199 blue bears

I met the whole school today! 199 kids. They are pretty cute, really small and noisy. After the entrance ceremony rehearsal they had to clean the school again. At recess some of the kids came to the staffroom and asked if I could come out and play with them! Silly sods. I was a bit busy (read: typing e-mails), so I declined but promised to go out tomorrow and play dodge ball (their favourite schoolyard activity it seems) with them all. I had to make a speech with the other new teachers by way of intoduction. Afterwards all the teachers were crapping on about how brilliant my Japanese is. I take it with a pinch of salt of course, the Japanese are always inclined to give praise when they don't know what else to say... but a little part of me is encouraged.

Yesterday one of the foreigners here took me to a town 2 stops down called Kasaoka where there is a gargantuan 100yen shop. It had absolutely everything a person could need to furnish a home. Even curtains! I ended up buying some bowls and glasses so if I ever have anyone over we won't have to share a plate! On the way home we accidentally jumped on the express train which took us 3 stops past Kamogata and had to ride all the way back again. oops.

One more thing; I noticed that on the back of the piece of paper I was given at immigration there is an English translation. When I read the Japanese I translated the title as "To foreigner entering Japan". The old immigration department have translated it as "To alien entering Japan." Not sure about you, but I think I enjoy my translation more - less intergalactic.