Livin' in the Inaka

As usual it's been an eventful past few weeks. I attended meetings, planned lessons, went out with friends, gorged on delicious foreign foods, and planted a vegetable garden. All the sudden the first month of school is almost over and my jacket-free days are numbered. Last night I got a small taste of what to look forward to this winter. I added an extra blanket to my bed and I was still shivering under my covers! I'm already missing the 'mushi atsui' days of Japanese summers. Teaching is starting to come more naturally now that I have a feel for what the students already know and what's effective. I still don't consider myself much of an authority figure- the JTE (japanese teacher of english) usually takes care of that part of the job. I'm still "Diana Sensei" but I'm less scary and foreign when I can talk to them like they would their peers. Last Monday was national "Repect for the Aged Day" so we got a three-day weekend. Ivy and I ...

To commemorate the 1964 Olympics Japan made October 10th a national holiday called "Taiiku no Hi" or Sports and Health Day. It's purpose is to "familiarize [people] with sports and nurture physical and mental health." Although I'd say "sports" is a poor translation, since I wouldn't call any of the activities done sports... Some examples: tug-a-war, 5-legged race, 15-person jump rope- family picnic type events. All schools and some businesses dedicate an entire day usually on the weekend competing against each other's teams in a series of organized events. Most junior high schools hold their Sports Day in early September and spend most of August prepping for it. My junior high celebrated sports day last Saturday. They began with open ceremonies, in which the three teams marched in with their respective flags to the school band playing "YMCA." After some speeches and morning stretches the students lined up under their teams banner...

lunch time with the kids Today I spent the afternoon at Chubu Elementary introducing myself to all 420 students grades 1-6. Everywhere I went I was flooded with small children shouting incomprehensible Japanese questions at me and trying to touch me. During cleaning time I started teaching a few kids "Hello, nice to meet you" along with the handshake. Within minutes I was surrounded by dozens of kids all trying to shake my hand at once. Two teachers had to come out and herd them back towards their cleaning duties. After introducing myself 13 times I got to sit in on an actual 1st grade class where the students were suppose to make one thing they saw during summer vacation out of play-doh. The kids spent most the class period trying to talk to me or just starring instead of actually making anything. I started telling them what they were making in English- four kids made a "kabutomushi" which is a super popular insect among Japanese children, but in English it transl...

It's been 'bout a week now and I feel I'm due for another update. NEW CAR! \(^o^)/ Totally unexpected... after work monday we were at the fukushikaikan discussing bills and whatnot with the supervisor, and outta nowhere he asks us if we would be interested in taking an old ALT's car for FREE. The catch: shakken's due at the end of October (shakken: yearly required auto check-up that costs b/t 1000-3000 bucks. A lotta people just end up dumping their cars since it can be cheaper to just buy a new one!) At that time we gotta fork up the money for the check-up, insurance, and rental fee OR just dump it to find a cheaper one. Here's Ivy's first behind-the-wheel in our new Toyota Fun Cargo. thats what the car is called, a fun cargo. And what luck! my International Drivers License arrives the very next day :D perfect timing. Later that night Ross stopped by to show off his new car which he coincidentally got the same day. It's a honda civic! jealous. Later ...