So, today marks the third (or maybe the fourth? I've lost count) time I've slept through my alarm. I think my state of resting could be more accurately described as a coma rather than sleep. I feel like I've just been woken from the dead every morning, and have that "where am I" feeling several seconds after my eyes actually open. Fortunately for me, all the American junior high teachers have been getting together in my apartment to pray in the mornings, so if I'm not up by then, at least I don't miss school or something awful like that (meeting in my apartment was something I requested for this exact reason). On a completely different note, I'm realizing that I'm starting to love many things about the Japanese culture, but I must confess, there are a few things I have a hard time viewing as "just different" rather than "wrong" or "a little annoying" or even, yes "just plain illogical." Perhaps the best example of this has come to light as the weather has grown colder. Everyone comments about the weather--if it's sunny, cloudy, rainy, so recently there has been a lot of "Samui des, ne?" (It's COLD, isn't it?) I like observing my environment, noticing the changing seasons. The irritation comes, however, with what is done about the much chillier air--absolutely nothing. Everything remains the same. The kids still wear shorts for sports practice, and not only does the heat stay off, but the windows stay open. Yes, at Segawa, I sit in front of the window (freezing cold) in the teacher's lounge, and in the morning I watch everyone scurrying in while complaining about the cold--all while the frigid Autumn wind is fluttering through the papers on their desks--to me, completely illogical. Especially when so many students and teachers are getting sick. I guess it is popular to wear a surgical-type face mask when you're ill, and I can't tell you how many of those things I've seen in the last week. It's like the newest fashion fad. The second "rub" with my "won't-seem-to-die-American-mindset" is the practice of not blowing your nose in public. This I appreciated at first--it's never pleasant to hear mucus being ejected from the nasal passage to a piece of cloth in the ill person's hand. However, I have found it equally unpleasant to (repeatedly) experience the sound of mucus being violently sucked into the ill person's esophagus. In fact, it makes me want to gag. And my theory is--if we'd just shut the windows and turn on the heat, this wouldn't be such a problem! Also related to annoying noises is the process of drinking tea. I have been taught since I was a wee little one that slurping anything is terribly rude (whether or not I acted accordingly is another story, but the point is, it was drilled into my head that it is NOT polite). Well, I sit next to a teacher at Funehiki Jr. High with a much different opinion. Every morning he pours himself some (green) tea and proceeds to drink it in what I perceive as the "wake version of snoring." He lets out all his air, brings the cup to his lips, then begins--"sluuuuuuuuuurrrrrp, aaaah. Sluuuuuurrrrrrrrrrp, aaaaaah. Sllluuuuuuuuuuurp, aaaaaah." And on and on and on, until all I can think about is the joy it would bring me to snatch the cup out of his hands and pour the remaining tea on the floor. I haven't managed to work up enough nerve yet, but... So, those are my irritations with the culture up to this point. Otherwise, it's amazing. Everyone is so polite (even up to not laughing when Tammy - twice - tripped up the stairs), and so concerned with our comfortability here. I really can't complain - I'm just aware of the deep roots of American culture in me that refuse to die. And as I promised, the quote of the week: "He has the personality of like...a rock." ~American English Teacher (who wishes to remain anonymous) about another (again, anonymous) teacher~