Settling in...

It's getting to the point now where I feel comfortable and confident with life in Japan. I'm able to get where I want to go, ask people basic questions, and slowly but surely I'm starting to understand conversations around me. Although my motivation to study has fallen a bit since getting here, I still feel like I'm progressing. 

One thing that is very different about Japanese schools is the enkai  or work party. The enkai is usually held at a hotel or fancy restaurant with good food and an open bar. It is a social event and many people go around pouring drinks for each other. This is a good way to get to know people because they break out of their shell a bit when a little social lubricant is ingested. The staff here seems to be closer than a typical school staff in Canada, which might have to do with the long hours Japanese teachers actually spend at the school. Many of them are required to do some sort of club activity/sport so it is not uncommon for them to be at the school until 7 or 8 at night. 

This week I'm going to see what the basketball club is like. I hope to coach some sort of sports team this upcoming year. I'll keep you updated about that! 

Sapporo Snow Fesival

My latest adventure was to Northern Japan (Hokkaido) to see a snow festival (yuki matsuri).  The long trek started off with us taking a train to Sendai station where we caught a bus to a port about an hour away. From there we got on a large ferry which took 12 hours to get there. Luckily there was Kareoke, a public bath and lots of alcohol. We slept on the ferry (barely) and got up to get on another bus to our hotel near the snow festival. That night we went to the Sapporo beer garden: 

The beer garden was in an old building that looked like it was a brewery/factory as some point. 

The next day we went to see the snow festival which was within walking distance of our hotel. A lot of work went into making these ice sculptures. Some of them were absolutely enormous! 

There were about 13 blocks of snow and ice sculptures in Sapporo, not to mention a snowboard jump! Between the 24 hours on a fairy, countless sculptures, and partying in Sapporo, this is definitely one of those unforgettable experiences.