Watashi no tanjoobi [My birthday] Part II

Got back from Hideko's (see previous post, Part I) just in time to start preparing for Part II...

Joint celebration with Selva whose birthday was the day before myn.













Tried to do some baking - actually this turned out to be one of mt best chocolate cakes (bar the fact I had to use a casserole dish to make it coz I discovered all my disposable
baking trays were finished)













With Max and Rochi. Max stepped in as DJ for me on VERY short notice. Thanks man!














Doing the 'Malaika' dance I choreographed for the Open Day 2005 (cultural show).
Max and Rochi can really get down - as always;)









Japnese 'Matsu-ken' dance led by Kazunori (also performed at IUJ Open Day 2005)


Minnasan ishoni...well the ones that were still there at the end

Watashi no Tanjoobi [My birthday] - Part I

Saturday 22 July was MY BIRTHDAY!!!
Having been 12 for a really enjoying it - decided why upset the cart- so once agian this year, I turned a BIG 'OL '12' whole years old!!!
[You are as young as u feel;) - the '2' and the '5' on my cake...Hideko can't count;)]


Spent the first part of the day at Hideko's place in Yuzawa (couple towns from here) with her son Hiroshi (18) and her duaghter tomoko. Twas Tomoko's 15th birthday on Wed July 19- so we had a combined celebration.

Had 'traditional' Japanese lunch- soba with shrimp and vegetable tenpura- followed by some really oishii cakes!!!

After lunch Hideko and Tomoko then had fun 'dressing me up' in Yukata (Summer Kimono).




















Hideko REALLY spoiled me. All these bags...all stuff from her.


Hideko-san, Tomoko-chan, Hiroshi-kun - honto ni iroiro osewa ni narimashita!
[very truly, thank u for everything]

Another dinner at Akio's place...Saturday 15 July 2006

Another lovely night at Akio's (aka 'Andy'). Got back from Koide (nearby town) jus in tym to fynd out we had been invited for dinner at Andy's place again. Unfortunately, had no tym to cook (would have made these pies I made last week- they were totally superb!) but ofcourse I grabbed something (fruit – lesson incase y’all eva come here and are invited to a Japanese home- not compulsory to take something, but appreciated).


Japanese style - tofu, some sashimi (raw fish), pork etc prepared by Kyoko and Yoko (her very sweet, very pretty, Japanese friend from the next prefecture)...



Debbi (Selva's wife) made sum oishii Indian chapati and this really nyc curry- man it really went down;)

and Andy (Akio) later made sum italian pasta

And Hung (crazy Vietnamese/American guy)...well he was the official wine opener:) [great job man!]

Once again, Akio, Kyoko- arigatoo gozaimashita. Itsumo tanoshikatta desu!

Second Elementary School Visit - Thurs 13 July 2006

Once again- went on an Elementary School visit. This time went to Baba School in Tokamachi.
Definitely less nervous this time round - and could enjoy more and even be more adveturous with my Japanese;)

The kids were great - really had an awesome time but man the gym was freaking hot! by the end of their game (dodgeball, the Japanese way- which even though it was my 2nd tym playing this game with elementary school kids, still confuses me coz they do it REAL different from home) and my game and the singing, playing etc- man I was bushed!!!

They made all these things- this snowman poster was really cute- and he was holding my flag;) And oh, they had read up on Zim before I came and they had drawn flags and stuuf- and most touching of all, they learnt a few words of Shona-go (Shona language - my native) just for me. It was really touching to hear them try speak to me in Shona;)

They also did a little dance for me. Cho -kawaiiiiiiii!!! (so cuteeeeee)

They all gave me little presents at the end. My goodness the detail in some of them was AWESOME e.g this little boy gave me this book of origame craft animals end stuu- it must have taken him AGES to do! Its really nyc. All of the prezzies were so sweet.

Was kinda sad to leave - they are really great kids and its really awesome to spend tym with them (they treat u like a STAR - they all wanna be seen with u, especially the girls- maybe that helps;)

My next school visit is at the end of this month (well, depending on when I go to Osaka with Akio (aka "Andy") and Kyoko- gonna spend a week with Akio's family (his parents etc)- that should be interesting too).