Hello out there!
Yes, it has been a while. I guess it’s good that I’ve been busy, ne?
So…I don’t know what was the last thing I talked about…so…I guess I’ll go from whatever pops into my head first and just keep going from there…
*I have figured out how to use my oven! Woohoo! Of course having a friend to help me push buttons and turn dials with for 10 minutes or more really helped too. But jesh, I have made my first batch of cookies and they came out great. Sure the flavor is a little different than from home but of course it’s not like I’m using the same brands as home. But they’re good and that’s all that matters, right?
*I have taught the students not only about Halloween but about Dia de los Muertos as well! Mahahaha!
*I learned about the history of Halloween and of the origin of the Jack o’ Lantern!!! I think I’ll post a copy of that later…
*My hair is crazy long but somehow I’ve been able to deal with it…
*I think my Japanese is getting better. My hearing has definitely improved and I’m no longer thinking about what I want to say for very long. I still think about it but I don’t spend that much time on it anymore. Kanji wise…still working on it… Studying for the JLPT: meh. Ups and downs. “I get it”s and “I don’t get it”s. :P
*I’m riding my bike better? Well, I think that I’m riding much faster than before and it may all be because I have a helmet. Of course I may look like a dork in the eyes of the Japanese, but dang it I want to live! Prior to the helmet I had 2 near-crash incidents. On was just somehow losing my balance and scrapping the cement-sidewalk-thing and the other was another bike (sharp corners).
*I went to COSTCO! Not everything in there is American but they did have tortillas (sadly, only flour) and mozzarella cheese!!! ^^ And I got some other things too…like chicken breasts…Clorox for colors…etc.
*I found the blankets! So I went through the closet of the spare room, or what someday shall be named “art room,” and found the blankets and kotatsu mat (kotatsu is like a heater table). But there’s a down-side to it…it stinks!!! Damn…it’s like the seasons changed and my predecessor didn’t think it necessary to wash them and just put them away. So…they smell of sweat and…don’t know what it’s called…general BO from lots of use? But yea, I need to wash them. I haven’t gotten around to it just yet because my dinky little washing machine is too small to fit even one! I will have to go to the laundry mat that has huge washers and dryers. Normally I wouldn’t be bothered by this but it’s a laundry where everything is going to be in Japanese. And being that I don’t really have laundry-mat-knowledge…I’m bound to need help in knowing where the soap goes, color bleach, softener, etc…
*I got some new curtains! Current curtains are alright but they’re not “me!” So…I worked with my options in the store and got some pretty cool curtains. Sadly the ones I really really liked and really really wanted did not block out the sun. I wouldn’t normally care too much about it but being that I’m living on the first floor, I’d like one that does block light so that not even my shadow can be visible. I am aware that in Japan the idea of “privacy” doesn’t really exist but who said I was going to follow all of their customs?
*I shall be going to my first J-Rock concert in November!!! xD So excited!!! v(^.^)
*My friends are coming down to visit me in November!!! xD This is sooooooooo exciting. 3 of my college buddies are also on the JET program and one of them (mi vecina!) is doing hardcore Chinese studying in Teipei and they’re all going to be here in Fukuoka in November. ^^ So I will not be feeling all alone during that time. The only I fear is that once they all leave, I’ll feel lonely again… But I’m starting to plan out what to do and work out something of a budget. But with cooking at home sometimes and then staying with me, it’s going to be pretty cheap. Well, aside from their transportation costs.
…that’s all I can think of for now…
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Mind Over Matter?
As I sit at my desk sipping tea and actually have my hair down (seriously. My hair is crazy long and it actually doesn’t bug me that much when it’s down…) I think about whether or cool or cold.
The seasons are changing and it is no longer summer (finally!) and fall has come in. (woot!) But of course, because there’s global warming going on, fall is not going to be that long. Sadly my 3 months of perfect whether is going to be reduced to…well not exactly sure but less! But at least it is not as hot and humid as it was when I first arrived.
Which now brings me to the topic at hand: is it cool or cold?
So, LA whether is not as cold as say Seattle can get. And as this is my first time here, I don’t know what to expect for the winter. I’ve heard that it doesn’t snow but that it can get pretty close to. To me, that is going to be pretty freakin’ cold. But lately, the whether’s been around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. For California’s, that basic winter weather (excluding the lows). And since I survived record lows of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, I feel like I can survive here in Japan. Especially since right now I’m constantly being asked if I’m cold and I’m really just a little cool.
