to stay or not to stay that is the question!

I am grappling with the decision to stay in Japan another year. I had thought my mind made up on staying even though most of my friends are leaving. I had attending a JET conference and now I am left with a sick feeling in my stomach whenever I think about the question. I am not going to go into the details of the pros and cons but I am afraid of the reverse culture shock if i leave. Apparently when leaving Japan (since the culture is so different from that of English speaking countries) many people go into an extreme reverse culture shock and basically begin hating their own cultures and countries. I was always really bad after I returned home at the end of summer camp and that was onlya week. I realize I have to return some time and I don't want to teach English for the rest of my life. This decision is anything but fun :(

finally finally snow

We finally had a few decent snowfalls in Mikawa though they continually melt. I am still disappointed since I was told to expect two metres of snow and the ski resort is in a constant flux of opening and closing since they don't manufacture any snow. The snowflakes here are so thick and beautiful though, that when they fall it is like a dream. I went for a walk during the last snowfall and took some pictures with my sad cell phone camera. Camera has still not recovered from the beer.
The big puddle of water is due to the street clearing system which consists of a strip of dribbling sprinklers that spread water along the street. Since it is winter I had worn winter boots and not rubber boots and my feet were slightly drowned by the time I got back.
My lovely car the morning after. To prepare for the snow everyone here puts up their windshield wipers at night, thus it is easier to clear off the snow!

no pictures

While home my camera took and impromptu beer bath and as such is not working now. I cleverly took out the data card thinking I could retrieve the pictures through another means but I have, true to form, lost the data card (I am sure it is in a safe place). Lovely, Melissa remembered that we had taken out a three year warranty on our cameras so I will attempt to dry my camera out in a bowl of rice and take it in to be repaired. Hopefully I can find my data card once my bags are completely unpacked. Pictures of New Years, ice fishing and more hopefully to come...