in the lodge

I was touched that the teachers at Saigoshi asked me to go snowboarding with them. We went to Shimokura, in Iwate, and it was beautiful, peaceful (namogu?) and by far the best day I have had boarding so far! The vice principal showed me how to get off the ski lift without breaking my neck...and I watched others to figure out the carving, turning manouevre I have tried to master many times. It worked!! After hitting my head on a fall and tearing holes in my gloves, we all went in and enjoyed chit chat over ramen. Despite the language barrier, I truly felt warm friendship with the teachers. A lovely day...

Today I tested all of Shingo junior high on their English reading and speaking. One girl in the first grade, Wakana, said the word "very" as I would say it. None of this ve-rry. In fact I am sure she could say my name in a lovely way too. I had to express my excitement to Kamiyama sensei. The first grade are so good at English!
I had my last class with Kazuya before he graduates. We sang Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes for old times sake ( I remember he said no once when I asked him if he wanted to sing it one more time--love the honesty). He also wrote me a sweet letter in English. I was about to cry but had to pose for some pictures instead. Graduation day might not be so easy.

Sori
The snow was coming dowwwwn today. I went to Saigoshi, which I often refer to as the mochi school (see the mochi entry in December). The first grade showed me their homemade kites in action as we stood up to our knees in snow. Then my friend Miwa brought out some sledges (sori) for us to play on. As we walked up a big hill, and slid down squealing, the snow started to try and kill us. It didn't quite succeed, but it was fun running away from it. Today I also booked my adventure in April...more on that later.

kite flying at lunchtime

Enburi
Today was the day I finally got to see the Enburi festival in Hachinohe. This festival has dancers who are thankful for a good harvest, and they wear big hats and straw shoes. Some kids in costumes I taught a long time ago recognised me on the streets, and we had a nice time taking photos together. I love the festivals in Japan. The snow is still falling...and I swear it is getting colder.

enburi in the streets

check out mustashio...i love this picture!

Oo yuki...
The snow has been falling all day...my car was in need of a good brushing this morning. A friendly neighbour who usually shouts konnichiwa to me came over for a chat as she was putting out her rubbish. She thought my Japanese was really good, only because I kept nodding and saying, hmm, so desu. I made my way to Tonan elementary school, where the principal is the most jolly man imaginable. He helped me learn how to play othello and took a picture of me juggling. I also drank 4 cups of green tea.

hmmm, snow desu

Pass it on...
I tried to open a bottle of water today, and had to swallow my girlie pride and ask Mr Yoshida to help me. After he tried for a while with no luck, Maita sensei, the maths consultant gave it a short tug and became my hero. The people in my office stopped what they were doing to watch this show. We should have placed bets. So, how many teachers does it take to open a bottle of mizu? Three...

finger family 

This is my finger family I made before going to school this morning. We will be performing together for three classes. I hope baby doesn't fall off when she bows. It's happened before...

Harry Potter pics 

Old friends...
Tania came to Japan this week from China. It hardly felt like she has been away for the past 18 months. We took many sticky pictures, sang some karaoke and hung out in the coolest places around here. It sounds like China is very different from Japan. But Tania is always happy, no matter where she is. That is why she is so much fun to be around...

outside my apartment, meeting the english teacher fans

Cleaning off my car from snow
Three girls run over to say their practiced hellos
They want me to sign their notebooks, so...
I add to their collection of teachers past
And after a picture, they vanish...
giggling into the afternoon.

Do sa? On sa!
I went to Aoni onsen this weekend with Erica, from Hirosaki. It was a truly remote place, with more snow that I have ever seen in my life. We got to try a ride on a snow mobile before we got to the onsen. Not much could be seen, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The ryokan is known for not having electricity, although the glow of a green emergency exit sign came through our screen windows all night. The baths were outside and inside...very traditional and beautiful, and lit by oil lamps. It was ladies time at the outside big bath at 8pm, so many ladies rushed out to the cold to sit and chat and make mini snowmen beside the water. I noticed that the onsen is a great place to make Japanese friends. Complete strangers come over naked and asked us where we are from. It was a good time to practice Japanese conversation. Erica and I stopped for tofu donuts and sushi before I came back to Nambu--a slight hitch with canceled trains and a slow bus to Aomori, but all an enjoyable adventure to the onsen. I truly am turning Japanese...

a snow mobile ride 

Setsubun no hi
Today was the "throw peanuts at your demons day" at my smallest school in Shingo, Kawadai sho. I was asked to be one of the demons in the 5th/6th grade class, and the students then proceeded to throw lots of sweets at me. This was quite nice, although it hurt a little to be pelted with cookies and chocolate at close range. After lunch the children shared with the rest of the school what demons they wanted to get rid of and we then had to throw lots of peanuts around at the blackboard and at each other. An interesting tradition...I hope to do it next year wherever I am. It is strangely satisfying to throw peanuts at people.