weekly update

Once again, I've gotten slack -sorry guys. Be honest, though, are you really surprised?
Anyway, its been a busy time lately what with graduations, parties, twisted ankles, bbqs, drinking and colds.
What can I say? I like to get a bit of everything in there :)
My Junior high school graduations were pretty difficult, and I have to admit that I cried at my favourite school. In my defence, all the kids, teachers and parents were crying as well. Still it was a sad day. The enkai (party) afterwards with all the teachers and parents was fantastic, though. We were at a hotel where we had a huge meal (seriously, everyone kneels at their own table, and there are about 4 courses) and alot of beer. Then the karaoke started, and by that time, I was drunk enough to be talked into singing a japanese song - painful. I was also drunk enough to waltz around the room with the kocho-sensei (principal). Thank god for 'what goes on enkai stays on enkai'!!!!
Here are some of my favourite kids from graduations at 2 of my favourite schools:


Akiragi JHS - the twins are Eijiro and Shoichiro

Kawakami JHS - these boys were great
Kawakami JHS - the graduating class

On Wednesday we had a public holiday, so 8 of us (7 ALTs and the son of one ALT) went to Tamagawa (north of Hagi) and had a BBQ. It was really fun. We played hackey, and mucked around and ate a lot of meat. We had so much food left over, that the next night we had another BBQ at Dan and Rosies place here in Hagi.
mmmmmmmmm, meat.
Rosie did pretty much all of the cooking. Starsky was grateful - that boy can eat his own body weight!





Also, I think it was last week, we had a last kencho - Yamaguchi wide ALT meeting. Pretty boring as usual, but it was our last chance for all the ALTs to get together before people start leaving as contracts end.
Starsky, Simon, Chris Mack, Anita, me

And finally, my latest injuries. On Saturday (St Patricks Day) I fell over and the doctor reckons I've damaged the ankle joint (he speaks English), as well as doing the ligaments in . . . again. Oops. And if that wasn't bad enough, I've also managed to catch a cold. I guess going out 2 nights in a row drinking didn't exactly help, but I had a tonne of fun.
On Friday, Dan and I went to No Side - our local bar - for a quiet one. two and a half hours later we left there and hit the next bar, then a karaoke bar. I have to say I didn't sing, but that may have been because I was too drunk to really string two words together. Nah, seriously, it was just a chilled night that happened to involve a bit of alcohol.
Saturday (last night), Dan, Rosie, Jo and I went to No Side (catching the theme?) where we translated the drinks menu into English. I think it was our civic duty, really. Plus it will make it easier to order stuff when we are too hammered to read the japanese:)

And that is this week over. Next week there are closing ceremonies at our schools, and then we are stuck at our Board of Education for a few weeks before the holidays.