Weekend in Saiki...

Enjoying myself in Saiki

8 July to 10 July 2011

Last week, I had my last lessons with my  ni-nenseis. This week, I will be having my last lessons with my ichi-nenseis and san-nenseis. I prepared a quiz and chocolates for them. The students had fun playing the games and I took class photos with them. Leaving a place is really difficult. I remembered when I had to leave Singapore, I was really sad too. There were moments when I didn't want to go to Japan. Now, I don't feel like leaving. I am going to miss my students, teachers and my friends in Saiki. With the Japan system of transferring the teachers to other schools after working there for 3-5 years, even if I come back to Saiki for a visit, I might not be able to see the teachers too. They would have been posted to another school. I hope they will kepp in contact with me and come to Singapore for a visit. Hopefully, some of my students will email me too. I would love to be updated about Saiki, the schools and their lives.

Friday evening, I went for dinner at Yufu (specialising in cooking chicken) with Hida Sensei and Masako. It was fun and the food was great. How come I didn't go to this restaurant earlier?! The 2 of us were posing for pictures with the chicken. Maybe I will bring Han there for dinner when she gets to Saiki. There are so many good restaurants in Saiki! I want to bring her for Fuku sushi for Saiki sushi, tempura, gomadashi udon, Yufu for chicken, Pizza Savoy for pasta and pizzas... 



Enjoying our chicken @ Yufu



I have only 2 weeks left in Saiki, so I stayed in Saiki for the weekend. There was a farewell party for the leaving ALTs in Oita, but I don't think I am so close to the other ALTs. Staying in Saiki is great! I like Saiki. On Saturday, I was packing and packing. Now I have 3 boxes waiting to be shipped back to Singapore. I baked Focaccia Ham Sandwich. It was easy and delicious! Happy with this "experiment"... I skyped with a Japanese teacher whom I had worked with last year. I don't think I would get to meet her before I leave.




success!

On Sunday, I went cycling with Jerry on Oyujima (an island like Pulau Ubin). The sun was scorching hot, but windy. Jerry is a private ALT working for the Saiki BOE and he was my guide for the day. Biking on Oyujima was easy and relaxing, took us about 2 hours to go round the island. We both agree that there should be a beach on Oyujima so more people would go there during the summer. It's a great island! We treated ourselves to a pon-gan softcream at the end of the bike trip.


Beautiful and clean sea




Jerry (My guide). Fortune Well. Softcream.



In the evening, Hida sensei and I decided to go to Kamae Marine Cultural Centre for the 東日本大震災チャリティー　KAMAE SEASIDE TWILIGHT ～海と音楽と星空と～. Gokkin was performing when we arrived, so we watched his performance before heading for a walk at the beach. Kamae has really beautiful beach. Looking at the sunset, listening to the music, walking on the beach, lying on the ground.... Perfect place to relax! That's what I call slow life... Once I get back to Singapore, I will have to adjust back to hectic life again...




Relaxing at Kamae with my friends...

 
We went for Saiki tsukemen at a newly opened shop after that.



Tsukemen (Saiki Style)



Perfect weekend for me! I love Saiki and I love my friends here!