ooki iee

So my desk neighbor just told me to go to Kanazawa but told me "take care not to abduct" "north korea very close". hes so funny. Earlier we were on Google Earth and he spent almost 15 mins trying to find Randy's house in California. Then I found my houe in Maryland, and he announced it to the staff room and about 7 teachers plus kyoto sensei came over to see my house. Everyone commented on how big it was. Talk of my large house continued throughout the day. I stupidly found the house I grew up in in California...which appeared to be even bigger. My house was compared to the size of Yamagata university in Yonezawa. Definately an overstatement. I kept saying, average, normal. But they all continued to laugh at the absurdity of America's super-sizedness. Oh well. At least they like to talk to me at this school. Days at this school are much better than Arato. Although I don:t get to interact as much with the students here aside from the occasional cooking class and sometimes staying after for softball. The teachers here at Nagai are much more friendly and kyoto sensei rocks. Last weekend my friend from Tokyo came to visit and we went skiing at Zao. We also had a very busy day on sunday. I want to go skiing this weekend but my ankle is still hurting from the Sapporo trip and its probably not a good idea. Work has been aweful lately. No classes leaves me feeling depressed and down. And when I do get i front of the class and try to act out a dialogue, the students sometimes dont react. I shouldnt be complaining though. Free time is great. Free time when you are chained to a desk is overrated. Sometimes I just wish my desk would absorb me. JET knows right when to get you for recontracting. Right before the depression of winter and no classes sets in. Its also depressing because it seems like many friends are having visitors from family, friends, boyfriends, exboyfriends. And I dont think my family can come. But anyways I think spring is coming...Im hoping to get to travel and see a little more of Japan. ok, back to the good old nihongo.

omigaye

oh yea, and somehow my secret Hokkaido trip got out and the teachers found out about it. I had asked my JTE not to tell anyone but I think he did. Then on tues, all the teachers asked me how Hokkaido was and I felt like a complete ass becuase I hadn't brought back any Omiyage (sovouneirs).
Later on tuesday some other teachers asked me to help them bake some cakes and I really enjoyed staying after to help them do that. It gives me a chance to practice Japanese. Yay, ikebana class tonigh to look forward too!

homesick in napjan

the seasoned ALTs are right....February and March are the worst times to be an ALT. No classes, cold outside, not much to do about it. They know right when to get your for recontracting before you change your mind. Recently I have been really tempted to change my mind. Although I have friends here, its not like being home with old friends. I feel sad. Not having any classes contributes to this sadness and makes the days much longer. Its killing me just having to sit here at my desk...at least I can search on the internet for exciting things to do. I think I'm going to go to a fertility festival on March 15th near Nagoya then go work on an organic farm for a few days. Unfortunately we get so little vacation that thats all I can afford to take off. I don't get it. Graduation is March 3rd...a sunday. So I have to come to school for that and then on top of that, I have to take 2 hours of my vacation to go to a graduation party in the middle of the workday on a monday because all of the other teachers are doing it. Not only do I have to take vacation time, but I also have to pay 5000 yen (50 dollars) to go to the party. I don't get it! The other teachers seem to think my Japanese has gotten better, but thats only because my vocabulary has increased....I still have trouble making good sentences. But its good to know that some studying is paying off. There is a big snowstorm outside right now. Craziness. This weekend I will go skiing at Zao for the first time. I am excited. Gengo from Tokyo will come up to visit and I will go with 2 other teachers from school. Yay! Hokkaido was brilliant. Went skiing at Niseko mountain. Wish I could have skiied more though. The snow and ice sculputures for the snow festival were amazing. I don't have them on my computer yet, but will get them up soon. Sapporo brewery was also a highlight of the trip. I want to go back to Hokkaido in the summer for some hiking. its a nice place and beautiful.