Hello everyone!

Greeting from the land of the red sun! (That�s the colour the kids paint it in class�.). I hope that everyone is well and getting outside to enjoy the wonderful Canadian autumn! The weather here is cool in comparison to August, but still quite warm! Last week I wore pants and long sleeved shirts to work�only to look at the thermometer and discover that it was (only..) 25 degrees! I never thought I�d get used to the heat soo fast. I can�t imagine what the winter will be like if I�m cold and it�s only 20 degrees!

Things are going well at work! I am finally getting into some sort of a routine, though this week is quiet because most of the students have tests all day long. I visited some of my elementary schools last week and taught them about Halloween! We had a blast! I even managed to get the kids to dress up their principle as a mummy using toilet paper! It was great and I think they really enjoyed themselves. Good thing the principle is laid back! J

Two weekends ago I headed off to Beppu with 3 other ALTs (assistant language teachers � that�s my title) as well as Mari and Yuka. We left on Saturday morning from Yawatahama ferry port. It took a little over 2 hrs to get there. We headed up to the top deck for the ferry ride to watch the view as we left port. Unfortunately, the weather was not the best and it was quite muggy. About half way to Beppu some children came to speak with us. This is quite unusual as they are often to shy to approach us, no these kids! They were travelling as a group to a theme park just outside of Beppu. It turns out that they were all from nearby towns and they knew the ALTs there too � who we inevitably know! It was great to chat with them, they were so animated! A few minutes later, one of the children appeared with 4 bentos for us! FYI, a bento is a Japanese style boxed lunch. We could do little to refuse this generous gift and it became apparent that they had given us their own lunches!!! I have never met so many kind people in my entire life! We thanked them profusely and enjoyed our lunch! (see picture)

Once we arrived we jumped in 2 cabs on our way to a famous onsen. An onsen is a hot spring and is an integral part of Japanese relaxation and leisure. We went to the Hyodan Onsen � it was wonderful. Sorry, no pictures as cameras are not allowed�.

There is a relatively strict protocol that one must follow at an onsen. Upon arrival you first place your outdoor shoes in a shoe locker. You then pay your entrance fee and get your yukata � aka a summer Kimono made of cotton. Almost all onsens are divided it to men�s and woman�s � this onsen was no exception�thank goodness! After going to the changing room and putting on the yukata you enter the onsen. However, you are not allowed into the baths until you have washed profusely at one of the showers that is usually around the edge.

The Hyodan onsen was famous for its heated sandbaths and wonderful natural appearance. The sandbaths were unisex (as one wears the Yukata while being buried) so we could all do this together. It was quite hot and none of us lasted much more than 5 minutes (see pictures). We then headed of to our respective baths and arranged to meet up in an hour � the longest any of us have ever lasted in a hot spring�. ;) The woman�s onsen was beautiful. There were about 6 different baths, each slightly warmer or cooler. One of them even had a warning about boiling water � no joking! There was also an outdoor bath that was surrounded by rocks and plants, we all left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!

We then headed off to the Blue Hells, which get their name from the colour the water is��or rather, the colour the basin is painted�. The hells are natural outdoor hot springs full of bubbling water. They have a high sulphur content and there is not too much to see so these were short visits. After the Blue Hell we then headed off to the Red Hell. Much of the same, nice scenery and a good place for pictures (see pictures).

We next headed off to check in at the hotel � which was quite comfortable and homey. After a huge dinner of yakitori (different skewered bite-sized food) and a few rounds of Karaoke, we called it a night.

The next day we headed to Yufuin, a nearby town famous for it�s scenery and local crafts. After a very VERY bumpy and speedy bus ride, we arrived though the weather was not agreeing with us. With the help of some English tourist maps we headed off to the main shopping area and whiled away a few hours browsing. We headed home later that afternoon to catch the 4.30 ferry. The ferry ride home was no nearly as calm at the one the previous day�..we were at the tail end of a typhoon! Just as we were heading off we saw a submarine surface � very cool! I assume it was an American vessel doing patrols or something of the sort.

