If You Can't Stand the Heat in the Kitchen...

Get into the air conditioned bedroom. Ahhhhh...Today was very hot and humid, I'd say about 85 degrees F and very humid. There was a nice breeze blowing in, but it was still a warm breeze. I'm starting to wonder how hot it needs to get for the schools to turn on the air conditioning, which they clearly have. I have a feeling that it's only going to get hotter.

Anyways, after my last post complaining about some of my trouble students, I think it's time for some praise for my good ones. One 3rd year (remember, that's 9th grade in America) student does most of his English work in cursive, which is not taught at all at this level. That means he went out on his own and taught himself. To write in neat cursive. Very impressive, I'd say. Another one of my 3rd year students (one who doesn't do any work) is an AMAZING artist. I mean, not just for a teenager. His drawings are the BEST I have seen in person. Most of them are of crazy demon-like creatures, or cartoon characters, but seriously, I think he has the creative talent to be a cartoonist right now, as a 15 year old. The English teacher in me wants him to study and excell at English, but a part of me honestly thinks "does he need to?" I mean, why should he have to learn another language if he is obviously more suited towards the arts. I just really, really hope he doesn't opt out of an arts or technical high school to become a farmer (which, in this area, is probably what his parents did). That would be a tragedy. One of my 2nd year students is fluent in English. I found out that he was born in Australia, and has a British father and a Tibetan mother. He doesn't spell in English really well, and seems to be fluent in Japanese too, so I don't think he was raised in an English speaking country. My point is, of all the kids, he probably has a right to be bored and sleep through class, but is always kind, attentive, and participates fully. There is another 3rd year student who is kinda bad at English. His handwriting is very sloppy, and his comprehension just isn't really there. He does TRY though, and that makes all the difference in the world. Most of the baseball playing jocks like him who found out 2 years ago that they just didn't understand English have completely turned off and given up on it. He has not, and in my book, that earns you a lot of respect. He also is an avid fisherman, and has told me (in Japanese) about the big bass and carp he has caught, and asks me when I will start fishing in Japan. The last one I'll tell for now is...well...kind of ego boosting. There is a 3rd year girl who has a pretty big crush on me. It's very cute, and because of it, I think she tries a lot harder in English so she can impress me.

Also, here is an artist's rendition of me by a student (but not by any of the students mentioned above):


Tessa says it looks like I belong in a Harry Potter movie, but I think I look quite dashing (that's my neck tie on the bottom) don't you think? BTW, "Mr. Kurisu" is the closest thing to "Mr. Chris" in the Japanese language.

That's all for now, but I'll leave you with topics of upcoming updates! In no order: Making a Pizza in Japan, Japanese JH Student Pop Culture, Driving in Japan, Japanese Customs, and many more! Bye!

Itako Ayame Festival

Hello Friendly Blog Followers!

Yesterday was the best day Chris and I have spent in Japan so far. It started with a pre-9am knock at the door from our internet company. The man fiddled with our telephone jack, then confirmed that the connection was indeed good to go. We still needed to wait for our modem to be mailed to us, but it was progress!!!

In the afternoon, we drove down to Itako, the somewhat larger city next to Namegata. I mean, we saw a jazz bar, so it must have a nightlife. [One of my principals (called Kocho Sensei), who taught English about 20 years ago, told me a few weeks ago about a special festival in his city. He had arranged a special outing with a few other ALTs who work in Kashima, the city east of Itako on the coast of Japan. He invited Chris and I along, and of course we couldn't turn it down.]

Anyway, after driving around for awhile trying to find the designated meeting spot, we found it, parked and met up with my Kocho Sensei. We followed him, barely (the Japanese walk very fast), into the Ayame Garden (Iris Garden). There were people everywhere looking at the flowers - apparently they only bloom in June, and Itako residents make the most of it! We wandered over little bridges, down narrow pathways, over to the bank of the river that runs next to the garden. His wife was waiting and handed us our boat tickets, then we quickly shook hands with the other ALT's and a few of the Japanese homeroom teachers they work with, then were ushered into a long-ish wooden boat. It fit about 10 people, plus a man standing in back dressed in some kind of traditional costume who was pushing us down the river with a long wooden pole.

