Koseda

This is the elementary school I taught at today. The classrooms are around 50 degrees and the kids are wearing shorts and windows and doors are open over the place. Lots of people tell me its sooo cold but I think some people say it just to make me feel better cause they can tell I really am.
I was playing soccer with the kids, slipped and covered one of my pant legs in mud. The kids didn't really notice though, I think they do it all the time.

Recently I started I've started writing 5 new words I hear everyday. Today's words are:
1. usugi - a word that means one is wearing very few layers of clothing. atsugi is the opposite
2. kudaranai- trifling, unimportant, frivolous
3. namerakani- smoothly, easily. used with sound or music
4. habuku- to omit, the cut out
5. dachou- ostrich

Cold and Rainy days

A few days ago Brittany and I figured that we had exactly 6 more months until the end of the school year. We declared that we were exactly half way through our one year contract. Brittany isn't re contracting so if I stay I'll get a new island buddy. I haven't signed anything yet but I'm planning on staying a second year. I'll write when its decided.
I've been meaning to take some more photos for awhile now but its been raining everyday not to mention freezing. When I'm not working I'm bundled up inside. I've been working on my Wacom again, drawing directly into the computer.

Some practice sketches on Photoshop. I do this kind of thing all day at school too but its hard to learn anatomy without models. I'm thinking about trying to start a drawing group in my town. I think quite a few students might be interested.

end of January

This is the port town, Miyanoura, the main town on Yakushima.

I went to the small island Kuchierabu, population 150, to teach last Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, due to stormy seas, the ferry couldn't get to the island and I was stuck there until Friday night. It wasn't so bad except that I was cold almost the whole time, not having brought a decent jacket. Next time I'm bringing lots of clothes, and lots of books, just in case.
I did get to help teach a few of the Art classes which is particularly fun for me.

Fukuoka

I just got back from a week trip to the northern cities of Fukuoka and Nagasaki. It was so great to be in a big city again, hundreds of restaurants, fast food, book stores, electronics stores and other things I miss. I also got to see a friend I hadn't seen in a long time.

The first couple days were relatively warm but then the temperature took a dive and the day I left there was a light snow storm.

I met up with my friend You-chan and we after wandering around Fukuoka for a bit we went to this cute old style town that's famous for its retro style and western buildings. It's also famous for bananas for some reason, we even met up with Banana man.
Retro vs. boring tower


Later that day we went to Kokura and saw their Xmas light displays and feudal castle. The castle was closed so we couldn't go inside but it was still impressive. Kokura was the original target for the Nagasaki atomic bomb but the skies were cloudy so the plane moved to city number two on the list.


The next day we went to Nagasaki to visit the peace memorial park and museum. Unfortunately the museum was closed due to it being the end of the year, but at the park we could see ground zero where the bomb was dropped and pictures of the absolute burned desolation that was the result. Nagasaki is now a beautiful city, but there are so many statues and reminders of the devastation that I think it would be a little depressing to live there.



Nagasaki has a beautiful river running through it marked by all the old style stone bridges. This one is called Megane bashi because in the reflection it looks like a pair of eyeglasses.



Back in Fukuoka on the New Years Eve we went to a temple just to look around and a nice old man showed us the demon masks on the sides of the temple, one a male, one a female.

New Years eve was nothing special for us. We met up with some of You's friends for dinner and a few drinks but it was way to cold to go to a temple and hear them ring the gong at midnight as many people do. The next day You-chan flew back to Taipei and I'm back on the island waiting for the school year to start up again.