21st December. A morning spent out in the snow with the Sakura nursery kids. Dad, Craig and I made a mighty effort and built an impressive Igloo. Which was then transformed into a slide once the kids started climbing up it. Hard work, worth it though. I really hope at least some of it has survived. I doubt it somehow however. Children dont seem to have the vaguest concept of structural integrity, let one loose unsupervised with a shovel and nothing will stand. This was actually the last day Ill see some of those kids, since most of the kids who go to Sakura are farmer’s children Sakura closes until March as the parents are able to look after them in the Winter. Unless they go to any of the elementary schools I teach in anyway. They were practicing for graduation day, which was really cute and quite sad at the same time. No time to be sad however, next engagement was at the Abuta Elementary School for a rice cake making lesson.
This was the first time we have been here, marked by a sign in the entrance Welcome Tom & Creeg Ha. His name seems to cause no end of trouble, to the point when introducing himself he no longer waits for them to say it wrong, but spells it out immediately. Rice caking was fun enough, I actually quite like them, though they didnt seem to go down too well with mum. Or down at all in fact. Yes they do look like a large chewy ball of phlegm, but I think thats part of their charm. Back to the elementary school though, I think we will be teaching there more regularly this year. A new job for the Toya volunteers! History in the making! I gather we will only be teaching the same 6 kids however, which seems odd. We played a game of Zoofball with the kids afterwards in the ice-cold entrance hall. Greatest game ever in my opinion. Though it turned into Zoot rather than zoof The rest of the shouts just became various yelping sounds. But nonetheless it worked. Only two more engagements today! Huzzah!
Abuta Jidou Club. Where unbelievably we had three Santas, Mum, Dad, and Kenzo! Craig and I got to watch, play and laugh. More cake was eaten, and a game of Ringa Ringa Roses, which mum had first introduced at the Toya nursery. A good game, but all the kids cheat, and its a hard floor, so some serious buttock pain. And finally, the meeting with the mayor. Originally I was supposed to be translating this. Which, Ill be honest, wouldnt have gone well. The mayor isnt the clearest of speakers, and a slightly bigger hitch, I dont know Japanese yet (a lot better than I used to be however). It didnt matter in the end, a translator had been found, so I was off the hook. I tried anyway, but felt a bit useless, by the time I had figured out what had been said they have moved on. In some ways I had been looking forward to trying. Would have been a good test. Sure there will be more opportunities however. The mayor was very generous, pottering around looking for presents to give, which was cute. So Mum & Dad left two bottles of wine and a picture of a boat richer.
Mum & Dad were staying in the completely empty Phoenix Club so we went for dinner there. Which was really, really good. My compliments to the chef indeed. Being the only guests there the Hotel Owner/Manager/Waitor (he seemed to do everything, so cant really just call him a waitor) hovered over us the whole meal which was a little off putting, for mum at least, didnt really bother me. He was kind enough at the end to give us a lift home so cant complain really.
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