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!
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