Wow, barely one month ago, Mum and Dad were here. It was the height of the sakura season, but the mountains were still a very wintry, dead shade of brown. Now, 4 weeks later, and the trees have burst into life, covering the slopes with more shades of green than I can count. Bee-yoo-tee-ful! It's so fresh and full of life, and makes me feel really optimistic.
It's been a busy wee week here in Tokkers. Report writing galore has gone on. I've been emotional, Nate and I had fun falling out online, I've played more poker, I've taught classes. I am really tired, but I feel like I'm at least doing stuff. Dave was at Jordan's on Wednesday night, it's so lovely to be able to see him through the week again! He beat me at poker though...
Have been getting on really well with Noda-sensei now... I think that he is now my preferred team-teacher. I don't know, he and Tame-chan are both so different, but I feel like both me and the kids get out of the lessons I teach with Noda.
Right now, the senseis are at the annual gun teacher meeting, and I am hanging at school with Usuki-san (who just did a major operation on my crappy bike), and Hori-san. I am listening to Radio 1 from home online, not knowing any of the music they are playing, and waiting til 4pm, when I can go home, walk in the sun, and wait for the lads to come round for.... more poker. Sorry Mummy!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Rested
Mmmm, it's so delicious to have a weekend in sometime, all to myself. Almost all.
I started off on Friday by ordering a massive pizza (what was I THINKING?!), and then hitting the onsen with Nate and The Deer. The they came back to my house, and we played poker. The aces were LOVING me that night, and I had some great hands, much to the frustration of the boys (Nacho eventually giving in and calling me a bitch). Jordan crashed and burned after a while, I had all his money, but he insisted he wanted to watch me and Nate (play cards!). So we had some intenese one-on-one (poker!). The outcome was that all the money I took from Jordan, I gave to Nate, and lost about Y150 of my own. Not bad. If I had stopped along with The Deer, I would have been well up.
On Saturday, I met Jordan and Saori for lunch, before raiding the Kings Road, and then walking home from Mikamo in the pouring rain. I had my Walkman on, playing the Prodigy LOUD, and had a lovely hour to myself. Hmm, but my knee hurts like a bitch, not sure what's wrong with it. That happens when I walk a lot, I can feel things grinding, it's not good.
The films I rented this weekend were as follows:
Ocean's 12
Hitch
Closer
Before Sunset
With the exception of the first one, all of these films had to do with relationships in some way (not that I am totally in need of living vicariously through films, it just sort of happened that way). Hitch was total Hollywood fluff, and made me laugh. Good film. Closer just made me sad and unhopeful, and made me wonder why anyone would get into a relationship that could get as destructive as that. But I guess you don't know it's going to get destructive. it made me think twice about wanting a relationship, though. Then Before Sunset is sort of a bridge between the two. It's a beautiful film, I love it, it has an unsatsifying ending, that is a sort of test as to whether you're a cynic or a romantic (die-hard romantic here!), but it went some way to repairing the damage done by Closer.
I dunno... I always thought of myself as someone who is really self-reliant, I like to think that I'll always be able to make my way by myself. And I think I will. But I need people around me, and I need to be able to trust them. Closer is a representation of relationship hell. It's bleak. It's a well-made film, but it really made me sad. People say that life is never like the films. Let's hope not.
Lindsay left us on Friday morning. She was a bit messy, I hear. I will be too. Now we have Chalice. Interesting gal. She's a hit with the gunnies already. She'll fit right in. But we misses Lindsay! You hear that?! We do, y'know! Send us a postcard from Togo!
This week, I am... rested. I am busy. I am scared about returning home, it's something that I think about on a daily basis. While I am relishing the thought of a new job, I fall to pieces at the thought of the goodbyes I'll have to make. Mm. AJET is in high gear. I cannot wait to get shot of that whole thing. I have to start packing up the house. Jillsty touch down in a week. Holy crap!
Gotta go. Love to you!
