Monday, September 3, 2007
First Day Teaching Elementary
Omg, how adorable are those elementary kids! They were all over me the second I got in the school yard. I just love them already!! First thing was watching the students practice for Sports Day-- they have some intense cheers! lol I will have to video them! I swear the leading kid almost fell over backwards and his voice squeeked everytime he did the cheer! lol too funny. Intros went well today and in some of the classes I think I will be able to have a bit of flexibility in the schedule. All the kids loved the Canada pins too : ) There is only one girl in the grade 1 class and she is absolutely adorable. I think she is my fav so far in the whole school. Kawaii!!! The grade three class was funny because they kept making "big eyes" at me-- pulling their eyes tall (just like we do with squinting Japanese eyes back home.) I tried hard not to laugh. The fifth grade class was a nice change because we got past the "Hello, How are you?" stage. They were lots of fun and their teacher is pretty relaxed. Lunch time was quite the sight with everyone in white coats, hats and masks. The kids all serve themselves/each other lunch and clean up afterthemselves. After lunch it was free time and a cutie in grade 6 toured me around (dragging me I should add) and showed me pictures of when the people from Devon came. It was so neat because they kept pointing to people and asking if i knew them- Chantelle Hawkins and Brittney Ostanal (?) were favorites among the kids. They also pointed to the Discover Devon pamphlet they have hanging in the hall-- and guess who was in it at the swimming pool? Half the guys in my grade from junior high. It was funny seeing Jon and Cassidy, Mike, Keston and a few others! Now I've got an hour break until I take the little ones out to play and then to the bus. I think I am really going to like Tuesdays!
The Week From Hell (Partially Written the Week After So As To Be Not Entirely Pessimistic and Grumpy)--It's a long one!
Monday:
Well today is not a good day. Actually it's really crap. This morning while the other teachers were having a long meeting I decided to go to the library and work on my introduction Canada Powerpoint. I proceeded to plug in a LAN cable into my computer which somehow totally f*d up my computer. Seriously, it's taking my all not to start crying right now (I think I already woke up on the wrong side of the bed). I called Duane and David on my cell phone but both say I may be screwed. I hope I have my Windows CD with me but knowing my rush packing job I am sure I was lucky just to back up some of my files. Therefore I left it in Canada and even if mom and dad could find it= weeks/months to ship.... maybe someone here has the same copy?? I'm so clueless about these things sometimes. I can't even think about how much data I will lose-- since the beginning of August I have been working on lesson plans, presentations, videos and a master game/activitiy database. Think 8hours x 5 days x 3 weeks.... argh.... all gone! Makes me wish I had spent more time on facebook putting up pictures---because those are now all gone too. Ouch. ahh and the videos that I had taken all across Alberta during Wynchemna this summer... it pains me even to think of them all! Grr, okay I guess it is my own fault so I'm going to stop complaining now. Aww I guess I have to cancel my Skype date with Duane too : (
Tuesday: Days of Actually Working During Summer Vacation
Now Japanese people have multiple reasons that they are willing to list as to why teachers work during their summer vacation. (Probably the most reasonable is the claim that they are government employees and no longer have to work on saturdays so have to make up the time). Still..somedays I am skeptical that any work actually gets done. Sometimes (heck a lot of the time) I think that the whole summer system is pointless and backwards (ooh there goes my cultural sensitivity). However, usually those are the days that I am watching the clock and surfing the net. Today however, I am going with the mindset that Canada should incorporate a little more time for teachers to get ready before classes start. I am not actually saying we should cut summer vacation-- but I wonder what would happen with more mandatory prep time? Then again, I have come from a family of teachers who practically live at the school on weekends and evenings anyways at certain times of the year.
So today I made and then mastered my Japanese alphabet flashcards (2 different 46 character phonetic systems). I cannot resist the plug here for Michael Rowley's Kana Pict-o-graphix Mneumonics for Hiragana and Katakana as well as the Australian Hiragana and Katakana in 48 Minutes Sets. Just can't say enough good things about them!! I also got some teaching work done by making more English alphabet flashcards and photocopying out of my ESL books. Quite productive I was-- not in any way am I saying that my laptop crashing on me yesterday was a positivive thing-- but I probably got more work done today than most days.
Last night when I was leaving school I found Simon (a 2nd year ALT who lives nearby) waiting outside with his brand new-used scooter. I didn't recognize him at first and was wondering who the heck kept honking at me (1) in Japan people don't use their horns much at all 2) Simon's family is from Asia and with the helmet I couldnt tell he wasn't just a local Japanese man). His scooter is really cute (not the word he likes me describing it as mind you)--but at the same time it sure made me glad that I gave up my original plan of driving a scooter and bought Kaki's old car. His scooter cant go over 40 clicks (km/hour-- apparently only Canadians say clicks) and is only for one person. Since Simon was in an accident and was caught driving without a valid international licence when I first arrived-- he was just happy to have wheels again.
We went down to the river and went swimming and jumping off the rocks until the sun started to set. It sure was nice to cool off and get my mind off of my broken stuff (ooh did I mention when I tried putting in the DVDs last night that I rented, that my DVD player is broken? ah lovely). Anyways we drove to his place (oh so slowly with me following) and then he got in my car and we went for some eats and cruising around the (new to me) city of Ono (closer than Maleria-- yeah!!) We also found a video store selling $1 Video casettes from the 80s so I gave into the temptation and got some interesting classics-- in English! yeah!!!
When I got home I got a call from Duane which totally made my day! It is crazy how fast time flies by when talking internationally!
Tonight I am off to badminton and tomorrow Simon, Narin, Kiri and maybe some other nearby ALTs are going for a meat buffet where you cook things for yoursef in a boilinh pot of oil-- Shabu Shabu (I think it is Korean). Also pumped to try to get my computer working again!! Please! Fingers crossed!
I heard from Camille the other day-- she seems to be having a rough time so far--really hoping it improves for her! Different cultures make the world of difference in your life when choosing a job teaching overseas. She just arrived in Qatar and the culture shock is pretty extreme I think. My friend Matt starts in Vietnam n a few days- wishing him luck too! As of now my plan is still to go home at the end of the year.. but... after talking to Simon I've gotten both inspired to keep doing this ESL thing and seeing the world (he's lived in US, Korea, Africa, Australia, China and Japan) while at the same time I'm learning to really appreciate what a good deal I've got going for me with the whole Jet Organization Setup.. No frets yet people (MOM!) the plan is still Canada (at least for a little while) in August 2008.
Well a 3rd Welcome party has been planned for Monday! And I may go up to the Hida region in Gifu for the weekend with some friends. Everyhing is lookin ok-- kids start monday!
