Never really thought of myself as a blogger before... but it seems to be the trend of late, so I thought I'd give it a go. Apologies in advance for the boring content you will endure as I capture my life in size 10 Arial font (for the most part, anyway).
So without further ado, Let's blogging!
I'm lacking the energy to write heaps today. Might have something to do with staying up chatting to a friend until 1am. Hmm.Anyway, here are two pics from my adventures on the weekend. Went out in Shibuya, and took two of our random roommates with us. Good times, apart from the smoke.
I never actually blogged to say that my ipod Nano arrived. Well, it did. And here it is. Isn't it slick?
I don't like the little white earphones that come with the ipods - who wants to be like everyone else, really? So I went and bought some old-skool headphones on the weekend. And a case for the little guy.
Now, just have to wait for the next time I go to Tokyo to use him...
I'm annoyed. I wrote a huge posting about the weekend (and it wasn't even called "The Weekend") and blogger crapped its pants and lost the lot on me.
So because I'm all bitter and twisted, you are going to get an abridged version of Grant's weekend.
Friday: straight after school I jumped in my car, met D in Kiryu and, after some organising of pants for him, we set off on our road trip to Nakagawa-machi. We stayed the night with our host family from last time, and then got up bright and early on Saturday.
Why?
Saturday: Rice harvesting. In May this year, I went to Nakagawa-machi (then known as Ogawa-machi, silly gappeis) and did taue (rice planting) so this time we got to cut the rice we planted. It was good fun, and we managed to find a few frogs, grasshoppers and even a praying mantis egg along the way.
Afterwards we painted pumpkins with shougakkou kids for Halloween (no carving this time - too many injuries last time apparently) and then made mochi, which are pounded rice cakes.
After that we went back to our host family's house for a bit before going to a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This was the second time for me to see the ceremony, but unlike last time, we sat in western chairs this time. I don't mind doing the Japanese pose, but chairs are never turned down when available. You can take the boy out of the Western Culture, but you can't take the Western Culture out of the boy...
We made tempura for dinner that night, then D and I left for home.
Why didn't we stay Saturday too?
Sunday: International Festival in Maebashi. It was awesome! We sold t-shirts, made S'mores, painted faces, sang, ate, were merry... A very good day was fully much enjoyed by attending people. We all went out for some shabu shabu afterwards (thin strips of meat dragged through boiling water then dipped in a variety of sauces) and I managed to get home around 9pm.
On Sunday I met up with a friend from Gunma in Tokyo and we went to watch my friend play Electone in concert. It was AMAZING! My friend was awesome, and so was the performance called "Go!Go! Boys!"
Afterwards was beers at the Lion Beer Hall in Ginza, then a long train ride back to Isesaki (though it was the Ryomo all the way) where D and I jumped in my car and drove to Minakami. Got there at about midnight, after stopping once to err experience adult vending machines, and celebrated with a few Zimas and slept in the car on the side of a mountain road. Luckily the next day was overcast so the sun didn't really wake us up. Eventually got motivated by 10am, found some food in a quaint little cafe near Minakami Eki and then went in search of onsen.
We found a huge one, though I was a little apprehensive. You could see everything from the footpath - everything. And men and women were together. So instead we went and found a men only one (though D did get to see boobies once by mistake). It was a weird place though. Bears in cages, old furniture everywhere, old toothless men demanding your ticket so you can partake in a lucky dip and receive old/used goods... hmmm.
Afterwards we went and found more food, and then drove home. Only took us about 15 hours to get from Minakami to Maebashi. Silly 3 day weekend traffic.
Yesterday was Thursday, and that means Primary School. I think I have it tough at Primary School. Up until this April, I was in charge of my classes: I could teach what I wanted, how I wanted, when I wanted. It was great. Well, as great as teaching little kids could be. But since April, I have been made to work with a lady from an NPO. She comes in most weeks and she says what I teach, how I teach it and when I teach it. Nothing is left up to me. And everything has to be sung. I kid you not. Think you can't sing "hello"? Done to the tune of Mexican Hat Dance, thank you very much. And how does one sing "My name's Grant, what's your name?" How else, than to the tune of Skip To My Lou.
Sheesh.
Anyway, since I don't get to play with the kids during class anymore (if they fall over, the "game is over"; if they speak Japanese, the "game is over") I have taken to playing with them and speaking Japanese to them during lunch break. Here are some pics.
Today the local police came to the Primary School to give a demonstration about safe driving. It's the third time I've seen it as they do the same thing each year. They bring a dummy and then one guy gets into a car and hits the dummy at different speeds to show how much damage can be done. It really is quite scary. It can take more than 15 metres to stop the car when you are doing only 40km/h.
I was watching it with the science teacher and we both agreed to reduce our speed. For now, anyway.
Thanks to those of you who helped me make my decision on which coloured ipod Nano to buy. The order was placed last week, and the payment clearance email came through yesterday. A black, 4GB ipod Nano will soon be mine. オーライ！
When I tell people about the train here in Azuma and about the size of the five stations scattered throughout the village (yes, five), they don't seem to be able to fathom exactly what I'm talking about. So here, in all their glory: my local train, my local station and the uniquely-shaped toilet building.
