Escape
The Junior High youth group I help out with in Misawa went up to Aomori on a trip this weekend. We screamed through the toll road tunnels, ate so much it hurt, and enjoyed some snowboarding/skiing. One boy did an impression of me saying "Get out and help push the vans, I am eating my lunch". He embellishes...but I suppose I was enjoying a sandwich at the time of need.

Lawson does in fact sell its own line of toilet roll, as shown here.
And it's a bargainous 155 yen!

Shrine near Meiji Elementary

"Oh....O"
The kyoto sensei took me to the local famous shrine near Meiji Elementary on Wednesday. She wore super leather trousers and fancy boots, yet she didnt slide as much as I did in my snow boots. There was a little confusion about me wanting to only use a western style toilet, of which there are none in the school. So she took me to the local post office and asked if the ALT could use their toilet. After squeezing into slippers and gliding through the busy mail sorting back of the office, I realised their toilet was not of the western variety either.-- I think I might have been used to impress the locals.-- At the shrine (I was told something about it being the furthest north of a list of wonderful sights) the vice principal asked one of the monks (?) if we could go in because I am an ALT and have never been here before. The lady said it is 300 yen to go inside. And then cheeky leather trousers lady said we had no money, and asked for a freebie. The lady shook her head and said 300 yen desu. So we walked around and enjoyed the sunny and snowy surroundings. It is a beautiful place. Wednesday was a challenging day, as all the teachers think I am fluent in Japanese, so they chatted away and away in their local Glasgow-esque accents. I got some of the jist. It was a nice day.
And also...
I had my last class with san nen sei at Shingo Junior High yesterday. I had just eaten natto for the first time (one girl had mistakenly called it nattu, which I am sure will be a running joke for a while). I was asked to go and watch the stars with one student, and to visit the house of another (whose house is the "guardian" house of the Jesus tomb). I cried when I was asked to make a speech. Never show them tears! I tried to remind myself; but it was too late. I felt like an idiot. The boys hung out of the window as I drove away and told me they loved me. I wonder if that will ever happen in the UK? Two girls asked me what blood type I am and I replied O. The "yappari" answer meant I knew it. In Japan, your blood is connected to your personality. I have a feeling O is a bit of a sensitive soul.

Holey Moley
The front wheel of my car managed to find its way into a hole on Sunday night. I was happy that the Japanese make such small light cars, so it wasn't too difficult to get back on 4 wheels. (Thanks to my knights and lady in shining armour!).
My students were sharing their dreams with me on Monday. They had to say "I want to be a......Because.......". I was challenged to share my dream too. What do you say to a classroom full of bright-eyed kids...??"Well, I used to dream....now I just don't know what to do with my life"...Was it all really simpler when we were 12? Or maybe we just didnt think about it as much as playing with friends or doing homework...

Endo san 

Endo will save us all
This is my taxi driver. His name is Endo. He has driven me to school for the past three winters, making sure I get to school in Shingo no matter how much snow there is on the roads. He gives me Royal Milk Tea in the morning, and gum in the afternoon. Endo san can say "my car" in English, and that is about it. So the rest of the time we talk about school lunch and I snooze. I feel like he has taken me under his wing, and everytime I see a Miyago taxi, I look to see if it is my friend Endo.

This is what I read today:
I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an Islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us. --Lord Byron
I have a feeling Byron wrote this a long time ago. I think he was so right.

Little frog at Okunakayama

The most perfect snowflake
landed on my glove on Saturday.
It looked like the snowflakes you see
on Christmas cards;
like ones you make from paper.

I learnt a new word today...
abecedarian
It means someone who teaches or learns the alphabet.
I am still one of these. We all used to be one I suppose.

Another funny thing happened today. It went like this:
Me: Mr Yoshida, I need kerosene...
Mr Y: Counseling??! You need counseling...?
Me: (chuckling, yet wondering if I do) No, no. I need some kerosene for my heater!
Mr Y: Oh, I see (checking in dictionary to see how close the two words are).

So, I think after this conversation, my supervisor called the gas man to bring me some kerosene tomorrow. Either that or there will be men in white coats outside my door tomorrow-- (might not answer the door, just in case).

Back to work
endless emailing...
wandering to the wee shop to get hot cocoa
watching the clock
noodles for lunch?