與我常在

我從日本回來不知不覺已有6個月了。我從來都沒有想過，回來，會比離開更難適應。

在短短的兩年內，我以前愛去的餐廳有的結業了，有的搬到不知哪裡去了。開車時會迷路，甚至有時候房間的東西都不知放到那裡...

更讓我不習慣的，就是我的好朋友全都 “不見” 了。過去的兩年，他們分別結婚，生小孩，轉工，搬家... 我最好的朋友一大半都搬離了我們一起成長的地方... 沒有離開的，也開始為自己的家庭努力；大家講的話題都不一樣了。

突然間，我發現，我記憶中的家跟現實差很遠。所有的東西都變得很陌生，很孤獨。

這一刻，我發覺，無論我我身在哪裡都是一樣。只有我自己才是自己最好的朋友。我要學識自己享受過一個人的生活， 因為，除非你是我，才可與我常在。

Smoothies Under 300kcal: Banana Almond Smoothie

So recently I've been making a smoothie almost everyday. These are delicious treats that I make for breakfast, for dessert, or anytime during the day when I feel like a energizing snacks! They are filled with vitamins and minerals, and will keep you fueled for like the energizer bunny! I just throw things in a blender and see how it turns out. Today's experiment turned out well, so I thought I'd share my findings with you!

I present to you... Banana Almond Smoothie!

- 200mL skimmed milk
- 80mL fat-free yogurt (vanilla or plain)
- 15mL almond butter
- 1 banana

Blend yogurt and almond butter together (put the yogurt in first, so the almond butter doesn't stick to the bottom of the blender).

Add milk and banana. Blend some more!


And within 5 minutes, you have a nutritional breakfast ready to go! Pour it in the mug, and enjoy it while you are stuck in traffic on your way to work!

Optional:
- Add 2 dark chocolate squares to curb that sweet tooth of yours
- Freeze banana overnight to give the smoothie a thicker texture

Here's the best part - it's drink is only 298 calories, and it's packed with protein, calcium, and iron!

Who says healthy can't be delicious? =D Enjoy!!

9 Months in Fukuoka!

It's been 9 months since I left for Fukuoka! I seriously can't believe how fast time has gone...! Every week goes by so quickly, and the weekends even quicker... before I know it, another month has gone by (and I didn't update my blog like I meant to)!

I have established a pretty good routine now for everyday life things. I go to work, I work out, I hang out with friends and co-workers... It feels like I've finally figured out how to live my life here... (I know! It took 9 months...! Isn't that ridiculous????) 

One of the major changes is that I FINALLY got a decent bike. I've been going for rides at least 4 times a week! There's a park in the middle(ish) of the city called Ohori Park (see my previous post in April about hanami), which is a 6km ride from where I live. I like to bike there because there's a huge lake in the middle of it. There's also a Starbucks there. So if I want to read a book, I bike to Ohori. If I want to study, I bike to Ohori. If I just want to sit somewhere, I bike to Ohori. Getting the exercise biking there is great! Being able to eat a slice of chocolate cake without feeling guilty afterwards is just a bonus. ^_^

The lake at Ohori Park at night. Sorry the picture was taken with my cell phone camera..!

I also finally got a decent sofa bed. Sleeping above the ground is great!!! And now my back doesn't hurt anymore, and I sleep better. I don't know why it took me so long to get proper furniture to sleep on... And now I can ACTUALLY have visitors!!! 

Towards the end of the month I am starting up my project management courses again. This time I am doing two courses at the same time. On top of that, I am going to try and take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test to see if I have actually learned anything from being here for almost a year... So the next couple of months I am going to be a hermit crab and staying at home... well... maybe I will have time for a trip to Tokyo or Kansai in November... (there's always time for traveling, hahaha ^^")

Oh, I've been reading this book called 女朋友﹐ 男朋友... the story is kind of heavy and it reflects the 無奈 in people's lives. I find it quite realistic. Reading it makes me want to cry, and to be honest I am quite afraid of the ending... hahaha... 

And last but not least, I've received so many messages, emails, and post cards from my friends this month. I just want to thank you guys for thinking of me...! I really do miss you guys. *group hug*

To end off, here are some pictures of autumn in Japan!

A field full of cosmos in Nokoshima (an island just off of Fukuoka)

Leaves are falling..!! It reminds me of home...

A nice fall day to wander around...!

Weighing in after 3 months

It's been 3 months since I've been in Fukuoka! I can't believe I am 1/4 of the way through my contract!! Let me check-in with some highlights of my stay in Fukuoka!

Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima

- I've been able to travel once a month on average! So far I've been to Beppu, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima / Miyajima. Still on my list are Kumamoto (which I will strike off after this weekend ^_^), Kagoshima, Mount Aso, Kurokawa Onsen, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Nagano, Busan... ... ...

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

- I've had some visitors already! My parents came to visit last weekend, and my friend from HK also came to visit yesterday. I played host for the first time in Fukuoka!

