August 26th
Hello World!!!
So I’m in my living room right now. Doing the crazy multi-tasking things I do. I’m writing this blog on my computer, watching Resident Evil: Extinction (thank you Stino!) and online waiting to see if anybody will go online. It’s quite unusual at this hour because although it just became 11 pm, it’s like 7 am for almost everyone else. Hey…we’re actually on the same day! Tuesday! ;P
Anyhoo. This blog will be about my weekend. And being that my weekend was jammed packed with excitement, surprises, action and the ever lovable randomness, this may be a long blog…so…just giving you all a heads up!
So, if my memory serves me right, on Thursday, one of my awesome neighbors invited me to a trip to Kyoto! Being that it is one of the cities that I want to visit while I’m in Japan (even if traveling in Japan is apparently expensive) I went for it.
So the group consisted of other JETs. 2 of which live in my jutaku and one that lives in a neighboring jutaku (and since he’s the only JET in that jutaku that renewed his contract, he’s thinking about moving to our jutaku). So Friday night I’m packing and trying to do some socializing via aim and skype. Since it was Friday night for me, I didn’t care too much if I stayed up really late. So I tried to wait ‘til my sister got to work so that I could e-mail her. Sadly though, she never responded ‘til most likely after I went to bed. So I went to bed like at 1 in the morning and pretty much just took a nap…because I had to meet everyone else at 5:30 am!!!
So…as hard as it was to get up, I managed to eat something and get ready to go. Grace, Carl and I took a taxi to the train station where we rode the JR to Hakata station. At the first stop on the JR, our other traveling buddy, Emmett, joined.
At Hakata, we went on the shinkansen (or “bullet train”) and in about 2 and half or 3 hours we arrived in Kyoto. I was only awake for like…half an hour to an hour and slept the rest of the way. But it wasn’t all that comfortable. Though there was room and the seat could recline pretty far back, I kept lolling to the sides…and I think I almost fell off it at one point…
Anyway, so as soon as we arrived, we headed towards our hotel where we left our over-night bags in the cloak room and then went off back to the station to meet up with Grace’s friend, Jamie. (she’s basically the reason why Grace decided to travel up to Kyoto).
After that, we started our sight-seeing adventure. The first place we went to was Nijo-jo. It’s one of the famous castles that has 2 motes! I think I went the most trigger happy at this place…guess I was really excited to be in Kyoto.
At this place, you have to take your shoes off to enter into the castle. But what was interesting is the way the floor was constructed. It was made to mimic the sound of the nightingales so some funny architecture with nails created really squeaky floor boards. But…it’s not a bad squeaky…just…very very squeaky. Although because there’s so many people around, it’s rather hard to tell if it’s really your steps that are causing the noise or not…
Unfortunately, there were many signs constantly reminding people that photography and video taping are prohibited. …of course I read that after I tried to record the sound… ;P
After this, we went to Kinkakujo, or the Golden Temple (?). [the question mark is because there is a difference between shrines and temples…but I don’t know it too well…] Anyway, this is also a very famous area. And it has a rooster on top of the temple! Oh, and there’s little shops to buy good luck charms and omiyage and other little trinkets. But we went into the tea house! Grace thinks that because it’s summer, they served iced green tea instead of the tradition hot green tea. In any case, it was refreshing and delicious. And we got a cookie too. It had an interesting slightly sour middle…
After that…I think we rode the bus back to the hotel. We split up for a bit and re-met for kaiten sushi dinner, or conveyer belt sushi! The cool thing was that this place had lots of variety and even the California roll! Yum!!!
Afterwards, we walked around the area and looked at shops and eventually ended up in Gion, where Geisha and Maiko (geisha apprentice) are known to be. But because we were there “after hours,” we didn’t see any. But we did go check out the shrine that’s near Gion. It was really nice how the lanterns changed how the look of the shrine.
Then…I believe we called it a night. We caught a late night snack and headed back to the hotel (though Jamie took a bus back to her hotel/hostel). Then I took a nice warm shower (because it’s been hot, I’ve been taking cold showers and moreover because I can’t work the water heater, I’ve been taking cold showers) and then knocked out.
Again, we woke up rather early (not as early though) to meet Jamie at the station. But also, my home boy Terence found out that I was going to be in the Kyoto area (thank you facebook) and e-mailed my phone which lead to our arrangement to meet at the Kyoto station too!
It was awesome getting to see a really close friend again, rather than just exchanging email or instant messaging. It carried the feeling of meeting up with family which was great to fight my current battle with homesickness and culture shock (though it has gotten much much better).
So right after we found Terence at the station, we all headed off for the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It’s a fox shrine so there’s many different fox statues all about the area. Also, this is the shrine that has many many red gates. All, I believe Grace said, have been donated by someone or some organization/company. So…in one direction, the gates all look red, but then you look at them from the other side and you see all this crazy writing! But I really liked how after some red gates, a stone one would become visible. I think some of the stone gates have been standing since the Meiji era!
Because the pathway around this shrine is really long (and we were still a little tired from all the walking from the previous day), we only walked part of it. But enough to get attacked by mosquitos!!! ><”
Then after this…we went to Kiyomizu Tera (temple). But to get to the temple, we had to walk up an up hill road. And being it was a sunny day, it got pretty hot. And there were so many other people walking up too! Once we were really close to the top, I got excited because I saw some Maiko…but only to be told that they were fake maiko. Around the area, there are places that dress you up like a Maiko and you can go about the city in the costume. So…that was who I saw. But man…I’m surprised they were able to walk in those crazy high sandals…and even downhill too!
So up we went into the temple (and at some points, even more up we went). But the view from there was awesome! So much greenery and then nice shots of the city. It was just beautiful.
And there was this shop around the area that sold sweets that are only made/sold in Kyoto. It’s basically mochi (the rice dough thing. Not the mochi ice cream balls) but in Kyoto it’s much thinner. And there were so many different flavors too! The awesome thing about this shop is that there are many free samples. So…really you can just go in and eat…and pretend you’re interested in buying… Besides, it’s so busy in there, it’s not like they’ll really be able to tell you’re just eating the sweets as long as you look interested… ;P Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just eat some of the samples. I bought a box of what I think was plain (though it had a cinnamon-y taste) and green tea flavors for the office (doing the omiyage thing again).
Oh right. Sometime on Saturday (I can’t really recall when that day since I’m finishing this today…Thursday…) but we found this nice trendy store. There were so many nice things in there (but a little pricy…which was great because then I didn’t spend too much). But I did find an awesome belt! Two actually and I was having a difficult time choosing between the two. But luckily I tried them on then and there and found that only one fit me so the awesome teal one I bought. Can’t wait to wear it really…rather bummed my favorite jeans are back at home…ah well. I’ll just go buy a new pair. Can’t have too many pairs of jeans, ne? ;P
Let’s see…so after the Kiyomizu Tera, we hopped onto a bus and headed for Sanjyusangendo…only to find out we were 5 minutes late for the cut off point to buy tickets and enter… ><”
The real sad thing was that Emmett really wanted to visit this area and we just missed the chance… D’oh!
After some sitting and chatting, we decided to head back to Gion. We actually walked into the area this time but alas, still no Geisha or Maiko (though there was a group of photographers around…). And then we went into the shopping area again. Terence found a manga/figurine store which I had somehow managed to miss and oh man…it was so hard to resist. The prices though, made it a little easier to resist (quite expensive compared to how much I can pay for some of them at the Anime Expo or Little Tokyo…sometimes…) But I gotta say, they did look better than some of ones that get sold in the states…
And then, we all squished into a bus and went back to the train station. We helped Terence buy his tickets and find his way back. Then the rest of us went to the lockers to get our overnight bags and headed down to the Shinkansen waiting area…only to read that ALL the skinkansen were running an hour and a half late!!! Though it was beautiful and sunny in Kyoto, there was crazy rain going on in Fukushima I believe (where all the shinkansen were coming from).
So instead of waiting about for more than an hour, we boarded onto a different shinkansen. We had to ride in the unreserved seating cabin though…so yay, more standing… But once we boarded the second one (we had to do a transfer), we all managed to find seats after the second stop. And more sleeping followed.
Another awesome Jutaku neighbor was nice enough to pick us up from the JR station and we safely made it home. Interestingly, our original shinkansen that was running 90 minutes late ended up being canceled. o_O;
So…that was my crazy weekend. I’m pretty sure I left out some things but over the process of days, I forgot to write about some or think I have written about…may even have written some of it twice…and I’ll try to post up some photos of it here. Otherwise, most, if not all, will up on my flickr account.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
And a couple more pics
Apparently there is a limit to how many I can put...or my files are too big...
Speech Contest
August 23
So for a while now, I’ve been helping 2 students prepare for the speech contest that went on today. One student, Hitomi, is a second year at my high school. The other student is Ayana who is a first year. The first time I helped Hitomi, I was impressed with how well her English was. She hardly has an accent and already off the bat she was getting the feeling of the speech (it’s a Mother Teresa speech about how materially poor people can be spiritually rich). So my first time helping her out, I wasn’t too sure what to do.
Then I helped Ayana. She was what I thought most of them would be like. She had less experience with speech contests and so got really nervous and the day came nearer. I worked with her more than I did with Hitomi. For her, I created a list of words and word combinations that she had trouble with. The cool thing is that it actually helped her! If she read the list out loud before she read the speech, she’d have less of a hard time.
This week, we tried to prepare them for the contest. So, they had to have it memorized and be able to express the feelings behind the speech. But because I’ve never been in or to a speech contest I wasn’t too sure how to help them. But, I was able to tell them what they should be thinking about at certain parts of the speech so that they can try to feel and express the emotion behind the speech.
And they both did wonderfully! The contest was separated into 3 sections. Hitomi was in the second and Ayana was in the third. After each section, there was a break. And after the first section, both got really nervous about their speech.
In the first section, there was a girl who expressed a lot of emotion. For the most part she had it dead on but in all honesty, I feel that at some points she got a little carried away… And then, during one girl’s recitation (who happens to be from the high school my buddy Mike works at) a cell phone went off! I’m pretty sure everyone was mad at the guy… But the horrible thing is that the ringing distracted the girl and caused her to get lost within her own recitation! She was doing so well and then she started to blank and struggle with her speech. Oh, and as if that weren’t enough, there’s a 3 minutes limit to recite the speech. They give you a thirty second warning and when the time’s up, you hear a bell. Once the 30 second warning popped up, she struggled even more. The prompter on the side had to keep helping her through the last half of the speech. And then her time was up. But, she wanted to finish so she continued on (cudos to her). The poor thing. She was practically in tears as she walked off stage. I wanted to go over to her and give her a hug!
