This blog is a compilation of my Livejournal, which I journaled in from 2005-2007. It shows my journey of joining the JET program, adjusting to life in Nagasaki, and then moving to Tokyo. I wanted to put it where I could share all of my best memories, and hopefully it will help people who are going through the same thing.
Since then, I've settled in Tokyo and now work for a private high school full time. I live with my husband in Kodaira, west Tokyo.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2007
Goodbye JET support network!
Being in Tokyo alone for the past 2 days has been a wake-up call. Gone are the phone calls made on my behalf, free futons, and the exuberant welcoming entourages. I've traded that support for the luxury of living in the most fantastic place in the world. Is it worth it? I don't know yet. I've spent all my savings for the privilege of moving into an apartment (1 month rent + 2 months deposit = a ridiculous amount of money), 3 nights in a hotel (they might reimburse me), baggage shipping, plane tickets, not to mention the dozens of train tickets back and forth (oh yeah, AND, I have to buy a place to sleep on by tomorrow!). For the first time in a while, I'm feeling a money pinch and it is not very reassuring.
I'm trying not to freak out...but I don't have anyone to talk to.
Nevertheless, Tokyo is fascinating. I've been wandering the streets with a smile tattooed on my face. I think I made the right decision, but it's going to be tough until I get a paycheck. (And it will be fat - I'm getting paid almost my entire monthly JET salary to teach 15 kids on an island near Tokyo for 2 weeks...not to mention the pharma classes in Osaka.)
The moral of this story is:
Just say YES to Ramen Noodles!!!
I'm trying not to freak out...but I don't have anyone to talk to.
Nevertheless, Tokyo is fascinating. I've been wandering the streets with a smile tattooed on my face. I think I made the right decision, but it's going to be tough until I get a paycheck. (And it will be fat - I'm getting paid almost my entire monthly JET salary to teach 15 kids on an island near Tokyo for 2 weeks...not to mention the pharma classes in Osaka.)
The moral of this story is:
Just say YES to Ramen Noodles!!!
Friday, August 3, 2007
From Bangkok
Hello everyone! I'm in Bangkok on a really sketchy Internet connection with no access to Gmail...just wanna let everyone know what's going on.
I think I'm going to take the job in Tokyo...it's a great opportunity to use my pharma skills and teaching experience and live in the greatest city in the world. I think I'll probably do it for a year...the stress will probably burn me out as there are only 6 paid vacation days and 14 fixed holidays.
Ok, back to planning our Thailand trip! We got here with virtually no plans...what a random holiday!
I think I'm going to take the job in Tokyo...it's a great opportunity to use my pharma skills and teaching experience and live in the greatest city in the world. I think I'll probably do it for a year...the stress will probably burn me out as there are only 6 paid vacation days and 14 fixed holidays.
Ok, back to planning our Thailand trip! We got here with virtually no plans...what a random holiday!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Too much to write...Japanese keyboard so this will be short!
I got a job in Tokyo!!! But I haven't accepted yet...basically I will think it over in Thailand, then come back here and sign the contract if I accept. It will be traveling around to various pharmaceutical companies and helping top executives become more comfortable with their English through roleplays about the pharma industry. Interesting! But very demanding, and I'll have to live in a shoebox.
I got a job in Tokyo!!! But I haven't accepted yet...basically I will think it over in Thailand, then come back here and sign the contract if I accept. It will be traveling around to various pharmaceutical companies and helping top executives become more comfortable with their English through roleplays about the pharma industry. Interesting! But very demanding, and I'll have to live in a shoebox.
Friday, July 20, 2007
I have an interview for a job as a Pharmaceutical Instructor in Tokyo!
Send me some good vibes on the 30th!
Would write more, but I'm completely shattered. Goodbye speeches, packing, and enkais take such a huge emotional toll. I'm going to Fuji Rock next week, then Thailand for 12 days. I'm coming back to NC on August 15th. If I get that job, I might return to Japan after spending a few weeks at home.
Send me some good vibes on the 30th!
Would write more, but I'm completely shattered. Goodbye speeches, packing, and enkais take such a huge emotional toll. I'm going to Fuji Rock next week, then Thailand for 12 days. I'm coming back to NC on August 15th. If I get that job, I might return to Japan after spending a few weeks at home.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Japan Rocks!
To commemorate my one-month of no blogging, may I present to you:
Erica's guide to the J-rock scene, Part 1
There's a lot of crap music out there, especially in Japan. Like in the US, Japanese "artists" are created by the record label, manufactured, and slapped with a barcode.
