Been taking a breather from blogging, but it hasn't quite been a voluntary breather.
To make a long story short, I had to reapply for broadband and send back my old modem so YahooBB can send me a new one. Until I get the modem, I won't have internet at home, which also means I don't have a long-distance plan set up for outgoing calls. I'll be able to write a little more and call a little more after that.
That being said, I've got a ninth-grade class in ten minutes, so I'll make this brief.

Aikido's started to take off. I went on a weekend trip with some members to Okayama, near Hiroshima, last weekend and we had training and went sight-seeing, had general fun, etc. Two days a week of consistent training has finally become the right amount for me. I'm beginning to see the level of skill in the dojo, and within the past month have felt another 'opening' to what I have to learn here. Felt like a release--being open to this different way of doing Aikido.

School is getting better. Day to day is a little difficult, because I've been thrust into curriculum development and grade assessment and all that. Like becoming a teacher without any training. Anyway, gambarimasu(doing my best).

Weather's finally started to cool off. It's been really pleasant the past few nights, and the days are breezy.

Went to Kagoshima yesterday(actually a town called Kuchikino, sounds like 'yesterday's mouth,' but I know my translation's wrong) to go to a temple, Jikokuji, and meet a monk who's originally from Belgium. Have to write about that later, I guess.

Miss talking to friends from home.

Time to go read 'Anne of Green Gables.' How lucky am I?