Check out these articles...

Check out these articles...

I guess Palin has a pair of glasses made in Sabae, Fukui (the prefecture I am in) ...

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080909040135.9o92zw1h&show_article=1

And also in Fukui is a town called Obama!

(outdated)
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hqiXAtSohQcj2DY6bWLtnHX7UoxQ

more school festival...and sleep!

Forget what I said about posting once a week at the same time...my schedule is still too varied to do that, so I apologize. I will post when I can.

Since my last post we had day two of the school festival. I am so glad that I participated in the teachers presentation. Many of the teachers did spoofs of singers, comedians, and danced so my inauthentic costume was not out of place. Students could choose to go to the performance, and many did. Why would they miss seeing their teachers dressed crazy and acting crazy? (There were more guys with skirts!) When I was announced as the new ALT the students were surprised that I was going to perform. They were very supportive and cheered and clapped the whole way through. The whole thing was a lot of fun getting ready and taking pictures with the teachers...it made me feel like a part of the school instead of just the new ALT so I am glad I did it.

There was also a singing contest. That day I ate onigiri, yakisoba, and ice cream. I participated in the tea ceremony. I walked around the booths again and this time I went into the haunted house that one classroom had created. There was much more...lots of performances and presentations. Some times I didn't know exactly what was going on because it was on in Japanese but I could get the gist of it. Plus, many students and teachers are kind enough to explain what is going on.

On Thursday night I tried my hand at Japanese calligraphy. I started from the basics...after learning the basic strokes I tried yama (mountain) and kawa (river). They look simple but are difficult. My teacher said that if it rained my mountain would fall over (the strokes were too thin). There are many rules such as for one stroke you don't write over it or you shouldn't have to dip your brush in the ink for each stroke. For some strokes you stop and some you just let the bristles slide. So this is something that I want to keep working at...it will be my weekly challenge.

Friday was sports day. I wish we would've had something like this at CCHS! The students marched into the field, had a brief opening ceremony and had a full day of games and relays (and clean-up which they all help with). I was on the red team (I just sat and watched) but am proud that we won sports day!... and the statue creating contest! There were lots of games and the whole thing was very organized and ran very smoothly. One of the most interesting games was three girls would lift up another girl and they had to get the hats off of the other teams head...it was a little dangerous. Or there was a game where each team ran to the center and grabbed as many tires as they could which sometimes resulted in a tug of war of sorts (they played that too). Or the guys ran to capture the flag of the other team...many times jumping up on top of a bunch of people. Or people with baskets on their back running and players from other teams trying to throw balls into the baskets...and many more interesting games. There was also a dance competition (both more modern and traditional).

So from what I was told and could tell, there were four teams (yellow, black, blue and red). The whole school was divided into four teams with a mixture of classes in each. It was amazing over the three days of school festival and sports day to see the students talents and energy. They really supported each other as a school and on their teams. The preparation and all the time they took to plan was incredible...it really paid off. From what I was told, each of the students had a role in these days whether it was to perform, organize the food, create a sculpture, etc. From what I know, the students did most of the work. I can only hope they are just as enthusiastic about English class ;-) He he...

After sports day I passed out at 4:00 p.m., got up for a few hours to eat and then slept again for 12 hours. I have been getting lots of sleep but I can't get too used to that because it will be busy soon.

On Saturday my friend Natasha invited me to go swimming...I was just thinking of going to the pool but we went to the coast on the Sea of Japan! It was very beautiful...me an girl from flat-land Ohio and dirty Maumee River is always impressed by the oceans and mountains. We had a potluck after with lots of yummy food including shrimp-kimchee gyoza and rice pudding. I will learn to cook this year!

On Sunday Natasha invited me again to a bbq some of her colleagues were having. We went to a beautiful park. I will check out that area more before the winter hits.

Today is a substitute holiday since we came into school last Sunday. I am at school to use the computer but some of the teachers are here. I swear, they never stop working. This week is the first week of classes. I am really looking forward to it because I have been out of school since April! I am ready for a busy schedule and routine.

Here is what I am thinking for after school activities.

Sunday - break

Monday - Tea Ceremony Club

Tuesday - Japanese Music Ensemble, Japanese lessons, hip hop class

Wednesday - ESS (English Speaking Society), taiko and hip hop (every other week)

Thursday - Cooking Club, Calligraphy Class

Friday - break

Saturday - break

More thoughts...

