End of the BOE

I tried to post last week but the computer at the frikin Junior High decided to wig out on me and thus I lost my post which was another long one.
Basically this is blog is an open journal for me. So I just ramble on about what I've been up to.
So to briefly cover my last attempte post, I spent most of my time in the BOE during the second week. Nothing special went on. The last weekend was intense though. Two Friday's ago I went to the Hidaka-Cho's ALT's house, Derrek, and met up with a bunch of other ALT's to eat up some okonomiyaki. Which is a favourite to this region of Japan. Basically it is mix of eggs and cabbage that is cooked like a pancake, and then you add whatever on top. The gathering lasted until about 2 am. I didn't drink because I had to drive. So on Saturday I had to wake up early to go to a special Shodou class at 9am. The teacher then invited us over for lunch, which was great, but I was so tired. So I went home and napped unitl about 5:30 so I had some energy to go out to Ryujin and see Aaron and his father put on a cool folk music concert at the community house out there. It was a great concert and they play some classics like 'Country Roads.' Aaron's father masic insturments back home in Virgina, and so they played using a couple crazy insturments. The concert was a hit and a ton of people showed up from all over. After which a 3 car caravan of us headed into Gobo for Gusto, and Denny's like place and the pack of us claimed 3 tables as we invaded the 'drink bar' which only costs a mere $2.00 for a wide varity of drinks.
Sunday was a blast too, I joined a few other ALT's and some local Japanese in Mihama-cho for a hike up the tallest mountain there. This village is set on the shore here in Wakayama, so the hike provided for some awesome views. At the top we had a picnic and I won a jar of jelly beans. Afterwards a few of us ended up back at Gusto's for some coffee before heading home.
The week from there dragged out without much ado. On Wednesday I went to a new mall in Wakayama-city with a couple of other ALT's. Our main object was the huge new grocery store, but we made a stop at the near-by Toys R Us to check it out.
On Friday, the Junior High had their entrance ceremony for the new 1st grade class. Nothing to special there. Another strict formality before the school year could start. But I was happy to be back at the school and getting the provided meal. For roughly $2.50 I get a nice hot meal for lunch everyday. It is not huge, but enough to get me through the day. Later that night I met up with Kitayama-sensei at the Space Tube to play pool with him and couple Hidaka-cho teachers. Kitayama also had bought an awesome new Alfa Romeo. It is a 156 model and in blue. It was real nice.
On Saturday, I met up with Aaron near the Miyama dam and we inflated a yellow raft that he has a did some paddling in the reservoir there. After which we changed and headed up to Wakayam-city for a pub quiz. Somehow our team managed to get 3rd, and we missed 1st by 4 points. We then went downstairs for some drinks, I had a half and half, I hadn't had one of those for a long time. Then, Aaron was driving my car, we went to the castle's gardens to look at the Sakura. There we tons of people there.
During the week I had made plans to meet up with the junior high's lunch lady to play bowling at Roman City at 2pm. I showed up late because I couldn't find my keys, but she seemed to not mind too much. She brought a friend and we played 2 games together. Okamoto, the lunch lady, has her own ball and glove, she did ok at 117, but I think she used to play really good, she is just out of practice. She has a nasty curve that she knows how to control. It is really cool. I was able to break a 100 each game with, 101 and 118 I think, if remember correctly. However her friend, Yumi, started out not so well, but ended up at like 110 the first game, but in the 2nd game she kicked ass at 158 or something. She had like 3 strikes in a row and 4 spares in the last game. She said it was a fluke, but I think that she had some real control. This ended at about 3:30. So I called Jane, who lives down south in Oto-mura, a bunch of people were at a park in Tanabe, so I met up with them. we then head to a cheap sushi place, where you pick what food you want from little conveyer belts running throughout the place. I then headed home and watched some TV on with help of my new subscription to Sky Perfect TV. Before bed I checked out 'American Morning' on CNN.
Monday, I was nervous a bit. I had to teach next door at Kawa-shou. I did fine, I basicall just re-introduced myself to the classes. Thew new 1st grade class of 7 students were pretty cute. They so scared of everything. One girl was eating her lunch as if she was in a prison or something. Constantly looking around and try to guard her tray with her arms. Other kids showed the new kids how to fold their milk boxes afterwards.
But my classes at the junior high yesterday were nice and I am now teaching with the English teacher there, but it is still my class. I now feel that I should team-teach. I have ignored all the TT stuff, becuase I wasn't doing that before. But we get along well and developed a nice lesson plan.
But the shocker of them all is that my Board of Education office, which has been here in Miyma for like forever, is now closing on May 1st. That is the day that my town, Miyama, and the next town, Nakatsu, join with Kawabe to form Hidakagawa-cho. So I guess that the main BOE will now be in what use to be the Kawabe area. I am not sure what is going to change for me right now. I am a little nervous, but I just think that I didn't what I was getting myself into just 8 months ago and I was ready for anything then, so why should I be worried about little political changes here. Yes I am very comfortable right now, with where I live, what I am doing and with the people around me, espcially the people here at the BOE. They have helped me out a lot, especially Endo-san. She is great and helps me out all the time with little stuff. She once drove me to the doctor's in Kawabe, which is a 30 minute drive. So yeah, there are some questions. I don't think much will change until after August, when Summer break is finished, and then things might change again once my contract is up next August. And as of now, I have to not passed on the idea of staying a 3rd year.