Grrrr. The third grade English teacher at my school is at it again. I really do think that she wants to see me fail. I don't think that she is pure evil. I just think that she is intimidated by native English speakers and that she is extremely insecure about her job. I don't think that she realizes how bad she is making herself look.
So, I have been trying to corner "Third Sensei" in order to find out the plan for Saturday. At first, she told me that I really didn't have to come to school on Saturday. She also told me that it was a half day on Saturday. I tried to ask her more questions, but in her typical fashion, she ran away from me.
I should have known on Friday when she dismissed me from her class after fifteen minutes, that things were going to be bad for me. (The class was moving on to an elective subject and I wasn't needed there anymore).
So yesterday, I went to school and enjoyed all of the singing and the art work. At about 12:30, most of the students and teachers had left, but it was obvious that school work for me wasn't quite over (although there was nothing for me to do). At 1:50, there was no indication of a lunch break much less anything for me to do. I decided to ask if it was ok to go home (half day, remember?). Big mistake!
The secretary went to hunt down the vice principal and the Third Sensei. No, it was supposed to be a normal day (until 4). I'm not sure why there was no lunch break, or why I hadn't been told to bring a lunch, or WHY my teacher couldn't have told me that it was a normal day!
Anyway, I finally found out that the students had left some day trips with most of the teachers. They decided it was ok for me to go home, since they would probably close school early.
I was so frustrated! Of course, the teacher was smug about everything. She also said loudly, "I'll see you Tuesday!" I made sure to say in front of the VP and secretary that I had an elementary school visit on Tuesday, followed by an ALT meeting, and that our mid-year conference is on Wednesday and Thursday. I had explained all of that to her on several occasions. I actually wrote out my schedule for the week and left it on my desk in plain site. I know that the First and Second year teachers saw them, because we talked about the reasons why I couldn't do a Halloween class on Wednesday.
I was extremely annoyed. I am still peeved, but should be better by the time I see her again.
I did try to soften her up a bit and try a different approach, but it didn't seem to work.
Honestly, aside from her attempts to sabotage any chance to do well or even excel, I love my job.
I haven't had too much of an opportunity to bond with the third years (9th graders) because their teacher doesn't use me very often, but I do find ways to interact with them outside of the classroom.
The first years are definitely not shy outside of the classroom, but they have a tendency to be a little rowdy inside the classroom (what 7th graders aren't though?)
My second year (8th graders) are really coming out of their shells though. Even the shy kids approach me in the hallways now and try to start a conversation with me! They are trying to help me learn Japanese, too. I think a lot of their attitude comes from their teacher. He encourages them to think outside of the box. He also tries to make learning as fun for them as possible. I also like the fact that Second Sensei has been including me in a lot more lately, so his students talk to me more.
Anyway, I feel like I just vomited so many thoughts and frustrations on this page. It probably doesn't make much sense.
The important thing though, is that I really love my job, minus the Third Sensei. I finally feel like I am doing something worthwhile and I REFUSE to let the Third Sensei be a killjoy.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Gaijin Revalations
It always feels like so much time passes between each posting. It's only been a few days since I lasted posted, but it seems like ages ago.
As usual, I ask myself where should I begin?
Let's see, I managed to make it through an entire week without teaching any junior high classes. Two of those days, I was at the elementary school, so I kept busy there.
I was scheduled for a few classes at the junior high, but they were all canceled because the teachers were returning their mid-term tests and they were going to review (what better time for me to be there!).
Friday, I spent researching Halloween ESL activities that might be appropriate for my special education class. I also spent a couple of hours reading and a couple of hours writing letters. The great thing that came out of last week, was that I am now FINALLY eating meals with the students. Yatta! (Some other day I will expand on Japanese school lunches).
On Saturday, I went to Nasu. It's a popular place for Japanese hot springs or onsen. I went with the Urawa English Speaking Society. I mentioned earlier that I visited one of their classes when I first arrived in Japan. They invited me to Nasu for their Fall Retreat. I am so happy that I went.
Twenty-six members from the Urawa ESS stayed at a private lodge in Nasu. One of the members works for the company that owns the lodge, so we were able to stay there for practically nothing. We stayed in a traditional Japanese room. There were paper sliding doors, tatami mats on the floor, and we slept on the floor on futons. (I shared a room with three other ladies).