This past weekend was yet another LONG weekend � gotta love it! After my recent weekends away, I opted for a relaxing (and cheap) weekend at home. On
Saturday Amanda, Phil and I headed to the Farm Team Baseball Championships. Wow, do they ever love their baseball here! It was great fun and very very loud! Caution, do not go to a Japanese baseball game if you have a headache, or the slighted inkling of one�. We sat in the outfield amongst the loud cheering fans of the Osaka Tigers. The other team was called the Lions - unfortunately, we never found out where they were from� There were people at the front of the crowd acting as cheerleaders � starting songs and chants! It was great fun, though I fear we were chanting some Japanese swear words at the top of our lungs�unknowingly of course! We apparently were doing something right as the Tigers creamed the Lions 19 toI 3!!!
On Monday I headed to Uchiko with Toshie for a day of shopping and sightseeing. Uchiko is quite a famous town which still has a buildings which date to before the War. We went to the famous Kabuki theatre and did a short tour. For a small fee you could walk around anywhere in the theatre � even go through the trap doors in the stage! Uchiko is also famous for it�s hand made candles. Unfortunately, buy the time we got there, they had sold out! Very popular! The candles are not made from bees wax but rather derived from some sort of nut that is boiled down�it�s Japanese name escapes me� We also visited on of the most famous umbrella makers in Japan, and the only one on Shikoku Island. He makes many umbrellas (hand made of course) for the Kabuki theatres in Tokyo and Kyoto, very beautiful and very very time and labour intensive!

If a three day weekend wasn�t enough � why not make it four! That�s what Mikame did, and you guessed it - - another festival! This festival was a Shino celebration for the year�s harvest and health � the Autumn Festival. I was informed that the Summer Festival (i.e. pig rodeo) was in comparison, a people�s festival with no ceremonial significance. From what I gather, this festival is most similar to Thanksgiving in Canada � conveniently on the same weekend! There were a number of ceremonies that took place during the day�though I don�t know what each one symbolized. When I learn, I�ll be sure to inform you all. These included 5 people dressed as deer, dancing to the beat of taiko (drums). After further investigation I learnt that deer are seen as symbols and messengers of peace. Also, in ancient times people used to heat the bones of dead deer. It was said that the manner in which they cracked was a form of fortune telling for the years to come. There were also 2 very large man made bulls which were carried by about 15 people each. At the end of the day, they �attacked� each other, trying to get the moon symbol on the head of the other. From what I gather, one was meant to symbolize a father, and the other a son. There were also 2 large floats, each with 2 little boys in them banging away on taiko. These too charged each other � explanation unknown. In addition, throughout the day, everyone travels from home to home and party to party. It was a lot of fun and a good chance to meet more people in the community.

After this extended weekend, I headed off to elementary school on Wednesday�only to find out that there was yet ANOTHER Autumn Festival. The school I was visiting is about 30 min outside of Mikame and decided to have their Autumn Festival the day after the Mikame one. Soon after arrival I was marching in a parade (see pictures) up and down the streets of Shimodomari! Wow, what fun! I even got to participate in one of those �charges�! So if this wasn�t enough excitement, we then proceeded to watch some traditional Japanese (Shinto) dance. It was wonderful � what a perfect day. The dancers were offering gifts to the Gods and there was also a re-enactment of some kind�though I didn�t understand its significance. The weather was beautiful, we were right next to the
water and a salty breeze was blowing, indescribable! The sound of the drums beating and the dancers moving in beautiful Kimono as the sun shone down � wow! One of my favourite memories so far!

I had recently been craving some Indian food and sets out in search of Indian curry powder. I did not come up short handed, though I was trying not to laugh while making my purchase. Why would this have been such a funny event you ask??? Many times since my arrival I have seen many misinterpretations of the English language throughout Japan�funny sayings on shirts that have double meaning to a native English speaker, improper spelling etc. But nothing tops the label on my curry powder >>>>>> �Indian Curry Powder� � with a picture of a Native Indian, complete with formal headdress directly below! I was speechless! This is why the Japanese government has imported so many of us � to fix such ridiculous (and embarrassing) English misunderstandings. I�m sure it was an honest mistake but you would think that if you are making an English label, you would have it checked for inaccuracies, especially if it is in a language other than your native tongue�. J I have included a picture for your enjoyment (or astonishment as the case may be)!

This weekend coming I am in yet another volleyball tournament � from what I reckon, this is my 6th or 7th since I have arrived! Fun times! Gambate (good luck)!!

Better end this here before it gets any longer. I�ll be impressed with anyone who actually reads this entire thing! I hope that you are all well. Please send me an email to let me know how you are!

All my love,
Emma

PS Woo Hoo � just got the OK for my Christmas vacation. I should be home sometime between the 19th of December and the 10th of January. Look forward to seeing you! J






















emma found her way @ 10:29 p.m.