Big Time Update

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Originally uploaded by Kawakatoose.

Helloooo Everybody. My goodness. I've let this place go in the last few months. I am still here and a lot has actually been happening to us in the last little while. I've started posting a few times in the last few weeks, but I haven't been able to finish anything before it's old news. We'll have to see how this one turns out.

A few weeks ago, we went to Calgary to see Charity's folks. Charity's mom is going to the University of Calgary for her Ph.D. in English Literature. That was a short trip, but we had fun. We went to an Asian supermarket, which brought back some nice memories and provided us with tasty and foreign food. I also found some cool Chinese movies that I haven't been able to find anywhere else.

I guess the biggest news in the last little while is that I've been working pretty steadily. I was able to cover for a lady who had taken a sick leave for six weeks at Gravelbourg Elementary. I've really enjoyed it, even though I'm not particularly used to working with elementary students. It's been a lot of fun and I really like the kids. They're in grades 5, 6, and 7, so at least I'm not wiping noses and that sort of thing. Some days present certain challenges, but overall, I think it's been positive for me and the kids (though I'm not sure what the teachers' assistant working with me thinks). It's coming to an end soon, though. My contract ends on December 22nd and the regular teacher will be back after Christmas. It was fun while it lasted, though. At least I'm one of their subs now, so I'll likely be back there from time to time.

The strange thing about working in Gravelbourg is that one of the students at the high school there was one of my English students in Japan. Believe it or not, one of my students in Japan, Anna, is on an exchange program to Canada and it just so happens that she's in Gravelbourg. Last year, while I was her teacher, she told me she was going to be in a small town in Saskatchewan for her exchange. A few weeks later, she found out the town: Gravelbourg. I told her what I knew about the town and helped her prepare for living in small town Saskatchewan. I didn't know, though, that she decided to return to Canada for a second year, though I had heard about the Japanese exchange students from various sources. Lo and behold, one day I was in the high school bringing the kids over for gym class and she walks down the stairs. It was kind of unusual to see her here in Canada. Very cool, though. It really is a small world.

Next week, we'll be going up to Saskatoon for Christmas. It's looking like it will be a bit hectic getting together with family, but it's still a big change from last year when we didn't see any family. I still remember catching the train on Christmas night last year and heading to Tokyo by night bus. Yeah. The night bus wasn't the greatest. This year will be different. Maybe after the whole Christmas thing is done, we'll be able to relax for a few days before coming back here to Hodgeville. We may also be able to see some friends and we might go to Prince Albert for a day to see my brother. Anyways, I hope to blog again before Christmas, but in case I don't, if anyone is still reading this, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
-Joe.