Last Day at Joyo Elementary

I am still amazed every time I go to this school. They have a brass band which would easily rival the military bands that walk down the streets in city parades. Simple amazing. Remember, these kids are no older than 12 years old. Their band not only plays amazing music, but also does a marching routine while they play! The routine also includes dancers with flags and free dancing! Here they are practising before school.

I had my usual number of 3 classes for the day, nothing out of the ordinary. However, Mr Kosaka planned a Goodbye party for me with his 2nd grade class. This picture is him and written on the board is "Jodi sensei's farewell party". I really enjoyed working with him (he accompanied me to the other classes too), as he speaks really good English and has a great sense of humour. The class party was really cute.

First they all played a song for me on their (creepy) mouth organs. It was great! Then they sang a song for me. Next they had some time to make me a gift (mostly origami which I collected in a big bag!). Some students drew a picture of me. It was super cute. Last of all we had a group photo. It was such a lovely way to end my time at Joyo Elementary...easily my favourite school. Sayonara minasan.

The Last Japanese Cooking Lesson

This was by far the easiest and quickest cooking lesson EVER!

Yumiko brought pre-prepared salads and mixed rice (made by herself of course) and the already cut and beautifully presented vegetable platter ready for the nabe pot, Shabu Shabu style. So all we had to do was turn on the stove, boil some water and then chuck everything in and wait for it to boil.

We had Chinese cabbage, carrot, leek, tofu, 3 kinds of mushrooms and pork. It was really delicious. An although we were only eating small amounts at a time, we were pretty full way before the shabu shabu was finished!

For a special dessert Yumiko baked a coffee cake for Jono's and my farewell. She took cake making classes for 2 years, so the cake tasted pretty good (even if it wasn't chocolate!). So thus ends our Japanese fortnightly, 800 yen cooking classes and dinner. It was a great opportunity and we are thankful for all Yumiko's hard work. We'll certainly think of her every time we use one of her recipes.

Himeji City Book of Records

Category:
" Most bikes stolen from one household within a 7 day period"
Winners: #302 Shirasagi Residence

Jodi Whitfield & Jono Gardner...

RECORD: 3 bikes

So lightning not only struck once, but 3 times! Lucky us! All stolen from the identical spot.

Photos from the archives...
You may well be wondering where the third bike came from? Well, it was one we were borrowing from Katie and Joe!

I don't think i'm ready for that jelly

For cultural reference see Destiny's child... Who would have thought the three song stresses (is that really a word?) who like to shake their butts through pure water (actually... wrong cultural reference, think that was British group All Saints, but I digress) would have written lyrics so profound. Though I would have liked them to be more definite... SO if I looked like Beyonce (and believe me there are plenty of of people that wish I did!) and was rewriting "bootylicious" I would have said "I am definitely not ready for that jelly!"

This blog started in February... When I say February that's when it started in my head... and has taken 11 months to make it this far. Upon visiting a convenience store I was looking for a drink. I didn't really want anything carbonated so went for the "Weider multi-vitamin". I thought it sounded delicious and quite nutritious. So imagine my face when after sucking on the straw I got lumps... I though maybe it was off (for Cultural reference see Wadey drinking milk from Jono's fridge at 3 in the morning)... but no, it was just jelly! At least a little liquefied but only due to the fact that apparently it was a phenomenal multi vitamin did I continue and eventually finish. As a side note I have prepared myself for that Jelly and have decided that I am ready, and in fact willing if it has the possibility of some health benefits.

Fast forward to September. Having spent some time in Kobe with Jodi, Ma, Pa and Verity we headed for the vending machine. For those of you who have been here you will know there is a vending machine on every corner. There is also a grape flavored drink in every vending machine. Jodi loves the sweetness of the grape so immediately headed. When she looked into the can (don't ask me why she was doing this) she realised she could see her reflection... mirror mirror in the can... who's the biggest jelly fan... Not Jodi! It was incredibly sweet.. not nice at all... would it have been nice if she was ready for the jelly... categorically no! In some cases it doesn't matter if you're ready for the jelly!

Fast forward to November... Having finished culture day or something like it a can of coffee appeared on my desk... ripper... until I looked closer and realised it was coffee jelly... So I downed it... kind of screwing my face at times... it certainly was different... Begged me to ask the question does it matter if you're ready for the jelly if it just shouldn't be made in the first place...

So, there is my appraisal on jelly in Japan. You can be ready for the jelly if it tastes alright... You won't ever be ready for that jelly if it tastes awful or is just wrong in principal! For those venturing east... Beware the can... read the labels at all costs... and beware that underneath the lid or ring pull could be a nasty surprise.

In Loving Memory

This is to mourn the death of my bike... Yellow, fast and reliable... taken from the front of Bon Marche by the station... Survived by Jodi's silver bike... May you find happiness with your new owner... continue to be fast and yellow... though i hope you give the sod who took it all the grief in the world... punctures, gear failures and may your bell never ring true again!

Reading Record

29-"In the Company of the Courtesan"

By Sarah Dunant

This is a story about a beautiful courtesan and her sharp-witted dwarf partner who escape Rome in 1527 and go to Venice to start a new life. It was an interesting read.

Only one more book and I'll have reached my GOAL of 30 books....

White Trash College Bash

As a send off party for the Aussies (hmmm?) Katie and Joe threw a "White Trash College Bash". As we don't have quite the same 'college' experience back in Oz, it was a our first glimpse into the college party life!

Everyone made a great effort to dress up and I must admit that I had a lot of fun doing it...though the pictures will no doubt raise a few eyebrows! Katie and I went shopping for our "trashy" outfits and came away with some goodies from the 100yen shop! Where else would you go to get:

• blue eye shadow


• foundation


• stick on nails (complete with diamonds)


• hair rollers


• glitter eye liner


• fake glitter eyelashes?

I spotted a long sleeve denim shirt with some beautiful embroidery on the front (so early 80s. Honestly, do people see these items and think "yes, I love it!"?). I cut the sleeves off and tied the front in a knot under which I wore a flashy red bra! I paired this with my own jeans and a pair of apple slippers. Wallah! Jono had a flannelet shirt with the sleeves cut out, paired with a red long sleeve t-shirt, jeans, a truckie cap and a handle-bar moustache! We won the "trashy couple" award. We are so proud!!! hahaha

There was much entertainment including the notorious beer bong, flippee cup and beer pong. They were a lot of fun...Katie and I were the champion beer pong players!!! Woohoo.

It was a pretty classy night all up (*cough*) and we had an absolute ball!