The onsen were located on the first floor. There was one for the men and one for the women. Japanese custom is for the women to bathe together (naked) and the men to bathe together (naked). Since I am an American and the ESS members are very much acquainted with our ideas of modesty, the ladies arranged ahead of time for me to be alone in the onsen. I didn't want to be an inconvenience to them, but I didn't want to be naked in front of a bunch of people I didn't really know either. So I graciously accepted their offer. I can't tell you how wonderful the onsen experience was! The lodge was in the mountains and the onsen over-looked a hill. If you looked out the window, you could see the golds and reds of the fall leaves. You could also feel the cool mountain air before stepping into the onsen.
The experience is so relaxing and refreshing. I understand why the Japanese want to share that experience with other people. I just don't understand why it would matter if we wore clothes or if we had tattoos. Oddly enough, they didn't ask me if I had a tattoo. I expected this question too.
Anyway, my experience in Nasu was indescribable. We ate a lot of food. I was treated to a steak dinner (along with twenty other Japanese foods...no exaggeration). We had games, drinking, and karaoke. I was the only person not to drink, but was asked to sing over and over. It was fun.
On Sunday, we woke up early and went for a walk outside. The fresh air was inviting. On our walk, we encountered an old man walking his dog. The dog was very friendly and wanted to play with us. While we were talking, I noticed an odd plant-like thing. It turns out, that it was a huge mushroom. I guess it's the kind used in making Chinese medicine. I got pictures with it, so I will post them soon. After a HUGE breakfast (bigger than dinner the night before), we checked out of our rooms and headed for the British Hills.
British Hills was about an hour drive in the country-side. The drive itself was absolutely gorgeous. British Hills consists of an English manor surround by dormitories and a hotel that look like elegant British buildings. There is a pub, a tea shop, and a gift shop. Visitors can also tour the manor. We took the tour (in English) and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips. It was fun for me. I got to see something different, but I also got to spend a few hours surrounded by mostly native English speakers again. It was kind of a strange feeling, but I enjoyed my time there.
After our visit to British Hills, we returned home. On the way back, I saw the Japanese equivalent to a motorcycle gang. Most of them looked harmless enough, but a few of them looked dangerous. Their bikes, on the other hand, were NOT intimidating at all. I don't think that I can begin to explain them now, but I will try. The closest comparison I can give you though, is the bikes that kids used to ride with the banana seats and the tall pole that had an orange flag flying from it. The back of the passenger seat rose high and the bikers would have banners flying from them. Most of the banners looked cute or funny, rather than scary and threatening. Yeah, I don't get it.
Overall, my weekend was full of new experiences that I would probably not have been able to experience if it weren't for the JET Program. I am extremely thankful for these opportunities.
I also realized that I can't expect for things to happen, I have to try to make things happen, too. I could have easily said no to visiting the ESS class (they were strangers and I had just arrived in Japan that week). Rather than sitting at home acting scared, I took a step outside of my comfort zone and tried something new. So far, it has led to me meeting many new people and be able to experience new things. I have traveled more, and these kind people refuse to let me pay for anything! I can't believe it. I had an incredible weekend.
Yesterday and today, I had several classes at school. I actually got to spend time talking with the students about the Civil Rights Movement and about Apartheid. A lot of the students aren't able to communicate what they are thinking, but some of them are. It is amazing what kind of observations these students make. It gives me hope for the future. Interestingly enough, the Japanese pronunciation of Apartheid sounds like "apart hate". One of the students thought that it was "hate" for something that was not a "part" of the white group. I was impressed. The logic is excellent. This also opened up dialog about American culture then and now. The students remembered the photo album I showed them with my self-introduction and they asked me about having friends and family from backgrounds different from mine. I thought that it was a great class. We are trying to get the students to think outside of their classroom and to think about bigger issues. I felt that I actually helped some students take steps in that direction today.
So I may sit at my desk sometimes with nothing to do, but when I get to travel to new and exciting places, or open up a window to another world to my students, or even tell stories to the precious special ed students who make it a point to greet me every morning in English; I have to say that these are the moments that I love my job.
As usual, I ask myself where should I begin?
Let's see, I managed to make it through an entire week without teaching any junior high classes. Two of those days, I was at the elementary school, so I kept busy there.
I was scheduled for a few classes at the junior high, but they were all canceled because the teachers were returning their mid-term tests and they were going to review (what better time for me to be there!).