I started off on Friday by ordering a massive pizza (what was I THINKING?!), and then hitting the onsen with Nate and The Deer. The they came back to my house, and we played poker. The aces were LOVING me that night, and I had some great hands, much to the frustration of the boys (Nacho eventually giving in and calling me a bitch). Jordan crashed and burned after a while, I had all his money, but he insisted he wanted to watch me and Nate (play cards!). So we had some intenese one-on-one (poker!). The outcome was that all the money I took from Jordan, I gave to Nate, and lost about Y150 of my own. Not bad. If I had stopped along with The Deer, I would have been well up.
On Saturday, I met Jordan and Saori for lunch, before raiding the Kings Road, and then walking home from Mikamo in the pouring rain. I had my Walkman on, playing the Prodigy LOUD, and had a lovely hour to myself. Hmm, but my knee hurts like a bitch, not sure what's wrong with it. That happens when I walk a lot, I can feel things grinding, it's not good.
The films I rented this weekend were as follows:
Ocean's 12
Hitch
Closer
Before Sunset
With the exception of the first one, all of these films had to do with relationships in some way (not that I am totally in need of living vicariously through films, it just sort of happened that way). Hitch was total Hollywood fluff, and made me laugh. Good film. Closer just made me sad and unhopeful, and made me wonder why anyone would get into a relationship that could get as destructive as that. But I guess you don't know it's going to get destructive. it made me think twice about wanting a relationship, though. Then Before Sunset is sort of a bridge between the two. It's a beautiful film, I love it, it has an unsatsifying ending, that is a sort of test as to whether you're a cynic or a romantic (die-hard romantic here!), but it went some way to repairing the damage done by Closer.
I dunno... I always thought of myself as someone who is really self-reliant, I like to think that I'll always be able to make my way by myself. And I think I will. But I need people around me, and I need to be able to trust them. Closer is a representation of relationship hell. It's bleak. It's a well-made film, but it really made me sad. People say that life is never like the films. Let's hope not.
Lindsay left us on Friday morning. She was a bit messy, I hear. I will be too. Now we have Chalice. Interesting gal. She's a hit with the gunnies already. She'll fit right in. But we misses Lindsay! You hear that?! We do, y'know! Send us a postcard from Togo!
This week, I am... rested. I am busy. I am scared about returning home, it's something that I think about on a daily basis. While I am relishing the thought of a new job, I fall to pieces at the thought of the goodbyes I'll have to make. Mm. AJET is in high gear. I cannot wait to get shot of that whole thing. I have to start packing up the house. Jillsty touch down in a week. Holy crap!
Gotta go. Love to you!
Monday, April 17, 2006
One out of ten ain't bad!
Another full weekend of sports, and I am wiped out. Next weekend is my first unplanned weekend since... February. I intend to vegetate and do some serious sleeping.
BUT, all the tiredness is worth it! This weekend was the third annual AJET Games Touch Rugby Tournament here in Tokushima, and it was the biggest yet! Over 200 people from all over the southern half of Japan came out for it, and I think they all had a blast. I do hope so! The weather certainly could have been kinder, it was somewhat cold and rather windy (windburn abounds on the faces of all ALTs this morning!), but I think that spirits were high enough to negate the less than ideal weather.
My own team, Touch n' Go, pretty much sucked at the game. Most of the team had never played before the weekend, and our inexperience was quickly picked up on by our first opponents, the Gaijin Ninja, from Hyogo. It was something of a baptism of fire, though, the Ninja are probably the best amateur touch team in southern Japan. Nevermind. We finished the first day having won not one single match on our pool. Damn!
Saturday night saw me on duty as BBQ organiser, and I am so grateful for all the help I got. I had never been in charge of something as huge as this, so I was really worried that people would get pissed because of lack of organisation, lack of food or whatever. But Ron (who organised and bought all the food, as well as planned the actual process) was on hand to help out, and the people I had recruited to help me out (namely the Gaijin Ninja, Okayama's Grapes of Wrath, and of course Touch n' Go) were absolutely wonderful at just getting on with it. I'm especially grateful to the Ninja: so laid back, nothing was a problem, they just did it, even though they were paying guests.
