Kagoshima to Kanoya

Yes, the heat is real in Japan. When people say it's hot and humid here they're not joking! Luckily I had this beautiful volcano to look at as I was riding the ferry boat from Kagoshima to Tarumizu. After I arrived in Tarumizu my coworker drove me to my apartment in Kanoya. It feels good to actually have my own apartment after being somewhat homeless for the past month or so.

Japan is insane and I'm a jetlagged madman!

So I arrived in Japan after a 11 hour flight, a stressful, hot, sweaty 2 hour layover in Osaka, and a 1 hour flight to Fukuoka. I'm finally here. It feels like a dream because my vision is all screwed up from exhaustion and everything look blurry. I just got back from having dinner with a bunch of teachers and I only remember 2 of their names. Not a good start! Tomorrow I'm riding the bullet train down to Kagoshima, and soon I'll be in Kanoya, which is where I'll be living.

Training in Vancouver

I just finished the most stressful week of my life. Training was rough! I think I put most of the pressure on myself because I expect to do well even though all of this is new to me. Vancouver is absolutely beautiful and definitely a place I could see myself living one day. The city, the parks, the beach, the people... awesome combination!

Olympia, Washington

Today I went hiking with my brother, Ryan, up in the mountains near Olympia. We ran across this awesome log bridge, so I had to take a picture. The weather was quite beautiful and is making me dread the hot, humid weather waiting to greet me when I arrive in Japan.

Maybe it's good I'm not going to live in Tokyo

Until next time Tony Bennett

Last week I had to leave this behind. It was much harder than I thought it would be. I'm getting quite a bit better at giving stuff away now, or at least walking away from things I didn't think I had the courage to walk away from. It's been an odd last few weeks because some people have treated me like I'm dying and it's their last goodbye. I guess I'll have to come back from the dead and surprise them one day.

I miss my friends like crazy.

Well I've gotten rid of almost all of my possessions, quit my job, and bought some non-refundable plane tickets and luggage, so I guess there's no turning back now!