Writing Monday the first day of school
Ok I survived the crazy awful week which was last week. The awful part I am going to try to minimize because I just want to put it behind me. In short, the computer wasn't working no matter what I tried but I found a Jet who is a computer expert-- although lives over 2 hours away. He agreed to meet me in Gifu city if I would drive him home afterwards because the trains don't run much to the country. So I agreed and decided to venture off into the big Gifu city with Narin and Sandra by my side. We were going to meet up with Kevin try the computer thing, and have dinner with a whole bunch of Jets. Plans got sidetracked however when we were just about to the station and I had a minor car accident. No one was hurt and the cars were only scratched-- like very tiny that we didn't even know if we actually touched and had to pull over or not. But... in Japan nothing is that easy! We pulled over and thankfully I had Narin who speaks Japanese with me! The man in the other car was nice but we had a big long procedure to follow. In Japan if there is even the tiniest accident you have to go to the police station. Luckily I had amillion trillion insurance and shaken and international licences with me--- however--- left my passport in Neo (we were told we didn't need to carry them once you have your alien registration). After a big caffuffle at the police staiton questioning my licence, validity of being in Japan, travel dates to Japan, detailing the accident, insurance shaken etc etc they decided they wanted me to drive back to Neo right then to get my licence (an hour an a half away). It was already 8 by this time and I wasn't looking forward to driving all the way back and forth and was so overwhelmed that I started to cry (at least it made them realise I was sorry and really didn't want to drive back.) After callng our supervisor because we couldn't understand and wanted to try to get him to help us sort it out over the phone, the supervisor and his wife drove to meet us in Gifu (he lives a half hour away). The fun continued from there when it wasn't until 3 hours later that we finally could leave the police station with the promise of coming back the next day so they could make a photocopy of my passport. Just as I was about to pull away however I got phone calls from my 3rd in command at my school, my Japanese English Teacher and messages from my vice principal and principal- geez goodnews travels fast. To make a long story short(er) we met up with some of the Jets at a Mexican (one of the few in the country I think!) joint and then I drove Kevin home and left my computer with him for a few days. I didn't make it home until about 2am and was going to get picked up by my Vice Principal at 8. Ah lovely. First I got a knock on my door by the OTHER vice principal (of the Elementary school this time) coming ot check on me because he had heard the news too. I think they were all trying to be nice and make sure I was ok but it just seemed embarassing and long! So I got passed from my Kyoto sensei to my Supervisor in Motosu city and then taken to the police office again in Gifu city where they wanted not only my current passport but copies of my previous ones too! Took awhile to explain that I had to give my other one to the Canadian Gov't in exchange for the new one. Next we drove back, made some phone calls to insurance and then I crashed on Narin's couch for a few hours (I was not allowed to drive my car and didn't feel like going on 2 hours worth of trains for 2 hours). (Oh yah and did I mention this was the friday that I had booked off for vacation!). Anyways at 4 I met with the supervisor, one of the head guys from the Board of Education and my Principal opf the Elem school (who had to leave his Golf Game early-I was reminded of multiple times). I got a lecture about being more careful and how accidents look bad on me, all JETs, Canadians and all teachers. More lectures pertaining to how a Jet got killed on a bicycle 10 years ago and how there was a teacher in Gifu City that got caught drinking and driving last month and that I would get fired if that ever happened. (Remember mine was just a tiny scratch!). After half an hour of lectures and me apologizing, I got to go with them to buy apology gift cakes and bring them to the office of the man who I was in the accident with in order to apologie to him formally and to his family. pff like I said nothing is small in Japan. I was reminded a million more times of "ahh you are so lucky, you hit the most kind, most gentle and nice man in ALL of Japan! ah yes he is such a gentleman!" True, the man was nice, but he was approached my 4 of us all dressed up in suits offering multiple apologies, cake and my offer to fix all the damages.
After that whole deal I was pretty much ready to go home and so I took the train home, walked in the dark to my apt and was a bum watching VHS for the rest of the night.
Oh yah-- and I got a phone call from Kevin (the computer guy) confirming my computer most definitely was screwed up and that I would lose all my data and would need a new harddrive. ah lovely. Did I tell you my friend Katie decided to pack it in? She leaves JET and Japan tomorrow : ( I guess I'm a survivor!
Monday Night:
Life is finally turning around! : ) I found out that I can get the accident paid for by insurance and my premiums don't go up until next year--- when I will be out of the country! Whooo! Free accident! (Though not necessarily something to brag about!). Sunday was also fun because Rika and her father took me around to temples in our area, out for cheap sushi and then to meet Kevin to fix my laptop. I was pretty proud of myself because after Kevin helped me put in my new harddrive I set up the internet all by myself-- in Japanese! Boo yah! Ooh and Rika and I make some Print Club stickers-- they are so intense here! Like editing and all! Good times. Tonight I just got back from my welcome party with the people of my apartmnet building. There were 8 of us in Kyoto Sensei (Elem)'s apartment downstairs. Although I never understand much when I don't have Murachi sensei or a translator around, these guys were hours of entertainment! It was about a 4.5 hour party and you can imagine how much drinking went on! hehe too fun. Kocho sensei and Kyoto sensei (both Elem) are absolutely hilarious! Too akward and cute and dorky and funny for words! Can't get enough of them when they are drinking especially! What characters! Also tonight Murachi sensei came in his new Spiderman mask from Osaka and was in a fun mood too. We're thinking of having parties once a month in alternating apartmnets! Could be some fun times ahead! Not really sure why we all got drunk on a monday night--- oh well, I am sure I won't be as hung over as the bosses tomorrow!
Oh yah I keep forgetting to write-- I finally saw monkeys! Twice at the side of the road in Neo! Whooo for wild monkeys!
Well today is not a good day. Actually it's really crap. This morning while the other teachers were having a long meeting I decided to go to the library and work on my introduction Canada Powerpoint. I proceeded to plug in a LAN cable into my computer which somehow totally f*d up my computer. Seriously, it's taking my all not to start crying right now (I think I already woke up on the wrong side of the bed). I called Duane and David on my cell phone but both say I may be screwed. I hope I have my Windows CD with me but knowing my rush packing job I am sure I was lucky just to back up some of my files. Therefore I left it in Canada and even if mom and dad could find it= weeks/months to ship.... maybe someone here has the same copy?? I'm so clueless about these things sometimes. I can't even think about how much data I will lose-- since the beginning of August I have been working on lesson plans, presentations, videos and a master game/activitiy database. Think 8hours x 5 days x 3 weeks.... argh.... all gone! Makes me wish I had spent more time on facebook putting up pictures---because those are now all gone too. Ouch. ahh and the videos that I had taken all across Alberta during Wynchemna this summer... it pains me even to think of them all! Grr, okay I guess it is my own fault so I'm going to stop complaining now. Aww I guess I have to cancel my Skype date with Duane too : (
Tuesday: Days of Actually Working During Summer Vacation
Now Japanese people have multiple reasons that they are willing to list as to why teachers work during their summer vacation. (Probably the most reasonable is the claim that they are government employees and no longer have to work on saturdays so have to make up the time). Still..somedays I am skeptical that any work actually gets done. Sometimes (heck a lot of the time) I think that the whole summer system is pointless and backwards (ooh there goes my cultural sensitivity). However, usually those are the days that I am watching the clock and surfing the net. Today however, I am going with the mindset that Canada should incorporate a little more time for teachers to get ready before classes start. I am not actually saying we should cut summer vacation-- but I wonder what would happen with more mandatory prep time? Then again, I have come from a family of teachers who practically live at the school on weekends and evenings anyways at certain times of the year.
