First day of no more cool biz. Now that it’s colder, it’s interesting to see all the windbreaker jackets that the male teachers are wearing, ha.

Shimonita is certainly a whole other world. Out in the bumpkin country all my students have really old, fashioned uniforms so even at Shimonita only some girls roll their skirts and boys have their shirts more untucked and unbuttoned. (Especially compared with Takasaki! The really short skirts and makeup they’re all wearing.) But before and after class when you have to stand and bow, only some of them do it, and so slow and grudgingly. They have good relationships with their teachers though. Also interesting how students have to stand and answer here. There’s much more pressure that way on an individual.