Hey! First update of 2007! For weeks 38 to 47. I thought I might update the page before I came back to Australia. I also think I may have in-advertantly missed a few updates, as there are 52 weeks in a year, but I can only get up to 49... ah well. Heres over 200 new pics for you.

So heres the pics for Week 38, Week 39, Week 40, Week 41, Week 42, Week 43, Week 44, Week 45, Week 46, Week 47.

I travelled quite a bit during these 10 weeks too, I went to Nikko twice with a teacher I teach with at Shimizu ES, Mr Kobayashi, and went to Shinagawa prefecture with Leon and Saori to see Saori's old town where she began university.

Week 38 was the first trip to Nikko. Mr. Kobayashi was kind enough to invite me along to a trip to Nikko just after the new year, was great first time I saw snow in Japan. Also saw a whole heap of wild monkeys. Went to the massive Shrine of the Ancient Shogun Takagoya (Or something, I forget :P)

During week 39 I bought my new camera, a Nikon D80. A Full fledged Digital SLR, cost a whole heap too :). Saori turned 20 the previous year, so by Japanese custom she dresses up in a kimono, suit for men and heads to where she grew up as a child to visit her childhood friends. In this case, her elementary school reunion

Week 40 was boring, just experimenting with my new camera.

Week 41 was Australia day, so we got invited to an Australia day dinner with some JET teachers we had never met before. We had steak, Guiness and VB. Also got some pics of me teaching at Umenoki ES.

During week 42, I finished my scheduled lessons at my main school, Ukima ES and as such the Vice principal invited me to his corner of Tokyo to visit a famous shrine and old movie set for a famous Japanese movie I had never heard of. Also got some shots of my team losing in a game of Futsal.

Week 43, Just wondered around the local neighbourhood

Week 44 was the second time I was invited to Nikko, by this time in the year the snow had really fallen thick, and all throughout the day it was snowing. We got bogged trying to take a bodgey 'shortcut' Mr. Kobayashi knew to get to the main Nikko Lake, but ended up being stuck for an hour or so. I made use of the time by making snow angels. Our saviour came in true Japanese fashion, in an impeccible suit and bulldozer. We went to see the 3 famous waterfalls in the area. Very pretty place. I cought the flu here, and the following week I took my first sick day from the entire time I've been in japan

The following weekend, in week 45, after I had recovered from the flu, Saori, Leon and I aquired a car from Saori's relatives and drove to Shinagawa prefecture, took a good 4 hours, traffic was terrible. Was fun though. We did this because Saori was missing the small town where she began university as opposed to the mecca that is Tokyo; don't blame her really. Very pretty city, tea groves everywhere and a very cute little castle. I slept in the car because I could'nt afford to stay in a hotel.

Week 46 had the trip home with some nice shots of Mt. Fuji. We visited Gotunda on the way home, a massive outlet shop town with every brand name under the sun. Very picturesque view of Mt. Fuji too. Also some photos of my teaching at Umenoki ES.

Week 47 was Yurika's birthday. Saori's older, younger sister.

Woops, slipped a bit... here's the update for weeks 28 to 37.

So yeah, sorry about that, but to make up for the lack of updates, here are no less than 165 new pics I've taken in the last 10 weeks. Week 28, Week 29, Week 30, Week 31, Week 32, Week 33, Week 34, Week 35, Week 36, Week 37.

Busy 9 weeks they were too, many thing have happened since my last update.

Lets see, week 28 was a bit slow, I got my soccer uniform and took a day trip to Omiya up north.

Week 29 saw a Mikoshi parade that travelled right by our door, so I followed and got some free beer. Also some great photos of my teaching at halloween in here. That puzzle I painted was to co-emmerate Leon's 21st, and its based on an event that happened late one night beforehand where Saori woke everyone up by screaming at the top of her lungs because of a cockroach.

Week 30 you can see that cockroach. You can also see the results of Halloween lessons at Ukima ES, about 500 pumpkins on the wall. We went drinking this week in Shinjuku with Saori's friend Meri. Also Saori's University had it's annual culture festival thing were all the clubs compete with a play / skit / song and dance type thing. Saori's club won the grand prize of a portable DVD player. Someof the routines were very well put together.

