I'm back!

Yep it's been over a month since I posted. Time flies when you're having fun.

So much has happened in the past month: I did Habitat For Humanity in the Philippines, went to Shikoku, went rice planting, watched a taiko performance... I have been having a blast.

The trip to the Philippines was AMAZING. Our team managed to build 2 houses in 6 days - one house will be home to 10 people and the other to 7. The houses are tiny by Western standards, but they provide these families with a secure roof and 4 walls; things they had been living without up until now. It was a very emoitional trip, with tears flowing on the final day when we handed over the keys to the houses. I made some great friends, strengthed my relationships with friends here and had a fantastic time. I will never forget the 'Ppines.

Got back on 1st May, went to school on the 2nd then took an over night bus from Tokyo down to visit my friend in Shikoku. Had an absolute blast. Shikoku is so beautiful. The landscape is completely different to here - the mountains are different shapes, there are ocean views, the air smells different... One day we took a ferry to Shodo Island and went kayaking in an ocean inlet. Kayaked to a small island, made seaweed salad, kayaked back, had noodles for lunch, went to an olive farm, went to an AMAZING onsen overlooking the ocean. Thanks for the good times, I!

Then two weekends ago was rice planting. I stayed with the same family last year, and this time D stayed there too. We planted rice by hand, dug up bamboo shoots, made tempura, made a beer cup on a pottery wheel, saw woodblock prints from the 1700s, and then went and watched a taiko (drum) performance in Takasaki. It was phenomenal! Those guys are so skilled.

And that's where I am at the moment. Also been busy during the week, having dinner with friends, socialising and all that.

Sorry this entry is a bit scarce on details - it's hard to sum up a month!