Drinking coffee

Well, everyone happy Wednesday...

It's that time again that comes every week... For the ones having a good time, the week is just getting started... For others, it's almost finished...

I would be a part of the latter. I'm pretty tired...

Yesterday, I got home thinking it was Wednesday to wake up to Thursday ... I woke up to Wednesday... Doesn't that suck? Hahahha .

Anyways, yesterday I got home from work really tired... I pulled out my coffee press and made my self a really big cup of coffee... It keep me going for a few more hours till I fell asleep..

I was going to make myself another pot today but I ran out of water....

Ok that was a straight out lie... I was just to lazy... I got a good friend Mr.Donut to out on a pot for me...

The weather up here in Nagareyama has turned cold... I had to take out my big Canadian scarf I got from the nice ladies I did the Morioka - Victoria Mural with...

The student are looking cold too... Except for the few student that refuse to wear pants and are still wearing their summer shorts....

We were technically not supposed to turn on the heater for an another few days but.... Some teachers have been... Aaaa.. Testing them.... All day.... Just to be sure their are working...

Small problem is we only have heating oil leftover from last year.... We should be getting heating oil soon....but when the stuff we have runs out..... Well, I know that I'll be crying on the inside lol

Anyways...

Till next time,

Tom

Location:Nagareyama,Japan

Up to Morioka

Hello everyone!


Last weekend, I jumped on the E5 Shinkansen and headed back up to Iwate!!!  And I did a small tour around the town and head down the road I used to live and visited some people randomly....  

So Sexy Green...

Of course, If I'm riding up in style....  Hmmm Yummm  . I gotta get some grub.

My awesome Bento, crackers, and Premium Malt!

After I arrived, I spent the night at a hotel and picked up a car the next morning...


Just a little back story...   I lived up in Morioka for about 2 years back in 2005... I was on a international program between Camosun College and Morioka Universtiy formally( Morioka College) 

Heading up the road where I used to live

My old apartment...

I stopped off at Hachiman-gu temple walked around.... Took a few pictures... 




I walked around and I took a second to just to look around....

Up at Hachiman-Gu (A 5 min walk from my old apartment)

It was about 9:00 am and there were only a few people around....  I realized how peaceful Morioka really is.... And how fresh the air tasted.. And how much I missed it...

Look'n down toward 馬場町

Add caption

Leaving Hachimangu, I head off to Aiina..



Hey look !! One World Festa!!

I didn't plan this but I just happened to come on the right day....
I did that two years ago too.... Strange
One world festa is only a one day thing.. What are the chances?

Now theres a big gap here in pictures. I forgot to take any.... I popped my head in at the New Straight Talk around 12ish to see David, Mayumi and the guys and had lunch..  I was really happy to see the new place, It had a really modern look and the class rooms were much bigger.  I talk with David, Luke and ... George'o? the new guy... hahaha!  "Sorry man, I forgot your name!!"   

We talked about old issues and new ones... I also found out that Takizawa-Mura is going to become Takizawa-Shi!!!  Hot dam!  

I felt really nice to see the gang there... and just seeing them and the new place made me wanna move back up soo bad!!!

Hope to see you guys soon again!!!!

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Anyways, I jumped back in the car and went all the way up to Morioka College ... Said my hello's to Mr.Terui and a few others working on a Saturday.... I felt really strange being back.....  It all seems like yesterday.... Just I didn't know any of the cute students hahahah

Hanging with Satoko

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Dinner Time:


Around 6:00, I headed up to my dear friend, Ms.Yoshimi's house for dinner...   She had organized a small party.

We toasted our glasses and in enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by all the members of Step 21.  Everyone including my wonderful home-stay Mother and Father Mr. and Ms. Murayama were there!!!! 

I was so happy to see them all... I only called a week before but everyone made time to meet together....

The dinner was wonderful!!!  Thank you everyone!!!  Thank you soo much!!!

Sorrry.... I forgot to take pictures again.... I was too busy talking!!!!


I headed back to the hotel, had a quick shower and headed back out...




Anyways.. My long long long day ended with randomly showing up at "Faces" to see James.... hahaha

As always, he was working hard... This guy like runs 3 of his own schools, works at two universities and has his own dance club....  If there was anyone that needed a clone, he would be it...

But he was able to make a little time for me and talk about old times...

Thanks for the beer James!

Anyways.... I really enjoyed my time back in Morioka....  I hope I can see everyone again soon!!!


Tom

Today's School Lunch

Rice with sesame seeds, fried fish sausage, miso soup and stewed veggies with egg

Fall Update - Yes We Can!!

Hi there everyone!
Stephen is long gone and summer has passed...
 I have been sick the last little bit and I’ve been seeing the a few doctors here and there…
But all in all I’ve been trying to take things slow.   Well... at least after September...

Awwww!! It's so cute!!

I have three other people here in the office that have the
same birthday as me…. Normally I wouldn’t really do anything … but the three of
use decided to give each other presents ….

I got this little guy from the second year social studies
teacher….  It’s the perfect plant for me…
I only have to water it 2 times a month….. Basically, when I can’t remember the
last time I watered it….. I water it.. I’ve killed too many plants.

PRACTICING CHEERING ON STUDENTS.....  Running....
No one's running...

At school here, I was pretty busy up till the 31 of September…  Sports day … and for some reason… sports day practices…  I don’t mean like… Oh! Lets have fun and play
a few games…

These guys were serious… Practice enter the field, practice walking,   practice
talking, practice making speeches, practice cheering ?!!?!

I can’t believe that middle school students practice cheering….
Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of cheering….

Of course…. For those that don’t like thinking for themselves
.. it’s perfect… Just follow and listen enough  not to get shouted at by the teacher…. No need
to think about what to say…. No need to act on one’s own will….. No need for creation
or creativity..

There is something broken with this system of teaching…. And
 I really think it needs to stop…   But that’s a subject  for another time……..

Rant finished…    

In other news....

Good Friends!!!

A met up with some old old friends…. I haven’t seen them for
almost 9 years…… (Well, I saw Yu once a few weeks ago…) but I haven’t seen Yuji
and Yu forever!!!

I was really interesting to meet up with them and talk about
old times…. We talk and talk for hours….. I was really glad to meet up with them… Yu has recently returned from Canada and spending some well deserved
time with family…

And Yuji …. Yuji and I talked about future things.... Life... Money... Marriage etc …
  We both talk about how so many people around us have gotten hitched and were having kids....…..   At the
moment we are trying to fight a losing battle…..

Have you ever watched that anime…. Were a strange doll
arrives at this guys house… Although he never ordered anything…..  And it was some mysterious packages..

Well…. That was me a few days ago….   A strange package arrived at my house.... I
signed for it and opened it up and…..!!

Hatsume Miku Figure!!!

HATSUNE MIKU!!!

I check the label with the words….  Because you wanted a 彼女。。。　　　James
Park!!!

Hahaha My good friend James ordered the figure for me…. And had
it shipped to my house…!!!

It was a very nice surprise!! Hahaha

THANKS AGAIN JAMES!!!!

And last but not least…. My new book…. 

It’s a book on how to make old fashion style Japanese bentos….  「Za – Showa Bento」

Anyways…. I hope that everyone is keeping well… and I’m
sorry for the blog update delay… 

Tom