Week 31 are photos from a few weeks beforehand but only just got hand on the photos in this week. Me teaching Halloween lesson at Umenoki ES.

Week 32 we went to Saori's younger (not youngest) sister's Junior High school's culture display thing, I couldnt attend the whole thing because I went to Umenoki's culture festival at the same time. We also won one of the leagues of FUTSAL my team was competeing in, so that was good.

Of course, week 33 is probably the set of photos most of the people who visit this site were waiting for, the week that the folks and blister came to visit. Here you can see the pics I took of Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and sights around Tokyo.

Week 34 was a bit slow, went to Arakawa ES' Music festival thing, they were really amazing for 12 year olds.

There was a big festival at the local shrine here in Kawaguchi in week 35. I love toffy apples.

In week 36 Saori held a pajama party for 2 of her friends, Meri and Tomo.

Week 37, Christmas, my first christmas ever away from my family and away from home. Saori's family came to visit on the eve of christmas eve for lunch. Taro gave me a full length coat from a J-League team. Christmas eve Meri came over as a result Christmas day was spent in bed. :/

I also completed Dad's father's day present, a Chrysler Crossfire Because I managed to scrounge enough saving to buy myself a new PC, its pretty much top of the range consumer-wise at the moment, so thats pretty neat. :)

Hmmm, bit late ay? here's the update for weeks 21 through to 27.

Here's the pics for Week 21, Week 22, Week 23, Week 24, Week 25, Week 26, Week 27

Hmm allot has happened in the last 7 weeks, most of note I think is the passing of 3 major Australian icons in this time, and a 4th just outside the 7 weeks. These are of course Steve Irwin, Peter Brock, Colin Thiele and Don Chip. In the case of Brockey, I painted a small tribute pic the day he died that you can view here.

Other than that, I've been keeping myself busy, in week 21 not much happened, but the 2 photos for this week a quite good, showing me in an actual classroom environment (I look huge).

Week 22 saw me as the controversial Yasukuni Shrine which commemorates Japanese war-dead throughout Japanese history, it's controversial because the Prime minister makes a habit of visiting the shrine, which is seen as disrespect when regarding Japanese war crimes in Korea and China in WW2. The nearby museum was quite interesting, set up in a time line fashion from the inception of Japan as a nation and before.

Week 23 was boring, I posted a few shots from my mobile of a random Mikoshi parade in nearby Akabane while I was shopping for a t-shirt and soccer boots.

Leon bought a new toy in week 24, a 30" Dell computer monitor, and a couch so he can properly utilize it.

Week 25 was fun, I got involved with a Mikoshi Matsuri, so I got to wear a real Happi and make my shoulders turn black from bruises by carrying the amazingly heavy lump of gold called a Mikoshi. We carried it halfway to Shibuya from Odaiba and back again, took all day. Then went to Karaoke.

Week 26 was my favourite school's (Arakawa ES) sports day. Very different to back home, the children seem so disciplined and rehearsed, it was quite amazing. Pretty cool, first time I've been to one in Japan, and it really surprised me how organized it was. I mean in Australia sports days never consisted of marching bands, whole grade presentations of acrobatics and other acts of prowess I would have never expected from 12 year olds and younger, really quite astonishing considering how small and cute these kids are.

And week 27 I went to a Kindergarten I sometimes help out in (next to Umenoki ES) to see their sports day. Cute kids. Also played my first FUTSAL league games as goalkeeper because I had yet bought shin guards and socks. We won both games though 3-1 and 4-1 lost a friendly though later in the night 1-4, but that doesn't matter. :)

I've added 3 new paintings and 1 new illustration. And dad's Father's day pic is still under construction, might be done by next father's day.

