Mask season　マスクの季節

ENTRY

2018.01.30

Hello everyone,

February is fast approaching. I’m looking forward to the beginning of Spring and seeing the cherry blossom around Fuji in March or April. I’ve heard that the ume trees are already blossoming in Izu. These trees bloom a lot earlier than regular cherry blossoms, but even so, January is super early to see them. We had some unusually mild days recently so that would explain it. It’s still very cold however! One of my favourite things to do in winter here is get under the kotatsu on a cold day. It’s a great way to warm up when you get home. There is an electric blanket under our one, so I can stay in there and watch TV nice and warm in the evenings.

All of our students are wearing masks this week! I don’t know who is who. I have entire classes of students with their faces covered. It almost feels like halloween. I asked them if they are sick, but in fact, they are wearing the masks simply as protection from the diseases that are going around at the moment. Cold and flu viruses are spreading around Japan now, just as they did in Ireland when I was there last month. I think the flu spread more easily in Ireland because nobody wears masks. In Japan, people take more precautions to avoid catching these diseases. You can see people everywhere wearing them. I’ve tried wearing a mask myself in the past, but it makes my glasses steam up and I can’t see anything! Remember to stay safe during the cold and flu season. Once it’s over, there will be another mask season on the way. Spring means that there will be pollen everywhere so people will get hay fever. It’s a lot more severe in Japan because of all the cedar and cyprus trees in the country. Some of our students wear protective glasses to help their eyes. It’s not as common in Ireland, I suppose we have different kinds of trees. Enjoy the rest of winter and spring is just around the corner.

Alan