Soccer!

This weekend I went to my very first soccer tournament. I don't think I've ever played an actual soccer game, so I was a little nervous beforehand. But it was great! Most of the girls from Niigata had never played before, but we worked really hard and I think we really came together as a team. We didn't win any games, but we did tie one (That's a draw or something, right?). I even scored a goal! 

The tournament was near Nagano, in a mountain town called Sugadaira (or Sudagaira?). It was absolutely beautiful, definitely helped by the perfect weather. We were surrounded by ski slopes, and it got me excited for learning how to ski this winter!

I know how to...

In class the other day I was teaching the kids that "I know how to..." means the same thing as "I can..." As an example, I said "I know how to play baseball." When I asked for volunteers to try to make a sentence, of course they all said "I know how to play..." So I asked them to make a sentence without using the work play. Imagine my surprise when one of the boys in the back raised his hand and said "I know how to love someone." I had to try really hard to restrain my laughter. This is also the class in which one boy, when asked to make a sentence using "I like...", said "I like American girls." 

I learn calligraphy!

I finally sat in on my first calligraphy class today! It was my first-year's class, and they were obviously clueless as to why I would want to go. But I had a really good time. It's actually quite relaxing. I can see why Zen matured the way it did in this country. Here is the evolution of my calligraphy abilities in this first class. That's my name in katakana on the left hand side there. And no, I have no clue what the kanji (characters) actually mean. 

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New photos here!

I love Onsen

It's starting to get much colder here, or at least I feel like it's much colder. Today at work my JTE and I commiserated about the weather - it certainly didn't help that it was raining. So, after work, I decided to take a little trip to an onsen - hot spring spa - near my house. It's called Jonnobikan, and was recommended to me by said JTE. It was somewhat dark and rainy on the drive up (it's up on Yahiko mountain), which only took about 10 minutes. When I got there, I was confused because there were these signs that said "doctor fish." I thought maybe it was a hospital. After leaving and coming back I discovered it was in fact the onsen I was looking for. For only 500 yen (about $5) I was given a towel and unlimited time in the onsen, which consists of several hot pools of water, 2 onsens, and even an outdoor bath. I cleaned myself off (you have to clean yourself for about 10 minutes before getting in the bath - it is public, after all) and then soaked to my heart's content. I felt all the coldness in my bones melt away. I left about an hour later. On my way out, I saw a pool of water by the door. It was full of little fish, and bore a sign that said "doctor fish, 850 yen." I have no idea what this meant. I don't know if I want to know?

Pictures of my apartment!

I know, finally. Bedroom, washroom, living room, kitchen. I also have a separate room (along that main hallway) with a bathroom, and there's a shower 'room' off the washroom. 

Johzinji Street Jazz Festival (brief recap)

I should also mention I went to a street jazz festival in Sendai, a big city on the East coast of Japan and a little North of here. Some friends and I went about a week ago and stayed with a CIR who lives there. I didn't take any pictures, so this is a less exciting post, but it was a really good time. We got to listen to amazing music - one of the highlights being the traditional melded with the modern - shamisen and electric guitar. We also found a library that had some of the most attractive modern architecture I've seen. On the top floor there was a small art library, and we spent lots of time there reading when we go tired of walking around. I 'discovered' a few Japanese photographers I really like, the most notable being Naoya Hatakeyama. If you have a chance, please look up his work.