On Saturday, before going to a Japanese SARUSA BAR (salsa bar!! I am in heaven) Kate and I went to a karaoke bar and sang for two hours. OK OK actually, Kate was singing and I was playing the tambourine and moraccas since you all know I DON’T SING. I would choose the songs I wanted her to sing and we would switch off choosing songs. (It`s always fun to choose songs the other person doesn`t like to sing lol). I considered it my weekend study time because I practiced reading Hiragana when the songs came on AND I even ordered drinks in Japanese :)
Then at 11:30pm, we headed for the city since apparently the salsa club doesn’t start until 12:30ish in the am. We found a 24-hour parking lot, but it turned out that we couldn’t figure out how to work the machine. It kept talking and talking even though we pressed every button several times; we couldn’t figure it out. It was getting embarrassing because people were passing by and it kept repeating the sentence. I was convinced the entire neighborhood could hear it over and over: “blah blah blah onegaishimasu (pllleeeeease)”. SO, our solution was to get back in the car and try to find a parking lot with a person. So went next door to the next parking lot and pulled into this elevator-ish thing that we parked my car in. The attendant came up and pushed my mirrors in close to the car and said something, which we took to mean that my car was going to drop a floor down into the parking structure because he kept using a “down boy” dog command motion with his hand. He left and came back about 3 times with the same sentence. Kate and I were sitting in my car for like 8 minutes waiting anxiously while he asked if we were ok and repeated his question. I was so scared I felt like I was going to go on a roller coaster and we weren`t quite sure if the car was going to turn first, then drop, or go forward, then drop or what. In front of me were three flashing signs with red. Flashing signs in red can NEVER be good. The attendant finally came back and opened my door. He meant GET OUT OF THE freaking CAR!
We got out and immediately my car practically flew in the air on this elevator thing going UP so quickly. Kate and I looked at each other and started laughing because of the stress and hilarity of the situation. The attendant gave me a parking ticket thing and told me to come back. We went salsa dancing (which was awesome and MANY PEOPLE were so good at it. Surprise, surprise salsa dancing is big in Japan.) We came back to get my car around 3ish in the morning and gave the attendant my ticket. Somehow my car dropped down the elevatorish thing, the windows were rolled down….but I had my keys with me the whole time. I still don`t get it. The attendant totally thought we were stupid. We just laughed and then realized that the price was double what we thought we had read.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
About exactly 2 weeks ago, the internet broke up with me. Don"t ask me how that happened. All I know is that one day the internet decided that our relationship was going too far and didn't want to commit. Randomly showed up again today but our relationship is still shaky at best, so please forgive my sporadic absences!Anyway, so last week 2 teachers and about 10 students from Kikuyo town's sister school in Australia came to Japan and Kate and I got to show them around Kikuyo. Believe me, it was OH-SO-difficult to HAVE to be out of school for a week and go sightseeing with the Aussies :) We went to an amusement park(where I noticed all of the Japanese girls wore high heels).I had pizza with corn and hot dog toppings. I saw a movie in the Japanese theaters for the first time (where you have to choose your seat before entering the theater). I went to a tea ceremony where we made samurai hats and wore them while drinking traditional Japanese tea (I don't think that was a traditional ceremony). I got to ring a huge bell and clap my hands and bow a few times. I practiced sitting on my legs and got to a maximum of 10 minutes before having to move. (I'm practicing for a 2 hour long tea ceremony that I one day will master while wearing a kimono).
