Some how it's been more than a month...

It's a strange feeling to have been here this long. Mostly because it doesn't feel like it's been that long while, at the same time, feeling like it's been much, much longer. I've surprised myself (and, I think, a few others) with how quickly I've settled in. I love the food, the weather has been great, everyone is really friendly and I'm enjoying work. The only downers have been a persistent cold and missing everyone back home.

I honestly thought I'd spend a lot more time being lost, I have my iPhone and Google Maps to thank for avoiding that. Even without that help, the trains are very easy to get around on. I remember visiting London by myself for the first time and using the underground, it's no more confusing than that here, all the signs have the station names in Romanji (the Roman alphabet). Anyway... photos....

This cat was sat in the window of the guest house when I moved in. I've not seen it since. I miss my cat, I've been keeping an eye out for any in the area I might be able to befriend! I need to find a cat cafe, that's for sure.

Something I jokingly predicted about moving here was that I would have way more of a social life than I ever did in England. So far, I have been totally correct. The week before last I enjoyed an afternoon in the sun having a BBQ with some lovely people from Aikido and a couple of people I know through Nathan.

Speaking of Aikido, I've been going twice a week, I'd go three times a week if I had the time, it's great! I got some very impressive bruises (they have since faded to nothing) from a bad fall but since that I've gotten quite a bit better. I think? I hope! I'm really enjoying it, I hope to photograph it again some time.

I'm nearing the end of my first properly busy week at work. It's been good though, I've done a lot of traveling about to get to various schools. I even took the scenic route (read: I got on the wrong train) on my way home yesterday. It took me two hours to get back to the guest house but since I wasn't in a hurry it didn't matter. I really enjoyed seeing some more of Chiba Prefecture's countryside. The train took me North to Naruto and then further North and West to Sakura before coming back down to Chiba city.

The day before I finally bought a lens I've been lusting after for months, the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS and I took the following photos with it. Half of them on the walk from the station to the kindergarten and then the rest through the train window (you can see some reflections in a few I think) as I hurtled through Chiba Prefecture in completely the wrong direction.

I absolutely love this lens. I'm looking forward to shooting more with it, particularly more shots of people and probably some video as well. I have one more lesson to teach this evening and then I have a week off as it's Golden Week here in Japan. I've a trip to Osaka planned and hopefully a couple of other places too, lots of photo opportunities await!

Moving day

Last weekend I helped Nathan move into his new place with Tomoko. The day had kinda been built up to something difficult and stressful but, when it came to it, it was all over very quickly and with minimal stress. Mostly we just sat around eating pizza and watching TV all afternoon.

Tomorrow it's my turn to move out of the apartment and into the guesthouse. No more living out of a suitcase! I can't wait.

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa

Today I spent the afternoon being a tourist. I probably should have been getting on with boring worky-admin-emailing stuff but I really wasn't in the mood for that. I wanted to get lost in a crowd by myself with a camera. I was tempted to go on a hunt for some black and white 35mm for Bessa but it was already 2pm by the time I was ready to leave so I took the 6D and threw Bessa in the bag just in case I passed anywhere selling film.

It was seriously touristy but it was exactly what I needed. It was nice to blend in, there were a lot of westerners there as well as Japanese tourists and every other person had an SLR slung around their neck so I felt much less conspicuous than I have done in other parts of Japan. The noise also covered up the ridiculous buzzing of my 50mm f/1.8 focusing. The AF/MF switch is definitely on it's way out, I need to find somewhere selling lenses and replace it before it gives up completely.

Buses are buses everywhere

Living out of a suitcase is a very difficult thing to do tidily. It seems the easiest way of dealing with it is to just have stuff spread about all over the place. This photo was taken before we had massive tidy up of all the stuff...

Buses really are buses everywhere. Even the colours are the same as the ones I used to use in England.

I had the pleasure of observing an Ayamekai Aikido class last night with the idea being that if I liked the look of it I could sign up, pretty sure I'm going to. I did Judo briefly when I was a kid and enjoyed it, I'd like to get involved in something like it again and this was a really nice group.

It was a slightly unusual class for me to watch as it wasn't a regular one, three times a year they do test classes for the students to try and get their belts. A number of them were doing their tests for black belts and all passed! This, of course, meant celebratory drinks afterwards...

Everyone I've met so far has been so lovely and welcoming, it's been amazing. 

I thought I was meant to start teaching today but found out this morning that it won't be until next week. In the mean time, I have more training, meetings with clients and time to sort out boring life stuff like a bank account (already sorted a mobile phone... priorities?!).