Flurry Fury: Snow Day in Ise

It doesn't snow much in Ise. So when it does, people freak out a bit. Traffic jams up worse than usual. Teachers who are always on time are five, even 10 minutes late. The lunch delivery service I rely on when I don't have time to make a sandwich in the morning shuts down.

Needless to say, I was deeply affected by this morning's half inch (yes, a whole half inch!) of precipitation. And my drama spread to the ladies in the office, who had to be the ones to tell me that there would be no lunch delivery today. There would be no whatever-that-kanji-said next to the Tuesday entry on the menu.

Fortunately, one of the English teachers, upon hearing of my plight, took pity, and we went by car to the Tiger Mart. Lunch crisis, averted. Snow, melted.

This first (and maybe only?) snow-dusting in Ise is over now. It remains bitingly cold and windy outside, but the sun is shining and the teachers' room is furnace-like. My desk is right next to one of the space heaters, and I feel it's invading my personal space.

But if I try to shut it down my colleague form Singapore will probably throw something at me. And while, at this moment, the only available projectiles in her vicinity appear to be expensive electronics, I wouldn't put it past her to sacrifice an iPod for warmth.

I'll just have to periodically step outside for the rest of the day. The answer is obvious: I'll start smoking.