So today I made and then mastered my Japanese alphabet flashcards (2 different 46 character phonetic systems). I cannot resist the plug here for Michael Rowley's Kana Pict-o-graphix Mneumonics for Hiragana and Katakana as well as the Australian Hiragana and Katakana in 48 Minutes Sets. Just can't say enough good things about them!! I also got some teaching work done by making more English alphabet flashcards and photocopying out of my ESL books. Quite productive I was-- not in any way am I saying that my laptop crashing on me yesterday was a positivive thing-- but I probably got more work done today than most days.
Last night when I was leaving school I found Simon (a 2nd year ALT who lives nearby) waiting outside with his brand new-used scooter. I didn't recognize him at first and was wondering who the heck kept honking at me (1) in Japan people don't use their horns much at all 2) Simon's family is from Asia and with the helmet I couldnt tell he wasn't just a local Japanese man). His scooter is really cute (not the word he likes me describing it as mind you)--but at the same time it sure made me glad that I gave up my original plan of driving a scooter and bought Kaki's old car. His scooter cant go over 40 clicks (km/hour-- apparently only Canadians say clicks) and is only for one person. Since Simon was in an accident and was caught driving without a valid international licence when I first arrived-- he was just happy to have wheels again.
We went down to the river and went swimming and jumping off the rocks until the sun started to set. It sure was nice to cool off and get my mind off of my broken stuff (ooh did I mention when I tried putting in the DVDs last night that I rented, that my DVD player is broken? ah lovely). Anyways we drove to his place (oh so slowly with me following) and then he got in my car and we went for some eats and cruising around the (new to me) city of Ono (closer than Maleria-- yeah!!) We also found a video store selling $1 Video casettes from the 80s so I gave into the temptation and got some interesting classics-- in English! yeah!!!
When I got home I got a call from Duane which totally made my day! It is crazy how fast time flies by when talking internationally!
Tonight I am off to badminton and tomorrow Simon, Narin, Kiri and maybe some other nearby ALTs are going for a meat buffet where you cook things for yoursef in a boilinh pot of oil-- Shabu Shabu (I think it is Korean). Also pumped to try to get my computer working again!! Please! Fingers crossed!
I heard from Camille the other day-- she seems to be having a rough time so far--really hoping it improves for her! Different cultures make the world of difference in your life when choosing a job teaching overseas. She just arrived in Qatar and the culture shock is pretty extreme I think. My friend Matt starts in Vietnam n a few days- wishing him luck too! As of now my plan is still to go home at the end of the year.. but... after talking to Simon I've gotten both inspired to keep doing this ESL thing and seeing the world (he's lived in US, Korea, Africa, Australia, China and Japan) while at the same time I'm learning to really appreciate what a good deal I've got going for me with the whole Jet Organization Setup.. No frets yet people (MOM!) the plan is still Canada (at least for a little while) in August 2008.
Well a 3rd Welcome party has been planned for Monday! And I may go up to the Hida region in Gifu for the weekend with some friends. Everyhing is lookin ok-- kids start monday!
Writing Monday the first day of school
Ok I survived the crazy awful week which was last week. The awful part I am going to try to minimize because I just want to put it behind me. In short, the computer wasn't working no matter what I tried but I found a Jet who is a computer expert-- although lives over 2 hours away. He agreed to meet me in Gifu city if I would drive him home afterwards because the trains don't run much to the country. So I agreed and decided to venture off into the big Gifu city with Narin and Sandra by my side. We were going to meet up with Kevin try the computer thing, and have dinner with a whole bunch of Jets. Plans got sidetracked however when we were just about to the station and I had a minor car accident. No one was hurt and the cars were only scratched-- like very tiny that we didn't even know if we actually touched and had to pull over or not. But... in Japan nothing is that easy! We pulled over and thankfully I had Narin who speaks Japanese with me! The man in the other car was nice but we had a big long procedure to follow. In Japan if there is even the tiniest accident you have to go to the police station. Luckily I had amillion trillion insurance and shaken and international licences with me--- however--- left my passport in Neo (we were told we didn't need to carry them once you have your alien registration). After a big caffuffle at the police staiton questioning my licence, validity of being in Japan, travel dates to Japan, detailing the accident, insurance shaken etc etc they decided they wanted me to drive back to Neo right then to get my licence (an hour an a half away). It was already 8 by this time and I wasn't looking forward to driving all the way back and forth and was so overwhelmed that I started to cry (at least it made them realise I was sorry and really didn't want to drive back.) After callng our supervisor because we couldn't understand and wanted to try to get him to help us sort it out over the phone, the supervisor and his wife drove to meet us in Gifu (he lives a half hour away). The fun continued from there when it wasn't until 3 hours later that we finally could leave the police station with the promise of coming back the next day so they could make a photocopy of my passport. Just as I was about to pull away however I got phone calls from my 3rd in command at my school, my Japanese English Teacher and messages from my vice principal and principal- geez goodnews travels fast. To make a long story short(er) we met up with some of the Jets at a Mexican (one of the few in the country I think!) joint and then I drove Kevin home and left my computer with him for a few days. I didn't make it home until about 2am and was going to get picked up by my Vice Principal at 8. Ah lovely. First I got a knock on my door by the OTHER vice principal (of the Elementary school this time) coming ot check on me because he had heard the news too. I think they were all trying to be nice and make sure I was ok but it just seemed embarassing and long! So I got passed from my Kyoto sensei to my Supervisor in Motosu city and then taken to the police office again in Gifu city where they wanted not only my current passport but copies of my previous ones too! Took awhile to explain that I had to give my other one to the Canadian Gov't in exchange for the new one. Next we drove back, made some phone calls to insurance and then I crashed on Narin's couch for a few hours (I was not allowed to drive my car and didn't feel like going on 2 hours worth of trains for 2 hours). (Oh yah and did I mention this was the friday that I had booked off for vacation!). Anyways at 4 I met with the supervisor, one of the head guys from the Board of Education and my Principal opf the Elem school (who had to leave his Golf Game early-I was reminded of multiple times). I got a lecture about being more careful and how accidents look bad on me, all JETs, Canadians and all teachers. More lectures pertaining to how a Jet got killed on a bicycle 10 years ago and how there was a teacher in Gifu City that got caught drinking and driving last month and that I would get fired if that ever happened. (Remember mine was just a tiny scratch!). After half an hour of lectures and me apologizing, I got to go with them to buy apology gift cakes and bring them to the office of the man who I was in the accident with in order to apologie to him formally and to his family. pff like I said nothing is small in Japan. I was reminded a million more times of "ahh you are so lucky, you hit the most kind, most gentle and nice man in ALL of Japan! ah yes he is such a gentleman!" True, the man was nice, but he was approached my 4 of us all dressed up in suits offering multiple apologies, cake and my offer to fix all the damages.
After that whole deal I was pretty much ready to go home and so I took the train home, walked in the dark to my apt and was a bum watching VHS for the rest of the night.
Oh yah-- and I got a phone call from Kevin (the computer guy) confirming my computer most definitely was screwed up and that I would lose all my data and would need a new harddrive. ah lovely. Did I tell you my friend Katie decided to pack it in? She leaves JET and Japan tomorrow : ( I guess I'm a survivor!
