Cricket in the snow?

Going home for two weeks is fantastic but hardly enough. It's just enough time to relax and settle in, only to realise you have to leave again soon and start worrying about buying gifts for people back in Japan, calling all the friends you couldn't catch up with personally, and packing your bags for the long return journey. It is long, too. A full day door-to-door, flying Korean Air because it's relatively cheap. Fortunately, I met a friend from JET as I was checking in and had her to talk to during the flight and brief stopover. I almost missed my connecting flight in Seoul, however, after going to the wrong gate and dozing off!

All's well that ends well, though, and I flew into Osaka infused with the energy that a Christmas at home, lots of sun and plenty of good company imparts. After hitting a round of golf with some mates from school, visiting the cinema several times to see all those movies that haven't come out in Japan yet, and seeing in the New Year in Brisbane with some swing dancing and fireworks, maybe I came back with too much positive energy? I decided, on a moment's inspiration, to buy a Sony laptop and digital camera while I was waiting for the bus at Osaka Station. Nothing like a big hole in your pocket to bring you back to earth. :)

School resumed for only a couple of days before the next weekend came along, extended with yet another public holiday and a perfect time for me to finally welcome a friend from Australia to my home in Iya. Tamma had been in Japan since mid-December, staying with other friends and wandering around the country. Luckily, I got back from my break in time to spend the weekend with her and show her the local sights. We hiked up to a nearby temple, crossed all of Iya's vine bridges and had time for a bowl of noodles at one of my favourite local haunts. In the absence of Awa Odori performances in Tokushima City during the New Year vacation period, I had to do a solo in my kitchen! I hope you can come again and see the real thing some time, Tamma!

Unable to fully accept the reality of my winter holidays being over, I have made the most of several decent snowfalls in the past fortnight by visiting three different slopes for a total of four days on the snowboard. I reckon I'm getting pretty good - I'm trying to jump now! Just last week, I spent two days at beautiful Daisen on the Japan Sea coast of the main island. There aren't many ski resorts around with views of the ocean! I'd have gone again this weekend just past, but for a big schedule of Burns Supper and Australia Day to keep me on firm ground.

Burns Supper is a Scottish tradition, where friends gather to eat, drink and recite poetry in honour of Scotland's most famous poetic son, Robert Burns. You know, the guy who wrote Auld Lang Syne, and who also wrote Address to a Haggis and several other works that leave even the most cunning linguists struggling to get their tongues around many strange Scottish sounds. We had a great turnout of some thirty JETs and a few locals to warm the cold night with poetry and talk. The supper is usually celebrated on January 25, and there were still a few hardy souls awake at midnight on Saturday evening to see in the day. With a blizzard blowing outside, however, I didn't see it in for too long, retreating instead to the warm safety of a futon and dreams of doing a heel-and-toe polka in the snow.

Despite the cold, you see, it was up early and on the road back to Iya to prepare for some Australia Day antics with my students. Though January 25 isn't quite right, I thought it'd be nice to mark Australia Day with a bit of bush dancing, cricket and Australian food. A gaggle of fellow English teachers came along to join in with the fun. I caught the following photo to make sure Mum knows I can cook, but I have to give credit to the local ladies who did the lion's share of the work to make the lamingtons. I also managed to put a bit of Vegemite past the kids' taste buds. Poetic though it sounds, snow on the pitch is a bit of a hazard for batsmen and bowlers alike, so we stayed indoors that chilly afternoon. It was nothing fancy - just playing around in the school gym for a few hours, really - but everybody had a good time and I think we can call it a success. After two-and-a-half years in the valley, it was nice to finally put on an event here. It even rated a mention in the local paper. If only I could have taken the holiday for January 26, too... :)

I might be in need of holiday by this time next year if things turn out the way I'�� planning, though. I've decided that I've got another year on the AJET council in me and that, if I'm going to do it, I might as well run for the top job. I'll be a candidate in the elections for AJET Chair next month. If I get enough votes, it'll keep me busy enough to almost be a job in itself. Combine that with my new job and increased workload from September, and another holiday to Australia next Christmas is looking likely! It'll be a great challenge, of course, and I'll get to meet some more interesting and wonderful people. And if I don't win the ballot, well, it's no problem. I've got several other New Year's resolutions that need fulfilling in the absence of AJET duties.

In the more foreseeable future, however, I have more mundane things to consider. To get naked or not to get naked? That is, to join the Naked Man Festival again this year in late February, or swap that sort of pain and cold for another by getting out for some more snowboarding? Awa Odori practice has already started, since we're performing at a wedding next week. I'm also looking forward to Valentine's Day to see if I'll get any chocolate. In this country, the onus for giving is on the women - no wonder I like Japan! Then I'll just have to decide who to return the favour to on White Day one month later. And in the spring, we're organising a touch footy carnival here in Tokushima. Should be a good 2004! I hope you're starting the New Year well, too!

Until next time, with warmest wishes from the cold,

Dave