Well, I was asked while I was back home to update my blog more often. The main reason I haven’t is that after being here for two years, it has started feeling like home, and there’s not a lot of novel things that I’ve been doing. Basically, I’m not posting much so that I can avoid the monotony of, “I went drinking again at the same place.” or “Here are more pictures of the same places that I have posted pictures of before.”

Having said that, there is a little to post about this time.

So first of all, congrats Patrick and Amanda Kenna on an absolutely amazing wedding. I was so happy I could be part of it. I don’t have pics from the wedding yet, but when I get some, I’ll post them here.

My trip to Oklahoma was too short, and I wish that I had the opportunity to spend more time with everyone, but alas, time is fleeting, and I can only do so much with what I have.

I spent Halloween here, and it was uneventful as usual. They don’t really celebrate it here. We did have a work party, but it wasn’t a typical good American Halloween party.

The elections are over (finally). I have had to explain the American political system to a lot of my students, as theirs is entirely different. They don’t get to vote for their president, and most of the people here are apathetic (except for the nationalists, who are pretty crazy).

I had a chance to test Windows 8 recently, as it was just released. To make a long story short, I’d say skip it unless you have a multi-touch screen computer. If you can’t use touch, it’s a pain to learn all the gestures using only the mouse. I definitely won’t be buying it without a touch screen. If you’d like to know more, just let me know and I can explain more thoroughly.

And finally, I went to Choushiga (pronounced Cho-oo-shi-ga) Waterfall last weekend (pics added here). I was lucky as the leaves began changing colors about a week and a half ago, and by now they are nearly all brown and dead. Having said that, it was beautiful. The hike was nice as well. I sometimes wish that they didn’t add stairs into the mountain. Sometimes I just want to explore and find a crazy way down, and have to figure out a different crazy way up, but since so many people go to these places, it makes sense that they would add easy access.

I think that’s it for now. I’m off to read a nice book in bed. Have a good day everyone!!!