Day 41 in Japan - Hello, my name is Brianna

Today were my first 3 classes at AK - kids definitely much higher level academically than the kids at my visit school. Payed much more attention, and we did get to finish the lesson. I love the parts where they try to guess things about my me and my family - they think my favourite food should be kangaroo or pizza, and they think Mum is a science or maths teacher. The classes really take on the characters of the teachers as well - it is interesting to see the differences, even with these classes which are all full of the best kids. I was pretty happy with my self-intros, but after 4 classes I am wondering how I am going to make it through saying the same thing 25 times.

It's so hot up in the classrooms! After 2 classes in a row, I came back to the staffroom and sculled 1 L of water! They aren't air-conditioned or heated, so while they are boiling hot now, they will be freezing cold in winter. The poor kids have to spend all day in them, at least I can return to the air-conditioned staffroom between classes.

After my 3 morning classes, I started marking - 400 papers to grade! Got 1/3 of way through in about 2 hours. Then surprise conversation session with a keen third year - she's very nice, and will come to talk to me each week to practise her English. Crazy little overachiever (she reminds me of me). 

After school, Sam and I hopped on a (slightly too late) train to Sannomiya to meet Wendy and Dan. Went to a delicious pizza restaurant that Dan found (WITH HIS IPHONE - sooooooooon it will be mine), and then went and had some beers int he Belgian Beer Restaurant. It was a brilliant night, and I am really glad we got the chance to hang out with those two. Had such a good time that we forgot the original purpose of the trip - to go to Muji and buy some sheets. Oh well, good excuse to go and do it next time. Stopped in for an on-the-way-home  Maccas cheeseburger and Shaka Shaka chicken on the way home. Shaka shaka chicken is like a palm-sized bit of breast chicken, battered and deep-fried. They give it to you in a little bag with a "powder" of your choice (cheese, black pepper or something else that I already forgot). You shakka shakka (shake) it up in the bag, and then eat the powder-coated chicken. Sam got black pepper powder and it was really delicious! It's on the 100 yen menu (like the dollar menu in the US), so I think that Sam has found his new favourite drunken food in Japan.

Late-night on-way-home Maccas is exactly the same as in
Australia. With Shakka Shakka chicken.

Oh, and almost forgot - while in the Belgian Beer place, a table of other foreigners sat down next to us, and I realised one of the was wearing a Millipore shirt - I asked if they worked for Millipore, and they did. They eventually handed over some buisness cards, and two of the guys were the head of the neurosciences division (my homies), and the HEAD OF THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION MARKETING AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT. Wow, the people you meet! I told the guy who is based in Japan that I'd need a job in a year, and he told me to email him. Hmmmm, don't think he meant it, but I'm keeping that card anyway.

This is what all trains after 9 pm are like here - they are packed! 

Food Highlight of the Day: PIZZA! Delicious, wood-fired, Italian-style pizza. No corn, no mayonnaise and no sweet soy sauce in sight. Brilliant restaurant find on Dan's part.