So, after those two performances (among other performances) Hitomi and Ayana became very nervous. But they did it well and under the time limit. Only Ayana needed a little help from the prompter but on her own, she added hand movements into the speech.
After all the students had performed and the judges were making their decisions, I gave them each a box of strawberry pocky. I thought, “Hmm. They’re really nervous about it. I want to get them something…a treat! Chocolate’s always good.” And they were really happy about it. So happy that they gave me something in return too! I got a shrimp onigiri (rice ball) and a banana crepe treat. Hehe^^
In the end, there were 10 finalists (if I remember right). And Hitomi has moved onto the next level! Hurray! Ayana sadly didn’t but being that it was her first speech contest, I think that’s a huge accomplishment on it’s own.
:]
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Success'ssssssssss
Mahahaha!
I have accomplished some things!!!
Hitotsu: I have finally gone out on my balcony!
Basically, ever since I saw that freakin’ huge spider, I’ve been afraid to walk out onto my balcony. Let alone go into the “spider room.” But I told myself, “No. You can’t live in fear. And you need to wash your work shirts! The pile is getting big.” So, out I went. Armed with my spider spray. Because I was rather afraid, I went out with only the soap and downey first (yes! Japan has downey!!! And April Fresh scent! Mahahaha~!).
I did, however, almost walk into a spider web. There are 2 window-doors that I can step out onto my balcony from. I tried the farther (but in my mind safer) one first. But luckily I saw that shiny super sticky string of creepiness before I walked through it. Anyway. I got some laundry done. Drying it is taking a while though…but it’s not dire. I just wanted to get it out of the way.
Futatsu: I have rode my bike
It’s not really that I’ve been afraid to ride my bike here. I just know my luck and in simple little things like this, I tend to have the oddest, weirdest and worst luck. So my predecessor left me 2 bikes (I’ve yet to look for the other one) and the cool red one (yea, red!) had a rusting chain and gear metal thing. Although it moved, I was afraid it would burst on my first attempt of riding it or that I would fall and horribly cut myself with it.
So a co-worker looked at it and told me to bring to school. So it was just like the walking to school that I’d been doing before, except this time I got to put my stuff in the basket. So it was actually better for my back. :P Anyhoo, the awesome office ladies called the guy (possibly the owner) of a bike shop who came to the school, looked at my bike and took it away to change the chain. A couple hours later, a little before lunch, my bike was back. So, I got to ride my bike back to my apartment. It was rather nice. But I was a little embarrassed when 2 of the office ladies were waiting to SEE me ride off (embarrassed because I hadn’t tried that bike yet and because I remembered the last I tried with Elo…when my first minute was very wabaly…ehehe^^;;) But I rode it and didn’t fall. Mahahaha. Though I did freak out a bit on my way down a hill (I didn’t want to pick up so much speed yet! Especially not with my laptop in the basket!). And only then did I find out I have the squeakiest, most loudest bicycle brakes in the world. -_-“ But at least they work, ne?
And today I rode it to work. I’m finding out that my heavy laptop makes it a little harder to keep control. I need to buy a back basket to put it in. Oh! And a helmet! (which I plan to buy today if possible. “If possible” because I have class today.)
Mittsu: They loved the omiyage
Jesh! My co-workers liked the Mexican candy I brought as omiyage for them (omiyage = souvenir/gift). I think what also worked was that it’s Mexican. It’s something totally new to them. :] And then I got to explain to some of them that my hometown is primarily Mexican so although it is a Mexican candy, it is from the US. Two birds with one stone! Mahaha!
Oh yea. And because I had a “business trip” on Friday (the Fukuoka Orientation), I brought a huge box of wafer-chocolate candy. So after I gave my introduction, I told them I brought that back for them. My supervisor was surprised that I did that. I guess it took other ALT’s a while to get into that custom? But after about a week of receiving omiyage from the other teacher’s trips, it just felt right. And other Fukuoka JETs at the orientation bought some too. Hehe^^.
I have accomplished some things!!!
Hitotsu: I have finally gone out on my balcony!
Basically, ever since I saw that freakin’ huge spider, I’ve been afraid to walk out onto my balcony. Let alone go into the “spider room.” But I told myself, “No. You can’t live in fear. And you need to wash your work shirts! The pile is getting big.” So, out I went. Armed with my spider spray. Because I was rather afraid, I went out with only the soap and downey first (yes! Japan has downey!!! And April Fresh scent! Mahahaha~!).
I did, however, almost walk into a spider web. There are 2 window-doors that I can step out onto my balcony from. I tried the farther (but in my mind safer) one first. But luckily I saw that shiny super sticky string of creepiness before I walked through it. Anyway. I got some laundry done. Drying it is taking a while though…but it’s not dire. I just wanted to get it out of the way.
Futatsu: I have rode my bike
It’s not really that I’ve been afraid to ride my bike here. I just know my luck and in simple little things like this, I tend to have the oddest, weirdest and worst luck. So my predecessor left me 2 bikes (I’ve yet to look for the other one) and the cool red one (yea, red!) had a rusting chain and gear metal thing. Although it moved, I was afraid it would burst on my first attempt of riding it or that I would fall and horribly cut myself with it.
So a co-worker looked at it and told me to bring to school. So it was just like the walking to school that I’d been doing before, except this time I got to put my stuff in the basket. So it was actually better for my back. :P Anyhoo, the awesome office ladies called the guy (possibly the owner) of a bike shop who came to the school, looked at my bike and took it away to change the chain. A couple hours later, a little before lunch, my bike was back. So, I got to ride my bike back to my apartment. It was rather nice. But I was a little embarrassed when 2 of the office ladies were waiting to SEE me ride off (embarrassed because I hadn’t tried that bike yet and because I remembered the last I tried with Elo…when my first minute was very wabaly…ehehe^^;;) But I rode it and didn’t fall. Mahahaha. Though I did freak out a bit on my way down a hill (I didn’t want to pick up so much speed yet! Especially not with my laptop in the basket!). And only then did I find out I have the squeakiest, most loudest bicycle brakes in the world. -_-“ But at least they work, ne?
And today I rode it to work. I’m finding out that my heavy laptop makes it a little harder to keep control. I need to buy a back basket to put it in. Oh! And a helmet! (which I plan to buy today if possible. “If possible” because I have class today.)
Mittsu: They loved the omiyage
Jesh! My co-workers liked the Mexican candy I brought as omiyage for them (omiyage = souvenir/gift). I think what also worked was that it’s Mexican. It’s something totally new to them. :] And then I got to explain to some of them that my hometown is primarily Mexican so although it is a Mexican candy, it is from the US. Two birds with one stone! Mahaha!
Oh yea. And because I had a “business trip” on Friday (the Fukuoka Orientation), I brought a huge box of wafer-chocolate candy. So after I gave my introduction, I told them I brought that back for them. My supervisor was surprised that I did that. I guess it took other ALT’s a while to get into that custom? But after about a week of receiving omiyage from the other teacher’s trips, it just felt right. And other Fukuoka JETs at the orientation bought some too. Hehe^^.
School. No wait, I mean work
So I’m at work. It’s been an interesting day. A little busy here and there. Lots of e-mail chatting with my sisters and cousin (yea!!!) and even a little online chatting via gmail, aim and skype! (that was getting a little crazy…
I’ve been helping 2 students prepare for Friday’s speech contest. The first year needs a little help (kinda what I expected) but the second year student has great pronunciation and gets the feeling of the speech. (she even helped me work with the first year student) Sadly though, I have not been invited to attend or judge it. But a fellow JET buddy has. Lucky her.
Oh right, on the note of chatting online. I just found out last night that my laptop has a built-in microphone! xD Good thing I found out now before I bought a headset! Hahaha. I still need to get a camera though…but that can wait. (have a little regret for not putting the extra money to buy the laptop that came with a camera…but ah well). So yea, if you want to chat, just find me on aim or skype! ^^
…
So I tried to write another blog entry on Monday but it never made it up. In fact, it was only a 3 sentence paragraph and I was just starting the second when…I guess I got busy with something…
Anyway, tomorrow starts off the school year here in Chikushi High School. In the morning, I will give my small introduction to the entire student body. I’m not sure how big it is…but being that most classes are about 40 students…it’s going to feel like my high school… And after their Sports Day (which is September 7th) I will get to teach my first class. It’s an introduction class so at the moment I have a small powerpoint about who I am, what I like, my family, where they’re from yadda yadda yadda. I’m also wondering what sort of activities to do with them. Something fun and educational…and that the teachers will be alright with…woo…
On Monday, all the teachers came back (most, if not all, were gone for Obon). So I also had to give a small introduction to them that day. I wrote a really quick and small one (my advisor said to make it about a minute long) the night before. And I did in Japanese. It felt like I was back in college on the first day of the semester where we had to introduce ourselves and give a brief of what we did over break. Anyhoo, it really wasn’t all that great (and with editing help from my supervisor, it was grammatically correct. Haha). But I was told by some of the teachers that I’ve gotten familiar with that the others were impressed. One of the teachers later told me she was impressed how well my Japanese was after only studying for 4 years (really? I think it would be better if I had reviewed everything and remembered my kanji…).
But in all honesty, I think my Japanese was horrible when I first landed in Japan (because I didn’t really study over summer break…). But since I’ve been here for 3 weeks already (really? Only 3 weeks?) and I’ve been talking to other teachers, hostmoms, talking with cab drivers and asking people in the community for directions, I think it has gotten a little better (at least I think my listening is getting better. And that was the toughest part for me!).
I’ve been helping 2 students prepare for Friday’s speech contest. The first year needs a little help (kinda what I expected) but the second year student has great pronunciation and gets the feeling of the speech. (she even helped me work with the first year student) Sadly though, I have not been invited to attend or judge it. But a fellow JET buddy has. Lucky her.
Oh right, on the note of chatting online. I just found out last night that my laptop has a built-in microphone! xD Good thing I found out now before I bought a headset! Hahaha. I still need to get a camera though…but that can wait. (have a little regret for not putting the extra money to buy the laptop that came with a camera…but ah well). So yea, if you want to chat, just find me on aim or skype! ^^
…
So I tried to write another blog entry on Monday but it never made it up. In fact, it was only a 3 sentence paragraph and I was just starting the second when…I guess I got busy with something…
Anyway, tomorrow starts off the school year here in Chikushi High School. In the morning, I will give my small introduction to the entire student body. I’m not sure how big it is…but being that most classes are about 40 students…it’s going to feel like my high school… And after their Sports Day (which is September 7th) I will get to teach my first class. It’s an introduction class so at the moment I have a small powerpoint about who I am, what I like, my family, where they’re from yadda yadda yadda. I’m also wondering what sort of activities to do with them. Something fun and educational…and that the teachers will be alright with…woo…
On Monday, all the teachers came back (most, if not all, were gone for Obon). So I also had to give a small introduction to them that day. I wrote a really quick and small one (my advisor said to make it about a minute long) the night before. And I did in Japanese. It felt like I was back in college on the first day of the semester where we had to introduce ourselves and give a brief of what we did over break. Anyhoo, it really wasn’t all that great (and with editing help from my supervisor, it was grammatically correct. Haha). But I was told by some of the teachers that I’ve gotten familiar with that the others were impressed. One of the teachers later told me she was impressed how well my Japanese was after only studying for 4 years (really? I think it would be better if I had reviewed everything and remembered my kanji…).
