The last scene of Romeo and Juliet
is so tragic, I can hardly watch.
If only she had woken up a few moments earlier.
If only I...

dropped toothpaste down me skirt
it's nowhere near my mouth
right wrist got sunburnt
who needs a tanned wrist? honestly

And the acoustic version of Shingo Junior High was cut onto cd. la la.
Gum or Candy, a song I came up with after being offered gum or candy at a Japanese restaurant, will hopefully become the B-side.
Place your orders here.

I'm gonna push you around
The sumo ritual is very interesting, and really cute when little kids are playing.
The Herai kids are super strong--they may go far in sumo circles.
Here is a pic of me and my third grade students, teaching me how to sumo.

GOODBYE KERRY SENSEI
Today was the last day of teaching in Japan...and I turned 27.
Good times...we played a quiz about Kerry sensei, and little boy showed me his funny face.Simone and I were invited to a sumo contest on Saturday.
Can't wait!

Sayonaraaaa, la la
My last day at Nosawa was today. A few tears, just because....I love those kids. We played a little game and everyone had a message written for me, which I will treasure forever. I played a song for the students on my guitar. I really think I might look into being a hippy.
The Principal made a super dooper speech in English and stuffed some Japanese fans into a bag for me to give to my friends back home. Looking to make some friends...interested?

Monday was Umi no Hi...sea day holiday for all us Japanese.
I went to the sea on Sunday instead, which was nice. Today I met up with my old students who graduated from Nosawa. We enjoyed the festival in Hachinohe together. You can win beetles at festivals here. Crazy.

Sakuranbo ga suki desu ka?
Simone and I went to a wee town called Nagawa, that has millions of cherries to pick.
We had to mysteriously follow a man in a green cap to his farm; where we had run of the cherry orchard. We ate so many cherries---spitting the pips became second nature.

Then we went to the Tanabata Festival in Hachinohe. It was heaving with people, and chicken on a stick. Bumped into Yuta and Yuta, some of my old students from Shingo, waiting for the train. They were wearing green ties from their high school uniform, and told us of their love of rugby. Nice to have 15 year old boys save us from talking to drunken boring military guy. See you later.

Fare thee well
The office Sayonara Party was a hoot, because Simone was with me.
I said my speech in Japanese, and they all laughed at my funny story. Yessss.
Just when you start to have a good good time at these things, you have to leave Japan.


the office boys

Coffifee
Last night, we turned the House in Misawa into a coffee evening event.
Much live music, poetry and art was shared by all (including my new fave song to play,"Gum or Candy"). Fun coffee-drinkin' groovy times, and a success I would say.

See you Shingo
The goodbyes are getting easier. I made speeches, played a song on the guitar all about Shingo Junior High and took many pictures, without a tear. Not that I didn't feel it. This girl will always know how to cry.

The greenest fields you've ever seen
The biggest lunch, including beans
19 waves of goodbye as I drive away
Feeling quiet, not much to say
Goodbye Kawadai Elementary School

farewell flowers

In this situation tears flow, tears don't stop
Yesterday was my last day teaching at Saigoshi.
They had a Star Festival (Tanabata) slash Kerry's-leaving event in the afternoon. I made my speech in Japanese, but managed only one sentence before the tears started to stream down my face. It was terrible!
I got to eat lunch next to sweet smiley Keisuke. He put sauce on his kiwi. I giggled.

sumo dreams
Today I was asked to share my dream for the bamboo tree at school.
Then some wee kids showed me their dreams.
My favourite was a third grader who said he wanted to be a sumo wrestler.
Another said "I want to know how to hypnotise"...maybe if I stayed much longer at this job, the students would be controlling my mind.