So, yesterday for about an hour (out of the 9 hour work day) I ventured out in the hallways to meet students. Imagine that. It was so exhausting! I think that is because I have to speak English very slowly and clearly and from meeting many students. I think they get a kick out of hearing themselves speak English. They don't seem too phased when I attempt to speak Japanese...but they think it is really funny when I say "hello" or "hi" to them.

Yesterday I went to the Intermediate Hip-hop class. It was a little more difficult than the beginner one from last week...mainly because they had already been working on a dance for awhile. I plan to go to hip hop one to two times a week.

Today was the school festival. What is that exactly? Still not entirely sure. First we bussed the whole school to Harmony Hall, a concert hall. There were many performances from brass band, to womens chorus to koto ensemble with shamisen guest performers to theater, to high school guys in skirts. I was very tired by the end because of all the Japanese but some things like music and guys in skirts transcend language barriers ;-) We came back to school and got food at booths (we had pre-purchased tickets)...I ate onigiri, chicken, shaved ice and frozen pineapple on a stick. Then there was a fashion show...and later in many of the classrooms there was some activity or display. The most interesting was the human version of that arcade game where you hit the alligator when it pops out. I also bought some hand made soaps by the JRC (Junior Red Cross?) club where the benefits will go to an AIDS organization.

So remember that I said I would dance for the teachers performances? Well I was telling one of the staff at the school I didn't have the costumes and she showed me today a makeshift costume she made me. It was a nice gesture but more inauthentic (is that a word? I know, sad, b/c I am an English teacher). This should be interesting.

On the front page of the Daily Yomiuri...the Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda stepped down from his position...after less than a year. This also happened to his predecessor Shinzo Abe. Hmm...all these political elections going on.

Also, there was an article called "Excuse Me, But I'm From Ohio". It was talking about how many people think there is nothing in Ohio but cornfields and they get it mixed up with Iowa and said that people there don't take risks...but did you know the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, Toni Morrison, John Glenn and Sarah Jessica Parker are all from Ohio? You should check out the article if you have time...

A lot happens in little time...

(These pics are just from when I was biking around the city).


I know I said that I would post once a week but since it is still the beginning of the year I have a lot of thoughts in my head...enough to keep me awake at night. Speaking of which, I can not seem to fall asleep at night. I think of every possible topic from the work I will do at school the next day, papa, excitement about Yuki coming, all the activities I want to do, wondering how friends and family are back home, thinking about money, etc. I even think about the little boy from Ju-on. It's a scary movie that takes place in Japan that I saw a few years back. I know I sound weird but right after I turn off the lights he pops into my brain. Maybe it is because I have never lived alone?!

So, the school buys The Daily Yomiuri which is an English newspaper in Japan. I've never been one to really follow what is going on in the world every day but it does give me something to do and it's in English! I mostly read about the upcoming US election. I find it interesting that McCain chose Palin as his running partner. I wonder if he did that to get some of the women vote. And every article I read has to say Obama is black. Really? It is monumental and all but does it really need to be said in every article? I think that Obama does a great job of bringing people of all different backgrounds together, whatever color. Writing as a biracial person I think a lot of people forget that he is also part white? I know the one drop belief goes way back...I'm just rambling. I am also thinking of my friends in St. Paul while the Republican National Convention is going on because probably in some way they will be affected (won't be able to eat at a restaurant b/c it is only opened to the convention, traffic, working extra hard - i.e. John's Pizza Cafe, etc.)

So, yesterday was the welcome ceremony. Before the actual ceremony was a school cleaning where all the students clean the school. I think it gives them pride in the school and their work and also motivation not to make a mess. I decided to get out of my bubble (desk in the teachers room) and walk around the school. One girl was carrying 6 rolls of toilet paper so I offered to help her. She was carrying them fine but for some reason when she only had 3 she dropped one of them...I think she was shocked and a little confused...Who is this strange person? Why are they speaking English to me? Why do they want to help me?

Then at the time of the ceremony I gave a short speech in Japanese for the whole school. It was over fast but it was surreal while the Kocho-senseii or principal was introducing me I was looking across the gym at the whole school looking back at me and was in a brief state of disbelief: Am I really in Japan? How did I get here? After the speech throughout the day I saw students and a lot more than usual said hello or konnichiwa or some kind of greeting. It was nice because now they know who I am instead of this strange person around the school. After school I was downtown and there were a few students from my school (you can tell because all the uniforms are different) and they were whispering...I think trying to figure out if I was the same girl who gave the speech earlier that day. I didn't say hi, I should have. But you know, it's weird. You know when you are a kid you think teachers aren't human. Like if you see them at the grocery store you think...They eat? Maybe you don't think this but I did...and now I am the teacher on the other side...very interesting...a change of perspective.

