Gomennasai

Gomennasai = sorry; sounds like "go men" "nah sigh"

Sorry I haven't written in a while. There is a lot to catch up on, but where to start? The days just melted into each other and all of a sudden it's Friday night! It's not like I am being very active though.

I'll start at Monday, and maybe you can get an idea.

The package my magnificent mom sent a week ago finally arrived!! Right on top was a brilliant copy of Breaking Dawn, the long awaited last addition to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. I pulled it out, and literally jumped up and down, then ran around to show everyone the book. They go the idea I was excited. I even got Winnie interested in the story! Also in the box were some tank tops (a week too late since now it is rainy and chilly!), and some good old American chocolate which I am hording for a later date.

My last class on Monday was canceled, so I began reading around 4PM and was first through the first 200 pages or so by 9PM when I left. When I got home I continued to read until 1AM.

Tuesday I took a bus to Aizu, a city about an hour and 20 minutes NW. They are down a teacher until next week. I read on the bus, and in between classes, and by 7 PM I had finished all 756 pages of the book. Am I good or what?!

As you can see I have lots of planning time at work, and it's pretty flexible.

Next week I will begin teaching in schools. Kindergarten, Elementary, and some Junior Highs. I'm trying not to think about it, b/c the kids feed off your energy, but I am nervous about it. After I do a couple lessons it'll probably get better. I don't know why I always do these things. Many people see my courageous, outgoing attitude and think I love to be on the spot. While I do like attention every now and then, I really hate being the person on spot in front of a bunch of people. Even if those people are a group of 15 second graders!

Pictures

I've been wanting to try this for a while, and I finally have. I made a music video! I think this is a better way to view lots of my pictures too. They take up so much space on the blog. I will continue to post individual pics on the blog, but I hope you enjoy the music video of my first month in Japan. Can you believe it's already been a whole month?!

The music is a song called Life from Kimaguren. I listen to this song everyday, it's like my theme song. The words are in English and Japanese :)

EaRtHqUaKe!!!

Ladies and Gents,

Tonight I experienced my first earthquake!

I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit frightened when it started. It only last a few seconds, maybe 20 at most, and I was in the middle of class.

At first, I felt a little funny and thought maybe I was going loopy. As I looked to the window, it seemed like my vision was swaying back and forth. The student I was talking with sat there, all nonchalant, and said, "It's an earthquake."

"Yeah!" I exclaimed. "It's my first!!" She laughed a little, and I could hear the students in the next room over laughing at my outburst too.

It wasn't a big one, and in retrospect, it was pretty cool. I have been through an (mini) earthquake.

What's weird was this morning I had a strong urge to double check my gas line and make sure I had turned it off. When I did check, I found that I had left the gas to the stove on/open. The earthquake was too small, and I've even been told nothing would have happened. It's just weird that I felt so strongly about it today when I've carelessly left it on in the past. Guess it's just good to be part of my family, as a few other relatives have had 'premonitions' of sorts.

Slipper Surplus

It's pretty common knowledge that people in Japan take off their shoes when entering a place, and sometimes put on slippers. While this is true, it doesn't happen everywhere. Most of the big businesses I have been too request you take off your shoes, leave them on the mat or in a little locker, and wear inside slippers. All of the schools ask you to do this too. There is the occasional exception, like Sony. Sony seems to be pretty casual; all of their employees actually wear jeans. When I asked Lisa about this, she told me that Sony just wanted to make sure their employees were so comfortable so they'd never want to go home.

All of the slippers are a basic design made from plastic. The biggest variant is the color. Some are blue, some green, while other are tan or white. After running around in heels, you'd think I would be grateful for a pair of flat, somewhat squishy slippers, but that's not really the case. The problem, you see, is that I have a difficult time walking in the waterproof slippers, especially if I am required to climb stairs! My pantyhose-covered feet are always threatening to slip from under me. And although the slippers fit the length of my big foot, they are too wide. As I climb the stairs I wonder, " Oh, there goes the slipper again. Shoot, gotta keep my foot in the slipper. "

I mean, what would happen if my foot made contact with the ground? It can't be that big of a taboo; other people are sure to have done it. But all the Japanese businessmen are probably thinking, "Those stupid gaijin. They can't even wear slipper right."

