So those of you from the Alfred community already know this, but there was a big fire in the town of my old University. As far as I know, a wooden building burned down, surrounding structure had water damage but no structural damage, and about a dozen people as well as a few businesses are without an apartment, everything gone.
Unfortunately, Nick's girlfriend Hannah was one of those people displaced by the fire. The day we heard about it he was taken to the Board of Education, where they offered to let him go home to help her out without having to request vacation time. He took them up on their offer, and is now stateside. Because of this abrupt change of plan, I'm staying at Ichu a week longer than normal. As of yet, I haven't heard from Nick at all, so I'm not totally sure when he's coming back, but I'm sure he'll show up someday :P .
The other night I was invited out to yakiniku with some of the people from the board of education. They ordered many plates of meat, including pig heart and liver, pig head, and adult and baby sheep. Every once in a while we requested some cabbage or onions for a change of pace. It was really nice to get out in a comfortable atmosphere and just chat for a bit. Also, it was really good practice for my Japanese conversational skills.
Tuesday I went to Tomikusa Elementary School. I really feel welcome there, and always love a visit. After classes, the 5th and 6th graders ran a few kilometers near the school to practice for the upcoming "marathon." I stayed behind at the track and chatted with the 5th grade teacher about differences in U.S. and Japanese units of measure, shoe sizes, etc. The first kid was done in 18 minutes.
After that, I went back to Ichu, ate lunch, and went outside to watch the mini field day the 1st and 2nd graders were participating in. The traditional Japanese field sports are interesting to a foreigner, especially the horse battles (which would NEVER be allowed stateside due to safety issues). However, watching all the other teachers participate with their respective classes, and only being able to root them on, was kind of saddening. Then after that, I realized I'd lost my car keys. And it was raining. And I was homesick. And without a close friend for thousands of miles. That was probably the lowest point of my stay here in Japan, but after a cheerful adult English class and a good nights sleep, I felt alot better the next day thankfully ^_^ Car keys were also found, and I'm in a really good mood today. Chocolate is a very good thing.
Gotta go, school's ended. I might post more later if I feel like it :P
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Persimmons!
I believe I've already blogged about the trip to Niigata and the eating of crabs. The person that took Nick and I is Watari-san (female). The reason that she took us free of charge is mostly because we'd agreed to help her this year with the picking of her persimmons. She and her husband (also called Watari-san, because of Japanese naming) own some persimmon trees, and being quite advanced in age, can't easily keep up with the harvesting once they become ripe. Before this I don't think I have ever touched a persimmon or known what it was, let alone eaten one or know how to pick them. By the way, the Japanese word for persimmon is kaki (pronounced kah-kee).
Nick and I showed up at the house in some clothes that were okay to get dirty. We slung some baskets around our necks, climbed some ladders, and started picking! The first day this only lasted a few hours. Afterwords, Watari-san prepared a nice dinner for us and some treats her neighbor brought home from Vietnam for us to take with us. I agreed to help again the next morning at 7:30 after I drop Nick off at the bus station in Iida, en route to America. The reason I will talk about later.
That Sunday I helped peel the persimmons (there were 2 ifferent machines that had to be used) and hang them to be smoked lightly and dried. Watari-san's sister was there to help as well, and it was quite enjoyable.
That Tuesday was a national holiday and everyone had off of school. I went to Iida again, but this time we went to their plot of farmland, about 3/4 of an acre about 20 minutes away. We climbed the ladders and picked many bushels full. After this, I helped Watari-san prepare dinner and the couple and I sat underneath the kotatsu (heated Japanese table) and enjoyed a nice filling dinner. Kind of fitting that the holiday is "Bunka no hi" or "Culture day," and there I was learning about Japanese farming.
That's the last I've heard of them to date, and I think the season is about over. Now I know more than what's probably needed about persimmons.
Nick and I showed up at the house in some clothes that were okay to get dirty. We slung some baskets around our necks, climbed some ladders, and started picking! The first day this only lasted a few hours. Afterwords, Watari-san prepared a nice dinner for us and some treats her neighbor brought home from Vietnam for us to take with us. I agreed to help again the next morning at 7:30 after I drop Nick off at the bus station in Iida, en route to America. The reason I will talk about later.
