Aeon Hikarigaoka Welcome Party!

I have survived my first week at work, and although training didn't prepare me for hyper, dissinterested kids, I feel the adult classes at least have been successful!

I'm all settled into my flat, just a few bits and bobs I want to buy to make it more habitable now.

Last night (Saturday 19th) was my Welcome Party to Aeon Hikarigoka! We had chicken broth, octopus pancake, and plenty of sake and beer.
I gave a speech, and they applauded my efforts at using Japanese!
It was a very memorable night, and I did a lot of mingling and even had a conversation about astrophysics with one student in a Japenglish mix :)

This is me eating my first dish of raw fish, sashimi. Oishikatta desu!
(It was tasty!)

Next week Mon-Wedn are bank holidays; it is unusual for all three to follow a weekend, so I have 4 splendid days off work!

The bank holidays are:

Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日), third Monday of September

Autumnal Equinox Day　(秋分の日), astronomically determined, but usually September 23

Kokumin no kyujitsu　(国民の休日), the day in between the two other holidays.

I will hopefully be going to Tokyo Disneyland on Tuesday.. let's see!!!

p.s. Thank you to to Xor, my collegue, who has uploaded a few photos to the web for me. Please scroll down to view my edited posts!!