Homogenous Housing

Mass-produced, cookie-cutter housing is no uncommon thing around Misawa. These little neighborhoods usually are home to Americans living off-base, but newer construction seems to produce the same type of housing tracts for native Misawans too. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but I'll take living in one of these standard structures over one of the undifferentiated (and uglier) houses on base any day.

I took these pics on a walk today in GORGEOUS weather. Spring is (FINALLY) here- yay! Everyone is out planting their gardens, and all kinds of pretty junk is popping out of the ground. The cherry blossoms are so close to blooming too. Hopefully this weekend we'll get our timing right at the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, and I'll have lots of pretty pictures to share soon. I love it here this time of year!

Goodbyes and Karaoke

As the last of the original group of friends we made when we first moved to Japan are packing up and leaving as I write, I can't help but think about how crazy it is that we've already been here for well over a year. As of now we've said goodbye to most of the people we have gotten to know during that time, and it definitely feels a little strange. Such is the nature of military life, I suppose. With every person that leaves, someone else comes, so hopefully we'll be meeting new friends in the coming months (as well as enjoying the couple of really good friends we're lucky to still have around). Plus, with everyone moving away, we now have friends all over the world and lots of couches to crash on when we travel! :)

We went out this past weekend for one last night of karaoke glory. Good times!

We'll miss you guys. :)