AJET babes Froilan and Jessie came from Kumamoto and Kyoto respectively to help and hang out, and it was great to see them. Also got to know a lovely Kochi bloke by the name of James a bit better. He was part of the Kochi frisbee crew last weekend, and then came to play rugger this weekend. Actually, a few of the frisbee people were here for rugby, it was great to see all of them again. Also met up with a girl from Shimane (whose name escapes me!) who had lived in Scotland for a long while. We met last year, and chatted a bit, and did the same this year.
Play finished mid afternoon on Sunday. Touch n Go surprised ourselves by actually winning a match, and having to play an extra match on Sunday. We damn near won that as well, but lost on handicap points (points awarded for tries scored by girls). We had fun on Sunday: we'd picked up the game, and knew much better what to do with the ball when we got it. I don't think the kids want to play regularly, though, which is a shame, but I guess it's not a sport for everyone.
After a spot of dinner and an onsen last night, I finally got home. Sadly, the mayor's election headquarters are behind my house (he's running for prefectural governement) and it was results night or something, so the place was packed with shouting and cheering supporters til nearer midnight. Meh.
Back to school this week: some classes to teach, but mostly the timetable is still out of sorts, as it is for the most part of this term. Am now organising a rafting trip with Happy Raft in Golden week, and hoping it will be something of a block event. Jill and Kirsty will be here then, and Dave will be guiding by that time, so it should be a good time of it.
Ok... am going to go and work out how to get my ass to Australia now. Yee haa!
BUT, all the tiredness is worth it! This weekend was the third annual AJET Games Touch Rugby Tournament here in Tokushima, and it was the biggest yet! Over 200 people from all over the southern half of Japan came out for it, and I think they all had a blast. I do hope so! The weather certainly could have been kinder, it was somewhat cold and rather windy (windburn abounds on the faces of all ALTs this morning!), but I think that spirits were high enough to negate the less than ideal weather.
My own team, Touch n' Go, pretty much sucked at the game. Most of the team had never played before the weekend, and our inexperience was quickly picked up on by our first opponents, the Gaijin Ninja, from Hyogo. It was something of a baptism of fire, though, the Ninja are probably the best amateur touch team in southern Japan. Nevermind. We finished the first day having won not one single match on our pool. Damn!
Saturday night saw me on duty as BBQ organiser, and I am so grateful for all the help I got. I had never been in charge of something as huge as this, so I was really worried that people would get pissed because of lack of organisation, lack of food or whatever. But Ron (who organised and bought all the food, as well as planned the actual process) was on hand to help out, and the people I had recruited to help me out (namely the Gaijin Ninja, Okayama's Grapes of Wrath, and of course Touch n' Go) were absolutely wonderful at just getting on with it. I'm especially grateful to the Ninja: so laid back, nothing was a problem, they just did it, even though they were paying guests.
AJET babes Froilan and Jessie came from Kumamoto and Kyoto respectively to help and hang out, and it was great to see them. Also got to know a lovely Kochi bloke by the name of James a bit better. He was part of the Kochi frisbee crew last weekend, and then came to play rugger this weekend. Actually, a few of the frisbee people were here for rugby, it was great to see all of them again. Also met up with a girl from Shimane (whose name escapes me!) who had lived in Scotland for a long while. We met last year, and chatted a bit, and did the same this year.
Play finished mid afternoon on Sunday. Touch n Go surprised ourselves by actually winning a match, and having to play an extra match on Sunday. We damn near won that as well, but lost on handicap points (points awarded for tries scored by girls). We had fun on Sunday: we'd picked up the game, and knew much better what to do with the ball when we got it. I don't think the kids want to play regularly, though, which is a shame, but I guess it's not a sport for everyone.
After a spot of dinner and an onsen last night, I finally got home. Sadly, the mayor's election headquarters are behind my house (he's running for prefectural governement) and it was results night or something, so the place was packed with shouting and cheering supporters til nearer midnight. Meh.