Friday, I spent researching Halloween ESL activities that might be appropriate for my special education class. I also spent a couple of hours reading and a couple of hours writing letters. The great thing that came out of last week, was that I am now FINALLY eating meals with the students. Yatta! (Some other day I will expand on Japanese school lunches).
On Saturday, I went to Nasu. It's a popular place for Japanese hot springs or onsen. I went with the Urawa English Speaking Society. I mentioned earlier that I visited one of their classes when I first arrived in Japan. They invited me to Nasu for their Fall Retreat. I am so happy that I went.
Twenty-six members from the Urawa ESS stayed at a private lodge in Nasu. One of the members works for the company that owns the lodge, so we were able to stay there for practically nothing. We stayed in a traditional Japanese room. There were paper sliding doors, tatami mats on the floor, and we slept on the floor on futons. (I shared a room with three other ladies).
The onsen were located on the first floor. There was one for the men and one for the women. Japanese custom is for the women to bathe together (naked) and the men to bathe together (naked). Since I am an American and the ESS members are very much acquainted with our ideas of modesty, the ladies arranged ahead of time for me to be alone in the onsen. I didn't want to be an inconvenience to them, but I didn't want to be naked in front of a bunch of people I didn't really know either. So I graciously accepted their offer. I can't tell you how wonderful the onsen experience was! The lodge was in the mountains and the onsen over-looked a hill. If you looked out the window, you could see the golds and reds of the fall leaves. You could also feel the cool mountain air before stepping into the onsen.
The experience is so relaxing and refreshing. I understand why the Japanese want to share that experience with other people. I just don't understand why it would matter if we wore clothes or if we had tattoos. Oddly enough, they didn't ask me if I had a tattoo. I expected this question too.
Anyway, my experience in Nasu was indescribable. We ate a lot of food. I was treated to a steak dinner (along with twenty other Japanese foods...no exaggeration). We had games, drinking, and karaoke. I was the only person not to drink, but was asked to sing over and over. It was fun.
On Sunday, we woke up early and went for a walk outside. The fresh air was inviting. On our walk, we encountered an old man walking his dog. The dog was very friendly and wanted to play with us. While we were talking, I noticed an odd plant-like thing. It turns out, that it was a huge mushroom. I guess it's the kind used in making Chinese medicine. I got pictures with it, so I will post them soon. After a HUGE breakfast (bigger than dinner the night before), we checked out of our rooms and headed for the British Hills.
British Hills was about an hour drive in the country-side. The drive itself was absolutely gorgeous. British Hills consists of an English manor surround by dormitories and a hotel that look like elegant British buildings. There is a pub, a tea shop, and a gift shop. Visitors can also tour the manor. We took the tour (in English) and enjoyed a meal of fish and chips. It was fun for me. I got to see something different, but I also got to spend a few hours surrounded by mostly native English speakers again. It was kind of a strange feeling, but I enjoyed my time there.
After our visit to British Hills, we returned home. On the way back, I saw the Japanese equivalent to a motorcycle gang. Most of them looked harmless enough, but a few of them looked dangerous. Their bikes, on the other hand, were NOT intimidating at all. I don't think that I can begin to explain them now, but I will try. The closest comparison I can give you though, is the bikes that kids used to ride with the banana seats and the tall pole that had an orange flag flying from it. The back of the passenger seat rose high and the bikers would have banners flying from them. Most of the banners looked cute or funny, rather than scary and threatening. Yeah, I don't get it.
Overall, my weekend was full of new experiences that I would probably not have been able to experience if it weren't for the JET Program. I am extremely thankful for these opportunities.
I also realized that I can't expect for things to happen, I have to try to make things happen, too. I could have easily said no to visiting the ESS class (they were strangers and I had just arrived in Japan that week). Rather than sitting at home acting scared, I took a step outside of my comfort zone and tried something new. So far, it has led to me meeting many new people and be able to experience new things. I have traveled more, and these kind people refuse to let me pay for anything! I can't believe it. I had an incredible weekend.
Yesterday and today, I had several classes at school. I actually got to spend time talking with the students about the Civil Rights Movement and about Apartheid. A lot of the students aren't able to communicate what they are thinking, but some of them are. It is amazing what kind of observations these students make. It gives me hope for the future. Interestingly enough, the Japanese pronunciation of Apartheid sounds like "apart hate". One of the students thought that it was "hate" for something that was not a "part" of the white group. I was impressed. The logic is excellent. This also opened up dialog about American culture then and now. The students remembered the photo album I showed them with my self-introduction and they asked me about having friends and family from backgrounds different from mine. I thought that it was a great class. We are trying to get the students to think outside of their classroom and to think about bigger issues. I felt that I actually helped some students take steps in that direction today.
