Today after lunch one of the two first grade classes got to go home early. They have tomorrow and Wednesday off as well.
The reason - influenza.
Six kids in that class alone were out with the flu, and a few others were showing some pretty heavy symptoms. Turns out there's kind of an unwritten rule (maybe it is written somewhere) that when about 1/3 of a class is absent or showing signs of illness that class gets effectively quarantined for a few days in order to prevent it from spreading to other classes. For the kids who are sick it's nice they can recover and not worry about having to catch up on a bunch of missed lessons. For the kids who aren't sick, well, they're just rolling in a few free days off school. The kids who it sucks most for is the other class of first graders. For them, the next few days is business as usual. Nothing they can do, but hang their heads in disappointment as they walk past the neighbouring classroom thinking "If only it could have been us."
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hot Water Troubles
I was lying in my bed Saturday evening playing some video games. I had the kerosene heater beside me going strong and a kettle on top of it with hot water ready to go for cocoa and tea. Generally, I get up to pour a new glass, but Saturday it was especially cold and I didn't feel like getting out from under the covers. I placed the cup in my lap and proceeded to pour the hot water in gingerly, so as not to spill any. Then out of nowhere my left hand slipped and my thumb went flying into the glass. Since this was freshly boiled water I ended up giving my left thumb a pretty good second degree burn. As a result of the shock I ended up flipping my mug, spilling tea all over my blanket which ended up scalding my left leg as well. Since the tea leaves were loose in a strainer over the mug they scattered across my bed and floor as well. Luckily, there was no staining on my blanket and clean-up was relatively easy even if my finger was killing me for the rest of the day.
Today when I woke up I was freezing. It must have easily been the coldest night this winter and my core temperature was way down. I headed to the shower as per my usual routine only to find when I turned on the hot water nothing came out. The cold water worked fine, but not a single drop from the hot side. I checked both my sinks to confirm but it was much the same. With no real options and a cold shower out of the question I scrubbed down a few key areas and took a small French bath. The water is working fine now though so it makes sense to assume the pipe froze up overnight and thawed out during the day. It seems like this is a fairly common occurance over here as no one was surprised by my lack of hot water when I told them. Most Japanese bathe at night so not having hot water in the morning may only be a minor inconvenience, if they even notice, but for a morning bather like myself it's a crippling blow, especially when you need to get your core temp up quick. I only had 2 classes today though, so after they were over I spent the rest of the day in the properly heated staff room.
Today when I woke up I was freezing. It must have easily been the coldest night this winter and my core temperature was way down. I headed to the shower as per my usual routine only to find when I turned on the hot water nothing came out. The cold water worked fine, but not a single drop from the hot side. I checked both my sinks to confirm but it was much the same. With no real options and a cold shower out of the question I scrubbed down a few key areas and took a small French bath. The water is working fine now though so it makes sense to assume the pipe froze up overnight and thawed out during the day. It seems like this is a fairly common occurance over here as no one was surprised by my lack of hot water when I told them. Most Japanese bathe at night so not having hot water in the morning may only be a minor inconvenience, if they even notice, but for a morning bather like myself it's a crippling blow, especially when you need to get your core temp up quick. I only had 2 classes today though, so after they were over I spent the rest of the day in the properly heated staff room.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
冬がいよいよやってきた
Today in my mind was the first true day of winter we've had so far this season here. Sure we've had some snow before but it was always too warm and never stuck around for more than a day. Today however, we've been having steady snowfall all day. At first it looked as if it would be like the snowfalls before as it was melting on contact, but then around 11 the winds picked up, the temperature dropped, and it started to stick and pile up. It's still falling at a good pace now with no signs of letting up. Tomorrow's forecast is looking very similar as well so it looks like the snow will be here to stay for a little while at least which is great. I was really getting sick of all the cold rain.
Another interesting thing to mention is the very perceptible change in temperature that occurs in the short 3 km or so between my house and my school. I'd say on average, it's generally always about 2 degrees Celsius warmer at my house than at school. The reason of course, being that the school is that much closer to the mountains and the cool mountain air funnels down there but dissipates by the time it reaches my area (if it even does). Japanese weather can be very random from place to place even within a relatively short distance. Back in Toronto there's nothing really like that. Whatever the weather is like in Toronto it's gonna be pretty much the same in Mississauga, Scarborough, Newmarket, or Ajax. On the other hand, in Taga for example, they generally get much more snow than here and it's maybe 15 km north where I am. Not what I would call "far" by any means. In any case, keep this snow coming, I'm loving it, even if my house is freezing.
