Tea Ceremony-June

Although it's the end of June, I decided to wear my usumono (kimono usually worn during July and August) because of the heat! Apparently, since I'm in Kyushu, it is ok, but not technically correct. It's extremely thin and quite see-through, so I need to get a white slip... I'm pretty sure some people could see my blue shorts underneath!

 This week, I started learning o-sumi, ,or charcoal preparation for the tea ceremony. My main problem is that I am left-handed and have to use those long chopsticks with my right hand! Inside of the shell is incense.

 

this flower is called "koebiso," "ebi" meaning shrimp because it looks like a shrimp!

 

These are the tea caddies we use, natsume on the left and chaire on the right.

 

These are the sweets we had, they had creamy white bean inside and they were so soft and sticky, I couldn't cut it!

 

From Kagoshima.

 

Quite an intense process, I hope I can get the gist of it next month, as that will be my last month to take the tea ceremony!! :(

Passed the test!!

I have been studying hard to get my teacher's certificate for the US and I just found out I passed!!
I am now working hard to secure a job in the states... This being said, there will be another opening at m workplace come August!! If you are a native English speaker from the US or Canada, and have had experience teaching, tutoring, or just working with kids, please apply!! I posted information previously. You probably won't have to do proofreading work, just work with kids and adults, as one of the other teachers will do most of the proofreading. Still, you should have a general knowledge of grammar and spelling, of course. If you are good at managing kids, please apply! It's been a tough year, so if you do apply for this job, make sure you are able to discipline kids well. There is no principal's office to take them to, and no other teacher in the room but you!! The classes are mostly fun and games, but there is a book so of course you will have to teach them. However, these classes are more like extra-curricular activities (at the nursery schools), so don't make the mistake I did thinking it'd be like a normal classroom. The classes in the office actually involve teaching, though, so those are serious classes and students in the office are ages 8 to adults.
Here is one of my company's ads:
 http://www.mytefljobs.com/esl-jobs/8887/english-teacher-at-progress-international-in-fukuoka/

The apartment fee will be automatically taken out of your paycheck so you won't have to worry about it. My apartment is big (you can see it at the beginning of this blog), and whoever takes my place will get my apartment!  



I went to Tokyo to take the test. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to see anything... This is where I took the test, though! Apparently it's a famous hotel.





As a celebration, my friend took me to eat dumplings and got me a cake!!

 

These were different kinds of tofu. They were all delicious!

 It says: Congratulations on passing! (roughly)