The Last Few Months Have Been a Little Like This...

Here is the URL for those who want to see it bigger. http://youtu.be/u0GmPMr8UF4

Some random things that I have seen or experienced

• While waiting for a train to pass I observed 3 Jr. High boys who were laughing really loud and holding down the train bars when the bars started to rise.  They took off running and I thought "Japanese kids really are not that different from American kids."  And then...one of the kids dropped his books and all of his assignments went all over the place.  All three boys stooped down to help pick up the papers and said, "sumimasen! sumimasen!"(excuse me/sorry) to all of the adults trying to get around them.

    "...and in some ways they are very different!"

• A lady came up to me crying and thanked me profusely for coming to Japan.  She had tears running down her face and she said "The government won't thank you, but I will.  Thank you for coming!" 

• Finally!  A lady in my neighborhood said "ohaiyo gozaimasu!" to me."  Typically, they either stare or ignore so this made me very happy!

• After a particularly lonely weekend, I was walking home and a car passed by.  I noticed a little girl staring at me in the back window.  I gave her a little smile.  She responded by giving me a huge smile in return and waving excitedly.  How cute!

• I'm quite paranoid that a huge earthquake is going to happen and I'm going to have to run outside indecent.  A couple months ago we had three big earthquakes within a 20 minute period.  The first two were when I was in the shower! lol. The first time it knocked over my shampoo, the second time was even bigger and I got the heck out of the shower.

• I read a review of Japan, and a foreigner was complaining about all of the stares that he gets.  This made me laugh because, even as a foreigner, I totally stare at the other foreigners.  lol. 

Personal:  I'm doing pretty well.   I knew things would start feeling better around 7 months and they are.  Everything is feeling better. I was able to spend time with a very good friend of mine (but it was too short).  My Mom and sister are coming soon!  I am sooo excited!! :)

Work:  One of the most difficult parts of being at my job has recently changed.  It is a bit easier to deal with now.  I still have many stressful things (don't we all),  but I am handling them much better now.  My schedule is crazy and it is supposed to get even crazier.  The overtime is welcome though.  

Month 4 Adventures and Decisions.

My time off is so precious, and I don't have much of it here in Japan.   I spend most of my weekends trying to see new places. The experiences that I have I wouldn't change for the world. I'm in serious debate about what to do with my future. I have about a month to decide if I want to renew (for an additional 6 months.)   I am trying to decide if I should do that or consider going to South Korea for a year.  The experience would be great for a future in specialized ESL instruction.   The most appealing option is just going back to Arizona, getting my own apartment, and starting a teaching job.  I am probably least likely to do it though.  Decisions, Decisions!! 

Japanese.  I'm not going to learn it. I can understand a small bit, but speaking it is too difficult for me to pick up by only being immersed in it once a week.  (I speak only English at work).  I am sad about this, mostly because I spent a lot of money!  :)   

Here are two places that I have visited recently. 

 

Kamakura. Kamakura has many temples and shrines.  (Shrines are meant for several gods, while temples are devoted to Buddha).   There are customs that are done by the Japanese people as they enter the temples and shrines, (waving incense toward them, washing their hands, or clapping and bowing a certain amount of times when they are in front of   but I have been told by more than one person that this is more out of tradition than religious belief.  The majority of Japanese people do not claim to have religion in their life.

   One of the things we did in Kamakura was drink green tea.  They handed us oversized cups filled with warm, bitter, green tea that was made by mixing powered green tea with hot water.  To ease the bitterness they handed us little sweets shaped like birds that tasted of fine sugar.   This little paper was given to us with our tea. 

"Although the spoon is soaked in soup many times a day, it itself cannot understand the taste of the soup. But, unlike the spoon, just once drop of soup on your tongue can give you complete idea of how it tastes.  What this means is that it gives you no meanings to meet the most honorable men or to read the most excellent books as long as you are insensitive, like a spoon.  It is completely worthless you're too insensitive to learn wisdom from what you've experienced.  Those who try to get a sense of peace by giving pains to others will never be able to cut himself off from a chain of grudge against him.  We should not be insensitive like this person, wishing for this year to be better than last year.  Let's keep in mind that we do something good every day no matter how small it is." 

Amazing tour guides! :)



This amazing looking desert is filled with traditional Japanese
sweets.  The brown stuff in the bowl is really salty so that you won't
get sick of the sweet flavor of the dessert.











 

Yokohama China Town




Chocolate Dumpling.  For some reason
it tasted like Mac and Cheese.  It
was good though. 

