Leaving the Windows Open

Sometime last year, I was inspired by Dave to stop using air conditioning at home. Having spent several weekends on Zamami and realizing that I was surviving there without a/c, I came home and tried it. And it was fine! I went the whole summer of 2008 without a/c, even when my brother came to visit (he slept with a fan next to his futon, full power).

This year, it's the same - not once has the a/c been used. In fact, it's been unplugged for maybe close to a year now. I should try and find out how much I can sell it for, assuming it's not owned by my board of education.

Anyway, because I'm not using the a/c, I have to rely on wind to keep my apartment cool. And this means leaving the windows open when I'm home (and trying to do so even when I'm not). The air is fresher, there's no shocking temperature change upon leaving my apartment, and the energy bill is a lot lower (as is my contribution of pollution).

But today, I finally realized the best benefit of all - being available to the kids in my housing block. I was messing around on my computer, sitting in boxers (gotta stay cool!) when four of them opened up my screen, swept away the curtain, and poked their heads inside. The first thing they asked was, "yakyu shiyou?" or "Wanna play baseball?," followed by, "Oi, Bon-sensei kinniku kakko-ii," or "Wow, Vaughn-sensei has muscles, cool!"

So it was, that from 2:30 this afternoon until 7:30 this evening, the eight of us played baseball, then moved on to the beach and swimming, followed by burying them all in the sand, and finally heading home tired and with a day well spent.

Tomorrow, I'm making lemonade with two or three of the boys - it should be fun. I told them we'd make a lot of money selling it to the bikers and tourists that come through the village. Maybe one day, we'll set up a stand and raise some money for a good cause. It's days like these that make me want to stay on the JET Programme for as long as I can.