Sakura

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom this weekend, so I went out to take some pictures on this nice sunny Sunday.

Hellos, Goodbyes, and Spring

Cherry blossoms








This is the bridge I run across to go to my gym.





Some of the Japanese style landscaping around the houses near me.

My mini-kitchen, a washing machine in the back there, and shower on the right (finally!)

The ladder up to my loft, which is currently being used for storage, but has a second bed for any good friends who might stop by.

A bed. No more sleeping on the floor for me.

Back yard view from window.

They say you never know what you what you have until you lose it, and as much as I like to disagree with what people say, I have to admit that this is true. I just knew I wouldn't miss my last job, but it turns out that I do. Maybe it's because it was so simple, or because I left so abruptly. Or maybe it's because of the extremely sentimental package that I received from my school.







(Can you find me??? Hint: I'm the white guy)

However, there are many advantages to living in Tokyo. I am most thankful for the small things, such as having my own bathroom (instead of bathing publicly), a bed (as opposed to sleeping on the floor in a futon), and being within a stone's throw of a nice supermarket, within walking distance to restaurants, and only 20 minutes by train to Shinjuku.
So I am actually living in the burbs of Tokyo, and it is not quite as bustling here as in the city, which is a good thing. I can still enjoy a bit of nature here as well.
Today I had to go to the ward office to officially change my address so I can be a resident of the city. On the way, I noticed how much warmer it has gotten and that Spring has finally arrived, after a long, cold winter.

New Things

I have been so busy since I arrived in Tokyo that I am just now getting around to updating my blog. It has been a very difficult two weeks. I finished my last day of training for my new job on Friday and all I have to say is that it is very intense and much different and more difficult (for me) than my last job. I am pretty much entertaining kindergarten kids for a living. My main school is the largest kindergarten in Japan, evidently, and has won a lot of awards for being one of the best kindergartens in the world. I have two other schools besides that, so there is a lot of pressure. But aside from that, it seems like my co-workers are all really great and I like where I am living. I FINALLY got a gym membership, which seems to make life so much better. It is actually within running distance from my apartment, so it's really nice.





Yesterday was my first real day off and I went to Yoyogi Park to celebrate an early hanami, even though the cherry blossoms aren't really full yet. There was a weird hippie thing going on there and it reminded me a lot of Asheville. It's weird being thrust into a new job, a new apartment, and new friends all of a sudden. I am just trying to adjust to it all.

Today I received a package from my school that I worked at last year. They made me a scrapbook with messages from each student and it was so nice. I am so sad that I didn't get to properly say goodbye to such an awesome school. They also sent me gifts and some things from my desk that I left behind after the earthquake.