New Teachers, Tokyo

So the end of the term has come, all my graduations are done, and I've found out who all my English teachers will be for the last few months I'm here.  The landscape of my schools has changed quite a bit, none of the students I met when I first came here are here anymore, and 90% of all my schools' staff has changed as well.

Teachers for 2011-2012
Jonan [Takahira Tomoko, Onodera Chisato, Niinuma Sachiko]
Niitsuki [Abe Shizuko, Onodera Masaaki]

2012-2013
Jonan [Takahira Tomoko, Onodera Chisato, Chiba Yoshie, Onodera Masaaki]
Niitsuki [Abe Shizuko, Takahashi Chihiro]

2013-2014
Jonan [Chiba Yoshie, Suzuki Chie, Onodera Masaaki]
Niitsuki [Takahashi Chihiro, Kumagai Junichi]

2014
Jonan [Chiba Yoshie, Suzuki Chie, Onodera Masaaki]
Niitsuki [Takahashi Chihiro, Kumagai Junichi]

All the teachers I taught with when I first got here have moved on to different schools.  Teachers only get to stay at any one school for a maximum of a few years (upwards of 7 or maybe 8) before they are forcefully transferred.  It's quite different from American schools where you hear of teachers who have been there for over 20 years.

I went to Tokyo for a few days over the break (they get 2 weeks here for spring break, although it's a little hard to call it that since most of the kids are still going in for sports clubs).  I met Marika, who is going to (is already in) Eugene, Oregon for a 1 year study abroad.  She's a cool girl, hope I'll be able to meet up with her when I get back in 4 months.  I also got to see Atsushi and Ami.  There's a lot of people I'll miss when I go back who I likely won't see for a long time afterwards.

I also went to see the ramen museum in Yokohama.  It's a cool place, but the ramen I ate there was the worst I've ever had in Japan.
Anyway there's a lot of ramen shops all over and it looks like a small town from a few decades ago.  Nice atmosphere.  I ate my ramen then went back to Kesennuma.

Last night we had a welcome party for the new teachers at Niitsuki.  Now I'm kicking myself I didn't try to see if Chihiro wouldn't have gone out with me.  I feel like she would have.  Seems no matter what I do with girls it's always wrong.  At least I can laugh about it a little.  Tonight I've got another welcome party for Jonan's teachers.  Hoping for some eye candy as there isn't a whole lot there now!

博物館【はくぶつかん】 (haku/butsu/kan) museum