IrishOboe

Saturday morning I did my best to do productive work even though I was still sad and unmotivated from having said goodbye to Shirane. Before Hippo I bought a bus ticket to Narita, so armed with that and my plane ticket (which came in the mail) I can now be quite sure of getting home. At Hippo there were 39 visitors from Pensylvania and New York who were doing homestays with Hippo members as part of their People to People trip. (More)

Time is flying by and I only have two more weeks in Japan. I’m finding it so hard to believe I’m not living like it’s true. I haven’t written about my trip to Kyoto with APAB but I don’t have time for both, so it will have to wait. It was a lovely time, though!

This was the last week of school and though I only had three classes planned I was kept quite busy. I did manage to clean up my desk area to a state that satisfied me, though there is still more junk that is necessary. At least it’s somewhat organized and the desk space is clear. I cleaned out drawers of coins fused together by melted rubber bands and other such disgusting items I never got around to doing while I was here. If only I’d cleaned my desk and apartment before I stayed a year it would have been much more pleasant!

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On the long weekend (Sat.-Mon.) I went with two families from Hippo to a condo in Nagano. Biki and Piccolo (Hippo nicknames) and their three children (Achi-kun (7?), K-chan (5?), and Tomo-chan (2?); and Ikumi (Hippo nickname is Stitch – yes, from the movie, she’s in 6^th grade and is the girl who really likes me for whatever reason), her brother (Ritsu?) and Mom (Japanese names are still hard for me to catch). That makes nine people and we went in one minivan. I was shocked, but I guess in Japan, it’s okay to load five kids and a baby in a car without seatbelts and travel at top speed. I wore mine, but I felt bad for the kids!

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Today I smiled a lot and said "matta ne" to the students and teachers at Shirane high school. Many people waved goodbye when I bicycled home. I smiled and waved and said "I love you!"

Then I came home and cried!

I will miss everyone so much!!!!

Hello! Thanks for looking at my homepage! Four students have E-mailed me! I'm so happy! You can write, too! I will miss Shirane very much!

Love,
Janet

Miwako invited me to go to a kabuki concert a long time ago and I’d never seen it so I accepted even though the ticket was like Broadway prices (or so it seemed, anyway). Tonight we went in our own local hall in Kofu to see the great stars of Kabuki who normally only perform in Tokyo. The seats were worth the price. We were way off to the side, but were in front of an isle nearly the front so we had a perfect view. I could see facial expressions and watch the musicians closely enough to learn a thing or two about the instruments, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

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Gomen ne! Sorry I haven’t written in ages! Life has been a bit stressful here in Japan as I’m trying to get ready to leave Japan, go home, plan Switzerland, etc. School has a been a little stressful as well for various reasons. I can’t believe my time here is nearly to an end! We’ve finished up oral exams with the fist years, and the final projects with the third years are finished, too. I’m happy with how both went, and am especially happy with a few third year students who did not do very well on their mid-term project, but learned from their mistakes and my suggestions and really came up with some good products. We had our farewell party Friday (July 14^th), which Naito sensei did a lot for, so that made me feel loved. The students didn’t want to talk too much about school or projects or what they wanted to do when Julie comes. They say they want to talk, but then why do I have a heck of a time getting them to talk? Maybe Julie can find the solution.

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June 25^th and 26^th I was in Tokyo for two fun reasons. The first event was a Renaissance dance class, and the second (but most important) was to see APA and family! I can’t remember what part of the family doesn’t like their information broadcast on the web, so I won’t mention full names.

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It’s easy to write! I would LOVE to get a note from you.

1. Click on the “Comments” link below.

2. Under “Your Name:” write your name in the box.

3. Under “Anti-spam:” write the four numbers that you see.

4. Under “Text:” write me a note!

5. Click on the “Send” button at the bottom.

Mistakes are good! Perfect English is not important. Please write anything!

Thank you! Your note will make me very happy.

よろしくおねがいします。

Love,
Janet

 

Dear friends,

Hello! How are you? Soon I must go back to America. I love Japan and will miss it very much. In Japan I have had many great adventures and have met many wonderful people! I hope I can come back to Japan again soon! Please click on the “Comments” link below to write me a note.

Love,

Janet

This is a test post for administrative purposes. Janet, go ahead and delete it and replace it with one of your own. I had to make the category and a post in order to test the link.

Love,
Your Webmaster