Happy Birthday to ME

I'm the BIG 24 Today!

Logans parents are on thier way to Japan today-woohoo! Kind of crazy really. That means my vacation starts in a week and a half- CAN'T WAIT!!

Got my first birthday card in the mail today-love gettin mail! Thanks Nicki!!!

bye bye friend

Had to say goodbye to Liz today. It's not really goodbye, but rather a 'see ya later'! Nonetheless it was sad and put a damper on my whole day.

I hope Inno-machi treats her well or there will be some Iwakians kickin some country town butts!

went to the beach today. Got crazy burnt but tried bodyboarding for the first time. Pretty fun!
I love livin near a beach! And what goes with freezing ocean water? ONSENS! (specially ones that over look the ocean) Yeh Iwaki!

Body Break

Welcome to Body Break. I'm Hal Johnson and this is Joanne McLeod.

After a long day of intensive, high impact exercise, such as climbing a mountain, the best thing to do is curl up on your tatami (floor, whatever), watch a downloaded copy of Star Wars Episode III and sleep for an exorbitant number of hours.

Following this highly recommened Recuperation Routine will ensure that no muscles, bones or anything related to your body will ache or hurt in the slightest even after 16 hours of exercise.

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Body Break and always remember to KEEP FIT AND HAVE FUN!

I climbed Mt. Fuji and my body doesn't hurt! WOOHOO!!

The Little Engine that Could....

FUJI-SAN: CONQUERED!

It took a whopping 16 and a bit hours but I climbed MT. Fuji this weekend and actually made it to the top!

Whodathunkit that I'd come to Japan and do all these adventurous things? But alas I am proving to myself that given the opportunity (lots of free time and FU-JET organized trips) I quite enjoy participating in outdoor activities-like climbing dormant volcanos!

Climbing Mt. Fuji wasn't totally easy for me. The rain ( sometimes slush) and close to freezing temperature even made it a little miserable at times but I am very proud of myself. My little group was Logan and my ALT friend Leonard, although we met up with other ALT friends along the way. We hiked overnight starting at 6:30pm. We took our time and stopped at the various huts and stations for rests and snacks. The first two hours were the most physically demanding for me as my body was in shock from walking uphill for so long. After the 7th hut we had to climb steeper rocks inbetween the different stations. Overall, this was harder on my muscles, but my body was getting used to the activity. I was lucky not to have suffered much from the altitude, but my fellow climbers (Logan and Leonard) were not so lucky. It was our goal to reach the top in time for the sunrise, which is called go-raiko, but because of the crowds we didn't make it in time. As it turned out, the sunrise was blocked by clouds and there wasn't much of a view anyways.

We didn't spend much time at the top; we were too tired, cold and wet. We snapped a few pictures then started our decent. The decent used different muscles then the ascent, and was very monotonous. The view was neat though. The climbers on the mountain looked like a bunch of colourful ants on red sand.

Overall it was a positive experience but as the saying goes "You are wise to climb Mt. Fuji once and a fool to climb it twice" I don't think I would do it again.

Yeh TEAM IWAKI!

Big thanks goes to my Merrell shoes which were an excellent understudy to my hikers that I couldn't wear. Merrells, you were Great!!

 
 

shoe update

My right foot apparently doesn't like me and has decided not to heal fast enough. I won't be able to wear my hikers to climb Fuji tomorrow. What am I going to do?...ugh

He's back!

Everyone should be happy to know that my favourite crossing guard has returned to his post. He seems to be well and i'm happy to have him back!

heel update: still not fit for shoes, Fuji could be tense...

First comes Setogaro, then comes Fuji...

I had to test out my new hikers, so today I went to a gorge in Iwaki, Setogaro. Its a pretty casual hiking trail around a gorge with just over half a dozen little waterfalls. I was appreciative of the easy trails, but I didn't so much like climbing up the two storey high ladders, or scaling that rock face beside one of the higher waterfalls. In true Nicole form (I have perpetual foot wear problems) my new hikers gave me giant blisters that will keep me out of closed shoes for a least a week. Good times though- Let's just hope my feet forgive me and heal before Fuji....

Time to say Goodbye

Last night was the Leavers Enkai (work party to say goodbye to leaving ALTS). The leaving ALTs are John, Michaela, Alan, Steve and Liz (not really leaving, just going to Iino-machi...sniff.. sniff..tear)

As usual our nigikai (2nd party) was at the all wonderful Shidax Karaoke! Abe-Sensei fell asleep, Yoshida-Sensei was too drunk and a little too friendly but we sang our hearts out!!

Bye Bye ALTS!

"party, karamu, fiesta, forever, come on and sing along! All night long!"

Happy Birthday Canada!

I hope all my fellow Canadians have a great Canada DAY!

Have a burger and a beer for me!

I'm disgruntled that Coconut Village ran out of Moosehead- and on Canadas Birthday!