Time.
Just when you think, I actually have time to sit down and write, where does it go? I actually don't have time to sit down and write right now, because Erich is patiently waiting to watch the next episode of Lost, which we have recently discovered is fantastic. So I will make this brief:
Last weekend, Suzie and I went to Fukuoka to see sumo. After shopping all day and partying until 3am, we crashed on a karaoke sofa for the night while singing ourselves to sleep with Coldplay and The Doves.
The next day, Erich and I boarded a plane for Seoul, Korea for Erich to finally get his visa. We proceeded to freeze our asses off, eat at a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, get a lot of great deals, and go to the biggest indoor amusement park I've ever seen. All in about the span of 48 hours.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Knackered
I've stolen an expression from the British and adopted it as my own - knackered knackered knackered! I love it. Anyway, after our mid-year conference this week, I am knackered. But I have some fun pictures to share:
Along the way to Nagasaki, we took a detour through this town that has bus stops shaped like fruit. They have caused me to ponder why more objects aren't shaped like fun things, because why not? They put a smile on my face. This is why I love Japan. Only the Japanese have the ability to convert everyday objects into these fun, interesting things. Napkins that say "Lovery Strawberry." Thumbtacks shaped like sushi. Popsicles shaped like watermelon wedges. There is a happy smiling character on EVERY package of candy. I could go on and on.
So why do I feel like all of this happiness is just an illusion?
Along the way to Nagasaki, we took a detour through this town that has bus stops shaped like fruit. They have caused me to ponder why more objects aren't shaped like fun things, because why not? They put a smile on my face. This is why I love Japan. Only the Japanese have the ability to convert everyday objects into these fun, interesting things. Napkins that say "Lovery Strawberry." Thumbtacks shaped like sushi. Popsicles shaped like watermelon wedges. There is a happy smiling character on EVERY package of candy. I could go on and on.
So why do I feel like all of this happiness is just an illusion?
Friday, November 11, 2005
Living in Japan is a lot like putting together a puzzle, except that someone else has all the pieces. And they don't speak English.
At the post office, trying to pay for our trip to Korea (next week!):
Me (in Japanese): I'd like to do a money transfer, please.
Them: Sorry, you have to go to the bank.
Me: (puzzled, because I just did a money transfer at the post office 2 weeks ago)
Pedaling to the bank, cussing under my breath
At the bank:
Me (in Japanese): I'd like to do a money transfer, please. (showing them my cash and the account in which the money should go)
Them: Cash?
Me: (nodding)
Them: (pointing to ATM)
Me: (Walk over to ATM. Man helps me. Money comes out of my bank account, not the cash in my hand. Pissed off.)
At school:
Me: Where is the vacation request book?
Vice-principal: (scrambling, unable to find. Calls the office teacher, gets into a discussion for 10 minutes about the book, principal summoned. Book still no where to be found.)
Me: (standing there, trying to be patient)
Another 5 minutes elapse, still talking about/looking for book. Librarian summoned.
Librarian: Is this it? (holds up the book)
Me: YES! (grabbing it)
Before I came here, I worried about being uptight. But the truth is, I am laid back compared to some of the people here. Seriously, they put the ass in anal.
Nevertheless, sitting in the office every day without conversing is really taking its toll. I really want to talk to people, but when I eye someone to talk to, they always look too busy to talk to me. Plus the fact that I don't speak Japanese well is frightening to some of the teachers because they know they will inevitably have to use (cue scary music) ENGLISH!
So all of these social anxieties have been contributing to a greater fear: that they don't like me.* It culminated in a really bad day for me on Tuesday, where I was pretty much walking around in tears. Once a good cryfest is out of my system, I can move on with my life but since I didn't get a chance, it was a slow painful leak all day long.**
I prefer explosive sobs where my whole face turns into a tomato and I can eat ice cream after it's over.
This story has a point, I promise. I was riding home from a teaching demo in Kitaarima earlier, and my JTE was talking about my teaching situation, which I have wondered about since day one. During Tokyo orientation, I was told that I would be teaching at one base school (my junior high) and then occasionally going to 4 different elementary schools. Well, that didn't happen because I've been at the same junior high this whole time. So I've been mulling over in my head why they wouldn't want me there. I can see why introverts go insane.
Well, my JTE told me that my principal was really adamant about having an ALT at his school, and the elementary schools said they wanted me once a week. That wouldn't leave enough time at the junior high, so there was much bantering back and forth. The Board of Education determined that it was more important to have an ALT at the junior high, since elementary English education is optional. So in the end, I sit at the junior high, even though I could easily go to the elementary schools during exams. Stupid bureaucracy...
So here I sit at home, trying to piece together my life with these fragments of understood conversations. But isn't it supposed to be challenging?
* Boo-hoo, I know. It's a really stupid fear. But the truth is, I have lived enough years to know that people judge people before really getting to know them. And it pisses me off.
** And then the enkai. But that is another post entirely...
At the post office, trying to pay for our trip to Korea (next week!):
Me (in Japanese): I'd like to do a money transfer, please.
Them: Sorry, you have to go to the bank.