 

Yokohama China town is very welcoming, colorful, and warm (in spite of the bitter cold). The streets are small, vendors Chinese restaurants line the streets, there are lanterns strewn about.  We went during the Chinese New Year's so it was very festive.  We could hear drums as we walked around from (at least 4) the dragons and lions that were going around and eating "offerings" from the restaurants.   We found the Panda Emporium and got our feet cleaned by fish.  Here are the videos from this experience. 

Here is the URL for China Town Dragon those who want to see it bigger.  http://youtu.be/Pe1QWWWOPKE 

Here is the URL for those who want to see it bigger.  http://youtu.be/TepkBQHoX0c

Month Three in Japan

For those who want to see it bigger http://youtu.be/oK1xESsphUM

For those who want to see this bigger  http://youtu.be/uWi06VsmMLU

I've already been here for three months!  It is going by so fast! 

I'm definitely hitting the hardest part personally, while things are slowly improving at my job.    I am exactly where I expected to be at three months!  It is so funny how well I know myself.  It really helps for me to realize that it is a process rather than depending on my emotions to tell me how I'm doing. 

My job:  I made it through parent observations.  I received good comments on all but 4 or 5 of my students. (They weren't even bad, just suggestions).  It really surprised me, because I am so new and the students still really miss the guy I replaced.   For the most part, students are adapting to me and are starting to respond more.     A lot of the older students (ages 8-12) still wish that the guy I replaced would come back, but the younger ones are doing great.  I still have a lot of work to do in my teaching!  This experience and everything that I am learning about teaching children is going to be so useful when I go back to the states. 

Personally:  Heather came and it was so wonderful to have her here.  I forgot how necessary it is for me to process out loud. In my job, I'm doing everything I can to stop processing out loud (for a number of reasons I wish I could vent about, but I'd better not).    I think I talked for three days straight! lol.  Poor Heather, thankfully, she is such a good listener.   I said goodbye to her today and cried right in the middle of the train station.    The silence in my apartment is deafening and loneliness is the worst I have felt since I got here.  I suppose I'll mope for a day or two and then try to get out and see more to keep my mind occupied!  :)  

Month Two

URL for those of you who want to see it bigger http://youtu.be/i_IXCQRBut0

Month Two:

One more week and I'll be through with parent observations. (Two weeks and two days of parents filling out forms commenting on my lessons...scary!).  So far I haven't gotten a negative review.  Next week will much harder though.  I've made a goal not to take my work home with me.  This means longer days at the office, but I don't want to think about it at home anymore!  It is making everything seem a lot less stressful when it is my weekend. 

Personally, I've having so much fun.  I've been seeing so many places and I'm starting to meet people.  I am starting to get the hang of the train system and I haven't gotten too lost lately. :)  I am still having a hard time sleeping on my little futon.  Last night I was up about once an hour.  At 4:30am there was an earthquake.  Try sleeping after that!  lol.      

Arbitrary Observations:

The customer service here is absolutely amazing.  There is no tipping here either. I have never been anywhere like this.  Everyone goes way out of their way to help their customers.  More than once I have tried to do something on my own and someone runs over to me to help.  Often, they try their hardest to speak what little English they know to help me.  I always feel so bad!   

The Japanese run.  A lot.  In America, you might see someone running for exercise, or possibly in the airport, but never just randomly down the street.  Men, dressed in business suits, running down the street.  Woman, in heels, suits, or whatever, running down the street.  It is amusing.  But when I am late for something, I join in and run too.   

   

First Month

Hello everyone!  I probably won't post as often after this :)

Here is the URL for those who want to see it bigger. http://youtu.be/CCSDTShff0Q

Here is a video from my first month in Japan.  I can't tell you how often I want to pick up my video camera so that I can share my observations. I try to refrain a lot. 

Personally, I'm fine.  I'm a little lonely, but because I knew I would be, it kind of makes it easier.   I feel kind of like I just need to pay the due of the first six months so that I can really start enjoying being here. 

One of the worst parts is trying to figure out where on earth I am and how to get where I want to go.  Normally, I would just look for a map, but everything is in Japanese.  I learned two of the Japanese alphabets and they are pretty much useless, because there is so much Kanji in everything!  :)  I spend a lot of time, lost.  Nothing new though, at least I have a good excuse now. 

