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

Since it seems all I've done is post memes and non-reality stuff lately, I thought I'd better do an actual update. Not that there's been much going on in my life in the last week... but I do have some things coming up, so I might have more to write about soon. I really appreciated everyone's replies to my silly depressed post the other day. I get like that from time to time - not really overwhelmingly depressed, but just blue and lonely. I feel sometimes that things are overly disappointing, and I hate disappointment. But who doesn't? Anyway, thanks for all your comments and concerns!! I'll be fine once things finally get settled here, though I have a feeling that won't be for awhile yet...

Anyway, I think my blues comes from spending way too much time at home, with no one to talk to. Ever since my husband got his job, I've been stuck in this house every day, all day alone. My in-laws are here, but they're busy, and I don't have much to talk to them about most days. And lately M's been working 12-14 hour days, so it really sucks! I try to get out for a walk now and then, or do some exercise so I'm not just sitting at my computer all day. And of course I do get out of the house from time to time - like my few days to Saitama and Tokyo, and my excursion to Shizuoka for the job interview last Sunday. Also, last Thursday I had lunch with my former student named Chihiro, who I recently reconnected with on Facebook. She was sweet enough to drive all the way out here to pick me up, and we went to an Indian restaurant near Fuji station (which ironically was the first restaurant that I ate with my co-worker when I came to this area 12 years ago as a teacher), and then we went to some shops and I bought a lot of overpriced imported foods, and then we sat and drank tea and talked for a long time. It was fun to see her again!

My weekend was so quiet and uneventful, but it was nice because my husband didn't have to work. We just sat around the house and relaxed together, and we watched the movie Ray together on Saturday night (we'd seen it before but always like to watch it again). Sunday we were supposed to go to his friend's house for dinner, but the plan was canceled because his friend broke a shoulder bone while he was snowboarding! I got out for a walk yesterday and tried taking some photos, but my stupid camera batteries were dead - oh well! the rest of the afternoon I spent trying to study Japanese, and falling asleep because the room was so warm and sunny.

This week I do have a few plans. Tomorrow, I'm leaving my house at 8 a.m. to meet my friend Naomi - she and I are driving to Shimizu to pick up our other friend Naomi and then drive to a city called Yaizu, which is about 1 1/2 hours west by car from where I live. The town is on the coast, near Suruga Bay, and as I remember, has some beautiful views. We're going to visit an indoor onsen (hot spring bath) and sit in the lovely hot water for awhile, then have lunch, and then go to Naomi's house in Shimizu to see her daughter and her mother. It should be a fun day! Wednesday I have my third job interview with a school called Pass English School in Fuji - it's a conversation school, but most of the students are kids, probably under age 10. For some reason, I'm nervous about this interview, mostly because they want me to do a 15-minute demonstration lesson, and because I don't know if they'll think I'm too old or not good at teaching kids. Also, I think I'll probably have to tell them about the other job interview I had, and that I'm possibly going to get a contract with the other company. I can't sign any kind of contract with this place until I know about the other job - so I hope they understand and can give me some time. I just have to keep my options open. So I'm nervous... and until all these interviews are over, and until I know where I'll be working, I can't really focus on much else.

Saturday, Masahiko has a jazz gig at a small club in Fujinomiya, and then the following weekend we are invited to a big party out near Mt. Fuji at a big log-cabin style house. Masahiko will be playing music at this party too - we visited this house several years ago in the spring or summer, and it was an outdoor party - but this time it will be indoors. But I think it will be a lot of fun!

I've been meaning to write more on here about Japanese culture and about some of my observations about living in Japan - that's what I did when I was living here before in 2005, and it's what I intended to do when I came here in December. But as I said, until these interviews are all done, and until both Masahiko and I get settled about jobs, I can't focus well. but here's some subjects I plan to write about soon: sumo, our weird neighbor, living with my in-laws (especially regarding eating lunch and dinner), studying Japanese, and English in Japan...

oh and one more good thing: I'm supposed to start going to weekly yoga classes with my mother-in-law starting on February 5th. Of course I can only go until I start working full-time, but it will definitely be nice to get out and do something, and to meet some of the Japanese ladies in the neighborhood. I feel like no one knows me, and when I go for walks, I don't know what people think when they see a "gaijin" (foreigner) walking around. I'm the only foreigner around this area, so I do get noticed (and avoided too!)...

Before I go, I thought I'd post some pictures I took a couple weeks ago on one of my walks around my neighborhood. I found a couple of small shrines, and tried to get good photos, but I always feel awkward whenever I take photos around here. ( I hope you enjoy them )

I probably won't be online tomorrow or much of Wednesday, so I'll return in a couple days with another update, and more pictures hopefully!)

happy week!