Strange Girl in a Strange Land: some school shots

i teach at yoshikawa high school every tuesday. this time of year, with the snow, it takes about an hour and 15 to get there by car. it's a relaxing drive through rice paddies and countryside which gives me time to think and listen to music. i really wouldn't mind the trek if it didn't mean waking at 6:15 to get ready.

december was time for student council elections. here the candidates are giving their speeches. note the army of students seemingly asleep. the idea that japanese kids are all studious and incredibly intelligent is a great example of stereotypes giving the wrong idea.

my first year girls preparing for bunka sai, or culture day.

an exhibit of student calligraphy set up for culture day.

minamishiro high school is where i'm based. it's a 20-minute walk from my apartment or a 20-minute car ride [15 of which is spent clearing the snow off of my ride]. i teach here on monday, wednesday and thursday.
this is the main office. L to R: the principal kita kochosensei, the all around go to guy uchiyama san, the handle everything important woman umeyama san, and the flirtatious jack-of-all trades who is looking at women on the computer every time i go to the office. he's incredibly friendly all the same.

takahashi san, the accountant. he tries really hard to tell me about things like taxes and insurance in english by using website translators which is hilarious.

maruyama san is a new teacher this year. he's one of the few souls brave enough to try and converse with me. he's also a little bizarre; constantly grunting, moaning and sighing loudly. not to mention he uses a face muscle strengthener like this in public.

tomomi and natsumi working diligently to complete their posters for english club. they are 2 of the 3 members; a pitifully small group.

the english teachers' row of desks including uchiyama sensei and kodama sensei.

tanaka chan goes crazy with my camera whenever she gets her hands on it. i don't mind cause she actually captures a lot of people and situations i have no business getting up in the middle of. she's just nosy and outgoing like that.
my best happy face.