But in all honesty, I think my Japanese was horrible when I first landed in Japan (because I didn’t really study over summer break…). But since I’ve been here for 3 weeks already (really? Only 3 weeks?) and I’ve been talking to other teachers, hostmoms, talking with cab drivers and asking people in the community for directions, I think it has gotten a little better (at least I think my listening is getting better. And that was the toughest part for me!).
Sunday, August 17, 2008
This weekend
So this weekend was a crazy weekend.
Friday was the Fukuoka Orientation. The actual orientation itself only lasted like 6 hours. But there was dinner and an afterparty that took up the rest of the night. Since the city in which the orientation was held was a little far for some JETs, 2 buddies spent the night at my place on Thursday night. (Hurray! Company!)
So the orientation itself was alright. More informative than the Tokyo Orientation was (but that may have been the point since it's more specific to our living condition than just Japan as a whole).
Anyway, so afterwards, most of us changed to casual clothes which was a good thing since it started raining! Most of the people showed up to the dinner party somewhat wet or drenched! I got pretty wet. Though I did take an umbrella, the wind blows it all around you so pretty much the only spot that is dry is your head and part of your torso. But since I was also tyring to share it with other, my left arm got all wet. In any case, we all made it to the restaurant and ate appetizers really (not really a dinner but some of it was quite good) and it was all you can drink. Sadly though, most Japanese bars don't make cosmopolitans. So I had a screwdriver instead (actually, it was more like 3...and beer...). This was probably the best part of the night. AC room, lots of mingling around, pictures galore, food...little or no smoke around...)
Afterwards we all went over to a bar called FUBAR. If you don't know what it stands for...hehehe...take a guess...keep in mind, it's a bar... So the place was alright. Kinda small and not much dancing going on. There were some lockers to put your stuff in. I had a little trouble though because I had bought some sweets for the office and the slightly odd shape made it a little hard to fit into the locker. In the end though, I managed to squeeze it all in.
Taking pictures here was a little difficult because I normally don't use the flash setting on my camera (I like to take it the way it looks. Or so, in the original lighting). But in any case, I did manage to take some pictures of these. I'll most likely post these up on facebook.
The bar was also all you can drink but again, no Cosmo (guess I'll just have to make it myself...)
*A note to family back at home: You don't have to worry too much. I didn't get wasted at this and everything turned out fine. But it would probably be best not to tell the parentals about this...or of what's to come...*
So after a while, Mike, Laura and I started thinking about heading back to my place. We were going to share a cab with Emmette and Lupita but they were felt like staying longer. So Emmette was kind enough to show us how to get to the train station and let us know how to get back to Futsukaichi. On the way out of the bar, we found Chris sitting on the stairs and he felt like leaving too. So he joined us. We were an interesting group...all ranging from tipsy to drunk...and though we got on the train...we went in the wrong direction...and even if we did hope onto the other train to get to the transfer train, we'd be too late to catch the last train. So...we got a cab. It wasn't too too bad between us all but it felt like we overpaid once I found out from a neighbor that you can strike a deal with the cab driver...which makes it soooooo much cheaper...
In any case, we all made it back safely to my place. And within minutes we all found spots to sleep and just slept it all off. We all somehow randomly woke up around 9 in the morning...
Chris was the only one in the morning that wasn't feeling all too well...and the raining weather probably did help his day out. My neighbors invited us out to lunch but we decided to go out to a different place. Luckily though, Chris was able to bum a ride off of them to the train station only to return to his town to find his bike stolen...poor Chris...
Back in my place, Laura, Mike and I were craving something heavy like a burger. So off we go to an American diner fairly near my place. We considered having them deliver the food...but I don't have much table/chair/eating space at the moment (since I still have to move most of the stuff my predecessor left behind that I don't need/won't use) and we felt like going out and about.
So out we went...in the rain...that pretty much drenched us in the first 5 minutes out there! By the time we got to the restuarant, our shoes were completely went by the endless puddles we encounter in our walk. And the wind was nice enough to pretty much wet us to the bone...i think only our faces were dry...and not even that dry too... Once we got to the place, the only said, "Sugei" which literally means, "Amazing/Woooord". He gave us a towel to dry off with...but really...it only help for the arms...
Anyway, we had lunch and then walked all the way back in the rain, though it was lighter by this time...
The rest of the day was spent playing games and watching youtube videos. By the night, we felt like going out again (and luckily it wasn't down puring anymore). So we headed out for another adventure and looked at the train times to be sure we don't miss it coming back.
We went out to Tenjin, which is a major city here and has many restuarants and shops. We mainly walked around, enjoying the scenes and taking our time looking for a place to eat. Unfortunately I couldn't find one Thai place there so we went into one of the few restuarants that was open late and that would seat us in (one restaurant said that they didn't have a table for three and after we said we'd wait the lady said something along the lines that she didn't know if that was possible or if a spot would open up...something odd like that...).
We had some sushi and either grilled fish or fish soup. Though the soup was good, the fish had too many bones for me and I'm pretty sure I ate a fish eye...
After a good dinner and feeling good about catching the second to last rather than the last train back...we couldn't find a way INTO the station... We were able to see where we normally enter...but the metal rolling doors were down, blocking our way into the station.
...yet again...we had to take a cab... However, this time, we used the 4000-en deal. The cab driver stopped the meter at 4500-en. And so we only walked from the JR station to my apartment.
This morning, we went out to eat again (our "breakfast" are more like "lunch really...and it's not because we get up late but because we get distracted by youtube videos that by the time we get out it's lunch...well, hurray for specials!). This time, we looked for a place near the train station. We went for pizza this time. The Japanese do pretty good pizzas. Though sometimes they have some interesting toppings (like corn) it's still really yummy. And so we all walked to the train station together and we said our good-byes.
And now I'm back in my place, alone but not feeling lonely (yesh!).
I think having an internet connection helps with that...even if there really aren't too many people online because it's like 2:30am right now (but only about dinner time for me).
So...now to try to unpack my clothes and get more of a "I'm living here" feeling rather than a "I'm visiting" feeling.
Friday was the Fukuoka Orientation. The actual orientation itself only lasted like 6 hours. But there was dinner and an afterparty that took up the rest of the night. Since the city in which the orientation was held was a little far for some JETs, 2 buddies spent the night at my place on Thursday night. (Hurray! Company!)
So the orientation itself was alright. More informative than the Tokyo Orientation was (but that may have been the point since it's more specific to our living condition than just Japan as a whole).
Anyway, so afterwards, most of us changed to casual clothes which was a good thing since it started raining! Most of the people showed up to the dinner party somewhat wet or drenched! I got pretty wet. Though I did take an umbrella, the wind blows it all around you so pretty much the only spot that is dry is your head and part of your torso. But since I was also tyring to share it with other, my left arm got all wet. In any case, we all made it to the restaurant and ate appetizers really (not really a dinner but some of it was quite good) and it was all you can drink. Sadly though, most Japanese bars don't make cosmopolitans. So I had a screwdriver instead (actually, it was more like 3...and beer...). This was probably the best part of the night. AC room, lots of mingling around, pictures galore, food...little or no smoke around...)
Afterwards we all went over to a bar called FUBAR. If you don't know what it stands for...hehehe...take a guess...keep in mind, it's a bar... So the place was alright. Kinda small and not much dancing going on. There were some lockers to put your stuff in. I had a little trouble though because I had bought some sweets for the office and the slightly odd shape made it a little hard to fit into the locker. In the end though, I managed to squeeze it all in.
Taking pictures here was a little difficult because I normally don't use the flash setting on my camera (I like to take it the way it looks. Or so, in the original lighting). But in any case, I did manage to take some pictures of these. I'll most likely post these up on facebook.
The bar was also all you can drink but again, no Cosmo (guess I'll just have to make it myself...)
*A note to family back at home: You don't have to worry too much. I didn't get wasted at this and everything turned out fine. But it would probably be best not to tell the parentals about this...or of what's to come...*
So after a while, Mike, Laura and I started thinking about heading back to my place. We were going to share a cab with Emmette and Lupita but they were felt like staying longer. So Emmette was kind enough to show us how to get to the train station and let us know how to get back to Futsukaichi. On the way out of the bar, we found Chris sitting on the stairs and he felt like leaving too. So he joined us. We were an interesting group...all ranging from tipsy to drunk...and though we got on the train...we went in the wrong direction...and even if we did hope onto the other train to get to the transfer train, we'd be too late to catch the last train. So...we got a cab. It wasn't too too bad between us all but it felt like we overpaid once I found out from a neighbor that you can strike a deal with the cab driver...which makes it soooooo much cheaper...
In any case, we all made it back safely to my place. And within minutes we all found spots to sleep and just slept it all off. We all somehow randomly woke up around 9 in the morning...
Chris was the only one in the morning that wasn't feeling all too well...and the raining weather probably did help his day out. My neighbors invited us out to lunch but we decided to go out to a different place. Luckily though, Chris was able to bum a ride off of them to the train station only to return to his town to find his bike stolen...poor Chris...
Back in my place, Laura, Mike and I were craving something heavy like a burger. So off we go to an American diner fairly near my place. We considered having them deliver the food...but I don't have much table/chair/eating space at the moment (since I still have to move most of the stuff my predecessor left behind that I don't need/won't use) and we felt like going out and about.
So out we went...in the rain...that pretty much drenched us in the first 5 minutes out there! By the time we got to the restuarant, our shoes were completely went by the endless puddles we encounter in our walk. And the wind was nice enough to pretty much wet us to the bone...i think only our faces were dry...and not even that dry too... Once we got to the place, the only said, "Sugei" which literally means, "Amazing/Woooord". He gave us a towel to dry off with...but really...it only help for the arms...
Anyway, we had lunch and then walked all the way back in the rain, though it was lighter by this time...
The rest of the day was spent playing games and watching youtube videos. By the night, we felt like going out again (and luckily it wasn't down puring anymore). So we headed out for another adventure and looked at the train times to be sure we don't miss it coming back.