Back to school this week: some classes to teach, but mostly the timetable is still out of sorts, as it is for the most part of this term. Am now organising a rafting trip with Happy Raft in Golden week, and hoping it will be something of a block event. Jill and Kirsty will be here then, and Dave will be guiding by that time, so it should be a good time of it.
Ok... am going to go and work out how to get my ass to Australia now. Yee haa!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Big, Fat, Purple Lip
There are few things I like better than getting together with friends in good weather and spending the day outdoors playing sports of some sort. This week I have had the opportunity to do that twice. Yee haa!
On Tuesday, Mum, Dad, Mika and I made the drive from Miyoshi to Otoyo-cho, just over the border in Kochi-ken. There we met up with Dave and his brother Michael, along with Happy Raft owner Mark, and off we went on a quick trip down the river. I had been a little worried about how the parents would like the relatively extreme sport of rafting, but they seemed to have a great time, especially Dad. The water was a bit low, so the normally huge waves seemed a little small to me, although for the first timers in the boat, I suspect they were more than large enough! I also got swept out the raft a quite early on in the day, which was unexpected, but I guess that’s rafting for you.
Mum and Dad left Tokushima for home on Wednesday. Unfortunately, something went wrong with their flights, and they were stranded in Amsterdam for 24 hours. I suppose there are worse cities to be stuck in, but when you’re trying to get home from a two week trip to the Far East, unscheduled stops in Europe are the last things you want. Although their visit tired me out completely, and although I was looking forward to having my room to myself again, it’s always sad to wave goodbye to them. I think now they understand why I have stayed in this crazy country for so long, and that was an important outcome of their trip for me. So while it’s good to be able to walk around naked again, and listen to whatever music I like, there’s a lot to be said for having someone there when you come home half-cut from an enkai, wanting to talk about saving the world. Yup.
No real rest for the wicked, however. After a couple of days at school catching up on work (and playing Uno with a cool kid called Haruki, the seven-year-old son of one of the new teachers), it was Friday afternoon all over again, and I was hauling ass back to Ikeda for Lindsay’s farewell hanami party. She couldn’t have asked for a better night, really. It was warm and clear, and the trees were simply beautiful. Check out the picture of the gang giving me their best peace signs. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was subject to what Nate was doing, since I was crashing at his house that night. So about 7.30pm, we bid the party goodbye, and made our way home to Nate’s. Soon after we got there, we were joined by Anya and Kelly, and proceeded to spend the night playing some Dance Dance Revolution (I have never, ever witnessed anything like what Nate was doing that night), talking about the theory of teaching, sex, and functional penises. Oh, and of course the obligatory snuggling.
Saturday saw us on the road to neighbouring Kochi-ken bright and early. My second chance to be outdoors this week came in the shape of the first All-Shikoku Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Sakawa-cho. We had an awesome time! It wasn’t a hugely attended event, but the small number (I think about 30-35) meant that we could actually have proper conversations with people, and make some cool new friends. Chris, the organizer (I guess you could call me the promoter, as I was able to publicise it island-wide through AJET) is a hardcore Ultimate player, and we listened in disbelief as he casually announced a schedule of hour-long games. Yikes! Play we did, however, and I am happy to say that I was in the winning team of the morning. The afternoon saw the format change slightly, but it was just as good fun and exhausting. During the day, I took not one, but two frisbees to the face. The first one, I ran straight into, and have a bit of a red mark where the disk caught me on the jaw. The second one was much more painful: it caught me right on the upper lip and I had to sub off to get an ice pack, and spill the tears that the blow had brought to my eyes. Damn, it hurt! Today, then, I am sporting a slightly swollen purple upper lip. Nice.
There was a BBQ on Saturday at a mountaintop clutch of bungalows Chris had managed to secure. It was a prime location, and the mood was right for really having some good chat, but I was so shattered from the day’s play and the late night on Friday that I hit the sack not long after 10pm.
On Sunday, we were supposed to have a second day of frisbee, and I think I might have actually managed to play, but the others were adamant that there was no way they were up for a second day. So that was that. Maybe just as well, I was, and still am, pretty sore, and we did have a ways to drive home. No matter. Plans are afoot for a second tournament sometime later in the summer, perhaps in Tokushima.
