Holidays are coming...

...just not quite quickly enough!

I have 3 more days to work before I can relax for 10 days or so. I have to work the next 2, then I have a day off, then one more before the big break. Bring it on!

SInce my last post, Gifu has been all white. That is, it snowed last Tuesday, and it has remained under a certain amount of snow ever since. The white stuff peaked on Sunday night/monday morning, when I couldn't actually get into my appartment. After spending the night at a co-teacher's place, I got home to discover the steps to my flat were nothing more than a minature ski slope, which would be ideal for any child (or midget) with a snowboard. However- there were none around, so I started digging. With a dust pan. It was all I had and it took about an hour- but it was quite good fun to be honest.

It has been cold this week, but I took a hoover to the vents of my heater and that seems to have done the trick. Happy days.

Next week promises much- Christmas Day sees a family reunion of sorts- I will see my cousins and my aunt and uncle- befoire flying to Korea for a few days on Boxing day. I can't wait, but I have too. :(

December

So...December has arrived. I've been looking forward to this month for some time. I realise that I am not 6 years old, and nor am I an especially festive person, but that aside, it's nearly Christmas, and I'm really excited. Firstly, I have an exciting month planned (from the 23rd onward, that is) and I can't wait to have an extended period of time away from the school.

Don't get me wrong-my job is challenging, enjoyable, depressing, stressfull and easy in equal measure, depending on what daty or time it is. However, 5 and a half months of staring at the same four walls can make anyone a little bit in need of a week off. I am no exception.

It will be hard work for the next 3 weeks though, with Christmas parties to organise and execute for the kids and one for the adult students. I am challenged enough by my basic teaching duties, and I always get a bit peeved when there's extra work put on our workload, but I guess it is Christmas.

I've been relatively unbusy over the last week or two. I have tried to learn as much Japanese as possible, which basically amnounts to nothing- although I can read and write hiragana now, which is something I shoul have learned ages ago. The Japanese have 3 scripts in whch they write (one for Japanese words, one for words of foreign origin (katakana) and Chinese-style characters known as kanji- which is impossible to learn, from what I can tell.) I will keeo trying to learn. I have 6 months, after all.

It snowed last night, which was nice.