Sea of Japan

 

A Day at the Sea

[ Glam shot with bath towel + linen shirt as hat ]

By the end of the week, Norah and I were desperate to find some cool water where we could float. The week in Niseko had been very hot, so hot that we closed the school for a half day on Thursday and Friday. There is no air conditioning in the building and classroom temperatures were hovering past 32°C. No amount of oscillating fan could improve the conditions! Similarly at our house, we were sweating it out with no AC just like everyone else in Niseko - the heat is higher than normal which clearly is a phenomenon affecting everyone on the planet earth right now. Anyway, Norah and I took to the beach. 

[ Tunnel along the coast near Rankoshi ]

[ Suttsu Bay, Sea of Japan ]

After about an hour of driving we reached the sea at the mouth of the Shiribetsu River. The juxtaposition of emerald blue sea and lush green mountains was thrilling to see. It was a gorgeous view. 

We drove for awhile, hoping to reach Shimamaki Beach, but ended up turning down a small road in the Suttsu District that lead to a wide cove near a campsite. We weren't sure we could reach the water from the road so I parked and Norah walked ahead to check the situation. Towering over the path were giant windmills silently spinning. It felt a little surreal. 

The sea was calm here, crystal clear, and the beach was empty except for one young mom and her son who were wading along the water's edge. Norah and I decided this was the spot to set up for the day. We got our chairs and cooler and books and settled in.

[ The beauty of this landscape! ]

[ Just look at those mountains behind me! ]

We spent a lot of the day floating. The salt water was very accommodating and buoyant! We snacked on sushi rolls and collected seashells and stared out at the scenery. The day was truly sublime. I feel refreshed and ready for the week. 

[ Quality time with my favorite girl ]

The next time we head this way we hope to make it all the way to Shimamaki Beach. There are still miles of coastline to explore. 

[ i have no words ]

First Days of School

Principal Delight

[ Student notes left on my desk this morning ]

For the past two days of classes, the first two of the semester, I have stood out at the top of the road to greet students each morning and to wave goodbye to them each evening. At 8:15 in the morning, I see them climbing the hill from the town center where their parents park the car and help them cross the road at the crosswalk on the main street. They arrive with their backpacks and indoor shoes, and today with their swim bags. While I am waiting I take in the view of mountains and rolling clouds that surround the village. Here is a glimpse of my view. 

[The school entrance ]

[Looking left to Mt. Yotei at the end of the street ]

[ Looking right to the new learning annex ]

The first day of classes were a confluence of students greeting their friends, settling into new classrooms, and getting to know a few new teachers, myself included. On the first day, I saw all of the students in the school for art class and having never taught students in the primary grades, I was a little concerned about what might go down in my classroom. 

[ Keeping panic at bay with markers and music ]

I kept it simple the first day and we practiced drawing different types of lines in a musical chairs kind of format where students had a dance party at regular intervals between drawing their lines. We definitely had a good time. 

[Kindergarten was on it ]

Today I escorted the preschool and k-2 grades to the swimming pool with a host of teachers, all of whom got into the pool with the students. We left from school at around 10:00 in the morning and walked through the town to the community swimming pool. This was quite a palaver I can tell you. Swim bags, flotation pool noodles, swim caps, and floppy hats galore paraded down the street, across the road, through the park, and up the street to the pool. 

[ Assembling for the walk across town ]

[ Heading down the hill ]

[Through the park ]

[ Up the street ]

Finally we arrived and the students got themselves changed and poolside without too much trouble, even the littles. I am fully impressed by the fortitude of the faculty to make this maneuver across town and then to get into the pool and provide swim lessons to the students! The students were thrilled to get into the water as we were very hot and sweaty by the time we arrived. 

[ Some calisthenics before entering the pool ]

The PE teacher repeated this entire journey in the afternoon with the older students. Norah was recruited earlier in the week to assist and she ended up in the pool coaching the "experienced" swimmers through some floating exercises and relay races!

[ My first day of school photo, for my friend Polly ]

I am sure there are challenges ahead, but for now, I am filled with principal delight. This is fun!

[ My spot in the shoe cupboard ]

 

Fresh Veg

 

Open 24-Hours

[ Self Serve Farm Stand ]

Norah and I are enjoying this experience of living so close to the food source of vegetables and fruits that are farmed in the region where we are living. Today we visited the Haga Farm stall on Route 66 heading out of town that is open 24-hours and relies on the honor system. Lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, and corn were some of the produce we could choose from to add to our weekly food shop. 

[ Fresh veggies for sale ]

Once we made our selections, we added up what we had in our bag and paid the coin box stationed in the center of the stall. We purchased broccoli, tomatoes, blueberries, lettuce, and some corn for 800 yen (about 6 dollars). 

[ Gratitude, and correct change, for the farmer ]