Almost There!

Only one week until I come home for Christmas break! I told Michi this morning that I am planning on just mailing it in the rest of the week at school. That took some explaining. I finished three classes at the middle school this morning, and have two more at elementary school to do. After today, only nine classes stand in the way of me and my Christmas Holiday!
Toei is a strange place when it comes to weather. But, I guess Kentucky is just as strange! This morning was bitter cold and now the sun is shining and I am hot sitting here in a light jacket. I’m sure tonight will be frigid. Remember that in Japan, we don’t heat the entire house—just the room that we are in. In my small apartment, that means that my living (and sleeping) room is heated, but my kitchen, shower and bathroom are not. The other night I grabbed some olive oil to use when I was cooking, and found that none would pour because it was so cold in my kitchen that it had turned solid. One teacher told me that this wasn’t uncommon at all, and that at her house it was so cold that when they wanted something NOT to freeze, they put it inside the fridge. I am still trying to figure that one out.
I have been making plans for the break and trying to balance my time between activity and relaxation. It is always good to spend time with friends and family, and I want to maximize that as much a possible. I am really pumped about getting to see my new niece, but I wish she was able to talk and play!
I’m hoping to eat some good Christmas food, and to get to go to my favorite joints to eat. I for sure am making time for some Pazzo’s pizza and a Galvin’s mushroom swiss.
I was amazed to see the story (and video) about a reporter throwing his shoes at Bush. Now I know that in a Muslim society, that is a real insult…but come on. I can only think about Austin Powers and Random Task when Austin gets his with Random’s shoe and he says, “Come on??! A shoe?! Really? I mean honestly who throws a shoe????” I am sure that the reporter meant it as a huge insult, but it was lost on Bush and most Americans. I have got to give Bush credit for some amazingly quick reflexes, and for apparently quipping shortly after, “I think that was a size 10!!”
I guess regardless of what you think about Bush, don’t throw things at him. That’s just a silly thing to do. I know that it will be something that we will all remember for some time, but other than being funny, what does it show? It’s like being at a UK football or basketball game. There have been many times where I have wanted to throw things at a ref or an official (my shoe never crossed my mind, can’t do much damage with that, and it is easy to catch the guy who threw the shoe…unless you just happen to have a spare pair!) but I always restrained. First, throwing things at the ref will usually result in your ejection and maybe a technical on your team, second, throwing things at the ref or official won't get him to change his mind about some stupid decision that he made.
Of course, I still abide by Pole’s rules for dealing with the refs that he so eloquently outlined for a paper in college. I hope you can read that excellent piece of work one day!
The rest of the week I will be getting everything ready to come home for Christmas, and trying not to forget any of the stuff that I bought while I was here. Last weekend we went to see our Japanese potter friend Osan, and we bought some amazing work from him to give as gifts when we go home. I FOR SURE will be carrying them on the flight home, some of them are priceless!
I told my elementary kids today that I am going home for Christmas. You can’t believe their faces when they hear that I will be going so far away! Some of them have never been out of the mountains, much less the prefecture (state) that we live in! America seems as far away to them as Japan does to us at home. They all told me to take pictures and have fun, but to make sure I come back.
I hope you have great weeks and that you are enjoying Christmas in full swing! It won’t be long until I come home!!!