Spring Cleaning

Well its once again that most lovely time of the year which we call Spring. So what does this mean? Spring cleaning of course! We're cleaning out the apartment today, partially important because Lisa G. is supposed to arrive sometime tomorrow for a week long visit! Also its finally warm enough (inside as well as out) that we can put away our heated rug and kotatsu blanket. Without those I'm not sure we would have made it through the winter. Ahh Kotatsu how I love you!

The Japanese school year is also almost over. The last day is Wednesday. The students get about two weeks off before they start the next grade in April. Very different from US schools. Also they run on a trimester schedule instead of semesters.

The trees around Kagoshima are beginning to blossom. Not sure if they are sakura (cherry) or ume (plum) trees though. The sakura are the ones that Japan is really famous for. We're thinking of hosting a picnic party at a park in Matsumoto to "view" the blossoms sometime in the next couple weeks when they are at their peak bloom. Sakura viewing parties are supposedly very popular here. We'll probably post pictures of some of the trees soon so make sure to check our photos.

Back to the cleaning.