That Sunday I helped peel the persimmons (there were 2 ifferent machines that had to be used) and hang them to be smoked lightly and dried. Watari-san's sister was there to help as well, and it was quite enjoyable.
That Tuesday was a national holiday and everyone had off of school. I went to Iida again, but this time we went to their plot of farmland, about 3/4 of an acre about 20 minutes away. We climbed the ladders and picked many bushels full. After this, I helped Watari-san prepare dinner and the couple and I sat underneath the kotatsu (heated Japanese table) and enjoyed a nice filling dinner. Kind of fitting that the holiday is "Bunka no hi" or "Culture day," and there I was learning about Japanese farming.
That's the last I've heard of them to date, and I think the season is about over. Now I know more than what's probably needed about persimmons.
Halloween in Japan
Psrt 2 of my catch-up-to-the-present posts. Halloween has come and gone in Japan. Thank goodness I packed a cosplay shirt from "Prince of Tennis" (an anime) into my suitcase at the last moment. O the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Halloween, I was luckily in 2 of the elementary schools. There, we talked about the origins of Halloween and what Americans do on that night.
I made some worksheets, one for everyone that says "my costume" and has an area to draw. One, for the older kids, is a simple dialogue of "*knock knock* Trick or treat!" etc. In each class, the kids got to draw their own costumes. Some were pretty imaginative, some were the classic vampire and such. After that, I taught the kids "Trick or treat" and gave them candy for saying that line and showing me their costumes. This was in varying degrees, with just "trick or treat" and "thank-you" for 1st graders, and acting out the whole dialogue for the 5th and 6th graders. The children enjoyed the candy, I think. It was sooo expensive though! Maybe $3.50 for 20 pieces, unless you get the really cruddy stuff that noone wants in their Halloween bag. Times that by about 20 kids per class, 2 schools, and it added up real quick.
Then I told the children that on Halloween night, I will be walking around the town of Anan with candy, and if they come up to me saying "trick or treat," they will get candy. Saturday came. Because of my schedule, I only had about 45 minutes to walk around town, between about 5:30 and 6:15. At first I was just feeling odd walking around doing nothing, then a little at a time, children with their parents came up to me saying the famous phrase. The children were so shy and clinging to the parents, who had to urge them repeatedly to even look at me. In the end though, the want for candy won. One little boy, perhaps a preschooler, even came in costume!!! He was a person from Kamen Rider, I believe, if that means anything to anyone. One group of children was passing by in a car and rolled down the window at a red light to say hi. I half dropped, half chucked a handful into the car right before it left to the major enjoyment of the kids. During my pacing I also visited the local gas station and handed some out to the staff and random people getting gas. I also visited some local businesses that were still open and chatted with the owners of the local cornerstore (who speak in somewhat simple, but very fast Japanese). I even received some candy that night!
After handing out some candy to kids on the street (oh my gosh, stranger danger!!!) I got a quick ride to the Anan Kendo, which I hadn't gone to in maybe a month or so. The kids there are always sooooo cute! After practice I gave them candy too, for being so darn cute.
Some of the elementary classes I didn't get to do Halloween till the next week, when I still did the drawing and candy bit, but also added in (thanks to my JET friend Ben) making mummies out of some kids in class. The kids loooved this, and the teachers thought it was really interesting.
In the junior high, the Friday before Halloween, Mr. Kojima and I taught the kids quite in depth about the origins of Halloween and the Day of the Dead, and of course, handed out candy.
There are Halloween decorations in every dollar store here and some grocery stores, and although people know it exists, they don't celebrate it or know what it means really. My mission this year was to educate a little. And of course show people that American holidays rock.
So that's Halloween in Japan-land, up next: persimmons!
