in ruins.

fol chen is so great!

whitelines paper.

do you remember my apartment wall in japan? the one i covered with ticket stubs, post cards, drawings from students, letters from home, etc... ? well, when i moved back to the states i decided to keep my favorite things from that wall & use them in a memorable way. last weekend i bought a whitelines® paper notebook (a must have) & covered it with my favorite keepsakes from my japanese apartment wall. every time i use this notebook it brings back happy memories of my amazing time in japan. i love it!

shore weekend.

i'm going to the shore & i can't wait to:

*drive the turnpike with my bestest friend

*smell the ocean

*eat everything bagels from my favorite bakery

*hear horrible new jersey accents

*swim!

have a wonderful weekend everyone.

book jackets.

check out the wonderful work by leanne shapton.

*thank you, wit + delight.

tourists vs. new yorkers.

this is hilarious! improv everywhere decided to create two different lanes on a 5th avenue sidewalk.

* thank you, a cup of jo.

giving up the gun.

this just made my night.

missing you.

its only been a week since i left japan & i already miss it terribly!

here are the things i miss the most:

fuji san.

engRish.

the food (are you surprised?).

my precious students.

trees, moss & bamboo.

beer (& kuni...).

the people.

so long, farewell.

so, this is my last week teaching in japan & therefore, a week of constant sobbing. i am absolutely heart broken to part ways with my precious students & say goodbye to their mommies. a while ago, i decided to make all my students farewell cards with our picture & a personalized note inside. i figured this was a perfect goodbye/good job present, & also a great way for them to remember me... forever!

onsen weekend.

last weekend i went with my friend, sandy to a wonderful beach/hot spring resort, shirahama. it was the most relaxing weekend - all we did was go to onsen, eat, relax on the beach & enjoy beautiful japan. sadly, it was my last vacation in japan but a perfect way to say sayonara!

2 hilarious strangers who helped us find our hotel.

the view from our hotel.

an onsen on the beach.

sakinoyu - an awesome onsen, which overlooked the ocean.

ramen for dinner (of course).

our beach spot... amazing!

sandy & i.

the sunset in front of engetsu-to.

相撲

so, i went to sumo last weekend. it was bazaar. it was confusing. it was loud.

& i loved it!