Monday Night:
Life is finally turning around! : ) I found out that I can get the accident paid for by insurance and my premiums don't go up until next year--- when I will be out of the country! Whooo! Free accident! (Though not necessarily something to brag about!). Sunday was also fun because Rika and her father took me around to temples in our area, out for cheap sushi and then to meet Kevin to fix my laptop. I was pretty proud of myself because after Kevin helped me put in my new harddrive I set up the internet all by myself-- in Japanese! Boo yah! Ooh and Rika and I make some Print Club stickers-- they are so intense here! Like editing and all! Good times. Tonight I just got back from my welcome party with the people of my apartmnet building. There were 8 of us in Kyoto Sensei (Elem)'s apartment downstairs. Although I never understand much when I don't have Murachi sensei or a translator around, these guys were hours of entertainment! It was about a 4.5 hour party and you can imagine how much drinking went on! hehe too fun. Kocho sensei and Kyoto sensei (both Elem) are absolutely hilarious! Too akward and cute and dorky and funny for words! Can't get enough of them when they are drinking especially! What characters! Also tonight Murachi sensei came in his new Spiderman mask from Osaka and was in a fun mood too. We're thinking of having parties once a month in alternating apartmnets! Could be some fun times ahead! Not really sure why we all got drunk on a monday night--- oh well, I am sure I won't be as hung over as the bosses tomorrow!
Oh yah I keep forgetting to write-- I finally saw monkeys! Twice at the side of the road in Neo! Whooo for wild monkeys!
Saturday August 25 Day 1 Osaka: Go Hard or Go Home
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.
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.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Life at Work
So much has happened since I last wrote. Although there are still new surprises everyday, I am settling into a bit of a routine here now. I go to work Monday through Friday 8:30-4:30 (even though students are on summer vacation, teachers work almost everyday. Apparently since they are government workers, when a few years back they stopped going to school on Saturdays, they needed to make up time—alas summer at school). It’s interesting because sometimes kids come for clubs but most of the days it’s just the teachers sitting in their desks in the common staff area reading newspapers and pretending to look busy. Sometimes I really believe they are getting work done, but then again the other day a man was asleep at his desk for a good hour or two. Many are also away at conferences. Me, I just catch up on emails, do a little bit of planning, and mostly make flashcards. Although this time is nice and slack, it’s kind of pointless for me because the Japanese English teacher that I am supposed to work with everyday is in Seattle right now on vacation. Next week I have some presentations on Canada to give at a few English seminars, speech competitions and conferences so preparing for that has kept me from going crazy. The other day we also had a stray dog at school—soo cute- I wanted to adopt it if the owner wasn’t found!!! I also work on my Japanese if I get through the rest of my slack day. Speaking of learning Japanese, this weekend I turned into a first grader again as I could finally read all of the Katakana characters. It’s neat because Katakana is the character set they use for foreign objects such as many foods. So for me, when I can sound it out and recognize the character sounds---all of a sudden I can actually read and understand it (as long as you try to say it with a Japanese accent). Think of it as playing MadGab and trying to say the sounds in different ways. It’s very very exciting for me—whoo reading!
Well mid August now and still hot as heck out here. I imagine this heat will go on for another month or so. However… I made a magnificent find this week when I discovered a place that reminds me of one of my favourite summer activities back home--- the river! The river that runs through Neo is quite shallow but has some cute little waterfalls and is very clear. There are always men fishing there and is my newfound favourite place in Neo. I’m going to buy some inflatable tubes or something to go floating next weekend I hope.
Another thing that August in Japan means is more festivals! This week is Bon. It is a time where families all get together, have a feast and pray for their ancestors. I’m not sure I understand all the intricacies yet, but I am invited to Rika’s family’s Bon Festival tomorrow night. Tonight there are also fireworks in Neo that I am going to go to. Fireworks here are one step up from home- they have multiple colors in one burst and are sometimes in the shapes of soccerballs and smiley faces. Not sure if Neo’s will be quite that extravagant but should be a good evening none the less.
So other than go to school everyday, I also play badminton at the Junior High Gym twice a week with an adult club. Also I may join the Junior High Badminton club and help the kids out at practice—yes I shall be a badminton master soon! It’s funny because they use a lot of English (at least when I am there) with counting the score, and calling “in-desu” or “out-desu.” Everyone is pretty dedicated to their sport here. Even the kids practice in the morning for a few hours—although much of the time is not even hands on, it’s athletic training like running lines and doing pushups—in that heat, yikes! There is another night activity I may try called Indiaka which is apparently a game similar to volleyball but where the ball has feathers attached to the end. Also I have heard there is a tap class at Maleria--- oooh how I miss tap dancing (Yes I know you all think it is cheesy but it’s so fun!) so who knows—perhaps I will go try it out too.
Other things that have been keeping me busy are learning how to work all of the Japanese appliances and looking through my dictionary to understand all of the Kanji! Successful with the rice cooker, vacuum, washing machine and even microwave now! I also made a collage of home to make my apartment seem just a little more like home.
Last but not least I watch some CRAZY Japanese television –mostly BIZARRE game shows. Yesterday I saw West Edmonton Mall on one of the tv shows which got me soooo excited! Apparently I do miss home and am a proud little Canadian! I watch some English dvds and videos too that I brought, Duane burned or Kaki left. Yeah for English sometimes!!! I also have gotten into a great book called “Lamb” it’s the hilarious story of Jesus as a child as told by his best friend Biff. I definitely recommend it!
Random Food Observations:
Japanese people drink anything hot and anything cold. You can buy cans of cold coffee or MICROWAVE! the cans, saki hot or cold, lemonade the same.
I finally figured out where the artificial grape flavouring comes from—real Japanese grapes! You don’t eat the skins and they taste just like grape flavoured anything! (unlike at home—wow I hope that made sense)
Bread, margarine, pancakes, milk and pretty much everything is sweeter here than at home
Other Randomness
The other day I was walking home and got quite the fright by a scarecrow in a garden of my neighbours house. I will attach a photo but at night it scared the bejeezers out of me! And the next morning there was a second one!
Japanese children love bugs and beetles! They all want them as pets!
New Japanese Words
Chugakko- JHS
Shogakko- Elementary School
Seito- my student
Kore wa Nihon-go de nan desu ka.- What is this in Japanese
Sumimasen, mo ichido onegai-shimasue- I’m sorry, could you say that once more please
- still my favourite saying “ a so desu ka” oh I see/is that so—in whatever inflection you want in order to change the meaning
Anyways, time to go to the festivities!!! Bye for now! Thanks for all the comments and keeping in touch!!!
~Julie
P.S. I am still in love with all of the different Japanese toilets! I will write a whole blog on them one day!
P.P.S In one of the pics I have this funny little colorful thing next to me-- it's called a Babloon and I will write lots more about that later too!
Well mid August now and still hot as heck out here. I imagine this heat will go on for another month or so. However… I made a magnificent find this week when I discovered a place that reminds me of one of my favourite summer activities back home--- the river! The river that runs through Neo is quite shallow but has some cute little waterfalls and is very clear. There are always men fishing there and is my newfound favourite place in Neo. I’m going to buy some inflatable tubes or something to go floating next weekend I hope.