So I may sit at my desk sometimes with nothing to do, but when I get to travel to new and exciting places, or open up a window to another world to my students, or even tell stories to the precious special ed students who make it a point to greet me every morning in English; I have to say that these are the moments that I love my job.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Today Was Good
Today was good, because yesterday was good.
I didn't have to go to my junior high school yesterday, because I had an all day elementary school visit, followed by a workshop. We finished the workshop around 5:00.
At 7:00, I had my Wednesday night conversation group. Everyone was finally relaxed and the night went smoothly. EVERYONE said that they really enjoyed the time there and that the activity was good. I always become stressed when I try to plan activities for this class, because the English abilities are so diverse.
I had another elementary school visit and only 2 hours at my junior high today (to occupy a desk). I also had my Thursday night class, but forgot that the second half was canceled this week. (I'm losing my mind).
I will (hopefully) get to bed earlier tonight and be able to survive Friday. I really do like my job, but I am ready for the weekend.
The one thing that is fun about my job, is that students who don't talk to me in class because they are too shy, suddenly find courage to run up to me and say "hi" when we are outside of school. I like this, because there are often parents around when this happens and it reminds me that learning often extends outside of the classroom and involves others (me included).
I didn't have to go to my junior high school yesterday, because I had an all day elementary school visit, followed by a workshop. We finished the workshop around 5:00.
At 7:00, I had my Wednesday night conversation group. Everyone was finally relaxed and the night went smoothly. EVERYONE said that they really enjoyed the time there and that the activity was good. I always become stressed when I try to plan activities for this class, because the English abilities are so diverse.
I had another elementary school visit and only 2 hours at my junior high today (to occupy a desk). I also had my Thursday night class, but forgot that the second half was canceled this week. (I'm losing my mind).
I will (hopefully) get to bed earlier tonight and be able to survive Friday. I really do like my job, but I am ready for the weekend.
The one thing that is fun about my job, is that students who don't talk to me in class because they are too shy, suddenly find courage to run up to me and say "hi" when we are outside of school. I like this, because there are often parents around when this happens and it reminds me that learning often extends outside of the classroom and involves others (me included).
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Review of My Week
Monday was a holiday. My friend Atsuko took me to an international festival. We didn't have high expectations for the festival, but it was kind of lame. We spent only about an hour there. After that, we did our traditional outing to Saizeriya for the drink bar and cheese pizza. We stayed and talked for a couple of hours. After that, I came home and vegged.
Tuesday was good except I forgot about our ALT (assistant language teacher) meeting. I had to rush out of school in the afternoon and apologize to the staff there. So they think that I am a flake now.
Our meeting was good, but we had to pay some bills afterwards. Katlin and I went to pay together. (More communication practice with non-English speakers. Why don't they teach us really useful Japanese in school?). After that, I introduced Katlin to the drink bar at Saizeriya. I enjoyed talking with Katlin. We talked a lot about Chicago...it's nice to talk about places we are both familiar with.
Wednesday had a rough start.
When I left the elementary school on Friday, I was told that my other visit was canceled and that I would only have a visit the following Friday. (Instinctively, I KNEW something wasn't right here). So on Wednesday, I am sitting at my desk at the junior high and there is a phone call from the elementary school wondering where I am. After lots of questioning, it was decided that it was my mistake (forget about the fact that TWO teachers told me not to come until Friday) and that I would have to make up for it by apologizing to everyone.
What was most frustrating, is that I suspected there was an error in communication, so I approached one of the jhs English teachers on Tuesday and told her I thought that there was a problem. Thinking she would help me, she acted clueless on Wednesday and seemed to blame me for the mix-up! I was so frustrated that I was nearly in tears.
Once I got to the elementary school, everything was fine. When I finished, I got back on my bike and started back for my junior high school. Let's just say that this was a day I should have considered not leaving the house.
