It has been long since my last post. But here is the update. Now, I work together with English Speaking Society (ESS). I wish we could have another name like English Fun
Club because in our club we do speak English but we do more activities than just speak.
We therefore have an English board on which we post some of the materials that we have gathered. For instance, we had this when we studied about Kenya. On the picture below, we let the rest of the school know more about animals in Kenya. For example, there are: elephants, zebras, lions, cheetah, leopard, rhinoceros, gazelles, buffaloes, hyenas and so on. Kenyan currency is (shillings-KES). The Japanese currency is Yen (\).
Beautiful Daisen.
One of the ESS students went to Australia for her summer vacation. She got a scholarship from a group of ALT’s in Shimane. We call that organization AJET. She was able to home stay there and study English. She visited places like Gold Coast and so on.
Last year in summer too, another of the ESS students went to Canada. She had home stay and there, she studied English. She was mostly in Quebec. She had lots of fun. While I have been here in Japan, I have also been able to visit many places and to experience great moments. Below, are some of the pictures of the places where I have been in Japan. Please enjoy the pictures.
In Kenya, there are no seasons so; living in Japan has been a wonderful experience. I have been able to enjoy the various seasons, the beauty that I didn’t even know existed and the extreme weather conditions. For me, summer has been too humid and of course winter, too cold. All the same, both seasons have brought their good things with them. I have been able to swim in the beautiful sea in Oda city and in winter, nothing tastes better than nabe inside the kotatsu with lovely company. Onsen too feels better when it is cold. I have also enjoyed other parts of Japanese culture. Who would have imagined me practicing karate? Something that I have always wanted to do since I was so young; then I used to watch Jackie Chan and the like.
Coming to Japan therefore was more than just a blessing. My karate group with whom I practice 3 times a week has become a second family to me. It is interesting to see the way the young members have now got used to me. They were a little nervous at first when I came or should I say they actually did try talking to me but my Japanese was so bad that they gave up after a few trials. But as you would expect, they are children. For the longest time ever, they did not realize that I was different or maybe they just didn’t give it a thought. One day, my friend began taking the lessons and then, we were speaking in English. I cannot put it down in words. The amazement, the wonder and curiosity that filled the eyes of those young ones. Then, they began to question. You can speak English? One cute one even said to the friend. I think Eddah is a foreigner. Then, my friend had the chance to explain that no doubt I was one. And that I wasn’t from America (Maybe the only other country they seem to know) rather from Kenya. I doubt that got registered anywhere in their system. They have since realized that I seem to have a slight clue of what they are talking about and therefore, they now try asking me questions.
It is also as a result of living in Oda that I have been able to enjoy the beauty of this town. I am able to ride from my house to the beach; I love the sound of the waves so I go to Torii or Kute beach at least once a week. The scenery is beautiful. When I sometimes go jogging, I am able to enjoy the beautiful and clean environment. Nature is wonderful and the view, one to kill for. From here, you can also enjoy the beautiful Sanbe Mountain as well. It is a great gift that God and nature has bequeathed on me. I feel very lucky.
Beautiful torii beach near my house. About 6 minutes by car.
Riho, Nagisa help with the sweet potato cake making.
Sweet potato cakes.
Cocoa coating on the sweetpotato cakes.
We enjoy the fruits of our labour.
Beautiful Kute beach. About 15 minutes by car from my house.
In the ESS room as the members prepare things for the ESS board.
ESS board.
The Ess board with stuff about Kenya.
Having fun together.
Attentively listening to Dan.
Yasuko and Aly and Natsuki on Halloween.
As we played giving instructions game. The person blindfolded is Iwaishi sensei( a part time teacher then in Oda high
School).
With two of the Ess members. I was dressed like a maasai warrior.
Halloween party with Daniel Beaman( Nima chu ALT) and Aly Lewis( Nichu ALT)
I have also been able to enjoy winter games now that we don’t have winter in Kenya. This is a skating ring in Hirata. There
Is one in Kenya now. The second of the two in the whole of Africa. 
In my house with my friends having a nabe party. We are sitting with our legs in the kotatsu( a small table with a heater) we use
It in winter. |