Another thing that August in Japan means is more festivals! This week is Bon. It is a time where families all get together, have a feast and pray for their ancestors. I’m not sure I understand all the intricacies yet, but I am invited to Rika’s family’s Bon Festival tomorrow night. Tonight there are also fireworks in Neo that I am going to go to. Fireworks here are one step up from home- they have multiple colors in one burst and are sometimes in the shapes of soccerballs and smiley faces. Not sure if Neo’s will be quite that extravagant but should be a good evening none the less.
So other than go to school everyday, I also play badminton at the Junior High Gym twice a week with an adult club. Also I may join the Junior High Badminton club and help the kids out at practice—yes I shall be a badminton master soon! It’s funny because they use a lot of English (at least when I am there) with counting the score, and calling “in-desu” or “out-desu.” Everyone is pretty dedicated to their sport here. Even the kids practice in the morning for a few hours—although much of the time is not even hands on, it’s athletic training like running lines and doing pushups—in that heat, yikes! There is another night activity I may try called Indiaka which is apparently a game similar to volleyball but where the ball has feathers attached to the end. Also I have heard there is a tap class at Maleria--- oooh how I miss tap dancing (Yes I know you all think it is cheesy but it’s so fun!) so who knows—perhaps I will go try it out too.
Other things that have been keeping me busy are learning how to work all of the Japanese appliances and looking through my dictionary to understand all of the Kanji! Successful with the rice cooker, vacuum, washing machine and even microwave now! I also made a collage of home to make my apartment seem just a little more like home.
Last but not least I watch some CRAZY Japanese television –mostly BIZARRE game shows. Yesterday I saw West Edmonton Mall on one of the tv shows which got me soooo excited! Apparently I do miss home and am a proud little Canadian! I watch some English dvds and videos too that I brought, Duane burned or Kaki left. Yeah for English sometimes!!! I also have gotten into a great book called “Lamb” it’s the hilarious story of Jesus as a child as told by his best friend Biff. I definitely recommend it!
Random Food Observations:
Japanese people drink anything hot and anything cold. You can buy cans of cold coffee or MICROWAVE! the cans, saki hot or cold, lemonade the same.
I finally figured out where the artificial grape flavouring comes from—real Japanese grapes! You don’t eat the skins and they taste just like grape flavoured anything! (unlike at home—wow I hope that made sense)
Bread, margarine, pancakes, milk and pretty much everything is sweeter here than at home
Other Randomness
The other day I was walking home and got quite the fright by a scarecrow in a garden of my neighbours house. I will attach a photo but at night it scared the bejeezers out of me! And the next morning there was a second one!
Japanese children love bugs and beetles! They all want them as pets!
New Japanese Words
Chugakko- JHS
Shogakko- Elementary School
Seito- my student
Kore wa Nihon-go de nan desu ka.- What is this in Japanese
Sumimasen, mo ichido onegai-shimasue- I’m sorry, could you say that once more please
- still my favourite saying “ a so desu ka” oh I see/is that so—in whatever inflection you want in order to change the meaning
Anyways, time to go to the festivities!!! Bye for now! Thanks for all the comments and keeping in touch!!!
~Julie
P.S. I am still in love with all of the different Japanese toilets! I will write a whole blog on them one day!
P.P.S In one of the pics I have this funny little colorful thing next to me-- it's called a Babloon and I will write lots more about that later too!
Monday, August 6, 2007
A few days in and first weekend out
I feel like I’m settling in quite well now for sure. Still in the honey moon stage but I am coming to appreciate my situation more and more each day.
I still doubt I will ever get used to the humidity and typhoonish weather but am coming to love my apartment and the idea of living in a village community. It is true you really cannot beat the people and how much they are willing to go out of their way to help you and make sure you and comfortable, happy and shown a good time as a new member of the community.
Friday I went into Motosu to Malaria (Actually Malera but we have already assigned a nickname for it) on my first train trip (get this on a one car train! So cute!) . A sweet lady from the town office accompanied me and another man from the town office drove along in the car later as well. They were a little overprotective and worried about me but they were very helpful and cute. They also helped me open a bank account. We went for lunch in one of Neo’s 3 (?) food establishments and while we were there a prominent person from city hall came and secretly paid for all three of our lunches. So sweet. After lunch I walked to the elementary school and also visited the junior high where I learned that Murachi sensei would be going on a trip to Seattle next week and Monday would be my last day with him there for quite a while. I could be in for a shock/very quiet week!
Anyways, I went to Malaria and met up with Narin and we found a Starbucks (what luck!), I did some grocery shopping then went to his place. Narin and Kiri (new ALT’s from Melbourne) live in the same apartment building and only a block away from Malaria. It makes it quite convenient!! Then we ventured off on our own to find Gifu City and meet up with the regional ALTs. Keith (our regional prefecture advisor) set it up for everyone to meet at the train station in Gifu (which is about 40 minutes by bus out of Motosu (which is an additional 40 minutes outside of Neo)). It was great having our first group night out in our new home area and getting to swap horror and new Jet stories. Although JET always reminds us not to compare ourselves with each other, it was quite inevitable and made me feel quite reassured that I got a great set up. Not to brag but I have way more space, a much more competent and friendly supervisor, less rent, and a fantastic Japanese Teacher of English (JTE). Whooo!! And the three of us were pretty much the only ones with Ketei’s (cell phones) so far. I also don’t know what I would do without Kiri who speaks almost fluent Japanese! ‘Tis fantastic indeed! We went out to a cute little bar/pub a block or two away from Gifu station. I think we might end up there quite a bit! We caught the last train home and then I stayed over in Motosu since Neo trains stop running at 9:30 on weekdays and something like 4 on weekends!! Craziness eh? Makes me glad I bought the beast of a car (hopefully I will have insurance on it tomorrow and can start learning to drive here soon!)
I also called home to Mom in PEI and Duane in Edmonton to let everyone know I am still alive and well after Tokyo. It’s good that I’ve been kept so busy lately but I eagerly await my internet connection so I can post these blogs, and catch up on emails and hopefully Skype with everyone.
Saturday we had another Gifu Jet activity in Gifu city. This time I invited Rika (whose father had a welcome party for me on Thursday night). Rika met Narin, Kiri and I at Malaria and then we took the train back to Gifu. We went on a walking tour around the city, I tried shopping for a yukata (summer kimono) with no luck, we had lunch at a cute café (have to admit I’m really enjoying Japanese food and experimenting with things I would never have tried before!) Afterwards we walked for another 2 hours (not even joking) through the massive crowds of people in yukatas to the Gifu fireworks to meet up with all of the JETs who had come from all over the prefecture. I still cannot believe how many people were there and how many fireworks there were! I heard an estimate of 50+ JETs, 250,000 people, and 30 THOUSAND fireworks!!!! I couldn’t even imagine how expensive it must have been! Luckily there were companies that sponsored each part, but still, ahh pollution! Apparently each city has a major fireworks festival each year. My favourite part was called “Niagara falls” where they had a line of fireworks all across the river and they were the kind that slowly started to drip as well. Hard to explain and the pics didn’t really turn out but it was so cool! Plus everything was set to music. I think it was my first moment when I really looked around at everyone and realised I was in Japan. (I know it sounds silly but it’s hard to explain what I’m going through because I’m the sole foreigner for 40 km but at the same time I meet up with the other JETs so easily that it seams like we are all there on some big trip together.) I have further fallen in love with Japanese babies and have decided if I ever am looking to adopt I want a cute little Japanese child! *there’s my completely random thought of the day but they are adorable! Maybe I’ll post some pics later). To end the night Rika’s dad picked us up from Gifu (so nice of him) and drove us all home.