Here's a sample of these torturous footwear:

Twilight (another non-Japanese topic)

If you are into the the Stephenie Meyer books (_Twilight_, _New Moon_, _Eclipse_, and the newly released _Breaking Dawn_) I know you have seen, and wondered about this picture. Yes, it's a great Beauty and the Beast picture. Bella, our main character, is gorgeous, possibly to represent that whole forbidden fruit theme. Edward is a vampire, and positively deathly, and deadly, looking. This a bit of stretch from how the characters were written, but maybe it's to push the movie. Bella is your average high schooler, and while Edward is a pale vampire, he doesn't look like he's on Death's doorstep. But from surfing the web for other snippets from the movie, I think they generally look good and close to character, now only if they can act it. ::crossing fingers::

I'll probably like the movie either way, but I certainly don't like the Entertainment cover :(

The way in which this does apply to Japan is that Stephenie Meyer books are totally inaccessible! Erin, my neighbor and fellow Tampa girl-living-in-Japan, went to Tokyo last week, looked in the big bookstores, and still couldn't find any of the books!!! Luckily, my fabulous mother has sent me a copy of _Breaking Dawn_, and when the movie is released on dvd I'll buy it off some online site, cuz if the books aren't out, the movie probably won't be either.

Here is an idea of the time lapse: the movie P.S. I love You, staring hunky Scot Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank is currently available in the states on DVD. In Japan, the movie will be released to theaters on October 18th, 2008. Woo-hoo! I missed it in theaters back home, so I just need to wait another 2 months!

Herbert's box

This isn't about Japan at all, but since I am from Florida, I'm still keeping tabs on home. While looking for news on the Tropical storm/soon to be hurricane Fay, I found this clip about Herbert's box (sounds like aye bear's box). It's kind of like the Bermuda Triangle, but for hurricanes, and there are 2.

Check this out
Herbert's box

BLOG ADJUSTMENT

I've changed some of the settings on the blog.
Everyone should be able to leave comments whether or not you have a Google or blog account. It will automatically come up as "anonymous" so please leave your name in the comment. That way I will know who wrote it.
I love reading the comments, or even get emails from you. It helps me stay connected to back home!

Thanks!
Steph

Random Pictures

A large knife


This is a man's shirt


At what time do you think this picture was taken?
Did you guess 5AM??


A scary face near the city temple

Around town pictures 2

The temple in the city park


Cleansing/purifying before we go up to the temple. It's like holy water when you go into the church.


Kids playing in the fountain at the park.


A pretty red bridge in the park.


The old city temple, right in the middle of downtown actually.

Fireworks at the Culture Park. (the red lights are stand by EMTs)


A firwork over the crowd. There were thousands of people there.

Around town pictures

Nobby cooking meat at the Isakaiya for tabe hodai (all you can eat)


Jo's Dad, Mom, Jo, Me, Yusuke, Nobby, Matty


The menu for the bar we (the gaijin) most often frequent.
We just call it "God's bar". Cash on delivery means you order, get the drink/food and pay immediately, not at the end of the night.


Owner of God's bar, Ken (in the black polo). The other bartender, ???


Jo's Dad, the 'cute' waiter, and Mel at nomi hodai (all you can drink)


Mel and the bouncer of Casablanca arm wrestling.

Mel and I after a loooong night of dancing

Engrish

When translating, many things get lost, such as meaning or grammatical structure. In America we like to have t-shirts designed with words from Japanese or Chinese or other languages, because we think it looks cool. The same is true in Japan. There is English writing all over the place, A good percent of the time, the English is correct, but more often then not you will find something wrong. Sometimes it's so bad you wonder how it is even possible.

When I find Engrish, I will do my best to take a picture and post it.
Here is one from local Music and book store in AEON Town.

Jesus is a wheat rice cracker!

Well, Jesus is Jesus, but in Japan the actual wafer, before it is consecrated and all that jazz, is cross between a wheat and rice taste. It still has that styrofoam texture, but with a little extra cardboard thrown in.

As you've probably gathered, Mom and Dad, I went and found the Catholic Church today. Yes, of course the mass was still the same, but that really didn't help me understand the Japanese. Luckily, they gave me a little booklet that has the English and Japanese words. So here translated for you is Profession of Faith -->one of the Catholics top prayers

Zenno no Kami dearu Chichi
wo shinji masu.
Chichi no hitorigo.
Otorne Maria kara umare,
kurushimi wo ukete
homurare.
shisha no uchi kara
fukkatsushite.

