Yummy. I got to have some school lunch today: it was my favourite cream corn pasta stew type thing. It's wonderfully comforting food, and since it's a rainy day today, it's just perfect. And then I ran home and snatched the bag of Maltesers that Mum sent me. Which I am munching as I type. And all the while the Mad School Nurse is screeching away in my ear.
I like rainy days. I'm going to stay in tonight, have an early shower, maybe actually go to the onsen, then hole up with a film.
Need inspiration. Feeling bored this week. Must gee up.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Monday, October 03, 2005
Trees and Bad Shoes
Last week was one of those weeks that you just want to be over. Not because you are having a bad time of it (I had a good week at work, actually), but because you have some stonking activities planned for the weekend. But my plans bit the dust on Thursday night (we were supposed to go and play Frisbee on another part of the island, but we cancelled because of time contraints), and I spent the evening in a blue funk, because I'd been waiting ages for it to happen.
However, the weekend was still one to remember! It started late on Friday afternoon, by teaching my 2-nenseis (2nd graders). I always dread these classes, as they are the last classes of the week for both kids and teachers, but the students are always great, and I love teaching them. They set me up. Anyway, Friday there, I taught them the phrase 'Happy Friday'. And during cleaning time after class, two or three of them passed me in the hall and wished me a Happy Friday. All right!
After that, it was time to head over to Julie's place in Mikamo. The rough plan was chat, films, erm poker. D'oh! Nate is a total poker monkey, and so once again, I found myself staring two cards in the face. But THIS TIME I WON! I tripled my buy in (so more or less recouping my losses over the previous two weekends). Happy! But still aiming for no poker next weekend. We had a really great night, everyone was on good form, and it was a good substitute for Frisbee. Joe and Nate came back to mine to watch a film called 'Saw', which I think may have been scary if I had been by myself, and the mood of the group wasn't as happy. It was an ok film I guess, but I was sort of tipsy, and we were all wired so I didn't watch it like I should have. Then a pillow fight ensued, then a half-serious argument about the distribution of blankets and pillows and things, and then 3.30am we finally crashed.
On Saturday, we got on the road about midday. We picked Julie up, and headed for the nearby city of Kawanoe (paper milling capital of Japan, hence smelliest city in Japan) to do some shopping. Nate is still kitting his house out to make it feel like home, and on his list was a tree. He wanted a tree for his kitchen. So we got one. But we had to get it back to Higashiiya. Hilarity. We were in Nate's car. Nate's car is tiny. It was crammed with four people, and their stuff for nights away at people's houses. And now we wanted to fit a tree in aswell. A six foot tree. This will go down as one of my classic JET memories. Nate putting this tree in through the back window, me having to recline the seat all the way back, thus pegging Joe in place, then sitting with the tree trunk on top of me. The foliage of the tree was in Joe's face. So he was breathing leaves. It is one of the funniest situations I have ever found myself if. A giggling Nate ran round the car taking pictures, so when I get copies, I will post them.
It was a long drive back to Iya, what with a tree lying on top of me, but we got there, tree and all! Quick stop at Nate's to dump gear, and then we drove up the mountain to an old samurai house for the annual jazz concert. This is one of the coolest events ever: all these people sit round an old iryori (open fire used for cooking), and listen to these cool cats go mad on vibraphones, double bases and pianos. Jazz in the mountains. Sweet. The concert is made all the better for the great home-made Japanese food laid on (food with a distinctive Iya twist).
After the concert, we went back down to Nate's to par-tay. There was our Kawanoe crew, plus Jordan, Dave, and a few other JETs who had been rafting that day. It was a really great night: I was in an ass-slapping sort of mood, we played some mad games, Dave and Amber showed people how to swing dance, and there was swimming in the river outside Nate's house. Some people were more dressed than others. :) Again, it was 3.30am by the time we finally crashed out: drunk, tired, but happy.
I wish I could have slept in longer on Sunday, but I was due back in Miyoshi by 12.30 to dance. So I left my nice futon, said my goodbyes, and drove back towards civilisation with some of the other revellers. I hadn't danced for a while. Things have been busy. And Minoda-ren is having something of a membershiop crisis. However, tired as I was, I always like to dance.
Yesterday, though, was the worst I have dance for a very long time. Maybe cause I was so beat, but I think it had more to do with the poor shape my shoes were in. I always carry two pairs of geta with me (wooden thongs on wedges that you dance in) in case one pair breaks. My first performance was horrible because the rope of the thong was about to snap, and I could feel it getting weaker and weaker with each step. it made me lose all concentration, and I guffed up dances I've been doing with my eyes closed for two years. And Dave was watching! So sad! I always like to dance well if Dave is seeing me: he's my Awa Odori mentor, and I always want to impress him, but alas, not yesterday. Quick shoe change, no worries. But the second and third performances were no better! The wedges kept dropping out the bottom of my shoes, making me stumble and forget my timing! Then a blister formed and popped right between my big and second toe, where all my weight rests when I'm dancing. As you can imagine, that's excurciating!
So all in all, a pretty grim day onstage, but good to see the ren and hang out. There are only a couple of shows left before our winter break, sadly. It's been a quick season! I hope that next season (from about March time) will see a newly revived Minoda-ren dance up a storm. I'm sure it will.
So back at school today, Monday is when I have no classes. That can be a blessing and a curse. A pretty average looking week lies ahead, and then next weekend is another long one, with the 10th being Japanese Health and Sports day (which is so important, it warrants a National Holiday!). I'm going to do lots of studying this week, maybe see Hanna and Kunihiro for dinner, and try to catch up on some sleep. No plans for the long weekend as yet, but I hope it'll be good. Sure it will. :) The pictures are of Joe on Saturday (VERY late on!), and Joe, Nate and new JET Sara looking philisophical on Friday night.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Brrrr!
The one thing about living in a country as hot as Japan is during summer is that any slight drop in temperature is felt quite a lot. There is no heat in the night now, which is really refreshing, but something of a shock to the system as well! In the space of a week, I've gone from sleeping in the buff, with aircon and no blankets, to wearing a t-shirt, switching the AC off, and using my duvet.
It's not really cold, but there is a definite chill in the air. I use hot water for showers now, and the glass on my bathroom mirror gets misted up when I come out. There was condensation on the insides of my windows this morning. The shops are starting to sell nabe broth (nabe is a tradtional type of Japanese stew, very delicious, and eaten in the winter months). The kaki (persimmon) are starting to turn orange on the trees. The leaves of trees are taking on a faint yellow/brown hue. Yup, summer is truly gone, and the country is preparing to hunker down for another long winter.
This sort of thing is the best part of living in Japan for me: the change of the seasons. It is so marked, the change is not a gradual process, but one that happens noticeably over the course of two or three weeks. I love how there are four distinct times of year, rather than the long grey nothingness of the UK. I think it's very good for mental health as well. Something about your surroundings fitting in with your state of mind. Maybe that's why so many people get SAD in the UK? Because although it gets colder, and darker, there is no proper change of season, just a gentle decline into it. So people still wonder when the next warm day will be, still think of summer activities. In Japan, people sense the winter coming, and change their lives to reflect this. They adapt their activities to deal with the different weather, and I think this has a good effect on their minds. In Britain, we associate summer with good living, but this doesn't have to be the case. Winter in Japan is full of activity. It's hard going, because it's so cold, but if you keep yourself busy (not hard to do!) then you can have a really good time of it, as good as in the summer.
