Starbucks is OK here. We already had an (European) coffee-shop culture in Japan; Starbucks is steadily replacing traditional, small, cozy coffee shops on the corner.

Great that C-chan is healthily growing. I read your posts about T-chan’s parents. They must be missing their daughter and grand kids, so do Katya’s parents.

Oh, Google+, no I have not started. I will try it after the golden week.
Katya will not enjoy it. She declared that she would not join any SNS, which would be too much time consuming (or losing).

It’s interesting that Starbuck’s still doing well (or well enough) in Japan. They’ve all but disappeared from Australia – with just a few stores in the whole country. The GFC (I suppose you might have a different name for the global financial crisis) certainly has transitioned the corporate face, even here in Australia which has been relatively immune (due to our minerals sales into China).

It’s been a busy time over here (thankfully I’ve been on my 4 weeks parental leave… which has been great if a little tiring). As such, haven’t been visiting (or doing) blogs that much recently… and what time I’ve been online has been largely spent on Google+. Katya might enjoy this, as it’s very much focussed on photography.

Anyhow – happy birthday again from Adelaide.

Your site is so informative and fun!

This year, normally, people would take breaks on May 1 and 2, too, to make it continuous.
However, classes do not stop, so I will attend school on those two days.

Anyway, have fun in the two cities.

Why is it called Golden Week when the 1st and 2nd of May are not holidays? It’s more of a long weekend. 3rd – 6th. Why is it called Golden Week? Doesn’t sound golden at all.

They enjoyed snorkeling, rafting, walking around, shopping, eating, etc. Normal one-week visit for students.

They went into a grocery store to find out that groceries were rather expensive in Australia. It is understandable considering the price of Australian dollar.
We once had a feeling that Australia is a cozy, easy-going place to live in, but probably the image does not apply anymore.

Anyway, he said he definitely wants to visit the country again.

I like spring the best in four seasons, especially after winter. Yes, sakura will be in bloom in two weeks (it is a bit cold this year).

I am sorry for Katya, Ben, spending summers in Kofu, one of the hottest places in Japan. She once told me she liked summer the best, but that was summer in Vladivostok!; summer and fall in Vladivostok is very comfortable and beautiful.

Katya posted some pictures on her blog. She is not very enthusiastic about her blog. I hope she posts more because I think she is a good photographer.

BTW, it’s 10:30pm (nearly) here now, and those photos are making me hungry!

Spring is coming, and it’s exciting times. Finally the warmth starts to come through (ever so slowly). Won’t be long and the sakura will be out in bloom (1-2 weeks?).

Still time to enjoy the changing of the seasons before the humidity hits! I always feel sorry for Katya suffering the hot sticky weather in Summer (compared to Vladivostok!). BTW – I check out Katya’s photoblog every now and again, but it’s been a long time since she’s updated it. I hope she’s still doing her photography as it was really enjoyable.

My student, with other seven students in the same lab, is staying in Sydney. He left his computer behind and does not respond to me. He knows how to travel.

BTW – where in Australia?