Magic Bag

Mom decided we all needed fans.

Katie and the Band

My family came to my school to hang out with my kids!

Good-bye!

On my official last day, the school gave me this at the morning meeting.

Los Midoras

A concert by Sendai's finest (only?) all-Japanese South American folk band.

Baumchan

Round layer cake is the epitome of Western dessert elegance.

Bejitarien...?

For my goodbye party, this elementary school called ahead to ensure I'd be fed. I was served so much food they accused me of flirting with the waiter.

First-graders

This photo took over ten minutes to set up and take.

Shiritori

I love this game, but playing it nine times in one week proved a bit much.

Getting Ready for Bingo

Distraction

They were supposed to be writing words on those papers.

Weird

This is near downtown. I do not know who he is, or why he appears to be readying himself for suicide by rolling pin.

Tanabata Advertising

Chorus Contest

3nen 2kumi

Reminder

Taking the photo out of its frame (to pack it) damaged it, so I took a photo to remind me to get another copy.

Kyuushoku Junbi

ie, School Lunch prep.

Tanabata

An elementary school Special Needs class gave me this as a goodbye present. I couldn't pack it, so I photographed it.

Wake-up Call

At 8.15 on a Saturday morning, I woke up to the most godawful racket. I went outside to see what in the world was going on...

Special Needs

Usually, they have this information written in Japanese. For English class, we replace it.

Owakarekai

During a farewell party with sixth-graders.

Hydrangea

I remember learning that hydrangea bushes are blue or pink depending on the acidity of the soil. So how is this possible?

Eggs

They were cheaper than the eggs not urging me to support the local baseball team.

Staffroom Whiteboard

Iris

cherry

blanket

Shodo

A good-bye gift from the kocho-sensei of one of my elementary schools.

Kemussho

I found him on my shirt during class. The kids named him.

chalk rail

pinky-purple

This was my favorite color when I was little.

Lost Bird

Packed and ready

The photos that have hung on my walls for the past two years.

Arsenal

Strewn.

The entire contents of my kitchen, transported into the living room so that I could scrub out the kitchen.

Falafel!

I was so proud of myself.

Clover Crown

On my walk to school.

Chusotai Day 3

The teams call in their results, and they are written down and hung on the staffroom walls.

Chusotai Day 2

Chusotai Day 1

New Horizon

This is a very typical page from the junior-high-school English textbooks. This page is from the third-year book, and presents a grammar point that most teachers use two or three fifty-minute classes to teach.

A Very Special Mango

I have no idea why this mango costs $16. It's been clearanced to $10... which suggests no else knows either.

Notebooks.

The beanbags on top were a gift from a student.

Flown the coop.

Kyushoku

My desk neighbour's school lunch. Salmon, sauteed vegetables and chicken, miso soup, rice, and milk. Calorie count: 804.

Music Breaks Barriers

A two-day festival in Sendai to benefit special needs people. The serangi player on the right also played for our pre-India benefit concert.

Layers

How I spent my Friday night.

She looked that suspicious all night. Two-month-olds don't think much of being baby-sat.

The 1st Sayonara

Ashinokuchi Elementary School, site of the first of six sets of goodbyes.

Address, part 2

On the building wall.

Address

Just outside the building.