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The temperature heats up, the humidity is on overdrive, and all the students are off for the summer. As for me, what summer vacation? Although no students are at school and there is nothing for me to do, I have to be there! I could be traversing the many incredible destinations in Asia, yet I guess instead it has been a summer of saving money, and relaxing in Hiroshima. So, what did I do to fill the rest of my time in July and August? Well, tons! In fact, it was a great summer relaxing, doing fun things, meeting all the new JETs, and definitely doing all things humanly possible to beat the humidity and heat.

Japan Summer of Peace, Love, Festivals, Beer, Mountains, and Rock and Roll

Casey Lary
2007-03-08 21:19:48

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and catch some sun.

SUMMER CAMP
I just can't seem to get away from summer camp. Kabe High School had their own English camp, yet instead of using me, hired an outside English teacher (an ex-JET even!), to come in an teach. A bit of a slap in the face. Yet, I did go to the English summer camp out on Etajima. Summer camp is in my blood! This was not like my days at Skylake though. We actually taught lessons. This was a bit intimidating because it was the first time I was in a class BY MYSELF without another teacher! It was a breath of fresh air too because I was around students who wanted to learn English and were good at it. They had no problems answering "How are you today" with more than just a "I'm fine, and you?" It was great to bond with the kids and I was sad to see them go at the end of the week. It was also fun to hang out with the 6 other JETs who were teachers. I got to know them a lot better, and like at all summer camps, pull some pranks on the boys. We came back to a pile of mattresses, and the boys came back one night without toothbrushes. hahaha ;-). God we are childish, yet fun. I even taught the students a camp song from Skylake!

ROCK AND ROLL
So this actually took place in June, but since its such a fun story I thought I would share it with everyone. Ben Harper came to play in Hiroshima. I love Ben Harper- his music and would consider having his children. Lisa and I were getting some ice cream from Bar Lawsons before heading over to the venue. As we are walking down the main street, we look over and stop mid-sentence, realizing that Ben Harper was walking our way down the street! I get starstruck
very easily (sad but true) and have no qualms about approaching movie stars, so meandered on over to him. He sees that we recognize him, chuckles to the Innocent Criminals behind him, and starts walking towards me. I go (real slick i know) "You're Ben Harper." He looks at me, laughs, bends ...