It's not really cold, but there is a definite chill in the air. I use hot water for showers now, and the glass on my bathroom mirror gets misted up when I come out. There was condensation on the insides of my windows this morning. The shops are starting to sell nabe broth (nabe is a tradtional type of Japanese stew, very delicious, and eaten in the winter months). The kaki (persimmon) are starting to turn orange on the trees. The leaves of trees are taking on a faint yellow/brown hue. Yup, summer is truly gone, and the country is preparing to hunker down for another long winter.
This sort of thing is the best part of living in Japan for me: the change of the seasons. It is so marked, the change is not a gradual process, but one that happens noticeably over the course of two or three weeks. I love how there are four distinct times of year, rather than the long grey nothingness of the UK. I think it's very good for mental health as well. Something about your surroundings fitting in with your state of mind. Maybe that's why so many people get SAD in the UK? Because although it gets colder, and darker, there is no proper change of season, just a gentle decline into it. So people still wonder when the next warm day will be, still think of summer activities. In Japan, people sense the winter coming, and change their lives to reflect this. They adapt their activities to deal with the different weather, and I think this has a good effect on their minds. In Britain, we associate summer with good living, but this doesn't have to be the case. Winter in Japan is full of activity. It's hard going, because it's so cold, but if you keep yourself busy (not hard to do!) then you can have a really good time of it, as good as in the summer.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Yet Another Long Weekend!
Ah I love and hate September for exactly this reason! It has all these wonderful National Holidays, but those, combined with the crazy-ass schedule at work, make it nigh on impossible to settle into any sort of routine. Which in itself is good and bad.
Anyway, Friday was a National Holiday, but it was Miyoshi Junior High School’s bunkasai or culture festival. This is basically a day for the kids to perform serious and not-so-serious skits, show off the work they’ve done in their practical lessons, and host a bazaar, full of stalls run by the students. They sell all sorts of food, you can play video games, and even catch your own goldfish! I didn’t realise that I had signed up for this, so when I was handed my fishing net, I was a little panicked! I didn’t want goldfish! I caught two of the poor creatures, and immediately handed them off to a little toddler boy standing watching me. That’s him with his new pets in the picture. Cute kid.
I spent Friday ONCE AGAIN in on my own, but I was rather tired, so it wasn’t a bad thing.
Had a great long lie on Saturday, and then heard from Nate that poker was at my place that night. So I spent the afternoon cleaning the place up, and chilling. Nate, Lindsay and Joe turned up just after 7pm, and I had time for a couple of hands before I had to go to dance practice. I came back just after nine, and we played til about 11.30. I lost again, but not everything, and I feel like I know the game better now.
The following day, I went to Ashiro Elmentary School’s sports day. It was a really good time. I had been invited to watch the events with the Ito family, who I know really well: I teach or work with or am friends with a lot of the family. Ito-san, the grandmother, who is also my eikaiwa student, had brought along a tonne of homemade Japanese food for lunch, and it made me so happy. I love Japanese food, and if it’s homemade, it’s out of this world! There was so much to go round, we ate like kings. In the afternoon, there were more events to watch, and I got roped into the tug-of-war event, which was actually a lot of fun. I left the Itos around 2.30pm, and biked to another elementary whose sports day was also being held. I didn’t stay long, as I was tired, and I didn’t know so many people there.
Back home for a quick snooze before heading to Jordan’s place in Yamashiro for more… poker! Hmm, yeah, I’ve played a lot of poker the past couple of weeks, and I think I’ll not play any more for a wee while. It takes a lot of brain power, and while I enjoy the game, and I think it’s something I’ll enjoy playing from now on, I’ll never be a total card shark. Anyway, Sunday night was a good night, we had some good laughs. I stayed at Nate’s place in the mountains, and had a really great sleep. Full of weird dreams, but it was a good sleep nonetheless. I woke up at 11.30, and an hour later Joe came round. We three went for some lunch, then Joe and I hit the road.
We were headed for Niihama, a city about 2 hours west of Miyoshi, in neighbouring Ehime-ken. We wanted to see a new place on our day off, so we picked Niihama. We got started rather late in the afternoon, so we didn’t arrive in Niihama til 5.30pm. Enough time to look round the shopping complex I wanted to show Joe, get some great melon ice-cream, and buy some Body Shop smellies (yes, the Body Shop!).
After that, it was back in the car, and back east to Kawanoe for the first Miyoshi-gun bowling night. We didn’t have a full showing of folk, as people are still tired and busy and stuff (it really has been a mad month). But we had a good time, good craic, and my bowling skills aren’t as diminished as I’d feared.
So back to school on a Tuesday (such weeks can often be longer than the full five days!), and then it’s another exciting week next week. But that will have to wait. I am becoming hooked on weekends, and it needs to change. I need to rediscover the joys of simply living in Japan from day to day.
I’m in such a weird place mentally just now. It’s sort of exciting, but sort of sad. It’s not quite where I want to be.
Anyway, Friday was a National Holiday, but it was Miyoshi Junior High School’s bunkasai or culture festival. This is basically a day for the kids to perform serious and not-so-serious skits, show off the work they’ve done in their practical lessons, and host a bazaar, full of stalls run by the students. They sell all sorts of food, you can play video games, and even catch your own goldfish! I didn’t realise that I had signed up for this, so when I was handed my fishing net, I was a little panicked! I didn’t want goldfish! I caught two of the poor creatures, and immediately handed them off to a little toddler boy standing watching me. That’s him with his new pets in the picture. Cute kid.
I spent Friday ONCE AGAIN in on my own, but I was rather tired, so it wasn’t a bad thing.
Had a great long lie on Saturday, and then heard from Nate that poker was at my place that night. So I spent the afternoon cleaning the place up, and chilling. Nate, Lindsay and Joe turned up just after 7pm, and I had time for a couple of hands before I had to go to dance practice. I came back just after nine, and we played til about 11.30. I lost again, but not everything, and I feel like I know the game better now.
The following day, I went to Ashiro Elmentary School’s sports day. It was a really good time. I had been invited to watch the events with the Ito family, who I know really well: I teach or work with or am friends with a lot of the family. Ito-san, the grandmother, who is also my eikaiwa student, had brought along a tonne of homemade Japanese food for lunch, and it made me so happy. I love Japanese food, and if it’s homemade, it’s out of this world! There was so much to go round, we ate like kings. In the afternoon, there were more events to watch, and I got roped into the tug-of-war event, which was actually a lot of fun. I left the Itos around 2.30pm, and biked to another elementary whose sports day was also being held. I didn’t stay long, as I was tired, and I didn’t know so many people there.
Back home for a quick snooze before heading to Jordan’s place in Yamashiro for more… poker! Hmm, yeah, I’ve played a lot of poker the past couple of weeks, and I think I’ll not play any more for a wee while. It takes a lot of brain power, and while I enjoy the game, and I think it’s something I’ll enjoy playing from now on, I’ll never be a total card shark. Anyway, Sunday night was a good night, we had some good laughs. I stayed at Nate’s place in the mountains, and had a really great sleep. Full of weird dreams, but it was a good sleep nonetheless. I woke up at 11.30, and an hour later Joe came round. We three went for some lunch, then Joe and I hit the road.
We were headed for Niihama, a city about 2 hours west of Miyoshi, in neighbouring Ehime-ken. We wanted to see a new place on our day off, so we picked Niihama. We got started rather late in the afternoon, so we didn’t arrive in Niihama til 5.30pm. Enough time to look round the shopping complex I wanted to show Joe, get some great melon ice-cream, and buy some Body Shop smellies (yes, the Body Shop!).
After that, it was back in the car, and back east to Kawanoe for the first Miyoshi-gun bowling night. We didn’t have a full showing of folk, as people are still tired and busy and stuff (it really has been a mad month). But we had a good time, good craic, and my bowling skills aren’t as diminished as I’d feared.
