Haikus on my life and Japan

Haikus about my life and Japan

Ever since I was welcomed to Agematsu Junior High with a student saying:

Aaron ga
kurasu no mae de
gozaimasu.

(meaning: Aaron is in front of the class)

I have been inspired and challenged to make haikus about everyday life and events here in the Kiso region as well as my experiences in Japan. I know I will be lacking seasonal references in a lot of cases (which some may argue would not be a *true* haiku), but when I look at most of the Japanese haikus, they don't have seasonal references either (perhaps I need better sources than my schools' libraries?).

On Yokohama It is really big Not as large as, say, Tokyo But still really big.	On People in Tokyo/Yokohama They are all crazy In a mad dash to nowhere Do they know it, too?
On Japanese Classes in Yokohama I am not stupid I already know this stuff Are you listening?	On my new neighbours in Yokohama They think I am cute Send their daughters to meet me Darn! Only nineteen.
On my old Kiso teachers For the love of God! They all got married this year I am next, they say.	On Typhoons Big gusts of strong wind Rain and such fall asunder I am soaking wet
On my co-workers at Hitachi The staff is brilliant Experts with technology How did I get here?	On leaving Kiso Many students cried "Please, don't leave," I heard them say Hey! I am still here.
On "Food" in Japan Everyone eats fish Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, too. Are there other meats?	On Engrish in Japan They think they know it Totally oblivious That it makes no sense
On Nomikais (Drinking Parties) A gallon of beer I'll out-drink them anytime Their secrets come out	On Skiing in Nagano I am not that good Fall all the way down pretty Snow covered mountains
On bugs in Kiso Really awful bugs Decimeter cockroaches Why won't they just die	On the snow in Kiso I am now buried Snow up to my waist at times When is spring coming?
On my arrival in Kiso Quite small and quiet People stare at the only Foreigner in town	On summer in Kiso Not really that hot My back lawn is infested With really huge bugs
On my old friends at EPSON People remember My name and face from the past Are you back for good?	On Tokyo Totally insane People are everywhere Can I go home now?
On Matsumoto A big black castle A nice and friendly city Just like Waterloo.	On my Karate class Many new people Shocked at my ability Impress once again.
On Osaka People talk funny Looks a lot like Toronto Without the homeless	On Kyoto Many temples here Wide and spacious all year round Still a bit crowded
On Hiroshima A big bomb fell here But now is very peaceful Beautiful city	On Miyajima A pretty island Good Momijimanju Big gate, trees, and food
On Kiso-Fukushima Junior High Here I teach english Students just want my stickers Colourful notebooks	On Kaida Junior High On mount Ontake High level education All teachers tell jokes
On Mitake Junior High Very small classes English teacher is very Sweet and kind to me	On Agematsu Junior High Everyone friendly Everyone likes what I do My favourite school
On Kiso Special-Ed School I play all day long Students are very funny Don't do any "work"	On Hiyoushi Junior High They already have An AET of their own Why do I go there?
On winter in Kiso Kerosene heater City in hibernation Bears are sleeping, too	On Christmas Just eat the damn cake It's chalk full of strawberries Santa eats it, too
On para-para dancing A brand new dance style Wave your hands in front of you Now, wasn't that fun?	On learning Kanji After a small while All characters look the same How do I read this?