The Backpack Adventures

Week 124: March 11 – 15, 2024 Day 861: March 11, 2024 Monday – Rumoi Rumoi High School 3.11.24 First thing I saw on my desk today. Thank you ?? It’s getting warmer already, with temperatures going from -1 in the morning to 4 degrees by noon. For today’s school visit, I’m back at my main school – Rumoi High School .  Here’s my workload for today:  Collaboration work with Matsuda-sensei 2nd period – Mock Debate @ 1-34 of Matsuda-sensei 3rd period – Grammar Course: Who, Whom, Whose, Which, and That @ 1-56 of Matsuda-sensei 6th period – A Door to A New Life @ 1-1 of Matsuda-sensei Look who was waiting for me. That evening, my daughter and I watched an episode of the Korean zombie series “ Happiness ”. It's good, but we weren't that hooked with it, as we feel that it lacks the suspense of a zombie flick.  Day 862: March 12, 2024 Tuesday – Rumoi Rumoi High School 3.12.24 Wow! Received another gift from a co-teacher The weather forecasts predicted a warm day, but during my wal...

The first time that we experienced the Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival was on March 12, 2023 , which was my 496 th day here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme . We were lucky to catch the Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival 2024 on March 10, 2024 , and just like last year, it was a fun and lively event. The only difference this time was that my team did not participate in the Moekko Banba Race . Even so, my family and I still enjoyed watching the festival and soaking in the energetic atmosphere. Rumoi Moekko Haru Festival 2024 Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri Details The Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri ( 留萌萌っこ 春待里 ) , or “ Rumoi Waiting for Spring Festival ,” is held every second week of March at Senba Park in Rumoi City, Hokkaido. As its name suggests, it is a way for the community to welcome spring while the snow still lingers. What makes this festival stand out is the Moekko Banba Race, where teams of eight drag a 700-kilogram herring boat through the snow. It is chaotic, thrilling, and ve...