So back to school on a Tuesday (such weeks can often be longer than the full five days!), and then it’s another exciting week next week. But that will have to wait. I am becoming hooked on weekends, and it needs to change. I need to rediscover the joys of simply living in Japan from day to day.
I’m in such a weird place mentally just now. It’s sort of exciting, but sort of sad. It’s not quite where I want to be.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
School's Gone Nuts!
A little add on: the school has become this hive of activity, it's amazing. It's the school culture fest on Friday, and all the preparations have gone into overdrive. Between concert rehearsals, kids preparing skits, and teachers gathering stuff for the bazaar in the afternoon, it seems madness has finally descended! A teacher just came into the room with a big candy floss machine, which fell apart when she put it down. She put it back together, switched it on, and now the room is filled with the smell of hot sugar!
At the end of the concert rehearsal today, I was chatting with my 3rd-grade girls. One of them, a cheeky but rather lovely kid called Akiko, came up to me, put her hand on my shoulder and looked very sad. Then she said "Eri... you're crazy". Just like that. I cracked up. I love moments like this!
Oh man, now the teacher is MAKING candy floss! Woo hoOo!
At the end of the concert rehearsal today, I was chatting with my 3rd-grade girls. One of them, a cheeky but rather lovely kid called Akiko, came up to me, put her hand on my shoulder and looked very sad. Then she said "Eri... you're crazy". Just like that. I cracked up. I love moments like this!
Oh man, now the teacher is MAKING candy floss! Woo hoOo!
Weekend pictures
Here are a couple of pictures, click to enlarge:Tamezane-sensei, Yuki and me after the speech contest.
And some of my friends playing on the vine bridge. I wanted to post a mukade picture, but I can't get the image to copy over. Just think of a big black centipede with orange legs and antennas, and fearsome fangs, and you're there. :)
Looong Weekend!
I feel like I have a lot to write about today, so I hope that you make it to the end of all this....
First of all, yeah, I had a long weekend, which was mostly super-duper. I spent Friday night.... yep, you guessed it, in and alone with some videos. This is beginning to get to me. Friday nights are when I feel best about going out and having fun. It's just that everyone is so crazy-busy in September that it's hard to make it happen. So yeah, more movies, and it wasn't entirely bad. Heartily recommend Fargo, that's a funny film. Yah. William H. Macy is possibly the best actor to ever live. Ever.
Saturday, I met Yuki for speech contest practice in the morning, then went to the city at night for a BBQ. The party was being held by Aussie couple Ron and Andrea in their lovely big house just North of the city. Dave and I drove up, and proceeded to eat great food, have some good chat, and run around with Josh and Hannah, Ron and Andrea's young (and very energetic) kids. Twas a good time! I stayed with Dave at his place, and we had a good time watching a really bad Steven Segal film, and chatting about life and future plans til the wee small hours.
On Sunday, I headed allll the way back West... further even than Miyoshi. Destination: Higashiiya! In my first year, Katy lived in Higashiiya, but she left, and the placement was vacant last year. Now that Nate is here, I get to go up there much more often! So a group of us trooped up on Sunday night to play poker. My first time, and I won't pretend I didn't find it all somewhat confusing. But it gets under your skin, and I'm thirsty for more! I'll be boning up on poker thoery before the next poker night, that's for sure! There's something about throwing chips on the table, and calling and raising, and bluffing and all that. I lost. It was only a Y500 buy in (about 2.50) and I lost about Y300. But it was fun. "I see your Y50, wise guy... and I raise ya Y100!". Hee hee!
On Monday, some other first year JETs came up to Iya, and we took them round to all the normal tourist sights: the Kazurabashi vine bridge, the Pee Boy statue, the best noodle shop, Senkichi, and the best onsen in Tokushima-ken, Hikyou no Yu! Being a Monday holiday, Iya was pretty packed with tourists, but it was a lovely relaxing day nevertheless, and I enjoyed hanging out with everyone.
Nate came down to mine that night, and we watched a film called 'Gothika' which we thought, and hoped, would scare us witless, but it ended up being a mildly interesting psychological thriller. Oh well. I then stole a heap of music from Nate's computer, so I'm over the moon! I've turned into such a music junkie these last few months! For those of you starved of musical choice, I heartily recommend The Postal Service, Bright Eyes and Pete Yorn.
Tuesday was the annual county speech contest, held in Ikeda. My girl, Yuki, has simply worked off her socks at her speech, and even though she didn't win, I couldn't be prouder of her. She's a star! She had the unfortunate burden of going first. She got too nervous, and spoke way too fast, as well as forgetting some of the speech. But someone had to be first. So I don't care, I think she was great!
We spent the afternoon yesterday having a meeting, and then heading to the arcade to play games and do puri-kura (in case you don't know, puri-kura is little sticker photos that you take with your friends and then decorate with all sorts of cutise mostifs. Lots of fun!). So that was four days with no school.
Finally, last night, I was teaching my eikaiwa class. As I was chatting away, I felt a really sharp, stinging pain in my hip, and let out a howl of "Aaaaaaoooooowwww"! I stood up shouting that something had bitten me, and started swatting at my shirt. Out fell a mukade. A MUKADE!!!! Mukade are pets of Satan himself. They are poisonous centipedes, common to rural parts of Japan. My first house here in Miyoshi was a horrible little affair, set low in the ground next to a swamp. So I used to get loads of mukade, and other assorted beasties, scuttling through on regular occassions. Never before though, has one of the little buggers bitten me. Until last night. The one that got me had crawled up from the floor under my shirt, I think, and had a nibble. It hurts so much because they inject poison, rather than suck blood. My assailant was a tiddler at 5cm (they regularly grow to 20cm+), but he still left visible puncture marks, and a stinging pain. Thankfully, it was my eikaiwa class, and they jumped into action, smashing the beast with a slipper, then administering the correct cream to take the sting away. Mukade are always killed in Japan. Their bites can kill small children, and the very old. Shudder!
Finally, I just wanted to write about something that has happened to me that I never even realised was happening. I have become a crusty old JET. I am jaded. And it's sad. The new folk have this wonderful enthusiasm for being here, learning the language, meeting lots of people, and all that. Whereas I have been here for two years, have a pitiful amount of Japanese to show for it, and have become entirely too settled. It's not good, and I need to shake myself up in order to make the most of my final year here. I wish I was back in first year, with all the wonder that goes with it. I don't want to be old and crusty.
First of all, yeah, I had a long weekend, which was mostly super-duper. I spent Friday night.... yep, you guessed it, in and alone with some videos. This is beginning to get to me. Friday nights are when I feel best about going out and having fun. It's just that everyone is so crazy-busy in September that it's hard to make it happen. So yeah, more movies, and it wasn't entirely bad. Heartily recommend Fargo, that's a funny film. Yah. William H. Macy is possibly the best actor to ever live. Ever.
Saturday, I met Yuki for speech contest practice in the morning, then went to the city at night for a BBQ. The party was being held by Aussie couple Ron and Andrea in their lovely big house just North of the city. Dave and I drove up, and proceeded to eat great food, have some good chat, and run around with Josh and Hannah, Ron and Andrea's young (and very energetic) kids. Twas a good time! I stayed with Dave at his place, and we had a good time watching a really bad Steven Segal film, and chatting about life and future plans til the wee small hours.
