Modern-Day Manna!

Guess who knows enough Japanese to order pizza delivery?!?!?Guess whose pizza came with seaweed!?!?

Easter with Mariko!

Continuing with the "awesome teachers" theme, let me introduce you to Mariko. When I first arrived at my school, I found that most of the teachers fit in one of three categories -- men around my dad's age, married women with families, or young unmarried guys. Although I got along well with everyone (especially the first two categories), I really longed for a young unmarried female teacher friend. Last March at the change of staff, I started praying that if God would be gracious he would provide me with a friend. Well, he was more than gracious and soon Mariko, a home economic teacher who had just graduated from university entered my life. Over the past year, we have helped each other out at school. We have also found out that we have a lot in common -- we both like to cook, are musicians (she was invited to perform in an international piano concert in Poland to celebrate Chopin's birthday), and desperately want to learn the other's language. All in all we have been a great team! Well, sadly, because of Japanese academic bureaucracy, Mariko has been transferred to another school. But, it hasn't dampened our fun or our desire to be (in her words -- which I strongly echo) "forever friends." The Saturday before Easter, I invited her over for a celebration (which thanks to Mommy and Grandma I was able to have!)

Making carrot cake in my itty bitty kitchen

(the batter is on my only counter space-- the stove!)

Dying eggs with Sarah

(a first for both of them!)

Our fancy eggs

The two-layer carrot cake with its $12 cream cheese frosting

(let's just say that dairy products are considered "gourmet" here!)

Mishima with Ishizuka!

In my blog, I rarely mention my teachers by name, but in fact, I work with some really amazing people! Of course, as in all situations, some really stand out. Mr. Ishizuka is/was/and will forever be one of the neatest people I have met here in Japan. When I first arrived at my school two years ago, my desk was right by his, and everyday we would have great conversations about life in Japan, the US, and other things. Having taught for 34 years and traveling extensively, he was very familiar with ALT's needs. He always looked out for me (from secretly ordering me markers to translating to asking how my adjustment to Japanese life was progressing, etc) Last April, at the beginning of the school year our desk positions were switched and much to both of our disappointment, we were separated by the entire staff room. But, I came to realize that he was always willing to help me even if we actually never taught together. Well, around the beginning of February, he told me he was retiring -- definitely not a surprise, but a great disappointment! Before he officially left at the end of March, he invited me to visit him and his wife in their brand new "dream" house in Mishima (about 2 hours north by car). He had designed the house himself and was especially proud of the windows (and its awesome view of Mt. Fuji) and the American-made fireplace. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't so pleasant, but it didn't dampen our fun!

A huge "not Japanese" boat. Why? I have no idea!

Mrs. Ishizuka and I in front of a gate along the old Tokaido road connecting Kyoto and Tokyo
(notice our height difference!)

Inside the restored village connected with the gate

the village and Lake Ashi (literally "Foot Lake" because its its shaped like a foot)

Lake Ashi sans aforementioned village

My camera's settings were a little weird, but I liked the blue picture!

Sunny day, eh?

Mrs. Ishizuka cooking sukiyaki (thin slices of meat and vegetables cooked in a sweet broth and then dipped in raw egg) for dinner. It was delicious!

Mt. Fuji (or the lack there of!)

They purposely left out their Girl's Day Doll display

for me to see. (Girl's Day was at the beginning of March)
Because its considered "bad luck" to keep the display out past the holiday (supposedly the unwed daughters will never marry) I told them to make sure to put it away before their daughter visited them the following week :-)

The relaxing fireplace

In one of our conversations at school, I told Mr. Ishizuka that in America it is tradition to roast marshmallows. He remembered these many months later and made sure we had marshmallows to roast (on chopsticks no less!) I enjoyed them -- they were too sweet for him, though!

Then we tried making a Japanese snack -- baked Japanese sweet potato. Unfortunately, we all forgot about it in the fire!

If it was a clear day, Mt. Fuji could be seen behind me (at least that's what I was told!)

The back of the "dream" house

Mt. Fuji!!!!!
(Can you see it? It's there!!)

The next morning we went to an active volcano in the area

(notice our height difference again!)

We had to ride a cable car to get there!

Because of the lack of visibility, I kept on thinking that Godzilla might attack!

The whole area smelled of sulphur...
...and in the 176 degree water, the area's "famous" food was cooked!

...Black Eggs!

My Spring Fling!

So I ran away to Nagoya all by myself one day to see the sakura. In my opinion there are few things more beautiful in this world then Japanese cherry blossoms! I hope that heaven will be filled with them -- their beauty, their scent, swirling around is something that everyone should experience at least once! Unfortunately, my pictures don't do them justice.

*******************************************************

Also on my adventure, I met this "blast from the past"...

...ate sakura ice cream...

...discovered the joys of being in a big city...

...happened upon a "pony cleaners"...

...found a gorgeous tree...

...and somebody to take my picture in front of it!

Graduation!

So, this year, compared to last, I made sure that I had my camera ready for graduation. It was definitely a bittersweet experience to see my kids go...

The day before graduation, the younger students snuck into the the seniors' classrooms and decorated the blackboards.

The second-year girls waited for the seniors at the entrance of the school to present them with flowers -- pink and white for the boys and red and pink for the girls.

Class 3-3 girls. So cute, but so very giggly!! I loved this class!

Some of my favorite boys (for those of you who have heard additional stories, the guy in red glasses is my best singer. The one you can barely see gave a moving speech about his favorite place in Japan being his friend's house. The second from the left, front row, was one of the identical twins -- it took me over a year to realize there were two of them! Beside him is the one who wrote me a love letter, and the one on the far right was the one who gave me the bunny.

In Japan, it is perfectly acceptable for boys to hang off of each other!

At the beginning of the ceremony, each teacher escorted his/her students into the gym. This is one of my favorite teachers! She teaches social studies, can speak English, and is amazingly sweet. Unfortunately, she was forced to transfer to a new school next year.

In the ceremony there was lots and lots of bowing!

The final included all the students singing a special "goodbye" song. In the middle of it, they burst into messages of thanks to their teachers.

Many tears were shed...

At the end, the teachers walked their students falling a special pattern so that all parents could see their graduates well. (Oh, and this social studies teacher is awesome too. He loves to collect random things from around the world and at the beginning of last year he dressed in a burka to show the kids).