Japan Diaries 4: Week 60

Japan Diaries 4: Week 60

Week 60: December 19 – 23, 2022

Day 413: December 19, 2022

Monday – Rumoi

Rumoi High School 12.19.22
Rumoi High School 12.19.22

It`s a cold -7-degree morning. I`m heading back to Rumoi High School for the last work week of the year.

Here`s my workload for today:

Collaboration work with Matsuda-sensei
Collaboration work with Matsuda-sensei

1st period - Roman Baths ＠ 3-35 of Matsuda-sensei
2nd period - The Bitter Truth about Chocolate @ 3-2 of Sengoku-sensei
3rd period - AI @ 3-46 of Matsuda-sensei
4th period - Believing & Doubting @ 3-1 of Sengoku-sensei

Matsuda-sensei giving a talk to the students of Iloilo Science and Technology University
Matsuda-sensei giving a talk to the students of Iloilo Science and Technology University 



Today is a big day for me and Matsuda-sensei as he will be giving a talk about English Classes to Improve the Four Necessary Skills for Communication in English to the university students of Iloilo Science and Technology University in the Philippines. Ganbatte!

Rumoi English Club film showing
Rumoi English Club film showing

After classes, the Rumoi High School English Club continued the film Elf which we started last week. The members seemed pleased and enjoyed the film. 

My Facebook post 6 years ago
My Facebook post 6 years ago

When I got home, I was browsing through my Facebook profile when I chanced upon my post 6 years ago. Thank you, Lord for granting my wish! 🙏


Day 414: December 20, 2022

Tuesday - Rumoi

Rumoi High School 12.20.22
Rumoi High School 12.20.22

It’s another very cold morning here in Rumoi City. Today, I`m heading back to Rumoi High School for my last day of work in the school for this year as starting this weekend I`m already off for my winter break.

Here`s my workload for today:

Collaboration work with Sengoku-sensei
Collaboration work with Sengoku-sensei

1st period - The Bitter Truth About Chocolate @ 3-2 of Sengoku-sensei
5th period - Word Review @ 1-1 of Motoyama-sensei
6th period - AI @ 3-46 of Matsuda-sensei


Day 415: December 21, 2022

Wednesday - Haboro

Haboro High School 12.21.22
Haboro High School 12.21.22

Today I’m heading to Haboro High School. It`s my 14th visit for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 2-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Here’s my workload for today:

Collaboration work with Okumura-sensei
Collaboration work with Okumura-sensei

1st period - Christmas Lesson @ 3rd year of Okumura-sensei
2nd period - Christmas Lesson @ 1st year of Ken-sensei
5th period – Christmas Lesson @ 2nd year of Okumura-sensei

Rumoi Chat Club Christmas party at Karakure in Obira
The Rumoi Chat Club Christmas Party @ Karakure 

Our main dish for the night - Karakure's famed soba
Our main dish for the night - Karakure's famed soba

Check out our Christmas cake
Check out our Christmas cake

Ikuko-san almost won the chopsticks and beans game but the Japanese natives had a handicap. They can only use the metal chopsticks
Ikuko-san almost won the chopsticks and beans game but the Japanese natives had a handicap. They can only use metal chopsticks

After classes, Ikuko-san picked me up and drove me to Karakure for the Christmas Party of the Rumoi Chat Club. It was a fun activity as Ikuko-san prepared some games for us like the "chopsticks and beans" game where we must pick as many beans as possible in 2 minutes using a chopstick. Surprisingly I got second place. Overall, it was a memorable night with the members of the chat club. I'm looking forward to more of this type of bonding in the future. 


Day 416: December 22, 2022

Thursday - Embetsu

Embetsu Agricultural High School 12.22.22
Embetsu Agricultural High School 12.22.22

Good morning, everyone. It’s a sunny winter morning here in Rumoi although it’s still -7 degrees outside. Today, I’m visiting Embetsu Agricultural High School after almost a month. It’s my 23rd visit for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 2-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Here’s my workload for today:

2nd period – Christmas Lesson @ 3rd year of Sasaki-sensei
3rd period – Christmas Lesson @ 1st year A of Sasaki-sensei
6th period – Christmas Lesson @ 1st year B of Sasaki-sensei

Embetsu Shrine grounds
Embetsu Shrine grounds

Before going to the bus stop, I did a quick stop at Embetsu Shrine to pay respects and also see what the shrine looks like in winter. I love how the snow made the shrine stand out. It had a magical feel to it. 


Day 417: December 23, 2022

Friday - Tomamae x Sapporo

Tomamae Commercial High School 12.23.22
Tomamae Commercial High School 12.23.22

It’s another cold snowy morning. Today is my last school visit for 2022. I’ll be heading to Tomamae Commercial High School for my 27th visit this school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I’ll be using my 1-day Moekko Free Ticket.

2022 Karuta Tournament - Tomamae Commercial High School
2022 Karuta Tournament

Karuta Tournament

We didn’t have classes today as the students were all competing at the annual 2022 Karuta Tournament held in the school’s gym.

Good bye for now Rumoi City
Goodbye for now Rumoi City! 🙋

When I got back home that afternoon, my family and I boarded the 6 PM Engan Express Bus from the Motokawa-cho bus stop in Rumoi City to Sapporo Station.

We just realized how heavy it was to drag bags in the snow
We just realized how heavy it was to drag bags in the snow

Sapporo Grand Hotel
Sapporo Grand Hotel

Checking in at Sapporo Grand Hotel
Checking in at Sapporo Grand Hotel

From there we walked to Sapporo Grand Hotel where we checked in for the night. We were given Room 607. I wanted my family to join me go to Odori Park to see the Sapporo White Illumination 2022 but they were tired and preferred to lie in bed instead.

Sapporo White Illumination at Odori Park
Sapporo White Illumination at Odori Park

I still went as the park was just a few meters away. It was my first time seeing the Sapporo White Illumination and it was worth it. The illumination displays in the park gave it a unique beauty.

The Backpack Adventures at Odori Park during the Sapporo White Illumination
The Backpack Adventures at Odori Park during the Sapporo White Illumination

I explored Odori Park until 10 PM. It was cold but totally worth it. From there, I walked back to the Sapporo Grand Hotel. I took a dip in the tub before calling it a day. 

Overall, my solo walk to Odori Park marks the start of my winter vacation and also the end of my work week. Tomorrow, we'll be leaving Hokkaido Prefecture to visit our Japanese family in Osaka. It is something we have been looking forward to for a long time. 

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 60
Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

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