(and then there's actually a part missing.)
This is what it says in English:

I believe in God,
the father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died
and buried.

(and another piece missing)

Also, a normal mass with singing and a decent homily should be about an hour long. Special occasions are longer, and Mass with no singing is shorter- about 45min tops.
This Mass in Japan had no singing, and it was still an hour! I guess it wouldn't be so bad, but the homily was 25 minutes long, and after about 5 minutes of only understanding maybe every 15th word the priest uttered in Japanese, my mind was wondering and my butt had that prickly sensation you get when your foot falls asleep. These are the only words I understood:

Kami = God; sounds like "ka" as a bird would say caw caw and "mi" like me, myself
Kiristo = Christ; sounds like the Spanish "Kristos"
ne? = yes; sounds like neh. Ne with a "?" is like, 'Isn't that right?" (The priest said ne? after almost every other sentance)

Anyway, they have English Mass, but that priest is currently on leave in Poland. The priest now is from Quebec, so he only speaks French and Japanese, and rusty English. English Mass should start again in the Autumn, though I was told I am always welcome. Even though the priest said he understands how it is difficult to get to Mass in this society because of work and heat, so it's ok if I don't go every week. Maybe he just needs to brush up on his English skills...

The all nighter = no night

Last night I decided to stay up late, watching a Japanese tv show online. I justify it as language study. It's also still vacation week, so I'm not really worried about my daily routine.

Around 4:30, I finally felt ready to sleep, so I turned off the computer and climbed into bed, and was struck by a bright light outside my window/sliding glass door. I usually sleep in total darkness, so this light was a bit of a bother. I thought maybe it could be the porch light, but I still haven't figured out where that switch is. So I crawled out of bed and went to investigate. I thought maybe there could be a timer or something on the porch. As I pulled back the makeshift drapes (really bed sheets), and reached for the door, I realized that not even the street lights where on. The sky was cloudy, but bathed in a rosy-purple pink light. The sun was at the point where it is still hidden below the horizon, but is high enough to start lighting the dawn. And it was only 4:45 AM!!!!!!


The sun over here is Crazy; yes with a capital C!

A day of improvement

Before I begin this blog I want to recount a funny thing that happened last week. On Thursday I decided to eat at KFC, locally known as Kentucky's, since it was something my taste buds might recognize. I walk in to be greeted by rapid Japanese, so I nod my head and mumble "Konnichiwa" (good afternoon). Then I say "Kore onegaishimasu" and point to something that looks like a chicken wrap.
kore = this; onegaishimasu = (roughly translated) please honor my request.
The guy rambles on a bit more in Japanese, both of us understanding that neither of us really knows what the other is saying. Somehow I ended up getting a combo with coke ( I don't usually drink coke unless it's a mixed beverage.) I get my food and sit down in a corner of the empty restaurant. 15 minutes later, 2 ladies walk in pushing a baby in a stroller. I think it's weird that they aren't talking, until I take a second look at them and realize they are speaking in sign language. The poor guy behind the counter tried to keep a straight face, but I could just tell he was thinking "What a day. I can't talk to anyone!"


As for today, despite not getting to the fridge or floors, I had a very productive day. I finally went down to the store to talk to Mr. Noda about removing the broken couch and obtrusive green chair in the kitchen. That sweet man got right to it, and now I am unusable-furniture free! I also decided to try to use up some of the random stuff left my last girl to make dinner. Bequeathed to me was an arm load of spices (some expired), an onion, quick cook rice for rice balls, whole wheat spaghetti, and 3 cans of tomato. Wonderful mix, right? I decided tonight would be a great Italian night, and since I had spaghetti and canned tomatoes. On your every day basis, I hate tomatoes. I hate cherry tomatoes, stuffed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato juice, all of it. But I don't mind tomato sauce as long as I can pick around the chunks of tomato. I looked up a recipe online for tomato sauce, and ran to the store.

At the store I was able to pick up a pot (I only have frying pans), garlic, parsley, and wine. i was overjoyed to find my fav wine, Mouton Cadet, at the store. Unfortunately it's a half size for about 10 bucks. So I gambled on a Spanish wine called Sangre de Toro from Torres because it came with a cute little bull figurine :)
It's actually a very yummy wine full body with medium tannins, and lots of fruity dark red berry and pepper taste.
At home I followed the directions and wha-la! homemade spaghetti sauce that actually tastes good! It was a little on the sweet side, but I can't tell if it was the wheat pasta or something in the sauce. I made enough that I have leftovers for lunch this week, but I also didn't use to the whole bag of pasta. In the future there will be more Italian nights, complete with wine and Josh Groban singing in the background.

