Wrapping up the Year in Japan.

The past two weeks have slowed down a bit, probably because mentally I know a long winter break is up ahead. We had a birthday party for Aimee, as well as Rob, in the past two weeks. Rob’s party was also a year end party for everyone, as almost all the JETs are heading to other places in Japan for travel or to other countries.

Two weeks ago we had a dinner in Kure for Aimee. We had dinner at an Italian place in town then made our way to our local haunt, Memories. We spent quite a few hours there passing the time and what made it even more enjoyable were the costumes that Rob has grown fond of buying for our nights out. (Picture Below: Shun and Seigo , the bartenders at Memories)

The two bartenders at Memories are really nice guys, so we also had a good time chatting with them while Rob and I also were wearing our masks. Rob had the god of commerce, Yebisu mask and he got me this well known Japanese lady mask. (Picture Below: Jay handing out presents and me being his elf)

Last Saturday, I was asked to volunteer at the preschool for the day along with Melody, Jason and Masato. Jason dressed up as Santa Claus and I had a great time playing with the kids at the preschool. Jason was a pretty good Santa and the kids were really great as cute as they sang Christmas carols to us. (Video Below: This isn't a Xmas song, but the kids are pretty cute so I had to put it on)The youngest kid was probably about 3, and the oldest was about 7. The interesting thing was that of the “foreigners” that came, none of them were white. Masato is Japanese and Mel and Jason are Maori. So in a way, we were doing our job of internationalizing the Japanese.(Video Below: Me doing my actions game)
After our introductions and Santa handing out presents, we did a Christmas song and I played a game called actions with the kids. It went relatively well, even though at some parts I was cracking up and losing it. (Picture Below: Ayaka and I doing hand gestures)

After our games we posed for pictures with the kids and then a few of us sat down and ate lunch with a few of the pre-schoolers. This one little girl named Ayaka was just adorable and I was chatting with her the whole time before and during lunch. Asuka also came and told me that I wouldn’t make a good pre-school teacher because I played favourites, but I couldn’t help it as she was just really cute. I had fun eating with her and the other kids and then we folded origami. (Picture Below: My two snack dishes and Asuka's plates)

Once we finished playing with the kids, the principal brought us to her own pottery room and we spent a few hours making pottery. I did some pottery during high school and also with my sister, but it took me forever to think of, and then make what I wanted. I finally decided on making two snack dishes, one with a Canadian Maple leaf and the other with the Japanese rising sun. (Picture Below: Rob sucking Shochu out of his straw)

At night, we a bunch of us made our way into Hiroshima for Rob’s Birthday and our year end party, also known as a Bonenkai. We booked a restaurant and got a pretty good deal with a set meal and all you can drink combo. It came out to only 35 dollars and we got tons of food, including oysters, sashimi and hotpot. We also took advantage of the all you can drink to its fullest. Vicki got Rob a 30ft straw, a samurai tophat and these funky glasses with moving eyebrows. (Picture Below: Rob and I in the Xmas spirit)

Once we finished dinner, we checked into our capsule hotel and then went and took a few sticker pictures with the gang. After visiting the sticker booth we checked into our capsule hotel and then went to a bar for a few hours before we called it a night. (Picture Below: A few of our sticker pics from the night)

School has also being going alright, but a sense the kids are itching for winter vacation to begin as their concentration had really dipped the past two weeks. I wrapped up the week by having the students create their own Christmas stockings. It took me hours to come up with the idea and then to actually make it feasible for the students to do. It’s actually a tad complicated, but most students were able to complete it and to decorate their stockings quite elaborately. As expected, the girls did a better job then the boys at making the stockings. (Picture Below: My kids Xmas stockings)

Essentially, I would have the kids cut out the outline of the stocking on red construction paper and then write their name on a white piece of paper and then paste it at the top of the stocking. I would also have the kids write their wishes for other and things they want for themselves on a piece of paper, which you would be able to pull out through cutting a slit at the very top of the stocking. A lot of the girls really did an amazing job with theirs and most of them ended up looking really good.

Well the semester has gone pretty fast as I’m already counting down to how much time I have left here. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to re-contract for another year, so it means every season or festival I see likely the last time I’ll be experiencing it. As for this Christmas, I am heading to Hong Kong and Shanghai for close to three weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing my parents again and also visiting Hong Kong. It will be my first time in Shanghai, so it should make a pretty interesting New Year. Well hope everyone is doing well in Canada and that you all have yourself a nice Christmas and New Years!

Japanese Factoid #39- The Japanese keep impeccable records of everything. This is most apparent with their city maps. Not only are they detailed, but they also have the name of everyone owner of the property. In smaller towns like Yasuura, they actually have maps at the beginning of every street to tell you the layout of the houses and who lives there.