vic&michael's VirtualTourist Home Page

The food here is so good!
I love travelling. So far, I have been to - Singapore, Beijing, Philippines, New Zealand, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Thailand, Osaka, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kobe, Washington DC, Florida.
I practice Tea Ceremony. It's really difficult, but I enjoy it. There's a lot of small things to memorize while doing the tea ceremony.

Send Photo to a Friend

By the Kamo River, Kyoto.

Self-Introduction

Hi, I am from Christchurch city in New Zealand. But, obviously I'm not a purebred NZer. I was born in Singapore, and have Chinese blood. I am currently teaching English in Kyoto, Japan with my fiance Michael. We are employed through the Japanese Government's JET programme. We leave Kyoto in July 2007. My life's goal is to travel all around the world.

Originally, this site was for Michael and I, but I seem to be the only one who's interesteed in posting information and photos so it's now officially my site! Michael and I came to Japan together from Christchurch. We met while studying Psychology at Canterbury University. I was only 19!

When we've done our 3 years in Japan, we're getting MARRIED in New Zealand! and then we'll take some time off to travel around the South of Europe for a couple of months. YAY! Greece, Italy, Southern France, and Spain, here we come!

Send Photo to a Friend

School Trip

Japanese High School Students

Wanna see my students in Japan? Here they are going on a trip to Lake Biwa for a BBQ.
They're so cool :-)

Send Photo to a Friend

Christmas 2005

My Family

I love my family.
They live in New Zealand.
I miss them so much when I'm in Japan.

Send Photo to a Friend

Stray Cat

Stray Cat

This is 'my cat' - actually, she is a stray cat that I feed occasionally. I want to adopt her but I can't because I go on too many holidays and cannot reliably feed her. So, I want her to learn how to fend for herself. She is a good hunter, I've seen her with a mouse, and a lizard in her mouth.

Send Photo to a Friend

Gaijin in Japan

What do Foreigners do in Japan?

Well, I'm ashamed to say, that I don't have very many Japanese friends. Is it my fault? Am I too shy? should I be learning to speak Japanese better? Is it their fault? Are they too shy? Are they too stand-offish? I don't know.

I work at a High School. Most of the teachers are many years older than me. Which creates not just a cultural gap, but an age gap too. I have some 'friends' at school but they are few and we don't really go out and do stuff together.

The people I hang out with are other 'gaijin' foreigners who teach English in Japan. They come from Canada, America, Australia...all over the world. We go out for dinner, we drink, sing karaoke, watch videos at each other's houses, and normal stuff like that. It's actually quite nice, after working all day in a Japanese environment (having to put on a big smile, be obsequious,etc.) to be able to be yourself and relax with people of similar culture and same language. I swore I would try to make Japanese friends when I came to live in Japan, but turns out it was a lot harder than I expected.

Send Photo to a Friend

My 'mother' in Japan

This woman has been like a mother to me while I've been living in Japan.
She used to teach Home Economics at school, but has now retired. She still voluntarily teaches the Tea Ceremony Club at school though. She has taken me under her wing and taught me many things about Japan and Japanese culture, and Japanese language.
I chat to her and teach her English on Thursdays. She is an amazingly kind and generous person. I hope to be like her someday.