On Sunday, I headed allll the way back West... further even than Miyoshi. Destination: Higashiiya! In my first year, Katy lived in Higashiiya, but she left, and the placement was vacant last year. Now that Nate is here, I get to go up there much more often! So a group of us trooped up on Sunday night to play poker. My first time, and I won't pretend I didn't find it all somewhat confusing. But it gets under your skin, and I'm thirsty for more! I'll be boning up on poker thoery before the next poker night, that's for sure! There's something about throwing chips on the table, and calling and raising, and bluffing and all that. I lost. It was only a Y500 buy in (about 2.50) and I lost about Y300. But it was fun. "I see your Y50, wise guy... and I raise ya Y100!". Hee hee!
On Monday, some other first year JETs came up to Iya, and we took them round to all the normal tourist sights: the Kazurabashi vine bridge, the Pee Boy statue, the best noodle shop, Senkichi, and the best onsen in Tokushima-ken, Hikyou no Yu! Being a Monday holiday, Iya was pretty packed with tourists, but it was a lovely relaxing day nevertheless, and I enjoyed hanging out with everyone.
Nate came down to mine that night, and we watched a film called 'Gothika' which we thought, and hoped, would scare us witless, but it ended up being a mildly interesting psychological thriller. Oh well. I then stole a heap of music from Nate's computer, so I'm over the moon! I've turned into such a music junkie these last few months! For those of you starved of musical choice, I heartily recommend The Postal Service, Bright Eyes and Pete Yorn.
Tuesday was the annual county speech contest, held in Ikeda. My girl, Yuki, has simply worked off her socks at her speech, and even though she didn't win, I couldn't be prouder of her. She's a star! She had the unfortunate burden of going first. She got too nervous, and spoke way too fast, as well as forgetting some of the speech. But someone had to be first. So I don't care, I think she was great!
We spent the afternoon yesterday having a meeting, and then heading to the arcade to play games and do puri-kura (in case you don't know, puri-kura is little sticker photos that you take with your friends and then decorate with all sorts of cutise mostifs. Lots of fun!). So that was four days with no school.
Finally, last night, I was teaching my eikaiwa class. As I was chatting away, I felt a really sharp, stinging pain in my hip, and let out a howl of "Aaaaaaoooooowwww"! I stood up shouting that something had bitten me, and started swatting at my shirt. Out fell a mukade. A MUKADE!!!! Mukade are pets of Satan himself. They are poisonous centipedes, common to rural parts of Japan. My first house here in Miyoshi was a horrible little affair, set low in the ground next to a swamp. So I used to get loads of mukade, and other assorted beasties, scuttling through on regular occassions. Never before though, has one of the little buggers bitten me. Until last night. The one that got me had crawled up from the floor under my shirt, I think, and had a nibble. It hurts so much because they inject poison, rather than suck blood. My assailant was a tiddler at 5cm (they regularly grow to 20cm+), but he still left visible puncture marks, and a stinging pain. Thankfully, it was my eikaiwa class, and they jumped into action, smashing the beast with a slipper, then administering the correct cream to take the sting away. Mukade are always killed in Japan. Their bites can kill small children, and the very old. Shudder!
Finally, I just wanted to write about something that has happened to me that I never even realised was happening. I have become a crusty old JET. I am jaded. And it's sad. The new folk have this wonderful enthusiasm for being here, learning the language, meeting lots of people, and all that. Whereas I have been here for two years, have a pitiful amount of Japanese to show for it, and have become entirely too settled. It's not good, and I need to shake myself up in order to make the most of my final year here. I wish I was back in first year, with all the wonder that goes with it. I don't want to be old and crusty.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Clothes On!
I have nothing to say. But much to share. Below are some of my favorite links on the web. Most are fun, some are just good websites. They are in no particular order. Lemme know what you think...
www.epitonic.com
A site passed onto the local JET community by fellow ALT and fellow Blogger Matt 'Fletcher' Shettler. Loads of great free music downloads from bands that haven't sold their souls to Sony or Geffen or suchlike.
www.outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html
A site written by an ALT up in Kyoto. The stories are hilarious: I tend to take some of them with a pinch of salt, but they make great reading nonetheless.
www.fabrica.it/flipbook
Given to me by Jeff, this site allows you to create your own animations, and view the ones your friends did. So much fun!
www.heavy.com
A website full of funny animations and stuff. Really for adults. Check out the 'Office Friends' animation. Priceless!
http://happyraft.com/en/
The website of the crew up the road at Happy Raft, the company I semi-regularly raft the Yoshino River with.
www.street-mg.com/xnew/
A web site of three sister magazines, based here in Japan, I think. It covers street fashion from Japan and the rest of the world. Some great pictures, great clothes, and intersting looking people.
www.robertmckechnie.com
Website of an old photographer friend of mine: we both worked in Starbucks in the golden years, now he's back in his native Australia, doing what he does best: taking great pictures. Good for you, Rob!
www.ajet.net
The website of the Association of the Japan exchange and Teaching Programme, which I am doing work for this year.
I also like reading stuff like The Scotsman (for home news), the New York Times (it's a good international newspaper) and The Economist and Newsweek (just good, mostly non-biased views), but I won't link them from here, as they are pretty easy to find.
www.epitonic.com
A site passed onto the local JET community by fellow ALT and fellow Blogger Matt 'Fletcher' Shettler. Loads of great free music downloads from bands that haven't sold their souls to Sony or Geffen or suchlike.
www.outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html
A site written by an ALT up in Kyoto. The stories are hilarious: I tend to take some of them with a pinch of salt, but they make great reading nonetheless.
www.fabrica.it/flipbook
Given to me by Jeff, this site allows you to create your own animations, and view the ones your friends did. So much fun!
www.heavy.com
A website full of funny animations and stuff. Really for adults. Check out the 'Office Friends' animation. Priceless!
http://happyraft.com/en/
The website of the crew up the road at Happy Raft, the company I semi-regularly raft the Yoshino River with.
www.street-mg.com/xnew/
A web site of three sister magazines, based here in Japan, I think. It covers street fashion from Japan and the rest of the world. Some great pictures, great clothes, and intersting looking people.
www.robertmckechnie.com
Website of an old photographer friend of mine: we both worked in Starbucks in the golden years, now he's back in his native Australia, doing what he does best: taking great pictures. Good for you, Rob!
www.ajet.net
The website of the Association of the Japan exchange and Teaching Programme, which I am doing work for this year.
I also like reading stuff like The Scotsman (for home news), the New York Times (it's a good international newspaper) and The Economist and Newsweek (just good, mostly non-biased views), but I won't link them from here, as they are pretty easy to find.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
No Rest for the Wicked
Oh my, what a weekend! There was so many good, good things about it, and one big bad thing, that was so big and bad that it was as big as all the good things put together. It was that bad.
It started off on Friday: I didn't get my wish, and I spent Friday night alone. But that was ok! Because I had Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi to keep me company (hmm, so I suppose I wasn't entirely alone). That's right, readers, I rented The Karate Kid (or Besuto Kiddo in Japanese)! It was soooo good, it gave me goosebumps. I grew up on this film. Daddy still uses quotes from it even now. "Daniel-san! Always look eye!". After that, I decided to try Mulholland Drive, which I have heard a lot of good things about. I got about 2 hours into it, before I gave up and pronounced David Lynch on his own planet, which only a privelaged few are allowed to visit. I am not one of them. :)
On Saturday, I was picked up by Nate and Smitha (new ALT in nearby Ikeda), and we drove aaaallll the way out east to Naruto Park for... Ultimate Frisbee! It was a blast! A lot of people came out, and we got a good game going. It's really fast-paced, and I haven't run like that in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Then us three Westies went to Uniqlo (Gap-like shop with really good prices: also gaijin-friendly sizes), and then hopped over to McDonald's for dinner. We were joined by Dave too, and it was nice to sit around for a wee while and chew the fat. Hmm, literally methinks!
