しばらく (It's been a long time.)

Lately several people have been telling me I need to write something new. The past 4 months have been up and down...with the downs probably being the lowest of my life. I remember thinking, "This isn't an adventure anymore." I haven't written because nothing has seemed very comical and I didn't want to write negative things. I'm doing much better now, although my circumstances haven't changed much. What has changed is my perspective. The Holy Spirit reminded me of Psalm 121:1-2, which says, "I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth." I realized that I had been REALLY focused on all the stressful, frustrating, and annoying things that have been going on. It's amazing to see how God has lifted my spirit and renewed my joy as I've lifted my eyes to Him and to the stunning mountains that surround my city, remembering that He made those...that He is powerful enough to help me.

You Can't Be Serious! part 2

Here's yet another "Are you kidding me?!" moment.

'What is this?', you may ask, 'An empty pack of gum taped to a piece of paper?!'

Yes!

But a closer look will reveal that this display of an empty pack of gum taped to a piece of paper is actually something more. It is evidence and documentation of a flagrant violation. For this is not just any gum package. It's a gum package that was found on school property. *The audience gasps.* This could only mean one thing-- a student brought gum to school. The currently known facts are scrawled: On February 5th (Friday), attached gum package was found during cleaning time. Location: 7th grade hallway, near the entrance to the gym. At this time, no further details are known.

In an unexpected turn of events during the morning staff meeting, in between Kouchou Sensei's (the principal) entirely predictable speech about nothing and Hoshino Sensei's blurb about the intranet training for teachers, "Exhibit A" was held up for public viewing and notification. In a simultaneously serious and exasperated tone, the details were disseminated, and we were all cautioned to be on the lookout for other such contraband. It was then posted in the staff room for all to see...and be reminded. (Note: Lest you be misled by the drama of this scenario, I want to reassure you that no weapons, drugs, or cigarettes were involved. The only one who's been found with cigarettes at school is Kouchou Sensei, and it's no secret where he is-- in the alley next to the gym.)

Despite its prominent display, I had to wait a long time to get a photo of this evidence and accompanying documentation. It was posted next to the desk of the double agent-- teacher-by-day, Yakuza-by-night-- Zakamatsu Sensei, who is apparently in charge of rule violation notification at my school. And undoubtedly, taking such a photo is against some unwritten rule. So, I considered, and plotted, and waited, and weighed the risks, and on a Monday afternoon when the staff room was nearly empty, thanks to all the real teachers being in the weekly staff meeting, and while the librarian and building manager distracted each other with chatting in the opposite corner of the room, I went for it! Thus, I present for your shock and awe: Exhibit A.

You Can't Be Serious! part 1

Every day at school I see countless things and situations that are different from the way they are in American schools. By now, most of them seem normal, and I usually pass right by without giving them a second thought. BUT-- there remain several things so odd that I still can't believe they exist. Here are a few...

hanging nets containing bars of soap at the sinks
The soap isn't removed from the nets. They hang from the faucets, so you can easily wet the slimy, full of grime, used-by-a-hundred-other-people soap and nets and wash your hands with them just like that. Can that really be called "wash"ing your hands?-- slathering slime on them under cold running water?

a "stove"
This circa 1910 metal monster connected to the ceiling by a winding, coffee can width pipe is the only means of heating classrooms. (Well, actually, some of the kids bring their own warmth-- in the form of self-heating pads, which Americans put in their ski boots.) Kids from each homeroom are assigned to go out to the shed to fill up a jug with kerosene then bring it back to the classroom and pour it into the "stove"-- which is not used for cooking anything. This fuel ensures that the 2 kids sitting in front of the stove will be sweating all day and that the 4 kids right behind and next to them will be warm. The other 34 kids might as well be sitting outside because the heat doesn't radiate any farther than 3 feet. Welcome to the land of technological superiority! The other thing that that fuel, carried by 13-year-olds, does is create enough heat to nearly boil the water in the metal bowl that sits on top of this mysterious contraption that looks like a torture device or something in a horror movie science lab. I've been wondering why that bowl of water is a necessary component, and what I've discovered is that kids use it for heating up their hands and their cartons of milk-- both of which they put into the water.

Part 2 will soon follow...you won't believe it...