Also during the school day I talked with one of the English teachers that I will be team teaching with for three classes. She has two classes she said are very motivated and one that is not and doesn't really like English. Well, guess what, that class is my first class of the term so hopefully I'll have energy to make them love English! he he...

After the school day I did a little shopping. Going to school on a Sunday threw me off so I didn't know what day it was but downtown there were people who were obviously getting off of work. Maybe there isn't the same concept of weekend here as there is at home...someone joked that Japanese teachers don't have weekends but I did hear that they work hard but they can play hard as well. So anyways, went shopping...went to the CD store. Man, they are expensive. I paid about 5000 yen for two CDs...let's say roughly 50 USD. Here, though, I heard you can rent CDs. I see why...

Today I have been at school but went home for 2 hours so a rep from the gas company could come and fix my stove (one side didn't work). Well it was interesting b/c in Japanese class I never learned gas vocabulary. And it is sort of an important thing not to burn the house down...so I ended up having the rep call the school so at least they knew what was going on. Long story short, Japanese apartments are typically unfurnished but mine did come with a stove so someone from the real estate office came in, brought another one...it didn't work. They brought another one...didn't work, or so we thought. They have batteries so we tried it and it worked. But during the time we were waiting I was just making conversation with the gas co rep. It was interesting b/c he spoke about as much English as I speak Japanese so we got by with what simple things we could say.

Tonight I need to go to SoftBank my phone company to sort out my plan. It should be interesting but if all fails, they do have an English help line. It is nice that many things are in English so it helps but then I rely on them instead of trying to learn Japanese (for example, reading a train schedule).

So tomorrow we have another day of school festival preparation (where I sit at my desk and plan lessons). On Wednesday and Thursday is the actual school festival and on Friday is sports day. One of the teachers asked me if I would like to participate by performing at the school festival...I guess many of the new teachers are. So I wasn't rude and so I could try to be involved in the school activities (and thus be a part of the community instead of the foreigner) I agreed. I think they were surprised that I said yes. Anyways I volunteered to dance folklorico. As many of you know this is what I love and miss very much. But it might be quite funny because I don't have any costumes here in Japan. Un-authentic, I know.

I decided that I will visit Rachid in Morroco in December. It was a recent decision that I am very excited about. I will take nenkyu which is paid vacation. We have 12 days but I have heard many Japanese teachers use any of them. But being the foreigner that I am I will take advantage of that part of the contract ;-).

Here's my stab at a haiku...
Japan, here I come
Foreign, yet so familiar
Home, where the heart is

And the word of the week is "Sugei"...I have heard it a lot. "Sugoi" kind of means Wow but I guess the new hip term is Sugei . When you use it you have to use a lot of expression and enthusiasm in your voice...

Let's see...

Let's see...

This week I went into school for three days. I worked more specifically on making my self intro lesson. I will have a worksheet for students to follow along with and fill in. And candy if they answer some of the questions in front of the class...I just bought notecards so they can fill in some info about themselves and I will try to use these in future classes to call on students (like pull the notecards out of a bag). I also worked on lesson 4 of the Oral Communications book which is Phone Conversations so after talking to the JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) who I will be team teaching with...I hope we can play the Telephone game and listen to No Doubt "Spiderwebs". I also created a worksheet like a flow chart that gives sample dialogues for what to do in certain instances...like if the answering machine comes on, or if the person they are calling is there/not there, etc. Hopefully these are useful. I am not exactly sure what they are looking for but this week I should be able to talk more specifically with the JTEs about the specific lessons.

I have a desk in one of the teachers room. At this school, and I think through Japan, the teachers in senior high school move from room to room so there is a teachers room(s) where teachers all have their desks together. I like this because if I need to ask a teacher something there is usually someone there, although they are very busy. Also in that room is a lot of information from class lists, class numbers, schedule of the week, fridge, coffee/tea, etc.

The students wear uniforms. The boys wear black pants and white shirts. The girls wear dark blue uniform skirts, white shirts and bow ties. Each class (there are three classes in Junior High and three in High School - that makes 10th, 11th and 12th grade equivalent for SHS) wears different color sandals. They are specifically indoor shoes...red, blue or green. It seems like people switch outdoor to indoor and vice versa shoes in homes and schools. It seems like most stores and offices you just wear the same shoes.

