A short jaunt to South Korea

Now that schools are on spring holiday, I can travel too!

YES! Sensei is allowed to take time off! About time!!!

For 3 nights and 4 days, I explored Seoul with Kiyomi.

We ate, we shopped, we ate, we saw shows, and just to shake things up a bit, we ate some more.

You can view my Facebook album, Anyohaseyo, to view my adventures there.

By the way, Anyohaseyo means "hello" in Korean.

Kam-sa-ham-ni-dah!

Pork Style Korean BBQ

View of Downtown Seoul from our hotel

Starting to Hate the System

He's been hacking for two days. And he won't go home.

Well, he could go home, but he'd have to take paid leave.

But he's obviously very sick. And staying here at work, in the staff room, means that he's just spreading his yuck with every coughing fit.

Spring vacation officially starts Friday night. I don't want to get sick before my trip to Korea, but I am already feeling the yuck attack my throat and creep into my sinuses.

So, Mr. Hack-Up-My-Lungs-Sensei, please go home.

Faculty Trip to Nara and Kyoto

This is mostly what I saw of Nara.

Stairs... upon stairs... and more stairs... oh! and in the rain too.

Hase-dera, the temple of stairs.
Park the bus in China, walk back to Japan, then climb a bajillion stairs to get to the temple.

In Nara, we didn't go to any of the famous places, such as the largest/oldest wooden building in Japan, the Giant Buddha of Nara, or the park with all the deer.
So I will have to go back again on my own dime.

In Kyoto, Kinkakuji!!!! A World Cultural Heritage Place.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

For more photos, please visit my Facebook album

Olympic Party

Before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, my friend Jessie hosted a slumber party!
And of course, what would be the appropriate Wii game to play?
Sonic vs Mario Olympic Games, of course!


Jennifer and Sally playing Table Tennis.

Jeff, Ben, and Jennifer getting pretty serious...

... about rowing!
The combination of button-pressing must be correct AND at the same time that the controller and nunchuck are pulled towards the body.

Yay for a slumber party!

Unfortunately, my battery died soon after this so I do not have photos (yet) of the delicious breakfast of pancakes and Opening Ceremony footage.

Daniel's Visit

Yay for friends that come to visit!
Masamichi (Masa), Daniel, and I met in college. Since my mom is Japanese, my family often takes Japanese students under our wing to help them get settled and adjusted. Also, it never hurts to have a meal from the homeland.
So Masa and others often came over for a meal and as Daniel was Masa's suitemate, Daniel got to come along too! Post-graduation, Masa went to cram school for medical school, Daniel is teaching English in China at a university in Hangzhou, and I am teaching English in Japan at a high school.

However, these boys really don't like to pose for pictures so I had to be sneaky.

On the riverboat in Yokohama.

On the subway to Shinjuku.

On the train to Akihabara.

In Asakasa. Actually, this is me.

Thanks for coming to visit, Daniel! Please come again. =)

Yuki Matsuri 2010: Snow Sculptures

On Saturday, I went around to see the snow sculptures in Odori Park.


The 7th block of the Odori Park is always dedicated to some international display.
This year's highlight comes from Dresden, Germany, the Frauenkirche Church.
The church did not survive the bombings during WWII, but as far as possible, the church has been rebuilt using the original stones.

The Baekje Royal Palace of South Korea
This model is taken after the Empress' Palace.

My nephew, Kale, loves trains of all sorts so this made me think of him.

Chibi Maruko-chan and Friends
Chibi Maruko-chan is a TV show.
2 things are super cool about this show.
1) It takes place in Shimizu, the city where I live.
2) The creator, Sakura Momoko, graduated from the high school where I teach: Shimizu West!

Yuki Matsuri 2010: Sapporo Beer Garten

32 Shizuoka ALTs (and friends!) went to the Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido from February 5-8th.

First Night of the Snow Festival was spent at the Sapporo Brewery having all you can eat lamb and beer for 2 hours.


Shinsuke (Shin-chan), me, and Kat.

Nick and Michael posing with their EIGHTH plate of lamb. EIGHT PLATES OF LAMB!

Adam and Ben also helped with the 8 plates. Amazing.

Long after everyone had finished eating, Neil was still going strong. Epic.

Thank you, Nicole, for making the reservations!