We went out to Tenjin, which is a major city here and has many restuarants and shops. We mainly walked around, enjoying the scenes and taking our time looking for a place to eat. Unfortunately I couldn't find one Thai place there so we went into one of the few restuarants that was open late and that would seat us in (one restaurant said that they didn't have a table for three and after we said we'd wait the lady said something along the lines that she didn't know if that was possible or if a spot would open up...something odd like that...).
We had some sushi and either grilled fish or fish soup. Though the soup was good, the fish had too many bones for me and I'm pretty sure I ate a fish eye...
After a good dinner and feeling good about catching the second to last rather than the last train back...we couldn't find a way INTO the station... We were able to see where we normally enter...but the metal rolling doors were down, blocking our way into the station.
...yet again...we had to take a cab... However, this time, we used the 4000-en deal. The cab driver stopped the meter at 4500-en. And so we only walked from the JR station to my apartment.
This morning, we went out to eat again (our "breakfast" are more like "lunch really...and it's not because we get up late but because we get distracted by youtube videos that by the time we get out it's lunch...well, hurray for specials!). This time, we looked for a place near the train station. We went for pizza this time. The Japanese do pretty good pizzas. Though sometimes they have some interesting toppings (like corn) it's still really yummy. And so we all walked to the train station together and we said our good-byes.
And now I'm back in my place, alone but not feeling lonely (yesh!).
I think having an internet connection helps with that...even if there really aren't too many people online because it's like 2:30am right now (but only about dinner time for me).
So...now to try to unpack my clothes and get more of a "I'm living here" feeling rather than a "I'm visiting" feeling.
Spider Visit
August 13
Hokay, so I just saw the biggest spider I’ve ever seen (well, excluding tarantulas). But I mean this one was big!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if it is part of the tarantula family…
Anyway, so my co-worker came over this morning because she was a little worried about me (I think some of my co-workers see me as family…). Yesterday, she had taken me to run some errands (since they were all interested on what it was I needed to buy). One of the things on my list was a water purifier. We found one at a store near my apartment. But this morning she said that that one isn’t actually all that good. Either she later figured out that it was a cheap water purifier or she later understood what I was talking about… So she came this morning with a different water purifier (more of what I had in mind too). After we assembled it and she explained which one was good for drinking, she asked if there was anything else I needed help with. I mentioned the washing machine. So out we go to the balcony and because I don’t want more mosquitos in my apartment, I was trying to move the screen when all of a sudden I see something brown move! Of course I screamed. It was huge! So because it was somewhere on the doorway, I wanted to move the doors and screen to try to keep it out of my apartment when out of nowhere that little booger ran in!!! ><” My co-worker laughed at me a bit (I didn’t really pay attention to how I was screaming…I bet it was funny). She said that here in Japan, the spiders don’t bite people. They eat the mosquitos (that have been trying to suck me dry!). So in a sense, they protect the house (according to her).
So…there’s a huge brown spider somewhere in my apartment. I’m hoping that it’s only in the room I saw it run into…I’ve closed off the doors but…since the sliding doors are a little crocket (or the doorway), there’s a little crack that I’m worried it can go through…so…I think that after I get some more cleaning done, I’m going to use this spider spray I had (which I’ve been spraying before going to work but around the bedroom and living room areas) and spray that room and part of the kitchen. But because I have to leave the house for a bit, I think I’ll do it around lunch time and just go out for a walk and eat out…and hope that freakin’ spider goes back outside…
Hmm…I should try to open that screen a bit so that it can run out again…crap…I think I have to go back in…. ><”
So…will I know be able to get over my phobia of spiders??? Only time will tell…but right now, it doesn’t look like it. I was already a little uneasy of the jumping one I saw in the bathroom which I let live…but I don’t think I can deal with this humongous spider…
…where’s my spider killer??? ; _ ;
Hokay, so I just saw the biggest spider I’ve ever seen (well, excluding tarantulas). But I mean this one was big!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if it is part of the tarantula family…
Anyway, so my co-worker came over this morning because she was a little worried about me (I think some of my co-workers see me as family…). Yesterday, she had taken me to run some errands (since they were all interested on what it was I needed to buy). One of the things on my list was a water purifier. We found one at a store near my apartment. But this morning she said that that one isn’t actually all that good. Either she later figured out that it was a cheap water purifier or she later understood what I was talking about… So she came this morning with a different water purifier (more of what I had in mind too). After we assembled it and she explained which one was good for drinking, she asked if there was anything else I needed help with. I mentioned the washing machine. So out we go to the balcony and because I don’t want more mosquitos in my apartment, I was trying to move the screen when all of a sudden I see something brown move! Of course I screamed. It was huge! So because it was somewhere on the doorway, I wanted to move the doors and screen to try to keep it out of my apartment when out of nowhere that little booger ran in!!! ><” My co-worker laughed at me a bit (I didn’t really pay attention to how I was screaming…I bet it was funny). She said that here in Japan, the spiders don’t bite people. They eat the mosquitos (that have been trying to suck me dry!). So in a sense, they protect the house (according to her).
So…there’s a huge brown spider somewhere in my apartment. I’m hoping that it’s only in the room I saw it run into…I’ve closed off the doors but…since the sliding doors are a little crocket (or the doorway), there’s a little crack that I’m worried it can go through…so…I think that after I get some more cleaning done, I’m going to use this spider spray I had (which I’ve been spraying before going to work but around the bedroom and living room areas) and spray that room and part of the kitchen. But because I have to leave the house for a bit, I think I’ll do it around lunch time and just go out for a walk and eat out…and hope that freakin’ spider goes back outside…
Hmm…I should try to open that screen a bit so that it can run out again…crap…I think I have to go back in…. ><”
So…will I know be able to get over my phobia of spiders??? Only time will tell…but right now, it doesn’t look like it. I was already a little uneasy of the jumping one I saw in the bathroom which I let live…but I don’t think I can deal with this humongous spider…
…where’s my spider killer??? ; _ ;
Thunder...and still lonely
August 14th
Good morning all! Well, it is morning for me. It’s not that early either…I got yesterday through Friday off of work (due to Obon) so I’ve been at home trying to clean…and fight my arachnophobia. I never thought it was that bad…’til I saw that huge one! ><”
Anyhoo, so last night there was a lot of thunder. It’s been raining just about everyday but before last night, it was usually around the evening. It would begin while I was a work or, over the weekend, some time around the evening. But last night, it rained with thunder and lightning around…midnight I believe. It really made my windows shake. It wasn’t really scary but I did fear that my windows would break…I tried to record the sound on my camera…but it sounds funny…
So Japan apparently has lots of thunder and lightning storms. Something that doesn’t happen that often back at home. I vaguely remember thunder storms as a child…but I don’t think a lot of that has happened before…But it was nice to hear thunder again.
…but again, it was a little sad that I was all alone in my apartment…
I’m really not liking it here…it’s so dirty and run down…
On Monday (most likely when all these get posted…) I’m going to ask my supervisor if there’s a way I can move to one of the other apartments in the same Jutaku (that way it’s not really moving away persay and hopefully my rent will stay the same). I guess having stayed in homestays did spoil me a bit. Their places were really clean and there weren’t many problems with bugs! (well, at least that I was able to tell). It rather makes me want to live there again. I’ll pay Shibata-san the rent! (She does have an extra room and bathroom on top of her garage…I think I heard that previous JETs would stay there…so…it’s rather tempting to ask if I can do that. ;P) The only problem that I can see is that she lives with her family. Don’t get me wrong, I love that feeling of being with a big family. But I feel that I may be intruding… And then I think about her friend Shioya-san. I met her the day I came over and she took me to her house (really close to Shibata-san and the school too). And she showed me some part of her house where she said her son used to live. So…her place looks a little tempting too. And Shioya-san knows some English.
So…I’m going to see if I can move to one of the other apartments (2nd or 3rd floor to get away from the all the bugs and bad floors) and if that fails…I’ll try to work it out…but if it really makes me depressed…I’ll either move somewhere else (where I run the chance of having a higher rent to pay) or…see if I can pay Shioya-san or Shibata-san for rent…
Good morning all! Well, it is morning for me. It’s not that early either…I got yesterday through Friday off of work (due to Obon) so I’ve been at home trying to clean…and fight my arachnophobia. I never thought it was that bad…’til I saw that huge one! ><”
Anyhoo, so last night there was a lot of thunder. It’s been raining just about everyday but before last night, it was usually around the evening. It would begin while I was a work or, over the weekend, some time around the evening. But last night, it rained with thunder and lightning around…midnight I believe. It really made my windows shake. It wasn’t really scary but I did fear that my windows would break…I tried to record the sound on my camera…but it sounds funny…
So Japan apparently has lots of thunder and lightning storms. Something that doesn’t happen that often back at home. I vaguely remember thunder storms as a child…but I don’t think a lot of that has happened before…But it was nice to hear thunder again.
…but again, it was a little sad that I was all alone in my apartment…
I’m really not liking it here…it’s so dirty and run down…
On Monday (most likely when all these get posted…) I’m going to ask my supervisor if there’s a way I can move to one of the other apartments in the same Jutaku (that way it’s not really moving away persay and hopefully my rent will stay the same). I guess having stayed in homestays did spoil me a bit. Their places were really clean and there weren’t many problems with bugs! (well, at least that I was able to tell). It rather makes me want to live there again. I’ll pay Shibata-san the rent! (She does have an extra room and bathroom on top of her garage…I think I heard that previous JETs would stay there…so…it’s rather tempting to ask if I can do that. ;P) The only problem that I can see is that she lives with her family. Don’t get me wrong, I love that feeling of being with a big family. But I feel that I may be intruding… And then I think about her friend Shioya-san. I met her the day I came over and she took me to her house (really close to Shibata-san and the school too). And she showed me some part of her house where she said her son used to live. So…her place looks a little tempting too. And Shioya-san knows some English.
