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Life Update

I had a great night last night. Originally I had organised to go out to dinner and drinking with a teacher from Fukushima Elementary. He is also leaving Kiso for Yokohama, I suppose to be closer to his girlfriend. Yesterday I got a phone call from him to say that he had been speaking to the Fukushima Junior High Principal (who is retiring) who invited the two of us for dinner at his house.

It ended up being a lovely dinner, prepared by his wife and daughter. I was lucky enough to be given a beautiful hair brooch thingy made out of old kimono; the Principal's mother's kimono actually, so it was very special. Izumi was able to choose one for his girlfriend too.

We both left at about 9.30pm for Chikara. Luckily Brooke and the people she was with were still there; I had heard from Yuki that they were going to be there so I was hoping to say goodbye before I leave Kiso. It would've been nice to get there a bit earlier to talk more...and when I was a little bit more sober, oops.

Anyway, Izumi and I had a drink and some garlic chips (my favourite!) and by then we were both really tired, so we had to walk all the way back home again.

I had some really great conversations that night, and it also really tested my Japanese. I felt so happy that I could have a home-cooked Japanese meal at my Principal's house. I wonder if many other ALTs get to have that kind of experience.
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