It's been a somewhat uneventful last few days, but I'll recap the excitement anyway. :)

Tuesday I did yoga, laundry, went for a run -- nothing too exciting, it was raining, so it was a lazy kind of day. I made Acapulco Chicken again -- this time I opened the windows so the smell would air out a little. Nick had to work late and didn't get home until almost 11, I hope he doesn't have to do that very often -- it's no fun for either of us.

Wednesday, Nick slept in a little since he had gotten home so late on Tuesday and he and I took the bus to the train station together. We rode the train for one stop to Ebina, where I had to switch trains to go to Yokohama. Once I got to Yokohama station, I took the subway to Center Kita, where Ken's English school is located. I ended up walking out of the wrong exit at the subway station in Center Kita and had to wander around a bit until I saw Ken's school. I was there a half an hour early, but I went in to see if he was there yet.

Center Kita



He was there, and we sat down and he told me about the class, how I would be paid, etc. Then he took my picture for the student/teacher wall. I think he had to take my picture about 20 times before there was a picture with my eyes open -- it's amazing my wedding pictures came out as well as they did hahahaha... While I was waiting for the students to arrive, I read through some old copies of US Weekly and People magazines. Once everyone arrived (there were 4 students this week, 3 Japanese women and 1 French woman), Ken introduced me and explained that I would be instructing the class, but that he would sit with us for a few weeks until I got used to the swing of things. After that, we went around the table and everyone introduced themselves and gave a little information about themselves. The students were Marion, Miwa, Kaoru, and Hiroe (don't be impressed, I had to write them down, this isn't from memory hahaha). Marion teaches kids at a French school in Tokyo and Miwa, Kaoru, and Hiroe are housewives like me. :) We talked about places to see the fall foliage (the season is later here that back home), sumo wrestling, American football, yoga and a few other things. The hour flew by fast, and afterwards, Ken and the girls and I went to lunch at a bagel place in the mall on the other side of the subway station. Miwa helped me order and we all talked more at lunch. It seemed much more like a fun social gathering than a class, for me anyway, and I was happy to make new friends. This was Miwa's last week, as she will be taking a short break from English study and Marion will not be there next week because she will be on vacation with her husband in Osaka. But the three of us have been emailing back and forth and are trying to make plans to meet either this weekend or next and maybe during the week for lunch. I am so happy to finally be making some friends of my own and to be teaching English!

After we returned to the school and I picked up my bag, I headed back to the mall to do a little shopping, and then back to Yokohama station, and back to Ebina. I shopped around Ebina for a little bit (I am in search of a pair of boots), but didn't find anything, so I went back to Zama. After a little grocery shopping in the Odakyu grocery store, I caught the bus and went home and did a little Turbo Jam. I made tacos for dinner, but I managed to catch the first group of shells on fire -- I thought sure I was going to burn the place down -- thankfully Nick was there to help put the flames out. This only happened because it is not a real oven, only a toaster oven and the shells were too close to the top where the flames are.

Yesterday, I went to City Hall to pick up our Alien Registration cards (we can finally buy our scooters!) and went to Atsugi to return a few things and shop around. I still was unable to find boots, but I did find a tiny umbrella, which I had been looking for, to fit in my purse (this picture shows my new umbrella in the middle, my old umbrella and a highlighter, so you will get an idea of how small my new umbrella is).


I came home, cleaned the bathroom floor, did some yoga and made Shrimp and Basil Pasta for dinner. I finished "The Historian" (has anyone taken my advice and picked it up?) a few days ago, and am making my second attempt at reading "Timeline" by Michael Crichton. I got about a quarter of the way through it a couple years ago and lost interest. It is not as good as "The Historian", but I may as well read it since I hauled it halfway across the world. After this I may read "Angels and Demons" again since Nick will be reading my Anne Rice book for a while, I think.

Today, I am doing some internet stuff, laundry, vacuuming, Turbo jam, maybe a run, and then Nick and I are having dinner with George tonight since he is leaving next Friday. Tomorrow we are going to Disney (hopefully it doesn't rain!) and then Sunday we may be meeting Miwa, and Marion and her husband for lunch or dinner or lunner in Yokohama. Have a great weekend everyone!