Suprise!!!

Guess where I am?? Australia!!!!!

Yep, the whole Thailand thing was a cover-up - I actually came home for Christmas! Only just tho - I left my home very early on the 24th, to arrive in Melbourne about 8am on Christmas morning. I wanted to suprise my parents, and from the look on mum's face, I'd say, yes, she was very suprised!! So much fun!!

At the airport, I couldn't get over all the Aussie accents - so amazingly strong!!! I have adjusted quickly tho, and its almost like nothing has changed.

It is great to be back for a little while just hanging out with my family, driving again, eating lots of yummy foods that I haven't had in a long time, being able to go into a shoe shop and actually find shoes that fit, etc, etc.

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas day and didn't eat too much!

Merry White Christmas!

Yay!! It`s a white Christmas!! The snow has come early, and it is oh so exciting!! The students think I`m weird cuz I like to walk half an hour in the wind and snow and rain to work each day!! So much fun! Temp is hovering around 4 degrees during the day, I think.

Having computer trouble (at a chat cafe at the moment), so will take this opportunity now to say Merry Christmas to you all!! May it be full of laughter and peace for each of you!

Apologies for the lack of pressies and cards (aparently moving to Japan has not magically made me more organised!), but please know I love you all!!!! XXOO

Rachel is gone

:( It is a very sad day indeed. Rachel left this morning.

We had a slumber party in the lounge room last night, and were up pretty late (2am??), then were up before the crack of dawn (5am) to take her to the bus station. It'll be strange not to have her around. Part of my little Japanese family just left!! To comfort ourselves, Martina and I went straight to McDonalds after the bus station, for a nice unhealthy breakfast while we waited for the hair dresser to open at 8am. We both got a hair wash and cut... nothing like looking more beautiful to make you feel better about life!

I had something else to tell you all as well, but now I can't for the life of me remember what it was, so maybe I'll tell you another day. I'm gonna go put my weary body to bed. Sleep sweet all!

More Snow!!!

Today a Japanese friend, Tomoko, took me to Unzen to visit an onsen (hot spring) and do some sightseeing. It was absolutely freezing, and we weren't far out of Sasebo when we first noticed a dusting of snow on some of the mountains!! How exciting!!!

The scenery along the 3hr drive was absolutely spectacular! Driving through mountains and beside the ocean, I wished that my eyes could record everything I saw. As we got closer to Unzen, the snow was getting thicker, and the excitement turned to a little concern that the road up the mountain might be closed! But inspite of all the warnings beside the road, a nice police officer told us we were welcome to attempt the drive, and we made it up no worries. It was so beautiful!! The snow looked so pretty sitting on all the trees! And in places the snow was quite thick on the ground!!

And the onsen was awesome! Because its Monday and it was snowing, we were the only 2 at the women's onsen. You could move between three inside pools - cool, hot and really hot, looking out over a lake next to a snow-covered mountain! Stunning! You could also go outside on a balcony-type thing (very private tho) and sit in a hot bath, with the same view, and the cold wind blowing snow off the trees and at your head! Very fun!

Then Tomoko bought me a scrumptious Japanese-style lunch... they don't just give you the dish you ordered - you get all these cute little side dishes too - soup, salad, bread rolls and stuff. Before we returned to Sasebo, I had to make a baby little snowman in the beautiful yummy soft snow... oh the fun!!!

Snow!!!!

Well, it may only be the 5th of Dec - 5 days into winter, but already it is snowing!!!

It was very cold yesterday! It hailed several times during the day. Last night was the Nova farewell dinner for Rachel. We went out for a very yummy dinner, then carried on to karaoke. It was totally freezing. And when we came out of karaoke in the wee hours of the morning, it was... snowing!! True, it was so very little snow, and melted the second it hit the ground, but it was very exciting!!! I look forward to much more, esp in Jan and Feb when it is supposed to be very cold!!

But on a sad note, Rachel leaves in just a few days!! :( Very sad!