We drove home via the expressway, and Nate decided to come back to mine for films and beer and chat. We said goodbye to Smitha, stocked up and headed home.
I haven't had such a good night in a long time. Nate is one of the easiest people ever to talk to, we have a lot in common, similar senses of humour.... he's super-social, so it's not like we are bosom buds, but he is definitly going to be one of my closest mates this year. It was just so nice to kick back and relax, and listen to music and laugh away. We didn't get to sleep until 4.15, with lots of beer and shochu inside us (that was Nate's fault, bad influence!). Unfortunately, I had to be up at 6.15am. That was the start of the badness...
It had rained all through the night, and I had a hope as I crawled (slowly) from my futon this morning that the school sports day (for which reason I was up at such an ungodly hour on a Sunday for) might just be cancelled. Nate was still snoring away, no sports day for him. The town announcement went off, and sure enough, the event was cancelled! All right! I get to sleep! Erm no. I phoned my Japanese mum (but officially she's only a work collegue) and checked that I had the right end of the stick. Yes I did. But. Staff and students were expected at school.
So odd. A bit miffed, and looking decidedly worse for wear, I ambled down to school, looked at the schedule board, and nearly had a blue fit when I saw we were scheduled for a full day. This was the bad thing. I'd had two hours sleep. I was wearing no eyeliner (big deal). I hadn't brought my electronic limb, my laptop, in the belief that I would be safely back in bed after the short meeting to officially cancel the sports day. I had brough nothing to see me through a day of hell, such as I saw it.
Maaaaaan. What a bummer! I slipped home at lunchtime, Nate was beavering away at his Japanese textbook, having had about 4 more hours sleep than I did. Collected my laptop and some other materials and sulked back to school.
So this was the crappy end to the weekend. I'd almost have rather felt awful, and had to work at the sports day, than feel awful, think I was getting a day off, then not, but not really having any work either. What a let-down.
Still, it happens, and I think the good just edges out the bad from this weekend. More than just. :) It was a great weekend. Mostly. ;)
It started off on Friday: I didn't get my wish, and I spent Friday night alone. But that was ok! Because I had Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi to keep me company (hmm, so I suppose I wasn't entirely alone). That's right, readers, I rented The Karate Kid (or Besuto Kiddo in Japanese)! It was soooo good, it gave me goosebumps. I grew up on this film. Daddy still uses quotes from it even now. "Daniel-san! Always look eye!". After that, I decided to try Mulholland Drive, which I have heard a lot of good things about. I got about 2 hours into it, before I gave up and pronounced David Lynch on his own planet, which only a privelaged few are allowed to visit. I am not one of them. :)
On Saturday, I was picked up by Nate and Smitha (new ALT in nearby Ikeda), and we drove aaaallll the way out east to Naruto Park for... Ultimate Frisbee! It was a blast! A lot of people came out, and we got a good game going. It's really fast-paced, and I haven't run like that in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Then us three Westies went to Uniqlo (Gap-like shop with really good prices: also gaijin-friendly sizes), and then hopped over to McDonald's for dinner. We were joined by Dave too, and it was nice to sit around for a wee while and chew the fat. Hmm, literally methinks!
We drove home via the expressway, and Nate decided to come back to mine for films and beer and chat. We said goodbye to Smitha, stocked up and headed home.
I haven't had such a good night in a long time. Nate is one of the easiest people ever to talk to, we have a lot in common, similar senses of humour.... he's super-social, so it's not like we are bosom buds, but he is definitly going to be one of my closest mates this year. It was just so nice to kick back and relax, and listen to music and laugh away. We didn't get to sleep until 4.15, with lots of beer and shochu inside us (that was Nate's fault, bad influence!). Unfortunately, I had to be up at 6.15am. That was the start of the badness...
It had rained all through the night, and I had a hope as I crawled (slowly) from my futon this morning that the school sports day (for which reason I was up at such an ungodly hour on a Sunday for) might just be cancelled. Nate was still snoring away, no sports day for him. The town announcement went off, and sure enough, the event was cancelled! All right! I get to sleep! Erm no. I phoned my Japanese mum (but officially she's only a work collegue) and checked that I had the right end of the stick. Yes I did. But. Staff and students were expected at school.
So odd. A bit miffed, and looking decidedly worse for wear, I ambled down to school, looked at the schedule board, and nearly had a blue fit when I saw we were scheduled for a full day. This was the bad thing. I'd had two hours sleep. I was wearing no eyeliner (big deal). I hadn't brought my electronic limb, my laptop, in the belief that I would be safely back in bed after the short meeting to officially cancel the sports day. I had brough nothing to see me through a day of hell, such as I saw it.
Maaaaaan. What a bummer! I slipped home at lunchtime, Nate was beavering away at his Japanese textbook, having had about 4 more hours sleep than I did. Collected my laptop and some other materials and sulked back to school.
So this was the crappy end to the weekend. I'd almost have rather felt awful, and had to work at the sports day, than feel awful, think I was getting a day off, then not, but not really having any work either. What a let-down.
Still, it happens, and I think the good just edges out the bad from this weekend. More than just. :) It was a great weekend. Mostly. ;)
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Ichi Ni!
"Ichi, ni! Ichi, ni! Ichi, ni!". Sports day practice is under-way. I can hear the perennial cry of "ichi ni" in my head. Damn kids.
The typhoon came and went, its most notable point being that it filled the local dam from 0.4% to 100% in 24 hours. Yikes!
This last week and a half or so, I finally cracked and watched the Lord of the Rings movies. Promptly fell in love with Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn. He's actually a poet, painter and photographer too, and has created some beautiful pieces.
Want to do something fun this coming Friday night. Want to hang with some good mates, and have a reeealllly good conversation. Playing some frisbee on Saturday. All right! Sunday is the sports day.
Registered in the nick of time for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) taking place in December. I haven't a marshmallow's hope in a bonfire of passing, but at least coughing up Y5000 for the privelage of taking the test is making me study again. It's been a long time.
I am in a CD making mood. I want to make CDs for people, and I want them to enjoy them. I found some old songs today on iTunes that were buried at the back of my memory, downloaded them, and felt sparkly.
I DO NOT want to play tennis tonight. But I should. Unless it rains. Come on the rain!
The typhoon came and went, its most notable point being that it filled the local dam from 0.4% to 100% in 24 hours. Yikes!
This last week and a half or so, I finally cracked and watched the Lord of the Rings movies. Promptly fell in love with Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn. He's actually a poet, painter and photographer too, and has created some beautiful pieces.
Want to do something fun this coming Friday night. Want to hang with some good mates, and have a reeealllly good conversation. Playing some frisbee on Saturday. All right! Sunday is the sports day.
Registered in the nick of time for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) taking place in December. I haven't a marshmallow's hope in a bonfire of passing, but at least coughing up Y5000 for the privelage of taking the test is making me study again. It's been a long time.
I am in a CD making mood. I want to make CDs for people, and I want them to enjoy them. I found some old songs today on iTunes that were buried at the back of my memory, downloaded them, and felt sparkly.
I DO NOT want to play tennis tonight. But I should. Unless it rains. Come on the rain!
Monday, September 05, 2005
NOW the typhoon cometh!
Aww yeah, looks like it's heading straight for us! Hmm, maybe in the face of all the horrors currently taking place in New Orleans, my cheerfulness over the impending storm is misplaced. However, typhoons are, on average, somewhat weaker than hurricanes, and this part of Japan needs a day of heavy of rain like nothing else. I have a healthy respect for the weather, especially in a country like Japan, which is susceptible to all sorts of natural disasters. But at the same time, I love to marvel at the power of Mother Nature in a bad mood. Puts me in my place.
