From Across the Sea

Aug 27, 2013 18:49

It's been over a year since I posted. Eek. Considering I check LJ everyday I should probably post more often.

Graduated with my triple major. I'm hoping to start hardcore researching graduate schools soon. Applications will probably begin next year though really I should start applying this year. :/

Went to Hawaii for the archaeology convention this past April. I'm hoping that I can go to the one in Austin next year. I think I'll be able to if I can save up enough for a trip home during that time. We'll see. I was honestly planning on waiting to go back home until July.

Currently I'm living in Japan. I'm on an island off the Southern Island of Kyushu. So, I'm in Kumamoto Prefecture on the rather small island of Amakusa, in the conglomeration of towns known as Amakusa-city, in the joining of a bunch of tiny villages known as Kawaura-town, in the tiny-ass Ichoda-village.

The 'big' town on the island has a population of like 40,000. It feels like a city. My location is pretty great though. I'm easily in walking distance to the post office (which is also my bank), the grocery store, and a collection of various shrines. My apartment building is literally next door to an onsen.

My schools are a 30 minute drive, which to a Texan isn't that bad but here it's a big deal. Two of my schools are in Amakusa-machi, despite its name that's not the big town. My drive to Amakusa-machi takes me through ten tunnels. TEN. I've maybe been through 3 in my life before that. And I go through TEN. TWICE a day. Except for the days that I drive down to Ushibuka for my third school. Ushibuka is the second largest town in Amakusa but has nowhere near as many perks as Hondo, the big town. Hondo is also about 30 minutes away. To get to the largest nearby city takes about 3 hours. That's Kumamoto-shi. It's a huge city on par with Fukuoka and other major Japanese cities. It even got its own shinkansen last year or the year before.

I've gone out a bit here but I still have a lot of exploring to do. There's four shrines I want to visit in my town alone. And then there's two Catholic churches in my town. My island, especially my town, is famous for Christianity and rebellion. Its namesake Amakusa Shiro is a Christian martyr though he's not a Catholic saint, yet. :(

Life here takes a bit of adjusting since it's so damn rural. I'm one of two foreigners in the 30 minute radius. And most of the population is elderly. There's lots of abandoned buildings and overgrown roads here. And everything closes down around 4 when I get done with work. I get off work early compared to my co-workers. Luckily Hondo isn't too far away and it operates much like a city. But I haven't gone into Hondo much yet. I'm still poor. Bills, bills, bills. :/

I don't have proper internet yet, either. Finally got an update on that today though. Minimum of ten days. But internet is on the way. I'll be able to watch videos again. And browse at an appropriate speed. :D I'm so very excited. Also, in a couple of days the data on my phone will reset and I'll get my awesome fast internet back on my phone. That'll help. Any little bit helps in the boonies. XD

I'm sure there's lots more but I've got lots to do to prepare for tomorrow and I should probably be some level of productive.
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