Roy Huggins Says Stuff

I just sorted frantically through the stuff on the ledge in my closet. I threw aside two active credit cards like expired coupons. I didn’t find what I wanted, though: an old, used bus transfer.

I was just struck for a few minutes that I’m living in a world where a thing I used throw en masse into the trash, TriMet bus transfers, are of value to me. And a bottle of Black Butte Porter is worth its weight in platinum.¹

1. Not gold, of course. Its always worth its weight in gold! [↩]

These kids love photos.

Seriously. I wandered around school the other day looking to take a few pictures. I thought, “I hope some of the kids are up for some posed group shots.” Truth was, I couldn’t take a candid shot if I tried (and I did try.) As soon as the camera came out it was all poses, smiles and little V’s. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. The happy energy that erupts when the students see a camera is infectious.

Here’s an example. I was up on the second floor looking out a window at sannenses (third-year students [9th graders]) practicing juggling for the upcoming festival. I had my camera out hoping to catch some neat moves in the act. But before I could take the first pic, I was discovered by this group of kids who immediately commenced The Pose:

Later I wandered up to see what the ichinenses (first-year students [7th graders]) were up to. Some of the boys were hanging around taping pieces of newspaper together. I asked what they were doing and they said they were making a display. I asked what kind and they seemed to start deliberating in Japanese. One of them turned to me and said “Star Wars.” I repeated his words back to be sure but then another boy started waving his hands like “no, no, no.” So I decided to skip ahead and asked if I could take a picture. They were totally up for it, and this is what we got.

Notice how the dude who’s second from the right is looking off to the side? That’s because some of the kids from his class (sankumi [class 3]) saw that there’s a camera out and are currently rushing to join the fun. Like so…

Huh. Maybe we didn’t get everybody?

And there they are — everybody on the floor, at least. This isn’t all of sankumi but it’s a lot of them.

This next week is my last at Hiragishi Junior High until January 16th of next year. I’ve actually been pretty down about leaving. I really like the teachers I work with. I really like my students. Everyone seems to like me. I can walk to work. It’s a wonderful, welcoming place to be and a great place to work. I hope the other schools I work at are similar. Maybe they will be. Maybe I’ll have to be sad like this a couple more times as I leave one great place after another.

At least I’m reasonably sure that I’ll get to finish out the school year after I come back. And next month I go to elementary schools. Little kids!!

Hello, peeps!

I know many of you have been waiting for me to break Internet silence and commence with the stories about Japan. Well, I got started two weeks ago and then my server crashed. I have yet to be able to restore the ability to post to the blog that Electra and I have together, but this blog is up! So even if I don’t have the time to write a lot of stories, I can start posting pictures and showing my Sapporo pride.

It’s pretty late at night for me. But tomorrow is Friday and that means I won’t be in front of this computer again, healthy enough to manipulate words, for a couple days. So here’s a few pics that I really like to whet your appetite. More to come this weekend!

My friend Mike at karaoke and at the pride parade. I’m collecting pics from my new friends here to create a Cast of Characters for y’all.

The awesome kids of ichinense (”first year” [7th grade]) sankumi (”class #3″)

Advanced Japanese coffee technology!

Cats!

(This one’s name is Kuma, which means “bear”)

Night life!

We’re having a good time. I’m finally hitting the culture-shock/homesick wall as is at least one other JET here in Sapporo. But that’s good. It’s mean I can get it over with now.

I have to leave my base school after next week and won’t be back until next January. It makes me sad because I’ve developed relationships with the teachers and students there and really love it. I do get to start visiting elementary schools next month, though. Japanese kids are cuuuute!