Life in Japan

I moved to Japan as a part of the JET Program in August of 2003. These are some pictures from my first month living and working there.

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My hotel room at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo The lobby of Keio Plaza. It's a pretty ritzy hotel, and anyone who I tell that I've stayed there is instantly impressed. The grand meeting hall where we had our welcome to Japan orientation. Some shots of the Shinjuku area. More Shinjuku...
More Shinjuku... More Shinjuku... More Shinjuku... These are other JET's from UC Davis. Chris in the blue shirt, Wilson in the red, and Aya across the table. They're all really cool, and I'm glad they're here in Japan. Not pictured are Jenny and Marie. My small apartment, as seen from the back wall.
My small apartment, as seen from the hallway/kitchen/bathroom/front door. This is the city I live in, Seika...this is the view from my apartment window Another shot of Seika from my apartment window Another view from my apartment window This is one of the buildings in the Kansai Science City area of Seika. This area is pretty new and nice. This particular building is called Watashi no Shigotokan, or loosely translated, My Job House.
Down the street from Watashi no Shigotokan This is actually a park with a very nice pond. But you have to pay to get in, and I was feeling cheap this day, so this is the pic I took from beyond the fence. =P This is part of the park that's actually free. Some huge pumpkins in one of the city's parks More park shots...
More park shots... More park shots... More park shots... My apartment complex. I took this shot from the platform of the train station. Yes, I live THAT close. The entrance to Kyoto Station, from the inside...
The bus and tour info area around the station ...and from the outside. The Hotel Granvia, which is next to Kyoto Station The outside of Kyoto Station. It was completely remodeled a few years ago. I think they did a pretty good job. Kyoto city street
Kyoto Tower Overhead view of Kyoto from the top of Kyoto Tower Another view from the tower Another view from the tower Another view from the tower
Another view from the tower Another view from the tower This is a large temple that's about a ten minute walk from Kyoto station. A distance shot of Kyoto tower Another shot of the Kyoto temple
More temple stuff... More temple stuff... More temple stuff... More temple stuff... My pretty daughter!! The best thing about returning to this area is getting to meet many of the friends I'd made two years ago. It was cool beyond words to see Keiko again.
Keiko and I at a temple in Kyoto I dunno, there's just something about Whity Umeda I find funny. Read the sign very carefully... I'm sorry, but that's just funny. Children's Festival Day in Seika. On this day, everyone gathers at the town gym, where there are games, performances, fun classes, et al. At the opening ceremony, these kindergarteners performed It's a Small World. Uber-cute.
A mini-model of one of those shrines that are carried around during festivals. You may notice that the people are actually grasshoppers in this model. This was at the Children's Festival Mini-model of an old fashioned Japanese home. Made by kids. Wow. Another view of the mini-house Another shot of the uber-cute kids... Seika South Jr. High's school band. These girls are actually some of my students. The girl in the back on the drums (you can't see her face, she's bending over to talk to the guy) is really cute...she's taken quite a liking to me, and will literally run down a hallway screaming my name just to give me a hug. Aww. ^_^
Another shot of the band. Seika Global Network's corner at the festival. They're a group that promotes international stuff here in the city. Some kids participate in arts and crafts More arts and crafts. These are sewing machines, at which the kids could sit down, and after meticulous stitching, produce a short...coaster. Well, better than nothing I guess. This is a game where you're blindfolded, then you have to make your way to a watermelon and hit it with a bamboo stick. Its a lot harder than it sounds. I managed to whack it pretty good though.
Another shot of the watermelon game. The food tent. Very important. During the day, some kids built water/air rockets using plastic bottles. Here, the Fire Dept. is helping them get ready to launch them. With the parents out in full-force, of course. And...liftoff! Me and some of my students from Seika Jr. High School, at the childrens festival. They're kind of troublemakers, but still decent kids.
This is one of my co-workers Ai. She speaks fantastic English, so that's a huge relief. Me and Ai. We're at a coffee shop in Osaka. An Osaka city street More Osaka... More Osaka...
More Osaka... More Osaka... More Osaka... Sachiyo! I got to meet with Sachiyo again as well! If you don't know who she is, read the end of the Japan Feature, the Journal section. We went to go see fireworks in Hirakata. Fireworks in Hirakata. In Japan, they pretty much just explode stuff for an hour and a half. It's really something.
Me and Sachiyo after the fireworks This is the American Village in Osaka. It's pretty Ghetto Fabulous. But you have to see it for yourself to believe the craziness... Another view of the American Village. Group shot! On the far side of the table, Keiko, Toshi, and Nori. Closest to the camera, Kazu, me, and Ryohei Ryohei looking too sexy for his glasses. =P
Another reunion from two years ago! Here, we have Keiko, and one half of the Dangerous Guys, Toshi. This guy's pretty crazy/funny. Try as we might, we just couldn't get Keiko to stick a pair of chopsticks in her mouth for this pic. ^_~ Another shot of Keiko and Toshi Ryohei, me, and Kazu Toshi and Nori.
Nori does his superman pose for the camera

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