Japan's Crazy Over KitKat

Japan has a sweet romance with KitKat. Yes, I mean the KitKat bars that tells you to have a break. It's those two-fingered bars that you eat by breaking it smoothly in half.

Before coming to Japan, I only knew of the ordinary Chocolate-flavored KitKat wrapped in red. Then boom! I went to Tokyo and discovered strawberry KitKat. I started living in Hamamatsu and saw green tea (macha) KitKat. When I went to Kyoto, yatsuhashi KitKat was there. Then there's apple-flavored KitKat in Nagano and sweet bean KitKat in Takayama. There's pumpkin KitKat during Halloween and sakura (cherry blossom) KitKat in spring. Suddenly, my knowledge of KitKat grew just like that.

Attempt at Poetry: Hopeful, Maybe

http://www.alphahacks.com/2013/06/the-top-20-life-is-hard-quotes-to-get-you-through-a-bad-day/

One day, I woke up

My thoughts- no direction

My feelings- nothing

My existence- empty 

It must be the sorrows 

This year brought

It must be the hurts 

My heart holds

Even in sleep

I find no solace

Even in prayer

I find no peace

My mind is weary

Grasping for sanity

My downcast soul

Struggling for hope: 

One day, I'll wake up

My thoughts- sane

My feelings- steady

My existence- settled

Fun Christmas Lesson Idea: Let's Sing Some Carols!

image credits; http://www.only4ukids.com/festivals/christmas/christmas_carols.shtml

Christmas is not a big thing in Christmas but some teachers would ask the ALT to give a Christmas lesson. When I was asked to give a Christmas lesson on my first year, I want to show how wonderful Christmas is.

Personally, I feel Christmas is in the air when the carols start to play. Sadly in Japan, all I usually hear is Taylor Swift's version of "Last Christmas" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You." The students were surprised to know that there are many many Christmas Carols aside from the two pop Xmas songs and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. So aside from doing what I want- that is to listen to carols, this lesson is also a great chance to expose students to classic Christmas carols.