So Blessed EP

So I'm working on a new EP CD for release this summer called "So Blessed". One of the songs has been posted to my Youtube account. Check it out and tell me what you think. You can also listen to my complete first CD "Pro-Verbs" as well as find a link to download it for free on my Youtube page.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CHRISTIANRWASHINGTON

Conspiracy?

I found this statue in Okazaki Park. Seems innocent enough.

Or is it? Japan/North Korea conspiracy?

Golden Week 2013

Another year another Golden Week vacation. This year I spent the first 2 days near home checking out a dance festival at the Nagoya Port and spent the last 2 days in Osaka with one of my favorite people my friend who I met when I lived in Okayama who I haven't seen in 2 years. I've been to Osaka lots of times but hanging out with a good friend there made it totally worth the trip.

Nagoya Yosakoi Yume Festival
Many different dance groups gathered to perform in the streets parade style. Both the young and old took part.

View of the Nagoya Port.

Osaka
Osaka is a great city and the people easily some of the friendliest in all of Japan.

Dontonbori. One of the busiest areas in Osaka.

Boat rides in Dontonbori. 700yen for adults.

Cool setup for musical performances in Amemura" American Village."

Osaka Castle. Great day.

Kushiage. Various fried foods and sauce to dip them in. It's so good. Totally recommend it.

Shinseki area. Great Kushiage restaurants.

Ramen from the shop KAMUKURA which is quite famous.

The famous Glico man.

Sakura 2013

Every Spring for a couple of weeks in Japan the sakura (Cherry Blossoms) bloom. It's a really pretty sight to see and some cities have some really beautiful areas. These pictures include sakura in Gifu,Anjo, and Okazaki.

Going for a stroll.

Hanging out with the fellows.

New beginnings

There have been some big changes recently. A new school year is about to begin and I've moved to a new city. I'm now living in a small city called Anjo which is in Aichi prefecture about 25 minutes by the rapid train from Nagoya and about 45 minutes away from where I was living before in Gifu.  I know I've said this a few times before with no avail but I'm really planning to put more focus into this blog. To be honest the last 2 years for me were a bit tough and I just didn't have any motivation for blogging. If I was to blog most of it would have been complaints about my horrible Jr.High School I was teaching in. That added with a city that just didn't offer a lot made for me not being able to muster up anything interesting enough to blog about.

Besides moving, I will now be teaching at Elementary Schools instead of Jr.High which I prefer much more. Also I'm no longer in a relationship so moment of silence for that. (.......) I'm still not in a city as big as I would like but there already seems to be more options for events and meeting people. It also sits in between the cities Kariya and Okazaki which have a bigger focus on international communities more than Gifu ever had. Okazaki also reminds me of my favorite city I've lived in, Okayama. Hopefully work will be much more enjoyable from now as well. I've only been here a week exactly and I've been putting that time to finding events where I can make friends, signing up for Japanese classes and looking for a new church. This is my fourth city to live in since moving here in Dec 2009. I usually had to do a complete restart with friends and everything but now since I'm only about 45 min from the last city I lived in, it's not that difficult to see my friends I made there as well as in Nagoya though I hope I can also make my own life here in Anjo.

Will my experience here rival that of Okayama? Only time will tell.

My full hip hop album now available for free download!

So I finally finished my album which I started on back in Nov 2012.



Download it for free here: PRO-VERBS

You can also listen to all the songs on YouTube here: PRO-VERBS/YOUTUBE

God bless!

New songs from my upcoming album "PRO-VERBS"

Here's two more songs from my completely created on the IPhone album coming soon titled "PRO-VERBS" The second one was made specifically for my sister for her wedding day. Enjoy and "like" it on youtube or leave comments. Thanks

New rap album (PRO-VERBS)

I've started working on my first actual rap album which I am completely making using an IPHONE. Here are two of the first created songs from the CD titled "Pro-Verbs". Hope you enjoy. Share with your friends.

Love is in the air.

Today is the two month anniversary of my recently developed relationship. Was introduced to a cute, sweet Christian girl by a mutual friend about 4 months ago and 2 months after that I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes and here we are. She's Japanese and I'm African-American which you can see in Japan but it's not common. Being in this relationship is quite interesting and filled with amazing good things and troublesome problems. It's all a part of being in an interracial and intercultural relationship. I'll be posting more about being in an intercultural relationship as time goes on. So far the first month and a half was a bit rough but things are starting to go normal. Ive been told that intercultural relationships are usually quite difficult for the first 3 months as the couple begins to discover just how different their respective cultures made them.  Anyway I'm happy to have a chance to be in one. It's always interesting.

Festival Of Fireworks 2012

Every year in Gifu city near the Nagara river  they hold two huge firework festivals. Unfortunately last year it was cancelled due to the huge earth quake that happened the spring before. Fortunately it was held this year and I was able to attend both the August 4th one being the biggest.

 Held on the bank of the river the festival grounds stretch out far into the distance filled with people and food stands selling traditional Japanese festival food like Yakisoba, Takoyaki, and Kakigori.
People from many nearby cities such as Nagoya also come to Gifu City to take part in these popular festivals.

We all dressed up in the Yukata a popular traditional festival fashion.

So many people come out to enjoy the fireworks.

Various festival foods.

If you are near the Gifu area near the end of July beginning of August time frame I suggest checking out this very popular festival.

Enjoy some of the show.

Children Summer Festival

I helped with Gifu Chapel, the church I attend annual Children's Summer Festival this past month. It was the first one for me. It's starting to be a summer thing for me to help with some church children event which is fine with me as I love both church and children.

 

I was surprised at how professional it all looked. Lots of decorations along with games and food for the dozens of kids that came. There was also time for sharing about Jesus and singing some worship songs before starting activities.

 

Learning more about our awesome God.

Try and catch as many super balls as you can using a rice paper net catcher. A very popular game at Japanese festivals often played by catching real gold fish.

Shooting gallery.

Dance game.

Sensei teaching how to make special multicolored Christian bracelets.

Wearing my Yukata with the kids.

It was a really blessed time for me. I loved seeing all the children have a great time in the name of the Lord. Praying for more opportunities to serve in these kind of ways.