The weekend was pretty good, quite a quiet one. I had a great enkai (drinking/food feast) with the teachers on Friday night to celebrate the start of term. I came home with a tummy stuffed with excellent food, and a lot of beer and sake besides. I was in a mood to save the world, but alas! there was no-one around to talk strategy with. So I settled for terrorising Dave and Jenna by keitai email for a while, before sitting down to let Team America: World Police save the world in my stead.
Saturday was spent doing nothing, mostly. I did meet my friend Kanako for dinner, which was nice, as I haven't seen her in an age.
Sunday was a dancing day, and new Mikamo ALT Julie decided to come and watch. We were pretty rubbish, actually, but it was a good time nonetheless. Afterwards, Julie came back to mine, we were joined by Keiko, and had some dinner. I tested my new-found yaki-soba-making skills on the girls, and they were pretty impressed.
Watched the last installment of Lord of the Rings (great stuff!), a little F1, spoke to the parents briefly, and then fell asleep and dreamed of Aragorn.
The weekend was pretty good, quite a quiet one. I had a great enkai (drinking/food feast) with the teachers on Friday night to celebrate the start of term. I came home with a tummy stuffed with excellent food, and a lot of beer and sake besides. I was in a mood to save the world, but alas! there was no-one around to talk strategy with. So I settled for terrorising Dave and Jenna by keitai email for a while, before sitting down to let Team America: World Police save the world in my stead.
Saturday was spent doing nothing, mostly. I did meet my friend Kanako for dinner, which was nice, as I haven't seen her in an age.
Sunday was a dancing day, and new Mikamo ALT Julie decided to come and watch. We were pretty rubbish, actually, but it was a good time nonetheless. Afterwards, Julie came back to mine, we were joined by Keiko, and had some dinner. I tested my new-found yaki-soba-making skills on the girls, and they were pretty impressed.
Watched the last installment of Lord of the Rings (great stuff!), a little F1, spoke to the parents briefly, and then fell asleep and dreamed of Aragorn.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Ashiro 1st Graders
Written last Friday, published today.
What a way to start a term! By teaching the youngest class at the biggest school! Don't get me wrong, these ankle-biters are the bees knees, and I love each and every one of them. But after a six week long hiatus, it's something of a baptism of fire to have them as your first class.
As soon as I walked into the classroom, I was greeted by 27 beaming munchkin faces, assorted cries of "Eri-sensei!!" and assorted hands reaching for assorted parts of my body (we ALTs are something of a playground for the young 'uns; glad I'm not a bloke...). After I had deposited them back at their desks, we enjoyed a fairly smooth and productive lesson. Well, as smooth and productive as it can be with 6 year olds who understand less than nothing of what you are saying!
We played a game called "Grab a Friend", where I put on some music, they dance a bit, I stop the music, they freeze, I call a number, and then they all get into groups of that number as fast as possible. I had some Japanese J-pop with me, and put on a particulalrly mad, ravey number, and they totally rocked out! The sight of these wee things going mad, having a good old boogie, but all the time keeping one eye on me was just great! I danced and jumped along, and generally behaved like a six year old.
There's one little kid in the class called Keigo. Keigo and his entire family belong to Minoda-ren, and he thinks this means he and I have a special bond. I guess we do in some way, but it's not something I'm about to play up to for him. It just struck me as funny that today I was being all teachery with him, being very authorative and so forth, but not three weeks ago, he was pouring me beer at the halfway party for Minoda-ren. "Keigo! Get over here, my glass is empty!". Probably, I'd get reprimanded for that in the UK, but here, such things don't seem to be such a big deal.
What a way to start a term! By teaching the youngest class at the biggest school! Don't get me wrong, these ankle-biters are the bees knees, and I love each and every one of them. But after a six week long hiatus, it's something of a baptism of fire to have them as your first class.
As soon as I walked into the classroom, I was greeted by 27 beaming munchkin faces, assorted cries of "Eri-sensei!!" and assorted hands reaching for assorted parts of my body (we ALTs are something of a playground for the young 'uns; glad I'm not a bloke...). After I had deposited them back at their desks, we enjoyed a fairly smooth and productive lesson. Well, as smooth and productive as it can be with 6 year olds who understand less than nothing of what you are saying!
We played a game called "Grab a Friend", where I put on some music, they dance a bit, I stop the music, they freeze, I call a number, and then they all get into groups of that number as fast as possible. I had some Japanese J-pop with me, and put on a particulalrly mad, ravey number, and they totally rocked out! The sight of these wee things going mad, having a good old boogie, but all the time keeping one eye on me was just great! I danced and jumped along, and generally behaved like a six year old.
There's one little kid in the class called Keigo. Keigo and his entire family belong to Minoda-ren, and he thinks this means he and I have a special bond. I guess we do in some way, but it's not something I'm about to play up to for him. It just struck me as funny that today I was being all teachery with him, being very authorative and so forth, but not three weeks ago, he was pouring me beer at the halfway party for Minoda-ren. "Keigo! Get over here, my glass is empty!". Probably, I'd get reprimanded for that in the UK, but here, such things don't seem to be such a big deal.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
WOW
Just a little add-on. I just had the BEST chocolate thingy EVER. It was a ball of white chocolate with a whole freeze-dried strawberry in the middle. Keep me away from those things!
Owls and the End of Summer
Yesterday, at the end of our session, Yuki gave me a present. If you’ll recall, Yuki is the girl who has been selected to represent Miyoshi JHS in the county speech contest later this month. She decided to give me a late birthday present, which she made herself. You can see them in the picture: five wee beanbag owls made from kimono silk remnants. Owls are lucky in Japanese lore, and because they’re beanbags, Yuki has requested that I learn how to juggle them. I shall do my best! I was really touched that Yuki thought of me, and that she hasn’t started to hate me for all the speech practice I’m making her do!
We just had the opening ceremony for the beginning of the school term. I remember standing in the same ceremony last year wondering if I’d be standing in the same place in a year’s time. Happily, it turns out I was. But this year, there is no question: I will not be standing in the same spot this time next year. My JET tenure at Miyoshi will have ended. To know for certain like this is not a sad feeling, but neither is it a happy one. Certainly not! Looking around me today at the kids, I wondered, for maybe the 500th time, how I’ll ever leave here. But I know I will. It’s time to move on, and time to make way for someone new to come and live their dream.
From now on, until next March, the days will only get colder. We’ll have a mad, warm month in September, and then the smells if autumn will fill the air. It’ll be time to get the nabe pot out, turn on the space heaters, and huddle under the kotatsu. The kids will settle into this marathon term, the ALTs will plan Halloween and Christmas parties. I like the term. There’s always something going on.
We also just had an earthquake drill. This part of Japan is expecting a major earthquake right about now. So drills a mandatory at the beginning of each term. Remember fire drills? How they were conducted only very occasionally, but we were never told? Well, they tell the kids. There’s no alarm or siren. The Kyoto-sensei (vice principal) gets in the tannoy and says “Get ready, the earthquake will start soon”. You hear chairs being scraped back in preparation. The special needs teachers bring down our wheelchair-bound student at this point to avoid the rush. The a minute later “Ok, the earthquake has begun. Get out!”. And the kids run downstairs out into the sports ground. I mean, drills are great, but the upcoming Nankai-jishin (as it’s called in Japanese) is hardly going to announce itself before it arrives: “Listen up, mortals! I’m on my way! In about a minute, I’m gonna move the earth so hard, you’ll barely be able to stand, and your school will collapse around you. Better get your asses in gear if you want to live!”. No. It’s just going to happen. And when it does, the school kids are gonna freak cause no-one told them. Sometimes Japan is too efficient for its own damn good.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
The Language at my Fingertips!
