I am in Japan!!! A long way from Adelaide, Australia, but here I am in Shizuoka for a year teaching at an English Kindergarten while seeing and experiencing as much of this crazy, mixed up, amazing country as I can! It really is The Happiest Place on Earth!!!! Even the feeling yuk from chicken pox miraculously disappeared (unfortunately the spots did not) and we had one of the best days ever ever ever. From the moment you walk in its like a fairytale world- a whole other land where everything, the food, the music, the vehicles, the uniforms is Disney and of course, because we were in Japan everything was super clean and the detail amazing. It was hot- but of course the Disney people had thought of that and during Summer there is a special ... read more

I am in Japan!!! A long way from Adelaide, Australia, but here I am in Shizuoka for a year teaching at an English Kindergarten while seeing and experiencing as much of this crazy, mixed up, amazing country as I can! Summer in Japan is fireworks season- you can buy them everywhere, convenience stores, supermarkets and the Lemon Shop, no matter how old you are. The kindy kids were even allowed to light them at their sleepover- admittedly these were not much better than sparklers but it still made me nervous!!! The Japanese call fireworks, and the festivities surrounding them hanabi- and on the 29th of July there was a festival on the Abe River- culminating in a 2 hour firework display!!! So, seeing as how we looooove a Japanese Festival and I looooove fireworks we went ... read more

I dont know where to start- the clouds, the sunrise, the height, the pain, the cold, the wind or the stick, but I do want to say- I CLIMBED MT FUJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hang on, lets put that in bold writing I CLIMBED MT FUJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was one of the things that was on my 'What I want to do in Japan' list before I even arrived and while I was not sure I could do it I knew that I would always feel like I should have if I didnt. It took some convincing Marissa that it was something we could do, but once her brother was on board, plus a new found Japanese friend, Hide (Hee-de) it was all systems go. There is a Japanese proverb that says 'He who climbs Mount Fuji once is a ... read more

I am in Japan!!! A long way from Adelaide, Australia, but here I am in Shizuoka for a year teaching at an English Kindergarten while seeing and experiencing as much of this crazy, mixed up, amazing country as I can! Can you believe that a Japanese person asked us this!!!- so where's the blue in the Japanese flag huh!! And that was before we thrashed them so the loss hadnt clouded their intelligence yet!!! But oh well, lets not be too down on the Japanese, they do have a MASSIVE LOSS to overcome!!!!!!!! Before we go any further there is something that needs to be said....................................... Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!!!!!!!!!! And believe me this was said many times during the night the Australians heroically paved their way to victory. But lets start at the ... read more

It started with daquiris, they got us in the mood, Then a bus ride to Chatty and Blake made us some food. We stocked up on beers then a short taxi ride, Waiting at the bus stop, sitting side by side. We arrived at the party and knocked on the door, And added our shoes to the pile on the floor. Some Aussies, some Kiwis and Japanese brides, This is who greeted us when we walked inside. A house warming party, an Australian plant we brought, Us bloody loud Aussies, or so others thought. Thrown out of the party, the neighbours too close, So Blake entertained us throwing his bike into posts. Walking down back streets without a care, Blake couldnt resist Haren's dare Straight up the wall and into a tree, It could've turned into ... read more