I have stopped blogging.

As you can tell, I have stopped blogging on "A Trip to Japan"

If you would like to continue reading about Tom's Adventures, Please see
http://mylittleramble.blogspot.com/

Going to try and keep this one updated

Well, I'm going to try and update this one at least once a month......

Will work on it tonight......


-Tom

Yet another vist to Grandma

As the departure date nears, Satoko and I have been busy packing and saying goodbyes.

After being crazy busy, We headed off to Grandma's house for a little rest.

I'll let the picture tell the rest.

H

Grandma Seems pretty happy.....


Yummy Tofu!!

At the ocean

Alittle Cherry Blossom Viewing, 花より団子 ＾＿＾

I went out today with some good friends~ For alittle Cherry Tree Viewing and Picnic.

On Tuesdays, I have been helping a small group with their English Conversation. This group includes three ladies I was able meet a few years ago in Victoria at the VNCS Japanese Culture Fair.

Anyways, We decided to go out doors to today and just have some fun :)

A wonderful day!!

-Tom

<-- Missing Mr. Murayama <-- The view from our little picnic spot. <-- Setting up <-- Wow.... Lots of wonderful food!! Thanks Everyone!!!! ^_____^

Ryusendo 龍泉洞

An hour and a bit drive from Kuzumaki, is a small place called Ryusendo.
葛巻から車で一時間ぐらいの龍泉洞というところがある、

Ryusendo is a limestone cave with ponds and flowing water. Once called the pond of the dragons, it really looks and feels like a place you could find a dragon :)
龍泉洞は流水や池がある石灰岩の洞窟です。このところはかつて龍の淵と呼ばれたが、本当に龍があるを感じる

<-- This is a very wet cave. Almost as if it was raining. <-- I found a nice place to rest <-- One of the steeper parts of the cave. I had to put away the camera and use both hands to climb down. <-- Taking alittle break -Tom

Mori Kaze Cafe 森風カフェ

Here are a few pictures of the small Cafe near Grandma's House.

Mori Kaze Cafe 森風カフェ



The Local School Beside it.


The river behind it. 　上外川


The Little Blue Train...　＾＿＿＾

Alittle time out

After along drive, we arrived at Grandma's house in Kuzumaki~
Satoko and I have been trying to find some time to get out of Morioka and just take a time out.
What better place then Grandma's house? Fresh Air, Good Food and Great People! ^__^

< -- Wooden Stove ^__^ <--- Huge Crackers! <--- Getting ready to head out <-- Ice Cream!! ... Wow.. that isn't such a great picture.... Oh well..

Happy Grad!!

Today was Morioka universities grad day!

Congratulation everyone!

Last night, I pulled out my dusty suit and went over it with that sticky tape stuff. I tried to clean off all those tiny white things that seem to grow on all black clothes.

It’s been along time since I last wore this suit for any event. I had to ironing my only white dress shirt I own for 15 minutes to get it up to shape and a other 15 to find my nice red tie. I was all set for morning. I had a nice time getting some good shots together with some of my friends but the actual ceremony wasn’t as great. A lot of sitting… Anyways, enjoy the pictures! -Tom

Morioka Camp - Winter 2008

Well, it seems that I'll be doing this for the third time.
Morioka College called me out to help out with the English Camp a few weeks ago.

I was really happy to get to see some of the teachers again. I was happy to take on the work but I've been super busy the last little bit. Besides working I've been actively trying to find a place to live... with what little money I have, and zero credit rating at any Japanese Bank, I've had a few setbacks.

Being the third time round, I can sort make a guess of what type of level I can do with this group. So it wasn't very hard to make materials for it.

Anyways, we had a blast!! Too bad I wasn't able to stay the night as I had to work else where in the morning.

Check out the pictures







Cheers

-Tom

Passports and such~

Well, nows thats it the new year and I'm no longer a student, Partly because I didn't pass the entrance exam. I've been faced with a rather large problem. I have to head back to Canada or some how magically get a Visa.
One of the reasons I haven't wrote on this topic before, basically comes down to that I really don' t know out it would turn out.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not quiting school. Even if I had headed back to Canada in January, this isn't really much I can study till September.... That is if I head back to Camosun, Uvic is a different story.. Anyways..

I've been working part-time at a language school downtown and they have been really great!!
They said they would try do their best, helping with the forums and sponsorship. Anyways, over a period of 3 weeks I had no idea if I was going to still be in the country the next week.
Making a longer story shorter, I was rejected once, called back, asked to get more papers, called back again, and received a post card in the mail that didn't state wither I had or hadn't be able to get my work visa. Just a post card asking for money for the change.
Rather confusing..

Anyways, overjoyed that I didn't have to worry about visa, I happily rode down to the visa office and got my stamps. Very happily giving them the ￥5,000 ($50Cdn).

Now I just have to worry about where I'm going live...

Taking it a step at a time,

-Tom

Trip Back to Grandma's House

Well, I went back to Grandma's House up in Kuzumaki yesterday!

It was soo cold!! I was able to meet Satoko's whole family and had a few drinks with her dad.

We ended up staying over night, and having some really good food. : )

Quite the experience ~

Enjoy the photos



You can see the snow, higher then the car.
Making some tofu snacks.

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Standing in the cold outside the house.




The Awesome Cows! I want one!!
:)

Cheers
-Tom

Happy New Year!

Happy New Years Everyone! I ran off with Satoko, her sister and her sisters friend today to Hachiman-gu. Like all good people, we ran up there, threw our 15 Yen, claped twice and climbed out of line....
Crazy Crazy Crazy.... But not as bad as Narita last year, Just a lot colder...

Enjoy the Pictures

-Tom