Great weekend!

This weekend has been really great so far. In fact, all week has been great. Yesterday, I started the day by cycling to the riverbank so that I could relax, get tan, and study Japanese.

The river is so clear and is lined with bamboo trees of all different shades of green and yellow: it is so beautiful.

Then, I had a day-date (yes, a DATE!!!!) with a really great Japanese guy from Nagoya. It was one of those great first dates in which you have so much in common and so much to talk about. I feel like we really hit it off, but given that we live about an hour apart, have many cultural differences, and speak two different languages, it is way too early to tell if this will go anywhere.

Anyway, after that, I took the train to Gifu and met up with some other teacher friends of mine and had a big party at an isekaya there, followed by more drinking, dancing, and good times at a karaoke bar.

This morning, tired and slightly hungover, I took the train to Seki, where some of the mothers of my young students are going to take me to lunch for an okonomiyaki party.

All in all, this weekend has been the perfect combination of rest, sun, drinking, food, romance, and adventure: one of those times when I am so glad that I am here.

Oh, and I have been studying Japanese very hard, and I am proud to say that I am now able to read and write both katakana and hiragana! (This is marred somewhat by the fact that I still have no idea what it is that I am reading or writing, but it is a huge accomplishment none the less.)

Peace out!
C