Che called about 12:30am(11:30am previous day EST) and we spoke for about half an hour. He told me about his trip, I told him about mine etc. Went to bed and woke up about 5:50am, went back to sleep and got up for a bathroom break at 7am...lazed around and got out of the bed at 7:40am. Got up and got ready, left the apartment at 8:30am. Got to BOE at 8:39 and we left for Futaba JHS(I am there from Sep. 3-Nov.30) at 9am. We were going to go around to all the junior high schools. I met my 3 JTE's(Japanese Teachers of English), Suzuki-sensei, Tsukahara-sensei and Kawamoto-sensei who teach grades 1, 3 & 2 respectively. The grades are the equivalent of 8-10 back home. I met the principal and we talked a bit about his travels. He lived in NY for 1 year working as an air hostess, but worked with American Airlines as a sales rep for 30 years so he is able to speak English. His name is Shimizu Kocho-sensei(Principal) and the Vice Principal is Maruyama Kyoutou-sensei. From Futaba Rokudai and I went for lunch on him at a Japanese restaurant. I had some fried Japanese red fish, rice, salad, potato salad, soup with noodles and Japanese pickles which I didn't eat. For dessert was vanilla ice cream with 2 pieces of mango on top of fruit cocktail and corn flakes. It was GREAT! After lunch went to Naba JHS(will be there day after I retrun from Ja-Feb. 9) and met the principal, VP and 2 JTE's then drove to the country to Yanogawa JHS. This school seems far! It will be a trek on my bike to get there! Apparently the bus isn't convenient to get there. I met the JTE, Kimoto. I will be at this school from Feb. 10-March 31.
This has been a LONG day! I'm feeling really mash up. The other teachers are conversing and I'm clueless so I'm writing to occupy my time and to keep myself from falling asleep.
We left Yanogawa, went back to BOE and the rest of the day I was free until dinner when Rokudai-sensei would pick me up at 5:45pm for my welcome enkai. I got home at 3:50pm, put in Amy Winehouse and chilled on the couch eating Ritz. I got my omiyage ready at 5:15pm and got dressed by 5:30. I went downstairs at 5:40 and waited about 10-15 minutes. We headed to a Japanese restaurant around the corner from BOE. The seating was traditional. I ate tons of food and it wouldn't stop coming! I caught nuff jokes even though I didn't understand half of what was being said. It was like they didn't want to go home! We left the place @9pm. I was going to go to the station to buy my ticket to Gifu, but Miyamoto gave me her train pass to use at a much cheaper price. So my next worry was getting home in time for the 200m finals. I got in at 9:10pm, turned on the TV and lo and behold they were just lining up to start the race. God is GOOD! Oh yea, the alcohol kept coming too!...and after all that fuss about the tolerance in Japan being ZERO for driving during the orientation, Rokudai-sensei drove me home with one of his co-workers in the back seat! I prayed for travelling mercies.
Dad called to check in at 9:50pm. I prepared my bag to spend the weekend and K's, watched China win the men's 110m hurdles, then I headed to bed about 10:30pm.
PICS OF SCHOOL VISITS & WELCOME ENKAI
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