2015-07-13, Kindergarten overnight and swimming in the lake

The kindergarten held an overnight at a nearby camping/hostel-like place this past weekend.  Happily I didn't have to spend the night (because the teachers are supposed to stay up!!!) but Stacy and I went to help out with the morning activities on Saturday.  There are many of these type of places throughout Japan - I'm not sure if they're owned/run by the prefecture, town or federal government but they are for groups, generally pretty basic with few amenities although very clean and usually in pretty country or oceanside locations.  I stayed in one on an overnight with the international organization in Tokushima.  There are usually dorm rooms with bunk beds, and often tatami areas for sleeping on the floor.  This one had an outdoor camping ground as well.  There is a bar-b-que area and evidently a nice (public) bath.  This one seems to have a rope course as well.

Getting instructions on making wooden charms.

Waiting while the men torch the wood.

Polishing off the ash, then they will decorate with markers, eyes, etc.

The area is probably 30 minutes south of here by bike and when it cools down a little I think I might go back.  Besides the overnight areas there are some hiking trails, sports areas, playgrounds and a shrine or two (there are usually shrines near any mountain or hill).

After the kids finished their charms we all headed over to the playground.

On the way the children were supposed to keep their eyes and ears open for a few specific things - a spider web, ants, flowers, bird songs, etc.  They each had a little book and toilet paper tube binoculars and when they spotted one of these things they told a teacher and got a sticker on that square.

We spent about an hour here and it was hot!!!   Then back to the eating area for a snack of onigiri (rice balls) and juice before going back to the playground/parking area to meet the parents.

Back to school to unpack some supplies and then the day was mine.  I went to a 'family style' restaurant - sort of like a modern diner I guess - with 2 co-workers, where we had lunch and enjoyed the airconditioning (and some ice cream).  Then I went off to my Japanese class after which I went and got another haircut.  I did get one  just 2 or 3 weeks ago but it wasn't nearly short enough and with the humidity my hair has been doing wierder things than usual.  Hopefully this one will last through the summer and then I'll probably let it grow for a while.

It's been in the 90's lately with high humidity which brings the 'real feel' (the opposite of 'wind chill factor') to 105 or so.  That's supposed to continue at least throughout the week.  There will likely be a typhoon at the end of the week so I wonder if it will cool down after that.  But I think this is the usual temperature through July and August so maybe not.  I haven't used my airconditioner yet, getting by with the fan (and the school's airconditioner during the day) but it may be time to try it out.

On Sunday I decided to check out the local swimming area.  The people I've asked about it all say the lake's not clean enough to swim in around here, but when I looked at past (couldn't find present) water quality tests they were all okay.  I figured if other people were swimming and there were no warning signs it should be okay.  It's about a 15 - 20 minute bike ride north, and I ended up hitting the bushes when a man coming the other way, but looking down and not where he was going, almost hit me.  The beach area wasn't at all crowded but there were enough people in the water, mostly with young children, that I felt comfortable enough to join them.  The water was shallow and warm but quite refreshing.  The problem was that the ground was full of ants.  I had forgotten to bring my mat so I found a stone and then a bench to sit on.  But still the ants would crawl on my feet.  I went in the water a couple of times, read a little, ate my snack and went home.  I was probably warmer after the ride home than before I went, but I will probably go a few more times as I love to be in the water.

After that I just hung around at home watching Korean TV on my computer.  It was too hot to cook and I didn't have anywhere to go.  This coming weekend is a 3 day weekend.  I am going to Kobe to meet a friend from Tokushima.  I've never been to Kobe and it will be fun to see Noriko so I'm looking forward to the trip.  Otherwise, nothing much going on.  Just work.