Message to the UK: I AM ALIVE!
I have just had the UK embassy on the phone wanting to make sure I survived the Hokuriko Earthquake yesterday. Apparently I am supposed to register my survival of any local disasters... natural or otherwise.
I would post a recent picture of myself to confirm I am still in one piece but I'm having a bad hair day...
Another earthquake... 25th March
I was rudely awoken this morning by my apartment shaking from an earthquake! The curtains were swaying, my bed was moving and the kerosene in my heater was sloshing around. There was no mistake this time, I definitely felt it and after about 15 seconds I was actually willing it to stop and considering hiding under my kotatsu!
I was rudely awoken this morning by my apartment shaking from an earthquake! The curtains were swaying, my bed was moving and the kerosene in my heater was sloshing around. There was no mistake this time, I definitely felt it and after about 15 seconds I was actually willing it to stop and considering hiding under my kotatsu!
Sayonara Shimada Sensei!
Unfortunately for me, my favourite teacher Shimada Sensei is being shipped off to another school in a couple of weeks. I joined a group of teachers from my visit school last night for Shimada Sensei's sayonara enkai in a sushi bar in downtown Iiyama. The sashimi (raw fish) was beautifully presented and I am surprised to say, really quite yummy too!
Unfortunately for me, my favourite teacher Shimada Sensei is being shipped off to another school in a couple of weeks. I joined a group of teachers from my visit school last night for Shimada Sensei's sayonara enkai in a sushi bar in downtown Iiyama. The sashimi (raw fish) was beautifully presented and I am surprised to say, really quite yummy too!
20th March - Jappy Birthday Kat!!!
To celebrate Kat's turning-of-age-day, we had bought tickets to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Tokyo Dome this Friday... HOWEVER, we have just found out that due to "illness" the RHCP have cancelled their Japan tour!!!! Aghhhhhhhhhhh! So instead, we are desperately trying to buy much sought after Fuji Rock tickets for July! Roll on the summer onegai shimasu!
To celebrate Kat's turning-of-age-day, we had bought tickets to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Tokyo Dome this Friday... HOWEVER, we have just found out that due to "illness" the RHCP have cancelled their Japan tour!!!! Aghhhhhhhhhhh! So instead, we are desperately trying to buy much sought after Fuji Rock tickets for July! Roll on the summer onegai shimasu!
Paddy's weekend in Tokyo - 17th March
I took the bus down to Tokyo on Saturday morning to join Kat and our "token" Irish friends for some Paddy's day celebrations.
It all started off innocently enough with Kat and I enjoying a bottle of Champagne in Pizza Express in Harajuku, but once we hit Paddy Foley's pub in Roppongi we were swept up in the atmosphere of live six nations games followed by lots and LOTS of dancing! I had such a good time that I didn't want the night to end... although, unfortunately it did when the sun came up!
If only I had remembered my keys...
"Hana no aka" (in very bad Japanese... "my red nose!")
Today, whilst shivering at my desk, Maruyama-San (the non-English speaking office lady) came in and asked me if I was cold. When I replied politely without wanting to complain, she laughed and told me she knew I was cold because my nose was red!
I will forever be haunted by my facial reactions to adverse weather conditions.
I'm off to Tokyo this weekend to celebrate Paddy's Day along with the 50th anniversary of Japan-Ireland relations. Should be savage craic!!!
Today, whilst shivering at my desk, Maruyama-San (the non-English speaking office lady) came in and asked me if I was cold. When I replied politely without wanting to complain, she laughed and told me she knew I was cold because my nose was red!
I will forever be haunted by my facial reactions to adverse weather conditions.
I'm off to Tokyo this weekend to celebrate Paddy's Day along with the 50th anniversary of Japan-Ireland relations. Should be savage craic!!!
A bit more reggae and a bit more snow!
Me and Ali
Headed up to Hakuba this weekend for what seemed like it could be my last mountain adventure of the season, but after about a foot of snow falling over night here in Iiyama and still coming down as I type the season may be prolonged that little bit more.
Me, Alan and Ciaran - a "quiet night in" on Friday!
I had booked two nights at the Powder Lodge with Ky and her friends from home Ali and Lou and we were joined by the Irish lads from Yamanashi.
The boys actually made the 3 hour journey from Yamanashi in this thing!
The snow was not great on Saturday with bare patches lower down and a bit slushy elsewhere but fresh snow started to fall on Saturday night making Sunday a much better day! Saturday night's entertainment came again in the form of a Reggae club with a skatboard ramp inside. I am pleased to say I did NOT don my "it's not much different from snowboarding, how hard can it be" hat and just watched safely from the sides.
