Better Late Than Never!

These are some photos from a BEAUTIFUL wedding I went to in Japan last November. I bought a kimono for the event and got to experience a traditional Japanese wedding for the first time. The bride was one of the teachers at my base school and a good friend of mine.

At one point in the beginning, the wedding party went into a small room with a fancy altar (adorned with fresh fruits among other things) and drank sake out of really cute little cups. The wedding was definitely a highlight of my time in Japan.

Final Days in Japan

One last day at the beach in Hitachi.

Vending machines near my apartment.

Part of the school where I worked.

Last time at my favorite Italian restaurant in Hitachi!

Pictures!

View of Hitachi from the Civic Center.

I was so excited that my friends and I could actually access the HUGE ball that forms the center of Hitachi's Civic Center!

The outside of my apartment.

The bedroom - all clean and ready to go!

And the living room.

Home grown lavender from an English teacher at one of my schools.

A carving of my name and face - made by an art teacher at one of my schools!

The bento shop I walked by on the way to school almost every morning.

This is where I had dinner - a big, hot bowl of Miso ramen - on my last night in Japan.

It was perfect.:)

On the highway bus headed to Narita Airport.

I loved taking the highway bus to the airport because I got to see so much of the countryside one last time.

Cicadas - the true sound of Japanese summer. I took this video while walking up the path that leads to my school on my final day there.  

Sayonara Ibaraki

Last weekend, I FINALLY got the chance to visit Lake Kasumigaura, the second largest lake in Japan (and conveniently located just a few hours away from my apartment in Ibaraki)! But the reason I've always wanted to visit this lake is because of the old fishing boats, called 'hobikisen,' you can find there. I first saw these boats on the Ibaraki prefectural website when I learned I'd be coming to Japan. I told myself that before leaving Japan I had to see them.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to ride the 'hobikisen,' but you can sign up to take a motorboat out to the center(ish) of the lake and see the sailboats. There were two 'hobikisen' out in the lake the day I was there, and our group circled both several times. We actually got to see the sails taken down because we were the last group out for the day. And everyone was given a cute little 'Lake Kasumigaura' seat cushion to use on the motorboat for free! Not a bad afternoon at all...

This little water park near the aquarium looked like so much fun!

Getting on our boat!

I'm holding a foldable seat cushion each of us got for free for going out on the boat.

Getting closer to the 'hobikisen' (sail propelled fishing boat).

http://www.city.kasumigaura.ibaraki.jp/hobiki/english/index.html

Fishermen.

Taking down the sail!

Unfortunately, it didn't look like they got much.

Boats at the dock.

The Countdown Begins

Tokyo Sky Tree Tower, under construction - the tallest tower in the world.

It will open to the public in Spring of 2012

It was just too hot...

'Fight Ibaraki!' - signs like this one have been displayed all over Ibaraki since the earthquake. All the prefectures affected by the disaster in March have their own signs. Adding 'ppe' to the end of 'Gamba' is Ibaraki dialect.

At my surprise farewell party, organized by my san nensei (third year) students. When I walked into the classroom, students started parading around me carrying balloons while dancing and singing to 'It's a Small World' in English.

Welcome to Spring in Ibaraki!

It feels good to be back at my apartment in Hitachi and getting settled once again. I feel lucky to have had so many days off since I returned to get over jet lag and enjoy what Spring has to offer in Japan. This year, May 2nd was the beginning of 'Golden Week' in Japan, one of the longest holidays for Japanese people. Most people travel during this time because they have 3 consecutive days off during the week, and if they take 'nenkyu' (paid leave) for 2 days, they can have an entire week off. I don't have any nenkyu left, so work began for me on Monday. 

I did 3 self-introductions in Oral Communication classes, which all went well. I showed the students pictures of my family, California Disneyland, mexican food, and a bunch of other California stuff. I got asked all the usual questions, like 'Can you eat natto?' [Natto is fermented soybeans, a popular food in Ibaraki] and 'Do you have a boyfriend?' And even a new one: 'Do you know Justin Bieber?'

But my favorite part was when, in one class, the teacher called on a girl to ask me a question when there were no more volunteers. The girl was obviously flustered, embarrassed, and didn't know what was going on. She quickly stood up and her face turned bright red. She looked at me and very seriously said: 'You look like Lady Gaga.' The rest of the class started laughing while the girl continued to stand, still unaware of what was going on. Those are the moments I'm going to miss about teaching in Japan.

An Ibaraki natto postcard.

April 30th, 2011 - Nemophila Harmony at Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki.

 

Children's Day is celebrated in the first week of May in Japan. People hang these fish flags to symbolize good luck and well being. They also represent family. Black fish flags are for fathers, orange/red for mothers, blue/white for boys, and red/pink for girls.
source: http://www.cybertraveltips.com/asia/japan/Japanese-Tradition-Of-Fish-Flags.html