Homeward Bound and a Little Taste of Canada

Hello from Osaka!

Wow, it’s been awhile!

We’ve been enjoying the past few weeks here (mostly relaxing), but also counting down to the day when we’re finished work and can come home! Don't get me wrong, we've had an absolute blast in Japan, but really miss Canada lately. We officially booked our flight to Toronto a few days ago and will arrive on April 14—less than two months! We were considering the idea of visiting California for a few days, but apparently people can’t book extended stopovers here—weird—so we opted for something better! While I’m on the topic of trips, we booked our final two adventures for early April. We’ll be visiting South Korea from April 1-5 and then coming back to Osaka for the weekend before departing for Guam (from April 7-12). We’re also hoping to visit Mount Fuji in late March. One of our friends, Ori, is coming to visit Japan to do her teaching practicum (and her brother also lives here and teaches English). Anyway, we’re all planning on visiting the famous cultural landmark before we leave. After all, what’s a trip to Japan without seeing Fuji-san!?

Last weekend, Scott and I took it easy and just relaxed around Osaka. We ventured off to Koshien, an area of the city that’s home to the Hanshin Tigers and got to see the outside of the stadium where they play. They’re actually in the middle of renovating it (trust me...it needs it!). We also decided to go shopping at a new mall in the area, but were less than impressed and left empty-handed.

I’ve been working ten-hour days lately and have really come to enjoy the perks of private tutoring (especially when the students are loaded). The one student, Taka, who I wrote about in a previous entry, decided his girlfriend (who is 18 years younger than him) also needs an English teacher. Our lessons involve going to eat at lavish restaurants around the city for ten or more course meals and sampling such things as foie gras, Peking duck, and other delicacies only the rich and “famous” can afford. His girlfriend is really sweet and although she hardly speaks English, I really enjoy teaching them together. I’m really going to miss my private students.

Yesterday, Scott and I celebrated our third anniversary and had a wonderful time painting the town red with friends after a long day of work. It was great to have a few drinks and catch up with people we haven’t seen in awhile. We also discovered a great cafe/bar, “Slices,” owned by two Canadians and its specialty was poutine and custom pizza slices. Let’s just say the real taste of Canada was well worth the hefty price!

Next weekend, we’re going to a sumo wrestling match with Tatsu and his wife and we have seats right around the dohyo (ring) which literally translates to “clay and rice bales” and describes what it’s made of. We’re both pretty stoked and are happy we’ll get to witness such a once-in-a-lifetime event before we leave.

Hope all is well in Canada. Is the weather warming up at all?!

Talk to you later!

Jo & Scott

xoxo

P.S. Happy Birthday, Grandma! I miss you and will see you soon!