Better now than never!

I suppose now is as good a time as ever to finally get this Blog thing off the road. There have been several reasons I haven't started this as intended a month ago, but let's just forget the past and press on with the future.

The best way for me to catch up and update you is to just dive into it... As time permits later on I will just recount some past experiences. Well the main purpose of this blog is to record my experiences, living my dream in Japan...Nagasaki to be exact.

Anyways today was a cool day. Hot as Japanese summer days seem to always be, interrupted every now and then but nothing more than a TYPHOON! But say what life is good. Down here typhoon is "small ting". Kyushu at least is very disaster prepared so. Last Tuesday we had a big Category 3 coming Nagasaki way and in the midst of the storm I look outside (all this time winds and rain kicking up real good eh), I look outside and old man Yamaha (that's not his name but I'm sure it would be a good guess) he well outside putting out the garbage like nothing. And don't talk about traffic, just as usual cars busy busy. All this time Caribbean man trembling in his apartment because this is the strongest breeze I ever felt and outside looking a little more than dreary. To tell you the extent of their comfort with disasters, although students have the day off, teachers at most schools are still expected at work...once there is public transport available. Hmmm...Unheard of where I come from.

Anyways today I taught my Junior High School students about Trinidad and Tobago. Played a little soca and steelpan in the background to give them the right atmosphere. The students seem to really like the sound of the country and more so the look of Tobago (always greeted by "KIREINA!!!"...means beautiful). It's nice reciting some of the stuff about Trinidad and Tobago...I feel comfortable. Although I sure sometimes I telling the people wrong information. Like today I told them that Trinidad has the second biggest Carnival in the World after Brazil. It is only after my teacher looked shocked at that fact did I begin to question its accuracy...before then I could have bet my bottom dollar that was true! And the largest round-a-bout in the world being Queen's Park Savannah...I don't think I have seen that anywhere in writing. But kill dat! I saying it loud and proud.

This week there are fewer classes in 2 of the 3 schools I'm teaching in because they have Sports Day on Sunday. What's the link you ask? Well would you believe that they have practice or rehearsal for the entire sports day; from the march band to the handing of certificated to the fun races and the theatrical dances are all rehearsed so that everything is familiar and most of all efficient on Sunday. I find that amazing! I'm getting ideas for when I'm ready to start the Irwin Institute of Advanced Learning. But the Sports Days are really something to see and enjoy. I will post pictures of my school's (Nagasaki Fisheries High School) after this Sunday. Everybody is looking to me to break a world record or something in the track events because I like running. All this unnecessary pressure. But it will be fun I know.

Anyways you know I can ramble on an on... there is so much that happens in one day here for me it's amazing, even a boring day. And don't talk about the number of names I have to try to remember. Hiroshi, Masaru, Susume, Matsushita, Nagyo are just half the names I learnt and had to remember today...the other half I've forgotten and will have to smile and bow pretending I remember until I can fake no more.

Ja matane