I made some worksheets, one for everyone that says "my costume" and has an area to draw. One, for the older kids, is a simple dialogue of "*knock knock* Trick or treat!" etc. In each class, the kids got to draw their own costumes. Some were pretty imaginative, some were the classic vampire and such. After that, I taught the kids "Trick or treat" and gave them candy for saying that line and showing me their costumes. This was in varying degrees, with just "trick or treat" and "thank-you" for 1st graders, and acting out the whole dialogue for the 5th and 6th graders. The children enjoyed the candy, I think. It was sooo expensive though! Maybe $3.50 for 20 pieces, unless you get the really cruddy stuff that noone wants in their Halloween bag. Times that by about 20 kids per class, 2 schools, and it added up real quick.
Then I told the children that on Halloween night, I will be walking around the town of Anan with candy, and if they come up to me saying "trick or treat," they will get candy. Saturday came. Because of my schedule, I only had about 45 minutes to walk around town, between about 5:30 and 6:15. At first I was just feeling odd walking around doing nothing, then a little at a time, children with their parents came up to me saying the famous phrase. The children were so shy and clinging to the parents, who had to urge them repeatedly to even look at me. In the end though, the want for candy won. One little boy, perhaps a preschooler, even came in costume!!! He was a person from Kamen Rider, I believe, if that means anything to anyone. One group of children was passing by in a car and rolled down the window at a red light to say hi. I half dropped, half chucked a handful into the car right before it left to the major enjoyment of the kids. During my pacing I also visited the local gas station and handed some out to the staff and random people getting gas. I also visited some local businesses that were still open and chatted with the owners of the local cornerstore (who speak in somewhat simple, but very fast Japanese). I even received some candy that night!
After handing out some candy to kids on the street (oh my gosh, stranger danger!!!) I got a quick ride to the Anan Kendo, which I hadn't gone to in maybe a month or so. The kids there are always sooooo cute! After practice I gave them candy too, for being so darn cute.
Some of the elementary classes I didn't get to do Halloween till the next week, when I still did the drawing and candy bit, but also added in (thanks to my JET friend Ben) making mummies out of some kids in class. The kids loooved this, and the teachers thought it was really interesting.
In the junior high, the Friday before Halloween, Mr. Kojima and I taught the kids quite in depth about the origins of Halloween and the Day of the Dead, and of course, handed out candy.
There are Halloween decorations in every dollar store here and some grocery stores, and although people know it exists, they don't celebrate it or know what it means really. My mission this year was to educate a little. And of course show people that American holidays rock.
So that's Halloween in Japan-land, up next: persimmons!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Tokyo trip!
Alright, so I haven't blogged in...forever. On the agenda: Tokyo Trip, Halloween, Farming, etc. Let's see how much I can write before next class.
So I went to Tokyo a few weekends ago to see the J-Rock visual kei concert. I got into the hostel (same one I used before) a little after 10. It was a little late cause I worked a full day Friday. Most of the staff there are nice and polite and such, but the girl that was there Friday night you could tell hated the job, wasn't very nice, etc. and I was slightly annoyed. Ah well.
Saturday morning, I got up super early to shower and start the hour long trip to the concert area. However, I got a bad leg cramp right when I awoke, which made me walk funny for the next few days ;.; Anyways, the last train I got on for the concert hall (called the Makuhari Messe btw) had 2 main types of people: families and couples bound for Tokyo Disneyland; and young people bound for the concert. You could easily tell who was who.
I got off the train and realized that I hadn't eaten breakfast, or anything, yet (this is at 10am and I woke up at around 7) so I found a bakery in the station and wolfed down a sandwitch. While I was eating, there was a foreigner fixing her makeup across from me. Of course, I walked up to her and asked if she spoke English, and we sat and chatted about the upcoming concert. Turns out she has lived in Japan for a few years now and knows sooooo much more about the visual kei music than I do, along with seeing many concerts. Her friend from Hong Kong (I think) came over and we walked to the hall.
Anyone that enjoys the lolita, goth lolita, punk, or any funky style imaginable found in Harajuku or anywhere in Tokyo would have been in heaven. Especially on Staurday, the lolitas and goth lolitas were out en masse. cameras were strictly a no-no, so I couldn't take pictures, thoguh even if they were allowed, I think it would have been reeeally uncoool to do so that weekend.
