it's not life that matters but the journey...

Well, I figured it was time to update this journal, even if nothing is happening.  We finally got the box Masahiko sent to Japan from America before he left - and he left on March 29th - it took over 6 weeks!  It arrived on Friday the 13th!  What a lucky day.  and today, I got my final box, so everything we need, and own, is here now.  So I guess we had better stay!

After our trip on Thursday, not much has been happening.  Honestly, I am not sure what happens to my days.  I do some writing, some reading, eat, feed my cat, clean, and usually we go out shopping for a bit.  At night, we sometimes watch tv or movies, sometimes listen to music . . . its been monotonous.  Luckily, we haven't entered the rainy season yet - that's next month.  Then we will really feel trapped, since it will rain every day, monsoon-like, the kind you don't want to be in at all.  And it will be getting warmer and warmer - imagine heavy rain every day, plus humidity, plus heat.  Sounds fun, doesn't it? 

Anyway, I haven't been able to do much lately because Masahiko's been caught up in a project of recording some of the live gigs he played in Chicago and on the road.  He made two CDs which he is really proud of!  Now he wants to update his website and get that online again.  Now that I got my software to make a website, I might try too.  After all, I don't have much else to do these days. 

I am getting more and more restless without a job.  but unless we move out of Fuji, I might have to wait awhile to get any work or any students.  Ideally, I wanted to get some students that I could tutor here in our house, but  I guess I need to get the ball rolling and make my presence known in this little community.  the problem is, I don't think that the people who live near here, who are mostly older and traditional country people, want to learn English.  They definitely don't think that they need it!  but even when I was living in Japan before, we taught a course at a community center and one of our students was 75 years old!  You are never too old, so I guess I just need to get out and advertise!!  And I guess I need to improve my Japanese too, so that I can communicate with Masahiko's parents - I need their help, since they are established here and know people.  Wish me luck!

Since I moved here I haven't  been exercising regularly, and I feel its starting to take its toll.  I'm eating a lot, and not going out for a walk or run like I was every day in Port Angeles.  Here the roads are too narrow and there are too many cars. We were just talking today (Masahiko and my friend Naomi and I ) about how its ironic that we live virtually in the country, but the traffic resembles a city like Seattle or Chicago!  Probably its because there is NO train station anywhere near here.  You need a car to survive. I think maybe I'll start risking the traffic and get some exercise, though.  Maybe I will have more energy - and lose some of this fat that is starting to accumulate! Otherwise, who will hire me?