The PNG trip started out with...

Waiting!
For a group of 20, we sure are a slow bunch. We were suppose to leave at 12:30 but didn't really pull out until an hour later - already trying to adjust to PNG time! Sorry Mary for always taking our time (esp. during the play practices)
Farewells!
We all had a heartfelt THANKS for Natasha, our hard working lady who put in long hours and stressful times into organizing this trip for us. We were all SAD to leave her behind, so thank you again - the trip was amazing. Luv ya Tash!!!
Bus Ride!
Everyone crowded on the 5 hour bus trip to Narita Airport in Tokyo. Thanks to Seth for putting together a fun pack for everyone to work on along the way. Gotta love the riddles and dirty jokes!
Check In!
We took FOREVER to check in since we not only had to scan and check in 20 people as a group but all our luggage AND the 71 boxes of donations. (The 10 carts alone are holding all the donations) Unfortunately we were unable to bring all the boxes because of weight limitations, so 21 boxes were left behind for next years trip to take!

Back @ School

Wow, it's weird being back at school.

I came at my usual time this morning and NO CARS where here. I didn't know what to think, so I went to the local conbeni to buy a drink and came back to see TWO cars. So, I parked and came to school to find only 3 teachers in the Teaching room - even more strange. Throughout the day they came trickling in being as loud as the students. Since I used a sick/personal day yesterday the teachers had cleaned everything up, moved desks around, and had a farewell party for the leaving teachers (one of which was an English teacher - Mr. Yamada....so I'm eagerly awaiting to see if we'll get someone new) I'm happy we're at least having Spring like conditions though and looking out the window as the girls practice softball and the boys practice soccer in the sunshine makes me want to join in. Yayy, Spring has arrived!

Strange being back though, but kind of fun that everything appears new and different...a much needed change! :)

PNG post on it's way!

Monday Off!

So, instead of blogging my Trip to PNG (gomen- I promise the pics will come soon)....I've been watching more videos on YouTube. Here's a funny one that cracks me up.
It's with my boy Jun - he's such a dork!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fl7TSvW94rI&search=jun%20matsumoto

Just got back ... from Papua New Guinea

Hi Everyone-

OR in Zia (said as Gia) - "Tori Iwan" "Good Day!"

So, I just got back from my one week trip to Papua New Guinea!!!

Literally, the over night train which arrived this morning in Niigata at 4:15am was a very lucky thing for Kate and I. Our only other choice was crashing in Tokyo Station over night since it was late and the Shinkansens weren't running any more, but we were lucky enough to discover a Niigata over night train...even though the only two tickets left open were in a smoking compartment. Took a full 24 hours to travel back home, but at least we made it! :)

I have a little over 500 pics from my trip (the bottom 3 are just a preview of what's to come). So, within the next few days I'll be posting alot. Come back soon!

Hina Matsuri - March 3rd

Since I didn't have my computer at the time to post anything, here it is!

"The Hina Matsuri or doll festival takes place on March 3rd every year. Its origins go back to China which had the custom of making a doll for the transferral of bad luck and impurities from the person, and then putting the doll in a river and forever ridding oneself of them. March 3rd celebrates Girls' Day in Japan, and from mid to late February families with daughters put out the dolls with the hopes their daughters will grow up healthy and happy. One superstition associated with this is that if they are late in putting away the dolls when the festival is over, their daughters will become old maids. Most displays consist of just a prince, (Odairi-sama) and a princess (Ohina-sama), but more elaborate displays include the dolls being part of a 5 or 7 tier display (hinadan), along with courtiers, candy, rice boiled with red beans (osekihan), white sake (shirozake), peach blossoms, diamond shaped rice cake (hishimochi), toys, and tiny furniture. Traditionally many parents or grandparents will begin their first display for their daughter, called hatsu zekku, when she is just a year old, but some families have passed their dolls down from generation to generation with the bride carrying her dolls with her to her new home. Aside from the displays, Japanese used to go view the peach blossoms coming out, drink sake with a blossom in it, and bathe in water with the blossoms. The blossoms represent desirable feminine qualities, including serenity, gentility, and equanimity.
The festival evolved into the form we can see today during the Edo Period (1603-1867), and it is still possible for people to buy Hina Matsuri dolls created during that time as well as the late 19th and early 20th centuries in antique shops during the season. Two areas that come alive with such displays and events like those above is Yoshimura and Yanagawa, both in Fukuoka Prefecture."

Signs of Spring

Awww...Kawaii, ne?!?

HK Home

To whom it concerns :

:)

The Kitties now have a NEW home.

No longer on the Keitai!
No longer on the Key chain!

I found a cute CLEAR bag to place them in WHICH can also display them as well!

YAYY!!! Just means I can buy a WHOLE LOT more - lovely!!!

What happened to Spring?!?

So, you THINK Spring is right around the corner...lovely SUNNY Saturdays, days where you can leave work without a jacket, birds chirping outside and THEN THIS!

Here's what we got hit with Sunday and Monday. Can you believe it!?! I just took my car into the dealers on Friday too to get it inspected so I had a loner for a week. Since I didn't have my car, I didn't have my ice/snow window scrapper. SO...here I am FREEZING COLD again, scrapping off snow from my car window with a PAN LID. YES, a PAN LID. Seriously, that's the only thing I could come up with and work properly.

NOW I want Spring to come even MORE!!!! :)

Good Morning, etc!?!

What's fun about living in Japan is that I get to live with LOTS of wonderful people from all over the world. We all have different cultures and accents and I LOVE IT!!!

Here's a sample of our brilliant minds at work.

This is a blackboard with MANY different ways to greet someone. Check it out!

Awwww......How Sweet!

I enjoy the suck-ups!!!

Bleaching hair in Japan!

I should have taken a picture of the "Beauteen" hair coloring kit I used as well, but this kit looked the funniest!!!

It's rather interesting coloring your own hair in Japan, esp. going blonde. Can't read the directions SO you rely only on the pictures to guide you. Kinda scary yet fun!!! :)

Ikarashi Graduation - March 7, 2006

Thank goodness it was a sunny day, other wise it would have been HELL sitting in the COLD gym: No heaters and no jackets!

Kocho-Sensei handing out diplomas. It took a little under an hour since there were about 350 students graduating!


Students singing together during the ceremony!

More of my Graduated 3rd years!

The middle girl (Matsumoto) was the student I helped during the English speech competition back in November.


The boys having their last round on the school soccer field. They were cute! Ever now and then they'd come together and do a group huddle, hug, and take pics. Awww!

Students exchanging books to sign!



The trouble-makers at my School!

They always hang out in the corner @ the front of the school. The one standing on the far right was the student who ripped his diploma in half and threw it into the air during the ceremony - classic!

Just one of the many joys of working at Ikarashi JHS!!!

My students outside saying Farewell!

Me, Inada-sensei, and a couple of my graduated 3rd years!
Some of the pretty and HUGE flower designs around the school!

Something that always cheers me up!!!

I've found I'm fascinated by the mannequins here in Japan. They're used for everything. You'll see them on the street working next to the construction men or on ferries to demonstrate the correct way of wearing a life vest.

I love 'em!!!
Always puts a smile on my face!!!

Kampai !!!

Check out the new blonde hair!


Before the show the Wolf Pack had our own Kampai (Cheers)! We toasted to little Asahi beer cans and moved on to a bottle of wine!