Back Blogging Part 2: October

I started October by going on a drive with my friend Amy and looking at some of the Autumn scenery. the leaves hadn’t changed but there were some beautiful flowers. The following weekend I attempted to learn how to surf. After overcoming my initial fears I had fun doing it, though I still don’t like swimming in salt water. I wasn’t able to stand up on my board but our instructor said I’m getting the timing right so with more practice I may become a surfer. Several of the teachers at my schools surf, and I felt better when I was told by one of the teachers I work with that it took her a year before she could stand up. I may learn how to surf or just take the easier route and buy a foam body board and enjoy riding the waves in.

I got to go to an amazing taiko performance. The group we saw are one of the best in the world. Unfortunately pictures and videos weren’t allowed.

For me October went by in a blur, I was working through an ear infection. I lost sleep because of it and went through the middle of the month exhausted. My students had midterms and ironically I graded all of my students speaking tests without being able to hear out of my right ear, but the problem was resolved by Halloween. Every year there is a big Halloween party at Hirome Market in Kochi city. A lot of the JETs in the prefecture dress up and go. My friend Natasha and I went as Storm and Rogue from the X-Men. I made my costume by hand but was limited to the resources I could find, and to hand sewing because I haven’t bought a sewing machine yet. I ended up sewing two turtle necks and some leggings together to make the main part. the boots I bought at a thrift store. I had to cut open the back and put in grommets and laces because they were made for a person with skinner legs. I manged to find a fantastic gold paint to spray paint them with. Natasha did a great job with her costume as well and she had really creepy looking white contacts. together we won one of the costume contest prizes which included 3,000 yen (about $35) and two 500 yen vouchers for Hirome.

My New Home

I have had a good and really busy time since I have arrived in my new home in Shimanto. Everyone I have met so far is really nice and I have had no lack of places to be or fun things to do. I have already eaten out at yakiniku (Korean bbq), conveyor-belt sushi and other awesome traditional food places. I even got to try some of the local specialties. I like my main high school so far and am looking forward to starting classes in a few weeks. The students I have met so far were very enthusiastic. I've gotten to meet some of the other JETs in the area as well as some other foreigners living in the region. A group of us camped out this weekend near one of the surfing beaches. I had a lot of fun jumping in the waves and might even try surfing sometime this year.



Hata Agricultural High School



The Ushiro River which runs near my apartment




Irino beach



Irino beach at sunrise