But am I not as cold as I’m known to get back at home (my friends probably remember me being one of the few always complaining that it’s cold/always where sweaters, gloves, etc). But is this because in my head, it’s fall and it’s only cool and not cold. Or is it really just not as cold as it gets back at home?
For one thing, the humidity here is still pretty high. It’s around 88 percent nowadays. I never looked at the humidity back at home but I imagine it was lower than that…
So yea, is it really not that cold or am I just dealing with it very well? In which case, is the winter here not going to be so bad?
I have asked my JET friends about the winter here. And they all say it gets pretty cold and that going to the bathroom is not a happy thing (because they leave the room(s) that have kerosene heater on). But, most of these friends are from Hawai’i. So that may be because they’re not really used to the cold…
In any case, I’m surviving at the moment with just my suit + undershirt and with my hair down. Of course the endless supply of green tea in the staff room helps too. And it’s not like I’m always wearing my suit jacket either…
So…as long as I have pants, sweater, layers and hot tea, I think I’m going to be alright.
:]
I guess walking around everywhere also helps keep me warm. :P
The seasons are changing and it is no longer summer (finally!) and fall has come in. (woot!) But of course, because there’s global warming going on, fall is not going to be that long. Sadly my 3 months of perfect whether is going to be reduced to…well not exactly sure but less! But at least it is not as hot and humid as it was when I first arrived.
Which now brings me to the topic at hand: is it cool or cold?
So, LA whether is not as cold as say Seattle can get. And as this is my first time here, I don’t know what to expect for the winter. I’ve heard that it doesn’t snow but that it can get pretty close to. To me, that is going to be pretty freakin’ cold. But lately, the whether’s been around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. For California’s, that basic winter weather (excluding the lows). And since I survived record lows of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, I feel like I can survive here in Japan. Especially since right now I’m constantly being asked if I’m cold and I’m really just a little cool.
But am I not as cold as I’m known to get back at home (my friends probably remember me being one of the few always complaining that it’s cold/always where sweaters, gloves, etc). But is this because in my head, it’s fall and it’s only cool and not cold. Or is it really just not as cold as it gets back at home?
For one thing, the humidity here is still pretty high. It’s around 88 percent nowadays. I never looked at the humidity back at home but I imagine it was lower than that…
So yea, is it really not that cold or am I just dealing with it very well? In which case, is the winter here not going to be so bad?
I have asked my JET friends about the winter here. And they all say it gets pretty cold and that going to the bathroom is not a happy thing (because they leave the room(s) that have kerosene heater on). But, most of these friends are from Hawai’i. So that may be because they’re not really used to the cold…
In any case, I’m surviving at the moment with just my suit + undershirt and with my hair down. Of course the endless supply of green tea in the staff room helps too. And it’s not like I’m always wearing my suit jacket either…
So…as long as I have pants, sweater, layers and hot tea, I think I’m going to be alright.
:]
I guess walking around everywhere also helps keep me warm. :P
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I DIDN'T HEAR HER SAY "SUMIMASEN!!!"
Yesterday, on my return trip on the train, I encounter a rather spooky incident.
I got onto the Express train and since these trains usually wait around a bit before they leave the station, I managed to get a seat. After about 3 or so minutes, the train started to fill up, as it usually does. I was reading my book when I suddenly became aware of my surroundings. To the left of me, in the aisle, were a school girl and an older man. I man was speaking in a very strong voice and I girl did respond a little loud too so I imagined them to be something like father and daughter having a little quarrel.
Well, the older man kept talking, no more like yelling at her in a really strong, rather pissed-off sounding voice. And the girl just sort of held her bags and looked down. I couldn’t tell what was going on but the tone of the voice of the older man was started to creep me out.
Because he was speaking in such a forceful manner, everyone else in the train was looking at them. I’m not sure if they were isolated to begin with but there was like no one around them, aside form the people in the seats.
So I tried to not pay too much attention to it and get back to my book but then I notice the woman sitting in front of me saying something to the older man about hearer her, the school girl, say “sumimasen,” which, depending on the context, could mean, “sorry,” “pardon me,” or “excuse me,” etc. And then the older forcefully replied that he didn’t hear her. And on and on he went. At least I assume he kept going on and on about it.
Because he kept going on about it, and kept yelling at the poor girl, at the exact moment the seated woman to the other side of the older man started saying or explaining something to him, the other woman around sort of tugged the school girl away, basically getting her away from the angered old man. Eventually the guy shut up and the air in the train remained tense for quite a while.
