When I first came to Japan in August I was greeted by the muggy, bug infested, sweat inducing, hair frizzy-fying season that is known as Summer in Japan.
I didn't think it could get any hotter. I went to an African Safari and it made me wish I had a real elephant.
If I had a real elephant, I would name him Louis. In truth, I named this fellow Louis. Now, Geppetto was able to wish Pinocchio into a real boy... so why can't I wish Louis into a real elephant? Disney gave me false hopes about reality....
Gradually the days started to cool down, the leaves started to change, I began to really make some friends, and life in Japan started to seem pretty cool. I even discovered a rip in the space time continuum which has resulted in a part of Japan that is perpetually trapped in 1955. This is also known as "Hit Parade."
I half expected the Doc to fly in on his Delorean with Marty. Back to the Future IV? I think so.
And then it happened: WINTER. I could see my own breathe when I brushed my teeth, I stopped needing to refrigerate my vegetables, and sitting on my toilet seat reminded me of what it would feel like to sit on a bobsled in Russia in the dead of December, naked.
I didn't think it could get any colder. Thus, I spent 3 months hibernating under my Kotatsu
I've watched all 9 seasons of the X-Files while basking in the warmth of this awkward contraption... and taught myself to knit. All and all that's not a bad way to spend 3 months....
But now it's happened: Spring. Yesterday I snuck out of work for several reasons: boredom, I had errands to run, it's Spring Break and I haven't taught in two weeks, and everyone was switching desks so I knew they'd be too busy to notice how long I was gone.
Somewhere in between mailing some letters and paying my rent, I noticed that the Sakura trees are fully in bloom now. I stopped my car, parked, and spent 20 minutes taking pictures.
I don't think anything could ever be more beautiful.
I'm not a religious person, I'm more of an Agnostic than anything. But I was completely in awe of the beauty of these little flowers. If there's a heaven I'm almost positive it's made of cherry blossoms. People walking on cherry blossom streets, wearing cherry blossom togas, walking into buildings with cherry blossom pillars while eating cherry blossom ice cream. I'm not even joking.... this is how I envision a possible afterlife.
Spring also means a new school year. In Japan the school year ends in March and begins anew in April. This meant saying "see you next year" to a few of my favorite classes.
Meet the students of 2-3. They are split into 2 separate classes because there's so many of them. I love them because they're funny, they're not afraid to ask questions, and they do all of the crazy assignments I give them, and even though they are difficult-the kids all smile and enjoy themselves. For Halloween they watched the "Sleepy Hollow" cartoon that Disney did- Bing Crosby narrated, and for the election the watched part of Obama's acceptance speech. I LOVE them.....
As a goodbye present the learned all the words to "Let it be" by the Beatles and sang it for me. It was so sweet I cried.
A few of my other classes made me cards, to thank me for teaching this year. Here are a few of my favorites:
THANK YOU
Your SMILE is very CUTE!!
I like your smile and you
ERIN SENSEI
Thank you for teaching me English!
Erin Sensei
I had a happy time!
Thank you very much
Dear Erin Senei
I love you...
Please teach us English next year!!
Now, this one is by far my favorite....... I know you can't read it, so allow me to translate:
Dear Erin,
Hello, Erin.
How are you?
I'm tired and I feel very sleepy.
I'm sleepy everytime.
This is my nature.
I don't know your nature.
It is too bad.
I wan to know your nature in next year.
D. Nada
What's not to love?
So now that it's officially April I have less than for months before I embark for Tokyo. On Saint Patrick's day Winston and I got the apartment we wanted. It is the biggest we could get for under $1.000 a month. It's small, but I like to think of it as cozy. In the words of Winston's step-dad,"I hope you two like each other, because you're going to be living on top of one another!" Here's the floor plan:
http://www.oakridge-housing.com/Hatanodai/Hatanodai301.html
Winston came for a visit last weekend, and we went on a date to celebrate getting the apartment.
That's all for now! Happy Spring!
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