My Turkey Lesson for School

Here are some of my students from Ikarashi JHS and the Thanksgiving Turkeys they made as a class lesson. Too cute!

4th Play Practice!

We had our 4th Niigata-ken Musical Play Practice of "The Jungle Tale" this last weekend in Murakami. We drove down in the pouring freezing rain Friday night to crash at Pam and Deccy's place and then the wolves got there earlier than everyone else (@ 9am) to practice "Thriller". But anyways, we got lots done and was able to run through the whole play. The top photo is of the Vultures (Bang- Deccy, Buzz-Christian, Whizz-Joel, Babe-Brooke, and Boom-Ben) roosting on thier perch, the 2nd is of Baloo (James) and Mowgli (Russell) not knowing their lines and sneaking at the script, the 3rd is of the Monkeys (Megan, Leanne, Satoko, and Ros), the 4th is of Kaa (Peter) and Mowgli, and the last one is Bagheera's (Fumie) black panther outfit....she's gonna draw in the crowds alone! Well....next practice is in Joetsu on Dec. 10th and 11th.

Niigata-ken Musical - Thanksgiving Meal

We played Jaken (Paper/Rock/Scissors) to see which of the two tables got to get in live to eat first...my side lost...but we still got lots of yummy food!
















Lopaka carving the Turkey!


















Shanna and James enjoying being the 1st and 2nd person to walk through the buffet line. Lucky!














Fumie, Rosalind, and Pamela getting food ready in the kitchen.















Justine and Satoko getting to fight over the wishbone. The both had a Birthday this weekend, so that's why they got to make a wish! Satoko finally won.

Thanksgiving in JAPAN 2005

Here's what my Thanksgiving meal looked like here in Japan. We had about 40 ALTs make one dish and bring it to our Play Practice this following weekend. Everything was WONDERFUL, we even had two turkeys!!!
I made some Candied Sweet Potatoes, pictured above with lots of pecans and then later on the main table with the yummy marshmallows melted on top. Everyone seemed to like them...so....here's the recipe for those who'd like to try making 'em. :)

Candied Sweet Potatoes

8 raw sweet potatoes

3 sticks butter

3 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs

1/2 c. finely chopped pecans

Marshmallows

Boil peeled potatoes until tender. Mix all other ingredients except marshmallows. Pour mixture over potatoes. Let simmer in a big pan for about 20-30 mins. on low. Mix occasionally to mash potatoes and stir mixture. Add a layer of marshmallows and heat in the microwave for about 5 minutes or until slightly brown. Enjoy!

***NOTE: This is how I made this in Japan, we don't have ovens here...so I had to do some playing/praying things would cook well, but no fear - they came out delicious!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I`m day dreaming about hot turkey and gravy with a little cranberry sauce on the side, lots of dressing with giblets, some candied sweet potatoes, and maybe some buttered cornbread.....but instead I`m sitting at work at Ikarashi JHS doing nothing!!! Today`s finals for the students - so no classes. Lunch for me today will be left-overs from last night: rice and beef stir-fry. We are attempting Thanksgiving dinner later this weekend in Murakami for play practice...so my dream of turkey will not go to waste. But to everyone back home in the south, HAPPY THANKSGIVING (and eat an extra helping of dressing for me)!!!

Fall is upon us...

It's strange being in a part of the world where you can actually enjoy/witness Fall (unlike Texas where the weather fluctuates too much). I don't think I've ever seen so many orange trees, it's gorgeous. Before I know it, It'll be white everywhere....but....I'm secretly awaiting it!!!

FLASHBACK - 4 months

GROUP A

Hard to believe 4 months has flown by!!!

It's funny though, I look back at these pics of our first nights in Tokyo and I can recognize everyone. So many familiar faces!!!

Being kids at Round 1!!!

What happens on a free weekend...

