Arse... major-non-bloggage...

OK so it's now like Tuesday and I last blogged on....? Wednesday? Ugh. Far too much happened since then, none of which I can do justice to now, but my trial week will soon be over (if it's not already) so I guess I should get something down to prove my will to carry on...
In reverse order, for those who read bottom-up:

Tuesday was supposed to be school, which was cancelled for a typhoon that then (largely) failed to appear. So I was down at the BOE trying to stay awake, reading, mailing, and so on. Actually nothing of note happened today really, so why I'm taking time and URL space to write about it I don't know... Ugh. Bring on tomorrow.

Monday was daichu, for some reason we had 60 minute lessons when they're usually 45 minutes, but luckily only two of them. More speech contest practice, then an unofficial eikaiwa barbeque down at Okazaki, which was really cool cos my entire class from the year before last turned up and we chatted, and with the aji guys as well as Bridget and I there was a high gaijin contingent. Everyone seemed really up for it so I think it will be definitely worth doing, even if it never gets around to being official.

Sunday bit of a hangover, got lost getting back to Sorcha's from the onsen, even though it was less than five minutes from her house, went to international intercultural interpottery day... we made pots. Which will be ready in November, by which time I will have forgotton all about it most likely. Had trouble keeping my clay wet so it'll probably crack all over the place. But it was fun, and we had some great yakisoba afterwards. Drove home, chilled out and then went to aji for a DVD with the guys, took ages to decide but was nice and chilled, so chilled that somebody fell asleep... bless. was good.
Fave person of the day...? Mary, it's you and your hair... had to be huh!

Saturday Normal Saturday really. Went to Shakochan onsen for a bit of hangover treatment, had funny incident when I was getting dressed afterwards, and this random obaachan very kindly, but without warning, decided she was going to help me untwist my bra strap. Took me by surprise, you could say. Am coping fairly well now with the group bathing thing but group dressing still runs against my prudish British grain - what remains of it anyway. But hey at least she didn't decide to try and help me undress, that would have been really freaky.

Had a group rampage in Gosh in the evening, crammed 16 of us round a table on Yoro, which was fantastically cheap, and then went on a bit of a bar crawl, if it can really be called that. Finally got to go in the "party room" in player, which has indescribable red fake leather sofas - well hey I was excited. A load of the gorgeous new girls came as did some people I haven't seen for ages, and Jason tried to teach us something something phonics, can't even pronounce what it was called let alone the words he was trying to tell us.
FPOTD is a tie between the Yoro woman for being so friendly and giving us a free bottle of wine, and Sorcha for a much-needed hug in the middle of the street, and for putting us all up at her place. Luvya :)

Friday had first elective English classes, really good atmosphere in 3rd grade so I hope it's gonna be a fun last two terms. Must speak less Japanese!! Not using so much now but I still panic at the wall of blank looks. More speech contest practice, then a teacher's night in Gosh - one of the better enkai meals I've had in Japan, with not too much unidentified-pulp-of-fish-remnants, lots of nice edible stuff like yakitori and that yummy picked cucumber.
Fave person of the day - one of my teachers (who should probably remain nameless) for possibly the classiest karaoke dancing I've seen since us lot managed to perfect the SMAP moves... style it!

Thursday was Fukachu, first actual lesson spent teaching, and speech contest practice. Gelt good to be back. Had girly dinner in Gosh with several rounds of "'ood'ya raver?" (am currently accepting submissions on the spelling of that), got stumped on "ood'ya raver, (ex-)aji Jeff or Oku?" - toughie.
Fave person of the day was probably me speech contest student, for being able to distinguise between a voiced and non-voiced "th" and thus saving me considerable tongue-itchiness. She's really great, was rattling the thing off like a pro an hour after first seeing it... watch out Aji!! Rah!