- I have a membership at an onsen which is a 20mins drive from my house. It is one of the nicest onsens I've been to...! I've been going almost weekly... hahahaha... why get a massage when you can soak in the onsen? ^_^v

My Japanese is slowly improving. If I concentrate hard enough I can understand what people are saying to me... the response, however, needs some work... hahaha... I'm working on it ^^"

The street outside my apartment at night

- I lost 10lbs since I've been here!! OMG!! I know that doesn't sound too impressive, but I didn't really do anything besides eating normal Japanese portions and cut back on fried foods...! I'm so happy hahahahha. Next, I will try to knock off another 15lbs in the next 3 months. My co-worker is very good fitness guy (actually, he's good at many different things, and I've often gone to him for advice lol), and he's started taking me to the gym and teaching me how to cut calories. I have a feeling that 15lbs goal is not too far out of reach!!! I gotta keep reminding myself - hunger and soreness is just fat leaving the body. LOL.

Plum blossoms, Dazaifu

Other than that, life is not much different from being in Vancouver. I work, I go out, I stay at home, etc etc etc. I do miss my friends and family very much... but... I'm glad I am here!

P.S. - Sorry for the random pictures... I don't have any that will go along with the post... hahaha... Anyways, come visit me soon!!! ^_^

Happpy One Month, Fukuoka!

I've been here officially for 1 month!! Time really does go by fast...!! I'm really liking it here... work is actually going pretty well ^_^ My co-workers have been very nice, helping me with work and with everyday things outside of work. As well, I feel like I'm getting a hang of this job already... so no complaints there~~

In general, I really like my students. I feel like I am able to motivate them to learn, in which motivates me to try harder to give a good lesson. However, I just can't seem to figure out how to teach those 11 to 12-year-olds... They are very bright kids, that don't seem to be challenged enough in class. As a result the participation in class is terrible...! It seems like I am dreading these classes, but I do want to help them improve. For the sake of my sanity, and the sanity of my students, if anyone has any ideas about how to improve classroom moral and would like to pass it along, I will be so grateful ^^".

Now that work is settling nicely, I want start picking up my Japanese again!! I haven't studied my Japanese at all since I've gotten here, so there has been little or no improvement LOL. I'm still debating whether I should take Japanese lessons - maybe I'll review my textbook first and see how it goes hahaha. Also, I'm going to start going sightseeing around Kyushuu soon! I've got a trip planned to Beppu next weekend, I'm super excited!!! Stay tuned for photos ^_^

Sorry for the short blog post today, for some reason I'm super tired... going to peace out to bed... お休みなさい!

Settling into my new home

First post in February!!

Wow... it's been over 2 weeks since I last blogged... I must apologize - ever since I moved to my new home I have been deprived of internet access...!! Now that I finally got tethering figured out on my new phone, I am connected again!! ^_^

The past 2 weeks were kind of crazy. I finished my initial training, and moved into my apartment! It might kind of surprise some of you, but actually I'm kind of OCD when it comes to cleaning things and putting things away. I only tend to give up when it gets overly messy and I can't deal with it... in which case I just leave it and ignore it =.=". Anyways, I spend 1 whole weekend scrubbing my apartment, going to the local 100yen shop to buy storage compartments, obtaining kitchenware and things I need around the house... I was FINALLY ready to unpack my suitcase and move in!! That was such a happy happy day!!! And now.... ladies and gentlemen.... I present to you.... pictures of my tiny apartment!!

My kitchenette! You can't see it, but it's complete with a happy face sponge ^.^

My bathroom! The toilet is in a separate room, lol. It's also across the hall from my kitchenette. ^^"

My living space. I sleep on the futon next to my couch ^_^. Yes, the futon is on hardwood floor...

The view from my living room to the doorway. Bathroom on the left, kitchenette and laundry closet on the right.

I really enjoyed cleaning and organizing my apartment! Even though my there isn't a lot of space, it's a lot of fun thinking of innovative ways to store things. A hook here, and a rack there, an viola! Everything in the right place. I think I've been guilty of abusing my living space in Vancouver... my room is probably bigger than my current apartment, filled with crap I don't need. I also didn't use my space very efficiently. I can't believe I used to tell my parents that there is "no room" to store all my stuff. Argh... I feel so ashamed... lol. I'm proud to say that I'm keeping my apartment in good shape everyday, since if I don't there's literally no space to walk around lol.

The area around my apartment is awesome. I live 5mins walking distance from work and the train station (the two are next to each other). Inside the train station there is a small shopping arcade for clothes and such, as well as a supermarket and plenty of places to eat. Next to my apartment building there's a 24hr supermarket, where I've been wasting tonnes of money (I use the fact that I just moved in as an excuse, and buy things like soy sauce, cooking oil, sugar, salt.... it apparently all adds up!!!), and I am within walking distance to things like banks, post offices, gym, pool etc. I'm so happy that the location is so convenient!

I hereby officially declare that I've settled into my new home! Yay!!! ^_^