Living low tech in a high tech world

To my 3 readers, this blog would be more frequent and full of pictures if I was able to get a DSL connection in my home. Oh well, such is life in the mountains. On the brightside I have a lot of pictures that I am going to upload soon. I will try an provide a picture or two with every update and also keep them in the archives.
So I am planning to go to Wonderfest in Tokyo in a few weeks, on the 20th. I am going to take the Shinkansen, which will set me back about $360, that is for both ways. The teachers at my junior high were nice enough to help me figure out the times of the trains I will be taking, but they couldn't help me make an online reservation. The internet here is not like it is in the US. It is slow coming, and there are not many internet savvy people here. The teachers cringed at the thought of trying to figure out how to reserve the tickets online. I'll just have to go to the station in Gobo tomorrow or someday soon.
Yesterday was a chill day. I taught no classes at the junior high because the students I was to teach had to take tests all day. It's like every other week these poor kids are having to take all-day tests. The 3rd grade has been away for the last couple of days. I guess off somewhere taking more tests.
I awoke yesterday morning to a thin layer of snow convering everything. Snow isn't a big deal in genereal, but in Miyama it is. So we got a lot, like a half an inch. People were freaking out all day as the wind cranking in and blowing in even more snow. Everyone was talking about snow tires and such. All the talk got me worried about driving to Gobo to go to Miyoko's ALT dinner, which is every Tuesday. However, after a short phone call with Seth, my neighboring ALT, I was informed that the roads were actually fine and that there wasn't really anything to worry about. The worry is that in Japan they don't salt the roads. So ice just form as usual and is sometimes black. Sougawa got a nice heap of snow though. I don't have to go out there until Monday. Hopefully it will be warm.
Last night's ALT at Miyoko's was a feast as usual. I was on time this time. I arrived at 7:00 pm as opposed to 7:30. Everyone seemed a bit out of it. I figure the cold weather is making everyone tired and quiet. Yesterday and today has been windy and cold, about minus 1 celcius, which I guess is about 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit. So not too cold, but it sucks, especially when your house doesn't stay warm and may as well go outside to piss when you go into the bathroom. I shouldn't say that because some people actually have there bathrooms outside. Anyways the food was great and so was the talk. Seth hooked me up with a Carbon( ha his name is Seth Carbon) Monoxide detector, so I won't pass out from the fumes emitted from kerosene heater. I need to get mroe karosene.
I have been at the Board of Education all day. As I do every Wednesday. I always expect to get something done, but I never do. I just screw around on my computer most of the day and study Japanese. I don't have internet at home, but I still fell bad that I never seem to get anything done. My lessons are good, but they could be better. I have ideas for several games and activities but I never seem to find time to create them and make the props or materials.
Last night I went to Roman City to pick up pictures that I get developed at SNAPS!. A cool place with digital developing. They are also more cool because they give you free little photo binders. I had to take money out of the ATM at Roman City to pay for the photos. That all went well. But this morning at the BOE, I got a call telling me I was stupid becasue I forgot my ATM card at Roman City. I remember taking it from the machine, but I guess I must have dropped. Anyways. Japanese people are so nice an cool. The bank called and comfirmed that I was missing and said that they will bring it to me tomorrow. There are bring it to me. They are so nice a cool. I still can't believe I did that. I am also so careful.
Today I did receive some more books to help me study Japanese. One was a workbook to accompany my Japanese for Bust People textbook. The other book was a new text book that is suppose to be great, it is just called, Japanese for College Students. It looks great and uses a ton of Hiragana and Kanji, but seems to be written for use in a classroom enviroment and not for independent study. Plus I already know nearly everything in that new book. I might give it a crack for a good review. I almost done with volume One of Japanese for Busy People. I am on Lesson 27 out of 30 Lessons in the book. I would say the book could be covered in college at somewhat fast pace in two semesters. When I was using the book in college we went at a slow pace and took about a chapter a week. It would have taken us about 2 years or 4 semesters to finsh the book. I am still studying at a slow pace, but I think I am retaining a lot, but my speaking is still horrible, but getting gradually better. Someday. I can't wait to get to book Two of Japanese for Busy People. I like the series, and I think I will stick with it. Book Two goes at a lot faster pace and contains kanji. Kanji won't be new to me, because I gone ahead and put kanji in book One where it should be, that is I have looked up and memorized the kanji for most of the nouns and verbs that are introduced in book One. Japanese is a fun langauge too. Kanji is very interesting and helps you to memorize words better. I just wish I had a better electronic dictionary.
I need to send out some packages to people in the states, but I am just too lazy I guess. I need to do it though.