Busy, busy, busy!

I met my eager little 1st graders today (Australian equivalent of year 7). Twelve shy little faces looked up at me when I entered the classroom. I saw some familiar faces; those who I had taught in primary school were now entering their next stage in the rigorous Japanese school system. A game of fruit basket later and I’d already picked out the drama queens and troublemakers. And all that shyness went out the window!

This week is a fairly busy one for me. Tonight I have the final taiko practice before the big performance on Wednesday in front of what looks to be like the whole town (hell yes I’m nervous!). With only three lessons under my belt, it looks to be a promising show!

On Wednesday, little Yuni town is welcoming an orchestra from Australia. I’ve been assigned as the tour guide, translator and MC for the day-long orientation and welcome party.

All of this before flying to Tokyo the next morning!

Old and New

So as I sit here on exam day, my new colleagues busily rushing around me, I get the blog rush. This time of year is filled with old teachers leaving, new teachers coming (and parties for each), 3rd graders leaving and new 1st graders arriving! It’s a very busy time of year, and there are many new names and faces that must now be committed to memory.

Last night I went to a welcome party for the new teachers at one of my schools. Amidst passed plates of sushi and cups of sake, each of the new teachers was given over to scrutinisation by the old teachers-‘Question time’ they dubbed it. Keep in mind this was fairly late into the evening, when many a beer had been consumed, and many a Japanese face had turned that familiar shade of pink. Apart from asking the usual getting-to-know you questions, I was introduced to my new co-workers as well. “Samantha, the witch” they’d said. Now that never gets old does it? I was asked a dozen times how old I was and was also requested to ask the new teachers some questions in English (I love being the party-trick). I asked one teacher how many beers he can drink (it's a popular male braggin point you see), to which he replied “I am Beer Monster! I am drunkard. A little bit.” I was charmed, naturally.
I then asked the new Japanese teacher what his favourite English phrase was, kindly reminding him that if he said “Yes we can!” I would turn him into a toad…well; he certainly trumped that with an enthusiastic “Love and Peace!” to which everyone raised their glasses in merriment. Gah, I felt like I was questioning Miss America contestants.

Two hours later and it’s all over for a small (*cough* ridiculously overpriced *cough*) fee. The next day is so quiet you’d never know they were gallivanting drunkenly the night before.

And…I’m set to do it all again tonight.

WINTER UPDATE!

As the snowy season draws to a close, I thought it time to review the highlights of the 6-month winter that is home to Hokkaido. First the lows, then the highs:


LOWS:

• Paying though the nose for archaic kerosene heating.

• Brushing with death every time I sit behind the wheel…that ice I tell you!

• Not being able to feel my extremities for a considerably percentage of the day

• No sun at 4pm

• Shutting off half of the rooms in my apartment because it’s too damn cold…and then walking into those rooms when I
realise I need something from them.

• My favourite places closing for the winter (Yuni Garden, the Bakery and Ice-Creamery)

• A less-than-satisfying New Years, and a BBQ-less Christmas Day

HIGHS:

• Learning and semi-conquering the snowboard. And doing it every weekend.






• The fluffy white blanket of snow that covers the mountains and falls from the sky like marshmallow stardust

• Snow-ball fights

• Snow-sled races (yes, I took part in one!)



* Meeting Mario and Luigi



* Pounding Rice Cakes


* Finding a Drive-Thru Starbucks


* Getting an iPhone. Yes, geek.


* Seeing the impossible being carved from Ice at the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival)


* Making friends with the local ski hill owners and getting a free season pass!

• Way too many ski tours to keep track of







• A trip to Tokyo with grandma to see Mr Fuji himself!



• Scoring a fat 100% on the JET Japanese correspondence course

• Meeting a ton of new Japanese friends (including some my own age at last!)

• An invitation to start Adult English Conversation classes

• Reaching the 6th level of Japanese calligraphy (I started at the 9th level) and receiving a Bronze mention.

• Experiencing a KFC Christmas party

*Hip-hop partying through Hokkaido


* And finding a nice boy to bring home to the parents!


Luckily the highs outweigh the lows, hey?!