Here's the pics for Week 20, I've added 3 photos to the photography section. 59 pics this week :) I've also added 4 photos from Week 17 that I forgot about :)

Farken ay... Fuji is no climb you'd want to take light hearted, well it could have been the weather... but it took us 7 hours to climb to the summit. The weather was atrocious too.. rained most of the way up, and of course I didn't take any gloves... But seriously this was the best thing I've ever done the sense of accomplishment when you finally pass through the final spirit gate at the top is overwhelming, especially since the weather made it 10x harder than it should have been...

It's now painfully obvious I need a new camera... My friend has a sweet camera, but his battery went flat :O sucks to be him ay? :/

Without a doubt, the best thing I've ever done. The sense of accomplishment is overwhelming. The biggest physical challenge I've ever attempted and completed. 2 vertical kilometers scaled from 9pm to 4am in terrible rainy weather, which was fantastic because it made the climb even more worth the while. The sense of comradeship between you and the other climbers is really quite awe inspiring. Certainly nothing you'd want to attempt lightly though.. its no cake walk. I was completely out of it on the walk down with a headache the size of the mountain itself, and the day after I could barely move.

It was Steve's birthday on the 18th, so the others went to an all you can drink place afterwards.... If I went I would have surely died.

It was my birthday on the 16th and I didn't say last update what I did, so... Leon and Saori surprised me by remembering my birthday and giving me cake at the stroke of midnight, so that was neat. Later in the day Saori gave me a giant plush square pig named 'Monokuru Boo', its an obscure Japanese character that I like. There is a black and white version of them. They really personify simplicity and minimalism. During the day I visited a museum.

Here's the pics for Week 19, I've also added 1 photo to the photography section, and 1 painting.

Well I'm 22 today... *gasp* To be honest I would never have predicted how my life has turned out 5 years ago. 5 years ago I was ignorant of Japan, ignorant of their literature, ignorant of art, ignorant of everything I stand for today. I have no idea how I've come to be where I am today...

As for the pic update, mainly pics from Asagaya's Star Festival and random pics.

Pics for this week will come next week.

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5 years ago I was planning on going to university to study IT - I studied Multimedia (ok not much different)

5 years ago I hated the idea of living over seas - Today I deeply regret not going earlier

5 years ago I abhorred school - Today I'm a teacher

5 years ago I could speak precisely 0 Japanese and had no intention of learning - Today I live in Japan

5 years ago I had never opened Photoshop - Now I don't feel like I'm using the computer if its not open

5 years ago Anime was an obscure, childish fad - Now I'm educated

5 years ago I hated beer - I still do, but I drink it :P

5 years ago today, there was no war on terror

5 years ago I hated the idea of driving - now i own a red sports car

5 years ago if somebody asked me what I wanted to be I would have said 'something to do with computers' - Now i couldn't think of anything worse

5 years ago I wasn't in debt - *cry*

5 years ago Art was a dirty word - Today I visit Art galleries in my free time

So yeah, huge difference.

I've also figured out a way to update this page allot easier and quicker, so yeah, woohoo.

Here's the pics for Week 18, I've also added some 3D work I've been working on. one of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, and another of an obscure square pig Japanese character I like.

The photos (and 1 video) are from the local (as in around the corner) start of summer festival that consisted of Japanese folk dancing around some really talented children drummers. Also there are pics of Saori's gospel choir thing and some concept cars found in Tokyo, Toyota's car showroom.

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Who'da thought I'd update so quickly after my last update? :O Photos for Week 17.

So yeah, Woo yeah, alright! Holidays time! Feels strange having summer holidays in the middle of the year, but its cool :) I'll be on holiday on my birthday for a change :)

So I just returned from Matsumoto in the Nagano prefecture, and wow its a pretty city, real shame the weather wasn't fantastic though... I happened to go at the same time a flood was sweeping some areas to the river breaking it's banks... As such it took me 9.5 hours to travel the 2.5 hour train ride there... :/

Yeah, so 1 hour to Shinjuku, caught a super express train to Matsumoto, that decided 2 hours into the trip that it was raining :( and turned around.... 2 hours later, back in Shinjuku I had to catch a Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Nagano city to 30 mins to Tokyo, and 2 hours to Nagano, then had to wait an hour for the next rubber-band-job train to Matsumoto then the trip itself took another hour. GAH...

