Well, the 1st annual Happy Days English Cafe Bonenkai was a great success! Thank you to everyone who came. We were so happy to share our home and our holidays with all of you. We hope that next year, with a little more notice and planning, we can make it even bigger and better. Moving to Japan, and in particular to Fukuroi, a small city that we knew nothing about, was a little bit scary for us a little over 3 years ago, but thanks to the wonderful people here, we are now proud to call this place home.

The party kicked off at 3pm and the turnout was great. There was plenty of food and refreshments. Special thanks to my wife for her hard work and culinary efforts. I usually go a bit overboard with the estimations and preparations, but with her help and guidance, we had the perfect mix of dishes and just the right amount of everything. My first effort at homemade eggnog was also a huge success. 24 eggs, 2 pints of milk, a pint of cream, and 2 cups of bourbon...mmmm.
The gift exchange was also fun, although I think Taylor made out the best! Thank you to everyone who brought him a present. This has been a very memorable Christmas season for him. One we will never forget. All in all, I don't think it could have gone any better and we look forward to next year. Happy New Year to everyone and here's hoping that 2010 is the start of a great decade.

It's my favorite time of the year, and this promises to be a memorable season. Not only have I officially moved on from NISSAN and begun focusing on my own business full-time, but I'm celebrating by throwing the first annual Happy Days English Cafe Christmas Party! The 27th of December will be the day and with any luck it'll be a big success. It's a bit of a late date and I know more than a couple students will be traveling at that time so I'd like to apologize to them, but it was the only way on such short notice that I could arrange it. Hopefully next year with a bit more planning I can pick a date that is better for everyone. There will be food and beverage as well as good conversation and plenty of Christmas cheer!

Well, NISSAN is finished...again! This time by my choosing. It was great to go back for one more course, both mentally and financially, but I'm happy to be back home with my wife and son. I'm also glad to have a day off too after 3 months of 7 days a week! I love the work and it's not terribly difficult, but everyone needs to wake up from time to time and have a totally free day. Mine is tomorrow. Then it's off to Nagoya on Friday to secure materials for new company classes starting here in Fukuroi beginning next week. No rest for the weary!

I'll be focusing on my own business again which has continued to grow even while spending 4 days a week in another prefecture. I've got 1 new student, Yuka, officially starting next week, and another, Akiko, unofficially. I'll also have the time now to follow up on a couple of other candidates that I just couldn't fit in before. Then, next March I'll have sign-ups for the 2010 school year. If all goes well I'll be able to open the cafe side of things either January or April of 2011.

The leaves are almost completely colored in these parts now and everyone is getting into Christmas mood. Lights were put up at the Garrett house today, along with a wreath and some red ribbons, so we are also feeling a bit festive. Even though we're 7000 miles from home, it's still a special season. Here's hoping it special for you too. Til next time.

Well, it was an exhausting but rewarding day. Thank you to all of our friends and guests. The weather held out and it didn't rain, although summer is definitely here as it is now hot and humid.
I would like to especially thank and welcome the following new students to Happy Days English:
Shiho, Reina, Noriko, Yuko and Masayuki.
I promise I will do my best to improve your English ability in a fun and relaxing environment.

The day started early at about 5am as I needed to do a lot of outside preparation. Signs needed to be placed, the yard needed to be cleaned up, balloons needed to be blown up, etc. By 9am the place was ready, however, by 9:30 the balloons began to succumb to the breeze and elements and by 10am the majority were lifeless and limp.

The first guests arrived at about the same time so apparently the map on the postcard was up to the task. Our new acquaintance, Maheshika from Sri Lanka, was one of the early arrivers and she stayed for quite awhile. I would like to thank her for her help and support and I look forward to working with her to start up some children's classes very soon. Others continuously trickled in all day and by 4pm I was ready for a rest! It would not come for awhile.

A few of my neighbors decided that the festivities could not officially end until after an assemblage consisting of a variety of foods, beer, and sake. As it turns out this was just what the doctor ordered. It did not help the my tennis game though which I had promised to another neighbor earlier in the day!

Yes, after 12 hours of preparation, meet and greet, and post-party reveling, I needed to don my cape and take up my racket in a tribute to Wimbledon. Finally, at about 10pm, completely and utterly exhausted, I collapsed in bed, spent but fulfilled and happy!