生活: Just a Slice of Daily Life

It's that time of year again folks! yay recap!

Seriously though, life here's been pretty great, even if it's been ordinary.
For instance: during lunchtime, the students get to choose a few songs to play over the loud speaker. Usually songs I don’t know. Until they decided to have a Perfume day and played Natural ni Koishite, Laser Beam, and Nee on the same day. And of course my colleagues looked at me as those songs were now my trade mark since I disastrously attempted the first at karaoke the first time we met. But it was also fun when they played Sailing Day and Karma (but I kept my knowledge of these to myself). There are also the small victories of being included in random conversations, even if I don’t understand a lot of it. But mostly it was staying after to help them practice that made me happiest. They could be silly and talk about what they were interested in as well which helped. On the performance day I could barely hold back my grin as they each took the stage, expressing better than they ever had in practice and so happy afterwards. They truly did try their best.

I checked out the library and raided the kids sections and found this delightful book about a boy (Toby) and his cat becoming sea captains when their house goes adrift in a huge storm:

It seems like everywhere I go there's a Murder...

So, sometimes everyone in the staff room leaves...

 ....and they don't tell you why...

(Speaking of work, this is just a piece of the view)

(Song courtesy of Leggers)

 Obihiro (the nearest city about 30min away by car) has a large collection of the redeads, take care ;3

 But they also have an Irish pub, so I will brave them for fish-n-chips

 ...and creepy empty trains at 10pm...

 But at least it always feels like I'm coming back home

 I've been able to see such beautiful things

 ..and still get to act silly~

Even though it seems sometimes that I'm not wanted/needed...

...I have a collection of small drawings and things my students have given me, and their laughing faces are the only gratitude I need.

 (It's rather interesting the parts of America they've latched onto though...)

Every morning I wake up, and I can here the bells

Because these "hills" are absolutely alive with the sound

(listen to this)

It may seem that I'm lonely to be out here "all alone", but I never feel far from comfort~

Speaking of comfort, I made mixed CDs for my adult English class for Christmas

And was surprised the same day with a Christmas CD of my own

It's hard to make the everyday happenings sound exciting to you if you're not here to see them, because though they are small, they are many. Things like the boy and the girl first years (7th graders) who sit next to each other and help each other on their homework; both teasing relentlessly but in a way that makes me want them to get married someday. Or the third year girl who loves the Little Green Men from Toy Story and has pencil cases and folders covered with them, and still gets excited to talk to me before and after class or to show me a new acquisition. Or the second year boy that taped drawn eyes to the insides of his glasses during class and caused me to laugh uncontrollably for five minutes before the class and I could calm down. Maybe I shouldn't encourage them, but I can't help but treasure each one's flairs of personality in an otherwise structured environment. The boys who read the dialogues in funny voices; the girls who wave excitedly when I smile at them; the students who laugh when they accidentally respond to my "Good morning!" with "Ohayo Gozaimasu!" before returning a bashful "Hello~".

It's hard to articulate the contentedness I feel here, and the right-ness of it. Be assured that I miss everyone (and a LOT of things) back home something fierce, but I also understand this is my time to be away and test my faith and trust. I pray that you are well when you read this, and know that I am going to try to be more consistent with posting in the future (yeah, sure, that's what they all say...) ^^;

Salutations, Sapporo

(p.s. : there are a few hidden Easter Eggs in this post that while not necessary, may help further understanding)

A week after arriving in their new locations and just before the school bells began to ring, our merry band of travelers were called to gather together once again for a bit of final advice concerning what they may expect (considering that Hokkaido is very much different from Honshu and the other islands, and Tokyo Orientation couldn't quite cover all of the pertinent information). That's right folks, we're getting the band back together!

(I am not now going to discuss the phenomena of misquotes being more recognizable than their source...)

Rather than take the train, our traveler chose to economize and take the bus for half the price (making it only about $65 round-trip) but twice the time. This afforded a much more spectacular view of the mountains on her her way, however, as well as the entertainment of supposing what the movie playing at the front of the bus could possibly be about without sound (or of course subtitles), and got as far as to presume that there was a vigilante motorcycle gang that had a leader who used to be a part of the law but turned sour to its corruption....

Right! Sapporo!

