Long time, No Blog!

*wipes the dust from her keyboard and screen*

Hisashiburi, y'all! Wow. It has been awhile since I have posted here!

Since Korea, a new school year has kicked off. I have 241 new students and this batch seems a lot more eager and confident to volunteer in class. This makes it a lot easier on me especially since OC is all about communicating!

But the first semester is a bit odd. I can never get into a groove. School starts but I didn't see the first year students for a week. Then two weeks later, we had a week's-worth of holidays so I missed a class here and another one there. Next week, we'll have midterms and 3 weeks after that is our school culture festival. With so many hiccups, it's a bit difficult to settle into a routine. Also, since all my classes are on different lesson plans, I am having difficulty making a midterm that is challenging enough for the students who are ahead without being impossible for the students who are behind.

For general grown-up talk, I finished my taxes last night. HALLEJUAH! I am glad I get a 2 month auto-extension since I live overseas because all those calculations of deductions from yen-dollars was a pain.

In family news, my parents arrive in Japan tomorrow! My dad retired from teaching business/commercial law, international relations, and some economics courses so now both parents have the time for an extended visit. They will be in Japan until late June, but only with me for maybe 2 weeks of the time. This weekend, we will be attending the May Sumo Tournament and next week, we will travel to the Northern Coast of Japan to Kanazawa. Of course, they will stopover at my place for a few nights and meet Kiyomi. We're set to go out to my favorite yakitori shop.

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!