So my task was simple: find music in Japan that doesn't suck. Lucky enough, Suzie's cool DJ friends and Maakun (our guitarist) have helped me with this conundrum. Here is part one of a list that I hope will grow:
Number Girl
My favorite - they have been compared to Sonic Youth and the Pixies. Just watch this video to see how cool they are. Unfortunately, they disbanded a few years ago so I'll never get to see them!
Polysics
A few of my friends went to see this group perform in Nagasaki last month. They were raving about it...it's because of the orange jumpsuits. And robot girl!
くるり (Quruli)
This band has a funky, groovy sound and is very popular.
8otto
How often do you see the drummer of a band who is also the singer? We discovered 8otto last year at Summersonic, when Suzie bought a T-shirt from these guys. We found out later that they are amazing! I loved this video so much that I ordered the CD on the Internet the same day.
Love Psychedelico
Some JET friends discovered them - we listened to them the whole ride up to Hiroshima last year. The lyrics contain a blend of Japanese with some interesting tidbits of English - "Martin Luther King flies." Her voice reminds me of Sheryl Crow.
Cornelius
I loved him instantly when I heard he named himself after the character from Planet of the Apes. He's an experimental electronic artist kind of like Beck.
Shonen Knife
Very famous all girl band that's been around for a while. Nirvana raved about them and they influenced a score of female rock groups in the 90's. I like banana chips too!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In other news...
Sorry for the long time with no update! May has so far been a blur - I went to a hippie festival for part of Golden Week, then it was Sports Day at school, and now my band is getting ready for our Battle of the Bands competition next week. I've also been updating my resume to prepare for the inevitable...but I don't want to talk about that now. I want to enjoy every last minute of my time here, because it is precious!
Erica's guide to the J-rock scene, Part 1
There's a lot of crap music out there, especially in Japan. Like in the US, Japanese "artists" are created by the record label, manufactured, and slapped with a barcode.
So my task was simple: find music in Japan that doesn't suck. Lucky enough, Suzie's cool DJ friends and Maakun (our guitarist) have helped me with this conundrum. Here is part one of a list that I hope will grow:
Number Girl
My favorite - they have been compared to Sonic Youth and the Pixies. Just watch this video to see how cool they are. Unfortunately, they disbanded a few years ago so I'll never get to see them!
Polysics
A few of my friends went to see this group perform in Nagasaki last month. They were raving about it...it's because of the orange jumpsuits. And robot girl!
くるり (Quruli)
This band has a funky, groovy sound and is very popular.
8otto
How often do you see the drummer of a band who is also the singer? We discovered 8otto last year at Summersonic, when Suzie bought a T-shirt from these guys. We found out later that they are amazing! I loved this video so much that I ordered the CD on the Internet the same day.
Love Psychedelico
Some JET friends discovered them - we listened to them the whole ride up to Hiroshima last year. The lyrics contain a blend of Japanese with some interesting tidbits of English - "Martin Luther King flies." Her voice reminds me of Sheryl Crow.
Cornelius
I loved him instantly when I heard he named himself after the character from Planet of the Apes. He's an experimental electronic artist kind of like Beck.
Shonen Knife
Very famous all girl band that's been around for a while. Nirvana raved about them and they influenced a score of female rock groups in the 90's. I like banana chips too!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In other news...
Sorry for the long time with no update! May has so far been a blur - I went to a hippie festival for part of Golden Week, then it was Sports Day at school, and now my band is getting ready for our Battle of the Bands competition next week. I've also been updating my resume to prepare for the inevitable...but I don't want to talk about that now. I want to enjoy every last minute of my time here, because it is precious!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Adult Conversation Class
Every Tuesday, I go to the community center to talk with the five people in my town who like English. I really lucked out with this group because they love to talk, and they often help me. Today, Emiko told me how I can get rid of my old car, which kicked the bucket recently. Sometimes it would just stop working in the middle of an intersection, and I'd have to fiddle with the battery to start it up again. So Emiko asked a car shop in the area, and told me how to dispose of it. It's going to cost $100 to throw it away!
I can also discover interesting cultural tidbits from them. Today I learned that in Japan when a child loses a tooth, they either throw it on the roof or the ground. If it's an upper tooth, they throw it on the ground. If it's a lower tooth, they throw it on the roof. I told them about the Tooth Fairy.
The best thing is that I actually get paid to do this...it feels wrong somehow!
I can also discover interesting cultural tidbits from them. Today I learned that in Japan when a child loses a tooth, they either throw it on the roof or the ground. If it's an upper tooth, they throw it on the ground. If it's a lower tooth, they throw it on the roof. I told them about the Tooth Fairy.
The best thing is that I actually get paid to do this...it feels wrong somehow!
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