Dartboard

And it's good to know it shows.

Today I brought a lift-the-flap book to the elementary school and the students came to a page with a little shed out in the forest. The reindeer were searching for Santa Claus and when you opened the shed doors (or rather lifted-the-flap) you could see Santa loading up his sleigh. But before the students opened the door they said, “おじゃまします。”

You want to know just how cold it is here? Yesterday I saw two people with swollen, red fingers and both of them said nonchalantly “It’s just shimoyake.” That’s mild frostbite!!!

Last weekend I had planned to have a Thanksgiving Party with a few teachers from my school and their wives (who I teach English conversation once a week) but a few of them had to cancel for various reasons. I decided to cancel the party altogether and have them get together another time when we’re all less busy. However, there was a miscommunication and at 6:30 on Saturday night I get a call from Yoshida-sensei.

While I was in Sasebo attending my own party, I had Yoshida-sensei’s wife and two children at my door expecting dinner from me.

I felt awful. Absolutely terrible. Yoshida-sensei told me he’d be in Nagasaki for the weekend and so I kind of assumed that neither he or his wife would come down to Narao. Don’t ever assume something like that, Sierra!!!!

So, at school on Monday morning I went up to explain and apologize to Yoshida and he was understanding, but I could tell he was upset. He had every right to be too! I had a really hard time looking in his eyes—he’s been so kind to me, gave up a month of weekends to teach my scuba diving for free—and I stand up his wife and two children!! Aghhh!!

After school on Monday I bought a cake and took it to his wife and apologized personally to her. She was also understanding, but I still felt what I did was unforgivable. Today Yoshida thanked me for the cakes and I just bowed and apologized again. I knew he’d would eventually forgive and forget, but I just wanted this episode to be distant history.

Then in the afternoon I got a notebook from one of his homeroom students who said she’s been having a hard time at school and has thought she wanted to commit suicide (yikes! everything is okay now, but I was pretty worried.) So I took it to Yoshida-sensei. I know he really appreciates it when I give extra consideration to homeroom class so I was sure he’d want to know about this. He read the notebook—humming and haa-ing—and said thank you, he'd talk to her.

Then later in the afternoon he walked by my computer and randomly pointed out the "sticky notes" on my desktop. He stopped to ask what they were and if they were freeware or if he had to buy them. (He’s a Mac guy also.) I told him I thought they were freeware but I could research it for him and see if I can’t find the download.

Sooo… I know it’s not the end of the world, but I’m so glad there’s something I can do for him now. The cake for his wife didn’t begin to clear my conscious but if I can get him Stickies and continue apologizing I would start to feel better. I absolutely hate it when people (especially someone who has been THIS kind to me) are upset at me.

And that’s where you come in... Do you know how I can get him the application Stickies? Is it free and downloadable?

Lots got done this weekend. I have finally made plans for the winter break. I haven’t made any reservations and dates may change by a day or two, but the major plan is set in stone. (As set in stone as my life ever is.)

Dec. 23-30 South Korea (with Yasutaka until Dec 27, then probably continue alone)
Dec. 31- Jan 2 New Year’s with Sanae’s family on Kamigoto
Jan 3-9 Taipei, Taiwan with Danielle

Waiting until the last minute wasn’t as stressful as I expected. I’ve been so happy this month that I realized even if I spent most of my time of this island I would still feel like it was a great vacation.

So, South Korea—I’ll be going over on the ferry from Fukuoka and while I initially intended on going alone I met a nice guy this weekend, Yasu, who has the time, money and wants to come! Yasu, who I met at a party in Sasebo this weekend, is 24 and is going off to graduate school in America at the end of the month. He’s kind of killing time until he leaves and after spending the whole night talking we decided to go together. That’s that!

New Years—I wanted to spend New Years on the island with a Japanese family (this holiday is the equivalent of a Christmas in America, essentially a family affair while Christmas tends to be spent with your boyfriend or girlfriend.) and Sanae’s family has graciously invited me to join in their celebrations: making special foods and spending time under the kotatsu. Sanae and I will climb a mountain near her house just before the sun rises so we can bear witness to the start of 2006.

Taipei—Danielle is an acquaintance in Sasebo (it was her party that I met Yasu at this weekend) was just looking for someone to travel with and I wanted some place cheap so Taiwan it is! I’ll be getting our tickets early this week. Not only do I love this plan, but it’s going to be cheap, cheap, cheap!!!

I forgot to put the memory disk back in my camera before I left this weekend, but Yasu’s coming to Goto next weekend and I’ll get some pictures then. Yasu has promised to get me talking with his father about the current exchange rate problem and how to invest in some Japanese stocks so I can make the most of my yen while I’m here. Based on the number of buildings Yasu pointed to and said “My father owns it,” as we walked through downtown Sasebo, I’m guessing Dad’s got some worthwhile advice.