Sapporo Station 

As you can see, even by bus the time of arrival was still before 4pm! Settling her bags and umbrella, our traveler squared her shoulders and set off determinedly down the street towards her hotel (she had studied the map previously so as to not look perplexed).

She even received a room with a view:

With very little to inspect, she was soon off in search of adventure! Just a girl and her camera, "An American 'Photographer' in Sapporo", if you will~

She was excited to see her friends the next day, but since Tokyo Orientation had ended so abruptly and they hadn't had phones at the time, they hadn't been in touch in the interim to coordinate meeting on the arrival Sunday. No Matter! The rain was all the company she needed on this venture, and they'd had it in copious amounts. So, a brief view of the city:

First stop was to locate where the bus would be leaving from in two days, as it was about five blocks away...)

A familiar sight

And an unexpected one 

As well as climbing a staircase

To seek new ones

From iconic images

To striking ones

Even those that look as if they may be struck...

As you can see, by just a quarter past 6pm the sky was darkening and rumbling with thunder--
Or, that may have been her stomach ^^;
So! Now that the bus terminal was sufficiently located and the city spanning from her hotel to it had been traipsed about, she sought to cast her net wider with the general goal of food.

Even though she seemed to have wandered into a more sparse location

This lively covered street market seemed promising!

But, things have a way of not going quite according to plan, and our traveler was forced to take a detour on her road to food:

Be assured, a most grievous interruption, indeed

Creeping ever closer...

(the staff had given all of the animals frozen water bottles since it was such a hot evening)

(Please excuse the glare, he was so happy and didn't stay still in any other shot)

"zzzzz" *click*

"Who disturbs my slumber?!"

"ooh, that looks tasty"

"can I try it?"

There were other friends to be met as well:

But in the end, food had to be sought! Luckily there was a pub not too far away.

Quite literally an underground little place

Sapporo style yakisoba~

After that she passed by and through other shops along the street that just kept going.

"Bon Matsuri" = Obon Festival

And of course no one can just walk past a crepe shop!

Look at how beautiful they are!

Around 9 she decided nearly five hours of walking should be enough to make her weary enough to sleep through the night. So after a quick stop at the conbini for provisions,

(and snapping a picture of a Japanese 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' poster in the window)

 She made the trek "home" to enjoy a few comforts before bed:

Tea, Melon pan, and Orange juice (100%!!) make the very best after-dinner-and-supper 2nd supper!

tick tock

Sapporo Orientation was being held in the Akarenga: the historical government building with beautiful grounds.

friends :3

Take-away facts from orientation:

1.) Don't drink wild water or touch the foxes; if you do you may contract a parasite that you won't experience any symptoms from, possibly for years, until you suddenly go crazy, your brain melts, and you die.

2.) Deer are stupid and suicidal when it comes to cars.

3.) Winter is coming: does your heater work/have kerosene/have coolant/etc.?

4.) Winter is coming: don't get stuck out side or think you're safe in your car. Many have tried. ("They tried and failed?" "They tried and died.")

5.) The eastern sub-prefecture of Hokkaido is larger than any prefecture in Honshu, etc.

Also: Taking your time to explore is great, but seeing the city with a new perspective with friends is great, too :3

(Picture courtesy of Kate)

Our first mission: The Poke Center!

(Picture courtesy of Kate)

(Picture courtesy of Kate)

 And while in the game center, naturally pictures had to be taken:

After wandering around about the multi-floored shopping structure,

(And running into TVXQ)

 It was decided, of course, that food was in order.

(Well, first a stop at the Sapporo Beer festival glowing right outside...)

(and a then Chance Encounter!battle...)

(...that certainly was the very best.)

They found a nice place to relax~
(Picture courtesy of Kate)

(Picture courtesy of Kate)

After food times came Karaoke times, late, late into the morning~
The following day of orientation went by fast, and soon it was time to say good-bye again (this time after exchanging contact information). She had a very small window of time to traverse the many blocks to her bus, but she made it okay.

Apparently, Beauty and the Beast is playing, Jenny...

The ride home was pleasantly accompanied by a good book, a sunset, mountains, and The Hobbit soundtrack.
(Which made driving through the mountains especially exhilarating when this song came on:)

After a while Shimizu came into view and she descended the steps of the bus and started walking back home. Fifteen minutes later, around 9pm, she was in the door and had the kettle on to settle down for the night and prepare for her first day of school not being a student...