And one month down

Last weekend was Thanksgiving, which I spent with my sister & brother-in-law, and my youngest brother. Sorry, no photo's...

As I expected, I am busy with everything and nothing, not realy getting out of the house as much as I'd like maybe, although I have gone for a walk in a park nearby several times. hmmm, I don't think I ever took photo's there. I'll try to remember to bring my camera next time. I only don't know when that will be... It's getting colder every day, although we haven't made it to freezing yet. But I do think I saw a couple of snowflakes mixed in the rain today.

Oh, before I forget; only travel by Greyhound if you realy have to! going to my sisters place, we had to make a detour of an aditional 2 hours (on a 4 hour busride) just because they apperently do not keep an eye on the traffic, nor do they seem to know any other road than highways. And as for their resources... going back, I had a driver who maybe looked at the road 20% of the time, and a bus of which the engine kept shutting down, like every 5 minutes. oh, did I already mention we were passing through the mountains? It was an.... "interesting" experience. I might look into taking the train for Xmass...

One week here

Yesterday exactly, I am here in Pittsburgh already for a whole week. And a busy one it sure was. After a first night in a hotel, I have gotten me a (very partially furnished) appartment. It's bigger than what I had last year in Japan, but also more empty. Hehe, It wasn't even untill 2 days ago that I had a chair to sit on... But after a week running around I now have most necessairy things, although still no internet yet... I just hate answering machines >:(

Well, slowly I'm gathering the things to make this place enjoyable for the comming 6 months too, and as soon as I have internet I will start updating this page again. I don't think I will realy make as many as trips (and photo's for that matter) as in Japan, but I will try to post as often as possible.

There is a new adventure starting...

...and I know it will be a good one
Can't remember who said it first, I know it wasn't me, but it is definitely true. Tomorrow I will get on the plane again, this time heading for the USA. I will be working on my master thesis project there. Neh, no classes for me anymore. Therefore, it might me a little similar to Japan, although I am sure it will be very different at the same time again too...

I can't wait to go again, 'coz new adventures, new challenges are waiting. Let's not make them wait to long.
:)
Feel free to check in often, and stay up to date through this page and/or email

See you around!

Never forgotten

Oops, have I forgotten to update my page for too long already again...
I am ashamed... 'cause how can I forget the time I have had in Japan. I am back in the Netherlands now, and missing Japan still almost every day. The experiences, the country, the people... Yeah, you could say they have all taken a little place in my heart, and a little of that same heart remained in Japan when I left. No, I have not forgotten about it all, nor will I ever. How can a country and culture so different, make you feel so at home?
My time in Japan has ended for now, and so I will end this 'diary' as well. However, because I am far from bored of traveling, I will start with my Master Thesis Project soon, which I partially will do in Pittsburgh, USA. Although USA is no Japan, I will try to post a message here now and then. So, Check on in again soon!

Now one last word to all the Japanese in general, all the people I have met while I was in Japan, and some people in specific:
Thanks! 'Till we meet again.

The glass is half full

Or in my case, I still have almost 6 months still to go... but those last 6 months passed way to fast. Oops, there goes my positive attitude...

Anw, looking back at those last 6 months, so many things happened. Arriving in a country from which I couldn't speak nor read the language (Now I do, at least a little), meeting so many interresting people, seeing and experiencing so many new and amazing things. I do feel at home here in Japan, and if it wasn't for little kids chasing you (at a polite distance) through shops, amazed by seeing a non-asian I guess, I would feel as if I had lived here all my live. Although I am still amazed/surprised by many things here.

More color blindness

Before, I already wrote about the colorblindness from Japanese concerning traffic lights, but there is more!

Ever wondered what the color of an apple is when it's not red? Yellow, or green? Well, in Japan, it apparently is very easy, it's all blue! For that matter, an unripe banana, when it's not yet yellow.... it's ....

...indeed, blue!

Hmmm, There seems te be a pattern here, every greenish color that changes into another color (when it ripens) is called blue!
Ok, some Japanese would trow in an nice excuse; long time ago, there were 2 different mays of writing the word for "blue" one represented the green color, and one the blue.