It looks like I will have 18 classes to teach. There are 9 ichi-nenseii classes (1st year) and 9 ni-nenseii classes (2nd year). There are around 32-41 students in each. I will see the 1st year classes (Oral Communication) each once a week and the 2nd year (Writing) each once every other week. I will also help supervise the English Speaking Society (ESS Club).

I checked out a hip hop class...it was fun! And a great workout. The class is under the International English school so part of the purpose is to have Japanese speakers and non-Japanese people interact. So hopefully I will be able to keep attending and get to know some locals. I haven't really worked out since I have been here so my sides hurt for two days after...but the good kind of pain ;-)

Last summer I did the UESS program and two girls from that program, May and Kelina happen to also be on the JET Program this week. I talked/chatted with both of them this week and it was great to catch up with them. It has been great having them on this journey with me...before we left we discussed our fears, hopes, etc. Now that we are here we can talk about our experiences and visit each other. And hopefully when we go back we can have someone to talk about our experiences with after the fact and to figure out the reverse culture shock.

I have been trying to follow the US Democratic National Convention, but it is hard to get exactly what is going on when it is dubbed over in Japanese...and in all my Japanese classes we didn't study political language...so I try to read the mouths of the news reporters and critics on CNN.

Last night a few of us checked out a jazz and swing bar. I ordered a random dessert off of the menu...I didn't know what it was...but it ended up being some yummy ice cream so I might try to do this more often (order random things and try new things) although it might not always turn out so tasty.

Today I cleaned my apartment so that felt good. And I met up with the JET who is my closest neighbor and she showed me a little coffee/cake shop that I never would've found by myself in our neighborhood. So I am glad I got to know her a little bit...and that there is someone close by.

Tomorrow we have our school opening ceremony...yes, on a Sunday. I will give a speech for the whole school...all 900+ students and staff...in Japanese. I will let you know how that goes...

Festivals (Matsuri)

Special thanks to Kali! Now I know how to post pictures...so if you have a minute you can check back at my previous posts where I put in pictures in to go with each post.

On Saturday I was going home to my usually quiet neighborhood but there was a lot of noise, lights and people at the nearby park. I got up the courage to go (from all I could tell it may have been a family gathering)...and then just stood at the side. I then again got the courage (everything takes courage to do here...even the simplest things) to go up and talk to a woman standing by herself (I think this was due in part to the article Carl linked on my blog - Thanks Carl!). She told me it was the neighborhood summer festival. We talked a bit and I'm not sure if she fully understood what I said and I definitely didn't fully understand what she said...sometimes i would just nod my head...so I am still not sure what I agreed to ;-) but we still communicated. She went and got me some yakitori (grilled chicken on a stick) and some orange juice. I asked her ikura desu ka which means How much is it? but she didn't charge me. I am not sure if she paid or the neighborhood association donated it to the strange foreigner...but all I know is people here are very generous and kind.

The next day I was determined to go to another festival that I had heard about...The Eiheiji Lantern Floating Festival. I often go into the tourist information center at the JR Train Station in central Fukui because they speak a little bit of English and are always willing to help and answer any questions (and do all this very slowly so I can understand). I asked a lot of questions about where to go, how to get there, how long it would take, etc. After I exited the office one of the ladies followed me out of the office to give me more information (this happened twice)...another example of how kind and accomodating this country can be.

The actual festival was awesome. There was all kinds of food. I ate yakitori, korokke (potato cake?), noodles and ice cream. There was fish on a stick but I didn't have the nerve to try it. Once it got dark the ceremony began...the monks from the temple were chanting sutras but that is about all I know. I should probably find out (after the fact) exactly what was going on. Thousands of lanterns were lit and set to float down the river. I know people bought the lanterns for 1500 yen which is roughly $15 USD. I am also not sure of the significance. It was quite peaceful and beautiful. I just could not get enough pictures and video! Then there was fire works too!

Monday was a day full of workshops. The majority of JETs are not trained teachers so it was a lot of information about how to lesson plan. For me, it was good review...but I am ready to get started actually being in school. There was also a mock/real lesson with local Japanese students. One of the presentations was about future career planning and documenting evidence from this year (it takes me back to preparing my portfolio at St. Olaf). I also realized here that I need to stay very busy this year to be the most productive I can be. I've found that when I have nothing to do, I do nothing. But when I am busy I am happiest and most productive.

