Category: Uncategorized

Today I was ready to write about how cold it is in this old house and how I try to keep warm even without a heater and then… it turned out to be a very nice and warm day, with highs of 18 degrees! The warm weather however, came with a big drawback: It was raining quite heavily all afternoon. I’m glad I had gone out for shopping in the morning, and the afternoon, as grey as it was, was perfect to further my studies. So, all in all, I had a nice and productive day.

I’m sure there will be another opportunity to complain about the cold though 😉

10 more days until the big test – and I’m getting slightly nervous… So, I have added yet more study time and try to keep my head down. Mostly at least.

Sometimes I have to go shopping – feeding the body is essential to be able to feed the mind. And at the moment it’s beautiful weather in the afternoon, nice and sunny, picture perfect time for the autumn colours that are famous in Kyoto, so I’m running around feeding my camera too.

Anyway, in case you find my posts lacking the next two weeks – you know the reason why. I’ll be back soon in my old shape, promised!

When I got up today, a bit after 8 am, it was very cold – only 11 degrees. As we have no heating and the windows do not close tight, it is cold even indoors. At least the sun is shining already, and the weather forecast promises temperatures of up to 21 degrees for today.

Which is very good, because this is one of the days where you should be at five different places at the same time – so much is happening today in Kyoto and its surroundings… So, I’ll be off shortly and probably not home until rather late. I will report tomorrow.

I just received an email from home telling me that the man who had taken care of the house over summer (meaning: moving the lawn and generally keeping an eye on things) is now – perfectly timed with the onset of winter – giving up the keys and does not want to “feel responsible” any longer.

Thanks – great timing!

Of course I can see what a huge amount of work it is to pass by the house every now and then and keeping an eye on it, now that it’s winter and nothing more to do. It’s certainly something I can do much more easily from 9000 kilometers away…

Thanks again dude!
If at any time there is anything I can do for you, just let me know. I’ve been looking for an excuse to learn and try some Japanese swearwords anyway…

Today is Austrian National Holiday!

How does that affect me in Japan? Well, as is customary all over the world, the Austrian embassy tonight has a reception with Austrian food and drink, so I will go up to Tokyo.

I have plans to see a friend and do some (window) shopping, it will be great fun! Anyway, that will be my post for today – but I promise to give a more detailed account next week. Watch out for a surprise … 😉

I was not feeling too well today, I hope I’m not heading for a cold… I’m glad I was prepared for that – with plenty of aspirin and a package of pre-made miso soup. I had even bought udon for a full meal, so I hope this will do to keep me healthy for a bit longer.

There seems to have been some kind of event in or near university – it just stopped. There was some music, it started out with something that sounded like traditional drums or so, and at the end it was modern pop music. To me, the latter sounded more like screaming than singing, but hey, what do I know about the youth of today? 😉 Anyway, I’m glad it’s over and quiet again and I can go to bed now.

I think I can finally declare summer as over. Autumn has arrived and the days are becoming cooler and shorter – sunset is already as early as 17:20 at the moment.

Yesterday was another typhoon-induced rainy day, and although the typhoon has already passed and it doesn’t rain any longer, it is still rather windy. This morning however, to cheer everybody up a little, Kyoto was graced with a wonderful rainbow…

I myself don’t go out that often at the moment, but instead I busy myself with studying Japanese, as there are only seven more weeks until the big test. There are still a few fun things to do in October though, and I’m planning to take a break from my grammar and vocabulary lists in the weekend…

September is over, and with it my self-imposed month of not eating chocolate. I have to confess that I’m glad about it! Glad that I made it without greater hiccups – although around the 15th the craving was so enormous I would have eaten practically anything chocolate coated – and I’m glad that I did not break the promise to myself.

And I’m glad that it’s over and so I indulged today in this very nice and special breakfast from my favourite French bakery, fresh out of the fridge…

Yesterday the elections for the Austrian parliament took place. Of course I did my bit, actually about two weeks ago already as the laws had changed and my vote needed to arrive in Austria yesterday already (maybe somebody needs another explanation of the meaning of “date of postmark”). Anyway, here are the results: I’m not happy about this at all – too many votes for the right wing, although I am glad that there’s now only one of those parties in the parliament (Austria has a proportional representation with a 4% lower limit for entering the national assembly). Unfortunately the result seems to imply the same old people in the same old positions with the same old ideas… I’m not sure if it could be worse, actually.

I’m back!

I had a great time in Korea visiting friends last week. I even managed to do some other things on my list: Getting cash (ATMs in Korea are working), buying some clothing and getting other pieces changed, and: stocking up on food (Nutella costs still twice as much as in Europe, but at least the jars are of normal and not homeopathic size).

I also ate a lot of Korean food, but there are still things on my “to eat” list for next time. My friend’s husband made his infamous kimchi pizza on Saturday evening. I do love kimchi, but unfortunately my body does not share my enthousiasm for it and usually, unless I only have a few pieces, tries to get rid of it as quickly as possible – which is all fine and good every now and then, but not while travelling… By the time I came home in the early evening I was totally exhausted and had to go to bed immediately.

Anyway, I’m much better now – and I came back just in time for O-bon, the Japanese Festival of the Dead, which, of course, is quite a big thing here in Kyoto… I shall report accordingly.