Some early pics

Some late pics actually because I have been travelling all day. The first is of me trying to get the internet in the hotel working. The second is the view out of my 9th floor window across Victoria Harbor to Hong Kong proper. I can also see (but not in the picture) the lights of The Peak, The streets of Kowloon look just like the movies would have you believe. Many languages too are spoken on the streets of Kowloon. Now time for bed because tomorrow my parents arrive. The dock is only a block away.

ホンコン行こう！

This is probably my last post before I get to Hong Kong. My parents' ship won't be getting in until early tomorrow morning but I have most of today in transit so I don't mind. The weather finally turned for the better today and most of the snow seems to have disappeared over night. Maybe I will see some green when I get back. I have everything packed and sitting on the table and hope to post again once I get settled in the hotel tonite. I am a bit disappointed I haven't had any time to learn any "travel Chinese" before I left. It might be handy. It's yet another language I would love to study but I am content with my limited Japanese ability. I'll arrive at the hotel late and then watch satellite TV - in english! - before I fall asleep. Strange what I consider a highlight of the trip when living overseas. (And my parents!)

A sad first.

EEEK! My nightmare was realized today. There have been accidents and injuries in English class before but never caused by me. In a moment I wish I could forget I nearly bowled over one of the new grade ones today in class. I work hard to stay preciously aware of where all my students are around me at any given moment. I have become disciplined in considering my movements - limiting myself to careful motions only, never anything spastic or rushed - and suppressing my reflexes. Today my dedication failed me. During the activity the students were spread out in the classroom and I was calling out words. For emphasis raised my hands and in what I would characterize as a very normal hand gusture I hit the little guy above the eye on the brow. He had somehow gotten behind me without me knowing and kept very quiet, eerily so, like a hobbit or something, and then sprang forward at the wrong moment. He was barely touched and really more shocked than anything, but I still felt horrible. I wanted to go home, crawl into a hole and die I felt so bad. But by lunch all was forgiven, such is the healing power of smilies, hugs, school lunch, and sincere apologies.

A True Story

I love these types of stories because they keep my life interesting. About 10 minutes before work ended I was informed that we were all expected in the Yakuba (town office)... like... "this moment". I have not explained yet that working in Japan is much like still being in school in that our lives are still ruled by bells. In the morning a bell rings and all the teachers bow and say "good-morning". This is repeated again at the end of the day but we say "thank-you" and by this time I am in the office. This daily routine blends seamlessly into the background of my life, but is, in fact, quite exotic to Westerners. Today there was an exaggerated ceremonial town staff wide good-bye at 5:30PM to honour the current mayor because he is taking the rest of the week off to campian full time. I thought it was a nice touch and appricated the fact he kept his speech short and to the point. I think he was very classy in *not* using the chance to campaign while we are all captive, but he did encourage us to vote (though I will be in Hong Kong). After that leftovers for dinner and fretting about my trip and all that is all my plate.

My Lucky Monday

Other than that fact it's (slightly) sunny out at the moment, I had the most delicious curry-and-rice for school lunch today. I mean, normally the school lunch curry-and-rice is good, but they really out did themselves this time. And to top it off, there was enough for seconds. That's my defination of luck and I am rolling in it. Other than that, I had my first English class with the grade ones today which had been delayed because there is lots to do the first week for new students. Man, were they ever confused, but cute too. "Cho-kawai" ("Super-cute") as another teacher called them.

Warm White Sunday Night

Sorry for the long delay. We are going to cover a smattering of topics in this post.

It finally stopped snowing after a good 36 hours and now the ground is covered again. Will Spring ever come? I stayed confined indoors yesterday and got lots done but today did my rounds and went for a transcendental run at the Sports Center. I don't think I will be able to run again until next week so I went in knowing I should run long and hard. After 1h 40m I think my body will be paying for it tomorrow but I don't care because I have lots of time to recover.

There is a small factory that processes local vegetables most of the year that has been a hive of activity lately and I couldn't guess why. Today a large clue presented itself. One of Japan's famous speaker vans, with four loudspeakers wired to the top, was parked out front getting decked out in banners. I assume part of the building has been commandeered as use as a mayoral candidate's headquarters as we gear up for the last week of the campaign. I'm happy to be leaving Shikaoi on Wednesday for Hong Kong so I miss the speaker van's main mission of blaring the candidate's message.

Speaking of Hong Kong, the logistics are in place and now it's my turn to put into action all the details I have considered. The humidity was 85% today which reminds me of why I have vowed never to visit tokyo again in the summer. Thunderstorms are predicted for Tuesday, the day before I arrive, which makes me think it will cool down things on Wednesday. I was surprised how much rain Hong Kong gets in April: about 188mm. Which is nothing compared to its rainy season in August which tops out at 444mm. (Thanks Wikipedia!)

Lastly, a 5.4 earthquake hit Mie prefecture (just South of Osaka) today around lunch time. This means as the energy radiated out from the epicenter it was felt by some of the most densely populated areas of Japan (plus it was lunch time). It has thus monopolized most of the news today since millions and millions felt it.

No pictures of the snow. It's just depressing anyway.

Thursday at Urimaku

Had a lovely first day at Urimaku Junior High School but because I am so busy I won't be back there for a long time. The grade sevens, the majority of whom I teached last year as grade sixes, looked gangly in their oversized uniforms that are suppose to last them until grade nine. Everything went incredibility smoothly but I give the credit to small class sizes (4 teachers for 11 students). Went for a great run too last night, maybe that is why I am in such high spirits today. 1h and 5 minutes at a fast pace. I was stressed beforehand but not when I woke up this morning. Not even the snow/rain/whatever could keep me down. The school lunch was delicious too and I scored an extra piece of fish. Sometimes I feel down that nothing is going my way but I even solved the mystery of the disappearing electric pencil sharpener yesterday. Yes, this week is mine! Tomorrow: Friday.

This will teach me....

hahahahhahahaahha.... After two days of looking I found the pencil sharpener. It had been moved to the other side of the office in plain sight. Now I can go back to studying Kanji.

Good Morning Light

I woke up this morning to a sunny day. Since the beginning of April it has been rainy and cold. I was ready for the change. It has been so long without bright sun I think the light had a golden tint to it. It was sunny but it didn't feel very warm. Below are some pictures of the fields around Shikaoi. Farmers are getting ready to coax the earth's rich bounty out of the fields.




And then I as I was leaving school for the office in the afternoon this:




Bah. Slush - and for good measure - wind.

The stapler has not returned. It was very good to be in class today. We had a new english teacher but everything went smoothly. He is a male for a change. Normally I don't mind being surrounded by girls all the time but sometimes the estrogen gets a bit much.