October....A BLUR!

OCTOBER....was a FAST month full of changes as summer finally ended. It began warm and sunny and throughout the month continuted that way. Here I am at the kindergarten Imio Kai festival. In October I noticed that the changing season, though beautiful and eventful was one of the most difficult months. I think it has to do with just that, CHANGE. Japan is a very seasonal place so a lot of things change especially foods you eat and activities. This was hard for me because I was just getting used to summer things. Not to mention after mom left I had to decide about whether to stay in Japan longer or go home. The mixture of cooling temperatures, work annoyances and food cravings from home led me to choose not to renwe my contract. A decision I know is best but it still sucks to know this adventure will soon be over. That said I'm trying my hardest to make the most of fall in Japan!

Here's what I got up to in October:

Tanbo Rice art in Yonezawa. This what the field looked like before we cut it down.

A sweet lady who was really skilled at cutting rice. I tried my best to copy her techniques. I found the monotony to be relaxing, and in general it eneded up being a lot of fun. I think I got pretty fast and good at it too!

Working together to finish. Japanese people are hard workers and they expecially know how to work as a team. Once finished we enjoyed a delicious meal of Imoni in the hot sun.

A view of the rice fields surrounding Nagai. The empty space is sad but it means there is delicious rice to be eaten and room for snow to fall!

Takako in Kimono after performing a tea ceremony for Nataniel and It. This was the third time I participated in tea ceremony in Japan and the best yet I think!

After the tea ceremony Nathaniel and I biked up to the dam to look at the autumn colours. Such a Gaijin-Japanese thing for us to do. Go look at natures pretty colours on bike! It was a long and exhausting ride up the mountain, but after coming out of the tunnel viewing the scenery sure was worth it

Halloween party at Michiko's school.

Carving the biggest pumkin I have ever seen!

The final product at our Haunted story Chatroom party! I read stories and showed pictures about Fort San Sanatarium. That freaked out my adult Students.

Here we are in Costume. From top left to right. Norihiko as a dinosaur, Chikako as a witch, me as a rock star, Alex, Yoshi as a black cat and Michiko as a lady bug!