Travels

So I have gone far and wide from the little island that I now call home. I have met many nice people and have been bitten by a foreign mosquito.

Went to the elementary school and was instructed to not get too sweaty however playing tag in eighty degree heat with a hundred percent humidity somehow made me perspire. There was a small injury to my leg but how can you turn down these faces? Ran up and down a slide in an attempt to get away from the raging cuteness. However no matter where I turned it surrounded me. So there I was in my work clothes running around an amazing playground sweating like I was told not to and my heart just got stolen by the cuteness of the girl in the center of this picture wearing the black shirt. Just made me want a daughter that much more. I can see why he likes it over here. It is extremely peaceful. The pace of life is just a little bit slower, of course I am on vacation and that might be affecting my perception of time's passage. But it is a nice place here. Everyone just seems so friendly and as I walk through the school I am followed by students astonished stares only to look at them and they turn away with a sudden attack of the giggles.

Anyway here is a picture of me standing next to what is essentially the Japanese version of Puck from Midsummer Nights Dream.

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all.Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.

The crazy eyes in that picture were mostly just because I wanted to do something different with a picture other than the normal cheese with a peace sign that are so common in Japan.

Anywho, they are planting the rice fields here in Kitagata. It is really an interesting sight. Pretty much every open space is used as a rice field, at this stage they are flooding the fields and planting the sprouts because apparently they do not grow from the ground here, they transplant them in from elsewhere.

Maurice just finished the plans for our journey around the south of Japan. We bought the tickets and are all set to go. Going from class to class is quite enjoyable. It seems like he is fairly happy here and has a really good thing going. Anywhere we ride we are followed by screams of Moris sensi. To which we reply Hello. And then they usually stare at the strange white foreigner. Got a chance to throw the football around some which was missed in the last year. Oh and the place that is called circle with a squiggly line below it with three branches off of that has pretty good food. (Joke) Went to some kendo classes which were really fun. I am having problems with my overhead strike but it is still enjoyable.

Went and saw a couple of shrines and temples which were very interesting to learn about. Some of them were so old that their stone stairs had worn down into more of a hill. I also learned about the statues guarding the entrances of the temples. Tossed my coin in the bucket rang the bell and made my wish. If you make a wish in Japan at a Shinto shrine it of course will come true. Just like blowing out your birthday candles or tossing a penny into a wishing well. Well the birthday thing worked once, for the most real wish that I had ever had, unfortunately I blundered when the wish came true.

Well since pictures are not working anymore I am just going to post this and then continue on my journey.