AND FINALLY we went in a little thing called zorbing, that's right ZORBING. If you don't know what it is, google it and find one!I LOVED IT!! I think that was the most fun10 seconds I've had since I've been to Japan. What happens is you jump into a giant clear plastic ball with another personand then water is splashed under you with a hose and then the ball is pushed down thismassive hill. As the ball rolls you slide up the side of the ball in the water. Try thinking about how fun that would be....and then imagine the person bouncing in the ball with you is your co-worker. YEAH, talk about awkward. I didn't realize he and I would be wet together, in a giant ball trying not to touch each other but really falling all over each other screaming. That def made it umm, interesting BUT besides that, IT WAS A BLAST and I would do it again, preferably alone...or something, in a heartbeat :)
AND FINALLY we went in a little thing called zorbing, that's right ZORBING. If you don't know what it is, google it and find one!I LOVED IT!! I think that was the most fun10 seconds I've had since I've been to Japan. What happens is you jump into a giant clear plastic ball with another personand then water is splashed under you with a hose and then the ball is pushed down thismassive hill. As the ball rolls you slide up the side of the ball in the water. Try thinking about how fun that would be....and then imagine the person bouncing in the ball with you is your co-worker. YEAH, talk about awkward. I didn't realize he and I would be wet together, in a giant ball trying not to touch each other but really falling all over each other screaming. That def made it umm, interesting BUT besides that, IT WAS A BLAST and I would do it again, preferably alone...or something, in a heartbeat :)
Friday, 12 September 2008
My Accent
Japanese consonants always come with syllables just like Oreos come with cream filling: ka,ke,ki,ko,ku, sa,shi,se,so,su. They always come in pairs. I don`t know why, maybe they`re lonely. Think about that for a sec. How strange and difficult would it be to chop a letter in half? That`s like chopping an atom in half. What would half of D or F or G sound like? Shopping(u).F(u)ried(o) r(a)ice(su).
When I say `Do you like to go to the park?` I hear my voice and it sounds like a chopstick gliding through soup, or a stone skipping across the water, making perfect circles: Do you like to go to the park?
I wonder what kind of Japanese accent I have. Maybe it`s the cotton mouth, where I sound like everything I say is muffled and has a hint of the words there somewhere do-you-ko-to-ze-paak. It could be the sound of a knife chopping vegetables DO/YOU/GO/TO/PAAK! Could be the ping of rain hitting metal do^youlike^togo^to^zuhpak. Maybe the sound of rich dirt or soup. MMM, from deep in the throat Ok.ok, I wheel go to ze park. Right now, I`m going for the accent with seasoning. It sounds like it has just a hint of flavor that comes out unexpectedly. Would yieou like to go to the parrk? Do you like schinnamon? I have two schisters. Just a touch of flavor, barely there, but enough to taste it and wonder.
When I say `Do you like to go to the park?` I hear my voice and it sounds like a chopstick gliding through soup, or a stone skipping across the water, making perfect circles: Do you like to go to the park?
I wonder what kind of Japanese accent I have. Maybe it`s the cotton mouth, where I sound like everything I say is muffled and has a hint of the words there somewhere do-you-ko-to-ze-paak. It could be the sound of a knife chopping vegetables DO/YOU/GO/TO/PAAK! Could be the ping of rain hitting metal do^youlike^togo^to^zuhpak. Maybe the sound of rich dirt or soup. MMM, from deep in the throat Ok.ok, I wheel go to ze park. Right now, I`m going for the accent with seasoning. It sounds like it has just a hint of flavor that comes out unexpectedly. Would yieou like to go to the parrk? Do you like schinnamon? I have two schisters. Just a touch of flavor, barely there, but enough to taste it and wonder.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Monday, 8 September 2008
American Elections equals WORLD ELECTIONS
In case you didn't know, because I sure didn't, THE ENTIRE WORLD really is watching our elections in the US. I hear about it from my friends from England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, AND Japan. They know who the candidates are and some knowthe different issues and viewpoints. The DNC in DENVER (woot woot) was shown on Japanese TV, it's on the radio, my Japanese co-workers want to know who I'm going to vote for. I've had a few international friends tell me that they think they should be able to vote in the American elections since what we do affects the whole world. Think about how crazy that is and how much power that is. Can you name the prime minister of Canada?Australia? England? Japan? New Zealand? Do you even know how their political systems work or even know that they HAD prime ministers? Did you know that Japan's prime minister recently resigned? Did you know that they are all waiting on pins and needles for Bush to leave (literally everyone that I talk to that's not from America)? They ACTUALLY care about what's going to happen in the US because apparently it affects them too....wow....ponder that
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
My answer to your question
I interrupt my regular blogcast for a commercial break.
