Well its a wet Saturday afternoon and having been inspired by a colleague to stick to this blog, I can see no better way to pass the time than to scribble down a few of my latest and greatest adventures. Starting with a quick review of 2008 so far. Well, just a few blog entries ago I noticed I had mentioned that I was merely 25, I wonder if my 28th year will bring about any significant changes in my lifesytle or maturity. Here goes...

The return to work in January was anything but smooth for me. Lots and lots of pressures with work extras and hours spent marking essays meant that I didn't enjoy the term as much as expected. I also found the post-Christmas blues quite strong this year. That said, outside of work I learnt to snowboard which was a lot of fun. The feeling of satisfaction when I managed to link together a few hesitant turns on my first morning on the baby slopes was immense although it didn't prepare me well enough for the afternoon's red runs higher up the mountain! I can't say my legs were prepared for the pain I inflicted on them (or my derriere for that matter!). Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed the onsen and beer that evening. Things went a little more smoothly the next day and I am already looking forward to going back next season. Japan has some excellent ski/snowboard areas within easy access of Tokyo - although missing a night's sleep on a night bus is the cheapest way to get there.

I also joined a ladies football team in January. Not expecting to like it or be any good, I was moderately surprised on both accounts. I go most weeks and feel that I am making quite noticeable progress so again, that is satisfying. We don't always have enough women who turn up regularly, so a few men have also joined us although they are very kind to us! We now have a new coach who has been putting us through our paces and making me feel that I need to do more than this weekly runaround. I was very flattered though last week, when he called me 'his enemy'.

Continuing the sporting theme...(I will get to the drinking and abuse of my body in part 2). Climbing is still occupying a large part of my recreational time...I have met someone who has taken me outside to do some rope climbing. I love climbing outside as it always feels more real somehow. And it's more satisfying too when I reach the top and see the beautiful mountain scenery around me. I have recently rediscovered how stunning the countryside is around Tokyo if prepared to travel a while. With a good book or a friend to talk to the two hour journeys are not as troublesome as they seemed before. I recently went walking in some very attractive mountain areas in and around Mitake and Tsukuba and since right now it's a perfect time to be outside, there really were no excuses to be made.

The visit to Japan of my brother, Gaia and Jenna provided me with another perfect opportunity to travel and experience parts of Tokyo that I have been meaning to do since coming here. Our three days in Nagasaki were fantastic and informative in equal measure, though the highlight of the week for me was the Tokyo fish market we went to at the crack of dawn and the party later that evening. The fish market is the biggest in the world and is truly impressive. The sheer variety of sea-life was staggering and added with the danger of getting out of the way of the careering, battered trucks made for a very memorable experience. Tourists have been causing too many problems for this market since it relies on the efficiency of getting the fish delivered to restaurants across the city and beyond in times which ensure fresh sashimi. So I believe it has now closed its doors to the public which meant that our visit was timely indeed. Which brings me to the party in the evening...there is not so much to say about that, only that it goes down in my memory as one of the best since I have been here. I enjoyed getting together with people I have grown close to since being here but who didn't know each other before - friends who I came with, Japanese friends I have made since, colleagues and of course the travellers. It was a very drunken evening for me and the singing in the karaoke box probably got progressively worse as the evening wore on...but thats the point innit?

Since then, I have started my second year at the same junior and senior high school teaching conversational English and also English literature. I feel a lot more relaxed this year having taught many of the same levels last year and feeling pretty comfortable with my new schedule. I realised this morning as I was watching a group of boys walk to school and listening to them teasing each other that I can't imagine not teaching anymore. I will also miss teaching Japanese students as I have really come to appreciate their humour, their hardwork and their respect for teachers and each other. I say that, but one of their favourite pastimes recently is watching my face as they deliberately distort my name into combinations of Tonton, Sonton, and Soooorrrrnton.