I have decided that narrow streets, big trucks, Japanese drivers, long-wide pants, and foreigners on bikes are a disastrous combination. One of the streets I travel is very narrow and there is construction on one of its houses. I turned the corner on my back and had to suddenly stop for the truck who wasn't going to stop. I pulled my bike into a corner to wait for the truck to pass, but they finally stopped too. They stopped on the narrowest part of the road and there was not any room for a bike to pass on either side, let alone a bike and rider. They kept waving me to pass, but I waved for them. The passenger decided to get out and direct the truck into the driveway. At one point, they stopped to let me pass. I got on my bike and, I'm still not sure how this happened, but my pant leg went past my shoe and got caught in my bike. I couldn't continue paddling without ripping and/or de-pantsing myself. I was laughing at myself and the truck passenger was trying not to laugh, but eventually he had to give in. I had to balance my bike and try to pedal backwards in order to get my pants unstuck.
I'm sure it was very entertaining to watch and I'm sure it came up at dinner several places in Japan that night (unfortunately, the construction workers at that house witnessed the event too).
When the school day was finally over, I came home to a pleasant surprise. I had a package from Jessica! I was not expecting anything and it was the perfect day to be reminded of friends back home.
Thursday.
This was a pretty uneventful day. I was happy for that too. I had regular classes and my conversation groups.
Friday.
I was very happy for the end of the work week. I had another elementary school visit. I love the visits, but I am always wiped-out after them.
When I got home, there was a card from a very good friend. We had lost each other's addresses, but she came across my parents' phone number and decided to try it. Thankfully, she talked to my mom and got my address and now I have hers again.
I was so excited to hear from her, that I did a happy dance in my kitchen ^_^
I also got a text from Chikako saying that she and Mii would be here on Saturday. They wanted to meet for dinner in Shinjuku. Of course I said yes.
Saturday.
I went to Shinjuku early because it was my first time there and I wanted to be sure that I could find our meeting place. Talk about sensory over-load! There were so many people and so many flashing signs. It was hard to take it all in.
I found the place we were supposed to meet at and then decided to explore a little on my own. I found a Starbucks and had a non-caffeinated frappuccino and then I found a music store. Their prices are pretty reasonable for Japanese standards and they had a huge international section.
I gave in and finally got the new 50 Cent cd. It was only 1600 yen (usually 3200), so I felt like it was a bargain.
Next, I met up with Chikako and Mii. I was so happy to see them! We all lived in the same house together in Spokane.
We went to dinner at a place where they serve you 10 courses (everyone in your party shares the food) and then it's all you can drink. There is a flat fee of 3500 yen.
Oh my goodness! There was so much food and it was delicious! I didn't drink much alcohol, but I could drink juice, soda, and tea, too. Chikako didn't drink much either, but she was already tired, so the little she had hit her really hard. It was kind of funny.
Mii had 6 or 7 drinks. The two of them are crazy when they are sober, but give them alcohol and they are even more entertaining!
Mii was always asking Chikako questions before talking to the waiter. Chikako would answer in English knowing that Mii would repeat what she said. The waiter was confused, but understood. It was so much fun with them.
After dinner, we decided to do puri kura (print club photos. It's a cheap and popular past time here and it can be a lot of fun!) As we were trying to find a place, we were hustled by several "hosts" (gigolos). One street actually had about 10 together in a group. Most of them had dyed hair in the shape of a hedgehog. They had business cards too. Their business card was a laminated 4x7 with all of their head-shots on it. They gave it to Chikako and she kept it as a souvenir.
We finally made it to an arcade and found what we were looking for. We ended up running out of time and rushing back to the station so that I could get home before the trains quit running.
(I really don't know why they can't run longer on the weekends in a city this big).
Anyway, I had a lot of fun with Chikako and Mii. I hope that I can see them again soon.
Sunday.
It is now Sunday morning in Japan.
I will meet some people from my conversation class today. They are some of my quieter students and they initiated the out-side contact, so I want to make sure to meet with them. I want them to feel comfortable, so that it doesn't get in the way of their learning.
We will be meeting at Chestnut Grove. It is a small coffee place/restaurant that specializes in waffles. That doesn't sound so unusual, right? Well, have you ever had a salad waffle? They have two categories of waffles. The salad waffles or the dessert waffles. Breakfast waffles are not an option.
After that, I will probably go grocery shopping, do laundry, and watch a movie. I am wiped out!
Tuesday was good except I forgot about our ALT (assistant language teacher) meeting. I had to rush out of school in the afternoon and apologize to the staff there. So they think that I am a flake now.
Our meeting was good, but we had to pay some bills afterwards. Katlin and I went to pay together. (More communication practice with non-English speakers. Why don't they teach us really useful Japanese in school?). After that, I introduced Katlin to the drink bar at Saizeriya. I enjoyed talking with Katlin. We talked a lot about Chicago...it's nice to talk about places we are both familiar with.
