Three months then?

Suddenly, and without warning, it became November. We are approaching three months in Japan, which seems like kind of a long time. But since I do expect to stay here for at least two years, and more likely three, and possibly more, it seems like I can still call myself "new."

Routines have been set. Alarm bells ring at the same time every morning. I know which room all my classes are in. I don't second-guess my route to the train station. Life is normal.

I still haven't explored everything. There's so much out there, but not so much with the free time or means of transportation.

But at home thing are normalizing. I recently moved in to the bed room, which for the summer was used only as a storage space for a mess. Since the air conditioner was in the main room, that's where I slept in the Period of Brutal Heat which will sadly return in a year.

But as the temperatures mild-ized I expanded to the bedroom. The mess, naturally, has migrated to the main room, and I'm still waiting for a free day so I can sort through the crap and finally achieve balance.

Meanwhile, this weekend marks the end of speech-contest-season, which was in full swing when we arrived. This has meant almost daily meetings of the English Speaking Society (ESS). That means working past our contractual go-home time for 4:15, usually until 5 or 5:30. It also means occasional treks to speech contests, which are strange affairs indeed. Perhaps some time I'll write about them, but for now, this posts is begging to be submitted.

Good day