Awww yeah! Got me a dictionary! I just bought a second-hand 1971 edition of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary: compact meaning it comes in two multi-thousand page volumes, complete with it's own magnifying glass so you can read the tiny print! There are THAT many words in it. The full version is something like 15 volumes, so I think I'll wait before I buy that. James Murray, I salute you! And it was a snip at Y3000 (15 GBP).
Isn't it funny how just getting outside your own head for a while can totally turn your mood around? I spent Sunday and Monday in the city, getting my haircut, meeting friends that I haven't seen for ages, and getting to know some of the new JETs. I had a really nice time, and am feeling altogether better about the coming year.
On Saturday night, there was a "well done" party for Minoda-ren, my Awa Odori group. The Awa Odori festival has now well and truly finished for the year (what a shame!), so it was time for our crew to finally relax properly and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. Of course, it was total fun from beginning to end, but it was also hard work, so our celebration was well deserved. Not that the dancing is finished for Minoda-ren this year: far from it, thank goodness! We dance at our local spot in Miyoshi twice a month until well into November, and there'll probably be things in the way of weddings and other assorted performances that we're asked to dance at. Saturday night was a good time: I didn't go too hard, but I had a lot of fun chatting to people and eating some of the best Japanese food in town at Fujimoto's restaurant.
Sunday saw me hang out with Jenna for the first time in about six weeks. We had a lovely time catching up, and we were joined for an okonomiyaki dinner by Dave, Joe and new Higashiiya ALT Nate.
On Monday, I had the chance to get to know Nate much better, as I joined him zooming around the city in his little Suzuki to run errands. He's a top bloke, has great taste in music, is a climber and frisbee player (joy!), and is totally laid back. We're planning on doing some climbing, some frisbee playing and some hiking in the very near future.
Jo just came back from making his assault on Mount Fuji (I still can't say the name without shaking with anger at how that mountain treated me!). It's a great story, it'll make ya laugh, as Jo is a really great writer. Read it here.
I made some kick-ass yaki-soba last night (stir fry noodles and veggies). So good, I'm going to make it again tonight to use up the vegetables. Healthy, cheap and quick. That's what we like!
Isn't it funny how just getting outside your own head for a while can totally turn your mood around? I spent Sunday and Monday in the city, getting my haircut, meeting friends that I haven't seen for ages, and getting to know some of the new JETs. I had a really nice time, and am feeling altogether better about the coming year.
On Saturday night, there was a "well done" party for Minoda-ren, my Awa Odori group. The Awa Odori festival has now well and truly finished for the year (what a shame!), so it was time for our crew to finally relax properly and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. Of course, it was total fun from beginning to end, but it was also hard work, so our celebration was well deserved. Not that the dancing is finished for Minoda-ren this year: far from it, thank goodness! We dance at our local spot in Miyoshi twice a month until well into November, and there'll probably be things in the way of weddings and other assorted performances that we're asked to dance at. Saturday night was a good time: I didn't go too hard, but I had a lot of fun chatting to people and eating some of the best Japanese food in town at Fujimoto's restaurant.
Sunday saw me hang out with Jenna for the first time in about six weeks. We had a lovely time catching up, and we were joined for an okonomiyaki dinner by Dave, Joe and new Higashiiya ALT Nate.
On Monday, I had the chance to get to know Nate much better, as I joined him zooming around the city in his little Suzuki to run errands. He's a top bloke, has great taste in music, is a climber and frisbee player (joy!), and is totally laid back. We're planning on doing some climbing, some frisbee playing and some hiking in the very near future.
Jo just came back from making his assault on Mount Fuji (I still can't say the name without shaking with anger at how that mountain treated me!). It's a great story, it'll make ya laugh, as Jo is a really great writer. Read it here.
I made some kick-ass yaki-soba last night (stir fry noodles and veggies). So good, I'm going to make it again tonight to use up the vegetables. Healthy, cheap and quick. That's what we like!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
The Typhoon Cometh. Not.
Maaan. We were supposed to get a 'super' typhoon this week. And the bugger has decided it doesn't like Shikoku and has veered off north-east. Damn. There's something about typhoons that I really like.
Although I had promised myself that I would simply enjoy Japan, and not worry about What Comes Next until October, it's pretty hard to do. Especially in the frame of mind I'm currently in (read: bored, homesick, getting a bit lonely). So I did some research, and apparently, I should become an archivist. Did some reading into what the job entails, and it sounds like the sort of thing I'd like doing. Connected to the academic world, but not overly.
I'm having daydreams of rainy afternoons in Edinburgh, sitting in the window of Black Medicine, one of my favourite coffee shops, with Pernilla and Jo, and talking about the world. Or going into the Dean Gallery to look at the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition that's on now. Or cooking up a storm in the kitchen for my friends. Homesickenss is a funny old thing.
It'll get better. I have AJET. I'm going to have the JLPT. Structure is good, keeps me from going totally mad. Who'd have thought it: me liking structure in my life.....
Although I had promised myself that I would simply enjoy Japan, and not worry about What Comes Next until October, it's pretty hard to do. Especially in the frame of mind I'm currently in (read: bored, homesick, getting a bit lonely). So I did some research, and apparently, I should become an archivist. Did some reading into what the job entails, and it sounds like the sort of thing I'd like doing. Connected to the academic world, but not overly.
I'm having daydreams of rainy afternoons in Edinburgh, sitting in the window of Black Medicine, one of my favourite coffee shops, with Pernilla and Jo, and talking about the world. Or going into the Dean Gallery to look at the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition that's on now. Or cooking up a storm in the kitchen for my friends. Homesickenss is a funny old thing.
It'll get better. I have AJET. I'm going to have the JLPT. Structure is good, keeps me from going totally mad. Who'd have thought it: me liking structure in my life.....
Monday, August 22, 2005
God's Mountain
Had a nice quiet weekend just there. On Saturday, Joe and I went to meet some friends for a BBQ beside the picturesque Anabuki River. Unfortunatley, given the good weather, we weren't the only ones who had the idea, and we arrived to find the river and surrounding area swarming with Japanese families out enjoying the last few days of summer. Oh well, laughs were had, so that's all that matters. :)
Joe and I didn't stay long, however, as we were due at the last orientation event for the new ALTs: the Kamiayama party. Kamiyama (literally 'God's Mountain') is a beautiful little town nestled deep in the mountains at the very heart of the prefecture. It has a very internationally-minded, arty community, that each year, has a homestay event for the new JETs (whereby they go and live with one of the community's families for a couple of days). The party is sort of the highlight of the weekend, with live music and dance performances, and a lot of mingling and INTERNATIONALISATION!!! Joe and I, while we didn't do the homestay, decided to go to the party as it's normally a good time.
We drove up a crazy road from Anabuki, via a couple of very high mountain passes, and a few tiny villages. We arrived about an hour after the party started and proceeded to chat to the new ALTs (most of whom I met in Tokyo but didn't really get a chance to get to know), and some of the familiar faces of Kamiyama. I met a girl who, I believe, is deaf and (for want of a better word) dumb. She was very nice, really friendy, and we ended up swapping email addresses. I know a very little of Japanese sign language, so maybe we'll muddle through somehow!
The new JETs seem like very lovely people for the most part. I'm not sure how well I'll get to know them, but I hope I do.