So…I’m going to see if I can move to one of the other apartments (2nd or 3rd floor to get away from the all the bugs and bad floors) and if that fails…I’ll try to work it out…but if it really makes me depressed…I’ll either move somewhere else (where I run the chance of having a higher rent to pay) or…see if I can pay Shioya-san or Shibata-san for rent…
I want to write
August 11 (later)
I’m getting these random needs to write. I guess it’s really just that I miss or want to communicate with others…I have heard that people need to socialize. Otherwise, you just go crazy! Hmm…but what about if the person is already a little crazy…
Ugh…so I’ve been worried that each time I eat some meat that I’ll get heartburn. Luckily that hasn’t happened…but I kind of feel it creeping up on me…and I didn’t have pork today! ><”
Oh yea, a note on eating. So since I’ve been here, I’ve had a mixer of homecooked meals and eating out/buying bentos. Well, during the times that I was on my own (hotel and now) I didn’t eat all that much. Doing the homestays though…they kept pushing food at me! Why would I refuse? ;P So basically, I’m either the same weight or I’ve lost some already…I really don’t know since I never really pay any attention to it…
Damn…really wish I had some internet right now…I should work on that next…
Oh, yea. So another reason I may be feeling rather down and alone is that for the past 2 weeks or so I’ve been living out of my suitcases. That alone gives off the feeling of visiting and being on vacation. So…now that I’m trying to unpack and cleaning someplace because I want to unpack is the just the dawning of the reality that this is my place for the next year…and possibly more. I will say that I am tempted to stay here longer. I feel like a year will go by so fast that I won’t have enough time to really take in this great opportunity…but the apartment (at the moment at least) really makes me just want to stay a year…so…lots of thinking to do…
Hmm…
Grr…really wish I had someone with me right now…I don’t mind doing all the cleaning…just someone here to talk to while I do it…rather than listening to myself and all the voices in my head…one of them loves to remind me of creepy things and scary true stores right before I go to bed…so it drives my nerves crazy at night and then I can’t fall asleep right away…><”
…yea…I think that from right now ‘til I really settle in…I’ll be going more insane than I already am…
I’m getting these random needs to write. I guess it’s really just that I miss or want to communicate with others…I have heard that people need to socialize. Otherwise, you just go crazy! Hmm…but what about if the person is already a little crazy…
Ugh…so I’ve been worried that each time I eat some meat that I’ll get heartburn. Luckily that hasn’t happened…but I kind of feel it creeping up on me…and I didn’t have pork today! ><”
Oh yea, a note on eating. So since I’ve been here, I’ve had a mixer of homecooked meals and eating out/buying bentos. Well, during the times that I was on my own (hotel and now) I didn’t eat all that much. Doing the homestays though…they kept pushing food at me! Why would I refuse? ;P So basically, I’m either the same weight or I’ve lost some already…I really don’t know since I never really pay any attention to it…
Damn…really wish I had some internet right now…I should work on that next…
Oh, yea. So another reason I may be feeling rather down and alone is that for the past 2 weeks or so I’ve been living out of my suitcases. That alone gives off the feeling of visiting and being on vacation. So…now that I’m trying to unpack and cleaning someplace because I want to unpack is the just the dawning of the reality that this is my place for the next year…and possibly more. I will say that I am tempted to stay here longer. I feel like a year will go by so fast that I won’t have enough time to really take in this great opportunity…but the apartment (at the moment at least) really makes me just want to stay a year…so…lots of thinking to do…
Hmm…
Grr…really wish I had someone with me right now…I don’t mind doing all the cleaning…just someone here to talk to while I do it…rather than listening to myself and all the voices in my head…one of them loves to remind me of creepy things and scary true stores right before I go to bed…so it drives my nerves crazy at night and then I can’t fall asleep right away…><”
…yea…I think that from right now ‘til I really settle in…I’ll be going more insane than I already am…
Homesickness has hit...and it hurts!
August 11
So I’m home right now and I’ve started to clean. The place is rather dusty…
And my computer decided to play “Let it Be” by the Beatles. I feel like it matches a bit of what I’m feeling.
At the moment, I trying really hard to fight homesickness. Never have I felt it the way I do now. But then again, I was never that far away from home nor away for that long. But the main thing that I’ve noticed is that I was never alone. Sure I easily make friends and what not but I’ve never really felt alone alone. I’m not really sure how to explain it…I’m fine when I’m at school and sort of working at the moment (since it’s summer break and Obon just came up [Obon = Japanese equivalent of Día de los Muertos]). But anyway, back to the relation to the song. I’m trying to hard to not necessarily let go of home and my connections to everyone there, but to let go of the feeling of helplessness and loneliness.
In the beginning it wasn’t so bad. But then again, I was in places that were clean and during my homestays I had someone or some people to hang out with. I was never alone. During the three days in the hotel in Fukuoka weren’t really bad b/c I was out most of the day. My predecessor was showing me around and whatnot (so nice of him). But he left me a rusting bike…
Also, what I think is really getting to me at the moment is that my apartment is rather…not nice. It’s a good size but because it’s on the first floor, the floor is not that great. The floors were repaired the day I came in but I feel that the guys missed a spot near the bathroom and it’s starting to freak me out. I’m afraid that I’m going to have bugs coming in from there…and I’ve heard about roaches during the raining season (and though is has been raining a little bit everyday, it’s not really the “raining season”. So It worries me…more so because I’m allergic to them!!! ><” The last thing I need to have an allergic reaction/asthma complication here in Japan…
Well, I got the next two days off of work and I’m going to work my butt off to clean and get this place to my standard of acceptable…I’m a bit of a germ-o-phobe at times…but I try really hard to fight it!
Anyhoo, coming home is not a happy thing for me. It makes me depressed and really feel alone. Though I have made lots of friends and be-friended many co-workers, I feel so alone as soon as I come home…But I guess it’s just something I have to overcome on my own. Because, I am on my own. I have to be an adult and just accept it or change it (since it is my place) to the way that I want it. Maybe I’ll take up painting again…or…make exploring my new hobby…
Oh. So someone mentioned that maybe getting a scooter will be a good idea…so I’m playing with the idea. But since even being the passenger in the car still confuses and freaks me out at times (because they’re on the opposite side compared to odd America) I’m not really sure I can really do it. Although I do like the idea…
But…I think I’m just gonna have to look for a new bike since the one I have doesn’t look that great…and knowing my luck, it’s either going to break or I’m going to fall/scratch myself against it and…yea…it ain’t pretty. But I hear that the bikes are pretty cheap too…and a friend got a helmet for about the equivalent of $9. :]
Also…having a break-up 2 days prior to departure is also making settling in a little hard…especially when most of my neighbors are in a relationship… ><”
So long for now. ; _ ;
So I’m home right now and I’ve started to clean. The place is rather dusty…
And my computer decided to play “Let it Be” by the Beatles. I feel like it matches a bit of what I’m feeling.
At the moment, I trying really hard to fight homesickness. Never have I felt it the way I do now. But then again, I was never that far away from home nor away for that long. But the main thing that I’ve noticed is that I was never alone. Sure I easily make friends and what not but I’ve never really felt alone alone. I’m not really sure how to explain it…I’m fine when I’m at school and sort of working at the moment (since it’s summer break and Obon just came up [Obon = Japanese equivalent of Día de los Muertos]). But anyway, back to the relation to the song. I’m trying to hard to not necessarily let go of home and my connections to everyone there, but to let go of the feeling of helplessness and loneliness.
In the beginning it wasn’t so bad. But then again, I was in places that were clean and during my homestays I had someone or some people to hang out with. I was never alone. During the three days in the hotel in Fukuoka weren’t really bad b/c I was out most of the day. My predecessor was showing me around and whatnot (so nice of him). But he left me a rusting bike…
Also, what I think is really getting to me at the moment is that my apartment is rather…not nice. It’s a good size but because it’s on the first floor, the floor is not that great. The floors were repaired the day I came in but I feel that the guys missed a spot near the bathroom and it’s starting to freak me out. I’m afraid that I’m going to have bugs coming in from there…and I’ve heard about roaches during the raining season (and though is has been raining a little bit everyday, it’s not really the “raining season”. So It worries me…more so because I’m allergic to them!!! ><” The last thing I need to have an allergic reaction/asthma complication here in Japan…
Well, I got the next two days off of work and I’m going to work my butt off to clean and get this place to my standard of acceptable…I’m a bit of a germ-o-phobe at times…but I try really hard to fight it!
Anyhoo, coming home is not a happy thing for me. It makes me depressed and really feel alone. Though I have made lots of friends and be-friended many co-workers, I feel so alone as soon as I come home…But I guess it’s just something I have to overcome on my own. Because, I am on my own. I have to be an adult and just accept it or change it (since it is my place) to the way that I want it. Maybe I’ll take up painting again…or…make exploring my new hobby…
Oh. So someone mentioned that maybe getting a scooter will be a good idea…so I’m playing with the idea. But since even being the passenger in the car still confuses and freaks me out at times (because they’re on the opposite side compared to odd America) I’m not really sure I can really do it. Although I do like the idea…
But…I think I’m just gonna have to look for a new bike since the one I have doesn’t look that great…and knowing my luck, it’s either going to break or I’m going to fall/scratch myself against it and…yea…it ain’t pretty. But I hear that the bikes are pretty cheap too…and a friend got a helmet for about the equivalent of $9. :]
Also…having a break-up 2 days prior to departure is also making settling in a little hard…especially when most of my neighbors are in a relationship… ><”
So long for now. ; _ ;
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Japanese Food
So I've had many home-cooked meals made by my two host-moms (and oh boy was it yummy). And I've told them too that I want to learn so later they will teach me how to cook some Japanese food! hurray! ^^
On Saturday, my last full day with Shibata-san, she took me out to eat Okonomiyaki. It's called Japanese pancake and Japanese pizza in English...though I think Japanese Pancake is more accurate.
Anyhoo, I've only ever had it before at school when Watanabe-sensei would have the Okonomiyaki parties. (ah, memories). So it was interesting to go to a restuarant and eat it there. It was cool. There was a hot pan/table in the middle of the table. Similar to the set-up in Korean BBQ places but it's a flat and not like a grill. I heard later that that restaurant didn't do it the traditional way. So Shibata-san said she'd take me again. ehehe^^;
Then, for dinner, she took me out for sushi! (I take it she really liked having me over...). It was really good. And it was on one of things that go around and around. But only some of the desserts looked like they were out there for a while...not the sushi. But oh man...it was delicious.
oh! And last night, when I went out with my neighbors, we went out for Yakitori (literally, fried chicken). It was also very yummy. It's basically skewers. I had chicken and beef and other yummy things and yakionigiri! (it's like a littly fried/toasted rice ball).
But so far, the food here has been great. I can't wait 'til I get to try cooking them on my own! ^^
And later, after I'm settled and get a feel for my applicances, I'm going to bake goodies for the office. They have all been so nice and so helpful that I feel like making them something! ^^ And I hear they like food...so I hope they'll like my cookies and cakes and whatnot.
On Saturday, my last full day with Shibata-san, she took me out to eat Okonomiyaki. It's called Japanese pancake and Japanese pizza in English...though I think Japanese Pancake is more accurate.
