Retirement Party

Unfortunately I have had a pretty bad week for a number of reasons. I will not go into any detail but I hope to forget the previous week as quickly as possible, after I attend to some unfinished business.............

Friday night was the perfect chance to unwind after several frustrating incidents during the week. On Friday, there was a retirement party for 2 long serving members of the local Board of Education. Both retirees had worked in the local town office for 40 years each.

The BoE members all stayed at a very nice hotel called Marumine in a hot spring area called Ashinomaki. The picture shows the Director of the BoE flanked by the two retirees. This picture shows the typical style of a Japanese work celebration. The food is very traditional with lots of fish and other oddities. On the table are several flasks of sake (Japanese rice wine) and the men are sitting on legless seats called zaiisu. By the end of the night, it was not only the chairs that were legless.

After the food (most of which I didn't eat), most members did their best to finish the supply of alcohol which the hotel had supplied for the party. I was then encouraged /coerced into singing a few songs in front of my colleagues. For the record, I sang 'Country Roads' by John Denver and 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles.

After the first party, it was time for the second party. I remember getting some ramen with the other members and then everyone going to the room I was staying in and basically chatting and drinking as much as possible. I am unsure what time I went to sleep.

Today I went for another long cycle up a nearby mountain road. Despite wearing my ski jacket and ski gloves, I felt I was about to pass out with the cold and my bike became caked with snow. Maybe I should wait for better weather. Next week should be fairly quiet. Shimogo JHS is winding down in preparation for the Spring Holidays and there is also a national holiday on Tuesday. I guess I'll either ski or cycle on Tuesday - I've been quite diligent recently in improving my diet and I'm trying to exercise more.

Well, that's all my recent news. Hopefully I'll have something else to say soon. Bye for now.

2006 3rd Grade Graduation

The most important day of the school year in Japan is graduation day. Today the 3rd grade students said their goodbyes to each other and to their teachers.

I felt sad to see the students leave for the last time as I've taught them for the whole of my time at Shimogo JHS and today was definitely the day for me to use the traditional 'British stiff upper lip'. The students will all go to different schools in different places and it will be difficult for them to meet up with each other again. The life of a Japanese student is certainly much harder that the life of a Scottish student. I'll miss them all.

The top picture shows the Shimogo JHS Principal addressing the students at the start of the graduation ceremony. He can just be seen behind the bonsai tree which is brought out for special occasions. I am told that this bonsai tree is very old and also very valuable. Behind the Principal is the flag of Shimogo Town and the Japanese national flag (called the Hino Maru). The Japanese national anthem is sung at the start of the ceremony with people facing the flag. Some teachers in Japan choose not to sing the anthem. On the podium, the school logo can also be seen (3 fountain pen nibs).

The bottom picture shows the 3rd grade students leaving and saying their farewells in cold and wintry weather. My message to the students was DO YOUR BEST and GOOD LUCK.

Cycling in Shimogo

Recently, I have started cycling again as the snow has now mostly melted from the country roads around Shimogo. It's great to get some more fresh air into my lungs and look at the countryside whiz by. Although it's still fairly dark in the evenings, Clara and I have been doing a 10 minute cycle when we get home each day. When the evenings get brighter (and warmer), I'll try and cycle my favourite 15km route each night. Until then, Clara and I will cycle close to home.

I'm planning a few day long cycle trips on the weekends and public holidays. I'll post some photos of these trips as soon as I can.

The students of Shimogo JHS had their high school entrance examinations today - I hope they all did well. On Friday there will be a party for the parents of the 3rd grade students and hopefully it will be as good as the party we had in March 2005. On Monday the students will graduate from Shimogo JHS. It will be sad to see them leave school for the last time. I'll post some pictures of the graduation ceremony early next week. Bye for now.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

I had a very busy evening schedule last week. On Thursday there was a small party to celebrate one of the Japanese teacher's engagement. The highlight of the evening was the fact that the restaurant that we went to served Yebisu beer - my favourite Japanese beer.

Friday night saw a visit to the local ramen (noodle) bar with an elementary school teacher called Kobayashi. The top photo shows Kobayashi sensei with Ma-chan, the owner of the ramen bar. I had a rather delicious bowl of kara miso ramen (noodles in a rather spicy soup) and a few beers. At about 8pm we headed to a local karaoke bar where I was about to spend the next 4 hours of my life singing songs, drinking beer and wine, and eating lots of Japanese edamame (lightly salted beans). A good night!!

Saturday evening was spent in a nearby city called Aizu-Wakamatsu where I had the chance to meet and chat with about 50 other JETS who live in Fukushima Prefecture. I have only now recovered from this busy social schedule and look forward to a quieter period ahead.