Dartboard

I've lost a member of my family. Midori-chan was taken to the scrapper on Monday afternoon after a short goodbye in the Aokata garage. She had no brake pads, her transmission was failing and her shaken (a very expensive, required bi-annual car inspection) was due in January. I didn't want to put the money into her because they said she wouldn't last for the two years. Her coffin, ...okay, her disposal fee cost ¥15000 before Jan 1st and would have doubled in 2005 (because of some new tax law) so I opted to put her to rest now. Now I'm car shopping, but probably won't find anything until I get back from America.

Wednesday was a day off at Nakagoto and I spent the day with my neighbor Koichiro. It was his birthday so I took him a birthday cake at 7 a.m. and gave him a layered present (of mostly food—among other things a grapefruit and a granola bar—and dollar-store purchases) but it was fun and he laughed a lot. We spent the day together—walking and swimming and shopping (almost all my Christmas shopping is done now thanks to Terada Home Center). I took him to the observation deck on Komeyama mountain, right next to our apartments. It was his first time going there despite it being only 3 km away which only reinforces my view that he needs to work less and play more. The weather was perfect too!

Koichiro and I from Komeyama mountain.

Koichiro’s birthday cake, which he ate entirely by himself! The “23” is made out of pumpkin seeds!!

The sunrise from Koichiro’s apartment.

Friday I took my next karate test (still green belt--but the second level) and tonight the karate class is having an enkai (drinking party). I’m looking forward to letting loose before I go home.

Some of my students are doing some practical learning and have opened a store for three days in downtown Narao. They were selling tea, coffee and cake so Satomi and I went down to look around and have a snack. Here we are with one of my students dressed up as Santa.

Two students serving tea and cake.

I think that's all the excitement in my life right now. I have to write an essay for some annual Nakagoto H.S. publication and start packing for my trip home. My neighbor Hirano-san is taking me to the ferry port on Monday after school then it’s three weeks in Oregon!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Love, Sierra


Also want to include a picture of my friend Michelle who is also teaching English in Japan. Here she is making mochi in Hokkaido.