This boat ride was so neat. It was sunny and warm; we kept floating under quaint little footbridges, and every time we passed another boat everyone in it would wave and say something in Japanese that must have meant "Enjoy your ride" or "Nice to see you smiling today". I'm just assuming this because everyone was so darn pleasant.

The ride lasted 30 or 40 minutes, then when we got back the Kocho Sensei led us on a walk through the garden. We took pictures, soaked in the culture a bit, and got to know the other ALTs. Afterwards, the Kocho Sensei invited us back to his house which was all of 5 minutes away. Apparently, working as a Kocho Sensei pays pretty well, because on top of owning some house along the river bank that he pointed out, he also owns a small building and lives on the top floor with his wife. There's a restaurant that rents out the first floor, which we learned makes for convenient deliveries. We walked in, took our shoes off (pointed towards the door, of course) and as we entered the main room, we saw a large raised floor surrounded by sliding screen doors, making a closed dining room of sorts. His wife opened the doors for us, and let me just say, the feast laid out was an awesome sight. I would have taken a picture if I had known them better, but it might have been a little awkward....Anyway, there were two huge platters of sushi (at least 7 or 8 kinds: fatty tuna, scallop, sea urchin, salmon roe, shrimp, etc), another two huge platters of tempura (chicken, prawns, scallops, etc), dishes of roast pork, etc. Then Mrs. Kocho Sensei began handing out the drinks. Beer, canned cocktail mixes (like juice and sake), expensive sake, etc. Later, some Japanese vodka, called Shochu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shochu, was brought out - Chris really liked it. We all introduced ourselves in Japanese (the Kocho Sensei's wife is a 3rd grade teacher, and he used to be a teacher, so there's always a lesson going on), and got to know each other. We ate, talked, drank, then more of each, then took a break outside on the patio where a delicious fruit plate appeared. Then back inside for yet another treat: Sweet Mochi, with different fillings...mine had something caramel-like and some cream inside. Heaven, pure heaven.

Just before 8pm, the Kocho Sensei announced that it was time for Twilight Ayame - when all the lanterns are lit in the garden and on the bridges, and The Bride (apparently a young bride in Itako is selected every year for this festival) walks through the garden. We got there, and it was even more beautiful than in the afternoon. It was a bit chilly and mist was spreading. The lanterns glowed, parents walked around holding their bundled up toddlers, and there were about 200 camera tripods set up along the river and dotted throughout the garden. What felt like ages later, the Bride finally appeared. We learned that she was actually an American ALT, but she really was getting married, so qualified somehow to take part. She was wearing a really beautiful white, old fashioned wedding kimono, with some huge head/hairpiece (she definitely didn't have long black hair like a Japanese bride would have, so the wig was important, I guess). She wore the traditional slippers with wooden blocks that you walk on. She was presented to everyone, then began the slow procession through the garden to wear a wooden boat was waiting for her. Everyone took a million pictures. Finally, she got into the boat, supposedly surrounded by many jugs of expensive sake, and then off she went to meet her groom (as legend goes).

This was all pretty amazing to watch and be a part of. Chris and I kept turning to each other as if to say, "Are we really doing this? This is fantastic!" It was a day we won't soon forget.

Hope you enjoy these pictures,

Tessa































PS: We got out internet stuff in the mail this morning, and I'm posting from our apartment!!! I even did a Skype webcam call with my brother! Posts should be a little more frequent now.

You Want Flair, I'll Show You Flair! ;)