Time for a break!

Thursday and Friday were such a whirl wind! It's hard to remember now, but I spent a better part of both days just try to get to my next teaching location. I covered at the culture center in the mall Thursday afternoon, but I had 20 minutes to catch a taxi to the train station in rush hour traffic to get to Sony. I ran into the train station, praying that the directions my co-workers had given me would lead to a platform I had never seen before.

I got to the train with a minute to spare, 20 seconds of which were spent trying to open the train door. Seriously, all the door were closed, so I just stood outside looking forlornly in and sort of waving my hand in hopes of hitting a sensor. Fortunately, I saw a little white to the right of the door. Unfortunately, the directions were in Japanese. (Duh!) So I squeezed my eyes, sent up another prayer, and pushed the button. And, ta-da!, the doors opened. So I jumped on board, and walked around looking for those freaky ppl with light hair and big noses (my gaijin co-workers) to sit by.

By Friday night, my voice was getting a little scratchy, and I was actually sick of talking about Florida. Everyone wants to know about it, which is fine, but there's only so many times you can say "No snow in Fl" before it take a personal toll.

Lisa took me shopping a showed me some tricks for buying in Japanese ( my fav - look at the picture. It's so basic!) Then she cooked me dinner. What a sweetheart! Lisa has really taken me under her wing. She is very supportive with everything from shopping to how to act in the office and who to talk to.

Saturday was Operation Clean Tatami. I put on my best trash clothes, tied a handkerchief around my nose and mouth, and pulled out all the cleaning supplies. I have 2 rooms with tatami ( straw mat floors), separated by a sliding door. After I moved all the furniture to one side of the sliding door, I dusted away all the spider webs, dust, and other random debris. Then I took the rags and wiped up the floor. The the furniture switched sides, and I repeated the process. I dived the furniture a little differently so know my bedroom is on the right side, and the living room is on the left. The only tv plug, and phone line, however, are in my now bedroom which might be a problem if I have company. Luckily my bed converts to a couch, so if I have enough notice, my living area can just a huge decked out room.

That evening I was talked into joining the group going to Fukushima to see Batman. Saturday was the first day Batman had been released in Japan. Having already seen it, and wanting to save money, I had originally decided not to go. At the last minute, Matty's gf couldn't go, so I only payed 1000 yen the gas money was waived. It was good chance to hang out with my new neighbors, so I am glad I went. A couple things that are different about Japanese theaters: 1. They sell beer. 2. No one talks. Not even when waiting for the movie or during the previews. You could hear a pin drop!

Sunday (today) was Operation Clean Kitchen, which slowly digressed into Operation Clean sink, gas stove, and food shelving unit. There was some pretty nasty grit built up, but now I can easily access the stove and not be afraid of catching the place on fire. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to the fridge and the dishes and utensils cupboard.

Today I also got to talk to my family! We've been chatting on email, but this was the first time I called home from Japan. I used Lisa's (see what a godsend she is?) vonage phone. Somehow it works that she has a state side number, so calling home is like making a local call. It was really good to hear my mom's, dad's, and bro's voice!

This week I have off. A vacation already? you ask. Why, yes, I say. This week is Obon. The actual vacation days vary depending on your company, but since we teach to so many companies James just gives us the whole week off. It's a really great way to start working here. I have a feel for what is expected of me as a teacher, and now I can have some time to explore and get used to Koriyama.

Contacting me

Many people have said they enjoy reading my blog, and I love hearing back from everyone! I realize know that while you don't need any account to read the blog, you do need a google or blog account to leave a comment.

I don't a phone yet, but it will be a Japan number, so online would be cheapest and quickest.

If you want to write me a letter (so I have something to do between classes), use either of these addresses:

For mailing letters use:
202 Nodaya Mansion

1-3-8 Motomachi
Koriyama-shi
Fukushima-ken
JAPAN 963-8871

For shipping bigger things, like a package use:
James English School at Koriyama Branch
Shinjyo Bldg 4F.
3-5 Nakamachi
Koriyama, Fukushima JAPAN 963-8004

I look forward to hearing from you!

