I've got so much left to say right now,

but I'm slightly behind schedule with my blogging. I definitely want to share with you some of the highlights from two recent trips. They include the times I've spent with my family in Japan over Christmas and New Year's, plus the five-day Hokkaido holiday with the FuJETs. Those tales will come soon.

But for now, I want to jot down some touching moments in my life:

- I was at the local dollar store, and ran into one of my second-graders from Nichu. He bowed when he paid for his ice cream, and then he bowed as he said "Shee you!!" to me. For some reason, I thought it was simply darling when he carefully handed over his exact change to buy two cups of ice cream. I saw him run to the covered area of the shopping mall, and he split it with his friend.

- I heard a knock the other day. My neighbour and her youngest baby were bundled up at my door. She nervously smiled, and read an English message for me. She then handed the yellow slip of paper. She obviously used an Internet translation site, but it truly touched me that she went through some effort to communicate with me. She then handed me some "omiyage" - a variety of cakes from Sendai. Yummy! Little Shiogo was bundled up in his navy blue winter jacket - he stood there peering up at me. Seriously, he's a cute baby. He's only a year and two months old! Kawaii ne!

- I had to get my oil changed the other day. (I totally got ripped off, but that's my fault for not understanding Japanese. I kept agreeing to whatever Toshiki the gas attendant told me). While waiting in the garage, I was writing a to-do list in English. One of the ol' Japanese grandpas kept staring at my scrawl with some interest. I noticed he was wearing a shirt with some Engrish on it; and he just so happened to have the word "Canadian" embroidered on his green sweater. I used that as an ice breaker, and explained in Japanese that I am indeed Canadian. He then started asking me all these questions in Japanese. Unfortunately, I really couldn't understand a word he was saying. I think he has a Fukushima-ken accent. It was mad heavy.

- My kids at elementary school always brighten my day. Last time, two of the boys said "I love you very much-ey!" I melted. And my maniacal second-graders calmed down for five minutes when I offered to autograph their karuta cards.