News from the Rice Paddy: hot stuff.. comin this way..

This month also witnessed the beginnings of summer- hot weather, BBQs and trips to the river. Almost every weekend consisted of some kind of BBQ, picnic or outdoor adventure and so.. yes.. this is a happy Laura writing. Also this month were school trips. Sadly, and I personally think unjustifiably, the 9th graders trip to Kyoto and Nara were canceled due to INFLUENZA!! This influenza swept through Southern Japan, infected 300 hundred. It lead to mass hysteria- top news on every program, masks selling out, and yes, anyone planning to visit the area canceling their visits. So the field trips for the thousands of school children were canceled. Luckily for me, I was going to Tokyo with the 8th graders so we went- masks in hand. Like last year, we arrived in Tokyo and the students were on their own until we met up later that day. And so were the teachers. My English teacher and I shopped around Ginza, waited 20 minutes for a famous cake, and ate Vietnamese food with her friend. Everyone reconvened safely at the appointed time and we were back on the bus for Katashina. For some reason I feel like if me and my friends were let loose on Tokyo in Junior High School it probably wouldn’t end up like this…

School Trip