Associa Shizuoka Hotel

... had baths with views of Mount Fuji- oh yea, we managed to get one of the 100/365 days when you can get a clear view of the Fuje- but it also had a proper outdoor bit with a bubbly spa pool, hot lake pool, ceramic bathtub pool and bamboo bath pool- spoilt for choice really and absolutely gorgeous after a long day hiking! We also got their taster dinner one ...

... scree switchbacks that go all the way back down to the bottom – stopping only to spend 45 minutes in line for the bathrooms since we hadn’t peed in nearly 12 hours. The clouds had lowered on the mountain so it took a while to break free but when they did, we got a sense of what we had done. The valley stretched far far below us and the brightly colored bobbing heads continued down the mountain for a long long way.

We stepped off the mountain ...

... lluviosa. Habian acampadas muchas familias y grupos de jovenes, sentados en mesas plegables y con toldos. Algunos de ellos se habian llevado las motos acuaticas y tenian los trajes de neopreno puestos. Otros tenian el coche abierto y estaban escuchando musica y hablando con los amigos. Tambien nos sorprendio ver una gran cantidad de gente de todas las edades pescando, pero claro, es Japon y les gusta comerlo.

El siguiente autobus lo ...

... with as klutzy as I've been on this trip.

After we went through there we headed to the actual palace which had turned into the government center. Following that we were able to participate in a traditional tea ceremony. Which was something I had looked forward to since signing up for this tour. It was very interesting and precise. Before they gave us the tea they gave us each a sweet treat. This was because the tea itself was bitter and so you ...

... no tenian color. Eran muy lentos y las figuras eran un poco simplonas. Al final pusieron algo de musica (no se si seria el himno de Japon), al ritmo de los fuegos, y la cosa mejoro, pero se podian haber ahorrado 20 minutos de la primera parte.

Lo mejor fue ver a las japonesas vestidas con el kimono para la ocasion. Algunos hombres tambien se habian vestido de kimono (estilo samurai). Todos llevaban los tipicos zuecos japoneses con calcetines y hacian clock-clock al andar.

... at the 5th station for lunch and by this time it was starting to pour and it was COLD up there! We had lunch at a restaurant where we picked out the dish from a case and then got a ticket from a vending machine. Which we then took to the counter and had to wait till they called our number. After that we wandered the shops until ...

Went yesterday with Corey and Hitomi to watch a Major League Baseball game! I'd never been to a baseball stadium before so this was an extra bonus! The mascot prior to the game's start was doing flips for the crowd and was going well until he did a backflip and landed on his face. Stumbled up and fell over the barrier trying to leave the stadium with everyone clapping. The stadium was divided into two ...

... is literally blocks long. People wait over an hour, maybe 2 to eat their Christmas Dinner at KFC. So, to recap... Yes, Christmas does exist in Japan. But nobody knows of Jesus Christ or of Santa Claus. Christmas in Japan involves waiting in line for some Kentucky Fried Chicken, then eating strawberry shortcake for dessert, and then off to the hotel with your loved one. Lost in tranlsation, for sure.

... arguments, they would play to decide who would win a race that was too close to call... Sometimes they would play in pairs, sometimes they would play in large groups (it's really quite fascinating, but the Japanese students have mastered the art of group Junken), and sometimes the group would determine a winner by competing against an objective bystander, like the teacher for example. I mean, it was astonishing how many different scenarios ...

... the Head English Teacher seated at his desk, with whom I will be coteaching. I introduce myself and he offers me the seat next to him. We begin conversing and he introduces me to some of the other teachers in the room as well. He seemed very nice and I was excited to be working with a teacher whose English was really quite impressive. He then offers to take me on a tour of the building. We get up from our seats, and yes, the man came up to my shoulders! Now I am by no means a tall ...