Hello, everyone! I hope you're doing well! I forgot about his blog for a bit, so I'm planning on posting some updates soon about the more interesting things that I've done this past month.

First things first, I've extended my JET contract. So as of now, I'll be living in Japan until at least August 2013! I do miss everyone back home, but I really don't want to leave Japan yet.

Second, my parents are coming to visit me in about two weeks! They'll be staying in Japan for a bit more than a week. I'm really excited to see them and show them around! We're planning a small trip to Kyoto and then we'll be back up in Tokyo for the rest of their trip.

Here in Japan, the current school year is wrapping up. Unlike in America, the school year starts in April and runs until partway through March. There are various breaks, so even though the school year is long, the kids aren't in school constantly. The third year students are already done with school. The graduation ceremony at my school was over the weekend, so I attended and saw the third years graduate. Though the ceremony was a bit different (more standing and bowing, and the students didn't individually receive their diplomas on stage), it made me think back to my own high school graduation.

I should also mention that this past weekend was the one year anniversary of the earthquake. Life goes on as usual in the Kanto area of Japan, but the areas in Sendai that were worst hit my the earthquake and tsunami are  still recovering. Despite this, the Japanese people are making the best they can of the situation. I've learned during my time here that the Japanese are very strong people. There's a long road to recovery, but I'm confident that Japan can do it.

To end this entry on a slightly happier note, I'm including some cute writings by my students. During my last classes of this school year, the first year students were asked to write to me. Here's some of the things they had to say. (A lot of them mention "OC". It stands for Oral Communication, the class I taught to my first years.) Their English isn't perfect, but it's definitely the thought that counts. Sometimes my students can be quite cute! And just think, next month I'll get a whole new bunch of first years when the new school year starts.