Another interesting thing to mention is the very perceptible change in temperature that occurs in the short 3 km or so between my house and my school. I'd say on average, it's generally always about 2 degrees Celsius warmer at my house than at school. The reason of course, being that the school is that much closer to the mountains and the cool mountain air funnels down there but dissipates by the time it reaches my area (if it even does). Japanese weather can be very random from place to place even within a relatively short distance. Back in Toronto there's nothing really like that. Whatever the weather is like in Toronto it's gonna be pretty much the same in Mississauga, Scarborough, Newmarket, or Ajax. On the other hand, in Taga for example, they generally get much more snow than here and it's maybe 15 km north where I am. Not what I would call "far" by any means. In any case, keep this snow coming, I'm loving it, even if my house is freezing.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
ギリギリセーフ
Recently, for one reason or another I haven't been getting enough sleep and I'm well aware of it. In an attempt to get back on track I went to bed fairly early last night. I ended up waking up naturally this morning 15 minutes before my alarm went off. I turned the heater on and went back to sleep waiting for my alarm. Well my alarm went off. Five times to be precise, and I kept shutting it off. The snooze will only repeat 5 times max so after that if you don't get up you're SOL.
I woke up again naturally at 7:28 and looked at the time. I normally leave my house at 7:35 to get to the bus stop to go to work. Realizing I only had 7 minutes. I threw on some clothes, and brushed my teeth. No time for a shower I but the deodorant on thick and used an extra spray of cologne. There was still some left over wax in my hair so I didn't have to worry about bed head. No time to eat a proper breakfast, I threw a couple of oranges in my pocket and was off. I arrived at work same time as always and smiled to myself knowing that I had woken up only 25 minutes earlier and no one was the wiser.
Sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you're just good. Today I was a bit of both.
I woke up again naturally at 7:28 and looked at the time. I normally leave my house at 7:35 to get to the bus stop to go to work. Realizing I only had 7 minutes. I threw on some clothes, and brushed my teeth. No time for a shower I but the deodorant on thick and used an extra spray of cologne. There was still some left over wax in my hair so I didn't have to worry about bed head. No time to eat a proper breakfast, I threw a couple of oranges in my pocket and was off. I arrived at work same time as always and smiled to myself knowing that I had woken up only 25 minutes earlier and no one was the wiser.
Sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you're just good. Today I was a bit of both.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Bike Troubles
I was heading to Kyoto over the past weekend for a party with a couple old Kyoto University friends and a bunch of their friends as well. I planned my trip out, figuring out exactly which trains to take to get there on time and it was all perfect, until I stepped outside that is.
To my surprise, I found my bike tire completely flat. I tried pumping it up, but could easily hear the air escaping. I ran back inside checking the bus schedule. Next bus at 3:15, what time is it now, 3:16. Damn. Even if the bus is a couple minutes late, which it generally is, I couldn't make it even running full out. The next bus wouldn't be around for another hour or so either. So, with my options exhausted I did the only thing I could. Walk 6 km to the train station. Sure I'd be late for my train, and ultimately late for my meeting, and perhaps I could have ran or taken a taxi, but I checked the train schedules on my phone and found out I could take another train that would only have me arriving 10 minutes after I was supposed to meet. I didn't want to be all sweaty, and spending 3000 yen on a taxi so I wouldn't be 10 minutes late wasn't an attractive option either, so I just hoofed it. I figured the return trip would be good exercise after and all you can eat/drink party as well.
Turns out I ended up staying out all night. I took the bus home in the morning and slept till 2 in the afternoon which messed up my sleeping schedule for a couple days, but that's a different story. This one is about the bike.
A couple of days ago I took my bike to the repair shop and got my tire patched. It was riding fine when I rode to the station the yesterday again going to Kyoto, this time to see Masahiro who is back from Hong Kong for a while, as well as Aki and Asumi. I come back last night just after midnight and find my bike tire once again flat. Dead tired, and fed up I started to walk home when the tire fell of the rim completely. I put the bike back in the lot at the train station, left the key in it and found a taxi.
