Our Adventures in Japan: Cold Schools and Fancy Meal

February 15, 2015

Let me begin by saying that Canadians are wimps about the cold (I know that’s a gross generalization). I say this because we act like we’re all tough because we live in Canada and it can get down to -40 and we walk to school uphill both ways through a blizzard. Of course, the only part of that that’s true is the -40 and we usually stay inside. In Canada, I only occasionally wear long johns and I never wear thermal shirts. Here in Japan, I’m wearing both every day. As I mentioned before, they don’t have central heating in their homes or in the schools. The schools are really what I want to talk about. If the weather is 10 or higher the schools don’t put on the heat. When I went to the elementary schools, I was freezing. Being outside in the sun and riding my bike was fine. Inside the schools, they leave the windows open to let in some fresh freezing cold air drafts. I think they go by the idea that fresh air is good to fight against germs. The teacher I was with, thankfully, would use the heaters during class, but then during recess turned them off and opened the windows. Perhaps recognizing the puzzled look on my face, she explained, “We have to open the windows during recess because of the flu.” Out with the germs, in with the cold, I guess.

Many of the heaters in the schools are broken and when the work, they aren’t able to heat up the classrooms all that well. I found myself always standing in the sun or by the heater in the classroom when I wasn’t needed. I definitely understood why Adam wears so many layers to school. Essentially, the temperature inside is the temperature outside except colder because there’s no sun. The kids don’t have to put on jackets to go outside, they just change their shoes. I also haven’t seen anyone wear toques here. So, Adam and I have decided that it’s really the Japanese who are tough about the cold. I heard in Hokkaido, which is the northern part of Japan, that people use fridges to keep their vegetables from freezing inside their homes. I’ve been using part of our home that we don’t heat as a fridge lately.

The second thing I would like to talk about is one of the fanciest meals I’ve ever eaten. Last night, my boss invited Adam and I, along with the other two teachers of the school out for dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant here in Tarui. I guess there was a man in Tarui who owned some business, but the business went under and now the house he built was turned into this Italian restaurant. It’s really beautiful with a garden around the house.

Garden view from the restaurant

When we first got to the restaurant, someone took our coats and we sat in a waiting room until everyone arrived. We were then led into a private room. I won’t bother describing it, as Adam took some pictures. We had a multiple course meal. When they brought in each course they would explain what we were eating. My co-workers would then explain in English what the food was. It wasn’t what I would have expected in terms of Italian food, but it was oishii (delicious).