But anyway I'm glad I went, the school I taught at was great and the children were very sweet, they loved my banana song and monster drawing lesson :)

On the Friday I borrowed the hotel's bike and went on a bike ride into the mountains, hoping to find a hiking train of some sorts. I didn't find any, but I did find a dam and a small mountain shrine, also riding a bike was nice, hadn't done that in a while :P The photos this week are all from Matsumoto and the trip to and from. I also updated the art section with some outstanding photos I took.

Allo, here's the update for Week 13, Week 14, Week 15 and Week 16

So yeah a whole month to the day since I last updated, allot has happened since then, Australia was kicked out for the world cup, and, ermm.. that's about it really. Oh I'm going up to Nagano, Matsumoto for 4 days starting Wednesday for a fill in job in an elementary school. Its a bit odd, you would have thought an elementary school wouldn't miss 1 day of English classes, especially since they have to find a replacement from 3 hours away. But its ok for me I guess, free travel to part of Japan I haven't seen yet.

I bought a fan yesterday, because it was getting so stinking hot and humid I couldn't do a thing, cost about AU$30.

Anyway, as for the photos, week 13 are photos from the night we went out to watch Japan play Croatia (ended up being a 0-0 draw, bit boring) and a Junior High school I visited. Week 14 are photos from a festival I went to celebrating the opening of Mt Fuji to the public, I must organize when I'm going to go climb that..... Week 15 are photos from a big night out to celebrate some Scottish friends finishing their English teaching contract at Leon's old school, and seem pics of one of my elementary schools (Umenoki ES). And week 16 was a bit of a slow week, so there's a pic of a monster I drew for an English lesson and Saori's new kimono.

Enjoy.

Allo, here's the update for Week 11 and Week 12.

The week 11 photos just show the desk and table we've bought for ourselves, plus the ~$100 steak meal Leon bought to celebrate, week 12 are pics from the night of Australia's most important sporting victory to date.

Was a 6 day week this week and I've started my 'main' school within the last 2 weeks, and I think it could have been a better school. Its a huge, (for Japanese standards) elementary school, about 500 students, which all of whom seem to have ADHD, its really hard to do anything with the students aside from play games and just generally be a clown-like entertainer for them during class. They don't learn much from it, but at least the students are happy, which make the teachers happy, which means I wont loose my performance bonus due to complaints. Its a bit sad really, my other schools the students are really interested in English and seem to suck up everything I teach them, its really quite a contrast.

This month is scheduled to be the busiest of the year, so I should get some nice extra-time payment. But I do get fairly exhausted playing the clown all day. I much prefer junior high schools over elementary, less lessons (3 as opposed to 6) and they actually listen to what you have to say with little fuss. By fuss, I mean not trying to rip me limb from limb all day...

This isn't to say I don't enjoy it, its just difficult to plan 6 lessons that will entertain the students all day, everyday.

Allo, here's the update for Week 8. Week 9 and Week 10.

Sorry its taken so long to get around to updating, been pretty busy the last 3 weeks with an all girls Junior High School that is fairly far away from my house, so I didn't have much time to do anything other than sleep, eat and work. It wasn't my most favorite experience while I've been here either. the students and teachers were just too cynical to be enjoyable. People I've talked to credits that to the fact that the school is located in the middle of the main Tokyo metropolis. Apparently the further away from the city you get, the nicer the people. That said however, I think the girls were quite taken by me, which was amusing. one interesting story I have was one time I went to a class early, and I didn't know that Japanese students use their classrooms as their changing rooms also after sport. So I opened the door and was met with uproarious laughter because they hadn't finished changing yet. Funny stuff.

Any who, the week 8 photos were from the (apparently) biggest festival in Tokyo for the year, the Sanja Matsui festival. They carry hundreds of these portable shrines around the neighborhood in some sort of competition that I didn't understand. I didn't stay long, not much to do but take photos and buy questionable food from the fair stalls. Week 9 was a slow week as my money situation reached critical point so all I did was work and sleep. The week 10 photos all relate to Fujimura Jyoshi, and the ones with me eating pigs feet is a night myself, Leon and Saori went out for dinner after buying a table, chairs and desk. Ill get some photos when they arrive.