I’m assuming that during the time everyone was getting on, one of the girl's bags must have leaned, bumped or possibly hit the older man and being a shy school girl most Japanese students are, she mumbled or said in a really soft voice, “sumimasen” but not loud enough for the grumpy deaf grandpa to hear.
I think I heard the school girl sniffle in the back. Pretty sure she was close to tears, the poor dear.
Either that old man was having a shitty day or he’s just an irritable old man. Either way, I highly doubt the school girl deserved such a scolding.
I got onto the Express train and since these trains usually wait around a bit before they leave the station, I managed to get a seat. After about 3 or so minutes, the train started to fill up, as it usually does. I was reading my book when I suddenly became aware of my surroundings. To the left of me, in the aisle, were a school girl and an older man. I man was speaking in a very strong voice and I girl did respond a little loud too so I imagined them to be something like father and daughter having a little quarrel.
Well, the older man kept talking, no more like yelling at her in a really strong, rather pissed-off sounding voice. And the girl just sort of held her bags and looked down. I couldn’t tell what was going on but the tone of the voice of the older man was started to creep me out.
Because he was speaking in such a forceful manner, everyone else in the train was looking at them. I’m not sure if they were isolated to begin with but there was like no one around them, aside form the people in the seats.
So I tried to not pay too much attention to it and get back to my book but then I notice the woman sitting in front of me saying something to the older man about hearer her, the school girl, say “sumimasen,” which, depending on the context, could mean, “sorry,” “pardon me,” or “excuse me,” etc. And then the older forcefully replied that he didn’t hear her. And on and on he went. At least I assume he kept going on and on about it.
Because he kept going on about it, and kept yelling at the poor girl, at the exact moment the seated woman to the other side of the older man started saying or explaining something to him, the other woman around sort of tugged the school girl away, basically getting her away from the angered old man. Eventually the guy shut up and the air in the train remained tense for quite a while.
I’m assuming that during the time everyone was getting on, one of the girl's bags must have leaned, bumped or possibly hit the older man and being a shy school girl most Japanese students are, she mumbled or said in a really soft voice, “sumimasen” but not loud enough for the grumpy deaf grandpa to hear.
I think I heard the school girl sniffle in the back. Pretty sure she was close to tears, the poor dear.
Either that old man was having a shitty day or he’s just an irritable old man. Either way, I highly doubt the school girl deserved such a scolding.
Gaijin Free Pass Card
So, I got my multiple re-entry permit yesterday (woohoo!). And it was rather interesting at times.
So, I was told that I could get it done I Tenjin, the main city near me. So I went on my substitute day off (substitute because I had to work on Saturday, what should have been a day off, so I get a weekday off to compensate for it). The funny thing about the office where I can get my re-entry permit is that it is only open with working hours. The same hours I spend at my work. However, I do leave an hour before my co-workers. But by the time I get home or to the station, I would be cutting it very close to get there before it closes. And being that I’ve never been there before, I would need to time to compensate for getting lost, asking for directions or attempting to decipher complex kanji.
So, I arrive in Tenjin, and being that I need money to pay for a ~$60 stamp, I went to my bank’s ATM first. Since this was near the post office, I sent my mom’s birthday card as well. At the post office, I remembered that I didn’t really know where the ACROS building was. (ACROS building the building I was told would have the office I need to apply for my permit). So I asked for directions, was mainly able to follow and luckily the attendant had a map to show me where it was in relation to the post office.
After getting a little lost in finding the building I looked at a floor plan of all the offices in the building. I couldn’t remember the name of the office I was supposed to go to and stupidly forgot to bring the piece of paper I had written it all on. So trying to my best to remember and attempting to tap into that internal instinct, I headed for the 3rd floor to the office of “something something visa”. In my mind, I thought would like getting visa to travel, especially since it is on the same floor as a travel agency. But as soon as I got the door to the office, I realized it was for the VISA credit card.
Oops.
But right next door was a travel agency so I thought, who would know better on where to get a re-entry permit than a travel agency! So I walk and ask where I can get one. The nice attendant, who knew some English, happily printed out the address of the office at the airport for me.
And so I took the subway to the airport (love how public transportation here can really take you anywhere you need to go. Or so at least it’s all connected to the places most people need to go). And I find the office and the forms! And to my happy surprise, it had English subtitles.