Anyhoo, I've only ever had it before at school when Watanabe-sensei would have the Okonomiyaki parties. (ah, memories). So it was interesting to go to a restuarant and eat it there. It was cool. There was a hot pan/table in the middle of the table. Similar to the set-up in Korean BBQ places but it's a flat and not like a grill. I heard later that that restaurant didn't do it the traditional way. So Shibata-san said she'd take me again. ehehe^^;
Then, for dinner, she took me out for sushi! (I take it she really liked having me over...). It was really good. And it was on one of things that go around and around. But only some of the desserts looked like they were out there for a while...not the sushi. But oh man...it was delicious.
oh! And last night, when I went out with my neighbors, we went out for Yakitori (literally, fried chicken). It was also very yummy. It's basically skewers. I had chicken and beef and other yummy things and yakionigiri! (it's like a littly fried/toasted rice ball).
But so far, the food here has been great. I can't wait 'til I get to try cooking them on my own! ^^
And later, after I'm settled and get a feel for my applicances, I'm going to bake goodies for the office. They have all been so nice and so helpful that I feel like making them something! ^^ And I hear they like food...so I hope they'll like my cookies and cakes and whatnot.
Internet & falling...what a day...
Hokay, so the internet at work is unbelievably slow! It's one thing when it just tests my patients but when I can't even reply to an e-mail just drives me crazy! (more so than I already am).
Anyhoo, I'm in the computer room right now. The internet is faster but since I couldn't find my folder online that's on the school network, I couldn't add my photos and so still cannot show you any of the 300 or so photos that I have (No I wasn't going to send all of them!)
So I finally moved into my apartment last night. But because they had just finished repairing the floors, the whole place was a little dusty. So before I can really start to unpack, I have to clean the whole place. To my standards...it needs some cleaning... ehehe^^; (it seems that the last couple months when I was home cleaning really rubbed off on me and now I want everything clean...) So I haven't seen too many bugs yet. I fear I'll meet one of those infamous huge spiders I keep hearing about...so far I've only seen the equivalent to the daddy-long legs and some freaky bright green and black spiders. Though I hear they're harmless and it's the centipedes I should worry about...but really what I'm putting up a battle with are the darn mosquitos!!! Not even 24hours in my apartment and already they were attacking my legs. So one of the first things I bought was a mosquito incense thing. It's actually rather cute. It works like the plug-in air freshener but the container that holds the incense is a black piggy! I also bought a spider spray bomb thing. I used it before coming to work this morning. Hopefully by the time I return my living room and bedroom are spider free...though I have seen one in the shower room... ><"
So because I got into my apartment rather late (and then went out to eat dinner with my new neighbors) I didn't get a chance to look for which bike used to be Stino's. So I walked to work this morning. It was bad and I didn't get lost. I got a little turned around at one point but I knew where I was going. However, one of the things that I've managed to avoid finally happened this morning...I tripped and fell... *><* Luckily though, I didn't sprain my ankle. I just hurt my knee a bit. So I got up and kept walking. A high school student must have seen me fall...I wonder if he wanted to laugh...and I wonder if he'll be one of my students... Oh, and then after walking for a bit more further, I found out I was near Shioya-san's house (Shibata-san's friend).
In any case, I got to work rather early. But there's only like 4 other teachers (excluding me) that came in today! [This week is Obon week. It's about the equivalent of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in my culture]. However, because of this reason, I got Wednesday through Friday off (and it doesn't count as nenkyu [paid leave]! mahahaha). So I'm planning on finishing my cleaning and unpacking during those days. As well as doing a huge grocery shopping. But first, I must clean...and unpack...
But the apartment doesn't seem so bad. Of course it doesn't carry the "home" feeling yet (and if any of you saw my dorm room last year...you'd understand). So over the next month or so I hope to settle in and slowly buy things to make it feel less like an apartment and make it feel like my place.
So, sorry for not really being online to do chatting/calls. I'll work on getting internet at my place a little later and then work on times to be online at the same time. 'Til then, just read my blog and send me e-mails! ;P
~ (r4z'/ R3/>
Anyhoo, I'm in the computer room right now. The internet is faster but since I couldn't find my folder online that's on the school network, I couldn't add my photos and so still cannot show you any of the 300 or so photos that I have (No I wasn't going to send all of them!)
So I finally moved into my apartment last night. But because they had just finished repairing the floors, the whole place was a little dusty. So before I can really start to unpack, I have to clean the whole place. To my standards...it needs some cleaning... ehehe^^; (it seems that the last couple months when I was home cleaning really rubbed off on me and now I want everything clean...) So I haven't seen too many bugs yet. I fear I'll meet one of those infamous huge spiders I keep hearing about...so far I've only seen the equivalent to the daddy-long legs and some freaky bright green and black spiders. Though I hear they're harmless and it's the centipedes I should worry about...but really what I'm putting up a battle with are the darn mosquitos!!! Not even 24hours in my apartment and already they were attacking my legs. So one of the first things I bought was a mosquito incense thing. It's actually rather cute. It works like the plug-in air freshener but the container that holds the incense is a black piggy! I also bought a spider spray bomb thing. I used it before coming to work this morning. Hopefully by the time I return my living room and bedroom are spider free...though I have seen one in the shower room... ><"
So because I got into my apartment rather late (and then went out to eat dinner with my new neighbors) I didn't get a chance to look for which bike used to be Stino's. So I walked to work this morning. It was bad and I didn't get lost. I got a little turned around at one point but I knew where I was going. However, one of the things that I've managed to avoid finally happened this morning...I tripped and fell... *><* Luckily though, I didn't sprain my ankle. I just hurt my knee a bit. So I got up and kept walking. A high school student must have seen me fall...I wonder if he wanted to laugh...and I wonder if he'll be one of my students... Oh, and then after walking for a bit more further, I found out I was near Shioya-san's house (Shibata-san's friend).
In any case, I got to work rather early. But there's only like 4 other teachers (excluding me) that came in today! [This week is Obon week. It's about the equivalent of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in my culture]. However, because of this reason, I got Wednesday through Friday off (and it doesn't count as nenkyu [paid leave]! mahahaha). So I'm planning on finishing my cleaning and unpacking during those days. As well as doing a huge grocery shopping. But first, I must clean...and unpack...
But the apartment doesn't seem so bad. Of course it doesn't carry the "home" feeling yet (and if any of you saw my dorm room last year...you'd understand). So over the next month or so I hope to settle in and slowly buy things to make it feel less like an apartment and make it feel like my place.
So, sorry for not really being online to do chatting/calls. I'll work on getting internet at my place a little later and then work on times to be online at the same time. 'Til then, just read my blog and send me e-mails! ;P
~ (r4z'/ R3/>
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Trains, class, waiting and now I'm tired...
Finally! I've been trying to post this for about half an hour!!! ><"
August 7th, 2008
Yo!
So yesterday I was greatly helped by my co-workers and vice-principal in finding the Nishitetsu metro station. Since I’m sort of half way to where my weekly Japanese class is (half way in relation to the fact that I’m currently living in Amagi), I told my friend Mike that I’ll meet him at the Futsukaichi station. I was there rather early, but I’d rather know where exactly I am than trying to find it later and possibly getting lost again… ><” Anyhoo, so I waited for him. Actually I think I was waiting on the wrong platform at first and then moved to the right one… Our meeting time was scheduled for 5:30 but I didn’t see him. I decided to wait since it doesn’t take that long to get to Tenjin (where class is). So I waited about 20 minutes or so. And since I wasn’t too sure how long the train will take and since I had to find the building on my own this time, I decided to hop onto the 5:51 train. The funny thing was I had a strange feeling that with my crazy luck, he’d get there as soon I get on the train. As I thought this and greatly considered waiting for the next train, the doors closed. The train decided for me…
So off I went. At the station in Tenjin, there is a huge TV screen which people call the “Soraria stage.” It’s a common meeting place for most people or so I’ve heard. So I was there and something was telling me to wait for a bit again. And I started having this internal argument with myself... Anyway, I went off to class. I think I took a slightly different route than my predecessor had shown me but in any case, I got to the building. (woot! No more getting lost) As soon as I got there though, I couldn’t remember if it was the 3rd or 4th floor…so I climbed up the stairs to both of them and eventually saw one of the teachers. (hurray!)
Last night I tried a lower level Japanese class than the one I tried last week. Last week’s was a bit too hard for me. I was sort of able to follow what was going on but because my vocabulary wasn’t strong enough for what was going on, I felt lost the majority of the time. Also, my kanji reading was not as high as everyone else in the class (about 6, excluding me). But since there were only 2 classes meeting last week (beginner and the one I tried) I tried out the hard one. Last night I tried the class prior to that one and found out…it’s rather easy for me… So for this class…like many other things and occurrences in my life, I’m in-between… ><” So, I don’t know what to do exactly…I can either be the big fish in a small pond or be completely confused have the time… @_@
After class, most of us went out to go eat. It was like a welcoming thing for the new Fukuoka JETs in that area. The food was great but the service was slow…so Mike and me were a little worried about catching the last train/bus back to Amagi in time (especially since we didn’t know what time the last one left and how long it would take [Though I think Mike had a better estimate than me]). But Grace, a JET-senpai (elder; like the freshman-senior relationship) didn’t want us to feel rushed but rather enjoy our time together and so she offered to drive us back. That was so awesome of her. ^^
So…I’m quite tired and was suuuuuuuper sleepy this morning. Blah. And since it’d most likely going to be a slow day at work, I’m going to have to keep moving to stay awake!
…
So I just got some notices on the future schedule. I’m going to have to introduce myself to all the teachers on the 18th and then again to all the students on the 21st. ehehehe^^;; And since I know some Japanese, they said that if I can, I can write and read it first in English and then in Japanese. Alright! It’s hardcore study time for me now!
(I just noticed that my metro station talk is a little confusing…In Japan, the two main metro/bus are the Nishitetsu and JR lines. The Futsukaishi station I was talking about is the name of the stop on the Nishitetsu line.)
August 7th, 2008
Yo!
So yesterday I was greatly helped by my co-workers and vice-principal in finding the Nishitetsu metro station. Since I’m sort of half way to where my weekly Japanese class is (half way in relation to the fact that I’m currently living in Amagi), I told my friend Mike that I’ll meet him at the Futsukaichi station. I was there rather early, but I’d rather know where exactly I am than trying to find it later and possibly getting lost again… ><” Anyhoo, so I waited for him. Actually I think I was waiting on the wrong platform at first and then moved to the right one… Our meeting time was scheduled for 5:30 but I didn’t see him. I decided to wait since it doesn’t take that long to get to Tenjin (where class is). So I waited about 20 minutes or so. And since I wasn’t too sure how long the train will take and since I had to find the building on my own this time, I decided to hop onto the 5:51 train. The funny thing was I had a strange feeling that with my crazy luck, he’d get there as soon I get on the train. As I thought this and greatly considered waiting for the next train, the doors closed. The train decided for me…
So off I went. At the station in Tenjin, there is a huge TV screen which people call the “Soraria stage.” It’s a common meeting place for most people or so I’ve heard. So I was there and something was telling me to wait for a bit again. And I started having this internal argument with myself... Anyway, I went off to class. I think I took a slightly different route than my predecessor had shown me but in any case, I got to the building. (woot! No more getting lost) As soon as I got there though, I couldn’t remember if it was the 3rd or 4th floor…so I climbed up the stairs to both of them and eventually saw one of the teachers. (hurray!)