Hi again, I think its time for another photo update just in time for mother's day tomorrow. I've added quite a few photos and 2 videos from my adventures in Week 6. And the photos in the Week 7 section were actually from week 4, but I only received the copies from the school this week, so there we are. I'm also waiting on some photos from week 1 from another teacher.

So, week 6 was Japan's 'golden week' a public holiday from Wednesday through to Friday to celebrate the Japanese constitution (Wednesday), various Shinto beliefs (Thursday) and children (Friday). On Wednesday I visited one of the bigger and more famous shrines in Tokyo, the Omaha shrine because there was a demonstration of traditional opera and kabuki, unfortunately I arrived just as it finished, so I walked around the surrounding botanic gardens a bit. On Thursday I visited a traditional festival at a little known shrine to the west of Tokyo, I had always wanted to go to one so I enjoyed it immensely. Unfortunately I think I ate something funky that day and fell ill on Friday and missed out on the children's day celebrations.

The week 7 pics are images from my welcome party for when I arrived at Nishigahara ES. Its a good school, unfortunately I'm only scheduled to teach them for 6 days for the year.

Happy mother's day mum :).

Sorry its taken so long to update been busy with things like work that I started in these last 2 weeks. Week 4 I wasn't feeling very well, so I didn't go out much and take photos. But week 5 I visited Tokyo University and walked around Ueno a bit, plus there are some pictures of some presents I've received from the students and other teachers. Some of the pic were taken with my mobile phone.

You can visit the (badly) translated web pages of my 5 Elementary schools here: Umenoki ES , Nishigahara ES , Arakawa ES , Shimizu ES , Ukima ES The junior high I visited doesn't have a web page I can find.

This week is a public holiday, so I should have allot more pics up next week. Got the internet now so I can do it whenever I like.

I'm really having a ball working at Japanese schools, the students treat me like a rock star, and their antics are so cute and funny, its allot of fun.

Did some substitute work in a junior high last week, and that experience I'm likely to never forget. It was so much fun, and the kids absolutely loved me. One of the best things I've ever done. I'm only 6 years older than the students so I could relate to them quite well. I really want a shot at senior high one day... be about the same age.

Japanese students are great, they actually respect their teachers. They bow at he beginning of class, speak when needed, shut up when asked and they just generally want to have fun while learning. Seriously If I had a second life Id want to be brought up in the Japanese school system. Just things you could never expect western classes to do without mucking around, the Japanese (to my experience, not good to stereotype) just get and do it. Its frecking awesome.

I've also added an image to the Art-Illustration section.

Just a quick update with pics from week2, mainly from Ueno and Kawaguchi and pics from week3 of Shinjuku.

This week we've started actually cooking for ourselves, so expect us to fall ill before long. Leon attempted pizza last night, the base ended up like a muffin. As for me, I'm not as quite adventurous, I've been eating microwave meals complemented by furious weird Japanese desserts. We both bought shelving along with cutlery, bowls, Fridge, Microwave and crud.

Weathers been good, only rained twice since I've been here, 1 earthquake.

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Well it seems the apartment I showed you in my last update is no longer a contender for our accommodation in Japan due to some technicalities, but the good news is I we already have the keys to another, bigger, better apartment closer to where I'm working, well hope to be working, because I don't know yet.

In other news I've posted a speed painting I did a while ago now (sorry its taken so long to update) depicting a portrait of a World of Warcraft character named 'Slunk'. You can view it by either clicking on the thumbnail to the left or by navigating to it via the 'Art' link.

I have also added pictures I have taken during my first week in Japan, which you can view following the 'photos' link.

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My partner in crime, Leon, has sighted this apartment as a contender for our home in Japan. I've updated the 'Pre-departure' segment of the photos gallery with images of the inside and floor plan.