couple of weeks...

just needed to post some pics. my last few weeks in japan were fantastic.
can't bring myself to write in detail about how much YOU all mean to me
but maybe i will post more soon.
left my camera at narita...with all my Last Night In Niigata photos on it...gutted.

another night at immies

me and kazeta

kate, mie, tomoks and me

giacomo

!

bbq at masa's

beachy days with kazeta

i spent a large amount of time at nakajo beach with kazeta (kboxing instructor). the last day we went, we couldn't go swimming because of hammerhead shark school sightings! how random....in nakajo.

pagoda in nakajo

my friend and teacher yumi brought me out to this pagoda complex in nakajo. it's over 400 years old and pretty impressive.

lins' place in nakajo

i stayed my last two weeks at lindsay's house in nakajo, which was really nice. monkeys all around, and only 10 minutes to the beach.

open mic at goia mia

the last open mic session at GM was a great night because of (or, despite?) all of the american marines who were in port and showed up. (shizuka, me and lins)

giacomo, lins and me

sayonara party at immigrant's

lins, kat and i had our sayonara party at immigrants. we had a great turnout, good music, and even a little entertainment from shin at the bar. thanks to greg for hosting...
immigrant's will always be my favourite 'spot' in niigata. (greg above)