Hirohata Junior High School

September 2008

On September the 1st the new school term started so I finally got to go to school after a very long holiday! My new Junior High School is Hirohata. It takes me about forty minutes by bus to get there and it is in the outer suburbs of Himeji. I really like all my teachers and the students are slowly warming to me too! Everyone is interested as I am apparently the first Australian to work at Hirohata! I also work at three primary schools which are rotated every week, one is across the road from my Junior High School which is great. Here are some photos of my school and the surrounding areas -

The rice field near school.


The market garden behind my school.


I love Japanese students and some apparently love me too!


I started laughing when I read this!


Just some of the amazing art work done by the students here - this is just their summer diary!


The teachers room


The school oval and the hills in the background


More of the school yard with other classrooms

Thomas' Beach Birthday Party!

6th September 2008

Thomas invited us to his birthday party at a local beach where he windsurfs. It was a beautiful summer day and we had a great time - we swam, had a BBQ and used fireworks! This beach was definitely not the best in Japan but it is summer and summer calls for the beach!

Rachel, Taube, Julian and Rito heading to the beach by train.


The beach!


The birthday boy and his cake!


Our BBQ being fired up with a hairdryer and fan!


Taube, Kimika and I at the beach.


The sunset


Ayame, Kyosuke and Kimika with an amazingly bright firework!


Me with fireworks!


Yoka enjoying fireworks - too cute!


Everyone enjoying fireworks!

Food!! Glorious Food!! July, August and September!

July, August and September

I have decided to keep the food part of my blog going monthly to keep everyone up to date with the interesting and wonderful things I have eaten! So here is July, August and a bit of September . . .

Lucky Cider - a sweet soft drink with "kira kira" sparkle - twinkle twinkle sparkle - not dolphins!


Amazing Asahi beer and a mini okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) which was also like takoyaki (octopus dumplings) with egg! Yum!


Yuzu sorbet - Japanese lemon which also tastes like lime - really refreshing!


A candy flower used as an offering to the Gods. I bought it to find out what it was but it is too pretty to eat!


My first savoury crepe - potato salad, tuna and lettuce - surprisingly yum!


Amazing bagel set which had cream cheese and smoked salmon - I know this isn't Japanese especially since they import them from New York but they were so good!


Some new sushi that I tried . . .

BBQ corn


Unagi - eel - yum!


BBQ Squid


Wieners!


Prawns, mayonaise and cheese lightly grilled - yum!


and my old favourite salmon, onion and mayonaise!


My first McFlurry ever - and Hello Kitty was on the cup!


Weird seaweedish slimy stuff that tasted really good!


My new favourite drink - Two Dogs - and Australian original even though you can't get it there anymore!


My favourite - melon soda float!


Green tea doughnut with green tea icing. Yum!


Amazing, real Mexican at Taube and Julian's - Richard bought the spices back from America. Salsa, refried beans and Japanese beer of course!


The amazing tortilla!


Shrimp and squash that Kimi and Richard made.


My homemade tiramisu!


Whole fish that tasted amazing!


My welcome lunch with my Junior High School.


The best banana cake ever!


Japanese curry and rice made during a cooking lesson!

My new bike!

30th August

Well I decided to get a new bike and I finally made the decision to get the one with everything that I wanted! - large basket, magnetic light, good stand, chain covered and most importantly purple! It is an amazing bike which I think looks really good and is also so comfortable. I am yet to add a basket on the back so I can really go shopping!

The cool spokey-dokes that I bought to put on my bike but they don't make noises like they used to!


My super kawaii Hello Kitty bell that Taube and Julian bought me!


Taube on the back of Julian's bike on the way to the bike shop!


Me very happy outside the bike shop with my new bike!


At home with my bike and all the new gagets on it!

Welcome Party at the Beer Garden!

29th August 2008

We had a welcome party for all the new ALT’s that arrived from Phoenix, Arizona and for the 3 new JET teachers , including me! It was the same beer garden that I had been to before but it was a great night. It was about $30 for all you can drink and eat for 3 hours! It had been raining during the day but it cleared up nicely in time! After the beer garden we then headed to karaoke which was fun! It was a great time to meet everyone and enjoy our last beer garden for the summer!

All of our residence (plus partners) at the beer garden with the most amazing view!


The automatic beer pourers which tilt the glass, fill it up and then add extra froth!


My dinner!


Ferra-Lynn and I enjoying a few drinks at the beer garden!


Kimi and Richard!


The amazing Himeji castle


The sunset over the hills


Everyone enjoying the beer garden!


Kyosuke and I


Cecy, Ferra-Lynn, I and Taube


Kimi, Richard, Kyosuke and I enjoying karaoke!


Taube, Andre, Ferra-Lynn and Julian enjoying karaoke!