Timing in Shikaoi

No sign of the Stony Plain delegation yet today. While I was teaching they all packed off to tour Obihiro. I wonder if they are going to the cake factory? It was a hit two years ago. The town is looking really good with all the grass nicely trimmed and every flowered full; timing is everything. Tomorrow the Stony Plain high school students will split away and visit the elementary schools. So we have a little something special planned at Shikaoi elementary for our two. Nothing too much else to report. Things roll along here. I did get two runs in on the weekend though Sunday's was far better than Saturday's when I ran in stifling morning heat. Even though I came in around the same hour and a half I normally do, I cut the last 4km on Saturday meaning I ran a miserably slow pace. Oh well. There's nothing to be done when you can't see your shadow because the sun is directly above and the air doesn't seem to be moving.

A Little Late

I was a bit over booked yesterday with both Shikaoi's famous White Snake festival happening the same night as a foreign English teacher party. I really wanted to see the others because this is the time of the year when teachers normally return home (I promise the fact that someone went through all the trouble of tracking down real beef patties, hamburger buns and all the fixings had nothing to do with it). Conveniently, and luckily for me, the location chosen for the party was at the same lake as the festival.

Shikaoi's Mayor's dinner

Just got home a little while ago from the Mayor's dinner with the Stony Plain adult delegation. We had a great dinner at Country Papa and I had a good visit with the other members from Stony Plain. I think the following picture of both Mayor Yoshida and Mayor Cowan under an umbrella (Shikaoi's gift to Stony Plain this year) turned out very good.

Picture from the Welcome Dinner

I have just gotten back from the official welcoming party where the Stony Plain delegation was re-introduced to their host families. The theme of the trip seems to be shaping up to be the White Snake Festival where the delegation was given a private sneak peak of the dance tonight. Saturday night's real deal will be many times more impressive being located on Lake Shikaribitsu and all. I thought is was a nice touch to let our visitors get close to the puppet snake and take pictures without the commotion of the actual event. (Click to enlarge)

Welcome to Shikaoi. Where it gets dark at 8.

It's a bit late here at the moment, not only for those that have school tomorrow but especially for someone that has spent upward of 20 hours in transit. All the delegation has arrived in once piece and I think will awake refreshed tomorrow. Below are pictures from the arrival remembering that tomorrow night will be the official Welcoming party. All the Japanese host families seem really great.

Waiting Games

For those readers keeping track, the Stony Plain delegation has been in the air for several hours and may even be in Japan as we speak. However, they are still far from Shikaoi and will be arriving here later tonight. Surprisingly the office is busy with other things today, but I am sure everything behind-the-scenes is ready. That's really all I have to say in the sparse time I have available to blog. I'm really excited. I leave you with some pictures from last weekend. It's only Monday so it's not too late is it? This blog needs more greenery.

Black hole of Tuesday

I really feel like running today but I know I don't have the time. Needless to say, if I don't have time to running, I can barely find the time to blog. I was at school far longer than planned and still have another meeting in a couple of minutes, but thankfully this time it will be in English and I will be able to contribute. It's between the elementary school teachers and junior high school teachers and was a pain to schedule plus there was a desire to get it out of the way before the Stony Plain delegation arrives, and I really can't argue with that kind of rational. Yesterday, my section had dinner at Tori-sei in honour for our departing and newly arriving co-workers. I had a really great time eat and drinking and was more than happy to skip the after party and be home by 9 o'clock. I really do need to eat at Tori-sei more often; a week is too long not to eat their excellent carcoal-fired yakitori chicken. I'm also in an odd situation of feeling like I have no time for dinner tonight. I had a big breakfast and the normal healthy school lunch but I would be sad if I missed a meal and it's just to hot out to eat a big meal late in the evening. I guess a snack somewhere along the way is in order.

A Monday this week

I woke up knowing it was going to be a good Monday. The sunshine was bursting through my curtains before I even open them. Grade ones was the first class and it went very smoothly all the way to grade five, whose class positively flew by. A bit busy today. I will try to post again later but we have an office party tonight (were sending off some co-workers) so I don't know.

Bah... Already Sunday...

I slept incredibly well last night. It seemed dead quiet despite everyone having their windows open. I slept exactly 8 hours and woke up refreshed. Now I am tired after putting in an uber-good run before dinner. One and half hours at an amazing pace. One reason I pushed so hard is that I don't think I will be able to run until Friday. Might as well make a good effort because now I will get a couple of days off. It makes me a little sad because I haven't taken three days off in a row of badminton or running since May which. But it's for a good reason because the Stony Plain delegation is coming this week. I'll post a longer email tomorrow.