At the end of last week, I traveled to Sapporo for the Winter ALT Skill Development Conference. I always enjoy the 2-hour train ride, which is relaxing time to play video games and Words with Friends, except for the train shaking and when we go at high speeds through tunnels my ears always pop.

We had many hours of lecture during the day, and many inches of snow fell outside while we awaited our night-time adventures. On the first night, I walked to Odori Park, a long and narrow park running through the middle of Sapporo. Much of Odori Park (and other parks) are part of Sapporo's "White Illumination": a Christmas light festival and display.  

 

I walked around the German Christmas Market too, pictured here:

The second night, I skipped the expensive and awkward HAJET-sponsored activities and walked through a blizzard to Sapporo Factory, a large, sprawling mall, which is more more like a multi-story strip mall than tall and impressive like the Mall of America.  The mall is famous for its giant Christmas tree located in the atrium, and I was able to thaw my feet and eat KFC under the tree, while being serenaded by a Japanese musician up on the stage. I was surprised that the mall had many stores like North Face and Nike. I was directed to a foreign food store by some other JETs, and found sriracha sauce, a Yankee candle (my favorite), and some excellent foreign food prizes for the English circle.

I also found excellent Christmas presents for each of my five schools, team-teachers, my supervisor, and the organizer of the English circle. I also bought omiyage for the BOE and the one school that always gives me amazing gifts: the Wednesday before I left for Sapporo, the principal delivered an apple pie to my desk!

Overall, Sapporo left me feeling rather melancholy and misanthropic about humanity, modern life, beauty, and consumerism (clearly a hypocrite since I just detailed my Christmas purchases to you). The city is a Mecca for Hokkaido's youth, and many young women could be seen walking the streets in perfect little outfits with styled hair and mask-like made up faces. I took this photo in the heart of Sapporo's shopping district, and found myself walking behind this man, a street sweeper amongst the high-fashion and wealthy.

I just can't understand how people can care so much about material things and how this is one of the fundamental principles of the world in which we live. Being rich, acquiring, being better than others. Not to mention the cliques and popularity contests that result from a congregation of JETs, always willing to talk over you about their endless expertise. I know so few listeners. The world is built by the people who talk the most and the loudest, I guess.

Sorry about that. Anyway, on the last day, I bravely hailed my first taxi in Sapporo rather than walking 25 minutes to the train station with my bags! I was so nervous! In Japan, the drivers have control over the doors, so if you don't look out, you will get smacked. It cost about ¥1200 for a 10 minute ride...not bad!