TGIF

Ok so I am starting to realize that this blog is quickly going become very boring.  I have almost settled into my routine of working until 9:30pm or so (by the time I get back to the main branch and clock out) and going home to bed.  Then getting up in the morning and coming back to work to use the internet for a few hours before I start working.  And I have yet to start my four hours of Japanese lessons a day.  Sounds thrilling doesn't it?  Hopefully weekends will stir things up.

This weekend I am hoping to go on a short trip to somewhere (I have no idea where yet) to go hiking.  I also have to finish cleaning and setting up my apartment before Ayami and Junko come to visit me on Monday.  Monday is "Respect for the Aged Day" and is therefore a public holiday.  They have a LOT of public holidays in Japan!  Ayami, Junko, and I will probably do some short sightseeing trips in the area as well.  So this is all a lead up to the guarantee that on Tuesday there will be (gasp) PICTURES on this blog site!  I will take some pictures of my place, Mount Fuji, hiking, etc.

Monday is "Respect for the Aged Day" and is therefore a public holiday.

The weather in Kofu, by the way, has been rainy all this week and promises to continue as such through the weekend.  This has been a relief though as the weather when I first arrived was stifflingly hot and humid.  And I don't mind rain here for some reason.  It never seems as cold as it is at home.  Maybe it's because whenever you go inside you leave your shoes at the door and wear slippers instead.  You can't feel cold in slippers!

Oh and all that about how Japan isn't one of these countries that just adds animal ingredients to everything was complete crap.  I don't know where I got that idea but I have come to discover that the crackers, chips, and bread that I was eating daily have animal fat in them.  Maybe that's why the bread doesn't crumble quite the same.  I found a website on being vegan in Japan and it listed some very helpful Kanji that I have now memorized and will watch out for.  I think I will snack on carrots and grapes from now on!