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I'm settling in nicely now and I realise that if I had to, I can live here again permanently (well, I'll just have to get my license and a car though). Alot of things have happened which made me feel really relaxed and happy here. For example, just talking to people. Everyone is just so outspoken and expresses their feelings and views openly. It's really nice to know how people are feeling, instead of having to guess or being expected to know. Also, the random small talk with fellow commuters and shop assistants are friendly and fun too. You just meet eyes with some stranger, and you get a smile and you smile back. That's nice.

Also, I went to the doctor's today, and in a long time I felt no need to feel stressed or 緊張 in any way. I knew exactly what the procedures were, exactly how I wanted to express myself and knew exactly what the doctor was saying to me. Not that I didn't understand in Japanese, it's just that it sinks in faster in English, and it's more comfortable using English in situations where you have technical terms and such. Even just doing some other paper work, I felt so much more relaxed and comfortable doing it here than in Japan. I wonder why's that (well I guess I do know).

One thing I don't like is that I feel too dependent on cars and public transport here. Which cannot be helped anyway, but I do feel lazy. I loved that fact that I could ride my bike into town and save money, be ecologically friendly, and get exercise, but being here I feel tired just walking a few metres, whereas I walked for kilometres in Japan! Oh well, it must be the weather (yeah just blame it on the weather!).