Winter is coming...

So...since the last time I posted...

I visited an elementary school which was a nice change from the high school setting. The kids were so cute and helpful. I shared information about myself and my country and they showed me how to paint flowers in the traditional Japanese style (the picture is not my artwork).

I went to Kobe to visit one of my supervising teachers from student teaching who was in Japan on a delegation from St. Paul to Nagasaki (sister cities). It was awesome to see her and meet her friend. Her friend was very generous and treated us to a night stay in hotel with an onsen (hot springs) and a huge traditional Japanese full course meal. We were stuffed and had a relaxing time.

Our prefecture had our Midyear Conference. It was two exhausting days but packed with good information. Five of the teachers that I collaborate with attended so I think that it opened up communication between us. I also led a workshop. It was very hot in the room so it was difficult to present but all-in-all I think it went well.

Last week, it snowed for the first time. Supposedly it is rare to snow here this early...since then it has hailed twice and rained all week. Maybe it won't snow again for awhile but the snow on top of the mountains is pretty from afar. Up close...well let's just say it is difficult to bike in the snow. They don't plow the streets here...instead they have sprinklers in the streets that squirt out water to melt the snow.

This past Friday night...we went out for pizza. We got the terikyaki chicken pizza which had chicken, artichokes, corn and some other toppings I forgot. There were some interesting pizzas on the menu...some with squid and octopus...things that I don't know if I will try...

School is going fine but I have been sick this week which sucks. They have decided to turn on the heaters a week early since it has gotten colder earlier than usual. This means the classrooms and teachers rooms are warm but the hallways are as cold as it is outside. It is hard to constantly adjust to the temperature changes. And the heaters smelled heavily of gas...so you open the windows but the smell made me get a headache.

Not much of an update...

Not much of an update. We (Yuki and I) are settled in here and have a routine.

This past weekend

We went to another reggae party. It was fun but it was so smoky! A lot of people smoking is a small space = hard to breathe and sore eyes. Japanese people seem to be so healthy, but so many of them smoke. I don't get it.

I met with some other ALT's and went out to the gardens by Maruoka Castle (didn't go inside, will save that for later)...I wanted to see some pretty leaves changing before they all fall off.

We also went to the grounds of Eiheiji temple (didn't go inside, will save that for later). It was very beautiful with the tall trees, changing leaves, waterfall, architecture, ancient burial grounds, etc. I hope to go back and spend the night there one day...to live like a monk for one night.

School

Some classes have really gotten on my nerves. I constantly have to tell them to stop talking. Hmm...

Anyways, I attended tea ceremony club for the first time this week. I participated as a guest and I hope to go back regularly and learn how to prepare the tea for the tea ceremony. It is very formalized, structured and there are so many steps. I really admire their attention to detail.

The schedule is so irregular so some days I have 5 classes and some days I have 1. So I am really tired some days, and bored other days. I have been trying to studying Japanese in my free time at school (because Yuki turns on Grey's Anatomy at home so I can't concentrate). It has been working out pretty well and two of my students volunteered to help me study. Today was a beautiful sunny day so I actually went outside for lunch and to study Japanese. I want to enjoy the nice days while they are left.

The World for Obama

So yesterday I wore my Obama shirt (that I bought when I went to Obama, Fukui, Japan). Even though I had already put in my vote (via absentee ballot) and even though Japanese people here can't vote I just wanted to raise awareness of the US Election. It turns out another ALT was wearing the same shirt. Then I aired it out and wore it to school today. I have only gotten positive reactions.

Today I only had one class so I watched about 2 1/2 hour of videos on CNN. It was interesting and very inspirational...especially all the videos of first time voters. I almost wished that I could have waited in line for hours to be a part of it all (I have always voted absentee). I also watched many videos about people's reactions and opinions from around the world and how important this election is to many people around the world. I was keeping close tabs on the"History as it happens" section on the CNN website where they post the state by state results and was worried about being overly confident. I went to lunch and talked with a student about the election. They said they liked Obama and I asked why. They said, "black, white...he is fair" and "I like his thinking". I said, "me too".