When we get a free weekend all together (which is rather rare with the play practices all the time and/or school events) what do we do??? We gather to watch HARRY POTTER: Goblet of Fire at the movie theater (in English w/ Japanese Subtitles) AND go to Round 1. Round 1 is this HUGE 6 floor Sports Entertainment center where you pay 1600 YEN for 3 hours of all-you-can-have FUN. They have everything...fishing, roller skating, shooting, arcades, archery, tons of sport cages and courts, pool, bull riding, bowling, ball rooms meant for kids but we enjoy as well! I've been twice already and plan on going back soon (I even got a membership card!)

Speech Contest

2005 Niigata City JHS Speech Contest

I worked with 5 students in all from my 3 different school for this speech contest. I really didn't expect to go until my teachers asked me last min. (which seems to happen ALL the time here!) Anyways, I worked with one girl from Kamiyama for about a month beforehand and then 3 boys of one girl from my other schools only once. The contest was split into two rooms...so since I went with my base school I got to see 3 of my students speak. My Kamiyama girl (top row, 4th from the left) and two egotistical - Ikarashi boys (top row, 7th & 8th from the left) are pictured above. :)

FUJI - san

Taken again by my friend Beth on her Board of Education Trip to Fuji -san last weekend.

Amazing to think we were at the top of that!

Sugoi!!!

Shout Out!!!

I want to give a shout-out to Grace (The kitty in the middle) and her blog:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/etheriel3/

Check it out!!!!

(Thanks Beth for more fun yummy pics from Tokyo.....now you can see our tails!)

PS. I HAVE CABLE! Yes, many channels IN EIGO and NIHONGO!!!

I'm still in shock, lots of fun music channels...so you know me Ladies & Gents, I'll be up-to-date with all the new Japanese songs/pop groups. Plus, I have movie channels and news all in English..none of that 15 min. bilingual stuff I've been dealing with for the last 4 months. Next time y'all are over for a weekend we'll lounge around like last Sunday and do nothing but watch English programs...hehe

Beauty of Niigata-ken

These photos are taken here in Niigata-shi from West Coast Park (one of my favorite places to go in the city)

These photos were taken by my friend Beth on top of Mt. Yahiko. On one side you see all the rice fields of Niigata-ken and on the other you see the coast and Sea of Japan. I love it!!!

Sense of nani???

I've been told the Japanese have a true sense of beauty since you can find so many breath-taking scenes all over, but they also have no sense of ugliness since you'll find those lovely shrines with insurance companies attached to the side.

This Tokyo Tower pic reminded of that quote, hehe

3rd Play Practice!

Pam and Deccy crashing on the way over to Sado.


















The Sado Ferry on the way back, everyone rushes in to grab spots to lay down on the carpeted floors. The whole ride in all takes 2 1/2 hours!














Beginning practice on Saturday morning, lovely sunny day!














Show and Tell: The Elephant's dance














The view at sunset from our Community Center.

The 3rd Play Practice for "The Jungle Tale" - a remake of The Jungle Book was held on Sado November 12th and 13th. Most of us wanted to take the Friday night ferry over, but due to some UN-forseen difficulties many of us took the 6am Saturday ferry - which was actually pretty nice. We got to pull up to Sado at sun rise and see the mountains. We all crashed at a local Community Center, which was just adorable by the way. Even though practice was long and tedious, we got lots done and made some FIERCE Veg./Ck. curry Saturday night as well....yummy! Our next practice is this coming weekend in Murakami. Wolves are going earlier since we need to perfect our "Thriller" dance. We'll also be having a Thanksgiving dinner all together, with turkey and everything - how 'bout that? I'm attempting to make "Candied Yams," so....we'll see how that turns out! :)

HANA YORI DANGO

Hana Yori Dango = Boys over Flowers

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http://z18.zupload.com/download.php?file=getfile&filepath=10484
http://www.tbs.co.jp/hanayoridango/pnews5.html
To watch the characters of HYD OUT of character, click here!

MY CURRENT FAVORITE JAPN. SONG: Ai Otsuka - Planetarium

HYD Website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/hanayoridango/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!

Love ya!!!!