two months since the last post !!!

This is really just a random amalgam of pictures and tidbits because I felt I couldn't let my blog go past two months without an update.

The massive bugs have come out once again and all the children are shaking with delight. They are seen as pets here and sold in stores with all the accouterments, cages with toys and special food etc... I have seen on TV they even have insect sumo and people raise these bugs like they might prized thoroughbreds. The price of a proven sire can be up to two thousand dollars (for a BUG!). This is just a random one in the hallway of my apartment building . Much bigger than my big toe!

Evan has left the town with one lest gaijin and a lot less Australian spirit. We had a couple goodbye parties for him and they were sad affairs, though it doesn't really seem like he is gone. This is a plate of sashimi(raw meat) that was at one of the goodbye parties. One of our principals footed the bill for that one!


I had mentioned gaijin traps in an earlier blog entry but I will recap. They are deep gutters on the side on the road that call out longingly for foreigner to drive in. On a slightly different topic that will relate( I promise) I have never seen more public urinaters in my life and that is saying a lot coming from a small town. Cars will pull over anywhere and out will swagger a man be he construction worker or business man and nonchalantly do his business. This is somewhat strange in itself since there are reststops and convenience stores every 50 metres but I have become use to it. A while ago though I was driving on a small windy mountain road and I saw a bright pink car stopped off at the side. What did I see but a little old lady peeing in a gaijin trap. I had to drive between her and her car to get by and do you think she even batted an eye. She just continued with her business as I had to slow down so as to not hit her!

I was having dinner with a friend a few weeks ago and I spotted a fox through the window. I let my friend know and she jumped out and ran outside in glee to catch a glimpse. She thought it was such a novelty since she had only seen one in a zoo. Contrast that with monkeys frolicking in the school yard and my face against the window watching until the last one lumbers away, the rest of my teachers are working away, once in a while looking at me like I belong in a zoo.

The great summer sports competition was upon us again and my girls volleyball team had high hopes of winning first prize. The made a strong showing until the finals where the met a team with a girl who consistently jump served! I didn't even know a high school player who could jump serve back home. PS I hate the new scoring of volleyball.

Since summer has begun so has the sun paranoia. Japanese people are so crazy about avoiding the sun that if you go to the beach it will be you and the kids in swimsuits everyone else is covered to their ears. It is not uncommon to see women walking around with frilly parasols and long gloves to cover the arms and hands. They always say it is about skin cancer but truly it is because they yearn for white skin. Many skin products here contain bleaching agents and purport whitening effects. Personally I think really white Japanese people look really weird.