やった！
…just noticed I’m getting a little side tracked from the main point of this writing (or so, the title). So after filling it out, getting a number and giving it to the attendant, he gives me another form, circles what I’m supposed to fill out and tells me that I need to buy the ~$60 stamp. Then he mentions something about a store. Upon looking at my slightly confused face, he pulls out a map and tell me to go to the little store outside the office but still within the airport. So off I go to buy the stamp.
And sure enough there’s a sign saying something about stamps…but because I couldn’t read the rest of the kanji I wasn’t too sure what it was saying. So I walk up to the cashier and say that I want to buy a stamp, a 6000 yen stamp. And for the life of me I could not understand what the buy was trying to tell me. Something about that he couldn’t and that I had to go somewhere else and possibly come back again. But I really couldn’t tell what he was saying…even after 3 tries…but then he just says “6000 yen stamp” and I said “yes”. And after he asked me twice if I wasn’t mistaken, sold me the stamp.
I have also heard about how some clerks may not give you a hard time about certain purchases such as train passes if they feel you don’t know any Japanese and they feel their English is not that great. It may make things easier for us but is it such a good idea to deceive them (well, at least for the ones that do know some Japanese but instead pretend they don’t to get out of things or get things in an easier manner).
So…I may have broken a couple rules or not followed procedure the way I’m supposed to but because I am a foreigner, they let it pass. So in a sense, they make it way easier for us. But, I don’t want to use and abuse of it. I want to try to follow everything their way so that they don’t get offended and create this idea that Americans are ignorant to learn about other countries customs. That is something that was mentioned in my Handbook about how we have to be careful about how we act here because it may affect how they feel about whatever country you come from. For me, it is twice the amount since I’m not only representing the United States but also Mexico.
So, do some Japanese grant us the “Gaijin Free Pass” because they feel sorry for us or because they’d rather not go through the trouble? Are some Japanese really nice and friendly, especially with directions, because they feel sorry for us or because Japanese indeed are friendly than say Los Angelians are about giving directions?
So, I was told that I could get it done I Tenjin, the main city near me. So I went on my substitute day off (substitute because I had to work on Saturday, what should have been a day off, so I get a weekday off to compensate for it). The funny thing about the office where I can get my re-entry permit is that it is only open with working hours. The same hours I spend at my work. However, I do leave an hour before my co-workers. But by the time I get home or to the station, I would be cutting it very close to get there before it closes. And being that I’ve never been there before, I would need to time to compensate for getting lost, asking for directions or attempting to decipher complex kanji.
So, I arrive in Tenjin, and being that I need money to pay for a ~$60 stamp, I went to my bank’s ATM first. Since this was near the post office, I sent my mom’s birthday card as well. At the post office, I remembered that I didn’t really know where the ACROS building was. (ACROS building the building I was told would have the office I need to apply for my permit). So I asked for directions, was mainly able to follow and luckily the attendant had a map to show me where it was in relation to the post office.
After getting a little lost in finding the building I looked at a floor plan of all the offices in the building. I couldn’t remember the name of the office I was supposed to go to and stupidly forgot to bring the piece of paper I had written it all on. So trying to my best to remember and attempting to tap into that internal instinct, I headed for the 3rd floor to the office of “something something visa”. In my mind, I thought would like getting visa to travel, especially since it is on the same floor as a travel agency. But as soon as I got the door to the office, I realized it was for the VISA credit card.
Oops.
But right next door was a travel agency so I thought, who would know better on where to get a re-entry permit than a travel agency! So I walk and ask where I can get one. The nice attendant, who knew some English, happily printed out the address of the office at the airport for me.
And so I took the subway to the airport (love how public transportation here can really take you anywhere you need to go. Or so at least it’s all connected to the places most people need to go). And I find the office and the forms! And to my happy surprise, it had English subtitles.
やった！
…just noticed I’m getting a little side tracked from the main point of this writing (or so, the title). So after filling it out, getting a number and giving it to the attendant, he gives me another form, circles what I’m supposed to fill out and tells me that I need to buy the ~$60 stamp. Then he mentions something about a store. Upon looking at my slightly confused face, he pulls out a map and tell me to go to the little store outside the office but still within the airport. So off I go to buy the stamp.
And sure enough there’s a sign saying something about stamps…but because I couldn’t read the rest of the kanji I wasn’t too sure what it was saying. So I walk up to the cashier and say that I want to buy a stamp, a 6000 yen stamp. And for the life of me I could not understand what the buy was trying to tell me. Something about that he couldn’t and that I had to go somewhere else and possibly come back again. But I really couldn’t tell what he was saying…even after 3 tries…but then he just says “6000 yen stamp” and I said “yes”. And after he asked me twice if I wasn’t mistaken, sold me the stamp.