Two of my favourite smells in the summer, and two that I got to smell during the course of events in this entry: the smell of wet neoprene, and the smell of my skin after a day in the sun playing frisbee or rugby- sort of dirt and sweat mixed in with sun lotion. I love the smell of wet neoprene because it reminds me of days spent on the beach or on the river with good mates. Mark loves it too. I like the smell of my skin, because it reminds me of good exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise because you are having such an awesome, sociable time doing it.
The sports aren’t over yet: this coming weekend sees the third annual All-Japan Touch Rugby Tournament in nearby Mima-cho. 250 people from all over the country coming to our wee ken! It’ll be a lot of hard work, but I’m really looking forward to it.
So much to do. So little time left. Life’s good, yo.
On Tuesday, Mum, Dad, Mika and I made the drive from Miyoshi to Otoyo-cho, just over the border in Kochi-ken. There we met up with Dave and his brother Michael, along with Happy Raft owner Mark, and off we went on a quick trip down the river. I had been a little worried about how the parents would like the relatively extreme sport of rafting, but they seemed to have a great time, especially Dad. The water was a bit low, so the normally huge waves seemed a little small to me, although for the first timers in the boat, I suspect they were more than large enough! I also got swept out the raft a quite early on in the day, which was unexpected, but I guess that’s rafting for you.
Mum and Dad left Tokushima for home on Wednesday. Unfortunately, something went wrong with their flights, and they were stranded in Amsterdam for 24 hours. I suppose there are worse cities to be stuck in, but when you’re trying to get home from a two week trip to the Far East, unscheduled stops in Europe are the last things you want. Although their visit tired me out completely, and although I was looking forward to having my room to myself again, it’s always sad to wave goodbye to them. I think now they understand why I have stayed in this crazy country for so long, and that was an important outcome of their trip for me. So while it’s good to be able to walk around naked again, and listen to whatever music I like, there’s a lot to be said for having someone there when you come home half-cut from an enkai, wanting to talk about saving the world. Yup.
No real rest for the wicked, however. After a couple of days at school catching up on work (and playing Uno with a cool kid called Haruki, the seven-year-old son of one of the new teachers), it was Friday afternoon all over again, and I was hauling ass back to Ikeda for Lindsay’s farewell hanami party. She couldn’t have asked for a better night, really. It was warm and clear, and the trees were simply beautiful. Check out the picture of the gang giving me their best peace signs. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was subject to what Nate was doing, since I was crashing at his house that night. So about 7.30pm, we bid the party goodbye, and made our way home to Nate’s. Soon after we got there, we were joined by Anya and Kelly, and proceeded to spend the night playing some Dance Dance Revolution (I have never, ever witnessed anything like what Nate was doing that night), talking about the theory of teaching, sex, and functional penises. Oh, and of course the obligatory snuggling.
Saturday saw us on the road to neighbouring Kochi-ken bright and early. My second chance to be outdoors this week came in the shape of the first All-Shikoku Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Sakawa-cho. We had an awesome time! It wasn’t a hugely attended event, but the small number (I think about 30-35) meant that we could actually have proper conversations with people, and make some cool new friends. Chris, the organizer (I guess you could call me the promoter, as I was able to publicise it island-wide through AJET) is a hardcore Ultimate player, and we listened in disbelief as he casually announced a schedule of hour-long games. Yikes! Play we did, however, and I am happy to say that I was in the winning team of the morning. The afternoon saw the format change slightly, but it was just as good fun and exhausting. During the day, I took not one, but two frisbees to the face. The first one, I ran straight into, and have a bit of a red mark where the disk caught me on the jaw. The second one was much more painful: it caught me right on the upper lip and I had to sub off to get an ice pack, and spill the tears that the blow had brought to my eyes. Damn, it hurt! Today, then, I am sporting a slightly swollen purple upper lip. Nice.
