Wow, it's been a long long time since I have posted on this blog. Since 2006 to be exact. Ok, so here's the 300 word summary of the past 5 years:

1) Moved back to Canada
2) Met Kosuke
3) Worked for Japanese Gov't, Stats Can, NRCan
4) Got fed up with government contracts
5) Decided to get an MBA
6) Did the GMAT
7) Got into Simon Fraser University
8) Got my MBA
9) Got engaged to Kosuke :)
10) Got my dream job as a sustainability consultant

It's been a pretty good time.

Kosuke and I are heading to Japan for New Years this coming December and I thought it might be fun to kick up the blog again. There will be two main themes to our trip: 1) Onsen and 2) Traditional Japanese New Year Cuisine. I'll post on here about our onsen visits - you're jealous all ready aren't you?! I will also post some of the recipes that Kosuke's mom will be teaching me. I have yet to find a good English cookbook that summarizes the intricacies of traditional Near Year's food.

It's going to be fun!

Mata ne,

Emma
emma found her way @ 11:48 a.m. | 0 comments

Ok, ok I know it's been a while. Gomen ne. Here are a few pics to summarize the past few months, enjoy :)

The family at Christmas, yay Victoria came home :)

Hikari came to visit me over the Christmas break! It was her first time in Canada and we had a great time. Here's a pic of us in Montreal and a greasy spoon enoying some good poutine - yumm!

What trip to Montreal would be complete without seeing the lovely Fred and Karine! The sketchy guy on the left is Chris, Holly's British beau - we adore him :)

A shot from our quiet New Years Game night :) Granted, everyone was just catching their breath from the preceeding 3 nights.....

It appears *someone* was having a good time :)

Happy New Years!

Chrissy and Laura at Winterlude - Canada's answer to the YukiMatsuri in Hokkaido. The canal freezes ever year and you can skate all 7.8km - the world's longest skating rink, and it's a mere 5 min walk from my apartment :)

Chrissy, Laura, myself, Karine and Fred enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Winterlude :)

We went to see a funky Montreal band (who's name escapes me at the moment) at the outdoor Winterlude concert - it was soooo cold! But the music was great :)

emma found her way @ 1:23 a.m. | 0 comments

Hey guys! Here's just a quickie update - 1) dad's doing great post hip replacement 2) i have a new apartment - see pics 3) starting a new job at the embassy as part of the JET selection committee and 4) lots and lots of love to each of you (i promise when i get internet at home, i'll be better about posting)

from the living to the dining room, yay for red :)

our fab mantel, complete with plug-in, light-up fireplace :P

dining room, at strange angle

emma found her way @ 6:57 a.m. | 1 comments

Hey guys! I know it's been ages since I've written here, and I still have loads to add before my Japan adventure is complete, but here's a quick update. After what seemed like endless goodbyes I finally say saiyonara to my home in Mikame. After visiting my sis and (never-ending thanks to Tom) returning to Canada with Kamikaze (that's a post in itself) I am finally back in Ottawa.

It's a bit of a re-adjustment living with mom and dad, as one might guess. Not to mention all this reverse culture shock junk. After a weekend out on the water just south of Ottawa, I realized that I had forgotten how beautiful Canada is. Trees as far as you can see and loads of animals, I'm home.

Busy catching up with friends and job hunting - it looks like Indonesia isn't in the cards this time around so I'm looking for work here in Ottawa. Yay networking. But more on that later.

It's strange now getting emails from Japan, it seems so far away and it has not even been a month. I felt like I was saying goodbye for weeks, and literally, I was. But I still wasn't satisfied. I'm sorry to everyone out there in Nihon who I didn't get to say a proper goodbye. Please know that I'll keep in touch, and I hope you do the same. The world just isn't as big a place anymore. And besides, it's just another excuse to travel!

Stay tuned for how to pick-up in Vancouver Airport, how to get your furry friend out of Japan, how to swim with sharks and (I should write a book) how to live a life of leisure.

Big hug and smooch!
emma found her way @ 1:15 p.m. | 2 comments

I know I've said it 100 times but, where oh where have the last 3 years gone. It seems like only yesterday that I was landing in Tokyo and getting lost in Shinjuku. Or asking for a kancho instead of a okanjo at Joyful. Or running after ferries that always depart ontime, to the minute......leaving no room for the Canadian interpretation of a 9pm departure - which translates to no earlier than 21.31 Canadian time. I've now learnt that I can actually set my watch to the JR trains. I can also successfully as for the bill at a restaurant, avoiding any intrusive questions from the waiter. But, I still get lost in Shinjuku, it's the bright lights, they distract me.

I'm busy not only sorting out my things to ship home, but also my memories. (Yes, I'm aware I should write after-school specials for a living). I have loved getting to know Japan and it's people. I will miss this bizarre country.

But as Mari said, I should forget I'm leaving until I'm getting on the plane.

So to that, my fellow departing JETs I say Tanoshimashouuuuu!
emma found her way @ 8:57 p.m. | 2 comments

Tom, Nat, myself and Angie (I love this girl, she is such an upper!). Not that I don't love Nat and Tom :P

P.S. One has to be really carful running the spell check on a word like somen. One mis-placed click and your post will have an entirely different meaning.... also freakin' has some interesting possibilities.

emma found her way @ 7:16 p.m. | 0 comments