Business Card

Okayama Ken Business Card
Momoji male Urachi female

Choco Cro

These things are delicous

Momotaro is Everywhere in Okayama

Zazen Practice

Okayama Shorinji Temple

Momo Scotto San

Okayama the home of Momotaro and Momoscotto san.

Double Decker Bike Rack

Only in Japan bike rack parking

Naked Man Festival

This festival is absolutely crazy, i have to go in it sometime.

Respect for history

Japan is an interesting country. You will be walking down the street of a small country town and come across somebody who obviously loves old cars. It was a collection of old Japanese and American cars. If Im not mistaken at the back is a chevy station wagon and in the front middle are some old Toyotas. Third from the left in the front row is a first generation Toyota Corolla.

Family

The main reason for visiting Japan this year is about family.
We wanted to give my wife's parents the opportunity to spend some quality time with their grandchildren.
This has been and will be a massive benefit of living in Japan.
We drove to Ozu Ehime on Saturday in Homer Simpson the washing machine on wheels and then spent three relaxing days in Ozu, Ehime not doing much just relaxing.
We went to Garyu Onsen on Sunday night and visited a local shrine on Monday but it was so cold we didn't stay too long. Noriko bought me a good luck charm to ward of the bad luck of turning 40.
We drove back last night and I discovered a little button on the gear stick that changed Homer into a sports machine, well gave us a little more puff when I wanted to overtake or go up hill.

Winston the wombat visits the Okayama Blind School

Winston the wombat visited the Okayama Blind school. He got lots of pats and cuddles from all the students and had a great day, many students and teachers had never met a wombat before. Some were a little afraid that he might be them, but Winston was very well behaved befitting a South Australian ambassador.

"Are wombats pets in Australia?" was a very common question. Winston wasn't too offended. He was getting too much attention from the children. He was very happy to let the students and staff know how he lived, what he ate and that he slept all day.

The staff and students were also surprised to discover that Winston is the state animal for South Australia.

It was a very successful visit for Winston who is looking forward to visiting other schools in Okayama in 2013.

Playgrounds

Japan has really improved the options for young people to play outside, there are four playgrounds near our unit.
This is the best one it has a flying fox.

Is it a washing machine on wheels or a car?

This is the washing machine on wheels we are hiring from Suzuki lease. Itis a Suzuki Pallette and sounds like a washing machine when you are driving it. This car should be very cheap to run; tank size is  25Litres and very easy to park.

3 Weeks in Japan Clas Observation

This is my third week in Japan.
It has been a very busy time.
Karate, Zazen practice at a local Zen temple and most of all work is keeping me very busy.

Yesterday I attended Kurashiki Seiryo high school for an observation class.

It was a very good class presented by a Japanese Exchange Teacher from the USA and an English teacher from Kurashiki Sei Ryo.
The observation class took place in a  beautiful constructed new library. It was shaped like a cross between a cathedral and a viking long ship. It was a great place for teaching with lots of light and space. The observation class was also very good. It was one of the few times in Japan that I have seen technology incorporated into a team teaching lesson. The JET presented lots of interesting visuals to provide language examples for the students to talk and write about a recommendation to visit a place in Japan. It was a great day. The photo shows the wonderful library.