Today I woke up to a phone call from Murachi-sensei saying that my neighbour the vice principal of the junior high school would like to meet me and would be by in a few minutes. I rushed to put on clothes and pull my hair back and two minutes later I was standing outside my room giving my self-introduction in Japanese. The rest of the day was quite slack as it was Sunday and I finally had some time on my own to really settle in. I am completely unpacked now and have been going through loads of paperwork and things that Kaki (my predecessor) left behind. I’ve had many lovely surprises of household items, movies, and Japanese books that will be very helpful I think. As Keith (from Gifu) was saying I think I really lucked out on my apartment because Kaki kept it clean and organised. Pretty immaculate actually. Oooh and I found an air conditioner today thankfully!!! So today was a relaxo day where I just cleaned and organized pretty much the whole day. In the afternoon I decided I needed to get out of the house and took myself on a walking tour of the whole village (yes it is that small!) I saw the famous Usuzumi Sakura (oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan I do believe) and oriented myself to find the grocery store, town hall, and the two schools I will be working at. It was my first time really on my own and I got a few odd looks of “who’s the gaijin (foreigner).” When I found the grocery store just as it was closing (at 6pm) I popped in and decided to buy something, anything just to see if I could do it. Anyways I ended up walking home with a bushel of 8+ bananas (first thing I knew what it was!) and hoped that the monkeys wouldn’t find me. The walk home made me feel like I was in the jungle as there were many scary sounds (mostly of birds, bugs and monkeys), heaps of spiders, and I got quite a fright when I just about stepped on a large dead (I think!) snake. That- I was definitely not prepared for!
At 6 o’clock every night in Motosu the anthem of the city comes on the speakers all around the 4 towns that make up Motosu. It’s kinda cool but somewhat creepy and reminds me of that Dianne Sawyer special on North Korea. That was a good indication it was time to start heading home. Anyways home now safe and sound. It’s 7 o’clock and pretty much completely dark outside. I’m going to go study by Katakana (want to have it all down pat by the end of the week so I can start on my Hiragana (the more complex alphabet in Japanese).
Konbanwa-Good Night!
I still doubt I will ever get used to the humidity and typhoonish weather but am coming to love my apartment and the idea of living in a village community. It is true you really cannot beat the people and how much they are willing to go out of their way to help you and make sure you and comfortable, happy and shown a good time as a new member of the community.
Friday I went into Motosu to Malaria (Actually Malera but we have already assigned a nickname for it) on my first train trip (get this on a one car train! So cute!) . A sweet lady from the town office accompanied me and another man from the town office drove along in the car later as well. They were a little overprotective and worried about me but they were very helpful and cute. They also helped me open a bank account. We went for lunch in one of Neo’s 3 (?) food establishments and while we were there a prominent person from city hall came and secretly paid for all three of our lunches. So sweet. After lunch I walked to the elementary school and also visited the junior high where I learned that Murachi sensei would be going on a trip to Seattle next week and Monday would be my last day with him there for quite a while. I could be in for a shock/very quiet week!
Anyways, I went to Malaria and met up with Narin and we found a Starbucks (what luck!), I did some grocery shopping then went to his place. Narin and Kiri (new ALT’s from Melbourne) live in the same apartment building and only a block away from Malaria. It makes it quite convenient!! Then we ventured off on our own to find Gifu City and meet up with the regional ALTs. Keith (our regional prefecture advisor) set it up for everyone to meet at the train station in Gifu (which is about 40 minutes by bus out of Motosu (which is an additional 40 minutes outside of Neo)). It was great having our first group night out in our new home area and getting to swap horror and new Jet stories. Although JET always reminds us not to compare ourselves with each other, it was quite inevitable and made me feel quite reassured that I got a great set up. Not to brag but I have way more space, a much more competent and friendly supervisor, less rent, and a fantastic Japanese Teacher of English (JTE). Whooo!! And the three of us were pretty much the only ones with Ketei’s (cell phones) so far. I also don’t know what I would do without Kiri who speaks almost fluent Japanese! ‘Tis fantastic indeed! We went out to a cute little bar/pub a block or two away from Gifu station. I think we might end up there quite a bit! We caught the last train home and then I stayed over in Motosu since Neo trains stop running at 9:30 on weekdays and something like 4 on weekends!! Craziness eh? Makes me glad I bought the beast of a car (hopefully I will have insurance on it tomorrow and can start learning to drive here soon!)
I also called home to Mom in PEI and Duane in Edmonton to let everyone know I am still alive and well after Tokyo. It’s good that I’ve been kept so busy lately but I eagerly await my internet connection so I can post these blogs, and catch up on emails and hopefully Skype with everyone.
Saturday we had another Gifu Jet activity in Gifu city. This time I invited Rika (whose father had a welcome party for me on Thursday night). Rika met Narin, Kiri and I at Malaria and then we took the train back to Gifu. We went on a walking tour around the city, I tried shopping for a yukata (summer kimono) with no luck, we had lunch at a cute café (have to admit I’m really enjoying Japanese food and experimenting with things I would never have tried before!) Afterwards we walked for another 2 hours (not even joking) through the massive crowds of people in yukatas to the Gifu fireworks to meet up with all of the JETs who had come from all over the prefecture. I still cannot believe how many people were there and how many fireworks there were! I heard an estimate of 50+ JETs, 250,000 people, and 30 THOUSAND fireworks!!!! I couldn’t even imagine how expensive it must have been! Luckily there were companies that sponsored each part, but still, ahh pollution! Apparently each city has a major fireworks festival each year. My favourite part was called “Niagara falls” where they had a line of fireworks all across the river and they were the kind that slowly started to drip as well. Hard to explain and the pics didn’t really turn out but it was so cool! Plus everything was set to music. I think it was my first moment when I really looked around at everyone and realised I was in Japan. (I know it sounds silly but it’s hard to explain what I’m going through because I’m the sole foreigner for 40 km but at the same time I meet up with the other JETs so easily that it seams like we are all there on some big trip together.) I have further fallen in love with Japanese babies and have decided if I ever am looking to adopt I want a cute little Japanese child! *there’s my completely random thought of the day but they are adorable! Maybe I’ll post some pics later). To end the night Rika’s dad picked us up from Gifu (so nice of him) and drove us all home.