I have also heard about how some clerks may not give you a hard time about certain purchases such as train passes if they feel you don’t know any Japanese and they feel their English is not that great. It may make things easier for us but is it such a good idea to deceive them (well, at least for the ones that do know some Japanese but instead pretend they don’t to get out of things or get things in an easier manner).
So…I may have broken a couple rules or not followed procedure the way I’m supposed to but because I am a foreigner, they let it pass. So in a sense, they make it way easier for us. But, I don’t want to use and abuse of it. I want to try to follow everything their way so that they don’t get offended and create this idea that Americans are ignorant to learn about other countries customs. That is something that was mentioned in my Handbook about how we have to be careful about how we act here because it may affect how they feel about whatever country you come from. For me, it is twice the amount since I’m not only representing the United States but also Mexico.
So, do some Japanese grant us the “Gaijin Free Pass” because they feel sorry for us or because they’d rather not go through the trouble? Are some Japanese really nice and friendly, especially with directions, because they feel sorry for us or because Japanese indeed are friendly than say Los Angelians are about giving directions?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Hmm...
So…I was just thinking like 2 nights ago…I’m really living on my own.
Like, it’s not just that I’m alone…it’s that I’m doing everything on my own. Cooking. Cleaning. Paying bills. Going to work. Grocery shopping.
It’s funny. Somewhere in the back of my head I knew this…but it was as though I never really thought about it…
But of course, this has also been possible because I have awesome neighbors and really nice co-workers. ^^
Sometimes I wonder if my co-workers are so helpful because I am a girl…and just out of college…hmm…Oh, and the fact that both the principal and vice principal have children around my age just adds to the fact that they look after me as though I were their own daughter. Ahahaha. :P
But…it all makes me wonder about how it’s going to be when I go back home. When I get my own place and whatnot. For one thing, I know the customs and the products and which stores are good for what, etc etc. But should I move to a new state or city…how helpful are the neighbors going to be I wonder…
Hehe. Look mom and dad! I can make it on my own! And in a foreign country too. :P You see, you don’t really need to worry.
Now…if I could just figure out how to make my cereal stop bursting into flames…
;P
Like, it’s not just that I’m alone…it’s that I’m doing everything on my own. Cooking. Cleaning. Paying bills. Going to work. Grocery shopping.
It’s funny. Somewhere in the back of my head I knew this…but it was as though I never really thought about it…
But of course, this has also been possible because I have awesome neighbors and really nice co-workers. ^^
Sometimes I wonder if my co-workers are so helpful because I am a girl…and just out of college…hmm…Oh, and the fact that both the principal and vice principal have children around my age just adds to the fact that they look after me as though I were their own daughter. Ahahaha. :P
But…it all makes me wonder about how it’s going to be when I go back home. When I get my own place and whatnot. For one thing, I know the customs and the products and which stores are good for what, etc etc. But should I move to a new state or city…how helpful are the neighbors going to be I wonder…
Hehe. Look mom and dad! I can make it on my own! And in a foreign country too. :P You see, you don’t really need to worry.
Now…if I could just figure out how to make my cereal stop bursting into flames…
;P
Thursday, October 2, 2008
OI!!!
So today I taught 3 classes. One of them, the last one, happened to be a particularly loud and rowdy class. I don't mind them talking amonst themselves as long as they do the work. Usually they're asking each other what certain words are in English or if they can borrow their friend's dictionary.
Anyway, they started getting really loud and then 2 students were talking to teach other at pretty much opposite ends of the room. Because everyone else was also talking, they started to yell at each other to keep talking. Well, I started to feel overwhelmed by the level of noise. I was already at the back of the class because I was walking around. And so I yelled out, "OI!" and they all got surprised about it. So much so that they all sat down and quieted down.
I was rather surprised myself. I thought I was going to have to yell that a couple times to get their attention. haha. I was so amazed by it that I wanted to laugh.
One student even said that it surprised her/spooked her (either just out loud or to her friend...don't really know).
Anyway, after this, they weren't as loud again. And when I asked for their attention later, they immediately got quiet and paid attention.
Crazy!!!
I thought I'd be having a harder time keeping order...
Anyway, they started getting really loud and then 2 students were talking to teach other at pretty much opposite ends of the room. Because everyone else was also talking, they started to yell at each other to keep talking. Well, I started to feel overwhelmed by the level of noise. I was already at the back of the class because I was walking around. And so I yelled out, "OI!" and they all got surprised about it. So much so that they all sat down and quieted down.
