Dartboard

Wow. Yesterday I really didn’t want to go to work. It looked like the typhoon was coming so I grudgingly got ready for work, hoping for a call saying not to come in. But I never got that call and had to go in. I was a real curmudgeon about it too. Not that I showed it to any of my teachers or staff—they all had to come in too, but I was feeling like a royal grump on the inside.

Then, I was told that I couldn’t wear my scarf inside the building. Japanese custom. I was like, “Huh? Are you kidding me?” This isn’t like a real wintery scarf or anything, it’s a black prashmina scarf that could easily pass as a shawl. I was told the students aren’t allowed to wear scarves (because it’s a deviation from the uniform) and so teachers can’t either. But students can’t wear jewelry, watches, or anything that is not part of the school uniform. And besides, I’m not a student!! I understand and cooperate with many things in the Japanese workplace: not wearing shirts that show my back when I bend down, not revealing too much of my chest/neck, changing my shoes twelve times a day, but not allowing a scarf? Give me a break! I decided not to fight this battle today though. I had bigger fish to fry.

Things looked up a bit when I asked Hatakeyama about Tuesday being a nenkyu/paid vacation day instead of sick day. I was prepared to battle it out with him if need be, but it wasn’t necessary. As soon as I mentioned it he told me that he was starting the paper work for a sick day and could I just inkan here? I felt so much better.

Had some good classes Satomi and Tomonaga. Thought a lot about Daniel being home in this typhoon—wishing I was there snuggled up in the futon, which is exactly what we did when I did get home. We’re both sick now and just needing to rest and watch more American TV. We had hot dogs with sauerkraut for dinner! Yum!

Today (Thursday) I had students begin their letter writing to Hilhi students (my old high school in Oregon). This is class 2-1A, but since it is also my only class for the day I read magazines for the entire morning. Nina and Katie sent me “O” the Oprah magazine and I read it cover to cover today. I also talked with some co-workers that I never speak to: Takeshima-sensei and Yamaguchi-san. We were eating boiled sweet potatoes that Kuwahara-sensei brought in and they started teaching how to say potato and all the different types in Japanese. I also found out that this weekend is the Kujiradon Festival in Arikawa. It is to celebrate whale hunting and udon-noodle making in the community, so I’ve asked the other ALTs if they want to go see it Sunday.

Some students writing their letters to American high school students. This is Keisuke.

Mizuho

Kanako

Tonight we had dinner at Shingo’s apartment. Shingo is Catherine’s kendo teacher and also teaches math at Narao Elementary School. He has a cute little apartment just a 5 minute walk from Catherine’s place, so we walked over together. Shingo is from Fukue, went to school in Fukuoka and studied architecture and design. He showed us pictures of sculptures he’s made and sculptures he likes. He wants to design a children’s park someday. Shingo was very interested in our lives, our schedules, and what we eat. I feel like he’s really interested in getting to know us. It was awesome.

Had to get a picture of the moon over Narao. The moon has been gorgeous lately, but I’m not sure these pictures really demonstrate that.

Here are the four of us: Shingo, Sierra, Daniel and Catherine.

Tempura dinner.

For dinner we had tempura. It was really fun, expect Shingo spent most of the evening preparing food in the kitchen while we battered and boiled our meats and vegetables. He was really generous and we just loved spending the evening with him. I’ve been wanting to learn how to make tempura for a while now so I’m really glad we did this. After dinner as I was admiring and taking pictures of his beautiful paper lanterns/lamp shades that were designed by the famous Japanese-American artist Osamu Noguchi, Shingo opened one of his top shelves and pulled out another paper lantern by the same artist.

The most striking piece of furniture for sure. I want to buy my own lantern like this one!

The ceiling lamp.

‘I present this to you,” he said and gave me a small, rectangle lamp shade for my own apartment. I immediately realized I should have been more careful about my admiring. He insisted that he didn't have room for it in his apartment and so I asked if I should just borrow it for the year, but he wants me to have it—take it back to America and enjoy it forever. This is the first time he’s really met me and he’s giving me a designer lamp shade that I’m guessing is pretty expensive. When I asked him how I could repay him, he surprised me with his answer. Blushing, he asked if he could try some American cereal sometime. I was so excited that he actually answered my question instead of giving me a “no, no, you don’t have to give me anything in return” response. I have a ton of cereal and would love to give him something that he actually wants instead of some cheesy stereotypical gift that wouldn’t have any meaning. I’m really happy to give him the Grape-Nuts experience, but I’ve also got Honey Bunches of Oats as a back up in case.

The lamp he gave me, hanging in my living room.

It was pretty late when we left, but it was a wonderful evening. I only hope that once Daniel leaves we still will be able to hang out with him (as it is inappropriate for young men and women to be alone together). Catherine’s agreed to do dinner at hers next time.

On the walk home we found a froggie in the driveway! Kazuma tells me they are going to get bigger during the rainy season, start hanging out on the highway and I’ll have to hit them when I’m driving.

Also, I’m becoming familiar with some of the alley cats in my neighborhood. This one was meowing at us and begging for food, but I never feed them or they'll never leave me alone.

Tomorrow is my karate green-belt test! Wish me luck!
Love, Sierra

A picture of Harald’s cousins, Aina and Pia in Norway. They are the most adorable girls ever! I’m sure their hats and sweaters were knitted by a family member: Laila, Heidi or Julie. I want to go back to Norway again soon!

A picture of my mom’s pencil art framed. I believe our friend Gavin framed them and gave them to my sister, Joelle, for her birthday, although I could have those facts wrong.