It`s been quiet around these parts recently, as I`ve been upping my proverbial sticks and heading for Japan. I arrived at the end of last month in the sweltering heat of Tokyo`s Shinjuku. In what perhaps turned out to be something of a curse and a blessing, given the humidity, myself, Liz and the thousands of other JETs were largely confined to our plush, air-conditioned hotel, for some more lovely orientation. As such, much of my memory of my Tokyo stop-over consists of me sitting in gigantic lecture hall with a numb arse and an even number brain.

 There are more interesting memories of Tokyo over those few days - looking out from my hotel room over a sea of neon, or looking out from the hotel bar over a sea of neon, or even looking out of a karaoke booth over a sea of neon, but I think Sofia Coppola has covered all that already.

I`ve more orientation awaiting me this month, but this time it`s local and will hopefully provide more information than the `You`re in Japan!` and `You must be tired` themed lectures of Tokyo. Hopefully whatever it is we need orientating on won`t take three entire days either, but I woudn`t bet on it.