I knew the thing was on its last legs. Recently the chain had been falling off a fair bit (once or twice a week) and it's considerably rusted. I figured I could hold on to it until the chain rusted through and snapped, but the tire was just the final straw. Two times in one week. Unacceptable. So I'm gonna have to break down and get a new bike now. Not that it's a real hefty expense or anything. Considering the old bike was here when I got here, I've got my share of free rides out of it anyway. Better to have a new bike I can depend on so I don't end up having to take any surprise expensive taxi rides back home in the middle of the night.
To my surprise, I found my bike tire completely flat. I tried pumping it up, but could easily hear the air escaping. I ran back inside checking the bus schedule. Next bus at 3:15, what time is it now, 3:16. Damn. Even if the bus is a couple minutes late, which it generally is, I couldn't make it even running full out. The next bus wouldn't be around for another hour or so either. So, with my options exhausted I did the only thing I could. Walk 6 km to the train station. Sure I'd be late for my train, and ultimately late for my meeting, and perhaps I could have ran or taken a taxi, but I checked the train schedules on my phone and found out I could take another train that would only have me arriving 10 minutes after I was supposed to meet. I didn't want to be all sweaty, and spending 3000 yen on a taxi so I wouldn't be 10 minutes late wasn't an attractive option either, so I just hoofed it. I figured the return trip would be good exercise after and all you can eat/drink party as well.
Turns out I ended up staying out all night. I took the bus home in the morning and slept till 2 in the afternoon which messed up my sleeping schedule for a couple days, but that's a different story. This one is about the bike.
A couple of days ago I took my bike to the repair shop and got my tire patched. It was riding fine when I rode to the station the yesterday again going to Kyoto, this time to see Masahiro who is back from Hong Kong for a while, as well as Aki and Asumi. I come back last night just after midnight and find my bike tire once again flat. Dead tired, and fed up I started to walk home when the tire fell of the rim completely. I put the bike back in the lot at the train station, left the key in it and found a taxi.
I knew the thing was on its last legs. Recently the chain had been falling off a fair bit (once or twice a week) and it's considerably rusted. I figured I could hold on to it until the chain rusted through and snapped, but the tire was just the final straw. Two times in one week. Unacceptable. So I'm gonna have to break down and get a new bike now. Not that it's a real hefty expense or anything. Considering the old bike was here when I got here, I've got my share of free rides out of it anyway. Better to have a new bike I can depend on so I don't end up having to take any surprise expensive taxi rides back home in the middle of the night.
Friday, January 4, 2008
謹賀新年
Today was my first day back at work since the New Year holidays. New Year's in Japan is like Christmas in Canada. People get together with their families, sharing stories and having big meals. Instead of church there is the first visit to a Shinto shrine for the New Year.
I spent my New Year's in Hikone at Keiko's house. Her brother and his family were there as well so I got to meet her niece and nephew while I was there. New Year's Eve, Keiko and I were in Taga, a nearby town with a large shrine for our New Year's shrine visit. I managed to see a few of my students as well and when I went to say hi, it always took them about 10 seconds to realize who I was. I think perhaps it was difficult for them to believe that I exist outside of the school environment, but then again it was most likely because I haven't shaved in a while.
Actually, I arrived in Taga quite early so I spent a fair bit of time just walking around the town at night. Taga is small town Japan at it's finest. Tons of old houses, narrow winding roads, a stream running through the town and a huge shrine to boot. Create an image in your head of what you think the stereotypical Japanese small town looks like right now. That's Taga.
A big thing in Japan for the New Year is the first time you do certain things and there are certain words for these special things. The top three are probably the first sunrise, first dream, and first shrine visit. I wasn't up to see the sunrise, and I can't remember my dream, but I did manage to get the shrine visit. Another big first happened on that day as well. We got our first snowfall of the year. It had snowed before, but only on the mountains, and never stayed long. This time it was snowing everywhere and actually sticking. It's all melted now where I live though, but we did have a good 5 cm or so.
