Fillin' Up

As the final weeks, days, and lessons approach I'm finding myself trying to fill up on all things Japanese. I'll most likely see the foreign friends I've made here again, somewhere in the world. But there are people, places and experiences that are unique to this time and place that will never be experienced again. And I'm trying to soak those up before the clock strikes twelve. So, in no particular order, here are some photos of things that have been keeping me away from my apartment, off the computer and consequently sleeping very soundly at night.

Volunteer at the 24th Kurobe Jimmy Carter Marathon! The Masters Swim team members asked me to join their little volunteer gang. We got free t-shirts and a gift card--just for wearing a yellow jacket and cheering!!

The ultimate English Conversation class, a night out with Toyama's elite! Wine, good food, interesting conversation and time with the boys I came here with three years ago.

This was at the Kanazawa Relay Marathon Race!
We had a Toyama team, but didn't wear costumes like this team!

My last "Jumpu Taikai"! Or Jump Rope Contest. This is one of my favorite events all year! I always try to imagine trying to get 40 American kids coordinated enough to jump together.

The Star Wars teacher and two of her former students. For those of you who remember the story...she is back in the hospital, but doing fabulously!! I've been to visit her a few times, and she is always full of energy. She is a fighter.

Dinner at a friend's new apartment. It's unusual to be invited to someone's house for a meal. People usually go out to eat and drink and it's smoky and expensive. But it was really nice to eat homemade food, listen to great music and just enjoy time together without the other chatter of a restaurant.

And there are lots of other things that I just don't have photographic evidence of: an enkai, a tea ceremony, several meals out with friends, and of course watching the fabulous victory of Hakuho--the next Mongolian Yokozuna!

(excuse the strange underlines...not sure what happened there)

Tea Ceremony Style

This wasn't my first tea ceremony and it won't be my last. Tea ceremonies are always more than I expect and they are always really overwhelming, in both an exciting and an exhausting way. It started with a multi-course lunch of rice, miso, grilled fish, tofu, vegetables, pickels, fish eggs, a fish stomach (?), a stinky flower, and sashimi. After lunch we had our first course of sweets and a thick tea. After thick tea we had another course of sweets and thin tea. After some more ceremonies and formalities, we finished with a plate of huge strawberries, some more formalities, a photograph and good-byes. Here are the photo highlights: