It’s Friday night, but I spent a quiet evening at home cooking dinner, watching Survivor, and drinking beer.
Work today was another day full of assemblies and opening ceremonies. We also had meetings and assemblies relating to the departure of some of our teachers. Everyone came back today to say goodbye to the students, and make a brief speech in front of the teachers. If this wasn’t enough, we are having a big party for everyone next Friday in Himeji. Apparently it isn’t a real goodbye unless you’re drinking. Seriously though, most of the teachers that left have been working here anywhere from 8-14 years. My time here in Japan is really just a blip on the radar – these people have years and years of the same job ahead of them.
I walked through a crowd of the new first year students on my way to the weight training room, and everyone stopped talking and watched me go by. As soon as I was past and walking away I heard three things – “hello”, “goodbye”, and “I love you”. I just smiled back and waved. They’ll learn to hate me once they get their homework assignments.
Two other things are worth mentioning. The now infamous part-time biology teacher that is rumored to be gorgeous by Mr. Hayashi showed up today. She is gorgeous. I think she’ll have her hands full fending off all the single teachers. My money is on the new P.E. teacher that will sit right across from her. I give them six months before we start to see some developments. A new office worker is also really good looking, so between the two of them they have the boys talking.
Also, Ms. Miyake came in today, and she has the distinction of being one of two teachers at my school that actually know about Kuniko and I. Kuniko told her about it a couple of weeks ago, and swore her to secrecy. Ms. Miyake were talking today and I broached the subject – she was really happy about it. Five minutes later she completely forgot about the secret part and asked me in a loud voice whether I was going to see Miss Kageyama this weekend. I looked around quickly, but nobody was within earshot. She realized what she had just said and called herself a fool in Japanese. I hope that the secret lasts – right now it’s looking pretty shaky.
Dinner tonight was homemade gyoza (pot-stickers). Kuniko taught me how to make them a while back, and so I tried it out on my own. I made two batches – one plain and one with extra hot sauce. They were both great – and although they were hard work to make, they tasted great.
Tomorrow Kuniko is coming over for dinner, and so I’ve got some cleanup around the house and I need to go shopping for ingredients. I’m hoping dinner turns out as good as tonight’s was.