If Tessa's sweet and cute elementary school kids say "the darnedest things" Then my surly JH students say the damnedest things. More on that in a bit. As I think I have said before, the JHs have 3 grades, 1st, 2nd and 3rd (the equivalent of American 7th, 8th, and 9th grades). The first graders are mostly happy, energetic and eager to learn, or as the Japanese say, "genki". Second grade is where the students divide into 2 groups, those who hate English and those who love it. I'm watching the split happen before my very eyes, and it's kinda fascinating to watch. A 2nd grade student who at the beginning of the year was excited and attentive now will only turn his back to the teachers and flirt with the girl behind him during class. Some of my 3rd grade students (depending on the day, about 25% of them) do absolutely no work in class and either chat with other students, sleep, stare into space, or doodle. The problem is that the students are not really graded. On ANYTHING. Sure, they have exams and homework and progress reports, but all they are really for is to let the student know where they stand and what they need to work on. They do not need to reach any type of academic achievement in order to pass on to the next grade or graduate. As long as they show up, they pass. What they do need to do however, is pass entrance exams to get into high school. Going to high school is not required in Japan, though nearly all do. Some student though, who know they are headed to a technical high school rather than an academic one, know that there will be no English portion on their entrance exams and thus do not bother with learning it. They do have to show up though, and it gets kind of frustrating. The worst though, is when the students get unruly or distracting. I have no authority other than to tell them to please stop, and it is actually against the law to send a student out of the classroom unless he/she is beating the crap out of someone. One of my second grade students thought the other day, that it was more important to spend his time in class constructing a ninja throwing star out of 4 razor blades tied together with string. When I brought this to the attention of the JTE, she attempted to confiscate it from him, but I'm pretty sure she failed, and he was not repremanded for it, as far as I am aware. In America, doing something like that would probably get you suspended or expelled...

Anyways, yes, they say the damnedest things. One 3rd grade student (who never does his class work) has made it his mission to get me to unwittingly say dirty words in Japanese. I caught on to his game in time before he got what he wanted, but he still felt like he had to explain what it meant:

HIM: "(something in Japanese)" Repeat!"
ME: "No, no no, heheheh"
HIM "Pleeeeeeeeeeease!........It mean bigo penis!" (he pronounced like 'pen is', as in 'the pen is blue')
****He then gestures on his body, insinuating the size of his own****
ME: "uhhhhhhh.......I don't know what you are talking about....goodbye!"
HIM: ****stopping me from leaving**** "I rike-o bigo pen-is. eh? eh? eh?"
ME: "Sorry, I don't know what you mean, goodbye!!!"

And I ran away. He kept trying for a couple more weeks, but I think he has given up now...At least I hope so.

That said, I have some wonderful and amazing students, so many stories to tell, but they will have to wait, because I have hogged the computer for far too long, and it is Tessa's turn. Ja ne!

(Japanese) Kids say the darndest things....

Hi Everyone!

I've been called out on posting less frequently than Chris - in my defense, teaching 20-24 lessons per week plus doing Japanese homework is exhausting. Still, we started this blog for a reason, so....

Last week was really productive. We finally (after 2 months!) got a recycling bin from the local city hall - we didn't know we could get one there, and only just figured it out last week - so now we're not putting things in the wrong bags or in other neighbors' already full bins. I think the garbage men were starting to hate us, but now we're in the clear.

We also figured out that the internet company we had signed up with had the wrong address for us, but our helpful company coordinator spent over 30 minutes on the phone with them (they don't speak English, of course) and got them to agree to come install it a week from tomorrow. Then she took us over to a Yamada Denki, kind of like a Best Buy, but with a horribly cutesy little jingle that plays over the speakers about every 5 minutes. Anyway, she translated for us as we shopped for phone plans, and after a few hours (!) we went home with fancy new cell phones. Mine has a news ticker constantly running across the screen. Not that it's in English, however. But at least we can now call each other, or our company if something happens.

Another ALT moved into our apartment building last week, right next door to us. He's from PA, very nice, and teaches at more elementary schools than me - 10 compared to my 8! He arrived in Japan last Tuesday, and started teaching Monday of this week. He's also never taught before. So, Chris and I have been showing him around and going over lesson plans with him. It's nice to have someone else to talk to and hang out with. Obviously Chris and I love each other, but another English speaking pal is welcome!

School has been going by more quickly lately, as I get to know the kids better and develop a rapport with them. I'm learning more Japanese, and they're learning more English, so there's more of a mutually understood kind of shorthand when I'm explaining games and activities. I usually like the outgoing kids best, because they're the most creative and motivated communicators. There's a 6th grade class I see every Wednesday that I just love - it's a really small group, but they seem to try harder to talk to me, and tease me a lot. One of the girls there is called "The Comedian"; she is always joking, and using funny voices in English. A male classmate of hers is probably my favorite. Chris and I saw him playing baseball at a park during Golden Week, and when he realized Chris was my "boyfriendo" he discovered a whole uncharted territory for teasing me. I call him "Ichiro" because he's so into baseball, but the other day after he said something impressive in English class, he said I shouldn't call him Ichiro anymore. I should call him "God". Or "Baseball God", if I preferred ;)

I also get girls randomly coming up to me from behind to run their hands through my "pretty hair", and commenting on my blue eyes and "you have color contacto?" Almost every day I have some great comment to pass on to Chris. He gets even more interesting comments from his junior high students, but I'll let him post about those.

