Cambodia 2

Only one day left of my trip, leaving the beach tomorrow to go back to Phnon Penh. Still been having an amazing time, too much to write to start now. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone back in Mie though.

Cambodia

So this is my first post from Cambodia, the internet has been really slow in most places so I haven't bothered posting. I'm half way through my trip and it's amazing! I'm having such a great time; the group is lovely, the tour is action packed, the food has been great, Cambodia is so interesting and the people are just great. The weather is pretty hot but I'm coping ok.

Won't write much more now as will save it for when I'm back at school and can include loads of pics.

It's 13 degrees...

The Weather

After the warm weather of the weekend, it proceeded to drop to just above zero at the start of the week, it even snowed. I went for a walk this morning and it was still freezing, I've just been home for lunch and it's warm again, 13 degrees in fact.

Interesting that I decided to write about the weather; at class on Monday I was informed that it's a very British trait to talk about the weather and I was asked to explain this - I guess it's because the weather is so changeable at home (maybe it's just we don't have anything better to talk about with some people) but I've never known such changeable weather as I have here this week.

I should stop being so British and dull and write about something else...

Matsu ko Presentations

The students were asked to prepare a poster presentation on a subject they've covered at some point over the year, I kicked things off with my presentation on transplants; I have to admit I didn't really know what I was talking about. There was a lot of um...ah....so.....

The students really came through though, they were excellent. I particularly liked the one below as they chose to speak about Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter and the Lake District. Two groups were awarded certificates, I told Mo to give an award to this group (thought it would look a bit biased if I did so I chose the group that spoke about Designer Babies).

My favourite part has to be "The Lake country is located in British Cumbria state". Love it!!
This might have been my last visit to Matsu ko, apparently nobody knows yet. I hope it wasn't I really enjoy going there now (apart from the broom cupboard), infact it might even be the highlight of the school week! I found out that one of the teachers is being moved to the board of education though and it was a horrible shock and saying good bye at the end of the day was even worse. I was really upset which worried me because it will be 100 times worse when I have to leave everyone in summer and wondered if I'd made the wrong decision deciding to go home. This only lasted about an hour though. It's always going to be awful saying goodbye and there's no point in putting off the inevitable when deep down I know it's definitely the right move to return home in summer.
Cambodia

I'm off to Cambodia on Friday, I'm very EXCITED!

(admittedly an early) Happy St Patrick's Day!

The weekend started with a drive up to Hisai to see Lolly. We met Julia and Dan; we ate at Saizeria and afterwards we went to do purikura. It doesn't get much better than that! Sean joined us later and we watched (Hauru no ugoku shiro) Howl's Moving Castle at Lolly's house. Thought it was a great film.

Saturday was fortunately a glorious day, fortunate because it was the St Patrick's Day parade in Ise. We walked the streets of Ise wearing green (debatable as apparently I was wearing blue!) and waving Irish flags. The interesting point about all this is the Japanese, they've really taken this Irish thing on board. There were old women wearing crazy green outfits whilst Irish dancing and kids dressed all in green walking the streets with their parents. Don't get me wrong I think it's great, 'internationalization' and everything but I do wonder if they even know where Ireland actually is. I shouldn't be so cynical. Anyway, it was great fun and I got to talk to (note: bore) Sam, Fi, Aileen and Momo all day which can't be bad (well for me anyway).

Fiona, me and Momo

Mc Feat looking very handsome

Lolly during the parade

Fi, Sam and Ailo

Aileen, Doug (the whole 2 minutes I saw him) and me.

Onsens, Temples and Rock Bands

The weekend didn't end with Burn's Night! On Sunday Katie took me to an onsen in Nabari. I think I may have been converted, I've really enjoyed the last two times I've been to an onsen now. It was really relaxing to sit outside and look out over the beautiful view, the only bad point being I looked like a beetroot when I left!

After our onsen we took the train to a small town in Nara-ken and went to this amazing temple complex (with the smallest wooden pagado in Japan?). Unfortunately we didn't have too much time, so we were very Japanese in that we turned up, took some photos and hopped back onto another bus. It was still great though and I had such a lovely time with Katie :)

Next, Katie and me went to Tsu to meet people for dinner at Tin Pan Alley before heading to the 'Light Music Festival'. Some friends of ours are in a band and they'd made it to the final 6 of a local competition, so we went to see the show. They sounded amazing and the interview with Ewan at the end might just be one of the highlights of my whole time in Japan!

The band's website: www.upup-downdown.com

Burn's Night

Friday night was spent in Matsusaka for Anners' leaving do, we went to Ton Ton and later to karaoke. Now, lent has officially started and I'm supposed to be off alcohol (I've given myself three exceptions however; Burn's Night, Paddy's Day Parade and the school enkai) so I drove to Matsuska and instead of drinking lots of beer I drank lots of coke. It was interesting to say the least to witness the antics of a Matsusaka night out without being under the influence of alcohol! It was still fun though and good to catch up with people and it was even better to be able to drive home and go to sleep in my own bed!

On Saturday morning Milena came to mine and after lunch we made our way to Ueno on the train, meeting Jade along the way. It was second Mie Burn's Night supper, I had a really nice evening (and only had two glasses of wine - unlike last year!) and it was lovely to see everyone dressed up, the boys looking especially dashing in their kilts! The hightlights of the evening were definitely McFeat's address to the haggis and dancing at the end.

Sean and Lolly- looking very 'prom' like!
Doug and me - partners in crime at our table. Sorry again for keep wandering off Doug! Me and McFeat (Stewart-pulling a strange face)
The dancing

Graduation

School's Graduation Ceremony was last Wednesday, this is the second time I've had the 'pleasure' of attending one of these. Last year I found the whole thing a little bizarre, especially as we don't even have Graduation Ceremonies in the UK for 'graduating' school. It was very dull and not only that but incredibly depressing. The students names are read out, they shout "hai" and stand up. The only variation in this being a few of the cheekier boys will shout their "hai" at the tops of their lungs.

I decided that I should go into the whole thing this year with an open mind, I remember I was having a bit of a miserable time last year and so maybe that was to blame for my lack of enthusiasm for the event.

So this year I was all excited for dressing up in my suit and seeing the students graduate. However, it was equally as dull, depressing and COLD as last year. Sam compared it to a funeral, I couldn't agree more.