The first bands were already playing when we walked in, and I was immediately blown away. I had expected to hear a few really good ones, mostly only decent music. But of the bands that I hadn't heard up till then, most were amaaazing! The artists were also dressed up for the most part, which was cool. There were 4 venues in 2 gigantic rooms. 2 bands were playing at any given time, and the next act was being set up while they were playing. So sometimes I missed a few good bands, but eh, what can you do.
The Japanese at concerts (at least this kind of concert) are a little odd. For every song, there is a set of hand motions that go with every part. Everyone in the audience does the hand motions and headbanging completely on cue, so if you mess up or don't know the songs at all (me) you stick out. I quickly learned the usual motions and spent half my time trying to sync with everyone lol. Even the girls in their perfectly curled hair and expensive pink cute dresses headbang like there's no tomorrow (but only on cue!). There are also 2 types of headbanging: the front to back that I'm familiar with, and the "lean forward and shake your head side to side as violently as possible so you look like a caged lion with lice." I didn't participate in this kind since it gave me a headache >.< Messed up my back too from the other kind so standing for 2 whole days was pretty painful, but well worth it!
One of the acts that I didn't get to see that I wish I had was Moi Dix Mois. For those of you who don't know, it's Malice Mizer's Mana's new band, and mana is the person who basically started the goth loli style. During this time I was waiting for a good place in the crowd for Abington Boys' School (T.M.Revolution) who were btw, amazing.
For many of the acts, I got really close to the bands. One of them I was so close that if he reached out his hand and I mine, we could have touched. And of course, being a giant foreigner with blonde hair, I stick out alot, so the artists alot of the time stop their eyes on me for a split second. >.< Also! The poor tiny Japanese girls in their platform shoes come up to my shoulders at best, so there was always a gap behind me so they could see from behind >.< Gomen ne!
I barely ate anything or slept those 2 days, but didn't really notice that much. Staurday night, my new foreigner friends and I went out for dinner and to get out pictures taken at a photo booth. At one point, I was waiting outside a Mr. Donught for them to come back from the hotel, and totally felt like a goth hooker. Many African American men stopped next to me and said anything between "Hi, I'm Mr. Smith, nice to meet you" to "You're a fine looking lady." After about the 5th time I went inside the store to wait.
The Monday after the concert I took off so I could get my re-entry permit. It's a little thing in my passport that says if I leave the country I can come back. I took about 3 trains, and then a bus, and got to the Tokyo Immigration office. While walking up the stairs, I ran into another African-American who mumbled something to me I won't repeat. I came to the conclusion that people are cool in the U.S. but if I am alone in Tokyo it's generally a good idea to stay away from people of African decent (I know this sounds reeeeally racist and I hate racism, but I've had nothing but bad experiences while here >.< ) So anyways, I got the little stamp thing, paid for some overpriced curry since I realized that I missed breakfast again (amazing how easy that is to to in Tokyo), and caught my bus home.
That's it for now cause I have class soon and my hands feel like ice after typing so much. I reeeeally wish the Japanese would realize that central heat is not evil. They just set up the furnace in the teachers' room today, but the classrooms have nothing but body heat yet. I'm in thick pants, a shirt and a hoodie, sometimes scarf.
There's the bell, later!
So I went to Tokyo a few weekends ago to see the J-Rock visual kei concert. I got into the hostel (same one I used before) a little after 10. It was a little late cause I worked a full day Friday. Most of the staff there are nice and polite and such, but the girl that was there Friday night you could tell hated the job, wasn't very nice, etc. and I was slightly annoyed. Ah well.
Saturday morning, I got up super early to shower and start the hour long trip to the concert area. However, I got a bad leg cramp right when I awoke, which made me walk funny for the next few days ;.; Anyways, the last train I got on for the concert hall (called the Makuhari Messe btw) had 2 main types of people: families and couples bound for Tokyo Disneyland; and young people bound for the concert. You could easily tell who was who.
