Well, I'm sick again, and it's the rainy season. Not a good way to start an entry.:) Summer is getting on in Nagoya, bringing with it extreme humidity and temperatures, and extremely changeable weather. I keep forgetting to make sure I have my umbrella with me, regardless of how brightly the sun is shining when I leave for work in the morning.
I only have ten weeks of work left here...kinda strange. We got our tickets to come home, and in a few weeks, Aimee and I will be putting in our resignations. Very very weird.
Work has been nondescript, though I had a heartwarming moment yesterday. Many of the kids classes have been shifted again, and one of the kids in my Monday Senior class was moved to a class immediately after his normal one. So he was arriving as his friends were leaving and was a little upset/confused. I was teaching the next class and went back to prepare for it. The kid, Kouhei, called me out, and through my limited Japanese I understood that he wanted to know who his teacher would be. I pointed to myself and told him, "I'm your teacher." And his face just...lit up and he was totally content. When I got into the class, he was then thrilled that it was only him and another boy, Hirotaka. And then Kouhei asked me, again in Japanese, if I would continue to be his teacher. I told him yes, though really Naomi is supposed to teach them. He was thrilled. I had such a good class; I think I really will keep it. It's just for this month.
I also learned in Voice today that a traditional summer food in Japan is eel, though the mode of cooking it varies with the region. Here in Nagoya, they often put the eel on a stick, steam it, then fry it on a grate after it's been brushed with a special sauce. The reason why eel is a summer food? The weather in Japan in summer is very humid, and very draining. The Japanese people of long ago believed that eating eel would revitalize them, and the tradition has just stayed on. The woman told me that many businesspeople will munch on eel after work to get a little bit of a boost. I've had eel in makisushi. It's actually pretty good!
Another summer treat here is shaved ice. You can buy an ice shaving machine (hand cranked) for about 7 bucks, and the bottles of flavoring for about 2-5 bucks. I'm seriously considering getting some! It sounds like it would be a blast. Though I must confess to not wanting to get the cans of beans that some people like with theirs. I love the sweet beans in my bento as a little dessert, but I just can't eat them in ice cream like foods.
I'll try to have some pics next post. We're considering going to Inuyama Castle, the Higashiyama zoo, or the Tokugawa art museum this weekend. Stay tuned!
Posted by Mandy at July 6, 2005 12:54 AMSoooooo, are you going to eat eel when you get home?
yuk