Don't worry, I'm alive.

My deepest apologies, dear readers, for neglecting to keep you informed on what's happening in my life.

Ever since I've been back from winter break (which was lovely, by the way), I've been insanely busy! Here's a rundown of what's been going on with me lately.

• I have renewed my contract to stay in Japan for a second year!
• Rehearsals for Genki (the musical the Kochi JETs put on every spring) have started. I auditioned for a singing role, but I guess I sucked, so I'm a dancer/extra. Whatever, I'm still excited.
• I've been going to taiko classes in Muroto twice a week with some east-side pals. It's a lot of fun and a good stress-reliever, too. Why am I so stressed, you ask? Well...
• ...Arisa and I are playing two piano duets in a concert in Yasu at a venue that apparently seats 600 people (first of all, ARE there even 600 people in Yasu?) I don't know how this happened. One minute, she was asking me if I was free March 13; the next minute, she was showing up at my door with sheet music and a keyboard. The next thing I know, it's three weeks away. Gulp. There's a poster that, to my horror, has been distributed at all of my schools with our pictures and a blurb in Japanese about each of us (there are two other people in the concert as well). Arisa wrote about the oh-so-many musical instruments I play, making me sound like some kind of musical genius when really I haven't touched most of those instruments since high school. Now teachers keep asking me to play at school assemblies. This not only IS a nightmare, it's actually GIVING me nightmares. If only I could fast-forward time.
• On a happier note, today is my last day as a 22-year-old!
• Garrett and I are starting to plan a summer getaway. We've decided to go to Taiwan, and he may even come to Kochi first!
• The school year is wrapping up, and the new one will start in April. I got some really sweet letters from my 5th graders at Kawakita reflecting on their favorite memories of English class :)
• So far, I have no spring break plans (Alex and I are still thinking about going to Korea during Golden Week in May, though). No big deal. I'd rather save my vacation days for summer.

And, to tide you over until my next actual entry (one that is hopefully not a rant or random list), here are some pictures Kataoka-sensei took of me in action!

Introducing myself at a meeting at Daiichi:

A Halloween lesson with the 3rd and 4th grade at Ananai:

A 6th grade lesson on places around the city:

Playing "Duck Duck Goose" with the 3rd grade class of Kawakita:

A 5th grade lesson on shopping and how to ask for a discount at Daiichi:

A ceremony at Akano. I have no idea what it was about, but there were two people in cartoon character costumes dancing around. I really didn't want to release balloons into the air, but someone handed me four and I didn't want to be rude.

(Sorry, environment.)

International day at Ioki, one of Matt's schools:

(ALTs from the U.S., England, Germany and Korea.)

(Learning about time zones and getting ready to play a game about farm animals that they ended up not liking so much. Oh, well. You win some, you lose some.)

Peace,
Britt