These are very strange days.

This morning, I ran 13 miles. When I began my run, it was 6 AM and overcast and cool. I started off through the rice fields and saw a large remote-control helicopter being flown back and forth across one of the fields.

"Oh," I thought. "It looks like the quarry guys are having a bit of fun on their break."

As I got closer, I realized that the remote-control helicopter was actually dusting the field with what I assume was pesticide. I ran on. Further ahead, another helicopter was dusting a field. And another. And another! The fields were covered by these hovering crafts dispensing chemicals. I wondered if the technicians shouldn't be wearing gas masks.

Now my parents are in town and the strange days continue. My Dad is sleeping on the floor next to my couch, my Mom is in my bed, and I'm shivering under a thin fleece with the air-conditioner cranked to 22 degrees, Celsius. My parents claim that this is the most comfortable they've felt since they've been in Japan. I, on the other hand, am freezing my butt off.

Tomorrow, my parents and I will visit each of the schools that I've taught at in the past year and exchange pleasantries with my coworkers. I'll introduce them to my students. This will also be the very last time that I visit any of these schools or see any of my colleagues, at least for a long, long time.

In less than two weeks, my parents and I will have traveled to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Then we will board a plane for Seattle and I will say goodbye to Japan after an entire year. In Seattle, I will hang out with my girlfriends and make dinner with my boyfriend and go camping with my sister and search for gainful employment and it will be like this year of sushi and chopsticks and kanji and Sports Days and anime and yukata and soft tennis and futons was just another twelve months.

As I was finishing my run this morning, a group of young firemen said 'good morning' to me. I responded with the Japanese greeting, "ohayo gozaimasu!" They doubled over with laughter and I blushed.

Indeed, these are very strange days.

Lord of the Flies

As I sat down to eat my baked potato last night, a fly fell on my head. I brushed it off and continued eating. Twenty seconds later, a fly fell on my arm. Could it be the same fly? I glanced at the ceiling and, much to my chagrine, saw that it was covered with a swarm of little, black flies! Disgusting! I ran to make sure all the windows were tightly sealed, then looked in my bedroom - my bed and the ceiling were carpeted with flies. I stood perplexed for a moment, wondering what to do. Do I leave the flies and let them die on their own time, or do I spray them with super fly-killing poison and burn a few brain cells of my own at the same time? The thought of sharing my bed with egg-laying flies led me to choose the poison approach. I sprayed until there was a fog of chemicals clouding my apartment. The flies died. They dropped like . . . flies. I vacuumed them up, then sprayed some more, then vacuumed them up, and then sprayed some more. Two hours later, flies that had hidden from the massacre were still appearing. I sprayed and vacuumed well into the night - I had to be certain that they wouldn't be falling on me in my sleep. Finally, I went to bed, but guess what I dreamed about? That's right, flies.

Musings

Tonight, I had my last English conversation class. Even though it's been a month of 'lasts,' I feel even sadder now than I have before. Once a week for the past year, I've spent an hour with the same six people - playing games, discussing cultural differences, and endlessly teasing each other. This class and this group of people is one of the only things about my life in Japan that hasn't been a challenge. Our age differences span as many as fifty years, we all come from different backgrounds, have different interests, and very separate lives and yet, somehow, we managed to have a good time whenever we were together. I have been really moved by this experience and can honestly say that it's one of the best I've had in Japan.

And, because I'm in a sentimental state of mind, I'm going to reminisce on my other 'bests' from this year past. There are a few (okay, a lot) and they're in no particular order. So, if you've got some time to kill, read on my friends! It's a rare glimpse into what I've been doing over on this side of the world.

My most memorable experiences have been:

Playing 'Would you Rather' at Yashiro with Liz, Ryan, and Loz and laughing until I couldn't breathe; seeing Ritchie walk into the terminal at Narita airport, riding rental bikes around Kyoto, and singing karaoke in Tokyo; playing dodgeball with the 1st and 2nd graders at recess (and getting my butt kicked); meeting Taka and his amazing family who now call me Ailey-chan and always make me feel at home; playing with the InterHyogo soccer team in Awaji and taking first place (Go, go, Hyogo!); spending Christmas in England with Ritchie and his family; riding the ferris wheel with Liz in freezing-cold Edinburgh; skiing with Travy, Carly, and Liz in Tajima - the few times that it actually snowed; the night that Jennie made apple pie; my shoes icing over in Sapporo, followed by skiing in powder up to my knees and then warmed up with hot drinks; experiencing The Dune with Reuben Rye and drinking beers with my English conversation class; spending one short but fun weekend with Nate and Marissa; nomihoudai night (oh, but it was dangerous and I have scars to prove it) and playing darts in Tokyo with Denise; cooking dinner with Dirty Mario on the beach and watching him throw tennis balls at the hawks; making pottery with Kazue and her family and having them sing Happy Birthday to Ritchie (the long-distance version) in the backseat of the car; tasting home for one week, then coming back; planning, teaching, struggling, and generally growing.

