I will start with a list of things that children in Canada would never be able to do on a school trip! First, play with extremely sharp objects. For example, carving temperamental wood into long thin sticks, using knives while balancing the wood on one's knee (chopsticks)! Second, playing with fire. These students were allowed to start huge fires while a mere few feet away. This country is going to breed a crop of pyromaniacs!! Also, after making this fire, they were encouraged to cook raw meat - until medium rare(I must admit that the BBQ was the best meal I have had here yet! You all must try it if you come and visit!) Finally, continuing the fire theme the students were allowed to light fireworks and even hold them in their hands while lit! This was all during the same day!! This would NEVER happen in Canada! Haahaa Though I must mention that this all took place without incident and to the great enjoyment of all involved! Oh, and in addition the Japanese school system encourages gambling through the promotion of the ever increasingly popular game of BINGO!!! - This all being said sarcastically but truthfully!

The camping trip was a lot of fun but I must admit that the cultural barrier was officially hit at some time around 9 am this morning. My dictionary was getting a workout and I was starting to feel isolated due to a lack in ability to communicate. However, I am happy to report that this lasted a few short hours.
Tonight I will be playing my first 'soft' volleyball game! Apparently, to make the sport more accessible, a version has been created with 9 players (instead of 6) and a larger, softer ball. This seems fine but I have to admit that I think some of the 'excitement' will be lost in the slower pace. Time will only tell.
The 'party' that I attended on Monday night (with my male coworkers) was a lot of fun! Beer always helps people to speak more English/Japanese etc. Though I don't want to drink too much in front of my coworkers........ We ate lots of sashimi (raw fish - it was still wriggling at the table....;) We also has steak (very yummy) and tempura - yes I AM trying to make everyone hungry! However, tomorrow is my REAL welcome Enkai (party) with everyone and anyone from what I gather - everyone I ask is going - or maybe they think I*m inviting them! hahaaa ;)

I have also been invited to go camping with my work colleagues this weekend but I think I might pass and try to get in touch with some of the surrounding JETs. Otherwise I might go insane if I can't hold a conversation longer than 3 sentences with someone! All in the name of internationalization!

I am in the office right now, following the 'camping' trip. Mari-san (my supervisor and help me with anything office related friend - she's great!) was just on the phone and talking about me - it kills me that I am often the last to know what will be happening to me regarding my schedule before everyone else! Oh well, comes with the territory! I'll just have to use it as motivation for learning Japanese. Contrary to popular belief - I have been getting some work done! Busy writing for the news paper (monthly Emma*s Corner!) and my self intro, as well as some fancy flash cards!

As my dad would say - it*s a hard life!

However, I did have one *close call* over the weekend! Aside from anxiety over the width (or lack there of....) of the roads I was doing fine......until I turned the wrong way down a one way street - which, as luck would have it had a police station on it! No joking!!!! To make a long story short, I would have been ok if I had remembered to take my license with me......ahhh, story of my life! I had to call my Japanese friend (and interrupt her dinner) to come and explain to the police officer that I did have a license but that i had left it at home.....in the end things were fine. The police were even apologetic because I didn:t understand them...what a country! Anyways, I was let off with a warning and a lot of guilt!

Sorry about all of the email trouble - I will hopefully have it all sorted out in a few days. I can only send this to the addresses that I remember - Amanda, can you fwd this on to the rest of the geo crowd? Also to everyone else pls forward to anyone else :)

To end, August 7th is the Star festival in Mikame. Everyone has made these wonderful flags and attached them to bamboo to hand out of their window - when I find out what actually happens l*ll let you know .....stay tuned!

Much love and I'll be in touch soon.


emma found her way @ 12:52 p.m.