Yesterday on my run I had my first 'spontaneous hello.' I've been running every morning and saying 'ohayo gozaimasu,' which means good morning, to everyone I see. The other morning, however, a woman walking her dog said it to me first. Of course, I've seen my kids around town and some of them say hello, but this was my first real adult hello.
I've been getting into a more set schedule here. Usually I wake up around 5:30, have some tea and cereal (genmai flakes, which are my new favorite, basically rice flakes) and read the paper, then go out for a run around 6:30. I'm back by 7:30 and I quickly shower and have more cereal or some fruit before heading out for work. I work from 8 to 4, and usually teach 4-5 classes during the day. This is team-teaching, which means both me and the JTE (Japanese teacher of English) are in the room. Sometimes I plan the activity, sometimes they do, and we often work together. I have lunch with either the students or the teachers (depends on the school). School lunch is somewhat different in Japan than America. For one, everyone gets the same thing, usually consisting of rice, miso soup, a protein source, and a vegetable source. And a milk box. Also, everyone sits together, and when the students eat they are told when to start eating and when to stop. There's usually pop or classical music playing while they eat. It takes some getting used to, but it's not bad.
I leave work at 4 and usually have a snack and read or watch the daily show online to recuperate, then go run errands or meet friends for dinner. I've been trying to go to bed early, 10 or so, because I wake up so early.
So all in all, life is good. I have to admit that autumn is making me a bit homesick, but I plan to get in the spirit of Japanese autumn by helping to harvest rice, climbing the mountain behind my house, and making some Japanese squash. I think it's going to be a pretty good season.
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