Many of you have asked me where have I gone and what have I seen. So I guess I will have to write about that although I must admit I am much more interested in writing about cultural differences. So I will make a list:
1) Mount Aso – the largest volcanic caldera in the world. It has an azure blue lake with dry ice smoke in the volcano when I looked inside.
2) Kumamoto Castle- A 400 year old ninja repellant castle, yes that`s right NINJA REPELLANT. It was made with curved walls so that they could not be scaled even by a ninja.. This castle was on the movie The Last Samurai.
3) Suizenji Park- A really cool park with a fountain of youth, fountain of something else.
4) Suizenji Freshwater springs – Kumamoto is known for having an abundance of freshwater springs where you can actually drink straight out of the river. It bubbles up from the ground and many come and fill up water bottles to bring home.
I`ll send pictures soon. That`s all of the important things for now. Back to my regular program.
Many of you have asked me where have I gone and what have I seen. So I guess I will have to write about that although I must admit I am much more interested in writing about cultural differences. So I will make a list:
1) Mount Aso – the largest volcanic caldera in the world. It has an azure blue lake with dry ice smoke in the volcano when I looked inside.
2) Kumamoto Castle- A 400 year old ninja repellant castle, yes that`s right NINJA REPELLANT. It was made with curved walls so that they could not be scaled even by a ninja.. This castle was on the movie The Last Samurai.
3) Suizenji Park- A really cool park with a fountain of youth, fountain of something else.
4) Suizenji Freshwater springs – Kumamoto is known for having an abundance of freshwater springs where you can actually drink straight out of the river. It bubbles up from the ground and many come and fill up water bottles to bring home.
I`ll send pictures soon. That`s all of the important things for now. Back to my regular program.
The Trust Fall
I can`t read (I don`t know kanji), drive (no car yet), figure out my TV (Japanese remote), eat with a spoon (chopsticks), or figure out my cellphone (it always takes me to Japanese sites); all of the simple things in life that I loved at home. I always have to trust that people are going to help me and I realized how scary that was today. Today, my second day of school, I tried to make coffee. The coffee makers here are normal, except that you can pull the coffee pot out in the middle of brewing and pour the coffee into your cup, then put it back to fill the rest of the pot. Now I know that this isn`t strange or high-tech, but if someone is gesturing for you to move a brewing pot of coffee out of the way and you don`t understand that the pot will stop, it`s a little scary. I got my cup ready to quickly stick it under the scalding coffee, and hope that it didn`t make a big hot mess, and it didn`t, the arc of hot coffee stopped for me. She KNEW what she was doing!! Of course she did. This kind of realization that people know what they`re doing, happens all the time.
Trust is a scary thing. I have to trust my co-workers to help me make the right decisions for cell phone contracts, bills, car insurance, how to throw trash away (mandatory recycling of 5 different types), how to buy a car and open a bank account. I have to trust that although people eat strange things, they are perfectly fine; they don`t end up dead or in the hospital. Although I think some Japanese food doesn`t sound appealing, I have to remember that they think sweet rice (rice, sugar, milk and cinnamon) sounds disgusting (I think I will give them a payback American (food) Challenge for all of their Japanese (food) Challenges). I have to trust that although the teacher`s lounge sink has no dish soap, everyone seems to be ok with washing trays and coffee cups with just water (It still freaks me out). I have to trust that although Japan does things completely differently from my own country, drive on the wrong (I mean left) side of the road, women aren`t equal to men, people eat raw food on the floor with sticks, and kids run wild, it`s ok. American kids shoot each other and that doesn`t happen here. Even though I see my female co-workers getting to work early to serve tea/coffee, rushing home to make dinner for their husbands, and walking behind men AND IT pisses me off, they have the power to change that, and they never asked for my help.
