IrishOboe

I’ve hit the main points of the last few weeks in separate posts, but this is for the random details that don’t fit elsewhere. In general, the past few weeks have been marked by a sharp increase in Japanese language study at work, two or three hours of overtime almost daily, sharp blows to the ego in terms of not being able to remember my students names and what I did with who, and plenty of company.

Saturday (Jan. 11^th) after church Leslie stayed over and we had a lovely time as usual. We shared troubles and prayed for each other. I’ve never prayed with others so much, but I think it’s really important. I wish Leslie lived closer! The next night Kasia crashed at my place, though I didn’t see much of her because she got in late and left early. She was coming back from the Sapporo Snow Festival, which I really wanted to go to but I had the speech competition. That day I tried making sukiyaki for the first time and it was very good, though not quite like it’s supposed to be. On Tuesday Charles came over for more sukiyaki. I had to finish the left over veggies and he had a bad day and wanted company. I just realized now that it was Valentine’s Day! No, it wasn’t a romantic date. I was still in my running clothes from four mile spin I took because it was such a beautiful day! After dinner I made some reeds because I promised the brass band I’d play a concert with them. It turns out it’s a pops concert, but I think I’ll survive. I rehearse with them tomorrow, we’ll see how that goes!

Last night I went out with some JETs (Meagan, Mark, Courtnay,) and one of Meagan’s JTEs. Gohei (near my apartment) makes a really awesome gyoza pizza. What? Gyoza is pot stickers and they make one big flat one and put cheese on it. Yum, yum. Anyway, I think I’ve blown the dining budget for the month. Having single friends sure breaks the bank!

Oh, I should talk a little about Japanese Valentine’s Day. It’s only girls who give chocolate to guys, and they often make their own chocolate and sweets! They have White Day on March 14^th when guys give to girls. If a girl sends a message of love buy giving a guy chocolate on Valentine’s Day, she has to wait until White Day for his answer! How terrible! I did get chocolate from one student (mostly girls just give to their friends and not to boys), which was really sweet!

I think that’s it for the random stuff. I still have to write about the funeral and the ski trip, but I have to go make reeds. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but at least I’m getting some posts up! I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted. I simply don’t understand those who say they are bored.