Wednesday had a rough start.
When I left the elementary school on Friday, I was told that my other visit was canceled and that I would only have a visit the following Friday. (Instinctively, I KNEW something wasn't right here). So on Wednesday, I am sitting at my desk at the junior high and there is a phone call from the elementary school wondering where I am. After lots of questioning, it was decided that it was my mistake (forget about the fact that TWO teachers told me not to come until Friday) and that I would have to make up for it by apologizing to everyone.
What was most frustrating, is that I suspected there was an error in communication, so I approached one of the jhs English teachers on Tuesday and told her I thought that there was a problem. Thinking she would help me, she acted clueless on Wednesday and seemed to blame me for the mix-up! I was so frustrated that I was nearly in tears.
Once I got to the elementary school, everything was fine. When I finished, I got back on my bike and started back for my junior high school. Let's just say that this was a day I should have considered not leaving the house.
I have decided that narrow streets, big trucks, Japanese drivers, long-wide pants, and foreigners on bikes are a disastrous combination. One of the streets I travel is very narrow and there is construction on one of its houses. I turned the corner on my back and had to suddenly stop for the truck who wasn't going to stop. I pulled my bike into a corner to wait for the truck to pass, but they finally stopped too. They stopped on the narrowest part of the road and there was not any room for a bike to pass on either side, let alone a bike and rider. They kept waving me to pass, but I waved for them. The passenger decided to get out and direct the truck into the driveway. At one point, they stopped to let me pass. I got on my bike and, I'm still not sure how this happened, but my pant leg went past my shoe and got caught in my bike. I couldn't continue paddling without ripping and/or de-pantsing myself. I was laughing at myself and the truck passenger was trying not to laugh, but eventually he had to give in. I had to balance my bike and try to pedal backwards in order to get my pants unstuck.
I'm sure it was very entertaining to watch and I'm sure it came up at dinner several places in Japan that night (unfortunately, the construction workers at that house witnessed the event too).
When the school day was finally over, I came home to a pleasant surprise. I had a package from Jessica! I was not expecting anything and it was the perfect day to be reminded of friends back home.
Thursday.
This was a pretty uneventful day. I was happy for that too. I had regular classes and my conversation groups.
Friday.
I was very happy for the end of the work week. I had another elementary school visit. I love the visits, but I am always wiped-out after them.
When I got home, there was a card from a very good friend. We had lost each other's addresses, but she came across my parents' phone number and decided to try it. Thankfully, she talked to my mom and got my address and now I have hers again.
I was so excited to hear from her, that I did a happy dance in my kitchen ^_^
I also got a text from Chikako saying that she and Mii would be here on Saturday. They wanted to meet for dinner in Shinjuku. Of course I said yes.
Saturday.
I went to Shinjuku early because it was my first time there and I wanted to be sure that I could find our meeting place. Talk about sensory over-load! There were so many people and so many flashing signs. It was hard to take it all in.
I found the place we were supposed to meet at and then decided to explore a little on my own. I found a Starbucks and had a non-caffeinated frappuccino and then I found a music store. Their prices are pretty reasonable for Japanese standards and they had a huge international section.
I gave in and finally got the new 50 Cent cd. It was only 1600 yen (usually 3200), so I felt like it was a bargain.
Next, I met up with Chikako and Mii. I was so happy to see them! We all lived in the same house together in Spokane.
We went to dinner at a place where they serve you 10 courses (everyone in your party shares the food) and then it's all you can drink. There is a flat fee of 3500 yen.
Oh my goodness! There was so much food and it was delicious! I didn't drink much alcohol, but I could drink juice, soda, and tea, too. Chikako didn't drink much either, but she was already tired, so the little she had hit her really hard. It was kind of funny.
Mii had 6 or 7 drinks. The two of them are crazy when they are sober, but give them alcohol and they are even more entertaining!
Mii was always asking Chikako questions before talking to the waiter. Chikako would answer in English knowing that Mii would repeat what she said. The waiter was confused, but understood. It was so much fun with them.
After dinner, we decided to do puri kura (print club photos. It's a cheap and popular past time here and it can be a lot of fun!) As we were trying to find a place, we were hustled by several "hosts" (gigolos). One street actually had about 10 together in a group. Most of them had dyed hair in the shape of a hedgehog. They had business cards too. Their business card was a laminated 4x7 with all of their head-shots on it. They gave it to Chikako and she kept it as a souvenir.
