Week 12

It IS possible to get more weird looks than just being a normal gaijin... but it takes dressing up in a 6 foot long red trench-coat and putting on a spiky blond wig.

Week 11

Release from boredom and repetition only sounds fun until it happens.
On the other hand... change is good.

Week 10

I've never heard of Indian Winter (think: cold "Indian Summer") before but now that it's here I'm not a big fan of the concept. The thermometer never drops before freezing, though without central heating even a small drop in temperature can feel bone-chilling.

Week 9

(Observed while hiking through old train tunnels in the mountains:)
The darkness serves well to make the light that much more beautiful.

Week 8

Even with a high level ESL (English as a second language) student it's still possible to need a 15 minute conversation to clear up a misunderstanding over what "toast" (i.e. toasted bread) is.

Week 7

Evidently the fundamental difference between Dragons and Lions at Chinese New Years celebrations is the number of (human) feet sticking out from the bottom (dragons: many, lions: only four), though in "reality" both dragons and lions only have four legs. Enlightening.

Week 6

I've been living in a sub-tropical climate long enough that it didn't even occur to me that there might be snow on the top of the mountain.