Now I only have one week left in this too small town, in this tiny apartment with the absurdly low door frames. Just like this time last year, it's hot and humid and miserable outside. The difference is that now there's a life I've made for myself that will be left behind. And that's damn hard thing to say goodbye to.

Nevermind

I lied in my previous post - I have let a 'little' typhoon ruin my weekend plans. However, this doesn't mean that I don't have alternatives! Rather than navigate a rushing river on an inflatable raft, I will navigate a crowded subway system on my own two feet. Rather than rapell down a 70 foot waterfall into a pool of crystal-clear water, I will ride a glass elevator to the observation deck of the tallest building in Japan. Rather than set-up camp on a riverbank, I will curl up on my friend Carlton's apartment floor. Yes, that's right, I'm going to Tokyo!

I've been to Tokyo (three times), so it's not as exciting as Shikoku. It's also drenched in concrete and neon, so it's not as picturesque as Shikoku. And the masses of buildings, people, and cars make it difficult to enjoy 'nature,' so it's not exactly what I had planned for my last three-day weekend in Japan. However, Japan is a relatively small island and this little 'typhoon' is negatively affecting ever possible outdoor activity. Therefore, going somewhere with indoor offerings is a must.

I'm disappointed about missing out on rafting and canyoning, but I love Tokyo and shouldn't complain. Even though I've been there (three times), there's still so much that I haven't seen! The Chinatown in Yokohama, for example, or the Daibutsu in Kamakura. That's one of the good things about Japan - even if you've seen it all, there's always something more.

The little typhoon that could (ruin my weekend plans).

Actually, the typhoon isn't little. In fact, it could be really, really big and it's supposed to hit Shikoku this weekend. Coincidentally, I'm also supposed to hit Shikoku this weekend. I've been looking forward to this weekend for over a month. Some friends and I gathered camping gear, assigned a driver, and booked our places on the dual white-water rafting/canyoning trip through one of Japans biggest gorges. That sounds fun, right? I thought so, too! I even though that doing it in the rain would be a good time, until I came to my senses and realized that a typhoon means sheets of rain, thunder, lightening, and gale-force winds. Needless to say, the rafting company is threatening to cancel our trip. One friend has already backed-out. Should the rest of us admit defeat in the face of this little typhoon and cancel our trip altogether? No, I say! We will forge on, despite the rain and wind and possible electrocution! I refuse to let a little typhoon ruin my weekend plans. There might not be rafting, but there WILL be huddling in a tent, trying not to drown. So, take that, typhoon. We might even play cards.

Farewell speech to Koto Elementary School

This speech is written for elementary school students and it's definitely not going to win any awards for eloquence, but I became very emotional while writing it. Teaching at elementary school has been one of my favorite parts of working in Japan and I feel very sad knowing that tomorrow will be my last day. Even on my angriest days, having little kids chase my bike on the street yelling 'Ailey-sensei! Ailey-sensei!' always seemed to lift my spirits. That's the funny thing about kids - though I may look different (very different) and speak poor Japanese, they don't seem to care.

"Good morning, everyone!

Today is my last day at Koto Elementary School.

I am excited to go home to my family and friends in Seattle, WA, but I will miss you all very much. My first day at Koto seems like just last week, and not one year ago. Now, the kindergarteners are 1st graders and the 6th graders have moved to Minato Junior High. There have been a lot of changes and you are all growing very quickly.

Next year, even though I will be thousands of kilometers away, I will always remember cooking curry and rice with you in the home economics room, playing soccer and dodgeball at recess, and picking 'wakame' at Tai Beach. My days at Koto Elementary School were some of the best that I had in Japan. You are very special students and you always made me feel welcome, even though I look different and cannot speak Japanese well.

I hope that you are as kind and friendly to the next English teacher, who will be just as nervous and scared as I was when I first came here.

I will leave Kehi in three weeks. Before then, if you see me on the street, please say 'hello' and 'how are you.' It will make me happy to know that this isn't our last goodbye. Otherwise, please remember me when you speak English or listen to the news about the Seattle Mariners. I know that I will always remember all of you."

My sister and brother-in-law are so much cooler than me . . .

Tales From the Tube: Aiguille du Midi: Climbed

Not only do they have an awesome dog, but they do awesome things! Also, my sister speaks Spanish (cool) and my brother-in-law is on the news (cool). What did I do while they were climbing a potentially deadly rock face, you ask? Well, I went to a rainy and humid beer garden in Kobe, then slept in a capsule hotel. If we were to wage a battle where our only weaponry was coolness, who do you think would win? I'm afraid we all know the answer to this one.