Surprise Party

Yesterday one of my English teachers reminded me that she wanted to go over my house for a Christmas party. Apparently, my predecessor threw a big Christmas party for all of the townspeople complete with peanut brittle and all. However, since I am going away for winter holiday I did not think I would end up doing the same thing. As the saying goes, I thought wrong. After she brought it up again in conversation, we decided on a day that would be most convenient to us. Since all my weekends until the time I leave are pretty much packed, I had to pick the least inconvenient day to do it. So I picked the day we were going to the City for a big Christmas party when I was going to take Cristina to the movie theater and on the Ferris Wheel for her birthday, Dec. 4th. As the day went by and I began to visit the different classes, I began to notice that my teacher was informing everyone as well of the party. So, from what I gather, now I will be hosting a big Christmas bash for all the junior high school students at my house on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 4th. Later that night, we will go to Kanoya to the izakaya (small Japanese pub) owned by my teacher’s father (who really likes foreigners and speaks English very well, or so I am told by my teacher).

At about 7 last night, Cristina and I went to my first eikawa. We actually met up with the 2 students at 7:25 after some miscommunication. We ended up going to my kacho’s brother’s house rather than the other man’s house. They were both very interesting men, with their notebooks in hand ready to learn English. My kacho’s brother is a big wig in the Kanoya City council and the other man is a “ceramicist” here in Uchinoura. He actually made these cups which I fell in love with for the opening of Ginga Arena that was given to me secretly by the office lady. He has invited me to come and visit his studio (where we have eikawa every Thursday from now on) to make some stuff. I am very excited since I am so impressed by the other stuff he has made. He also knows Thai fluently after having lived there for a year and in Cambodia for a few months.

Anyway, I really should get going now. I have to drive to Kishira and I want to pick up some breakfast on the way. I hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday. Oh, and I almost forgot…remember how I told you about the bird flying into my office window. The same happened to Cristina just a couple of days ago. I am sad to report that the bird died instantly from the blow.