One thing I got annoyed with was that in almost every article in the newspaper I read here it mentioned that Obama will be the first black president. I was always thinking, well duh can we just get to the issues? But now I realize how significant it really is, how far our country has come. And I can relate to him as a biracial person and realize how he can bring people together regardless of factors such as race.

Today after I came back from lunch some new results were posted (on the West Coast) and now Obama has 306 electoral votes, 36 more than he needs to win the Presidential election. I am trying to hold back tears. I am so proud of our country, proud at this moment to be an American. Before I came to Japan I always hesitated to call myself an American. Now that I have been here awhile people always ask what country I am from so I say America (that is what they call it here) or the US and so I have accepted the label of American. But today I can actually say I am proud to be an American... we are looking towards change in the US, we are hopeful. Voter turnouts broke records this election. It is so exciting. And can I just say that Lucas County voted 70% Obama and 29% McCain...so great job to all the organizers out in Toledo!

おひさしぶりですね (long time, no see)

So time flies and it has already been two weeks since my last post. This blog is my only form of writing out my thoughts while I am here so I want to make sure that I am consistently writing. Since the last time I wrote...I think I am pretty much settled in to life here. So maybe I have felt that I don't have much to write that is new but there are still things all the time that are different, shocking, exciting, etc.

Last Weekend

Last weekend in Fukui were the Halloween celebrations planned by the local International Club. It happened a week earlier than I am used to Halloween being, so I was not in the Halloween mood but I did go to the local mall to see a bunch of cute kids dressed up. We also had the international festival at the local international association. Yuki and I stayed all day, first volunteering to monitor kid games and face paint and then enjoyed food from around the world and all kinds of performances (dance, singing, capoeira, etc.) It seems like I always see Japanese people around so it was nice to see some of the foreigners in Fukui come together. I still get surprised when I see a non-Japanese person. Japan is a homogenous country, and there are more and more foreigners coming into Japan but it still throws me off.

School

Ichi-nenseiis are doing show and tell presentations. I have been getting very angry with students who talk during other students presentations. It is not really my job to discipline but some classes probably think I am mean because I have gotten really stern with them. With the ni-nenseiis I am still trying to figure out how to teach Writing. I just feel bad that they are my guinea pigs.

I helped a JTE out with one of his classes where he would be evaluated by other teachers and a member of the Board of Education. He was so nervous which made me nervous but it made me remember when my supervisors would come into watch me student teach. I told him that he is a great teacher and they just want to help him improve.

I have been going to cooking club and am going to start going to Tea Ceremony Club and hopefully Japanese Music Ensemble club.

This weekend

This weekend was so great because May (and her friend Holly) and Kelina came to Fukui. It made it feel more like home. So now I am less homesick. We did a lot, so we are exhausted today. On Saturday we went to Katsuyama where some other JET's drove us around. We went to the dinosaur museum (many dinosaur remains have been found in Fukui), the Big Buddha (supposedly the biggest in Japan, was built only 20 years ago so doesn't have much historical significance or get much recognition) and Heisenji (a beautiful nature walk with fresh air and like "natural refrigerator" because the air was so cool). Yesterday we went to Takefu to the Crysanthemum Dolls which depicted the story of the Tale of Genji (which I don't know) and to Tojimbo cliffs (the place I went before when Yuki first arrived, it is known for it's beauty but it is infamous for many suicides).

In general

It is getting colder...and with no central heating I am not looking forward to the winter. In school the hallways are as cold as outside so I will probably dread leaving the teachers room.

Yuki got the job at McDonald's but first has to go through the Japanese paperwork process. He needs a postal bank account (Japanese post offices do much more than mail), but before that he needs a certain type of Japanese identification, before that he needs a copy of his koseki (family registry) and also his hanko (personal seal). So hopefully it won't take too long.