Me: (puzzled, because I just did a money transfer at the post office 2 weeks ago)
Pedaling to the bank, cussing under my breath
At the bank:
Me (in Japanese): I'd like to do a money transfer, please. (showing them my cash and the account in which the money should go)
Them: Cash?
Me: (nodding)
Them: (pointing to ATM)
Me: (Walk over to ATM. Man helps me. Money comes out of my bank account, not the cash in my hand. Pissed off.)
At school:
Me: Where is the vacation request book?
Vice-principal: (scrambling, unable to find. Calls the office teacher, gets into a discussion for 10 minutes about the book, principal summoned. Book still no where to be found.)
Me: (standing there, trying to be patient)
Another 5 minutes elapse, still talking about/looking for book. Librarian summoned.
Librarian: Is this it? (holds up the book)
Me: YES! (grabbing it)
Before I came here, I worried about being uptight. But the truth is, I am laid back compared to some of the people here. Seriously, they put the ass in anal.
Nevertheless, sitting in the office every day without conversing is really taking its toll. I really want to talk to people, but when I eye someone to talk to, they always look too busy to talk to me. Plus the fact that I don't speak Japanese well is frightening to some of the teachers because they know they will inevitably have to use (cue scary music) ENGLISH!
So all of these social anxieties have been contributing to a greater fear: that they don't like me.* It culminated in a really bad day for me on Tuesday, where I was pretty much walking around in tears. Once a good cryfest is out of my system, I can move on with my life but since I didn't get a chance, it was a slow painful leak all day long.**
I prefer explosive sobs where my whole face turns into a tomato and I can eat ice cream after it's over.
This story has a point, I promise. I was riding home from a teaching demo in Kitaarima earlier, and my JTE was talking about my teaching situation, which I have wondered about since day one. During Tokyo orientation, I was told that I would be teaching at one base school (my junior high) and then occasionally going to 4 different elementary schools. Well, that didn't happen because I've been at the same junior high this whole time. So I've been mulling over in my head why they wouldn't want me there. I can see why introverts go insane.
Well, my JTE told me that my principal was really adamant about having an ALT at his school, and the elementary schools said they wanted me once a week. That wouldn't leave enough time at the junior high, so there was much bantering back and forth. The Board of Education determined that it was more important to have an ALT at the junior high, since elementary English education is optional. So in the end, I sit at the junior high, even though I could easily go to the elementary schools during exams. Stupid bureaucracy...
So here I sit at home, trying to piece together my life with these fragments of understood conversations. But isn't it supposed to be challenging?
* Boo-hoo, I know. It's a really stupid fear. But the truth is, I have lived enough years to know that people judge people before really getting to know them. And it pisses me off.
** And then the enkai. But that is another post entirely...
Sunday, November 6, 2005
Finding things on the side of the road
I've been perusing a book called "Roadside Japan." It is a collection of strange things the author found while traveling off the beaten path. It hits on everything I've ever wanted to do: travel and see weird shit.
Today, we went to Unzen to see the foilage and ended up stumbling across some weird shit on our own:
I want to organize a road trip throughout Kyushu, only instead of stopping at castles and tourist spots, we will find bus stops shaped like strawberries and giant rock phalluses. They are all over the place - seriously.
Today, we went to Unzen to see the foilage and ended up stumbling across some weird shit on our own:
I want to organize a road trip throughout Kyushu, only instead of stopping at castles and tourist spots, we will find bus stops shaped like strawberries and giant rock phalluses. They are all over the place - seriously.
Saturday, November 5, 2005
I have discovered that it is much easier to post pictures on Flickr than LJ, so I purchased a Flickr account. Be prepared for mass picture overload - here are a few sets:
Last weekend, Erich's company had a Halloween picnic in Omura, which is about an hour and a half away. The Nagasaki airport is also in this city.
Last Monday, Suzie had a Halloween party at her house for her English club. Since I don't have the luxury of an English club at my school, I decided to come and be envious of her students who are actually interested in English. I brought along a pikachu costume for fun.
Wednesday was the prefectural marathon for high school students. Since they literally came down our street, the school went outside to cheer them on.
We had a holiday on Thursday called Culture Day, so we decided to take a day trip to the Amakusa islands, which are a short ferry ride from Kuchinotsu. According to Lonely Planet, it is one of the least-developed areas of Japan. It is also the place where Christians went to escape persecution.
Last weekend, Erich's company had a Halloween picnic in Omura, which is about an hour and a half away. The Nagasaki airport is also in this city.
Last Monday, Suzie had a Halloween party at her house for her English club. Since I don't have the luxury of an English club at my school, I decided to come and be envious of her students who are actually interested in English. I brought along a pikachu costume for fun.
Wednesday was the prefectural marathon for high school students. Since they literally came down our street, the school went outside to cheer them on.
We had a holiday on Thursday called Culture Day, so we decided to take a day trip to the Amakusa islands, which are a short ferry ride from Kuchinotsu. According to Lonely Planet, it is one of the least-developed areas of Japan. It is also the place where Christians went to escape persecution.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)