1st heavy snow day

January 23rd, we got finally tons of snow that I had been looking forward to !

The snow started falling at night on 22nd and didn't stop whole day. During the french class, I was only thinking about what I was going to do after class.

As soon as the class was done at 3, I decided to go out with a classmate. We had free time from 3-5 although we were not allowed to go out and play... so we went to the center courtyard, hiding from center stuff then started making a snowman (japanese style).

1. make 2 huge balls for his body

2. put one on the other then shape them well

3. make his face with stones and dead leaves

4. done ! He is prety big, isn't he ?

How adorable he is !!!

I cound't satisfy my childlike heart with only this snowman making. So, after dinner, some of my life group members and I went to dark playground to have a snowball fight on more than 40cm of snow.

No pain even we fall over or slip

Everybody went back to childhood.

It was a great time...

Burkina Faso Members

There are 12 of us who are going to Burkina Faso as JOCV volunteers, (that's a lot!)

Our professions vary from rural community development (my job), youth activities, nurse, pc instructor, vegetable culture, plantation, baseball, scientific medical treatment. We all get along well. As we each have different specialities, we are able to support each other. It's great. And me, I am the Burkina group leader. Well, leader is just a name, I am not doing anything special: organizing member's birthday parties, social activities and Burkina info sharing meetings.

Buffet dinner on the 3rd day at the training center

yum yum...

Burkina Members

Her surprise birthday party. Success !

Training in Komagane (Nagano)

It has already been 2 weeks since I started JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer) training in Komagane. This city lies in a valley of the central Alps. It's really beautiful although there is really nothing else but nature.

one of the mountains in the central Alps

the view from my room on 6th floor with icicles hanging from the roof (the other side of Alps from the previous photo)

frozen chains

Recently the temperature high hovers around 0 degree or colder. It's very cold for me but inside of the room is so comfy ! Not like my old room in Osaka...

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Daily life at the training center (mon-sat) :

6:15 Wake up
6:30 Physical exercise (badminton or jogging for me)
7:00 Morning general meeting
7:20 Breakfast
8:45 Language class (of course it's french for me)
11:40 Lunch
13:00 Language class / Lecture about international cooperation or development
17:00 Training finished for the day
17h45 Dinner
23h-24h Bed
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After diner, we are free to do anything but often we have some kind of group meeting (country, life group, profession etc...) well, actually what we should do is review the day's language class, which I don't really do (bad student ! ):p

Sunday is the only day off but as there is really nothing to do in this city, I usually stay at the center and just relax or play some sports with friends. Then in the evening of Saturday or Sunday, I go out for dinner with them.

There are 194 candidates of JOCV and senior volunteer : age 21 - 70 living together. I have never experienced life like this but it's been great. Everyone that I've met is so cool and I can learn all sorts of different things from each of them. I've been having tons of fun !

I will try to update this blog as often as possible so check it out if you have time ! :)

The only kinda big supermarket in Komagane with my life group friends : "Bell shine" (the sign is so mismatched with the nice building design)