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.

Happy Summer

Today, a teacher at the high school where I work gave me an old yukata - traditional Japanese clothing - that was made by her mother. When the summer months roll around in Japan, you can find yukatas in all different colors and styles in stores here. But this one means so much more to me than any yukata I could buy in a store. And along with it came a hand bag and shoes to match! I like the shoes the best.

Only 26 more days!

Tokyo DisneySea

On the way to DisneySea - Tokyo Sky Tree

Ben's souvenir. About 5 minutes later, he says 'I have a strange feeling that someone is following us.' I turned around and sure enough, the actual genie character from Aladdin was following us!

My cute Minnie Mouse hooded blanket!

Venice!

Tower of Terror...no thanks!

Seasonal special for dessert. This may or may not have been the cause of our food poisoning later that night...

Being dorks at 'Dinner with the Characters'

Indiana Jones, Japan style!

Good night!

Life, recently

With only a little over a month left in Japan, I've been starting to prepare for my return to America. Last weekend, I packed 3 boxes of clothes, books, CDs, souvenirs, etc. to send home. Today, I worked on translating my goodbye speech into Japanese. I'll give the speech one month from today at my base school, to about 600+ students and the teachers.

And my schedule for July has been finalized: at least 4 farewell parties have been confirmed, plus I'll visit my special education school once more, and finish preparing materials for the person who will start my job in August.

And the intense summer heat has finally come. This is the one season in Japan when I allow myself to have dessert before dinner. Ice cream is so necessary after walking back to my apartment from school on a really hot day. Today I had Haagen-Dazs Orange Creme Brulee. It was expensive, but REALLY good. So maybe this heat isn't so bad after all...

Old beer vending machine by my apartment.

I walk on this path everyday on the way to school.

Gyoza, fried shrimp, and vegetables for dinner on June 14th.
Made by my Japanese teacher.

Sunset at my apartment.

New poster on my bulletin board!

June 19th - Apartment weed pulling day. Done and done.

Tokai Station.

I found this on the sidewalk in Tokai.

...

Flowers for my Japanese teacher. The lady at the flower shop insisted on giving me a new sunflower because ONE petal was missing from the original flower. I'm going to miss Japanese service.

Some houses are still being fixed from the earthquake.

Homemade sushi from my Japanese teacher - June 21st.

41 days left in Japan!!