I don’t remember Japan being this humid the last time I was here. I’m not sure if it is the mountains or what, but it is HUMID. I walked to elementary school after school and now am soaking wet. I can assure you that when you start teaching a bunch of elementary kids and you have already broke a sweat, you are not going to cool down anytime soon. I’m already looking forward to an ice cold shower after work… I do enjoy jumping in the river after a long run in the hills, but these days it has rained so much that the river isn’t safe to jump into!
I finally got my visa and will be coming home July 16th. In my head, I am already there. I am thinking about what kind of pizza I want to order from Pazzos and trying to remember where I put everything that I will need when I get home. I can’t remember what I did with my keys and where my knife and other necessities have gone off to. I am sure when I get home I will ask mom where the keys are and she will know where I put them. I think I stashed them in a special spot before I left in the winter—now if I could just remember where that special spot was.
I’m excited about coming home and getting to spend a long vacation in Kentucky. I have to admit that this job is awesome in the aspect of vacation time. I get about 3 months off a year when it is all said and done, and they are paid. That’s quite a bit more time than most jobs at home! This does make me consider going the teaching route since I love to have the summers free!
I have been enjoying spending time with Nate before he goes back to KY for good. He’s been here three years and I know he’s ready to go home. Living abroad for live is for some people, but not for Nate. (or me!) I think we both enjoy the adventure, but we are ready to get home and start another one as well. I will be staying for another 6 months, and I am sure that I will miss hanging out with him on the weekends!
Michael Jackson is all over the news here, and I am sure he is at home. It’s amazing to think about what an impact he had on people around the world. My young kids here know who he is, and they have never heard of John Lennon. That ought to tell you how much his music and his personality traveled around the world. I know a ton of people are all bent out of shape about how much coverage this is getting, but they need to get over it. To many, Michael was a symbol of their youth and a reminder of good times and I think many are mourning over the loss of their youth just as much as they are mourning the King of Pop. I will always remember him as Captain EO from Disney’s EPCOT center.
Tomorrow is Michi’s birthday! Make sure you send her a note if you remember it in time. I don’t have her anything for her birthday, what a good boyfriend I am! I better dig up something on the double or I am in deep trouble! This weekend we are going to go out to a nice place in Nagoya on Saturday night, and I am sure that it won’t be cheap. Dinner will probably run us about 100$, which is pretty normal for a restaurant in downtown Nagoya! Crazy huh?
I am trying to get everything packed and ready for the trip next week. My biggest concern is cleaning my apartment and making sure I don’t leave any food behind to rot and attract more cockroaches. Living practically in the woods makes it hard to keep critters out of the apartment. I haven’t seen any more interesting animals lately, but I have been on the lookout since I heard that bears patrol the area where I run!

I'll be home in two weeks. wow. It seems like the spring and summer have just flown by! Where did the time go? I guess when we get older that happens.

Life is good, it could always be worse. I have been blessed to have done all that I have!!!!

Can't wait to get back for grill outs and swimming at my house with mom and dad, long late nights at the apartment, and friends. I have missed it so much this time!