So today I realized that I can`t be in control of everything, sometimes I need to just close my eyes, take a breath, lean back and fall.
Trust is a scary thing. I have to trust my co-workers to help me make the right decisions for cell phone contracts, bills, car insurance, how to throw trash away (mandatory recycling of 5 different types), how to buy a car and open a bank account. I have to trust that although people eat strange things, they are perfectly fine; they don`t end up dead or in the hospital. Although I think some Japanese food doesn`t sound appealing, I have to remember that they think sweet rice (rice, sugar, milk and cinnamon) sounds disgusting (I think I will give them a payback American (food) Challenge for all of their Japanese (food) Challenges). I have to trust that although the teacher`s lounge sink has no dish soap, everyone seems to be ok with washing trays and coffee cups with just water (It still freaks me out). I have to trust that although Japan does things completely differently from my own country, drive on the wrong (I mean left) side of the road, women aren`t equal to men, people eat raw food on the floor with sticks, and kids run wild, it`s ok. American kids shoot each other and that doesn`t happen here. Even though I see my female co-workers getting to work early to serve tea/coffee, rushing home to make dinner for their husbands, and walking behind men AND IT pisses me off, they have the power to change that, and they never asked for my help.
So today I realized that I can`t be in control of everything, sometimes I need to just close my eyes, take a breath, lean back and fall.
My first days of school
I am dropped off by a co-worker at Kikuyo Jr High (Jr high schoolers are 12-15 yr olds) at 8:10 am and I am greeted by the principals and teachers standing outside to say good morning to the kids, everyday. I get to my desk and look at the schedule for the day; there are A, B, C, and special C days. I have to ask what schedule we`re on. I also have a monthly schedule of activities from the Board of Education. I have a lunch schedule, a weekly school schedule, and 2 other schedules (I don`t know what they mean yet). I haven`t even started on my 3 elementary schools, 4 nursery schools and adult class yet. I will begin those classes in October. So as of now, let me count, I have 8 schedules that I have spread out on my desk like math problems. This week, I have 18 classes spread throughout the week, and THIRTEEN 10-15 minute self-introductions. So I am definitely busier now. I work with 4 English teachers, and about 30ish other teachers at the Jr High School alone. I LOVE it! I love being busy.
Anyhow, so at 8:10 am I arrive, at 8:15 – 8:40 teachers prepare for class or we have a meeting that I don`t understand at all. From 8:40-8:45 there`s a break. Then there are 6 periods in the day. I get off at 4 pm and go to the Board of Education for someone to take me to my apartment.
I`ve recognized 10 major differences from American schools:
1) Kids clean their own classrooms and the teacher`s lounge everyday after lunch. There isn`t a janitor.
2) Everyone brushes their teeth after eating.
3) Kids don`t move between classes, adults do. Kids have their own designated homerooms that they stay in all day long.
4) During lunch, everyone, kids and adults, put their hands together prayer-style and say Japanese equivalent of `Bon Appetit` and afterwards `Thanks for the food` together everyday. Each class eats in their own designated homeroom with their homeroom teacher always. They are expected to eat all of their food and drink all of their milk. AND THEY DO!!! WHOA! I know I didn`t when I had school lunch.
5) Kids are persuaded by adults to attend classes, but aren`t forced to. Teachers are expected to go to wayward students home and persuade them to come to school. Parents expect this and don`t force their kids to go.
6) Sometimes the older boys roam the school uninhibited by anyone. There are no hall passes here. Older girls hang out in the nurses office, claiming sickness. Kids are the same everywhere : )
7) Older boys ask me if I have a boyfriend, if I`m their type and how old I am. Teachers don`t tell them that they`re being rude here, since kids aren`t punished. The boys are the same as teenagers in the US : )
8) There is no detention or principal`s office. As far as American kids are concerned, this is probably a dream.
9) Bad kids hang out in the teacher`s lounge with the teachers, during class, and no one thinks that`s strange.
