While I thought I had largely gotten used to planning and taking solo trips on my own, it seems I still need a little more practice.

I was set to have my busiest day yet, 5 classes and English club after school. Of course, things don’t always go as planned.

Eventually, you stop seeking change, or finally reach that ever elusive goal you've been chasing, and before you know it, you’ve grown complacent.

The end of the first term is quickly approaching here in Japan, and so the topic of summer plans seems to be more and more on people’s mind.

No matter how great the trip, or how much you’ve enjoyed it, all adventures must come to an end.

For my first full day as a 27 year old, it was time to visit one major landmark I’d yet to see, Mt. Fuji. I was pretty excited to see it. I've caught glimpses of it on trains to Tokyo or on the Shinkansen, but today I would get to see it in its full glory.

Feeling rested from our lazy day yesterday, we were all ready to go for, arguably, the most important day of our trip, my birthday!

During any trip, no matter how much fun it is, no matter how much there is to see, there comes a day when you simply must have a lazy day.

After a whirlwind few days, it was already time to say goodbye to Osaka. We gathered up our things, repacked our bags, and began to lug them to the train station.

After a long day taking on Kyoto, today we would have a slightly more relaxed day, seeing Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Himeji Castle. I was looking forward to seeing Himeji Castle, but a little more trepidatious about going to Hiroshima.

The second day of our golden week trip was going to be a doozy, it was time to take on Kyoto. The city I had spent 3 days exploring, I was now going to tackle in just one day alongside my family.

The first day of our family trip was planned to be spent at Nara, a more relaxed day since everyone would probably still be tired from the long trip to Japan

Golden Week is a collection of 4 holidays in Japan, and while it’s one of Japan’s busiest seasons, I also thought it would be a good time for my family to visit Japan.

Maybe a little scatterbrained, or maybe just being my usual forgetful self, I forgot to bring my laptop into my apartment.

As the two schools I teach at gear up for midterms, I once again find myself with extra time on my hands. The term just started in April, so it feels too soon, but I guess if it ends in July it technically is about the middle of the term.

The world is a complicated place. People are complicated. Relationships are complicated. Life is complicated. Yet at the same time, it’s also so very simple.

While the process of getting my license may have sucked, I did find some bright spots. Turns out Japanese rest stops on the highway are head and shoulders above the ones back home. I also got to celebrate getting my license by finally going to Hitachi Seaside Park!

I’ve been driving in Japan pretty much since I arrived here using an international driver’s license. However, with my birthday coming up soon, my Canadian driver’s license is set to expire.

It’s a weird thing once you achieve a dream you’ve had for a long time. You’re proud of your accomplishment, you revel in your completion of whatever it is you set out to do, and then you start to wonder. Okay, now what?

The weather is slowly getting warmer, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the new school year has started in earnest. April 9th was the first day of the new school year, while it would still be a bit before I started teaching classes again, I was excited to get back into the swing of things.