Amanda goes to Maniwa

It that's time of year again when my company get the idea that I should spend 6 weeks in rural Japan. This time they have decided to sent me to a place called Maniwa City which is in Okayama Prefecture. It takes 6 hours from Susenji (where we live) to get here.

When they told me I was going I wasn't really happy, but I thought that it would give me a chance to meet lots of cool little people. My boss told me that they would also give me an extra 200 pounds (I thought wow!!!). It soon came to light though that the 200 pounds was for me to travel home every weekend. I'm not great at maths, but at 130 for a round trip I knew 200 pounds wasn't going to stretch to 6 weekends. After lots of haggling I got them up to 275 pounds (I know I am rubbish).

My hotel is pretty new and it's cosy. The view from the window (above)shows just how much I am in the countryside. If you walk for 10 minutes the houses disappear and you just see hills. I don't have a car this year so if no one hears from me in a while it's because I have gotten lost up a hill!

Hills in that direction

Hills in that direction too!

There is a big river close to the hotel. On the river bank there are lots of cherry blossom trees so tomorrow I am going to have my own hanami (viewing cherry blossom party). Well it gives me something to do. I will do as the Japanese do and try to take photos of me and some cherry blossom (sakura).

They love their cherry blossom here.

I am teaching from Monday so I will try to take lots of pictures. I went to school today, but the kids spent all morning cleaning the school before going home at 12!