Sunday Entry- Next week is classes!

Well hello readers!

A few months ago I wrote that I would try to do my best to write every Sunday if I was not able to write more often than that.  In attempts to keep to that, here is my Sunday entry!

I wrote this a few days ago, but this past week I've been working at the Junior High School.  Since classes aren't in session until next week, I spent most of the time in the office going through old ALT's papers and notes, or planning new things to do at the school.  I will be making the English Board, and I have been trying to put together some materials for that.

This coming Wednesday there will be an "opening ceremony" at the school, which means that all of the students come in for the ceremony and speeches.  I believe I will have to be introduced to the school as a new teacher at that time, but no one has said anything about it so I don't know if I'll have to do a self introduction or not.  I'll let you know after Wednesday!  I believe classes start on Thursday.

On Monday I'll be able to take an hour or so and leave the office to go pay my rent.  I have to do this at the bank, and they are only open until 3, and not usually open at all on the weekends.  I'll do my best to turn it into automatic payments so that it doesn't become a problem, which I see it could.

I got paid last Wednesday, which was really nice!  Not my first real pay check, since I always had part-time jobs during school, but it was my first full-time job paycheck.  A lot of money was deducted for health care, pension and taxes, but such is life.  I'll get the pension money back since I have no intention of retiring in Japan.

This past weekend I went to the Isawa Fireworks Festival.  It was nothing compared to the Ichikawadaimon festival, but I'm still glad I went.  I went to the local mall in the morning to show two other girls in the area how to get there, and then came back to my town to watch the fireworks in the evening.  Candice, another JET, went with me and we walked around the food booths and found a seat on the side-walk.  It was really funny where we sat though, because we were walking and walking, and suddenly decided to stop.  We turned the corner and ran into another JET who we had also run into at the mall, and they had an extra tarp and spot we could sit on.  Out of how many hundreds or thousands of people and we managed to stop right there!

Unlike Ichikawadaimon, we didn't have to take a train home so there was no long line to wait on (in?).  Candice lives pretty far away, so she planned to stay over at my house and we just walked home after the festival.  It was nice having a guest over, despite having very little to do as far as entertainment at my place.

Today after I took Candice back to the train station (which is about a 25-30 minute walk... >.<) I went to the supermarket for some food.  The basket on my bicycle is quite small, and I often tend to get too much food in one go.  I need to be more careful about that because it is so hard for me to get all of the food home alone!

After grocery shopping I came home, went on skype for a little while, and then had the sudden desire to clean my apartment.  I pulled out the vacuum and did some laundry as well.  Today it is really hot, so now I'm doing my best to sit still and not sweat.  The evenings are getting cooler though, so I'm hoping this hotness doesn't hold out too much longer!  Tough luck on my part I'm sure.  I bought a nice drip coffee maker at the store yesterday though, so now I'll be able to make ice coffee!  Instant coffee is only so-so I've found...

After all of the walking yesterday my legs are a little sore, convincing me further that I shouldn't do the Mt. Fuji climb this year.  Perhaps a little jogging and stair climbing beforehand would be good prep.  Also, I'm not really in the mood to buy the materials for making the climb.  Sorry Mr. Fuji!  Maybe next year.

I can't think of anything else right now, other than I hope that my expenses start to level out a little bit.  I'd like to start putting money away into savings, as well as having enough to pay off my student loans.  Should be fine though as long as I'm careful.

Love you all!  Let me know how you are doing too please!  I'm sorry I don't send more personal e-mails or cards.

Lana