Today, the office need my IRS documents which I had forgotten at home, dur. Ichigo-sensei drove me to my place to pick them up and give them to the main office. She then said we could go set up some automatic withdrawal at the bank so we headed there next. Every time I’m there, they use the suffix “sama” and it makes me feel super important, haha. We stopped at a bakery on the way back to school so she could grab some lunch. Super small and cute coffee shop. They sold actual bread! Very tempted to buy some. Also had a cute hedgehog dessert. I definitely need to go back, I don’t think it’s too far from my place.

Tomioka Silk Mill

At 11 am, Kocho-sensei was going to pick me up and take me out around town. We first walked over to the world heritage site, the Tomioka Silk Mill, to visit my students who volunteer there. We stopped in at the newspaper shop where I met one of the school’s former students. Kocho-sensei knows a lot of people and likes to talk with them. We passed by many businesses. It has really revitalized that area. I tried some of their famous soap. It was so soft and very expensive. They wear the town’s mascot costume, Otome-chan. We couldn’t find them, but we walked around the grounds and into some buildings. We got in for free though. As we were leaving, he stopped by the main office to give his thanks and I saw another Westerner! He’s apparently a French-Canadian CIR. Maybe someone to practice French with?

Nukisaki Shrine

We then got lunch right nearby. It was a clay pot filled with rice, some meat and veggies. Very yummy. Best of all, they had wifi there! I’d been searching in the wrong spots. Should have check the touristy area first. After lunch, we went back to school, and took his car to Nukisaki shrine. It’s apparently the only shrine in Japan that you walk downstairs too. Normally, they are all on higher ground and you walk up stairs. The shrine was so beautiful. The detailed painting with gold on the building, wow. He showed me how to clean your hands first and then pray. Throw a coin in and clap your hands twice, bow twice, and clap your hands twice again before praying. We’ll see if my wish comes true, heh.

Next we went to the Tomioka City Museum up in the mountains. What a stately, modern building. Really nice and super air conditioned! We met with the director and got in free. She used to be a student.  We looked at some of exhibits and my artsy side promptly started itching. Need to get some supplies! She gave me a pin commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the museum and a bookmark. As we left, she gave us both a free folder with a drawing on it, so sweet! We then went across the street to the Natural History museum that also has the concert hall on one side. Our school’s students were practicing and having their songs recorded there. Of course, we went past all the authorized personnel signs and into the hall. He greeted the students and introduce me. As we were leaving, they began to sing again. Wow, just wow. I don’t remember going to choir stuff in high school, but they were seriously talented. So beautiful.

Nukisaki Shrine

When I returned to school, 3 hours or so later, the teacher’s room welcomed me back. They told me good job for working hard, and I heard poor thing, haha. My principal has quite a reputation all throughout Gunma.

I had to take my first PTO day for tomorrow as the school closed today at 5 pm. It’s Obon time. Luckily I have prefectural orientation on Thursday and Friday so I only had to take one day off.