The School By the Sea; or, And Then Things Weren't So Bad

So now that I've discussed the Insane Asylum in its entirety, I'd like to turn to things a little bit more positive, my little school by the sea.

This school is maybe about fifteen minutes just outside of Murakami, and it's literally right on the ocean. When you walk into the entrance way, there are big, beautiful bay windows that look directly out onto the ocean and out, several kilometers away, is a small island called Awashima. On a sunny and clear day, the ocean is a stunningly awesome shade of blue, which finally made me understand why the the Japanese differentiate between regular Blue and a color they literally call Water (light blue!).

This school has a total student population of 33 kids. 33! And every time I show up, they're pumped to see me, ready to play some games, and all in all have a good time.

Today the kids practiced Yosakoi, a traditional form of Japanese dance, during afternoon break, and then we rode unicycles around the gym -- or at least we tried to.

Having come here after two days of insanity at my middle school, I feel like I can breathe. I can do the activities I want with the kids, they listen, participate, are great, and remind me that not every day is as crazy as others.