Day 19, April 1 (Mon)

Today was an eventful day, and, like most days, it began with a visit to the cherry blossoms.

I woke, I walked, I returned, and I ate (eggs + ½ apple). 

I’m reading Tale of Two Cities (Dickens). I think I hate it, it’s too depressing. More horrifying than the supernatural are the actions of people and especially The People.

I had a meeting with Yuki, and he drove me to Itou Elementary, where I’ll be teaching 3-6th graders starting April 17. I think the 3rd/4th-graders might be in the same class? Then 5th grade, then 6th grade. Possibly. I met the English teachers for the 5-6th grades — I will be teaching the 3-4th on my own, but in 5-6th I’ll be an Assistant Language Teacher. It’s also a bit complicated a drive, but I think I’ll be fine. 

I’m glad I don’t have elementary schools this week, I’m starting to get a bit overwhelmed with all the different lessons and stuff I need!

I walked to the further supermarket and returned with lunch. Behold. Potato croquette (18¥), with tomato catsup....

...and the main attraction, this maybe-currypan (98¥). Look how perfectly it has been fried on the outside.

The inside is fluffy and filled with some kind of curry. I love bakeries!

After this relaxing lunching, I gathered my things together in preparation for a drive. It would be a longer one than I’d planned.

I drove to Echizen, following my notes, to be sure I could locate Itou Elementary. No troubles. On my drive over with Yuki, he’d pointed the way to take to the ocean, and I’d thought, well, I should try that. So instead of heading back, I went to the ocean.

Here, Umeura habor:

I drove along the shore, looking for spots to pull out, but there really weren’t many. I parked in a spot that didn’t look like a parking spot, but a fisherman was parked there, so why not. 

Cool rocks:

I drove for a while north along the shore, through some tunnels, past some more rock formations, then finally turned back. I went back a little the other way, but it wasn’t as interesting, and the streets were much smaller. After this grand adventure, I headed back....

...But hey, while I was in Echizen, might as well see the shrine. 

I’m not sure what shrine it exactly is (might just be Echizen Jinja). It wasn’t terribly interesting, but the trees were pretty.

After this I figured I should probably go back home. I took a couple of winding ways just because, and stopped at Mitsuwa to grab a bathmat and bug poison (and a teapot, and a blanket, and indoor shoes)... and when I pulled back into my apartment parking, I’d been gone 4 hours. An interesting outing.

For dinner I made miso soup — voila:

and yakisoba. Amidst enjoyment of green tea and Toblerone, I finished the depressing book.

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

These are the last words of the Tale of Two Cities. I never knew that, or what they actually were referring to.

A quick Thank You! to everyone who sent me with chocolate. At the time I thought I couldn’t possibly need it all, but, of course, I was wrong. I’m enjoying every bit of it.

And Thanks to Mia the Wise who told me to throw in an extra sweater. I wear it every night.

Ah — as for April Fools, I have neither the energy nor inclination to write with that in mind, so all you have read here has been a true account of my day.

I didn’t include the part with the dragons but whatever.