Getting to know you
Yesterday, the BOE organised a day full of "Azuma" things for the new teachers who arrived in April this year. They asked me to go along too, and I thought it would be much more fun than sitting at my desk all day doing nothing.
So we met at the BOE at 9am. There was about 12 of us all told, everyone else Japanese. For an hour and a half, an old man spoke about the history of Azuma and how it came to be in its present form. Well, apparently this is what he talked about - after sitting there for 20 minutes and not understanding a word of it I slinked out the back door and headed down to the office to use the Internet "for work purposes".
At 10:30, we all climbed into cars and were driven to a mountain. I was told we were going mountain climbing so I expected it to be tough. Instead, we drove pretty much to the top of the mountain, and then had to walk the last 300m. It was an awesome view of Azuma. Shame I forgot my camera, though. Will have to go back again soon. Apparently in the winter you can see Mt Fuji from there.
So our mountain climbing expedition lasted about 45 minutes, before we climbed back into the cars and were driven to Azuma's Onsen Hotel for lunch. We had fried pork, rice and cold soba noodles. When we all finished eating, we still had 30 minutes before we were due at the next location, so 3 other male teachers and I got in the onsen for 20 minutes. I hadn't been in that onsen during the daytime before, so it was good to sit outside in the bath and actually see the mountains, rather than just stare out into blackness.
After that we went to Kusaki Dam and were given a guided tour. We got to go right down to the bottom of the wall and see where the water is released.
Next was the Tomihiro Art Museum. Tomihiro was born in Azuma, and is a mouth artist. He was a PE teacher, but had an accident when teaching gymnastics and broke his neck. He can't use his arms or legs, but can create amazing art painting with his mouth. If you ever come to Japan, and make it to Gunma you should go to the Art Museum. They are building a new one which will open in May 2005.
And then it was back to the BOE, and then hometime. It was a really good day, and gave me a chance to chat to the teachers who I don't usually get to talk to.
So we met at the BOE at 9am. There was about 12 of us all told, everyone else Japanese. For an hour and a half, an old man spoke about the history of Azuma and how it came to be in its present form. Well, apparently this is what he talked about - after sitting there for 20 minutes and not understanding a word of it I slinked out the back door and headed down to the office to use the Internet "for work purposes".
At 10:30, we all climbed into cars and were driven to a mountain. I was told we were going mountain climbing so I expected it to be tough. Instead, we drove pretty much to the top of the mountain, and then had to walk the last 300m. It was an awesome view of Azuma. Shame I forgot my camera, though. Will have to go back again soon. Apparently in the winter you can see Mt Fuji from there.
So our mountain climbing expedition lasted about 45 minutes, before we climbed back into the cars and were driven to Azuma's Onsen Hotel for lunch. We had fried pork, rice and cold soba noodles. When we all finished eating, we still had 30 minutes before we were due at the next location, so 3 other male teachers and I got in the onsen for 20 minutes. I hadn't been in that onsen during the daytime before, so it was good to sit outside in the bath and actually see the mountains, rather than just stare out into blackness.
After that we went to Kusaki Dam and were given a guided tour. We got to go right down to the bottom of the wall and see where the water is released.
Next was the Tomihiro Art Museum. Tomihiro was born in Azuma, and is a mouth artist. He was a PE teacher, but had an accident when teaching gymnastics and broke his neck. He can't use his arms or legs, but can create amazing art painting with his mouth. If you ever come to Japan, and make it to Gunma you should go to the Art Museum. They are building a new one which will open in May 2005.
And then it was back to the BOE, and then hometime. It was a really good day, and gave me a chance to chat to the teachers who I don't usually get to talk to.
posted by GrantPGranthm | 8:26 am
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