That's about it. Here are the few pictures we took in Tokyo (more next time we go, I promise), and one of a Gokiburi (cockroach) that we found in our bedroom a few weeks ago. It was huge! (Chris doesn't agree) The minute I saw it scurrying towards me, I jumped up shrieking like a poisonous snake was about to attack. Obviously, cockroaches aren't a serious physical threat.....but what can I say, I'm from the Pacific Northwest and we just don't see those kinds of things.

As I say to each class at the end of the lesson, Goodbye Everyone! See You!

Behold the Ushiku Daibutsu

Today we visited the world's tallest statue, which is of Buddha, in Ushiku (wiki Ushiku Daibutsu). It wasn't too far away from where we live, maybe an hour and twenty five minutes. It was pretty great, I gotta say, the highlight of our trip to Japan so far, I think. The thing is about 120 meters tall and was built in 1993. In person it's kind of ominous and imposing. I half expected it to come to life and start walking around like the Statue of Liberty in Ghostbusters 2. "Buddha SMASH!" Seriously though, it was a great experience. We got to go up inside it, where there is a museum and gift shop, among other spiritual rooms and artifacts. There was a room that housed hundreds of golden buddha statues that lined the walls like wallpaper. Outside the Buddha, there is a sort of park with flowers, craft and food shops, and a pond with some humongous fish (carp, I think) clamoring on the edge of the water for people to throw them some food pellets that you can purchase nearby. When we left the Daibutsu (Buddha in Japanese) we discovered that it was pouring down rain. Although we got soaked, that wasn't the lowlight of the day. On our way out we saw a crowd of people out of the rain under a tarp in front of a stage, so we decided to investigate. The "show" that was going on was a woman inducing two very sad looking monkeys on leashes into doing tricks for the amusement of the crowd. They were wearing shirts and looked very depressed, especially when one of the monkeys was forced to bow after he had jumped over a very high obstacle. The worst part was when one of the monkeys was sitting on a block off to the side waiting his turn. He turned his back to the audience as if he was too ashamed to look at them. The woman, seeing this, turned his block around so he would be forced to look at the audience, but still he tried to just look down. As depressing as that was, it didn't put a damper on the entire day, and we have now returned to our home area tired and hungry. Check out the pictures below!

Tokyo

Tessa and I went to Tokyo for the first time on Sunday. We rode a bus, which which only took 1:20 or so. The purpose of the trip was mainly to find the American Embassy so that when I actually do have to go there on a week day sometime soon, I won't get lost. That said we got a little lost looking for it which s a little surprising, considering its size. In Tokyo, almost all the embassies are in the same area, we passed by Spain's, Switzerland's, and other countries' until we eventually found America's, which was humongous, taking up an entire city corner with guards posted at the many entrances. After finding the Embassy, we took the subway to Shibuya (in Tokyo) to try to buy a cell phone. We wanted to buy one in Tokyo because there would be someone who spoke English there, which there was, but they were all out of the cheap phones we wanted, so we didn't get one. We walked around a crazy busy shopping district, where there is an intersection so big that hundreds of people cross it when the lights are red. We saw all manner of people there, very different from the ones in the quiet little hamlet we live in. It was also raining, but we had fun anyway.

I wanted to thank Aunt Debra for her suggestion of David Sedaris' "When You Are Engulfed in Flames". I downloaded an audiobook of it, read by Mr. Sedaris himself, and it was thouroughly entertaining. The bits about his stay in Tokyo were particularly amusing, as I can relate to all of his observations.

I have so much more t write about, but I'm tired and the library is about to close, so for now, sayonara!

A Day in the Life. . .

Ok, here's a typical Tessa day from start to finish:

6:15-7am: Waking up, but trying to ignore Chris' alarm as he hits snooze at least 2 or 3 times

7am-8:15am: Getting ready for work; this sometimes includes a Japanese shower (scrubbing down and rinsing outside of the tub - there's a big drain the floor - then if there's time a soak in the actual tub). And breakfast of course, which usually consists of corn flakes, instant coffee and an apple.

