June 8th, 2006

It's been awhile, but I have been busy lately.

Jon and Abby came to Izumo the beginning of May. (Lord its been forever, hasn't it?) Their visit was nice. We got to show them around and do the tour guide thing. I really showed us how well we are doing with using Japanese. I didn't realize how often we spoke in Japanese or how much our vocabulary is peppered with Japanese words. Anyways, it was nice to have them here. I will see if I can get Jon or Abby to write something about their trip and I will post it.

They left and then Chris had to go to a JET seminar in Kobe. So he left for 2 and a half days. That was really boring for me. It was the first time we have actually been apart since we got married. I survived though. Chris had a good time in Kobe. He got many new ideas on how to teach better and learn Japanese better. It's nice to have some new ideas and get a little pumped about stuff. He got back Friday around 5.

At 8:00 that night, we picked up Mom and David from the Izumo airport. They also spent a week with us. So we got to show them around as well. They took TONS of pictures and some video of places around Izumo. I will also try to get them to write something and I will post it. It was nice having family here. It was good for something different. They left on the 2nd of June. It's been just Chris and I since. But that's ok. The quiet is nice and we can get back on schedule.

We are both really excited about our trip home. Like I said, we will be home on July 24th and we leave Sunday the 6th (do to time zones, we get to Japan on the 7th). We are really excited. REALLY. It's coming up soon. We are going to plan out exactly where we will be and I will try to remember to post it. That way you know when and where we will be. I think Mom and Jane want to through a barbeque/reception/thing for us on one of the weekends. It will probably be in Athens in the early afternooon. It should be fun! I hope everyone can make it. If not, we will be around. We will be in Athens the majority of the time, but there will be trips to Hiawassee and Atlanta. Heh, I sound so vain (vane?) right now. Oh well. Excited! Not that much longer. We really need to get some re-entry permits so we will be allowed back into Japan once we left.

Im getting really busy. I have added another round of Super English classes. I have been doing Enya elementary three times a week, now I will be going to Takamatsu elementary three times a week. I also have been doing Izumo West high school three times a week (well, three classes). I have the english tea with my housewives. I do Saturday English with middle schoolers. And now I think I will be doing some private tutoring for a japanese couple. Busy busy me. :) I like being busy though.

Chris is being kept busy by his classes. They will change when we come back from America. Right now he goes to Izumo 2nd middle school, Kanan middle school, Enya elementary, Kandogawa elementary, and Jinzai elementary school. So he's bouncing around a lot. But when he comes back, there will be 4 new JETs. So each JET is going to get one Middle school and one or 2 elementary schools. Chris is actually going to get a totally new elementary school but I can't remember which one it is. So that will be a good change for him. He has a ton of ideas for the new schools too. Im excited for him.

And in future news. Chris and I have been looking at some Gradschools. Im really excited to start planning our lives after Japan. It should be interesting to see what happens.

So thats whats up. Sorry it took me so long to update. I just have less and less time it seems.