okay so here i am one year later. I can't believe its been a full year since I packed up and headed over here. Yet here I am starting year number 2.

I had such a great visit home it was so nice to see everyone and to catch up with what's going on back home. I had a fantastic time in Chicago enjoying the 3-day Lollapolozza concert in Grant park. And I had a blast up in Maine, hanging out and shopping. It was a nice relaxing trip filled with fun people and great food. So thanks to everyone who came up for the party and who made the trip home great. Sorry to those I missed seeing.

I'm getting settled again and getting ready for school to start. We just finished opening ceremony, and now my students have tests. A great way to start the school year. Tomorrow is the first real day of classes. So there isn't much new happening on the work front.

In other news however, I feel really busy. I'm currently planning my next set of travels. With a possible trip to Korea in the fall and then a definite trip to India in December. I'm buying my India ticket today. I am so!! excited. I'm going to be going to Bombay for 2 weeks to visit a college friend and her family. She's super excited and I can't wait to explore Bombay with her and get to do some excellent shopping.
I'm also trying to plan a trip to either China or Okinawa for the spring. And finally capping off my overseas experience with a trip to Australia next August before I head back to the states.

whew a whirl wind tour.

The other exciting happenings are my participation in a Kimono Exhibition. Every 5 years this exhibition comes to Toyama, it's a chance for famous kimono designers to show off their latest designs. A part of the Exhibition is a Kimono wearing competition. There is a category for foreigners so some friends and I are entering the contest. We have to study how to properly put on a kimono, all the tying and belting, folding and lining up of lines. we will be judged on how we put it on and what it looks like once we are done. We will get to wear kimonos by famous Japanese designers!
I never realized that there was so much to just putting on a kimono. Its not just slapping it on and saying done. We are judged on how we move, and follow the cultural traditions of putting one on. Apparently there are schools that Japanese women attend to study the art of kimono.

I am taking lessons from one of these schools teachers. She only speaks Japanese and is very strict. She is going to tell me how to do it in Japanese, and I'm going to do it correctly whether I understand what's going on or not. Luckily a great friend is helping me out, she understands and speaks Japanese so we are taking classes together. Once a week on Sundays until November when the contest is held. Lets hope I can remember all the details.

I'll post some pictures of me in kimono soon.

Well thats it for me, hope everything back home is going great.

Lots of love
-L