Last night I tried a lower level Japanese class than the one I tried last week. Last week’s was a bit too hard for me. I was sort of able to follow what was going on but because my vocabulary wasn’t strong enough for what was going on, I felt lost the majority of the time. Also, my kanji reading was not as high as everyone else in the class (about 6, excluding me). But since there were only 2 classes meeting last week (beginner and the one I tried) I tried out the hard one. Last night I tried the class prior to that one and found out…it’s rather easy for me… So for this class…like many other things and occurrences in my life, I’m in-between… ><” So, I don’t know what to do exactly…I can either be the big fish in a small pond or be completely confused have the time… @_@
After class, most of us went out to go eat. It was like a welcoming thing for the new Fukuoka JETs in that area. The food was great but the service was slow…so Mike and me were a little worried about catching the last train/bus back to Amagi in time (especially since we didn’t know what time the last one left and how long it would take [Though I think Mike had a better estimate than me]). But Grace, a JET-senpai (elder; like the freshman-senior relationship) didn’t want us to feel rushed but rather enjoy our time together and so she offered to drive us back. That was so awesome of her. ^^
So…I’m quite tired and was suuuuuuuper sleepy this morning. Blah. And since it’d most likely going to be a slow day at work, I’m going to have to keep moving to stay awake!
…
So I just got some notices on the future schedule. I’m going to have to introduce myself to all the teachers on the 18th and then again to all the students on the 21st. ehehehe^^;; And since I know some Japanese, they said that if I can, I can write and read it first in English and then in Japanese. Alright! It’s hardcore study time for me now!
(I just noticed that my metro station talk is a little confusing…In Japan, the two main metro/bus are the Nishitetsu and JR lines. The Futsukaishi station I was talking about is the name of the stop on the Nishitetsu line.)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Amagi - Amigo
August 6th, 2008
So yesterday I moved into another co-workers place. She lives in an apartment in a different town (so I had to ride the bus for about half an hour. Not too bad). She has a rather nice place too. It’s quite modern but still has a Japanese feel to it (tatami room, shower and sliding doors). Oh, a note on sliding doors, I believe that they are awesome!!! They take up less space and they do keep noise and heat out. Sure, maybe they don’t keep noise out that great but I still think they’re awesome.
Anyhoo, so my current homestay is in Amagi. And an awesome thing is that I have a JET friend who’s living in Amagi. So Yamaguchi-san (current homestay-host) told me to invite him over to her place last night. So we e-mailed during work ours figured it all out. Once I arrived in Amagi, I e-mailed him to let him know we can meet now (BTW, cell phones here have e-mails. It ROCKS!). So Yamaguchi-san also invited her sister to join us for dinner. So it was a neat little party. With great food too. We had tofu, gyoza and onigiri. :] Oh, and beer. (they love to give me beer to drink…)
So today we rode the bus to work. It wasn’t too bad except that the walk from the bus stop to the school kinda hurt my back (I’m lugging around my laptop and messenger bags have always hurt my back). But hey, it’s worth it, I get to check e-mail and whatnot (and look like I’m busy ;P ).
Later today, I’ll be going to my weekly Japanese class. There should be some other JETs going as well. The only I’m concerned about right now is that the older JETs (that ones that are here on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th year) want to take us out to eat after class. It’d be alright if I were living in the Jutaku. But since I’m in Amagi and have to travel back a bit far (pretty far from where the class is) I’m either going to half to leave the group a little early, not go at all or stay out late and come back late…and get little sleep…
Hmm…
…
Well, now a word on customs and Japanese etiquette.
So, as in anywhere else, everyone has their own customs and whatnot. Here in Japan, one etiquette that I’m finding hard to do is not openly yawn. I’m supposed to cover my mouth but half the time I’m absent-mindedly yawning and so don’t really cover my mouth ‘til have way through the yawn! ><” But I’m trying (and that counts, ne?).
Another one that’s sort of weird is that they say nothing when someone sneezes…I so want to say, “Bless you” every time but…since they don’t say anything…I’m not…I just sort of whisper it to myself… So, if/when I return to the states and don’t say anything when you sneeze: I’m sorry. I’ve apparently adopted the Japanese custom.
I’m also trying really hard not to point with my index finger but with all my fingers instead. Although I do find some Japanese pointing themselves…
Also, so much etiquette involved with chopsticks! I found that I absent-mindedly point with them too! Grr!!! ><” bad me bad me. There was something else… well other things you shouldn’t do is use them to pull a bowl closer to you, stab them into your rice, pass food to someone else by way of chopsticks and don’t impale your food with them! (just in case you come to visit…yea…). The two underlined ones have to do with funeral customs…so yea…big no-no.
…ok…I don’t know what else to say…(actually there’s lots of little things but I don’t want to bore you with it all…)
Xoxoxoxo
- The Crazy Kinoko!!! RAWR!!!
So yesterday I moved into another co-workers place. She lives in an apartment in a different town (so I had to ride the bus for about half an hour. Not too bad). She has a rather nice place too. It’s quite modern but still has a Japanese feel to it (tatami room, shower and sliding doors). Oh, a note on sliding doors, I believe that they are awesome!!! They take up less space and they do keep noise and heat out. Sure, maybe they don’t keep noise out that great but I still think they’re awesome.
Anyhoo, so my current homestay is in Amagi. And an awesome thing is that I have a JET friend who’s living in Amagi. So Yamaguchi-san (current homestay-host) told me to invite him over to her place last night. So we e-mailed during work ours figured it all out. Once I arrived in Amagi, I e-mailed him to let him know we can meet now (BTW, cell phones here have e-mails. It ROCKS!). So Yamaguchi-san also invited her sister to join us for dinner. So it was a neat little party. With great food too. We had tofu, gyoza and onigiri. :] Oh, and beer. (they love to give me beer to drink…)
So today we rode the bus to work. It wasn’t too bad except that the walk from the bus stop to the school kinda hurt my back (I’m lugging around my laptop and messenger bags have always hurt my back). But hey, it’s worth it, I get to check e-mail and whatnot (and look like I’m busy ;P ).
Later today, I’ll be going to my weekly Japanese class. There should be some other JETs going as well. The only I’m concerned about right now is that the older JETs (that ones that are here on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th year) want to take us out to eat after class. It’d be alright if I were living in the Jutaku. But since I’m in Amagi and have to travel back a bit far (pretty far from where the class is) I’m either going to half to leave the group a little early, not go at all or stay out late and come back late…and get little sleep…
Hmm…
…
Well, now a word on customs and Japanese etiquette.
So, as in anywhere else, everyone has their own customs and whatnot. Here in Japan, one etiquette that I’m finding hard to do is not openly yawn. I’m supposed to cover my mouth but half the time I’m absent-mindedly yawning and so don’t really cover my mouth ‘til have way through the yawn! ><” But I’m trying (and that counts, ne?).
Another one that’s sort of weird is that they say nothing when someone sneezes…I so want to say, “Bless you” every time but…since they don’t say anything…I’m not…I just sort of whisper it to myself… So, if/when I return to the states and don’t say anything when you sneeze: I’m sorry. I’ve apparently adopted the Japanese custom.
I’m also trying really hard not to point with my index finger but with all my fingers instead. Although I do find some Japanese pointing themselves…
Also, so much etiquette involved with chopsticks! I found that I absent-mindedly point with them too! Grr!!! ><” bad me bad me. There was something else… well other things you shouldn’t do is use them to pull a bowl closer to you, stab them into your rice, pass food to someone else by way of chopsticks and don’t impale your food with them! (just in case you come to visit…yea…). The two underlined ones have to do with funeral customs…so yea…big no-no.
…ok…I don’t know what else to say…(actually there’s lots of little things but I don’t want to bore you with it all…)
Xoxoxoxo
- The Crazy Kinoko!!! RAWR!!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
道をまよりました
August 5, 2008
So today is interesting so far.
So I’ve been living with Shibata-san and I’ve come to school and back home with her. Today I tried going to school on my own. Now, there’s two roads to go to school. One through the South entrance (I believe it’s the south entrance) and another that loops behind it and comes up right by the teachers entrance (yes, the students and teachers have different entrances). Anyhoo, I tried coming up the road that goes behind the school because it’ll bring me closer to the teacher’s entrance. Well, I thought I knew the way.
…
…
Yea…I even sort of followed a student (not sure if he was a Chikushi high school student since he was in his baseball outfit). So I wound up behind a school. Not sure if it was Chikushi or not but I couldn’t find a way to go the side I wanted to go (next to the teacher’s entrance). So, I backtracked. I thought about giving it a second try but since I was already running late (both in the sense that I just lost some time and that in Japan if you’re not early (between 15 to 30 minutes early) you’re considered late. So I went farther back to the road I do know (and that also has a slightly steep road I have to climb up).
I arrived roughly 5 minutes late.
So…really late Japan time…
><”
And then, Kouchou-sensei was hanging out in the Teacher’s room (kouchou-sensei = principal). ehehehe^^;; But it was alright. I signed in and later we talked. In which case I did mention that I got a little lost…but we laughed about it. So I guess everything’s alright. I is my first week here in Fukuoka anyway. And I’ve been moving about so…I’m starting to get to know the area but…yea…I think I have to try harder…
Oh yea. And I need to ask someone around here for the pass code for the internet…and my very helpful JTE (Japanese Teachers of English) have taken the day off…so…I’m going to have to ask someone else for help…
Well…then again, I have heard that they don’t expect too much of foreigners…and I am new…so I guess asking for help and asking a lot of questions is ok.
:P
So today is interesting so far.
So I’ve been living with Shibata-san and I’ve come to school and back home with her. Today I tried going to school on my own. Now, there’s two roads to go to school. One through the South entrance (I believe it’s the south entrance) and another that loops behind it and comes up right by the teachers entrance (yes, the students and teachers have different entrances). Anyhoo, I tried coming up the road that goes behind the school because it’ll bring me closer to the teacher’s entrance. Well, I thought I knew the way.