We finally made it to an arcade and found what we were looking for. We ended up running out of time and rushing back to the station so that I could get home before the trains quit running.
(I really don't know why they can't run longer on the weekends in a city this big).
Anyway, I had a lot of fun with Chikako and Mii. I hope that I can see them again soon.
Sunday.
It is now Sunday morning in Japan.
I will meet some people from my conversation class today. They are some of my quieter students and they initiated the out-side contact, so I want to make sure to meet with them. I want them to feel comfortable, so that it doesn't get in the way of their learning.
We will be meeting at Chestnut Grove. It is a small coffee place/restaurant that specializes in waffles. That doesn't sound so unusual, right? Well, have you ever had a salad waffle? They have two categories of waffles. The salad waffles or the dessert waffles. Breakfast waffles are not an option.
After that, I will probably go grocery shopping, do laundry, and watch a movie. I am wiped out!
Laundry Laments
So I have accepted that some things will always occur. For example, the fact that the eccentric neighbors across the street burn their garbage all the time (yes, it's illegal, but nobody says anything "because they are old and crazy"). That is the answer that I get from people in the town.
Anyway, I basically do my laundry on the weekends because, in Japan, everyone hangs their laundry outside to dry. (I'm not sure why. It's a cultural observation that I have yet to find an answer for other than "we like the smell of the sun in our clothes". They obviously don't live down-wind from the neighbors who burn their smelly garbage and end up with clothes that wreak!)
At any rate, hanging clothes outside would help reduce the amount of electricity being used. So it has some redeeming qualities. I would often hang certain clothing items to dry because I wouldn't want them to shrink, but I ALWAYS dried my towels, socks, and underwear. I was raised that was the sanitary thing to do. Not only that, but when you hang heavy cottons to air dry, they don't feel clean and they are often rough, not soft. What I wouldn't give for liquid fabric softener right now!
After all this frustration, I realized that I did not want my clothes to smell bad anymore. My neighbor pointed out to me that the nearby store had a clothes drying tree. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I can now dry my clothes anytime that I want to INSIDE my apartment. Rain or shine, garbage burning or no garbage burning, I can do laundry without exposing my clothes to the elements.
The smell of the sun may be a wonderful thing, but since I have yet to experience it (thanks to my neighbors), I think that the smell of my apartment is just as good.
Anyway, I basically do my laundry on the weekends because, in Japan, everyone hangs their laundry outside to dry. (I'm not sure why. It's a cultural observation that I have yet to find an answer for other than "we like the smell of the sun in our clothes". They obviously don't live down-wind from the neighbors who burn their smelly garbage and end up with clothes that wreak!)
At any rate, hanging clothes outside would help reduce the amount of electricity being used. So it has some redeeming qualities. I would often hang certain clothing items to dry because I wouldn't want them to shrink, but I ALWAYS dried my towels, socks, and underwear. I was raised that was the sanitary thing to do. Not only that, but when you hang heavy cottons to air dry, they don't feel clean and they are often rough, not soft. What I wouldn't give for liquid fabric softener right now!
After all this frustration, I realized that I did not want my clothes to smell bad anymore. My neighbor pointed out to me that the nearby store had a clothes drying tree. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I can now dry my clothes anytime that I want to INSIDE my apartment. Rain or shine, garbage burning or no garbage burning, I can do laundry without exposing my clothes to the elements.
The smell of the sun may be a wonderful thing, but since I have yet to experience it (thanks to my neighbors), I think that the smell of my apartment is just as good.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
My Students Think I'm Beautiful
Because the weather has finally gotten a little cooler, I decided to wear my hair down. I didn't think to much of it. I did think that it was nice to be able to wear it down and not have to worry about my hair getting stuck in a back pack or something.
Anyway, on Tuesday, I had my second elementary school visit and that is the day I wore my hair down. I had classes with all of the 6th graders. They were completely fascinated with my hair and my eyes. At first they thought I had a perm, but then I finally convinced them that it was natural curl. I told them that my friends have curlier hair and they were shocked.