Today I woke up to a phone call from Murachi-sensei saying that my neighbour the vice principal of the junior high school would like to meet me and would be by in a few minutes. I rushed to put on clothes and pull my hair back and two minutes later I was standing outside my room giving my self-introduction in Japanese. The rest of the day was quite slack as it was Sunday and I finally had some time on my own to really settle in. I am completely unpacked now and have been going through loads of paperwork and things that Kaki (my predecessor) left behind. I’ve had many lovely surprises of household items, movies, and Japanese books that will be very helpful I think. As Keith (from Gifu) was saying I think I really lucked out on my apartment because Kaki kept it clean and organised. Pretty immaculate actually. Oooh and I found an air conditioner today thankfully!!! So today was a relaxo day where I just cleaned and organized pretty much the whole day. In the afternoon I decided I needed to get out of the house and took myself on a walking tour of the whole village (yes it is that small!) I saw the famous Usuzumi Sakura (oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan I do believe) and oriented myself to find the grocery store, town hall, and the two schools I will be working at. It was my first time really on my own and I got a few odd looks of “who’s the gaijin (foreigner).” When I found the grocery store just as it was closing (at 6pm) I popped in and decided to buy something, anything just to see if I could do it. Anyways I ended up walking home with a bushel of 8+ bananas (first thing I knew what it was!) and hoped that the monkeys wouldn’t find me. The walk home made me feel like I was in the jungle as there were many scary sounds (mostly of birds, bugs and monkeys), heaps of spiders, and I got quite a fright when I just about stepped on a large dead (I think!) snake. That- I was definitely not prepared for!
At 6 o’clock every night in Motosu the anthem of the city comes on the speakers all around the 4 towns that make up Motosu. It’s kinda cool but somewhat creepy and reminds me of that Dianne Sawyer special on North Korea. That was a good indication it was time to start heading home. Anyways home now safe and sound. It’s 7 o’clock and pretty much completely dark outside. I’m going to go study by Katakana (want to have it all down pat by the end of the week so I can start on my Hiragana (the more complex alphabet in Japanese).
Konbanwa-Good Night!
Introduction to My Life in Japan
Wow! What a whirlwind few days! Tuesday night we went out with the Canadians to the Canadian Embassy. Although the speeches were quite mundane, afterwards we all went to Shabuya(?), a busy nightlife area in Tokyo that was pretty incredible and then up to the 45th floor of our hotel where we saw a magnificent view of the city! I survived and thrived in my first Tokyo Subway experience and saw the biggest city in the world at night! : ) Pretty great day! The next day I also achieved a new feat when travelling on the Shinjuko bullet train! Very fast and enjoyable! There was so much excitement as about 40 of us travelled together into Gifu Prefecture. We also were fortunate to have a clear day and be able to see a great view of Mount Fuji (although my pics didn’t quite turn out unfortunately).
In any case, maybe more about Tokyo later but now I want to talk about the meat and potatoes—my new home! Yesterday Kiri, Narin (new Melbourne ALT’s in Motosu City) and I were picked up by Tanaka-sensei and Fukuyoa (?). I have honestly never been so nervous as I was stepping off the escalator from the bullet train and arriving into the new life that lay ahead of me. Luckily they had smiles, signs, and best of all the three of us got to leave together! Tanaka-sensei I learned would be my supervisor and although doesn’t speak much English is “the coolest man in Motosu” according to Fukyoka-sensei who has quite the command of a wide English vocabulary. They took us out for lunch (which included quail eggs) and then off to meet the mayor and all the VIPs in our lives in Motosu for the next 12 months. It was quite intimidating doing our introductions and everything because of the whole greeting customs (bow 1up, 2down, 3up) not to mention that Kiri and Narin both studied Japanese for many many years and here I am a fish out of water. Although I do think people appreciated my mangled attempt at Japanese. My intro, be it as it may “Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Julie Beck desu. Watashiwa Canada-jin desu. Dozo yoroshku onegi shimasu” got a few smiles and some claps throughout the day. During tea with the mayor and vice mayor they brought out a frame with four pictures from Devon on it. They really are excited that I am from Devon- it is definitely scoring me some big points I think!
We got melons from the people at city hall which I have now learned that, along with Kaki fruit are famous in Motosu.
Next up was applying for our Alien registration cards, meeting some education people in Motosu-city and loading the suitcases from the Board of Education into the van….. if anyone has ever seen me (or any Beck/Kofin for that matter) pack you will be able to imagine how much fun it was packing for a whole YEAR in a foreign country. Both my bags were the absolute max limit (70lbs—thankfully it’s before October when the limit is going down to 50) when I left Edmonton, and then in Tokyo I picked up an additional 20 lbs of books and paperwork not even joking. It was a great challenge to fit everything into the 2 MASSIVE suitcases and backpack and laptop case. But it was done. Much to my embarrassment yesterday however, although I shipped the bags from different times and places they all ended up at the B.O.E at the same time which made me so ashamed of how much I had brought in comparison to the Australians who were only allowed to bring 1 50lb bag! Yikes! I think I broke a few Japanese backs while the men carried my suitcases and had to make arrangements for another car to drop the others off since we couldn’t all fit in the van anymore! Oh geez.
In any case, I said goodbye to the others as Tammy (Education Exchange Coordinator from the B.O.E) as a translator, Tanaka-sensei (my supervisor) and I ventured off into the booming metropolis of Neo (Population: 2,000).
The countryside here is so beautiful! I think I will really love it! The village really is right in the mountains and there are so many lush trees! I feel like I am in a rainforest with all of the humidity. It is so much more (beautiful!!) here than in Tokyo and cities along the drive. And for now anyways—I am adjusting to the idea of being in a tiny remote community in the middle of the mountains.
Tammy and Tanaka took me to the Neo B.O.E where I met so many happy people. It was just bustling with energy! They were all so very very very excited and kind! After yet another somewhat awkward introduction and exchange of business cards, I learned AGAIN just how wonderful it was that I was from Devon.
We had a quick meeting to decide the next day’s schedule and I learned that I would soon get to see my apartment and then be whisked away to my welcome party!
My apartment is a lot nicer than I thought it would be. Although it is small everything seams relatively new. It’s well decorated and the size will be enough for me. (Plus is has a western toilet and a bed- yeah!!). It’s very hot and humid (I’m sure the fan will become my new best friend) and I’ve only been completely grossed out by 2 bugs so far—one was the largest I’ve ever seen, and could fly!). So far no bugs inside by many in the hallways—ewwwww!
Everyone from the Neo B.O.E came over to help me move in—remember those suitcases- bam yet again a source of embarrassment! Did I forget to mention I live on the 3rd floor and there is no elevator? Yah, there was a lot of sweat coming from those men by the time they reached the top. Everyone was so nice and helped get everything set up and showed me how to use things in my apartment. Toilet (write later how smart water)
They also bought me new blankets, sheets, pillow, toothbrush, a towel and some toilet paper to get me started. Neo does not have much in the way of shopping—aka one store that is open at random I hear.
I was soon taken to my Welcome party across the street from the B.O.E. It was so much fun!!! Lots of drinking! (I really like Japanese beer and it’s sometimes so impossible to get them to stop filling p your glass!) The food was pretty good and I tried my first scary new Japanese food- RAW chicken. Yes yes I was pretty freaked out but when in Rome! I also has some onegiri (rice ball wrapped in Nori/seaweed). Murachi sensei- who I am sure I will get along with very well- came to help translate, along with a boy from a neighbouring town. There were lots of laughs, some pictures, tonnes of drinking and it was a very good time. I can’t get over how friendly and nice everyone is!
