Hanami Time!

Hello everybody! I have been away for a few weeks sorry about that! Nothing good to write about actually.

Well the Sakuras (Cherry Blossom trees) are just beginning to come out now in Japan. They really are pretty. In Japan, there is a tradition called Hanami 花見, or Cherry Blossom viewing. Basically you go out to the park and sit under the tree with friends, food and drinks and just enjoy the afternoon in the park. It is really nice! I was planning a Hanami party for April 11th, but I don't think that is going to happen anymore. :( I will try to get it going for another day. If not I will go out there by myself and take some photos for the blog. Anyway, look forward to that in the next few weeks.

As for school, well I am actually excited. The new teachers came in today, and there are about 5 new teachers. I was surprised to hear that I will be working with 3 of the new teachers. I'm really looking forward to working with them. I met one of my new teaching partners today and she was so shy. She just graduated from Uni, and has never taught before. So she was asking me to help her out a lot. I would consider myself a decently experienced teacher. Now I think the classes will under my control, which is great because I can some of the crazy ideas I have in my head for lessons!

I will go to a really small BBQ on Saturday for my PTA class. I'm looking forward to that, because I can eat and drink all I want! :)

Anyway, thanks for reading the blog. I'll talk to you soon!

peace

vince

Yaki-niku goodness

Today I was invited to a Yaki-niku party (a Japanese BBQ), by my co-worker. I happily went, especially since I love anything that has to do with a BBQ. Well, the host of the party is the leader of the local rotary club. A bunch of his friends were there. It was mostly a party for older people, but they were very nice. There was a guy that came by, and everybody was very excited. I had no clue who he was, but apparently he was a candidate to be the Prime Minister of Japan. I asked more questions, and I found out that he is good friends with the host of the party. Anyway, let's just say that I met some interesting people.

The house that I was at happened to be the home that the foreign exchange student from Mexico was staying. So we just talked a lot and joked around the whole time. Then his sister showed up. She is living in Japan in the same house too, and she is 25. They are both from Tijuana, Mexico. Which is similar to where I am from in El Paso, Texas. I didn't want to say anything but she was very pretty! haha :) We all just chatted for a few hours and ATE a lot!!! Japanese people definitely know how to eat a lot. Especially when it comes to parties. I was welcomed with generosity and warmth. It made the day/night so much more enjoyable. Here are some of the pictures that I took. Comment if you have some time.

peace

vince


yaki-niku


lots of grills


many people i didn't know


exchange student


exchange student's sister and me, and another dude