So this is Christmas? Part Deux -Sinister santas...

So last week proved to be somewhat busy for me, finishing all my Christmas lessons (where I taught the new word "Turkey" and I think blew one or two minds by talking about this), official meetings, Christmas shopping, One christmas party in Kyoto, oh and a trip to a monkey park... sorry didn't catch that; yeah a trip to the monkey park in Arashiyama... Never fear (or fear depending on your reading enjoyment levels for this blog) I will get round to posting all about that this week.... anyway yeeeahh kinda busy. the Christmas lessons seemed to have all gone down well, the first years get to make Christmas cards, the second years learn about Christmas (see my previous post for that pondering) I decided to make it clear that Christmas is all about family and friends, although if they want to give me any gifts than that wouldn't hurt either...While the third years have had their christmas cancelled so that they can instead learn alll about house and school rules. Japanese students are automatically entitled to attend school no matter what, so things like detention, suspension and expulsion came as somewhat of a surprise to them. We did ask them to write some of their own rules, the results of which not only included normal things like "I have to wash the bath" and "I have to wear a helmet" to "I have to go to bed at 8" (these are 15/16 year olds) "No arrested by police"

Anyway the snow is again topping the mountain, its three degrees C in my apartment in the mornings, and Santa's are springing up everywhere like triffids. So I lets look at some of the fine examples of "Santa San" dotted around. Sadly not pictured..yet is the robotic inflatable one in my local meat on a stick place, who clambers out of a chimney only to slowly deflate which looks like he's been grabbed and clawed back into his deep dark hole by some alien horror movie extra or this story which I don't believe is true but still does the rounds every year... annnnyway

This first entry is a regular offender often seen brandishing a cane and threatening some secret herbs and spices smack down oh and encouraging foreigners to lay their weary head... As a side note I should mention that come Christmas eve a certain fried chicken (it is still called chicken isn't it? Its not been modified beyond recognition) restaurant beginning with K, is ringed by a circle of Japanese families collecting their fried chicken Christmas dinner. I think this might come from American influences, with Japanese people knowing that Chicken is usually eaten at Christmas where else should you buy it?

Our second contestant, simply known as "mummy why does Santa smell of sake?" or possibly just as the person you'll find trapped in your chimney after Christmas. Our final entry is the giant Tanuki seen at Shigaraki. Because nothing says Christmas like a giant raccoon dog thing with giant errr raccoon dog parts (thankfully not pictured) T.O.H has been skillfully taken out the picture to protect their identity especially as these Tanuki's never forget when someones lent on their raccoon dog parts.

Headmaster watch; Smart blazer and name badge, hair peaked to its up most just in time for parents meeting day.

Headmaster style; Quite official today, possibly CIA FBI MI5 inspired... Of course he would have to kill you if you ever found out which. (and its probably more MFI)