N a t u r e is calling. You just have to listen.

Hugging trees at Mt. Takao

Oh nature, how I've missed you. I hugged this tree for an awkwardly long amount of time lol. My friend was like umm okay I took the picture already..

Close up leaf action.

I went on a "hike" up Takao-san. It was more like a mild uphill walk with a hundred of your closest friends. We shuffled past people decked out in outdoor gear--walking sticks and all, then women who looked like they'd just come from a night out. It was strange. とてもへんでした。

Gordon and I feasting on all things
that come on a stick. Fried chicken
and roasted mochi cakes with sauce.

On the upside of the chaotic ascend, there were tons of local mountain food stands at the top. I tried various omochi, and some yummy mushroom soup!

The gorgeous Japanese maple getting ready for winter.

Fall, falling, fallen.

For Halloween we had a kids party at school. I came dressed as zombie broccoli! The kids thought it was hilarious and called me "ure no kota burokori" which means the broccoli that nobody wanted. I had a sign that said 50% off because that's how they display old veggies here. Needless to say, I was terrifying. Some of the kids still call me Broccoli-sensei haha.

Broccoli-sensei attacking Count Micah

We had to change the chant from "I'll show you my underwear" to
 "I'll show you a big green pear" They didn't get
 it at all but Micah and I were dying.

A trip to Tokyo Disneyland! The festivities were outrageous. The costumes were outrageous. The food was outrageous. The crowds were outrageous.

I'm eating a pizza flavored eggroll and Ziz is eating a black
orange and "Halloween" pizza. There is a small child dressed
as Jack Sparrow somewhere in the vicinity who is too cute
for words. 

Tama-chan. たまちゃんはたくさんはなしました。

Priceless. 

When you fall asleep on last train, things escalate quickly. One second I was waving goodbye to my friend and hoppin on the train straight for my city, the next thing I knew I was chillin with Tama the cat wearing unicorn pajamas, the next next thing I knew I was on my way home with a bag full of persimmons and a bucket of bewilderedness.

Another year older. It's cool to think about because since birthdays are such monumental days, I can always remember what I did the previous year. Last year, I recall getting a brand new shiny red wagon, being drunk before 7, eating a lot of carrot cake, and passing out around 10. A year later, I'm in Japan. Crazy. 

This year I ran a 10k for my birthday. It was utterly exhausting since I haven't been exercising.. but I had a great time!

Everyone says it's unnatural to look so happy running lol. 

Family and friends after the marathon. I'm not entirely sure
how I got that birthday hat. And it's definitely a thing here
to reward yourself with a beer after any great feat. 

After the run, I went to a BBQ! Then I passed out on the train home and woke up drooling and confused in Omote-sando or somewhere. The train puts me to sleep and you basically have 3 choices if your riding alone; stare at your phone, stare at the people across from you, or close your eyes. I'm beginning to set phone alarms because missing my stop on the Hanzomon line on 3 separate occasions is just absurd. Not to mention highly inconvenient.