1 year already!??

It still feels like just yesterday I was packing my bags, clinging on to my cat in hopes she would come with me, and flying from Heathrow airport on to what has been one of the best years of my life!

Aww sorry Yuffie!

April 2nd marked my one year anniversary in Japan and I guess now is as good a time as any to reflect.


If someone had said to me 24 months ago "Izzy, this time in 2 years you'll have left your waitressing job, packed your bags and flown nearly 6000 miles to work in Japan" I probably would have laughed. My life was very different back then.

Don't get me wrong, for years I'd considered pursuing the TEFL lifestyle but there was always something keeping me from doing it; too young, too poor, education, relationships, work, fear...

Fear was the biggest obstacle I think, even when all the other things had sorted themselves out. I'd secured a position in Japan, bought my plane ticket, packed my life into a suitcase and said my goodbyes. All the way up until I was stood in the airport checking in my baggage I always had that sense of fear deep in the pit of my stomach, Izzy what are you doing?? You'll be miles away from your friends and family! You don't speak Japanese. You'll get homesick. You won't even make it 6 months... 

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the fear is normal.  After all, leaving everything you know behind to live in a foreign country IS scary! 

So I want to take this opportunity to say to anyone thinking of doing something similar...

Just go for it!

Ignore the people that tell you you're being crazy and foolish or don't have faith in you. Ignore that voice in the back of your mind that says you're not up to it, because you are!

When I landed in Japan one year ago I didn't know anybody here, and that was terrifying! But today I have friends here from all over the world and I've been to places I never NEVER thought I would go...

Hiroshima!

Kyoto!

Tokyo!

And even getting to see the breath taking Fuji-san!

bask in my glory!

Let's not forget the fantastic work experience. I've met and taught some great kids (yes and some not so great but that's children for you) and it really does grow on you being called 'Sensei'. 

Now thanks to my teaching experience here, I have been offered another exciting opportunity working with children back in the UK. 

Which means I have just over a month left in Japan.

Sorry Mr Deer...

I am going to miss this country a lot and all the people I have met here, but there are many exciting things happening in the future, and I will make sure to keep on blogging.

Until then, I will keep uploading more posts/ photos when I can. Moving out is going to be hectic, but do keep an eye out!

Izzy.

Shukkei-en plum blossoms!

Last weekend we finally had some lovely weather after what has felt like weeks of cloud and rain, so I decided to take another trip to Shukkei-en Garden, Hiroshima.

A few days before, one of my Japanese colleagues told me the plum blossoms were out there already so I was eager to get some snap shots of the beautiful colours.

They didn't disappoint! 

Here are some of my photographs from my trip...

Even just the walk to the garden is beautiful as you cross one of Hiroshima's several rivers.

The plum blossoms were out in white and varying tones of pink, attracting many visitors to the garden. 

I really liked the contrast of the bright flowers against a clear blue sky!

Hurray for macro setting!

Shukkei-en garden also has it's own little bamboo grove which made for some nice shots.

'The ol' bamboo, the ol' bamboo!'

And you know it's a good day when you come across a sun bathing cat! I swear there were more people taking photos of this little guy than the actual blossoms!

A little privacy please?

The koi carp were being fed and having their usual frenzy!

Even though it isn't a huge place, Shukkei- en garden is so close to where I live and it always makes for a nice, peaceful day out.

Kinkakuji/ The Golden Pavilion

During our stay in Kyoto we visited Kinkakuji also known as The Golden Pavilion.

Kinkakuji is a temple in North Kyoto which gets it's famous golden sheen from the gold leaf coating it's two top floors.

To reach the pavilion you can catch a 25 minute bus from Kyoto city centre. We caught a bus from a within the Gion district. The Golden Pavilion is set in a beautiful garden outside the bustle of the main city, giving it a charming, peaceful atmosphere.

After the main attraction of the Golden Pavilion near to the entrance, you can also see other sights such as the priests former living quarters...

A feathered friend if you're lucky...

Lucky statues where people toss coins...

And the Sekkatei Teahouse where we stopped for a cup of green tea and a small cake, which was delicious!

mmmm gold leaf... yum!

please excuse the terrible state of my nail polish!!

Our visit to The Golden Pavilion didn't take much more than an hour, but I would highly recommend going if you happen to one day find yourself in Kyoto! If nothing else the views of the pavilion and it's surroundings are breathtaking! And at just 400 yen entry it's easy on the wallet too.

Nara!

Sorry it has been a little while since my last post!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my mum came to visit which was lovely and we went exploring Kyoto and Tokyo! To start off here are some photos from our trip to Nara.

First we were greeted by some amusing signs warning you about the deer's violent behaviour!

Nara is located just under an hour from Kyoto, easy to get to by a direct local train. On the day we went it was a little cloudy, which was ideal because it meant it was fairly quiet. Our main focus was Nara Park, which includes various historic attractions such as Kofukuji Temple and Todaiji Temple.

The Eastern Golden Hall of Kofukuji Temple

5 story pagoda of Kofukuji Temple

And of course we saw the wild deer that roam the park.

Lots of deer.

Lots and lots of deer...

This guy was my favourite!

If you go to Nara you can buy packets of feed for the deer, but be careful when you do. Once the deer realise you have food on you they won't leave you alone!

Happy New Year!

So today 2016 begins! Woop!

New Year is a big event in Japan, so I decided to be cultural and go to Hiroshima's Gokoku-Jinja Shrine next to Hiroshima Castle.

Lining the pathways up to the shrine were many different food and gift stalls... 

...from which I bought myself some taiyaki! Mine were filled with red bean or white chocolate yumyum!

Helloo!

The shrine itself was illuminated with many beautiful lanterns! Along the front of the shrine sat the traditional sake barrels.

By 11pm a large crowd, including me, had gathered just outside the front of the shrine waiting eagerly to be let in (and freezing our poor toes off in the mean time). Just before 12, we were slowly allowed closer to the shrine...

...and closer!

When the clock struck midnight everyone ran forward to throw money into the shrine! It was all rather crazy, mainly because I had no idea what was going on ha ha! But it was so much fun, and afterwards you could drink a small cup of sake from the barrels!

I wasn't sure what to say, so I said all I could- 'Oishii!' The ladies laughed so it was a good night!

I'm sorry there weren't many more pictures, but the place became so busy so quickly! Plus it was dark and my fingers were about to freeze off...

It still amazes me that I was able to celebrate new year in Japan, one thing to check off the bucket list!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!