I got off the train and realized that I hadn't eaten breakfast, or anything, yet (this is at 10am and I woke up at around 7) so I found a bakery in the station and wolfed down a sandwitch. While I was eating, there was a foreigner fixing her makeup across from me. Of course, I walked up to her and asked if she spoke English, and we sat and chatted about the upcoming concert. Turns out she has lived in Japan for a few years now and knows sooooo much more about the visual kei music than I do, along with seeing many concerts. Her friend from Hong Kong (I think) came over and we walked to the hall.
Anyone that enjoys the lolita, goth lolita, punk, or any funky style imaginable found in Harajuku or anywhere in Tokyo would have been in heaven. Especially on Staurday, the lolitas and goth lolitas were out en masse. cameras were strictly a no-no, so I couldn't take pictures, thoguh even if they were allowed, I think it would have been reeeally uncoool to do so that weekend.
The first bands were already playing when we walked in, and I was immediately blown away. I had expected to hear a few really good ones, mostly only decent music. But of the bands that I hadn't heard up till then, most were amaaazing! The artists were also dressed up for the most part, which was cool. There were 4 venues in 2 gigantic rooms. 2 bands were playing at any given time, and the next act was being set up while they were playing. So sometimes I missed a few good bands, but eh, what can you do.
The Japanese at concerts (at least this kind of concert) are a little odd. For every song, there is a set of hand motions that go with every part. Everyone in the audience does the hand motions and headbanging completely on cue, so if you mess up or don't know the songs at all (me) you stick out. I quickly learned the usual motions and spent half my time trying to sync with everyone lol. Even the girls in their perfectly curled hair and expensive pink cute dresses headbang like there's no tomorrow (but only on cue!). There are also 2 types of headbanging: the front to back that I'm familiar with, and the "lean forward and shake your head side to side as violently as possible so you look like a caged lion with lice." I didn't participate in this kind since it gave me a headache >.< Messed up my back too from the other kind so standing for 2 whole days was pretty painful, but well worth it!
One of the acts that I didn't get to see that I wish I had was Moi Dix Mois. For those of you who don't know, it's Malice Mizer's Mana's new band, and mana is the person who basically started the goth loli style. During this time I was waiting for a good place in the crowd for Abington Boys' School (T.M.Revolution) who were btw, amazing.
For many of the acts, I got really close to the bands. One of them I was so close that if he reached out his hand and I mine, we could have touched. And of course, being a giant foreigner with blonde hair, I stick out alot, so the artists alot of the time stop their eyes on me for a split second. >.< Also! The poor tiny Japanese girls in their platform shoes come up to my shoulders at best, so there was always a gap behind me so they could see from behind >.< Gomen ne!
I barely ate anything or slept those 2 days, but didn't really notice that much. Staurday night, my new foreigner friends and I went out for dinner and to get out pictures taken at a photo booth. At one point, I was waiting outside a Mr. Donught for them to come back from the hotel, and totally felt like a goth hooker. Many African American men stopped next to me and said anything between "Hi, I'm Mr. Smith, nice to meet you" to "You're a fine looking lady." After about the 5th time I went inside the store to wait.
The Monday after the concert I took off so I could get my re-entry permit. It's a little thing in my passport that says if I leave the country I can come back. I took about 3 trains, and then a bus, and got to the Tokyo Immigration office. While walking up the stairs, I ran into another African-American who mumbled something to me I won't repeat. I came to the conclusion that people are cool in the U.S. but if I am alone in Tokyo it's generally a good idea to stay away from people of African decent (I know this sounds reeeeally racist and I hate racism, but I've had nothing but bad experiences while here >.< ) So anyways, I got the little stamp thing, paid for some overpriced curry since I realized that I missed breakfast again (amazing how easy that is to to in Tokyo), and caught my bus home.
That's it for now cause I have class soon and my hands feel like ice after typing so much. I reeeeally wish the Japanese would realize that central heat is not evil. They just set up the furnace in the teachers' room today, but the classrooms have nothing but body heat yet. I'm in thick pants, a shirt and a hoodie, sometimes scarf.
There's the bell, later!
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