More Snow

Outside today's kindergarten.

The Shinto gods next door to the kindergarten.

Scenery

This is from the parking lot of one of my schools. It's a twenty-minute drive north into the mountains, through a tunnel, and along a very cold looking river.

No Janitors, No Problem

Upon entering any of the schools I go to, rule number one is to take off your outdoor shoes and put on your indoor shoes or slippers. And while this is step one in keeping the school clean, step two is the cleaning period after lunchtime recess. All of the students and teachers pitch in with brooms and dustpans, trash bags and rags, with many hands stacking chairs and moving desks around. Of course every class has a few students who would rather chat or goof off in that time, but most seem to have a strong sense of responsibility to keep their school clean. Since most schools seem to operate this way, there is really no need for any janitors or cleaning people. There is, however, a utility worker at every school who keeps everything outside spic and span.
As a teacher, I of course join in with the students in the cleaning as well. I try to change up who I clean with, and a lot of times will base it on who I'm teaching the next period. However, certain classes seem to like me as a part of the cleaning crew, so I may end up sticking with them more often. I've been told by a few people, teachers and students alike, that I don't sweep the broom properly. The other American teacher said he's been told the same thing, but neither one of us is quite sure what we're doing wrong. If I ever find out, I'll let you guys know.

Space Heater, River, Car

 This is the space heater that my recruiter lent me. This has certainly been my lifeline, keeping my apartment above freezing temperatures.

 Here's a shot of the river just outside my apartment. I always manage to live near a river in Japan, probably because there are so many. It got a lot snowier in the days after this, but I figured this was a decent shot of the surroundings.









This is my beautiful car, parked at the laundromat. I have some shots of it full of snow on my other camera, but need to find the cable to connect it to my computer. It's a Daihatsu Mira, and a very basic version but equipped with tiny snow tires. Despite what this picture may show, this car is the easiest thing in the world to park. Also, this picture shows one of the rare occurrences where I park forward. It's a lot easier to park in reverse most places, but at this laundromat there's not as much of a choice since you're coming right off the street.

The Next Morning

I believe I left off my last post on what was Sunday night for me, and after what had been a pretty snowy day. Well, apparently that evening brought even more snow, and there was a nice, bumpy, slippery sheet of ice over every road. I woke up, hoping for a call or email saying school had been canceled, but nothing ever came. After many careful steps down the powdery stairs of my apartment building, I inched my way across town in the heavy traffic, with no one daring to go faster than 25 kilometers per hour. My small car, with its special yellow license plate designating it as an especially small car, can feel every bump in the road on a clear day. Monday's conditions allowed me to feel all of the bumps in the road, slips of the tires, and filled me with doubt as to whether or not I'd be able to get to the kindergarten. I eventually made it and was able to join the other teachers in the shoveling of the snow in the parking lot. It was actually my first time shoveling snow in my whole life, so it was pretty fun. Later when it stopped snowing, we took all the kids outside to play in the mounds and mounds of snow. Seeing as there was about two feet of snow evenly spread out across the playground, there was plenty for everyone. Plenty for a snowman, an igloo, a small mountain, and a dozen snowballs headed my direction. The next day, I learned that elementary school students have far better aim with their snowballs.

First Post from Gifu

Am I really in Gifu? Two short weeks ago I was in a warm, cozy southern California winter. No need for multiple layers of clothing, floor heaters, or hourly hot beverages. No icy roads or snow on the car, etc. etc. In these short two weeks here there have already been a few firsts for me, and one of them is seeing actual snow fall. I'm still in my "enjoying the snow" phase, so I'll do my best to appreciate this phase while it lasts. A week from now, I may be on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Up until a few days ago, it had simply been very cold here (below freezing temperatures, I may add). There'd be some snow on the ground in the mornings, but the roads would be clear and everything would go as planned. Gradually it started snowing more and more, and after the barrage of fluffy white pellets today, I'd be surprised if the snow gods have any ammunition left for tomorrow. I certainly hope not, as I have a long drive to one of my kindergartens in the morning. Growing up in a warm climate, I have no idea how much snow warrants a "snow day" or cancellation of school, so until I hear otherwise, the journey must go on.
Did I mention that I have just about the smallest car one can have on the road? It's great, it's a Daihatsu, I love it, it's the easiest thing in the world to park. With that said, no matter how good its snow tires are, I worry about it making it through all the snow that has built up.
Teaching so far has been a lot of fun. I'm teaching two days a week at various kindergartens, one day at an elementary school, and two days at a junior high school. As you might imagine, each age group is pretty different, so it's giving me a good idea of what I might like to teach in the long run. After only a week the jury is still out, so we'll see how it goes.
Thanks for reading this first post. There's really a bit more to report from here, but I figured I'd get this one out of the way first.