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Hokkaido 2009

summer vacation is over (actually it has been over for 2 months already), and autumn has come.  Hokkaido is still remembered and the way it looks like we will go there again next year during summer vacation. 

A friend whom I hadn’t seen or heard of for almost 20 years came to Japan last month and stayed with us for one night.  Lots of memories and finally speaking German again – it was so much fun!! 

At school we had our sports festival, our 2nd year students went on their graduation trip to Kyoto, Nara and Osaka and I also have the need to go somewhere, see something different and so on. 

2 more months until winter vacation and I am making plans to go somewhere already.  I suggested to Tomomi a trip to Hong Kong (hotels are so cheap and I did enjoy my stay there almost 6 years ago) or at least Kyoto.  We will see, still some time to go.

And again 1 month has passed since my last blog entry.  Again, I keep on being busy.  But I am feeling great, everything just looks so good!

Less than 2 weeks until we will leave for Hokkaido, I started the countdown with 150 days, now there are only 12 more days left until departure.  Everything is taken care of, hotel reservations, Red Baron and the camp areas (log houses this time, NO tent!!!).  And my Honda TransAlp also experienced quite an upgrade.  Last week I received the new WIRTH progressive fork springs which were installed on Saturday togteher with new ACERBIS handguards.

Especially the springs – what a difference!!  No diving any more, the riding has become more comfortable and I can’t imagine how much more improvement I will get, once I also have a new rear suspension system.  But this will not happen until some time next year.

Well, just this much for now, another very busy working week, however……..

…. what can I say?!?!  Being busy has its advantages and disadvantages.  My time to update the blog has become pretty limited, still I will continue writing here.

Not too much has happened anyway.  I am counting the days until we will go to Hokkaido, another 44 it is.  Got most of the preparation done, including hotel and ferry reservations, the agenda and so on.  But until the departure day every day will be filled with work, work and again work.

Please be patient with me, if there is nothing special there will be nothing written.

Is it really May already?  I can’t believe how time flies by. 

I have been off work for a week now, took 2 days anual leave and used it wisely!  We went to Kyushu for a 3-day-motorcycle-touring – it was nothing but GREAT!  If anyone is interested, a short (not very high quality) video can be seen on my homepage – just go to the photo gallery.

Today I re-arranged our balcony, got rid of some flowers, moved and removed a couple of other items, now it looks a little more spacious.

Well, just this much for today – more later!

Well, here we go.  I had again a couple of great days!  Tomomi bought her new car, a Suzuki Cervo – 0 kilometers on the clock, but since it was registered once (some time last year December or so), she received a hugh discount! 

Besides that we finished her move to my place with the final inspection of her apartment by the rental agency yesterday.  Everything looked good and clean, so she will get most of her key money back again.  In the evening I enjoyed a splendid “yakki-nikku-dinner” (or Japanese style barbecue) with her parents and brother.  Besides the food ….. the beer was of course delicious, too.  But what made me feel even better was that the “family connection” seems to work.  I did not feel like an “outsider”, however, more like someone who is (or will be???) accepted and maybe can become even more than “just” the daughters partner.

Well, Thursday has come which means one more working day until the “Golden Week” starts.  I will be off until 10 May – lots of time to go motorcycle touring (if the weather permits) and work on a couple of  things. 

Pictures of the new car and more will follow!

Has it really been one week since I wrote last?  I can’t believe it – time just flies by when you are busy!  So, let me try to recall what happened during the past couple of days.

Last week Tuesday we went to see a movie in Matsuyama.  I won 2 tickets thru a local TV station – but ….. I fell asleep!!!  Can’t believe it.  What an embarassment!!!! 

On Wednesday I had a meeting with 2 ladies from an “NPO”.  I will have to talk about Germany during another meeting coming up on 11 May. 

Saturday I met with Ms. Higuchi, a long-time, old friend who will do my introduction during the 11 May meeting in Japanese.  She wants everything to run smoothly so it was something like a rehearsal for her.  Of course she did very well – didn’t expect anything else. 

On Sunday I was busy all day – getting lots of things done connected to Tomomi’s ”re-locating” to my place. In the evening a great sushi-dinner with Tomomi, her parents and brother.  YES, I did enjoy it!!

And in addition all those other little things, like my normal job at school and my private lessons.  But as I mentioned already before - life has become much more pleasant!

Did not have any chance to get anything done on my homepage at http://virtulanguage.com.  But I will continue to work on it, too – and if it is just for getting an even better and higher page rank!

More later!

The GREAT weekend is over, another working week starts – but don’t I like it?!?!

On Saturday I went on a more than pleasant “short trip” with Tomomi, her parents and of course “Kotochan” to Uwajima.  The weather was like summer, sunshine and blue skies, the conversation worked quite well and the lunch was delicious.  And yes, riding in a Toyota Crown is a little different compared with my SMART!!  Anyway, I think we were able to settle and achieve lots of things!!

Sunday was time to look around for Tomomi’s car, which she plans to purchase in the near (or far) future.  So, we took another roughly 4-hour-ride, including some minor shopping and a late lunch.  After that some more preparations at her place – getting as much as possible done for the move!  And now is the time, since her parents gave the “o.k.”!!

Entrance ceremony for the new 1st year students at Kawauchi Junior High School.  It is so great to see the children, see how they grow up, remembering them from elementary school ….. !!  The weather was great, too, blue sky, sunshine and cherry blossoms everywhere.

I must say that this year was so far pretty good to me.  My “sub-contracted” students made progress with their TOEIC results, my own private lessons have increased a little and yesterday I found out that we won 2 tickets to see a movie next week.  The event was sponsored by EBC television, a more or less local program.  The first time in my life winning something like this.

Besides school life has become much better with a new principal and vice principal.  Things are improving and I hope it will continue like this.  More later, of course with pictures.

by Virtulanguage.com

So, lets see what has happened during the past couple of days.

Last week Friday (3 April) we had the incoming party for our new teachers at Kawauchi Junior High School.  It was just GREAT!  The food was good, the beer tasted better and the talks I had were nothing but remarkable.  We are lucky to have again a staff that will contribute to the overall success of our school!

Saturday was another party for me and some of my private students, “yakki-nikku” – or Japanese style indoor barbecue.  Here, too, the food – “oishikatayo” – very tasty, as was the beer (yes, again).  But at least I did not have a hang-over today!!

Oh, and the cherry blossoms are finally in full bloom in some areas of Toon-shi.  The weather has become spring-like and according to the weather report it will stay like this all next week.