The kids followed me around the school and asked me a lot of questions. One of the girls finally asked if I did anything special to have nice skin. I told her that I drink a lot of water (3-6 liters a day. No Joke!) and that I try to avoid the sun at certain times of the day because I get burned. She asked about moisturizers and facial lotions and I told her that I didn't use any of those (unless the climate is dry). She and her friend were shocked. They were sure that I was not telling them the truth. They were so cute though, because they kept giggling and telling me how beautiful I was.
At lunch, I ate at a table with 6 students. They were too shy to try and speak English. I asked them a few questions in English to encourage them to speak English (since that is my job), but I didn't say anything in Japanese. The boy to my left was too shy to make eye contact, but he kept staring at me when he thought I wasn't looking. He kept talking about my "pretty, green eyes". This all took place in Japanese. Finally, he commented on how well I was using my chopsticks and the other 5 students made comments about it as well. I couldn't hold back anymore, so in Japanese, I said that I am not good at using chopsticks. You should have seen their faces! First, shock that I spoke some Japanese, then embarrassment that I understood what they had been saying about me. It was so adorable, but hilarious, too.
After lunch, I went to my junior high to finish out the day. At this point, it hadn't occurred to me that my students had never seen me with my hair down. It has been pulled back in a bun every day because it is so stinking hot! (For those who don't know, my hair is down to my waist. It is reddish-brown and wavy). I didn't think it was a huge deal. It's my hair and I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Except that one girl walked into a wall because she was staring at my hair trying to figure out who it belonged to. The teachers stopped and commented on my hair. Many of the students asked if they could touch my hair and were surprised at its softness. Four girls decided to try and style my hair rather than do their part of the daily clean-up. But the coolest thing, is that among all of the students who stop and tell me how beautiful I am, the students who are usually too shy to talk, are the ones who are going out of their way to talk to me.
I'm guessing the bun was to intimidating, but next to chopping off my hair, it seemed like my only option.
Several of my students told me that I looked like a beautiful ghost. They then asked me if I had a nickname, so I told them that my friends call me Casper (because I look like a ghost). Of course, they giggled.
I am amazed at how something so trivial as hair can cause such a reaction.
Anyway, on Tuesday, I had my second elementary school visit and that is the day I wore my hair down. I had classes with all of the 6th graders. They were completely fascinated with my hair and my eyes. At first they thought I had a perm, but then I finally convinced them that it was natural curl. I told them that my friends have curlier hair and they were shocked.
The kids followed me around the school and asked me a lot of questions. One of the girls finally asked if I did anything special to have nice skin. I told her that I drink a lot of water (3-6 liters a day. No Joke!) and that I try to avoid the sun at certain times of the day because I get burned. She asked about moisturizers and facial lotions and I told her that I didn't use any of those (unless the climate is dry). She and her friend were shocked. They were sure that I was not telling them the truth. They were so cute though, because they kept giggling and telling me how beautiful I was.
At lunch, I ate at a table with 6 students. They were too shy to try and speak English. I asked them a few questions in English to encourage them to speak English (since that is my job), but I didn't say anything in Japanese. The boy to my left was too shy to make eye contact, but he kept staring at me when he thought I wasn't looking. He kept talking about my "pretty, green eyes". This all took place in Japanese. Finally, he commented on how well I was using my chopsticks and the other 5 students made comments about it as well. I couldn't hold back anymore, so in Japanese, I said that I am not good at using chopsticks. You should have seen their faces! First, shock that I spoke some Japanese, then embarrassment that I understood what they had been saying about me. It was so adorable, but hilarious, too.
After lunch, I went to my junior high to finish out the day. At this point, it hadn't occurred to me that my students had never seen me with my hair down. It has been pulled back in a bun every day because it is so stinking hot! (For those who don't know, my hair is down to my waist. It is reddish-brown and wavy). I didn't think it was a huge deal. It's my hair and I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Except that one girl walked into a wall because she was staring at my hair trying to figure out who it belonged to. The teachers stopped and commented on my hair. Many of the students asked if they could touch my hair and were surprised at its softness. Four girls decided to try and style my hair rather than do their part of the daily clean-up. But the coolest thing, is that among all of the students who stop and tell me how beautiful I am, the students who are usually too shy to talk, are the ones who are going out of their way to talk to me.
I'm guessing the bun was to intimidating, but next to chopping off my hair, it seemed like my only option.
Several of my students told me that I looked like a beautiful ghost. They then asked me if I had a nickname, so I told them that my friends call me Casper (because I look like a ghost). Of course, they giggled.
I am amazed at how something so trivial as hair can cause such a reaction.
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