Walking Around Kawanoe

I've been taking a lot of walks on the weekends, both for exercise in fresh air and to get to know the secret gardens of this place that is temporarily my home. Kawanoe does feel like home, though not in the same way as Ridgewood or Vassar does. Perhaps because I'm living alone for the first time, I find a need to define it as home, since the usual loved ones who make up a home are not there, save in a few pictures and endless conversations.

I've encountered many dogs, children, elder walkers, many of whom stop to chat. Dogs recognize a dog lover and fawn on me. Children recognize their occasional English teacher, who comes in one day like a rock star and then disappears for a few months, but now magically reemerges as a neighbor; they invite me to play with them or watch their jump-rope skills. The elderly, who doggedly take long walks everyday despite their creaks and pains, always say hi to me, but rarely more. Today was the first time an older lady spoke at length with me, walked part of the way with me, and shared stories of our neighborhood like the seasoned resident she is.

Here are some pictures I've taken while walking around.

My apartment building:


My neighborhood:





A random park about a kilometer away from my apartment:






I can never resist taking pictures of the adorable warning signs they have here, particularly of the two varieties below: picking up after your dog and not drowning.