I am procrastinating on writing our dad a letter. Maya wants Yuki to take care of it and Yuki doesn't know what to write so I think I will write him an impersonal letter asking him to meet with us and see if he responds.

せんしゅのしゅまつ (this past weekend)

Friday

I went with two classes of ichi-nenseii students on their school (day) trip. We went to Mikuni (about an hour bus ride from Fukui City) and enjoyed the coast, a great BBQ (I was so full) and afterwards went bowling. I was SO exhausted, especially because on Fridays I usually get off at 1:00 (half day) but we got back to school at 5:00 p.m. At the coast, some of the students had caught all these creatures of the sea (I can't think of what they are called) but we later found out it was illegal so they put them back.

Mami's goodbye party was very chill and a lot of fun. It was a taco potluck. Some ingredients you would usually put in a taco are hard to find here...like cheddar cheese, or sour cream. You have to go on a special outing to get tortilla chips, I guess. Mami will be back in about a month but I realized that I just got to know her a few months ago but I still consider her a close friend. I think people make friends fast here...out of necessity for a sense of belonging and to have a support system. I am glad that I have made friends that I can trust and enjoy spending time with.

Saturday/Sunday

A group of us from Fukui headed down to Osaka. We met up with May and Kelina. It was a rushed weekend but fun. Osaka is a big city full of shopping. When we were packed into the train I realized I am not a big city girl. But I do like to visit big cities. Kelina had a very nice apartment on the 19th floor of her building so we got a great view. We had okonomiyaki which is a food famous in Osaka.

Monday

My school had the day off so Yuki and I did errands. He went to a clinic where the doctor spoke English and charged a reasonable price. So we were happy. We went to look for jobs but I got frustrated because I couldn't speak Japanese or understand. But he has an interview tomorrow...so our fingers are crossed.

School

In ichi-nenseii classes we are preparing for the oral presentations they will give (show and tell). So there is a lot of editing, rewriting, rephrasing, etc. It is difficult at times because of the language barrier but when we figure it out it is so exciting. In ni nenseii classes at the beginning of the class we do a warm up activity. The students come up with pizza toppings and Japanese pizza toppings are much different than American...squid, corn, tuna, fish, etc. Sounds...interesting. During class we have been brainstorming and writing essays and it is very difficult for most of the students. I don't know how to motivate the ones who just sit there or don't respond to my questions. I don't know if I should keep trying or put my focus on students who seem to care at least a little.

Random

So it's not looking good to visit Morocco so I have been sad this week...and getting homesick...but I hope it will pass. I am trying to keep things planned for my weekends (to look forward to) and stay busy with after shool activities so it doesn't get worse...

Toyohashi
This weekend was so much fun. Yuki, our friend Natasha and I went to visit some friends in Toyohashi in Aichi prefecture (that we had met over 5 years ago when they came to Toledo through a Sister Cities Program). When we arrived we headed straight to the onsen, or public bath. It was very relaxing. I don't think those would ever fly in the US just because people are so self conscious of their bodies so I will enjoy them while I am in Japan. They have different kind of tubs (jets, salts, etc.) with different temperatures.

The next day we went to a big shopping center and the fish market. We tried a lot of new food. I want to be open minded but I still have trouble eating really slimy things. But I didn't feel bad cuz the vendor told me she didn't like what I said I didn't like either. We went back to our friends house where her mom cooked a HUGE meal with sashimi and oden. There is a picture posted of the food. She went all out. I call her Super Woman now ;-)

We went to the local festival where they were shooting off fireworks but people were holding them and then lit them off...very dangerous...but exciting. The next day we went to another local festival and had a delicious lunch and afterwards carried a mikoshi (portable shrine). It was very heavy. We said Washoi (spelling?) which means lift Japan. We carried the portable shrine to the "non-portable" shrine where the festivities continued. We then went to another area where they throw mochi off of a platform and everyone scrambles to pick up as much as they can. Kind of reminded me of a pinata. We did so much and I was exhausted but it was worth it.