Adjusting

I could stay here for 5 years, and still leave knowing nothing. It's taking a while to adjust, and I knew it would. I do have lots of new friends who are helping me, but no one I am really close to yet. I knew I'd miss my friends, but I didn't realize how much I'd miss having the connection of a close friend near by. :(

Everything is Japanized. The apple juice tastes watered down, the rice is always sticky, they don't know what an amaretto sour is at the bar, the fried chicken tastes like seafood, taxi doors open on their own, everything is "cute-i-fied", and I can't find any plain, normal chocolate. I haven't cooked yet because I can't read, so I went to the store the other and picked a microwave bowl of spaghetti. What I got was something that tasted like a cheese and ham omelet. (*o*)

To top it off, this morning I took a cold shower. I did let the water run for a minute, but it never even warmed to lukewarm. I think I need to clean the filter for the bathtub, but there are no instructions as to how to accomplish that. I tried, but there is no special bag to empty. It's just a whole in the floor!

Add it to the list of questions, right? It certainly is interesting.

Uneme Matsuri (festival)

Nobby and Jo- They took me shopping all day


On the way to the Festival


Jo, me, and Peter in Yukata


One of the many dance groups


The huge drum. It's soo cool (Sugoi!!!)


Matty and Haruka

From what I can gather, Uneme was a court lady who committed suicide by drowning herself in a lake after she was parted from her lover. The next day something miraculous happened, but the miracle depends on your region. In Koriyama, flowers sprang up all around the lake.

It's been one week...

I had a very long weekend.

Friday
My first official day of teaching. But I had no classes, so basically I sat around the office reviewing class notes and text books.
After work we all went out for Aussie Mel's send off (she's the one I am replacing). God's Party, the name of the bar were all the gaijin hang out, is your typical bar for Japan, but in the US it'd be a very nice place. It's clean, the music is decent, drinks are about $5 which is a good price over here, and they serve food if you are hungry.
While we were there we met some guys from South America and I got to practice my Spanish (lol!). We left God's and headed to Casablanca for some Salsa! Who ever thought I could be so comforted my dancing the meager Salsa I learned in college. I had to call it a night at 2:30, but a lot of the other girls stayed out until closing time, 5 AM.

Saturday
I woke up around 8:30, but I don't know if that's from jetlag or my usually habit of getting up early after drinking too much. I tried to organize and clean, but I was still missing a lot of tools. Joanne and her boyfriend Nobby (that's his British English nickname) picked me up around 1 and we went shopping. That evening was a big local summer festival, the Uneme festival, so along with buying curtains, cleaning supplies, and a shoe rack, I bought a yukata set.

That evening Matty's girlfriend, Haruka, and her mother helped Jo and I dress because it's way to much to do by yourself, especially if you are a confused gaijin. The festival was sugoi!!
Sugoi = cool!; amazing! sounds like the name Sue and goy (rhyme with boy)

Many people at the festival were dressed up. The girls really tried to out do each other by adding flowers and obi(the big belt) decorations, or doing up their hair. There were games were you could catch fish, I won that one, or pick a mystery prize. If you were hot you could buy flavored ice, or cold beer. If you were hungry you could buy any kind of meat on a stick, or a butter potato, or if you wanted to be safer (like me) you could get yaki soba (fried noodles).

On the main street many different companies had put together dance groups. After the Uneme princess is picked, all groups dance around a set route that circles 3 times. It's a basic dance, but it takes about an hour and a half. Next year I think I will join the city hall group, cuz it would be such an amazing experience.

Everything shut down around 9PM, right after the dancing, and then we all went to God's again, cuz apparently the thing to do in Japan is drink. Work hard, play hard I guess.

Sunday
I didn't do much Sunday, but clean and organize, and my apt. still looks like a disaster zone. I bought the house package from Aussie Mel, which includes furniture and anything I need. But the couch is broken, the futons are mostly old and smelly, and I guess she thought she needed to include all her old extra camera and cell phone boxes and old bank statements and bills.

Monday
My first day of classes! I was nervous, and everyone's speaking ability is pretty low considering most people have been studying for a year already. But classes are more informal than back home at ELS, and for the students it's just like something extra to do. Most students aren't studying hard core like at ELS. Adjusting to that will take time. I prefer having more structure and a direction.


(I'll try to get pics up. Right now there are "errors")