10) Everyone gets served tea at 8:30 am by the tea lady.
Anyhow, so at 8:10 am I arrive, at 8:15 – 8:40 teachers prepare for class or we have a meeting that I don`t understand at all. From 8:40-8:45 there`s a break. Then there are 6 periods in the day. I get off at 4 pm and go to the Board of Education for someone to take me to my apartment.
I`ve recognized 10 major differences from American schools:
1) Kids clean their own classrooms and the teacher`s lounge everyday after lunch. There isn`t a janitor.
2) Everyone brushes their teeth after eating.
3) Kids don`t move between classes, adults do. Kids have their own designated homerooms that they stay in all day long.
4) During lunch, everyone, kids and adults, put their hands together prayer-style and say Japanese equivalent of `Bon Appetit` and afterwards `Thanks for the food` together everyday. Each class eats in their own designated homeroom with their homeroom teacher always. They are expected to eat all of their food and drink all of their milk. AND THEY DO!!! WHOA! I know I didn`t when I had school lunch.
5) Kids are persuaded by adults to attend classes, but aren`t forced to. Teachers are expected to go to wayward students home and persuade them to come to school. Parents expect this and don`t force their kids to go.
6) Sometimes the older boys roam the school uninhibited by anyone. There are no hall passes here. Older girls hang out in the nurses office, claiming sickness. Kids are the same everywhere : )
7) Older boys ask me if I have a boyfriend, if I`m their type and how old I am. Teachers don`t tell them that they`re being rude here, since kids aren`t punished. The boys are the same as teenagers in the US : )
8) There is no detention or principal`s office. As far as American kids are concerned, this is probably a dream.
9) Bad kids hang out in the teacher`s lounge with the teachers, during class, and no one thinks that`s strange.
10) Everyone gets served tea at 8:30 am by the tea lady.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Monday, 1 September 2008
My Top Ten Japanese Oxymorons
10. Why do trains/buses run exactly on time to the minute, yet getting the internet takes a month?
9. How is it that a Japanese diet is healthy, yet foreigners gain weight?
8. How can 40-year old businessmen drink all night, fall asleep on the street and go to work as if nothing happened?
7. Why is it that students are expected to go to at least two different schools 6 days a week, yet at those schools,students are allowed to roam the school freely and not study? (On that note, why are teachers more responsible for children than parents? A policeman will call the homeroom teacher for a crime instead of the parents. Parentswill call teachers and blame them for their children's bad behavior!!!)
6. How are there no policemen in the streets and traffic laws aren't obeyed, yet there aren't many accidents? In Japan, red really does mean drive faster and a driving test is done on an enclosed 'bumper cars' course.
5. Why are some toilets outfitted for space travel and others are holes in the ground?
4. Why can't I wear a shirt that shows neck cleavage, yet I can be naked in a hot spring?
3. Why is publicly picking your nose, falling asleep in the middle of someone's speech, hawking a loogie and slurping ok, but blowing your nose and not eating all of your food isn't?
2. How is it that kids grow up wild, without individual reward or punishment, to do as they please, yet grow up to bepolite, dedicated and contributing members of society? (Grown-ups will not tell kids no or stop. They are allowed to be as loud, rambunctious and violent as they want. I have seen it many times with parents AND teachers in school, restaurants and in malls; it's CRAZY!! Some restaurants even ban kids to take care of this problem.)
1. How is it that Japanese people are the ultimate work-aholics working 6 days a week from 7 am to 11 pm, yet AT LEAST 1/3 of 'worktime' is wasted in greeting co-workers, (I say Good morning, You must be tired, Excuse me, I'm back,and Good job today at least 15-20 times a day), making coffee/tea, going online, taking a smoke break and chatting? By the way, during 'work' we also shop, go to the post office and my co-workers GO ON FACEBOOK at work. No one says anything!!! I just can't do that, I feel too guilty. No WONDER it takes so long to finish a job.
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