On Sunday night I had a dream about meeting Papa. I don't remember what happened but it has been on my mind since. I brought (to Japan) all the letters he wrote me when he first left and just came across a postcard he sent me...that had an address on it. I don't recall every writing to that address and don't know why I never did. Hmm...this is going to be a journey. I got sad about it last night...and a little lonely. So I am especially looking forward to Yuki coming to share this experience with me and to support each other through whatever happens with Papa. I am mentally preparing myself for multiple scenarios.

Today at school I actually felt like I had something to do. I attended a ceremony to honor those students who made high accomplishments in sports this summer. It was quiet compared to what I remember CCHS's assemblies. Later, I gave a speech (short) for the teachers at the teachers meeting. It was a little nervewrecking but it's over. One of the teachers gave me a book to look over to plan the first lesson. I briefly talked with students from the English Speaking Society (ESS) Club about the presentations they will prepare for next weeks school festival (they had made a poster about the US and about Ohio already!) A teacher asked me to edit a listening comprehension test that will be given later. I was a little picky on editing...I think I was a little too specific but I told her my corrections were just suggestions...to make it sound more like natural English speech. This experience is really going to test and refine my English skills. There were somethings that I could not explain so I need to work on being able to explain why something sounds better. Lastly a girl from the ESS club dropped off a journal where students in the club write in English. I think I am supposed to respond...not sure but it is good practice for them.

Ja ne...

This week (konshu)...

This week I have been working on a self-introduction power point presentation to present to my students on the first days of classes. I included some pictures and information about my life/interests/family, etc. and the US. The main point I want to make is that the US is a land of differences because of the large land space (i.e. different climates, landscapes, etc.) and the different groups of people (different languages, cultures, etc.) Besides that I have to prepare a short speech to introduce myself to the teachers next Tuesday and the whole school next Sunday.

On Wednesday of this week we went on a tour of the kencho (prefectural government building). We saw the place where the state assembly meets, governers office (I kept accidentally sitting at the guest of honors chair in the meeting rooms) and emergency call center (satellite and antenna response to emergencies). It was interesting to see what happens in this building...I might try to attend one of the assemblies of the representatives (there are 118 seats for visitors) but I wouldn't understand what they were saying...

It's a little frustrating not to be able to read things...I made curry and it came out all watery because I couldn't read the instructions. I guess I will just learn these things by trial and error...and I guess that is a motivating factor to learn to read.

Everywhere I go (especially stores) there is English music playing. If it is not English music it is Japanese music with some English (like one of my favorite new songs "Love This Music (Pushim feat. Jing Teng"). If I watch TV I always watch the music channel to check out what's popular here. There is this one song/video I don't get at all?! This guy is dancing crazy...maybe check if it is on youtube?? I think the name is Sakerock.

As environmentally friendly and eco thoughtful Japan is, they wrap everything! I still can't figure out the exact system to recycle but I have the basics for trash days down. That's because I missed the last time and I have a whole bag full of non-burnables that have been in my house for a week and a half.

Yesterday we had the contract signing ceremony. It was very formal, but oddly enough we didn't sign anything?! We didn't even put our hanko (seal that everyone has in place of a signature). We did a lot of standing up, bowing, sitting down, saying "Hai" when our name was called. It was very short. We had a reception afterwards and I was placed at the table with the superintendent of the Fukui prefectural Board of Education but he kept walking away from the table...so I didn't try my Japanese out on him.

I just went to the Fukui International Association building to meet with legal consultants to help me with the process to find papa. It is a free service they offer every so often. I arrived right on time but didn't know exactly where to go so for 50 minutes I waited for them as they were waiting for me! Anyways it worked out and one of the ladies is going to try to obtain a copy of my father's koseki (family registry) so we can get more information (since I am not giving them very much to work from).

Right now I am in AOSSA...a building centrally located in downtown. It is one of my favorite places to go. First floor has shops (I just gave in and bought a pair of crocs for indoor school shoes - I think they are sort of ugly but they are comfortable), 2nd floor hair salon/baby shops, 3rd food court, 4th library and who knows up above. It just seems like a community place. This is also where I am using the free internet!!

Tomorrow I am going to try to attend a lantern lighting festival (I haven't been to any festivals yet)...and Monday we have a day full of workshops on team teaching.

I have been trying to post pictures but I can't find a computer to upload them on except the one at school where I would have to upload one by one. I will try to post a blog atleast once every Saturday from now on...(Friday night in the States).