Leaving

After nearly three years of tortuous abuse, being over-worked, and having to endure tasks well beyond the scope of normal expectations, our Nikon ES5200 has decided to call it quits. If only it had stuck it out for one more week, I might have been able to back up the chronicles of our last week in Japan with photographic evidence. As it is, words shall have to suffice.

Moving out of the apartment was a hassle, but the hassle was par for the course. I must say I didn't like dropping a thousand dollars on various moving-out expenses when the money could have been better spent helping the Japanese economy through the purchase of consumer goods and services. Oh well. With the luggage restrictions being tighter than when we came three years ago, I cannot possibly fit any more stuff in our suitcases anyway.

It was hard to say goodbye to the teachers and office staff at Toke High School. They have all been such a big part of our experience here, and thanks to them, the experience was mostly very positive. They went far out of their way to accommodate us, and if ever they decided teaching in the public schools was not their thing anymore, I could heartily recommend they open up a B&B or Hotel and cater to foreign students and tourists. We were showered with gifts at my going-away party, and then to top it all off, Aonishi Sensei and Wakamatsu Sensei went the extra mile (actually, the extra 20 miles) and drove us and our luggage to the hostel here in Narita, where we'll be staying until we leave.