Graduation Day

Congratulations, 6th graders!!

In Japan, the school year beings in April and ends in March of the following year. Elementary schools in Japan includes grades one to six. The schools that I work at all have the same graduation date, so I was only able to attend it at one school. 

I personally think graduations done in Japan are better than those held in the states. It definitely feels like a large family. The lower grades (1-5) give their sempai (upperclassmen) messages, artwork and various other things. The day before graduation, the 5th graders decorate the 6th graders' classrooms (I helped out too!)

The 6th graders that graduated at this school were a great bunch of kids. I wish them all the best in junior high school!

Looking Festive, Fukuoka

Iwataya department store

Another department store

A store display window

Hakata (train/subway) Station 

Tenjin Core (a clothing/accessories store for teens/young adults)

Instagram photos of Fukuoka I took last month. Japan true loves lighting up their cities during the holiday season. Typically, the light are up by mid-December to about the first week of January.

40 before 40 - My new macbook pro

Soooooo, I think I've mention here that my 4.5 year old macbook died on me back in mid-July. I was without a real laptop until the end of August when I bought this baby. Ugh, this was the most expensive thing I have ever purchased in my life!! Apple, seriously, this Pro better survive for more than five years or else I'm going back to PCs.... heh, I'm so kidding. I love Macbooks. I can't see myself using a PC again.

I'm such a gadget girl. I really would like to own an iPad, but I'm not in love with the weight; it's pretty heavy. Rumors say that a mini may come out sometime next year. If so, then I'll be on it! It would be nice to have a small tablet while traveling to surf the web or read a book/magazine. Even more useful for my commute to and from work!

Good Times

I was invited to my friend's home in Fukuoka City. There, I met her parents and aunt for the first time. She mentioned that her father loves to use the amount of random English that he knows. Her father really enjoyed talking with me though and I thought his English was rather good compared to the average Japanese person.

Anyway, we had a little BBQ, which had me completely filled up; it was sooooo good. 

Hong Kong

Above photos are from Google image

My Japanese friend and I will spend our winter vacation in Hong Kong! I absolutely cannot wait for this trip! I am going to stuff my stomach with yummy food and empty my wallet from all the clothes and accessories that I'm going to purchase.