Go Ciaran!
This chick was awesome!
Ok - no skateboarding for me but I can still get down to the reggae beats mon!
Me, Lou, Matt and Alex
Can you spot the Maccy Ds?!
Me and Ali
Headed up to Hakuba this weekend for what seemed like it could be my last mountain adventure of the season, but after about a foot of snow falling over night here in Iiyama and still coming down as I type the season may be prolonged that little bit more.
Me, Alan and Ciaran - a "quiet night in" on Friday!
I had booked two nights at the Powder Lodge with Ky and her friends from home Ali and Lou and we were joined by the Irish lads from Yamanashi.
The boys actually made the 3 hour journey from Yamanashi in this thing!
The snow was not great on Saturday with bare patches lower down and a bit slushy elsewhere but fresh snow started to fall on Saturday night making Sunday a much better day! Saturday night's entertainment came again in the form of a Reggae club with a skatboard ramp inside. I am pleased to say I did NOT don my "it's not much different from snowboarding, how hard can it be" hat and just watched safely from the sides.
Go Ciaran!
This chick was awesome!
Ok - no skateboarding for me but I can still get down to the reggae beats mon!
Me, Lou, Matt and Alex
Can you spot the Maccy Ds?!
19 degrees and snow-less!
Well, another weekend has gone by without a trip to the mountains! This time the reason was a combined lack of effort following Alex's House Burning party and the fact that it was about 19 degrees outside with glorious sunshine! It is forecast to snow tomorrow so I am hoping my last trip of the season next Friday will be a good end to my previous efforts of boarding every weekend.
Well, another weekend has gone by without a trip to the mountains! This time the reason was a combined lack of effort following Alex's House Burning party and the fact that it was about 19 degrees outside with glorious sunshine! It is forecast to snow tomorrow so I am hoping my last trip of the season next Friday will be a good end to my previous efforts of boarding every weekend.
Robiin Fuoodo!
Tonight I helped out at the community centre as Jo was putting on a film night with crafts for the under 8s. She had managed to get Disney's cartoon version of Robin Hood and even found the dubbing switch on the control to have it entirely in Japanese! We all watched the film (complete with popcorn, cake and tea!) and then helped the children make knight masks at the end.
Kawaii ne?!!
Look at him go!
Tonight I helped out at the community centre as Jo was putting on a film night with crafts for the under 8s. She had managed to get Disney's cartoon version of Robin Hood and even found the dubbing switch on the control to have it entirely in Japanese! We all watched the film (complete with popcorn, cake and tea!) and then helped the children make knight masks at the end.
Kawaii ne?!!
Look at him go!
Beyond bored!
金曜日, 二日, 三月 (yes... I am THAT bored I even managed to work out the date in Japanese!)
This week has been very slow in terms of lessons in fact, I haven't had any! I attended the 2 hour graduation ceremony this morning, during which the whole school bowed at each other more than 130 times! It was freezing cold in the hall and so I joined in with this ritual bowing just to keep warm. The next four weeks will be even quieter as all of the 3rd years have now graduated and the new 1st years don't start until April. I think I have all of 2 lessons to plan and teach between now and then! Anyway, here are some pictures from graduation. I had to pose for numerous pictures with the 3rd years whilst they snapped away on their disposable cameras (eh, hello? This is Japan! Buy a digital!!) and of course, some cheeky first years (who still insist on speaking in Japanese when they see me!)
1st year boys - the bain of my existence at Minami Ko!
Some 3rd year leavers and my supervisor Machiko
Masaoko and Kekko
金曜日, 二日, 三月 (yes... I am THAT bored I even managed to work out the date in Japanese!)
This week has been very slow in terms of lessons in fact, I haven't had any! I attended the 2 hour graduation ceremony this morning, during which the whole school bowed at each other more than 130 times! It was freezing cold in the hall and so I joined in with this ritual bowing just to keep warm. The next four weeks will be even quieter as all of the 3rd years have now graduated and the new 1st years don't start until April. I think I have all of 2 lessons to plan and teach between now and then! Anyway, here are some pictures from graduation. I had to pose for numerous pictures with the 3rd years whilst they snapped away on their disposable cameras (eh, hello? This is Japan! Buy a digital!!) and of course, some cheeky first years (who still insist on speaking in Japanese when they see me!)
1st year boys - the bain of my existence at Minami Ko!
Some 3rd year leavers and my supervisor Machiko
Masaoko and Kekko
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