Dazaifu, Teaching, and Yokitori

After lunch today I went shopping with Lauma in Dazaifu. I rarely go there, but it is so far very nice. It had precisely one street with shops on it, leading from the train station up to the shrine. These are mostly touristy-type places, but isn't that what one wants as presents for family? I got a few bits and bobs, which made me feel happier since I haven't really bought much else.

Afterwards I did my usual monthly 4 hour stint. Haruka and her mum and little brother (17 months) were already in the car when I arrived, as Noriko had seen them at the bus stop and so offered them a lift. Haruka is so very cute: I think it's the smile and the tiny, tiny teeth.

I took pictures of all my classes again, which was nice. They will be posted above. Definately not sure of everybody's names: I did write them all down, it's just matching them to faces that's the difficult part:

1. Haruka (4 F) and Ryūki (7 M)
2. Rin, Mayuko, Eri, Jūri (all girls), and Kenta and Kiyoto (boys)
   
3. Five girls: Sayaka, Arisa, Kanami, Yuki, and Yuri
   
4. Shohei (M) and Moe (F)

My favourite is definately the third class just because they concentrate more, they're better at English and grasp the new concepts quicker. They also know my name and will sometimes even talk to me! The second class did come in and start drawing pictures of me on the board, which was cool. I had to teach Shohei on my own as well, whilst Noriko taught Moe, since they are doing to different levels of English tests next year. I hope I did all right: I had to introduce him to the future tense, which is something they don't have in Japan!

When I got back I found a couple of Japanese Christmas cards waiting for me from Kaede-sensei, by tea tutor. It was very nice of her to remember. I was also informed by Yū that we will be wearing kimonos and I might even get to where a hakama (the trousers) if there is a size that fits! Should be fun, though weird.

In the evening we all went out to a little yakitori place for a few drinks and a little food. Here we unveiled our secret santa gifts: I got from James a kid's book about a monkey, a Japanese mask, a giant fan, a shishimai dragon, and some tiny KitKat pieces. Thank you James!! Drum seemed to like his calligraphy stuff that I got him, though you can never tell with Drummond since he's always so damn happy!

The highlight of the evening was what Rushen got for James: the basic theme is due to the fact that James fell asleep in a toilet in Foobar for 3 hours last month. Thus James received some toilet cleaner, toilet brush, smelly stuff, a toilet lid cover and a cool bag to keep them all in!