New Year's day the family headed to Nagashima in Mie prefecture. In Nagashima there is an amusement park, hotel, onsen, and outlet shopping mall. The purpose of our visit that day was for the outlet mall. From far away it looked like a normal Canadian mall which is pretty rare in Japan, but when I got close I could see, that while it still looked like a Western mall, it was set up more like a mall you would see in California or Florida. It was all open air, with covered sidewalks. The colours were brighter pastel colours I associate with warm climates in the States, a lot of bright white. Even the pavement was reminiscent of something you'd see in the States. The stores, were by and large famous American brand name outlet stores with some European top brands and a few Japanese stores thrown in for good measure. Keiko was the only one who bought anything, although I did sample the Cold Stone Creamery they had there. It was pretty good, but too expensive to warrant another go. Not that there are any stores around here I could actually go to...
After Nagashima we headed to a place called Nabana, also in Mie which has the most famous light display in Japan. It costs 2000 yen to get in, which I thought was a bit steep, but once I saw the amount of lights in this place I realized the power bill to run this place for an hour must be equivalent to at least a full year of my power usage. It's gorgeous no doubt, but I can't even begin to think about the number of man-hours used to make it or the price of upkeep. They also give you a 1000 yen coupon you can use to buy anything inside, which is decent. Most of the lights they use look like the normal Christmas light variety and I couldn't help but thinking, what if one bulb blew and then everything just went dark. It would suck for whoever had to find that blown bulb, but since it wouldn't be me, I'd be laughing.
Happy New Year everyone! Hope you have a great one.
Taga
The Outlet Mall and Nabana
I spent my New Year's in Hikone at Keiko's house. Her brother and his family were there as well so I got to meet her niece and nephew while I was there. New Year's Eve, Keiko and I were in Taga, a nearby town with a large shrine for our New Year's shrine visit. I managed to see a few of my students as well and when I went to say hi, it always took them about 10 seconds to realize who I was. I think perhaps it was difficult for them to believe that I exist outside of the school environment, but then again it was most likely because I haven't shaved in a while.
Actually, I arrived in Taga quite early so I spent a fair bit of time just walking around the town at night. Taga is small town Japan at it's finest. Tons of old houses, narrow winding roads, a stream running through the town and a huge shrine to boot. Create an image in your head of what you think the stereotypical Japanese small town looks like right now. That's Taga.
A big thing in Japan for the New Year is the first time you do certain things and there are certain words for these special things. The top three are probably the first sunrise, first dream, and first shrine visit. I wasn't up to see the sunrise, and I can't remember my dream, but I did manage to get the shrine visit. Another big first happened on that day as well. We got our first snowfall of the year. It had snowed before, but only on the mountains, and never stayed long. This time it was snowing everywhere and actually sticking. It's all melted now where I live though, but we did have a good 5 cm or so.
New Year's day the family headed to Nagashima in Mie prefecture. In Nagashima there is an amusement park, hotel, onsen, and outlet shopping mall. The purpose of our visit that day was for the outlet mall. From far away it looked like a normal Canadian mall which is pretty rare in Japan, but when I got close I could see, that while it still looked like a Western mall, it was set up more like a mall you would see in California or Florida. It was all open air, with covered sidewalks. The colours were brighter pastel colours I associate with warm climates in the States, a lot of bright white. Even the pavement was reminiscent of something you'd see in the States. The stores, were by and large famous American brand name outlet stores with some European top brands and a few Japanese stores thrown in for good measure. Keiko was the only one who bought anything, although I did sample the Cold Stone Creamery they had there. It was pretty good, but too expensive to warrant another go. Not that there are any stores around here I could actually go to...
After Nagashima we headed to a place called Nabana, also in Mie which has the most famous light display in Japan. It costs 2000 yen to get in, which I thought was a bit steep, but once I saw the amount of lights in this place I realized the power bill to run this place for an hour must be equivalent to at least a full year of my power usage. It's gorgeous no doubt, but I can't even begin to think about the number of man-hours used to make it or the price of upkeep. They also give you a 1000 yen coupon you can use to buy anything inside, which is decent. Most of the lights they use look like the normal Christmas light variety and I couldn't help but thinking, what if one bulb blew and then everything just went dark. It would suck for whoever had to find that blown bulb, but since it wouldn't be me, I'd be laughing.
Happy New Year everyone! Hope you have a great one.
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