I came to Japan due to perhaps a different motive than most of the JETs in Japan. I knew that when I graduated from Uni I wanted to get out and go. See more of the world. Travel. Period. When the Jet Programme presented itself I am going to be honest-- I was clueless about Japan-- and still was pretty uniformed even until the day I stepped foor on this island. It's now been one month since I've arrived in Japan and already I've learned so much! The culture and attitudes surprise me everyday. I decided from day one to have an open mind and try everything at least once "when in Rome (Japan!)" as they say!
This weekend I went to Osaka with the Neo JHS teachers. There were 11 of us on the trip and even by the first evening I knew I made a wise choice by coming. It's so nice to see everyone relaxed and out of the school environment. Good bonding time for sure to break the ice! We took the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Gifu Hashima (which reminds me to mention that train stations and malls often have vending machines at the restaurants that you pay for and choose the item then give a ticket to a cashier) and after a series of JR train transfers (I'm very thankful for all my Japanese navigators! ooh and they have women only carriages on the trains in Osaka!) we arrived ta our lunch destination. We made Okonomiyaki-- which is like a cabbage, egg, pork, squid, shrimp pizza/pancake type thing with bbq sauce, mayo, mustard and of course fish flakes (shudder*) on top. We also drank lots of beer and had yakisoba, sides of raw squid, scallops, and soime funky (in this case quite not my thing) soybean powder jelly like substance of a Japanese desert.It was an experience and I'm glad I tried it all once....
Next we headed to the aquarium and saw a massive Whale Shark, some otters, turtles, penguins and sting rays. Think of North American Japanese tourist stereotypes and crowds and times it by 100. Ridiculous lines and slow moving but very enjoyable all the same. (Although looking at the big aquarium from all angles I couldn't help thinking back to Sydney aquarium with Kristen, Adam, Todd, Stian and Jeremy. ahh good memories! )
After that we had some Japanese version of snow cones and then headed onto one of the "World's Largest Big Wheel". It was a massive Ferry wheel that took about 15 minutes to go around once and was 115m high. After that we headed to see the lights of downtown. It was just wicked! Reminded me of Vegas or Tokyo and was very exciting. Since it was during the World Track and Field Championships the streets were so packed and the whole city was filled with life! We stopped off for some carnival version of Takoyaki (Octopus balls). I wasn't a huge fan but gave them a shot again 10 minutes later when we went to a famous restaurant in Osaka where we met up with the whole group fo teachers again and had dinner. The meal was huge and went on for a few hours! Food just kept coming (like it often seems to in Japan!) We had crab, octopus, miso, pickled raspberries, pickled seaweed, incredible cook in front of you in a pot rice, fish flakes everywhere, raw beef salad, sashimi, more squid, and a large fish head which I could hardly handle. I am fine with the Aiyu (small fish) that I have had many times where sometimes you eat the bones and the whole tail and head and all but this fish head was the size of a cereal bown. The eyes were still in it and everything and my teachers kept pointing out parts-- ooh yes eat the cheek bone, mm i like the mouth (complete with teeth mind you). It was not quite enough to turn me into a vegetarian but *shudder even remembering it. Desert was also good and after our pictures we had more cocktails and hot saki (with a plumb in it?) and green tea.
We headed back to the hotel soon after (nice and again really fun poppable pillows) and I got to experience my second public bath experience. This time even wearing only a yukata (bath robe) to the bath. They make it seem so natural to bath naked together and they were constantly asking me questions to as why we don't do that in Canada-- "not even with your brothers and sisters?" I told them that we did when we were little perhaps but they couldn't understand why not now. Cultural differences I suppose. I have to say, the water is incredible though and I'm kinda excited to try the Onsen in Neo!
Day 2 of Osaka
Get up insanely early for breakfast- Japanese/Western Style-- Rice, Miso soup, fish, yaki soba, salad of course, but they had toast, mini sausage things and canned fruit- whooo!!!
Tsuchi (Dietician), Sugiyama (Counsellor), Murachi (English Teacher) and I went to Universal Studios Japan! It was so cool! I really enjoyed myself! My favorite ride was the brand new Hollywood Dream Roller Coaster-- you could even choose your own music during the ride! A close second was the Spidermna ride-- although it had a line which ended up lasting over an hour-- ouch! We also toured the Backdraft set and saw how they film fire scenes--as if it needed to get any hotter that day! More attractions included Jurasic Park Water Ride and Jaws-- both helped us cool off a bit-- along with frozen pineapples on a stick. One of my other definite highlights was seeing *Wicked!* If you asked anyone back home before I left what my new broadway obsession has been this past year-- they all would say Wicked. I absolutely loved it live in Japan although it was half in Japanese but I am still dreaming about the day I can see the New York version with Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel!
After buying heaps of souvenirs and eating some good ole Moss Burger (Japanese fast food chain) we left the grounds and went for more souvenir shopping! LOL. Everyone seems to think I should buy so much halloween stuff for teaching but it's crazy expensive and hard to find-- so I will just get Duane to bring some from Mom and Dad when he comes : ) I love visitors!!! I did give in and get some Hello Kitty stuff-- including the optimal Osaka Japan souvenir-- a Takoyaki (octopus) Hello Kitty Cell Phone Charm! What a find! Also bought some Spider Man trivial Pringles chips-- what will they think of next?
We met up with the rest of the group. Most went to the World Track and Field (reminded me of Edmonton 2001 and performing in the opening ceremonies-- ahh the memories) and others went on a bus tour and to Osaka Castle (I will definitely think about that for next time I go to Osaka!).Wte took the Shinkansen (bullet train) back home, stopped at Maleria for supper, picked up some groceries, garbage bags and then had yet another detour when two of the teachers decided it was time I got a video rental card. I found some cheap ones but man were they old! It takes forever for movies to come out on DVD here! I couldn't stop laughing when I was at the till paying because the man obviously knew that the others filled out my form and I couldn't speak Japanese, and they had both just rented their own movies, but he still gave a five minute speech on all the rules of the video store-- just a formality but he looked at me every 20 seconds for my "Hai" (yes). I couldn't hold it in, perhaps I was just giddy.
The way home we talked about me doing some English tutoring and conversation groups so perhaps that will keep me busy in the months ahead once we get into the swing of things in September.
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