Just some pics from the Imperial Palaces in Kyoto.

Not much going on these past few days for me. I have had no classes, but have been at work. It has been very boring. Today the school went to cheer for baseball team and i went to and helped with the special ed kids because there was only the new teacher there because the other ones were busy coaching the other sports teams that had other events today as well. At least a bunch of the teams won today so that was good. The baseball team won too.

The special ed kids are dears but i am getting worried about the one girl since she is starting to have these mini-seizures or muscle spasms a lot all of a sudden. This is a new symptom that i haven't seen in the year that i have been at the school. So i am just a little worried about her. It must be very tough for people with seizures and the likes; to not have control over your own body is a very scary thing.

The weekend has been a little nice and slow. I practiced with the band on Saturday morning, and then i went to Sapporo for dinner and a movie. I went to see the Ghibli film based on the Borrowers, and it was pretty good. A little slow at times and somewhat of a non-substantial climax as compared to other interpretations of the film, but the music-as always with Miyazaki films- was phenomenal. This was the first time in that the studio used a foreign artist for the title theme, as well as the rest of the soundtrack for the film. I was very pleased with the soundtrack. I usually find that the music is very crucial for me to like a film. If the story is good, then that is okay. But if there is good music, it makes it all the better.

Then after the movie i met up with some friends for dinner at a local Singaporean restaurant. It was pretty good, and despite the 300 yen mandatory drink charge. The food was pretty good. I had the satay, and the peanut sauce was just a tad sweet for me, but it had this combination of spices besides the peanuts in it that was really good. The coconut ice cream was very good for desert.

Here are the pictures from the Universal Studios Japan Starlight Parade, and then some photos of the area around the park and the the Kobe Waterfront.

Not much going on lately. I went to the elementary school today and it was okay. The pokings are getting less, but still happen. The smaller schools are better when it comes to that since the kids don't poke me there.

I finally was able to pay for my London tickets, and i can't wait for the next break. It took a couple days, and it involved a long trip to the post office. Man, i sometimes do not like going to the post office because there are so many forms that you have to fill out all the time.

I have been practicing with the band because they need me to fill in for the tuba player for one of their performances while the third years are away on the school trip. I am having fun, and it is always nice to get to play the tuba again.

Had the toddler class at the library again today and it was pretty good. I bought a bubble gun and used that to demonstrate "pop" to the kids. They were pretty happy to be playing and popping the bubbles in general, so good idea to buy that.

Did some shopping for things for this next week in Sapporo, and then i went to go see Salt at the theatre. It was an okay movie, and probably would have sucked had Tom Cruise stayed on as the protagonist. Nothing today just going slow and waiting out this stupid heat. I want the cold to come here already.