Some tidbits on Japanese schools:

The school year in Japan starts in April and goes until mid-July. There are 3 holidays in the first week of May, including "Children's Day", which turns into a 4-day-weekend, thus being called "Golden Week". After July, there is about a one month break, and then school starts up again; however, during summer break school clubs still practice. After school resumes, the next break is Winter Break...approximately the same time and length as the U.S., though there has been a teacher's workday on Dec. 25th. School ends in March, and there is a 1 or 2 week break before it starts up again in April. When I tell my students about summer vacation in the U.S., they are all very jealous.

( April-July August-March )

I am not looking forward to Sports Day (literally translated) in September...in Ohio it was called "Field Day." The students and teachers participate in races and silly events, sometimes even group dances, which sounds like a lot of fun, until the unrelenting blazing sun and humidity factors into the day-long event. My favorite part is watching the group dances that range from hip hop to traditional festival dances, in special festival outfits.

It's recess now, otherwise known as "Lunch Break". I'm sorry I haven't written in awhile. I haven't had time to add pics to Aimee's site, mostly due to the fact that I don't have a computer to use at home right now. My laptop is being fixed, and I don't know when it will be back. I hope soon.

I heard that a couple of my cousins are going to be graduating high school very soon. Congratulations!!!

I'm going to Japanese class every week now. The teacher-student ratio right now is definitely in my favor. 5 to 1. (5 teachers, 1 student) The only problem now is trying to make myself study. Always the hardest thing for me to do...actualize my goals.

For those interested in what's popular with Japanese middle school students: Harry Potter and Spiderman are popular, though I doubt most of my students know that Spiderman was a comic book first. The Backstreet Boys are still unbelievably popular with girls and boys, as well as The Beatles and The Carpenters. Thank goodness they haven't heard of Britney Spears. However, Japanese music is MUCH more popular than music from abroad. Some popular people and groups are: Ayumi Hamasaki, SMAP, Morning Musume, Dragon Ash, Hikaru Utada, Kuraki Mai, and lots others. I like a couple of songs, but the majority of it, in my opinion, is really bad. I miss U.S. music terribly, though I do get to listen to good music sometimes when Nathan (my neighbor) and I chill. My other hook-up for good music is Jay!!!! Thank you, Jason! (By the way, my main source of what is popular at the moment comes from TV or the students. I wouldn't really know what people my age like because I'm not really friends with anyone Japanese my age. TTYL!! :)

It's 7am on Thursday. The last couple days I've just fallen asleep fairly exhausted after returning home. I hope last night finally caught me up, or whatever is going on. Tonight is workout night, and then Friday I'm going into Hiroshima to spend the night at Elisa's, and who knows, I might actually go to a Japanese class.

Well, I got around to scanning some photos of Mom and me from last month's adventures. Aimee was kind enough to let me use some space on her MSN site to put up some pics, so I'll be attemting that soon.

I had a pretty nice weekend. I hung out with Elisa and family on Friday night. Around 9:30 Elisa suggested we go to a sento (hot spring/spa). It was the same one I went to with my mother and her. It was very nice...though, a somewhat surreal feeling realizing that at 11pm I'm , outside, in something like a shallow hot tub pool, feeling the rain come down on my head...

The rest of the weekend was pretty nice. I spent some time with Hiroshi next to a river on Saturday...we found over 5 four-leaf clovers!! Every time Hiroshi looks for them, he finds them. Amazing. Sunday I met Elisa at a Mother's Day party for Peruvians that live in Hiroshima. They definitely know how to have a good time. A couple pretty cool teenagers were teaching me some Latin moves, though I still don't have much of a clue how to really get my hips to move like they did. I only lasted about 3 hours, though I'm sure Elisa stayed much longer.

If you'd like a laugh: Casual Conversation Country Song Lyrics is a great place to go for a laugh. Recommended by a friend for friends.

I just got back from working out with Mrs. Nakamoto. My body is enjoying the workout that it just got--allocated one day a week. Yesterday I biked about 2 miles with Nathan, my neighbor, to the nearest supermarket. It was good weather... and Mom, you COULD actually see the island across the inland sea clearly, without any haze. It was a beautiful sunset. Wish you could've seen it.

The weekend is quickly approaching, and I'm looking forward to helping Megumi to read English. She lived in California for awhile, so she can speak English pretty well, as well as Japanese and Spanish. She's not even 11 years old, and she's trilingual!! (As is most of their family.) On Sunday, I've promised Elisa that I will go out Salsa dancing with her and her friends for Mother's Day. I wish I had time to get my mother's present to her. (I feel like a bad daughter!) I love you, Mom!! (Oh, I won't be online Sun. morn, US time this week. Sorry...I'll be Salsa-ing.)

I just found out that my cousin just got in a serious car(?) accident. She looks like she is recovering pretty well. I can't even imagine the strength it would take to get through that. Hang in there, Anna!!!!!! I'm thinking about you!

Many people were concerned that once my vacation ended, my mother would be bored, alone in my apartment. Also, people back home were worried about what she would eat. (Considering my reputable bad cooking, I think the second worry was a sound one.) As it turned out, 2 things never happened: My mother never read a book (including the one she brought) and she didn't find any food too strange or scary to try. I personally have to give her props for trying octopus tentacle on a stick. (I got that on video!) Anyhow, I took a questionnaire about her stay, and this is what she said:

MOST INTERESTING FOOD: Octopus tentacle on a stick.
#1 FAVORITE TRANSPORTATION: Streetcar
#2 FAV. TRANSPORT: "Limousine Bus" (to the airport)
LEAST FAV. TRANSPORT: Walking.
MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE: Shukkeien Garden in Hiroshima (during sakura season)
LEAST FAVORITE PLACE: y environments. (just about every public environment (there's a LOT of the Japanese population that e.)
1st IMPRESSION OF ETAJIMA: Mountains--layers of mountains.
IMPRESSION OF PUBLIC TOILETS: They could use an attendant.
IMPRESSION OF SHINKANSEN: They are good--if you're going in the right direction.
RATING OF VISITED RYOKANS (Japanese Inns): Good.
IMPRESSION OF PUBLIC TOILETS: They could use an attendant.
MOST STRESSFUL MOMENT: Trying to find the right bus.
MOST SURPRISING THING: Everyone gave me something to take home.
ADVICE FOR JAPAN TRAVELLERS: P..A..T..I..E..N..C..E (and don't catch a cold.)
BEST THING: Getting to visit Wendy!!!

Wow. It's May already. Mom is leaving in about 4 days, and I'm wishing for more time with her. Tomorrow we are going to work out, view a mountainside full of azaleas, and pick up 2 rolls of developed film. Friday we are going to Hiroshima to the Flower Festival. We'll spend the night at my friend Elisa's, and then on to Nara...via shinkansen and through Golden Week crowds. (Oh, goody...)

Oh!! My Uncle Cary and Aunt Edna (out in California) were nice enough to send me money to buy a digital camera so everyone can see pictures that I take, too! Thank you!!!! I'm excited about that. The hunt is on for a nice camera. :)

As for school, If anyone is curious what my job is like...I'm having some major problems with classes at Etajima JHS...the kids are refusing to be quiet in class!! They talk right over the top of the other teacher and are trying to do the same to me. I don't like it, and don't put up with it. Unfortunately, they also aren't listening to me. I got mad at them in the last 2 classes and talked briefly to a few students after class. They said "I'm sorry!!!", but I don't know...something tells me they will try to be the same. However, next week I will not be teaching the problem classes. They are going to have to do a worksheet on "Cultural Understanding" all period instead. On the plus side, all my classes at the other junior high school are absolutely wonderful.