I was rather surprised myself. I thought I was going to have to yell that a couple times to get their attention. haha. I was so amazed by it that I wanted to laugh.
One student even said that it surprised her/spooked her (either just out loud or to her friend...don't really know).
Anyway, after this, they weren't as loud again. And when I asked for their attention later, they immediately got quiet and paid attention.
Crazy!!!
I thought I'd be having a harder time keeping order...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Neh, What's up Doc?
So...as I've found out yesterday and really saw it in action today, eating raw carrots is a very rare thing...
So yesterday, I was munching on some delicious carrot sticks I had prepared for my rather small lunch. All, if not most, of the teachers eat right at their desks. So I was there eating and reading when my principal passed by. He sort of turned and kept going but then he stopped and came back. So I turn to him and he asks (in Japanese of course)
"You eat carrots raw?"
"Yea..."
"hahaha. You're like a rabbit."
"hehe."
Afterwards, I asked one of the JTE's I work with about eating raw carrots in Japan. She said that children usually don't eat carrots raw due to the smell.
Smell.
I never thought of carrots having a strong smell, let alone a strong un-appetizing smell... My JTE continued on to say that children prefer tomatoes.
...tomatoes...
Now, I don't know if it has to do with my personal dislike with tomatoes but I really think that tomatoes have a strong smell (in the un-appetizing way) than carrots...
So, after this, I had some classes to teach. Well, I had a warm-up question: What is your favorite food? And during class, we decided to write out an example response to the question. As I was thinking about which food to write (since I don't really have favorites), the JTE I was working with suggested I write about raw carrots.
So I did. I wrote: My favorite food is raw carrot. It is crunchy and delicious. I eat it every week. Sometimes I eat it after work. I think I will have some for dinner.
And then both the JTE I worked with during this period and the JTE I worked with during the next period explained to the class about how the principal saw me eating raw carrots and called me a rabbit.
Then today, I had some students dropping in here and there during lunch to turn in their essays and they all saw that I really was eating raw carrots, They were surprised to see that I really was eating them raw. I laughed about it and wondered if they thought I was just saying that I eat raw carrots...I hope they don't think I lie to them...
I wonder what other things about me they'll find really interesting/odd...
I already know they don't really like peanut butter/like mixing it with other things like celery, banana or jelly. But then again, I know a Netherlands exchange student one summer really had to mentally prepare himself to try a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Is America the only country that likes and eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches???
So yesterday, I was munching on some delicious carrot sticks I had prepared for my rather small lunch. All, if not most, of the teachers eat right at their desks. So I was there eating and reading when my principal passed by. He sort of turned and kept going but then he stopped and came back. So I turn to him and he asks (in Japanese of course)
"You eat carrots raw?"
"Yea..."
"hahaha. You're like a rabbit."
"hehe."
Afterwards, I asked one of the JTE's I work with about eating raw carrots in Japan. She said that children usually don't eat carrots raw due to the smell.
Smell.
I never thought of carrots having a strong smell, let alone a strong un-appetizing smell... My JTE continued on to say that children prefer tomatoes.
...tomatoes...
Now, I don't know if it has to do with my personal dislike with tomatoes but I really think that tomatoes have a strong smell (in the un-appetizing way) than carrots...
So, after this, I had some classes to teach. Well, I had a warm-up question: What is your favorite food? And during class, we decided to write out an example response to the question. As I was thinking about which food to write (since I don't really have favorites), the JTE I was working with suggested I write about raw carrots.
So I did. I wrote: My favorite food is raw carrot. It is crunchy and delicious. I eat it every week. Sometimes I eat it after work. I think I will have some for dinner.
And then both the JTE I worked with during this period and the JTE I worked with during the next period explained to the class about how the principal saw me eating raw carrots and called me a rabbit.
Then today, I had some students dropping in here and there during lunch to turn in their essays and they all saw that I really was eating raw carrots, They were surprised to see that I really was eating them raw. I laughed about it and wondered if they thought I was just saying that I eat raw carrots...I hope they don't think I lie to them...
I wonder what other things about me they'll find really interesting/odd...
I already know they don't really like peanut butter/like mixing it with other things like celery, banana or jelly. But then again, I know a Netherlands exchange student one summer really had to mentally prepare himself to try a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Is America the only country that likes and eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches???
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