Last Sunday in Tokyo
It has been quite an eventful week to say the least. Transition periods are always stressful, but this – new country, language, job, people – I can’t think too far ahead or I stop functioning. One day at a time, one class then the next. Travel plans are starting to brew, but all my energy is devoted elsewhere at the moment. Tomorrow I teach every class, no more observing, which is just fine with me. Teaching is actually a lot of fun; I love it. I can see myself staying here more than one year, if Aeon will have me. The students are so welcoming and friendly. Tomorrow night is the big welcoming/farewell party. From what I’ve heard, over one hundred students have signed up. I can say one thing – my small talk skills will be outstanding after my time here.
Now for some pictures! I don’t have any from Akita yet. Sunday and Monday are my days off so I’ll try to take some then. These pictures are from last Sunday: my last day in Omiya and the Tokyo region.
To start things off, an interesting sign outside the Tokyo Imperial Palace (Kokyo, where Japan’s imperial family resides).
A guard outside one of the palace entrances. The Buckingham guards get all the glory, but these guys were pretty impressive.
Cedar trees? As a biology major I should know, but I’m an English teacher now. These trees made up most of the Imperial Outer Garden.
Looking across the moat to Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge).
One of the inner palace buildings.
Hibiya Park – a very popular hangout spot on Sundays in particular. There is even an ampitheatre for small live concerts. We could hear one going on, but it cost 6000 yen (about $60) to get in. Suzanne spotted the enormous spider lurking in its massive tangle of a web.
A cool building downtown.
My roommates and best friends at the training center, Suzanne and Sarah.
Our training group (and some of the trainers). Can you spot me?
Mmmm……… brains
I’ll make this short and not-so-sweet. So, true story – I ate crab brains tonight. No lie. It’s one of Akita’s regional delicacies. It kind of looked like wet sand. At first it just tasted fishy… but the aftertaste almost made me gag. It didn’t help that I actually knew what it was. Temple of Doom anyone? I’ll draw the line at monkey brains. Actually, I think the line has already been drawn tonight. No more brains period. I’ll probably get mad crab disease or something, who knows. I am a Cancer you know… that’s like cannibalism. Or not.
