Japan Diaries 4: Week 45

Week 45: September 5-9, 2022

Day 308: September 5, 2022

Monday - Rumoi 

Rumoi High School 9.5.2022

It's the beginning of another week. It's becoming chilly outside. This is most likely a foreshadowing of the forthcoming fall season. This Monday, I'll be returning to my primary school, Rumoi High School.

Here's my workload for the day:

1st period - Plant Factory @ 3-5 of Matsuda-sensei

3rd period with Matsuda-sensei

3rd period - Plant Factory @3-46 of Matsuda-sensei
5th period - Reading Task @3-11 of Matsuda-sensei

After class hours, I met with the speech contestants from our Rumoi English Chat Club and we discussed their speech scripts and also had a bit of practice. Overall, I can say that our contestants have potential but still needs a lot of training. 


Day 309: September 6, 2022

Tuesday - Rumoi (1st COVID vax in Japan)

Today is a special day for me as it's my vaccination schedule. Since my 2 doses of Sinovac aren't recognized here in Japan, I'm basically having my "1st dose" today. 

Rumoi Memorial Hospital

Before going to Rumoi Memorial Hospital for my 9AM appointment I first attended the morning announcements at Rumoi High School. 

My wife picked me up and then took me to the hospital for my vaccination. I was given a Pfizer vaccine. After that, we made a brief detour at Rumoi Shinkin so that I could withdraw cash; my wife would then go grocery shopping after she had driven me back to work.

Rumoi High School 9.6.2022

When I got back to Rumoi High School, it was back to work as usual. Here's my workload for today:

3rd period with Motoyama-sensei

3rd period - Reading Aloud Test @ 1-45 of Motoyama-sensei
6th period - Reading Aloud Activity @ 3-46 of Matsuda-sensei


Day 310: September 7, 2022

Wednesday - Byoinkyu (Sick Leave)

The Pfizer vaccine had some effects on me. My left arm seems to have been punched by a really angry boxer. I wasn't able to sleep much last night too. That's why I sent a message to my JTE first thing in the morning to apply for byoinkyu or sick leave. I did nothing special today as I just spent it mostly in bed resting.

My September supply of Moekko Free Tickets

KitKat Halloween pack

KitKat Halloween Sweet Potato Flavor

While I was at home, my wife went to the Engan Bus Ticket Sales office to buy my supply of Moekko Free Tickets this month. Aside from that, she also went to COOP for groceries. She was able to buy the new Halloween KitKat flavor series.  

Day 311: September 8, 2022

Thursday - Rumoi

Rumoi High School 9.9.2022

I'm back to work! I went to Rumoi High School earlier than usual today as I am expecting the paperwork to pile up. Thankfully, there were only a few.  

Here's my workload for the day:

5th period with Matsuda-sensei

5th period - Essay Writing about Plant Factory @ 3-35 of Matsuda-sensei

I made itineraries for our upcoming road trips

When I got back home, my wife and I spent the night finalizing our weekend itinerary. 


Day 312: September 9, 2022

Friday - Tomamae x 9.9-11 Family Road Trip D1

Tomamae Commercial High School 9.9.2022

It's another Friday and just like most Fridays, I'm off to Tomamae Commercial High School. It's my 15th visit here for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 1-day Moekko Free Ticket. 

2022 Tomamae Commercial High School Athletic Meet

Even ALTs get to join the fun


I didn't have any team teaching today, though, because the school is hosting the 2022 Tomamae Commercial High School Athletic Meet. What made the day more enjoyable was being invited to join the dodgeball game with the other ALT. My team finished second in the tournament. After the game, I rode the 1 PM bus back to Rumoi. 

Off to Numata (沼田町)

After work, my family and I drove to Numata (沼田町) and went on overnight camping.

Here are the places that we visited:




Numata Town Fireflies Villa Forest Park Campsite

Sato Auto Campground of Firefly

We transferred to Sato Auto Campground of Firefly and pitched our tent there


Unfortunately, the Numata Fossil Museum was already closed when we arrived. We just took photos with the Klaus 15 Steam Locomotive and explored the area a little. After that, we drove to the nearby Numata Town Fireflies Villa Forest Park Campsite to pitch our tent. The place was nice but my wife and I were concerned as we were the only ones there. At that point, we made the decision to set up the tent in the adjacent Sato Auto Campground of Firefly. Even so, the campground only had 4 campers, which is still preferable to camping alone.

Horoshin Spa

Team Nicerio visits Horoshin Spa

After setting up the tent, we went to the nearby Horoshin Spa to take a dip in their famed onsen. We got back to camp a little past 9 PM. We didn't stay up late though as we still have a long way to go tomorrow. 

See you on the next leg of our weekend road trip. 

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Location: 4-chōme-91 Chidorichō, Rumoi, Hokkaido 077-0024, Japan

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