Joe and I drove back to mine, watched 'Team America' (watch it!!) and then went to sleep.
Up early the next day, as I thought I was playing rugby. However, as I neared the city, the heavens opened, and a phone call to Dave confirmed that the planned afternoon of playing touch, followed by a BBQ, had indeed been called off. What a shame! Especially since the city is such a long way away! I did some shopping, then hopped the next train home.
Last hurdle of the weekend: doing battle with a mammoth spider. Don't know how it got in. Shudder. I killed it but wished I hadn't. But this thing was way too big for the whole 'glass and card' routine. The rest of the night, I kept on imagining I could see things scuttle across my floors and walls.
Back at school today. The term starts next Thursday. Looking forward to it. I don't like having my days so unstructured. It makes me very unproductive. Also looking forward to some colder weather. Heat is exhausting!
Joe and I didn't stay long, however, as we were due at the last orientation event for the new ALTs: the Kamiayama party. Kamiyama (literally 'God's Mountain') is a beautiful little town nestled deep in the mountains at the very heart of the prefecture. It has a very internationally-minded, arty community, that each year, has a homestay event for the new JETs (whereby they go and live with one of the community's families for a couple of days). The party is sort of the highlight of the weekend, with live music and dance performances, and a lot of mingling and INTERNATIONALISATION!!! Joe and I, while we didn't do the homestay, decided to go to the party as it's normally a good time.
We drove up a crazy road from Anabuki, via a couple of very high mountain passes, and a few tiny villages. We arrived about an hour after the party started and proceeded to chat to the new ALTs (most of whom I met in Tokyo but didn't really get a chance to get to know), and some of the familiar faces of Kamiyama. I met a girl who, I believe, is deaf and (for want of a better word) dumb. She was very nice, really friendy, and we ended up swapping email addresses. I know a very little of Japanese sign language, so maybe we'll muddle through somehow!
The new JETs seem like very lovely people for the most part. I'm not sure how well I'll get to know them, but I hope I do.
Joe and I drove back to mine, watched 'Team America' (watch it!!) and then went to sleep.
Up early the next day, as I thought I was playing rugby. However, as I neared the city, the heavens opened, and a phone call to Dave confirmed that the planned afternoon of playing touch, followed by a BBQ, had indeed been called off. What a shame! Especially since the city is such a long way away! I did some shopping, then hopped the next train home.
Last hurdle of the weekend: doing battle with a mammoth spider. Don't know how it got in. Shudder. I killed it but wished I hadn't. But this thing was way too big for the whole 'glass and card' routine. The rest of the night, I kept on imagining I could see things scuttle across my floors and walls.
Back at school today. The term starts next Thursday. Looking forward to it. I don't like having my days so unstructured. It makes me very unproductive. Also looking forward to some colder weather. Heat is exhausting!
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Same thing, I wrote this last night, but am posting today:
My Birthday and Awa Odori Part II.
This may be quite a sizeable entry!
So I woke up on my birthday morning to a nice pile of parcels and cards that had arrived through the post from home. Always nice to be thought of!
I headed to the city and arrived by midday. Stepping off the train, you could literally feel the festival atmosphere in the air. It was positively buzzing. It reminded me of Edinburgh at festival time, except without so many daft Europeans wandering around. I spent lunchtime with Kenji in Big Brothers (Kenji's second home). He treated me to lunch, and the folk at BBs gave me a double helping of chocolate brownie for dessert, topped with birthday candles, and a rendition of 'Happy Birthday'.
I headed out to meet Dave quickly, who was holding my birthday present from my Tokyo friend, Linda. Linda is Singaporean, very beautiful, and very electric. She's such a live wire! We spent an afternoon together when I was in Tokyo last month, and ended up guttered by 3pm. I met her when I was editing Team Taught Pizza. She was the person assigned to head up the printing of the book. We have remained in touch despite the book being finished. She's rather poorly just now, so my thoughts are with her. Anyway, she sent me a beautiful bracelet via Dave, which was rather a surprise.
Left Dave to his Awa Odori, and wandered round the city to soak up the atmosphere. I ran into my friend Dan, and we sat by the river and chatted for a while. Then it was time to take my seat for the early evening dance performance, at one of the most famous street venues, Aibahama. Tickets for this go quickly, and I was lucky enough to be offered a spare one from some friends of a friend. The show was great and certainly got me fired up for the start of my own Awa Odori season the next day.
The show ended, and I met up with Dan again, and then our friend Stephi, whose Mum was here to help Stephi get home (as this summer is sadly the end of her JET tenure). I had intended take the final train back west at 10.20pm, but I was having such fun, so I was persuaded to stay out and party the night away. We danced in the street, drank beer, did some weird fairground game involving catching plastic fish, went to Ingrid's briefly, and ate some raamen. It was a really nice way to spend a birthday, even though all my closest friends were otherwise engaged. Or in another part of the world!
I didn't feel so hot waking up for the 5.45am train mind you! I got home with enough time for an hour's kip before I had to start getting ready for my own Awa Odori performances.
And my, what performances!
Admittedly, we got off to a shaky start, with broken shoes, messed up formations, and missed calls. But it went way up from there! We had a good first three runs at our usual haunt, the Highway Oasis, a quick bite of dinner, and then we piled into two coaches to head to Ikeda, the capital of Awa dance in the west of the prefecture. When we got off the bus it was like a minature Tokushima: the same vibe ran through the streets, people looked happy and relaxed, and it felt good to be there. When our turn came to dance, it was impossible to keep the smile off my face (which is good, as you are supposed to smile!). I shouted “Yattusa!” louder than I have ever done, and generally gave it my all. The highlight of the night was Ekimae, a street in Ikeda leading to the train staion. It was packed, and it is a very long distance to dance. But the spectators were great, applauding and cheering, and my smile only got bigger the further up the street I got. I saw some rafting friends, who cheered for me and took my picture. At the end of the street, I had sweat dripping off my nose, and running into my eyes, but I felt so alive and happy. What a great time! We danced through another couple of streets, and then, exhausted but happy, climbed back aboard the coaches for the short drive home.
The following day, we gave four shows at the Oasis, with a mini enkai at night at one of the local Japanese restaurants. Again it was fun, but it was nothing compared to the previous night!
On Tuesday, it was the last day of Awa Odori for the year in Tokushima. After dancing at the Oasis, we headed for Ikeda for one last dance through the streets. By this time, even I was feeling tired, but again, as soon as we stepped off the buses, the atmosphere hit us like a brick wall, and, if it's possible, we gave it even more effort than we had on Sunday night. Dave came out to watch us in action, but of course got pulled into the thick of it, even without a yukata. He loved it! As did we all. We even got filmed for telly. It was another late night, but well worth it. I love Awa Odori!
I was clever enough to take today off work, so I could catch up on some sleep. I did that, did some shopping, some cleaning (though barely touched the tip of the iceberg in that department!), and went to visit my friends Hanna and Kunihiro in Mikamo-cho. They recently got married, and I think maybe they haven't many friends around here (as neither of them are natives to Miyoshi-gun: Hanna's from the south of Tokushima, Kunihiro from Aichi-ken, near Tokyo). They are lovely people, and between their half-baked English, and my quarter-baked Japanese, we get to have some good conversations. We're planning an overnight trip together to neighbouring Kochi-ken next month. Should be a good time!
The pictures are of the dancers at Aibahama, a rather tired-looking me with Dan on my birthday, and of the Minoda-ren dressing room, a hive of activity just before we start dancing for the day.
Back to school now. Back to the grind. Looking forward to the kids coming back to school, the holidays are boring without them!
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