I'm forcing myself to write. :P

I mean I want to write, but I don't really know what to write about. What do you think? What do you want to read about? Does anyone really read this anyway? >.>

I want to write about my kotatsu. I LOVE my kotasu. At first I was like, I don't need a dumb kotatsu! They are too expensive! But I gave in (not to mention it was only 4000 yen) and I loveeeeeee it. *hugs kotatsu*

What is a kotatsu you ask? A kotatsu is a table with an electric heater underneath it. The top surface slides off, and you put a blanket in between the top and the frame to keep the heat in. Then you put your legs underneath, and you are warm! :D So you don't have to heat a whole room to be warm. (Plus heating a whole room in a Japanese style apartment is futile because the heat escapes so easily.)

I bought the cutest blanket the other day, even though the store tricked me into thinking it was on sale. I'll take a picture later!



So I climbed a mountain the other day! To the top it was around 2170 meters (like a mile one way), and it was uphill the ENTIRE way. You can imagine how much this hurt my legs. I wanted to stop a bunch of times but I am like "no way, I came this far, I'm going the whole way!" I wish I brought my camera, but I didn't feel like dragging it around. I did so on purpose too so as to force myself to go back again... eh, I don't think that plan worked very well. It just hurt too much! Took about an hour up, and a half an hour down.

So I was like 2/3rds of the way down and I was like, man, it seems to have gotten pretty dark... mind you it was only around 4:50 at this time, but it was already getting to that point at twilight where it is really difficult to see. Later I checked an the sun sets at freaking 5:12 now! So that got me scared... and the forest, of course, was even darker. I don't know what it is about this place, but when it is dark, it is dark. So I ran down the mountain (luckily here it was flatter, and I was following a trail that was cut by runoff, so it was easier to detect.) If I was like 10 minutes later I might have been trapped. >.< But everyone, no worries! I learned my lesson! I actually had bought a flashlight that day, but it didn't come with batteries. >.>

Oh, and the top of the mountain was beautiful! I could see the entire town and even over to my house, which was about three miles away from where I parked at least. There was a little shrine and also a statue of Buddha I believe. It was so quiet, but not quiet enough to be creepy. There was also a trail that branched off to the south, and after a steep climb I was even higher and I could see so far and into the neighboring town of Daigo (and actually, neighboring prefecture of Ibaraki.) I could see hawks flying and there was a slight breeze. I was thinking it would be beautiful to stay the night up there once. I don't think anyone actually climbs all the way to the top, except for stupid foreigners like me. ^ ^



The thing I love about this place is how beautiful it is. I can drive 5 minutes after work and go hiking on a wonderful mountain with changing leaves, and deep dark forests, and clear rivers. I think I am going tomorrow as well, especially if my last school is near the mountain.


There are beautiful shrines around every corner, and hidden treasures scarred by age and obscured by the forest around them. There are festivals full of spirit nearly every month, loud and bright and exciting.

And the rivers are so darn clear!!!

I would love to be able to live here a bit more, but only if Robby could live here too. (I have missed him terribly lately.) I really feel comfortable here, and I love the kids. (Well at least most of them...) ^ ^ But I would only stay if I could teach elementary school.

I had a great day today. It started out miserable, but I had great classes in the morning and then I played with the kids after lunch. We played demon tag, which is tag, but the person who is "it" is an "oni" or a demon. We also played demon tag, high and low. The rule of this one was you are safe if your feet aren't touching the ground.

This little second year stuck to me like glue. Her name is "Kokoro-chan" (kokoro means heart) and she would always hold my hand and follow me anywhere. Usually she is really shy and doesn't talk, but she was really energetic at recess. It was funny, whenever I was running away and the oni wasn't close, she would say "daijoubu yo" which means "its okay!" XD

I love that school, Shimoseki, because all of the kids play together... from 12 years old to 6 years old. It is so cool to see the whole school in a small place, all playing together. (There are about 36 kids total.) The kids always ask me to play too. This one girl always is the go-between it seems, and constantly asks me if I understand what she is saying. OH! And this boy asks me today, "Can you speak in Japanese?" And I am like "yeah..." so he next asks, "which is easier to speak, English or Japanese?" I answer with a firm "English" and later, when he is telling his friend what I said, he is like "well it makes sense, cause she was born in a foreign country." Hahaha. No...

Okay I'm done. I want to go sleep but I should clean because my house is a WRECK. Plus dinner might be a good idea...