well, I obviously spoke too soon on several counts.
I still didn't understand the name of yesterday's activity correctly- currently yesterday's post title is fully of typos. A JTE (Japanese teacher of English) set me straight this morning on what it's called and means, but I've subsequently forgotten it... remember it being something about the tide though. Hmm....

I also spoke too soon about not being able to eat the asari (Japanese littlenecks). I should not have thought that お母さん - Yukiko's Mum, would let me go without. She called me earlier this evening, while I was out & later came round with a bowl full of shells and told me some verbal cooking instructions (which I've forgotten / didn't quite understand in the first place, but have a recipe for clams which is similar & i'll probably use instead - ie steam them in sake).

Here are the shells that are currently in my fridge- sitting in a bit of sea water.

THEN - who could ever question the Japanese' penchant for hospitality - she produces more bags of omiyage. (souvenirs) [Whilst on that subject, this is a cultural aspect I will NEVER understand. I've posted on this before. But just this morning, i received some omiyage - a rice cracker, at school, as did all the other teachers, because Miura Sensei ,the 7ft (or so) PE teacher and basketball coach, has just had a new addition to his family. He brought in some snacks because his wife has had a baby. I REALLY don't get this tradition!!]
Anyway, as well as the usual food, Okaasan also produced a summer kimono- to give me! One that Yukiko doesn't wear any more, because it's a bit はで　（派手）-showy/ gaudy. I wish I could have taken a photo, but will have more time for that later- it's a peachy colour, with big lilac flowers and green leaves. It's really nice.
Okaasan came to measure me, so she will attach some of the ties that you usually don't attach. Even thought I'm starting to learn how to wear yukata and put it on myself, I guess this'll make it easier when I come back home and forget. (It's a bit like putting gloves tied onto elastic in a children's coat I guess.)

Anyway, I really needed that today. Oh, and before she left, I passed onto her loads of stuff I don't need that I need to get rid of. Earlier today, I was complaining to a friend, that many people say they'll help me clear out my flat, but realistically no-one's up for the challenge. And then along comes this (grand)motherly figure, who takes stuff off my hands; tells me what should go to a recycle shop & says she'll come back later to help becuase she's free everyday - and somehow I think she will. (E.g. she's the kind of person who once came round to teach me how to cook Japanese food, but had to start with cleaning the sink and surrounding debris. Just the kind of person I need to have around.) It's at moments like this, I'm reminded once again- THANK YOU!- that there's someone up there & with me, looking after me.

It didn't quite feel that rosy earlier on today though. Had some bad, good and bad news. The first set of bad news = a student has come down with measles (it's going around in Sendai). The good news = no school for a week, wahey! The bad news = students are off and lessons are cancelled, but teachers have to come in as usual. You must be kidding! Some teachers may take a day or two of annual leave, but mine's running really thin. I hate boredom time at school . No lessons = how many books can I read? / What can I do to stay sane? / What project will I embark on? oh it's rubbish.
Tomorrow I'm going to finish writing a test in the morning; then challenge some teachers to a game of Monopoly I'll take with me & in the afternoon, bake a carrot cake in the home ec room.
Maybe this week might not be so bad. But I wish I was a student right now!!!! ... :)

ps Oh brilliant, just got another text from Okaasan. She's going to a recycle shop (read 2nd hand shop) tomorrow & will talk to the staff about taking my stuff in July. At last someone who's helping me practically when I don't know where or when to turn! (Funny that a lady who speaks no English is much more help to me than 12 English teachers and more English speakers besides, at school!!) - btw, Okaasan is the lady smiling up at the camera in the shell picking photo shown below.