Hello~

Yesterday was the luckiest day of the week on the Japanese calendar, and it actually turned out to be a fairly lucky day!

Yesterday I went on a trip around Fukushima with my principal, vice principal, and some families from one of my schools.

The first stop was Fukushima Airport. Nothing special, but they had these cute drawings from kids in America to people living in Fukushima. I also found an interesting treat!

This is a little peach pie snack! I had to try it, because when I introduced myself to my classes, I always said my favorite food was peach pie. (Which is true.) You can't get real pie around here. ;_; It tasted okay, but I thought it was a lucky find!

Next we went to a place where they make these cute little dolls. I made the one above! Well I painted it. It was really actually quite fun and relaxing. My zodiac animal is a dragon, so I was really happy! (They had us paint dragons because next year is the year of the dragon!) The shop was in a place called "Miharu", which is funny too, because the "Japanese name" I picked for myself is also "Miharu". The kanji (characters) are different though. The towns name means "three springs/三春" (as in the season), and the name I picked means "beautiful light/美晴".

Next we went to a place called "Shirakawa no Seki". I guess the place was a checkpoint for people heading further north. I guess this because I didn't actually get to see the darn thing. This is where I ran into a bit of bad luck, and I ended up going here.

And after I ended up going there, it was time to go back to the bus. I asked to make sure and the driver said we had 10 more minutes, so I rushed over where I was supposed to actually go, quickly bought an omikuji, or a fortune, for my troubles.

In reality we were supposed to meet up at 3:30, but the kids wouldn't stop playing on the jungle gym in the park, so it turned into 3:45. -_-;; I had more time to look! D: But at least I got the most lucky fortune. It says the person I am waiting for will come... *wink wink, nudge nudge* I also bought this kokeshi doll. I <3 these dolls, and it was cheap, so I was very happy.

All throughout the bus ride, some of the littiler kids in the front were a riot. They were acting as if they were tour guides, emulating the very polite Japanese they use. They also kept saying some pretty funny things, but towards the end it got a bit annoying. >.<

Also annoying, is when someone talks about you when you are a foot away! We were waiting to leave and one of the people asked the principal where I was from... and then when he asked another question, looked at her while I answered.

And then while I was at the Shirakawa place, I heard someone say "Hello everyone"... and I was like, why is someone speaking English here, and then I realized that it was probably someone trying to say hi to me, but they mistakenly said "hello everyone" because that is what the teacher would say. (I have had kids repeat the phrase back to me in class.) So I turned around and said "hello" and waved. That would have been fine and all, but when I turned back around I heard the phrase I hate (when it refers to me) "kawaisou", which is essentially pity. I have heard that a few times when by myself. >.<

I swear, I am going to write a blog called "Strange Conversations I have Had as a Foreigner"! Come to think of it, that's not too bad of an idea... >.>

But I guess being a foreigner has its bonuses, like people buy you soba and give you sweet potatoes.

Oh! I almost forgot! A student found a yotsuba (four leaf clover) and gave it to me! Apparently they are pretty easy to find here. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? haha I hope it brings me more good luck!