Score

I went to the supermarket and hit the jackpot. I found out that if you buy sushi in the evening after about 8, they put these little stickers on them that mean half price! And I found green tea flavoured soft Oreo cookies and for those of you who don't know, I love green tea flavoured stuff and I love Oreo cookies, truly a winning combination. And I found loads of other green tea flavoured goodies as well.

My First Day at School

Those are words I never though I would be uttering again since I left school, let alone 3 times in one week. Everyone is very welcoming and while the teachers have been busy, I really haven't had much to do in the last week other than prepare. The head teachers at all my schools have been the most friendly and I've really enjoyed talking with them. Each school started with an entry ceremony for the new students; a fairly formal affair with military style movements, singing, bowing and children wearing clothes that are far to big for them (I assume it's so they will grow into them). 

It's the Bread-Man!

Last week I heard this organ music coming from a van in the street, I thought it was just going round playing music but it was there for a while. By the time I got out there he was gone. This week he came again. So I went out to look what was going on. He was selling break and pastries from the side of his tiny van. Eclairs to mochi, danishes to loaves, he was telling me about everything and explained that the loaves were different flavours! I brought one that was 'English Tea' flavoured (Well, I had to didn't I) and it was actually really nice. Needs some milk though.

ALT BBQ

Last Sunday I went to a BBQ Hanami (Picnic under Cherry Blossom teas, literally translated as Flower-Looking) party at Tsuyama Castle in the a park, surrounded by Sakura (Cherry Blossom) trees. Its a shame the flowers weren't quite out, but I got to meet loads of other ALTs and English teachers, as well as other Japanese people. Going back next Sunday to take photos with the flowers out though. Stay tuned for Hanami photos!

I know where you live!

I went to my local Izakaya (Japanese version of a pub) last night for some food and to get to know the locals. Everyone was very inviting but it was a little odd they knew me by name. I figured it was just because it's a small town so word gets around. However, they then brought up more facts about me, I'm from London, I play basketball and I have a Japanese wife. I ask how they knew so much about me and was handed the paper below:

It's a village newspaper and there is a whole article about me with all me, with all my details. My previous job, my age and quite worrying that I play the sanshin. I only ever said I was learning to play the sanshin, so I hope they don't have one somewhere!

I had a great chat with the locals though and accidentally ordered way too food, but it was all so great I had to finish it. There was an old man at the other end of the bar who was giving off some weird vibes, but at the end of the night he offered to pay my bill and although I begged not to, he was very insistent. He was also rather drunk and kept hugging me. All in all, a good night.  

Dance is Timemachine

It's not fun being illiterate and I intend to learn as much Japanese as fast as I possibly can (Although I still will need to prepare for lessons and all the other things my day to day life entails). But when you live in Japan as a westerner, your eyes are drawn to any English text in the hope that you can make sense of something. The Japanese normally only use English text so it looks cool and 90 percent of the time its serious weird and/or funny. I have already seen an 'Excellent Book Store', a bin marked 'Others' with no other bin around it and my favourite below, Dance is Timemachine! It says it all really.

Shoo Town

Here is a quick view across Shoo Town where I'll be calling home for the next year.