Hello everybody,

I want to announce some changes to my website. First of all, due to lack of action and lack of time, and to keep my videos to good quality, I will be editing and uploading my video series when I return to America. I will still be collecting video footage with the rest of my time here in Japan, but I will be unable to edit and upload the videos while I am here. However, for record purposes and for people in the future to read my blogs, I’ll be uploading what blog entries I am able, (I have been still taking offline notes day to day). Photos are also regularly updated on my flickr account (see the left menu link).

It took me a while to come to terms with my decision, and to get over my own disappointment and self loathing. Originally I wanted to take this project to prove some things to myself, but I have yet to really prove anything.

As you can see, my schedule doesn’t leave me a lot of time to invest into the process of editing and uploading videos. When I came to Japan I actually expected I would have way too much free time and that I wouldn’t have a lot of friends –; . But I ended up making other commitments which add up. In addition to classes, once a week I’m an english conversation teacher part-time, and on Sundays I go to church. And sometimes  during the evenings from 7-8pm until 11pm, I visit my teacher’s studio (where they do editing, composite, and graphic work) in the city as an informal internship. I have also been participating in club activities for group CAS (Comic Animation Society). I also know way more people this semester so I am going to more social events with them. I am very happy to be busy with some great opportunities here, but since I need to commit to these opportunities and will be working on many projects for my classes, I cannot make the time for my project. As much as I’d love to, it would not be right to cancel these opportunities in Japan to work by myself on this side project that I can do when I return.

I am sorry to disappoint everyone and myself, I have some regrets for poor planning and execution of my project, but I do not want to the videos to go to waste. It loses the benefit and original idea I had of showing my experiences in real time, but I hope that my blogs and my videos to be uploaded later in the year will help teach about Japanese culture encourage study in Japan.

So I will do my best with the couple months I have left in Japan.