There was a BBQ on Saturday at a mountaintop clutch of bungalows Chris had managed to secure. It was a prime location, and the mood was right for really having some good chat, but I was so shattered from the day’s play and the late night on Friday that I hit the sack not long after 10pm.
On Sunday, we were supposed to have a second day of frisbee, and I think I might have actually managed to play, but the others were adamant that there was no way they were up for a second day. So that was that. Maybe just as well, I was, and still am, pretty sore, and we did have a ways to drive home. No matter. Plans are afoot for a second tournament sometime later in the summer, perhaps in Tokushima.
Two of my favourite smells in the summer, and two that I got to smell during the course of events in this entry: the smell of wet neoprene, and the smell of my skin after a day in the sun playing frisbee or rugby- sort of dirt and sweat mixed in with sun lotion. I love the smell of wet neoprene because it reminds me of days spent on the beach or on the river with good mates. Mark loves it too. I like the smell of my skin, because it reminds me of good exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise because you are having such an awesome, sociable time doing it.
The sports aren’t over yet: this coming weekend sees the third annual All-Japan Touch Rugby Tournament in nearby Mima-cho. 250 people from all over the country coming to our wee ken! It’ll be a lot of hard work, but I’m really looking forward to it.
So much to do. So little time left. Life’s good, yo.
Monday, April 03, 2006
On Being a Parent
Well, not really, you understand. But these last couple of weeks, I feel like I have actually had a couple of knowledge-thirsty kids trailing along in my wake, since Mum and Dad touched down on Japan's shores in late March!
Not that I grudge all the questions at all. It's been an interesting role reversal, me having to explain a different way of life to them, having to read restaurant menus to them, having to teach them how to enter a house properly, how to draw money out of the bank... I've loved having them here, and I'm glad they've been able to meet all the people who are so important to me out here, and see all the places that I hold dear to my heart. We still have one big day of action left in us, we're rafting tomorrow with Dave and his brother Michael, which I am psyched about, and then it'll be time to wave them goodbye on Wednesday afternoon. The holiday has gone at breakneck pace, and I feel like another holiday, but it's been a grand way to spend my last sakura season in Japan. I think they have enjoyes themselves too, but I rather doubt they'll be dabbling in Japanese cookery when they get back home... not quite to their taste!
I also have my parent's blessing to pursue further studies in Australia after my Japan dream comes to an end. It's not like I HAD to have them give me the ok, but their being happy with what I do with my life is important to me, so I'm glad that they are comfortable with some of the decisions I have made since I last saw them at Christmas.
I haven't time for much else at the moment. I have a lot to say, though, so I may write a longer more in-depth post in a few days. For now, I have an enkai to go to tonight, and then hitting up the river tomorrow! Yee haa!
Kirsty, thanks for the comment, sweetie, love ya loads!
Not that I grudge all the questions at all. It's been an interesting role reversal, me having to explain a different way of life to them, having to read restaurant menus to them, having to teach them how to enter a house properly, how to draw money out of the bank... I've loved having them here, and I'm glad they've been able to meet all the people who are so important to me out here, and see all the places that I hold dear to my heart. We still have one big day of action left in us, we're rafting tomorrow with Dave and his brother Michael, which I am psyched about, and then it'll be time to wave them goodbye on Wednesday afternoon. The holiday has gone at breakneck pace, and I feel like another holiday, but it's been a grand way to spend my last sakura season in Japan. I think they have enjoyes themselves too, but I rather doubt they'll be dabbling in Japanese cookery when they get back home... not quite to their taste!
I also have my parent's blessing to pursue further studies in Australia after my Japan dream comes to an end. It's not like I HAD to have them give me the ok, but their being happy with what I do with my life is important to me, so I'm glad that they are comfortable with some of the decisions I have made since I last saw them at Christmas.
I haven't time for much else at the moment. I have a lot to say, though, so I may write a longer more in-depth post in a few days. For now, I have an enkai to go to tonight, and then hitting up the river tomorrow! Yee haa!
Kirsty, thanks for the comment, sweetie, love ya loads!
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