…
…
Yea…I even sort of followed a student (not sure if he was a Chikushi high school student since he was in his baseball outfit). So I wound up behind a school. Not sure if it was Chikushi or not but I couldn’t find a way to go the side I wanted to go (next to the teacher’s entrance). So, I backtracked. I thought about giving it a second try but since I was already running late (both in the sense that I just lost some time and that in Japan if you’re not early (between 15 to 30 minutes early) you’re considered late. So I went farther back to the road I do know (and that also has a slightly steep road I have to climb up).
I arrived roughly 5 minutes late.
So…really late Japan time…
><”
And then, Kouchou-sensei was hanging out in the Teacher’s room (kouchou-sensei = principal). ehehehe^^;; But it was alright. I signed in and later we talked. In which case I did mention that I got a little lost…but we laughed about it. So I guess everything’s alright. I is my first week here in Fukuoka anyway. And I’ve been moving about so…I’m starting to get to know the area but…yea…I think I have to try harder…
Oh yea. And I need to ask someone around here for the pass code for the internet…and my very helpful JTE (Japanese Teachers of English) have taken the day off…so…I’m going to have to ask someone else for help…
Well…then again, I have heard that they don’t expect too much of foreigners…and I am new…so I guess asking for help and asking a lot of questions is ok.
:P
JET, Japan, Culture Shock, Humid
August 3, 2008
Hi Everybody!
So although this is marked as the 3rd of August, it was most likely posted online at a different date. So believe THIS date, not the one the website says I posted it on… Also, this was technically written on what you’d consider Saturday, August 02, 2008. :P
So I’ve had one week in Japan. And so far I think I’m adapting pretty well. Sure there are things that are very different (such as their showers and toilets. No I haven’t tried the squat toilet yet) but it’s not that bad to get used to. My first days in Japan were spent at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku (Tokyo area). I spent most of the day within the hotel going to meetings for JET. At night though, I was free to explore. The first night I got in (Sunday), I went out with some new friends I just made and we went out to eat sushi. Yum yum. Interestingly though…their wasabi was not as strong…
The next night, I went out with my prefecture (Fukuoka). Because our group was small, we joined the Oita prefecture (and 2 guys from Miyazaki and one guy from Aomori also joined). We took the JR line (subway/metro) to Shibuya and did karaoke! It was a very interesting place. The floors were themed by princesses (though they looked more like warriors…). They had Kaguyahime, Cinderella, Alice, Shirayukihime…yea…I’ll post some of the pictures if I can… We were on the mermaid level. It was a lot of fun. I was part of the drinking group and when our TOA (Tokyo Orientation Assistant) called to order 17 beers, the workers said they’re bringing us a keg. ;P I chose and sang 3 songs but sang along to many other songs. :]
The last night there, I wanted to meet up with Brad because he was in the area. But unfortunately, our only method of communication was facebook and we didn’t get to meet.
; _ ;
Funny how you think you can do alright without a cell phone…until situations like these pop up…
So I went out with Celeste and we went walking and exploring about Shinjuku. We were doing alright until it started to rain. So we decided to head back (so it was a short trip). Afterward though, I heard it rained heavily! And a couple JETs walked in that rain…
Then Wednesday morning came by. I had breakfast at the 42 or 43 floor with a really nice view! And then I checked out and exchanged some money (only to find more American money hidden in my wallet later…). I met up with my prefecture and we took a bus to Haneda airport. Luckily the flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka was only about an hour and a half (or so). The flight from LAX to Tokyo Narita airport was about 11 hours. And that’s us arriving about an hour early…
Anyhoo, once we arrived at Haneda and picked up our luggage, we all headed off in our designated locations. So we all met either our supervisor, predecessor, or both. I met both. :] We went for lunch and then to the school, where I was introduced to the principal.
I was very nervous.
But he seems like such a nice laidback guy. Later my supervisor told me that he regularly asked about me and whether or not I’m doing fine, ate breakfast and stuff like that. :P He apparently has a daughter near my age (though she’s older) and so he’s sort of doing the dad thing and is looking after me.
Oh, because my predecessor is still around, my first couple nights were spent in a hotel. It was alright. Very simple. Just yesterday, I moved into the house of one of the school’s workers (she may have been a teacher…). It was overwhelmingly flattering that there were two older women pretty much fighting for me to go live with them.
ehehe *^^;
So I’ve spent one day already in Shibata-san’s house. She lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and 3 grand children (who are very cute). So basically I get the home-stay experience and get to live with a big family again! Yatta!
Yesterday was the Natsumatsuri (Summer Festival). And Shibata-san was going to lend me a yukata to wear but unfortunately, I was too tall for it (apparently it was too small…though I personally didn’t think so…then again, I don’t know how exactly it’s supposed to look like on…) So Shibata-san, her friend Shioya-san and me went off to YouMe Town (pronounced “Yoomei”) where they bought me a yukata. *^^; Again, a little overwhelming. So now I want to get them something awesome from the states…hmm…
So yea, they dressed me up in a yukata (and they also bought me the special sort of bag that goes along with yukatas) and we went off to the Natsumatsuri. I took tons of pictures! And I used the video option for the first time. I recorded some of the taiko performances. And I got to try it as well. :D It was so much fun. Oh…haha…I also participated (at the insistence of Shioya-san) a biiru hayainomi…a beer drinking contest. We drank Asahi beer out of a can through a straw…I got second place. ;P
Oh! And on Friday night, there was a Hanabi festival (fireworks festival). So my predecessor picked me up and we met other JETs at the Nishitetsu station (metro). By a weird coincidence, I saw a fellow JET who is also in Fukuoka. So I went over and said hi (though it took him a second or two to remember me) and he joined us to the Hanabi festival. There were many many people. And some were wearing yukatas and jinbo! ^^
So, there have been a lot of crazy adventures already going on in my first week in Japan and first couple days in Chikushino-shi. After about a week of living with Shibata-san, I may be able to move into my apartment. More on that to come later!
If there’s something specifically you’d like to know about, just ask me! ^^
・シーラ
Hi Everybody!
So although this is marked as the 3rd of August, it was most likely posted online at a different date. So believe THIS date, not the one the website says I posted it on… Also, this was technically written on what you’d consider Saturday, August 02, 2008. :P
So I’ve had one week in Japan. And so far I think I’m adapting pretty well. Sure there are things that are very different (such as their showers and toilets. No I haven’t tried the squat toilet yet) but it’s not that bad to get used to. My first days in Japan were spent at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku (Tokyo area). I spent most of the day within the hotel going to meetings for JET. At night though, I was free to explore. The first night I got in (Sunday), I went out with some new friends I just made and we went out to eat sushi. Yum yum. Interestingly though…their wasabi was not as strong…
The next night, I went out with my prefecture (Fukuoka). Because our group was small, we joined the Oita prefecture (and 2 guys from Miyazaki and one guy from Aomori also joined). We took the JR line (subway/metro) to Shibuya and did karaoke! It was a very interesting place. The floors were themed by princesses (though they looked more like warriors…). They had Kaguyahime, Cinderella, Alice, Shirayukihime…yea…I’ll post some of the pictures if I can… We were on the mermaid level. It was a lot of fun. I was part of the drinking group and when our TOA (Tokyo Orientation Assistant) called to order 17 beers, the workers said they’re bringing us a keg. ;P I chose and sang 3 songs but sang along to many other songs. :]
The last night there, I wanted to meet up with Brad because he was in the area. But unfortunately, our only method of communication was facebook and we didn’t get to meet.
; _ ;
Funny how you think you can do alright without a cell phone…until situations like these pop up…
So I went out with Celeste and we went walking and exploring about Shinjuku. We were doing alright until it started to rain. So we decided to head back (so it was a short trip). Afterward though, I heard it rained heavily! And a couple JETs walked in that rain…
Then Wednesday morning came by. I had breakfast at the 42 or 43 floor with a really nice view! And then I checked out and exchanged some money (only to find more American money hidden in my wallet later…). I met up with my prefecture and we took a bus to Haneda airport. Luckily the flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka was only about an hour and a half (or so). The flight from LAX to Tokyo Narita airport was about 11 hours. And that’s us arriving about an hour early…
Anyhoo, once we arrived at Haneda and picked up our luggage, we all headed off in our designated locations. So we all met either our supervisor, predecessor, or both. I met both. :] We went for lunch and then to the school, where I was introduced to the principal.
I was very nervous.
But he seems like such a nice laidback guy. Later my supervisor told me that he regularly asked about me and whether or not I’m doing fine, ate breakfast and stuff like that. :P He apparently has a daughter near my age (though she’s older) and so he’s sort of doing the dad thing and is looking after me.
Oh, because my predecessor is still around, my first couple nights were spent in a hotel. It was alright. Very simple. Just yesterday, I moved into the house of one of the school’s workers (she may have been a teacher…). It was overwhelmingly flattering that there were two older women pretty much fighting for me to go live with them.
ehehe *^^;
So I’ve spent one day already in Shibata-san’s house. She lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and 3 grand children (who are very cute). So basically I get the home-stay experience and get to live with a big family again! Yatta!
Yesterday was the Natsumatsuri (Summer Festival). And Shibata-san was going to lend me a yukata to wear but unfortunately, I was too tall for it (apparently it was too small…though I personally didn’t think so…then again, I don’t know how exactly it’s supposed to look like on…) So Shibata-san, her friend Shioya-san and me went off to YouMe Town (pronounced “Yoomei”) where they bought me a yukata. *^^; Again, a little overwhelming. So now I want to get them something awesome from the states…hmm…
So yea, they dressed me up in a yukata (and they also bought me the special sort of bag that goes along with yukatas) and we went off to the Natsumatsuri. I took tons of pictures! And I used the video option for the first time. I recorded some of the taiko performances. And I got to try it as well. :D It was so much fun. Oh…haha…I also participated (at the insistence of Shioya-san) a biiru hayainomi…a beer drinking contest. We drank Asahi beer out of a can through a straw…I got second place. ;P
Oh! And on Friday night, there was a Hanabi festival (fireworks festival). So my predecessor picked me up and we met other JETs at the Nishitetsu station (metro). By a weird coincidence, I saw a fellow JET who is also in Fukuoka. So I went over and said hi (though it took him a second or two to remember me) and he joined us to the Hanabi festival. There were many many people. And some were wearing yukatas and jinbo! ^^
So, there have been a lot of crazy adventures already going on in my first week in Japan and first couple days in Chikushino-shi. After about a week of living with Shibata-san, I may be able to move into my apartment. More on that to come later!
If there’s something specifically you’d like to know about, just ask me! ^^
・シーラ
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