No Stabilisers

Clara and I went to the park in Shimogo on Saturday. Saturday was the day when Clara would try and ride her bike with no stabilisers for the first time. I was expecting a stressful afternoon with a lot of tears. In the end, there were only a few tears and I have to say that she did surprisingly well.

After giving Clara my expert advice, she decided that she no longer needed my help. She told me she wanted me to sit on a far away bench while she honed her skills. She fell off only once and then after a short period of fatherly support, she hopped on her bike with renewed and steely determination.

Well done Clara!! Another important milestone in life has been reached and breached.

I have a fairly routine week ahead. I will be at Egawa Primary School and Narahara Primary School on Monday. There are no classes at Shimogo JHS on Tuesday or Wednesday as the students have end of term tests. On Tuesday I'll do some tidying at Shimogo JHS and on Wednesday I'll have another couple of classes at Egawa Primary School. Thursday will be a normal work day at Shimogo JHS and then on Friday I'll be at Shimogo JHS in the morning and Egawa Primary School in the afternoon.

Down to Tokyo

On Saturday the 17th of June, I traveled down to Tokyo to meet up with a friend from the Isle of Skye. Kate will stay in Japan for 1 week and will then go to Hong Kong to stay with my brother for 1 week.

I traveled to Tokyo in the company of the local doctor who was attending a conference. We drove to a town called Shirakawa and then caught the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Tokyo. The Shinkansen are everything that British trains are not. They are fast, punctual, clean, safe, and spacious. I am truly ashamed of the British rail system when I compare it to the rail system in Japan. I would encourage any visitors to Japan to take a journey on the Shink. A VERY impressive experience indeed!!

Whilst browsing through the free Shinkansen magazine, I came across this rather interesting advertisement for an umbrella for dogs! I can't think of a more ridiculous invention. What will it be next?? Shoes for cats? Ear warmers for rabbits? Tortoise roller skates? Goldfish buoyancy aids?

After the short train journey to Tokyo, I purchased 3 books at one of Tokyo's largest book shops and then met a friend for some food and a couple of beers. At 10pm, I met Kate at Shinjuku Station and then we headed to Yuki's parents home in Kumegawa. After Kate got herself organised, we went out for a few more drinks and exchanged a few stories. Kate decided to travel to Shimogo with us for a little sightseeing and then she will return to Tokyo on Tuesday morning.

Mr Clumsy

I don't know why but I have been really clumsy recently. I have been in Shimogo for nearly 3 years and have not broken anything. That was until last week when I broke a coffee pot, glass, and small bowl all in the space of 2 days!! I'm starting to wonder if I've got BSE or some other progressively debilitating illness (joking of course). I'll keep you informed of my medical condition.......

It's been a fairly uneventful week so far. On Monday I had 4 elementary school classes and these are always fun and fulfilling. Elementary school is where I feel I get the chance to be a real teacher. The kids seemed happy to see me and I am impressed with some of their English ability. It seems that a lot of the kids are now doing some form of extra English study. After work on Monday, I collected Clara at the normal time of 4.45pm from Shimogo Nursery School. Every time I collect Clara, I am ambushed by about 20 lovely little kids (aged between 3 and 6 years old) who are fascinated to see a foreign face. One little girl always asks me how to say a selection of English words - she is definitely an English teacher in the making. The only draw back with visits to Japanese Elementary Schools and Nursery Schools is that some kids try and stick their fingers up your bottom!!!!! This is a common characteristic of young Japanese children and I think it is similar to British kids poking each other in the stomach.

No classes today as some Shimogo JHS students are involved in regional sporting events. I have learnt that the Shimogo JHS baseball team have progressed into the semi finals of the regional competition. If they make the final, I'm going to ask if I can go along and watch (even if it means taking a day off work). I'm going to a teacher's party on Thursday night and then have a conversation class on Friday night. On Saturday I'll go down to Tokyo to meet a friend from the Isle of Skye (Kate Sime) who will be in Japan for a week. I'll update again soon. Cheers.

Baseball Champs

Tuesday and Wednesday of last week saw the local area inter school sports competition. Shimogo JHS baseball team did extremely well to reach the final on Wednesday afternoon. In the final, they would play Tajima JHS, perennial favourites to win local area baseball competitions. Shimogo JHS had a vocal band of supporters, made of up students, parents, the school principal, and myself. I braced myself for another brave defeat, but this was not to be.

Shimogo JHS ended the day as champions and won the right to progress to a larger competition the following week. Shimogo created more chances than their much fancied opposition, and ended the day as deserved winners.

Well done Shimogo JHS!!!!