Kuretake Inn Central Hamamatsu

... so it makes stepping on them almost like stepping on a hallow stone--sometimes they crunch, then you're in for it. When you try to catch them, they flip upside down, wiggle around pathetically, but emit a strongly repugnant smell, that'll stick to you for a couple hours at least. Find one dead, it'll still smell.<br>My pal Derek has a good story about how he left his clothes on the line, was in a rush for work, and had every kid at school (teacher's ...

... be slowing down on the videos I post. I got my internet bill, and despite how freakin slow the speed is, I guess they took record of how many bites I sent (or received). Yea, no more $100 bills. So some things might just have to wait for a 'welcome back' presentation, and the such.<br><br>As for the hike I hinted at, I'll wait until I get the pictures up before I talk about it. It was AMAZING. It even compares with Alberta's hikes, albeit a bit more dangerous...<br>

Death to anyone who actually calls this a "sport". Where's the 'sport', or fun, in running long distances, causing pain, exhaustion, thirst, and minimal benefits to ones physical condition? What about one's mental condition?<br><br>I remember crossing that finish line, muttering "thanks" in about three languages, I was so delirious. Sure, it was an awesome experience, taking in the beautiful scenery on a perfect Autumn day in ...

... tug-of-war competitions. The first was a wild one where the kids all had a bunch of short-length ropes, and they had to grab the rope from the middle and bring it back to their side, fighting all the way from any other kids who try to compete with this. It almost gets violent.<br><br>Much like the hat-flipping game, where the kids, with their inverted white-red hats, would run around trying to flip-off the other teams' hats. Hilariously funny until someone ...

I finally understand where the expression "like rabbits" comes from.<br><br>Now before any of you 'jump the gun' on where I'm going with this, I just wanted to clarify that it doesn't involve me and animals, although I do feel pretty bad with the way I left them.<br><br>Just another day at Tomiyama, playing Kinball with some of the locals in the area (since they talked me ...

Taguchi Festival. October 10th.<br><br>You know, we had a hard time deciding which Festival we were going to check out, and it's a very long and somewhat unfortunate story as to how we ended up in Taguchi, but boy was I glad we went.<br><br>Every town will have its own flavor, its own specialty, that it will boast freely about and advertise. This can be partly attributed to a governmental push in (no idea what year, but possible in the early 20th century) to promote, advertise and ...

... by cracking out my guitar. Within a minute of me attempting to tune the darn thing (the Classical Ovation was really having a hard time with the steel strings---I just couldn't wait!), my co-worker approached me timidly and requested that I stopped playing, as it was not appropriate for me as a teacher, being paid, to appear like he's on vacation. I agree with this in retrospect, but at the time, I think I was a little disappointed. Does everything have to be according to ...

... that I think sort of gets left behind in Kindergarten back at home. The kids essentially 'own' their classrooms; it's the teachers that migrate from room to room (except for specific classes like music, tech, art and science). So I am always aware when I have the kids clean up my mess on the blackboard, and take my bags that I've left behind to me after class to the office. This cleaning duty extends to lunch as well, where the students (and sometimes the teachers) clean up the mess ...

... br>A funny thing happened that night, in which the video explains everything. I repeat the caption: Beware "Linda Linda" when playing in Japan. Jesus....<br>Was a little tired the next day for what was to be my first successful experience with Hikkake, Japan's traditional river-fishing. This time, I met my vice-principal outside his house and we got changed at his place into wet suits. A few other things ...

... I saw in Hiroshima. When Yumi`s mum walked up to me and said "Ventures," it freaked me out a bit because it seemed like such an almighty coincidence ("Ventures" was written on the drums of the band in Hiroshima)... I got introduced to a Kiwi guy who was also playing basketball, and we ended up swapping email addresses as his company is looking for more English teachers, and I assured him that I`ll be back in September. I`m not sure that I`d want to teach in Hamamatsu ...