Dartboard

I think February is a funny month—finishing on the 28th and all. I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical reason why this month is stunted. I probably even learned that reason sometime during my seventeen years of schooling, but I can’t remember it now and instead it just feels funny.

I’m having a taco party this weekend. On Saturday I think four other ALTs will come and a bunch of Japanese friends and co-workers. I don’t have a ton of taco supplies, but I’m making chili and some other things too. I haven’t had everyone over to my house in a long time so I’m really looking forward to it. A good reason to deep clean the place! Even Dawn will be making her way over to Kamigoto for the weekend—it’ll be a wonderful slumber party!

This week I’ve got very few lessons. Three, to be exact. That’s three for the WHOLE WEEK! Monday and Tuesday we’re preparing for graduation (i.e. sit at my desk all day) Wednesday is graduation (i.e. sit at my desk all day except for the two hours when I watch the ceremony) and Thursday and Friday I have classes for the 1st and 2nd years.

I’ve applied to be a presenter at the re-contracting conference in Kobe in June. I’m doing it for a couple reasons, but the main one is that I’m going to miss Yuki so much when he goes to Tokyo so I want to make opportunities to see him. Kobe is a lot closer than Goto and we could spend a couple days together. I also know that giving these presentations at conferences is good experience for me. Something I can put on the resume.

Yuki will be leaving around March 31 to go to back to school in Tokyo. He’s promised to come to Fukuoka at least once a month to visit me, but I can only stay for a weekend because of work. I’ve used up (or planned for) all my paid vacation so I can’t even make a long weekend out of it. Yuki can also come out to Goto occasionally for a few days or a week but mostly we’ll just be separated for four months. That’s longer than we’ve been together. I wonder how that’ll work out.

He hates it (but secretly loves it) when I put pictures of him on my blog so this one is just for my Yukinator.

...oh, it's not working--he wins again. check back later... it's not over yet!

BUT before I even need to think about Yuki leaving, I get to think about our vacation together! I think I’m finally going to get to go to Korea! Yuki and I are planning a trip over spring break—March 18th-26th. We might go over to Mt. Aso in Kumamoto-ken first as there’s a Fire Festival going on, but then we’ll still have plenty of days left over to explore Pusan and Seoul. I’ve got a friend in Seoul who’s already agreed to share her 4x4 meter apartment with us, even give us her spare key so we can come and go as we please.

My last bit of news is about this year’s triathlon in Goto. Again, I’ve agreed to participate in the entire race, but I feel better about it because it’s a bit shorter this year. Instead of a half Ironman, the bike has been shortened from 71 km to around 45 km and the run is 3 km shorter than last year at 15 km. The swim is the same at 2 km, but I did the swim last year and I know I can do it again. Assuming the ocean waves and current aren’t too strong the morning of the race, the swim is the least worrisome part.

There is a big difference in the bike route, however. Last year there were only two loops around Komeyama (the huge mountain next to my house—those of you who’ve been here know it) and this year there will be FOUR!!! I’m worried about my knee (the right femur that I broke in HS) because if I push it too hard I’m done for. I guess I just need to train a lot for it and see how it goes.

I’ll have to start training soon, though. The weather is getting nicer and I should start riding my bike to work. It means earlier mornings, but also feeling better, more accomplished by 8 o'clock in the morning!

Love, Sierra

Vicky just annouced today is Pancake Day! Looking forward to celebrating that tonight!!!