Reggae
On the bus on the way to Toyohashi was one of the local reggae artists we saw perform at the Irie 365 concert that I raved about before. He invited us to a concert on Monday (national holiday - Health and Sports Day). It was in a town about an hour away and we had a great time listening to reggae music and afterwards went to a restaurant/bar to eat fancy oishii (delcious) food, eat espresso ice cream and play simulation golf. We learned some Fukui-ben (the local dialect perceived by other parts of Japan as country talk). My favorite is Hoya Hoya which means Yeah Yeah and danne which means no problem. Yet another great weekend.

School
This week is midterm examinations so I have no classes. But I do have a lot of grading! I am grading scripts that ichi-nenseii (first year students) wrote for their upcoming oral presentations. It is difficult cuz there are 346 of them and they start to all sound the same. Some of the same errors are occuring so I will try to address these in class. The ninenseii students are in Okinawa, which I call the Hawaii of Japan. I wish I could be there too.

Yuki
Yuki is still a little sick...I hope we don't have to take him to the doctor again. Other than that he is very active - doing aikido, Japanese lessons and hip hop class. We will soon start looking for a job but it is a little more difficult that we would have thought because he doesn't have a college diploma AND he doesn't speak Japanese (but he is learning fast). If it was just one of those it might be easier...hmm.

What I am looking forward to:

• Our friend Mami's going away party. I met Mami here in Japan and she is moving to Canada. I am sad, but glad friends can get together before she leaves
• This weekend we will visit Osaka and will see May and Kelina (I knew them before I came to Japan from UESS in MN) and Masa (our brother who we hosted when he came to Toledo through Sister Cities)
• Morocco - it is looking good to visit Rachid there in December so I am very excited!!!

A trip to the hospital

This past weekend...

Movies
Yuki and I went with two friends to see Wanted this past Friday. in Japan, if the theater is full you choose your seat when you buy your ticket (on a screen at the ticket counter). That is different than first come, first serve in the US. For the English movies you can also choose if you want subtitles or voice overs.

Speech Contest
I was one of the (volunteer) judges for the Fukui Prefecture High School English Oratorical Speech Contest on Saturday. There were three sections: technical/vocational school, general/academic school and impromptu speeches. I, along with another ALT, and two Japanese judges judged the 2nd section. In section 2, there were a little over 20 students who gave speeches on numerous topics. I thought they were all so brave to give a speech in English. They all really did a great job...it was hard to give numerical values to their speeches based on content, English and delivery (the categories we rated them in) and to pick the 3 prize winners and honorable mentions. Some were more standout in a particular category and some were more well rounded. The top two winners will go on to the regional competition and maybe even national. The winner we chose wrote about how she is the natto ambassador. I have mentioned natto (fermented soy beans) before...one of those acquired tastes. I like it but many people don't. Her topic choice was unique and very good delivery (she showed her passion for this topic, even if a bit silly).

Hospital
Yuki came down with something like strep. It was getting worse so we decided to go to the hospital. It could have been a very frustrating experience but luckily one of our friends was there and translated for us. It was still frustrating not being able to understand what the doctor was saying and not be able to answer questions. The emergency room was very busy when we arrived but they cleared it out fast...another example of Japan's efficiency. I was very frustrated with trying to get medicine. I went three places before I could find a place that could fill the prescription. I guess even some pharmacies are closed on Sundays. I guess you just can't get sick on Sundays!

School
Today I arrived at school and the schedule changed (this is not unusual). I still don't really get why it changes so often. I had four classes in a row so I am beat. On a random note, aside from the Oral Communication and Writing classes I teach the students have English reading and English grammar courses. I am also helping a girl prepare for her college (English) interview. I am not sure exactly what questions to ask...