Two more months and one month down.  They say the first three months is really hard.  :)  I am still nervous a lot in my job, there are classes that I dread and get nervous for every time I teach.  I probably will always have classes that I don't love teaching, but I can't wait for the nerves to settle down.    The days are long.  Not just for me, but for my co-workers as well.  The stereotype that the Japanese work long hours is very true, according to what I have seen so far. They usually stay longer then I do at night because I like to plan at home where I can use my computer. During the week, I work from 8:30-10:30 in the morning until 11:30 or so at night when I go to sleep.  Thanks to the busy week schedule, I am actually able to enjoy my first weekend without the stress of planning. 

It is my goal to travel on the weekends.  I am trying to see as much of Japan as possible, while I'm without friends and plans.

I went to church today.  The service was great and I met a lot of great people.   They are all very friendly and helpful. 

Overall, I feel like I am exactly where I knew I would be at this point. It keeps me content even if things are hard.    I know myself well. :) 

Tune in next month for the Japanese Toilets.  lol. 

Apartment Video/Update

Here is my new apartment!  It is a little too long, but you can skip what you want. :) 

 hahaha! The freeze frame!  Here is the url for those who want to see it bigger. http://youtu.be/HheECRrwLf8

Japan

Here are the good things and bad things. This is my update since my first week. :)

Bad:

I can't do ANYTHING on my own!  I have to help with everything; banking, cell phones, internet, a tailor, shopping...you name it, I need help.  I have never had to ask for so much help in my life! I know it is actually very good for me, but it is a little hard on my independent woman's ego. 

I'm getting kind of sick of rice and fried...whatever.  There isn't much else out there for a quick lunch. 

I'm losing a lot of weight. I don't look unhealthy yet, but none of the 700 dollars I spent in suits and work clothes fit me.  I look like I'm wearing pajamas to work.  Unfortunately, this means that I will have to spend more money, either on clothes or a tailor. 

I'm struggling a bit with teaching the youngins (1-3 year olds).  Some of the classes are Mommy's and babies, and most of them are watching me carefully to see if I will do a good job. It is intimidating! :)  Especially when I'm replacing someone who was amazing at teaching.  I do much better with the older students.

I can't understand a word of Japanese. (I take that back, maybe I understand 50-100 words, which is useless).  This is frustrating because I know a lot more than this. 

I'm working probably 70 hours a week.  I expected this, so it isn't a surprise and only 55-60 is actually spent in the school, there is just a lot of planning to do.

Good: 

The best part is I'm not homesick yet. I still am really enjoying seeing new things and meeting new people.  I love finding similarities and differences between me and the people in this culture. 

I have an award winning bakery shop right around my corner. 

My co-workers and manager are amazing.  There are some things that are hard with working with people of another culture, but I couldn't be placed with nicer, helpful, or more understanding people. They go way out of their way to help me.  Including meeting up with me to go shopping on our day off so that I can find things I need!   They even found a Mexican Restaurant for me! 

I found Japanese lessons that are only around 3 dollars a class!  That is wonderful!

I also (thanks to a friend of Mindy's) found a church here. I have yet to try it though.

I'm losing a lot of weight. lol. 

Random bits of neither good nor bad:

My local phone number is 11 digits long!

I'm really scared I'm going to get sick. I really really don't want to wear one of the masks that all the sick people wear here.

I get stared at a lot.  For the most part it isn't blatant, just people who are curious. Some see me coming and quickly look the other way when I make eye contact, some just stare openly, and some look around nervously like they want to say something.

Training Week in Okayama

This video doesn't have much of Okayama in it.  It is just a week of things that came up Oh yeah, even if Karaoke seems like it would be boring, hang on until Sister Christian.  I've never in my  life, heard anyone sing Karaoke like this.   

http://youtu.be/DVuDJ4ch_JU (For those who want to see it bigger).

I was excited. 

I was confused.

I was frustrated.

I was thoroughly entertained because the people in my group were hilarious. 

Training: Training week was as intense as promised.  There is a lot of information and specific instructions for how each age group is to be taught.   I got a little flustered trying to remember the order of everything.  Being under pressure and having people watch me trying to remember what to say next has never been a strong suit for me :)  Thankfully, in spite of not doing as well as I would have liked to have done, I know that I'll be a great teacher once I pick it up!

Personally:  I'm doing well!  I'm in the honeymoon stage where everything is exciting and fun.  The fact that I have no idea what anyone is saying, or what the products are, or why anyone would eat fish and nuts is all part of the experience. 

More videos to come!  I will get my new apartment up soon. :)