Honjo Elem, double feature friday, praying mantids

Double Feature Friday

Honjo Elementary school was on Friday. I taught the kids about types of fishes, colours, and things you have with you at school. A lot of "fruit basket" was played, and it was my first time doing it so it was pretty funny watching the kids run around and whack into each other. One of the teachers joined (a lady in her late 30's wearing a sweater vest) and she took some nasty spills. Tatami mats, hyperactive kids and socks aren't exactly a non-injurious mix. I was really tired from running around with children so during one period when I didn't have a lesson, I sneaked off to the library and napped in secrecy. I plan on making a bad habit of it since nobody ever GOES to the library. They're just for show. After classes I played with the kids for awhile, being kidnapped this time by the 2nd years who made me do the tire swing with them over and over and over. But pushing kids on swings is kind of fun in an eerie "oh god I'm old and maternal" sort of way. I also had the pleasure of having a full sized praying mantis thrown at me multiple times. I think the mantis was about as pleased about it as I was. Watching Rechel-sensei screaming and flailing down the hallway was probably the highlight of those rotten kids' day. Other than that, Desi and Andy came over for what was the first "Double Feature Friday" that I've put together. Possibly the first of many, possibly the first and last. Depends on whether I want to bother with people saying they'll come and not bothering or not telling me anything and then planning on showing up randomly. Not cool. We watched House of 1000 Corpses which was... odd. Then we watched Monster House which is a pretty good movie. Desi took over my kitchen and we all made curry (mostly her) and had some beers and chocolate covered bananas and coffee. Marvelous. It was nice having house guests. I even made up a couch/bed for them, which I like very much and I think I'll keep it around for awhile. It's mostly just futons and pillows piled in a couch-shape and covered with a quilt. Yay!

Praying Mantis Pornography

The next morning we were outside while Andy enjoyed a crisp Autumn cigarette. I noticed two praying mantises wandering around. They are everywhere nowadays! One was big, one medium sized. I said "look there's two of them!" and Desi and Andy looked just in time to watch the big one grab the little one and devour him. I guess it was their post coital ritual of ... DEATH. So we spent about 30 minutes watching the lady mantis eat her hubby. It was really really really gross/AWESOME. Hooray for nature in my front yard! Grabbed lunch in Mineyama with Desi and Andy and Marina. We got some pretty good pizza and it was very nice and laid back. Then I stopped off at a weird bedding/ugly clothing store and bought a big fuzzy blanket, a runner for the hallway, and a cool toilet paper holder. It was my first contribution to the house, actually. I've been a lousy JET when it comes to decorating. I was inspired by a really bizarre package I got from Mom and Dad which had random awesome dolls in it, rubber gloves, shoe polish, peanut butter, a book on Russian embroidery, embroidery by my mum (which is on the wall now), toothpaste, whitening strips, and socks. I needed places to put things, so I decided to turn my house into an ACTUAL house this weekend. And it's well on its way. I get more excited about it when people actually come over, otherwise it's kind of boring having a big amazing house with no one around to see it :(