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ただいま！ I'm back!


It's been a long two years, but I have once again returned to Himeji via Phoenix Sister Cities! Please pardon the dust as I redesign the blog and catch up from some missing posts!

Tentative to do list:

  • Summarize trip to Ogasawara Islands! It's been two years, but my memories are still crystal clear, and the photos are stunning. 
  • Add some Mt. Shosha photos from 9/9/2017. It was great to go back!
  • Add some photos from Kakashi-no-sato (Scarecrow City, roughly). Although I didn't really photograph any of the scarecrows this time, I still had a wonderful time today (9/10) there!

I have approximately 750 photos from the last two days to sort through, so this will take some time. I've also got to dig up all my photos from Ogasawara (I probably took a couple thousand during my stay there...) and write a cohesive narrative for that multi-day trip. 

In the meantime, I'll just briefly talk about my return to Himeji. I'm still settling in, but it's been so fantastic to once again see all the wonderful people I had left behind. This time, I am teaching at Himeji High School. The campus is lovely, and I recognize some of my former middle school students (although they don't seem to recognize me with my much-shorter hair!). I just finished my first week of lessons, so I am still getting the hangs of things there. Sports Day is coming up, however, and I can't wait to see it! 

I've taken a few morning walks around the castle grounds, and the castle cats are as active as ever! I just bought a new phone and I'm still learning how to use the camera on it, but it seems to take some pretty decent photos! I use it to take quick shots of the cats on my walk while I play Pokemon Go (there is an insane amount of Pokemon in Himeji, as well as Pokemon Go players. It's truly a blast!). 

The weather seems to be cooling off now, which is great, as it felt as if I've spent most of my time here melting. Phoenix may be hotter than Himeji, but this humidity is not something I can ever seem to get used to. I also seem to be single-handedly sustaining the mosquito population in Himeji with each day bringing at least 3 - 4 new mosquito bites in bizarre corners of my body. 

Anyway, I'll write more as I settle in and figure out my routines. Right now, I'm spending most of my time working or hanging out with old friends before collapsing into bed. Here's a few photos from my phone that I've taken in the past three weeks:

I had a brief (~5 minutes) stop at Nagoyama Temple shortly after I landed (~8/21). It seemed fitting that this would be the first place I should visit!

Spotted this fellow resting on a bench early in the morning outside the Himeji Zoo. 

This kitten knows how to pose!

Couldn't think of a better place to take a cat nap!

Himeji Castle in all of its unboxed glory! I can't wait until the weather cools off and I can photograph it properly! 

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