Japan Diaries 4: Week 8

Japan Diaries 4: Week 8

Week 8: December 20-24, 2021

Day 49: December 20, 2021 

Monday - Rumoi

Off to Rumoi High School

In a way, going to different schools made me miss my main school which is Rumoi High School. By now the temperature averages 3 degrees to -4 degrees. I have fears that my water pipes may freeze so I asked my co-teacher Yasuda Sensei to teach me how to close the water line and drain the pipes. He promised to come by after work today. 

Here's my workload today:

2nd period - Christmas in the Philippines @2-1 of Motoyama-sensei
3rd period - Christmas in the Philippines@3-2 of Kutsumi-sensei
5th period - Living with Robots @2-2 of Shiko-sensei
English Club - We successfully baked muffins and had a little tea party

Rumoi High School English Chat Club Muffin-making activity

It's a success!

Rumoi High School - Time to go home...

Got an email from Noboru san about the Rumoi English Chat Club

Since it was a payday Monday, I went to Lawson to buy some food and drinks before heading back home. Yasuda-sensei and Sasaki-sensei arrived sometime around 8PM to teach me about turning off the pipes. 

Day 50: December 21, 2021

Tuesday - Rumoi

Snowy day in Rumoi City

Today is my last visit to Rumoi High School for the week. We also have a special English Club today. Aside from that I also have the Rumoi English Chat Club after work. 

Inside one of Motoyama sensei's class

Here's my workload for today:

3rd period - Restaurant Conversation Activity @ 202 of Motoyama-sensei
4th period - Brick Vocab test + Christmas in the Philippines @ 2-34 of Motoyama-sensei
6th period - Vocab Quiz + Christmas in the Philippines @ 3-345 of Motoyama-sensei
Special English Club - We watched The Grinch, Motoyama-sensei made popcorn while I brought Calpis. 

Attending the Rumoi English Chat Club at Asuka Coffee Shop

After the club, I went back home and waited for Noboru-san to pick me up for the 7-9PM Rumoi English Chat Club held in Asuka Coffee Shop. There, I met the other members namely Yoko Takahashi, Ikuko Komo, and Dr. Shibusa. 


We talked mainly about the topic for the day which is Christmas, but of course, it branched off to different topics which interested them. The club is a great way to meet and make Japanese friends. After the club, Noboru-san drove me back home. It was a busy but fulfilling Tuesday.

Day 51: December 22, 2021

Wednesday - Embetsu

Engan Bus to Embetsu Agricultural High School

Arrived at Embetsu bus stop

Walking to Embetsu Agricultural High School from the Embetsu bus stop

Today is my 3rd visit to Embetsu Agricultural High School. I used my 2nd 2-day (consecutive) Moekko Free Ticket. 

Embetsu Agricultural High School - 12/22/21

Here's my workload for today:

2nd period - Jiko Shokai @ 2nd year of Sasaki-sensei

My workload for today was pretty chill. That's why I had a lot of time studying Japanese and conversing with the other teachers and staff. Speaking of which, Koucho-sensei was in the faculty room the whole 3rd period. 

Thank you Kouchou sensei for the potatoes

We had a chance to talk about some stuff before he left for lunch. I was surprised when he came back as he had a bag full of potatoes for me to bring home. 

Day 52: December 23, 2021

Thursday - Teshio

Met Asami Barker on the bus to Teshio

Arrived at Teshio Koko Mae bus stop

It's my 2nd visit to my farthest school Teshio High School. I boarded the 6:14AM bus and arrived at around 9:16AM. For this trip, I used my 2nd t2-day (consecutive) Moekko Free Ticket.  At the Embetsu Bus stop Asami Barker, the friendly wife of Cameron Barker, the Embetsu ALT boarded and we had a fun time chatting. 

Teshio High School 12/23/21

A class about Christmas in the Philippines with Miyakoshi sensei of Teshio High School

Here's my workload for today:

2nd period - Christmas in the Philippines @2A and 2B of Miyakoshi-sensei
5th period - Christmas in the Philippines @3A and 3B of Miyakoshi-sensei
6th period - Christmas in the Philippines @ 1A of Miyakoshi-sensei

Day 53: December 24, 2021

Friday - Tomamae

Tomamae Commercial High School - 12/24/21

Was featured in the school's newspaper

It's my 3rd time visiting Tomamae Commercial High School. Since it's the day before Christmas, Hasegawa-sensei planned a special class for his students. I used my 4th 1-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Here's my workload for today:

2nd period - Christmas Party @ 2nd year of Hasegawa-sensei
3rd period - Christmas Party @ 3rd year of Hasegawa-sensei

Christmas party with Hasegawa-sensei's classes

Hasegawa sensei brought Christmas cake for everyone to share

I left Tomamae Commercial High School with Guy and Mike early because I asked Guy to teach me how to pay bills via debit card at Rumoi Shinkin Bank Kotambetsu Branch. 

Kotambetsu Bus Stop

From there, we walked to the Kotambetsu Bus Stop for what we believed is the 2:30PM bus to Uehira but it turned out that the next bus was still at 3:45PM. We just waited and in a way, I enjoyed chatting with Guy and Mike. Overall, I'm looking forward to visiting Tomamae Commercial High School again in the future but for now, this is the last school visit that I have for the year. 

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Location: Teshio, Teshio District, Hokkaido, Japan

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