8:15am: Leave for work, although every day I'm at a different school and the leave time depends on the distance I have to go. Mondays I walk to a school a few minutes away, but Fridays I have to drive 35-40 minutes.

The drive: I usually turn on the radio, and if I'm not still too sleepy I listen to the lovely classical music they play.

8:45-9am: I arrive at my AM school (although Mondays and Thursdays I am just at one school all day because they have more classes for me). I park the car, gather my bulging bag of supplies - this week it included fly swatters, laminated Feelings cards, bingo sheets, and more! - and enter the building, putting my outdoor shoes into my assigned cubby, and putting on my indoor shoes.

9am: My work day officially starts. I enter the "shokoin shitsu", or teacher's room, and say "ohaiyo gozaimasu" (the u is silent). This signifies that I am ready to work. Now I sit and prep for my first lesson, or just make smalltalk with the office people (kocho sensei - principal, kyoto sensei - vice principal, #3 (head teacher, subs in for any sick teacher), secretary, and tea lady (she brings green tea and coffee to everyone at various times of the day, cleans bathrooms, weeds and waters the grounds, and smiles a lot).

9:25-12:10pm or so: Anywhere from 1-3 lessons. I always see the 5th and 6th graders, but sometimes a school wants me to do a special lesson with another class. I've seen all ages, and they always love getting the special lesson from the Eigo Sensei.
(From around 10:15-10:30am the kids have recess and teachers have teatime/prep/meeting)

12:15ish: Kyushoku! (Lunch). I usually eat with a 5th or 6th grade class, but sometimes the schools have me eat with a different grade each week. The food is delivered to each school, where the tea lady usually warms it up or divvies it up by class. Each class rotates kids to bring the food and trays to the rooms, to serve it, and to lead the lunchtime blessing of sorts. (as one teacher pointed out, they make praying hands but "no one really believe in Buddha"). The kids all say "itadakimase" and that means we can now eat. I bring my own chopsticks and a small handkerchief, because napkins basically don't exist in Japan. Lunch usually consists of soup (miso, chowder, or a surprise), rice, veggies, and some kind of piece of fish or meat. Today we had spaghetti, a croissant, ham and spinach w/mayo dressing, and a kind of egg casserole or something.
The schools all play music during lunch, too. I've heard everything from gentle classical tracks to an instrumental medley from The Little Mermaid, to the Rocky theme music, to the Star Wars theme, to J-Pop, to mall muzak. It's kids' choice, I think.

1:00-1:35: (If I have a PM school I drive there between 1-1:15pm). Recess! I usually hang out on the playground, and say hello to the droves of 1st-4th graders that flock to me. If they don't have a class with me, my mystique remains more intact apparently. Sometimes I play dodgeball, volleyball or soccer with the kids.

1:35-1:45ish: Souji, or cleaning time. Chris already touched on this. Some of my schools seem surprised that I would want to help, as fewer teachers pitch in. But I help when I can.

1:50pm-3:30: More lessons, or if I only have one class in the PM I sit in the teacher's room and make notes on the lesson, plan games, and do busy work.

3:30-4:45: More busy work, I check email if I can, and generally just chat with teachers. My lessons are planned by the Board of Education, so I don't have a ton to do outside of the classroom. Now that C and I are doing the Japanese conversation club I can read the textbook and do homework during the lulls.

4:45: After getting my timesheet stamped, I say "osaki ni shitsurei shimasu" - this means "I'm sorry to leave before you" and it lets everyone know I'm going home.

4:45-5:15: Drive home. Radio stations play a bizarre mix of Western songs at this time. I heard Lenny Kravitz, U2, and a really trippy Peter, Paul and Mary song in one 15 min. stretch once.

5:15-7pm: Rest at home, swap day reports with Chris, make dinner. Usually stir fried chicken with rice, or grilled fish and ramen. The "just add water" ramen in Japan is worlds better than any Cup o' Noodle in the US.

7-9:30: Listen to a few podcasts, play cards, iron our work clothes for the next day, etc.

9:30-10:00 - Bedtime! Another day in the can.

Ok, that's all for this installment. Hope all is well on the Western Front.