I came home happy and unpacked as much as I could before falling asleep. After sleeping with the fan on all night and having a cold shower I still feel a little hot. I explored my apartment a bit, looked outside at the beautiful view and sat down to write this. I have about 15 minutes until Murachi sensei comes to pick me up and take me on a trip to the JHS and start the rest of my action packed day. Time to go get ready! Wish me luck!
In any case, maybe more about Tokyo later but now I want to talk about the meat and potatoes—my new home! Yesterday Kiri, Narin (new Melbourne ALT’s in Motosu City) and I were picked up by Tanaka-sensei and Fukuyoa (?). I have honestly never been so nervous as I was stepping off the escalator from the bullet train and arriving into the new life that lay ahead of me. Luckily they had smiles, signs, and best of all the three of us got to leave together! Tanaka-sensei I learned would be my supervisor and although doesn’t speak much English is “the coolest man in Motosu” according to Fukyoka-sensei who has quite the command of a wide English vocabulary. They took us out for lunch (which included quail eggs) and then off to meet the mayor and all the VIPs in our lives in Motosu for the next 12 months. It was quite intimidating doing our introductions and everything because of the whole greeting customs (bow 1up, 2down, 3up) not to mention that Kiri and Narin both studied Japanese for many many years and here I am a fish out of water. Although I do think people appreciated my mangled attempt at Japanese. My intro, be it as it may “Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Julie Beck desu. Watashiwa Canada-jin desu. Dozo yoroshku onegi shimasu” got a few smiles and some claps throughout the day. During tea with the mayor and vice mayor they brought out a frame with four pictures from Devon on it. They really are excited that I am from Devon- it is definitely scoring me some big points I think!
We got melons from the people at city hall which I have now learned that, along with Kaki fruit are famous in Motosu.
Next up was applying for our Alien registration cards, meeting some education people in Motosu-city and loading the suitcases from the Board of Education into the van….. if anyone has ever seen me (or any Beck/Kofin for that matter) pack you will be able to imagine how much fun it was packing for a whole YEAR in a foreign country. Both my bags were the absolute max limit (70lbs—thankfully it’s before October when the limit is going down to 50) when I left Edmonton, and then in Tokyo I picked up an additional 20 lbs of books and paperwork not even joking. It was a great challenge to fit everything into the 2 MASSIVE suitcases and backpack and laptop case. But it was done. Much to my embarrassment yesterday however, although I shipped the bags from different times and places they all ended up at the B.O.E at the same time which made me so ashamed of how much I had brought in comparison to the Australians who were only allowed to bring 1 50lb bag! Yikes! I think I broke a few Japanese backs while the men carried my suitcases and had to make arrangements for another car to drop the others off since we couldn’t all fit in the van anymore! Oh geez.
In any case, I said goodbye to the others as Tammy (Education Exchange Coordinator from the B.O.E) as a translator, Tanaka-sensei (my supervisor) and I ventured off into the booming metropolis of Neo (Population: 2,000).
The countryside here is so beautiful! I think I will really love it! The village really is right in the mountains and there are so many lush trees! I feel like I am in a rainforest with all of the humidity. It is so much more (beautiful!!) here than in Tokyo and cities along the drive. And for now anyways—I am adjusting to the idea of being in a tiny remote community in the middle of the mountains.
Tammy and Tanaka took me to the Neo B.O.E where I met so many happy people. It was just bustling with energy! They were all so very very very excited and kind! After yet another somewhat awkward introduction and exchange of business cards, I learned AGAIN just how wonderful it was that I was from Devon.
We had a quick meeting to decide the next day’s schedule and I learned that I would soon get to see my apartment and then be whisked away to my welcome party!
My apartment is a lot nicer than I thought it would be. Although it is small everything seams relatively new. It’s well decorated and the size will be enough for me. (Plus is has a western toilet and a bed- yeah!!). It’s very hot and humid (I’m sure the fan will become my new best friend) and I’ve only been completely grossed out by 2 bugs so far—one was the largest I’ve ever seen, and could fly!). So far no bugs inside by many in the hallways—ewwwww!
Everyone from the Neo B.O.E came over to help me move in—remember those suitcases- bam yet again a source of embarrassment! Did I forget to mention I live on the 3rd floor and there is no elevator? Yah, there was a lot of sweat coming from those men by the time they reached the top. Everyone was so nice and helped get everything set up and showed me how to use things in my apartment. Toilet (write later how smart water)
They also bought me new blankets, sheets, pillow, toothbrush, a towel and some toilet paper to get me started. Neo does not have much in the way of shopping—aka one store that is open at random I hear.
I was soon taken to my Welcome party across the street from the B.O.E. It was so much fun!!! Lots of drinking! (I really like Japanese beer and it’s sometimes so impossible to get them to stop filling p your glass!) The food was pretty good and I tried my first scary new Japanese food- RAW chicken. Yes yes I was pretty freaked out but when in Rome! I also has some onegiri (rice ball wrapped in Nori/seaweed). Murachi sensei- who I am sure I will get along with very well- came to help translate, along with a boy from a neighbouring town. There were lots of laughs, some pictures, tonnes of drinking and it was a very good time. I can’t get over how friendly and nice everyone is!
I came home happy and unpacked as much as I could before falling asleep. After sleeping with the fan on all night and having a cold shower I still feel a little hot. I explored my apartment a bit, looked outside at the beautiful view and sat down to write this. I have about 15 minutes until Murachi sensei comes to pick me up and take me on a trip to the JHS and start the rest of my action packed day. Time to go get ready! Wish me luck!
Monday, July 30, 2007
More First Impressions of Tokyo and Japan
Hello Again
Wow I am writing a lot sooner than I thought I would be able to but I have a twenty minutes free before I start sessions again and this may be my last access to internet for a while!
We are doing another day of Orientation in Tokyo today. This morning I got to explore the city a bit and tonight all of the Canadians are going to a big welcome party at the Embassy and afterwards all of the people from Gifu Prefecture are planning on going out together. Should be a good time doing Karaoke and getting into all types of trouble in Tokyo!
Orientation has been going well except it is a lot of information to take in at once. It has been incredible meeting so many people from all around the world! I love it! Mel, Nes, and all those ESL teachers out there you should hear the teaching ESL lectures here at the orientations--P.P.P model, Krashen language acquisition, comprehensive input... I was pulling out my hair. The "Engrish" is hilarious too! Some of the speakers are so cute!
Some observations on Japan and Tokyo:
Everyone is so efficient and time oriented (so unlike Australia a few years ago!)
Plastic Foods in Cities will be soo much of a help (restaurants have them displayed everywhere here so you will know what to order.)
Bikes are everywhere-- and never locked
Umbrellas are everywhere too!
Rice is so much better here!
Japanese Words of the Day: (Perhaps wrong on spelling)
Inaka- Countryside
Geinkie-Foreigner
Kotatsu- Heated Table
Junken- Our version of Rock Paper Scissons
Sensei-One who comes before others-- applies to Teachers, Doctors, Statesmen
Japanese Facts of the Day:
5 or 6 Years ago students in Japan all went to school on Saturdays
Tonight we are going to use the subway! Wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)