Still Catching up!!

Trip Start Jul 27, 2006
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Trip End Aug 2007


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Friday, October 6, 2006

Ok. On to September!! I told you have a hard time being succinct. Maybe thats why the bio degree never worked out. They wouldn't let me be wordy when I wrote my papers!! Anyway, August ended with a bang and it was off to the Junior High starting September 1st. The teachers and principals at the jh were so welcoming!! They gave me the first week to just observe classes to see how they are run and to get comfortable with the place. This was a godsend for me considering I really had no idea how a school was run nor how to teach classes!! The students were and still are absolutely hysterical. Ive been proposed to on many occasions and get many flattering comments yelled at me from down the hall!! I think these kids know English a little better than they let on!! Its good though, cause it keeps me entertained!! Classes go really quick and it took my awhile to get accustomed to the amount of info you can cover in a given class period and how much it can vary from class to class. My first lesson plans consisted of a self intro with many pics 01. Pure Madness!
01. Pure Madness!
 . The kids love seeing pics from America. Or really anything. It was so funny watching them look at the pics. We also had a sports festival which is like the equivalent of a field day in America and a culture festival. I gave a fun yet probably not educational enough presentation on America. Oh well, the kids loved it!! At least I think they did. Most of my weekends consisted of shopping trips and BBQ`s with the teachers and a few weekends spent with Miki (she was one of the first ppl I met in Miwa) as well. Japanese BBQ`s are awesome. They definitely go all out!! So much food. And they`re not like American BBQ`s. There is meat, but not steaks or burgers, many veggies, noodles (yaksoba), and tons of veggies and fruit. Literally you just gorge yourself for hours!! I love it! There was also a trip to Gifu with some fellow JETs of mine. Jessie, Afsana, Yuri and Drew. It was one of the funniest days ever. Nothing worked out right, everything we wanted to see was probably in a three mile radius but it took us at least an hour maybe an hour and a half to find any given thing!! It was totally hysterical. We went up to Gifu Castle and had some good views. Although the castle is a museum now and doesnt resemble what it once was like (only from the outside) and then there is a separate museum about what Gifu Castle used to look like!! We`re still trying to make sense outta that one!! But, the views are totally amazing!! And Gifu park is gorgeous. A nice little retreat. We also went Cormorant Fishing (Ukai). They use cormorant birds to catch the fish 02. Mushroom Party!!
02. Mushroom Party!!
 . Its a really old tradition that we paid 3300 yen to ride a boat to see. I think its worth seeing but we were kinda bummed when we realized if you just sit on the side of the river you can watch the whole spectacle for free, and quite possibly with a better view. So keep that in mind if you ever visit Gifu during Cormorant fishing season!! Pear Picking was another weekend adventure with the teachers. We went pear picking and had a BBQ in the orchard. It was awesome!! The pears were absolutely delicious. They look like apples though, but taste like pears only a little less grainy. It was such a cool day!! Ok. AND I had my enkai (welcome party) for the Junior High school. The teachers seem so reserved in the teachers room, but get them to an Enkai and its like totally different people. This was definitely good for the bonding!! Hahahaha! Booze, gotta love it! September was also the beginning of my flower arranging and tea ceremony club. So, Im learning lots about Japanese culture and lots of Japanese language since its a tiny club that Miki and I go to and I am the only foreigner and English speaker!! Its so much fun. My sensei is 90 yrs old!! He`s a friend of mine`s grandpa!! How cute is that!! I highly suggest trying to take part in either of these activities at some point. I didnt think I would be very interested in it, but they are actually quite cool. Plus, I enjoy getting to bring home fresh flowers every week!! Ok. Well, that should basically cover September. Now, that I sorta kinda got everyone caught up, I`ll try to be better about keeping this thing up to date. But, anyone who knows me, knows I lack certain technological skills and I marvel every time something works out!! And I`ll try to add pics tonight too!
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