It has been another fine weekend in town. A few days of cold winds, and a few more days of warm enough temperatures to continue melting snow. ANd the melting snow is happening. Lack of snow can be seen by the dry and normal patches of highway on the main by-way that courses through town. It is nice to see the truth of earth visible to my eye. No more cold and ice to freeze-over what really exists below. Spring is coming, even to Hokkaido, and I wait and wait.
Spring brings along with it a mess of school events. April brings a turn-over of workers at various workplaces. March-April is also the time when many school graduations occur. I recall sitting at a cafe back in Canada with a Japanese friend who over coffee kindly explained and diagramed the course of the school year in Japan. Now I can see the course of the school year firsthand.
Last week I was invited to participate in several afterschool practices for a dance performance at elementary school. This dance performance was for the sending-off ceremony for the sixth graders departing for middle school next month in Embetsu.
A handful of dance practices, and popular costumes saw a few of the other elementary school teachers and myself dancing to a popular AKB48 track in front of a gymnasium of students and parents. Was the experience worth it? Well, either we teachers have given the students something to remember their graduation by, or we managed to embarrass ourselves all over. But the experience was fun and I know that I will forever remember the dance, the costumes, and the times we had. I may have also learned a thing or two about what is humour in Japan.
Aside that all I am feeling it is about time to high-tail it out of town again. I need the touch and feel of shopping in a big city, and having things like cafes and cinemas available to me without pain. I have movies I want to watch and things that I want to do, like drink coffee. It has been a few too many weeks for me to be waiting and sitting in my little town. I need to be freed from this.
So if all goes according to plan I will board bus and shuttle out of here. Sapporo is always welcome. A long bus ride, yes, but the promise of a one night hotel and good good food makes the journey that much easier.
Have you been taking long strides just waiting for winter to end? I have to say that winter wasn’t as bad as I had it described me. The winter in Hokkaido is about alright. But there certainly were rough and tumble moments. I suppose I can say that my ‘winter skin’ has been toughened and I can look for minus temperatures back home wihtout so much disdain as before. I am used to more cold now.
With so many events to look forward to come Spring, I am also reminded of the number of months that I have left in Japan. Somehing like four. That time will pass quickly, too. I am in the course of writing happy letters to the person that will fill my position in the later summer. Letters that I will one day send when I find out who is next here. Preparation, just. I am also writing ideas of what are of priority to me while I am still here in Japan. Things like seeing a Jpop concert, or traveling to see friends in other parts of this island-y place.
So long as I can pocket some bit of cash for my return home. Now that will take some planning indeed. I hope you are as ready for Spring as I am, or as the rest of the wintered world. All my best to you and I look forward to another read soon.
Good day. Monday. Coffee day!
Ciao,
(the sunsets here, they are so beautiful. I am at wonder, for it is the same sun that we see in every part of the world. But just how, and where the sun does set makes that same setting ritual seem like the most magical thing… Whether behind mountains, over the sea, or between. It is a healing sight. An amazing sight -especially here in Japan.)
The Traveller's Typewriter 