For this entire week, Sendai is having its very own Oktoberfest.
Who else can manage to have Oktoberfest in August? Admit it, no one.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
First day teaching
I did my self-introduction to two sets of "first grade" junior high students (the equivalent of 6th grade) and it was so much fun!
I taught them how to shake hands and give a high five. When I asked them to exchange greetings with one another, many of them froze when the next person in line was a member of the opposite sex. I almost forgot the awkwardness of adolescence.
It's true. Boys still have cooties through their teens.
There was this one student in the 1st class that surprised me a bit. Before class officially started, she came up to me and introduced herself in English and told me she really liked English. She was really friendly and talkative and seem to be the one who would always participate. When class started, she put her head down signifying that she wasn't going to participate when it was time to do an activity! I can't quite figure all this out.
I taught them how to shake hands and give a high five. When I asked them to exchange greetings with one another, many of them froze when the next person in line was a member of the opposite sex. I almost forgot the awkwardness of adolescence.
It's true. Boys still have cooties through their teens.
There was this one student in the 1st class that surprised me a bit. Before class officially started, she came up to me and introduced herself in English and told me she really liked English. She was really friendly and talkative and seem to be the one who would always participate. When class started, she put her head down signifying that she wasn't going to participate when it was time to do an activity! I can't quite figure all this out.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Wesley's 1 month
Today is Wesley's one month birthday. He will have his first official party with all friends and family gathering at Restaurant Peony. I miss him. I hate missing out on things like this.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Survivor
Oh my god!
I just saw a video clip on Yahoo's front page. The next season of Survivor will be in China!! I want to go.
No, I do not want to be in the wilderness with a group of Americans trying to compete for a million dollars. I just want to be there. Of course, the million dollar doesn't hurt.
Did I veer off the path that I was supposed to take by being in Japan? Crap...
I just saw a video clip on Yahoo's front page. The next season of Survivor will be in China!! I want to go.
No, I do not want to be in the wilderness with a group of Americans trying to compete for a million dollars. I just want to be there. Of course, the million dollar doesn't hurt.
Did I veer off the path that I was supposed to take by being in Japan? Crap...
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Payday in Yen
Ah, only the second official day at work in the school and then it was payday. Life has been very kind to me.
Since the direct deposit for my salary has not been activated yet, I received an envelop full of cash (money!) from Miyakoshi-san, the school's accountant! It's crazy. I've never carried around this much cash in my life and never have I felt so safe with it.
Don't worry, I'll stash it in the bank.
To celebrate this momentous occasion of being paid in Yen for the first time, I invited a bunch of JETs over for a small dinner party.
The guestlist included a bunch of JETs and also Kaleb's friend. I think I got a bit carried away when inviting all these people cause my rice cooker only allowed 4 cups of rice to be cooked at a given time. Of course, the guys did not have enough to eat.
All in all, it was nice to have a night with a tummy warming food!
Since the direct deposit for my salary has not been activated yet, I received an envelop full of cash (money!) from Miyakoshi-san, the school's accountant! It's crazy. I've never carried around this much cash in my life and never have I felt so safe with it.
Don't worry, I'll stash it in the bank.
To celebrate this momentous occasion of being paid in Yen for the first time, I invited a bunch of JETs over for a small dinner party.
The guestlist included a bunch of JETs and also Kaleb's friend. I think I got a bit carried away when inviting all these people cause my rice cooker only allowed 4 cups of rice to be cooked at a given time. Of course, the guys did not have enough to eat.
All in all, it was nice to have a night with a tummy warming food!
Monday, August 20, 2007
First Day at School
Today was my first full day at the junior high. I'm glad I didn't get too lost hiking up the hill.
The day started out with a meeting in the staff room. Of course, I didn't understand 99.9% of what was said, but I tried to look engaged anyway. The meeting, I believe, consisted of the principal encouraging everyone to work harder and also to welcome me onto the team. I had to make a 2 minute spiel about myself to the staff in Japanese and that was slightly terrifying.
Throughout the day, I wished that I had learned more Japanese before arriving. I think I have a pretty funny group of colleagues who like to joke around...now I just need to know what they're saying.
The day started out with a meeting in the staff room. Of course, I didn't understand 99.9% of what was said, but I tried to look engaged anyway. The meeting, I believe, consisted of the principal encouraging everyone to work harder and also to welcome me onto the team. I had to make a 2 minute spiel about myself to the staff in Japanese and that was slightly terrifying.
Throughout the day, I wished that I had learned more Japanese before arriving. I think I have a pretty funny group of colleagues who like to joke around...now I just need to know what they're saying.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Everything has its place
In Japan, everything has its place. I sat of the floor for about 4 hours trying to figure out what garbage is supposed to go into what bin. Sadly enough, although I have separated them somewhat correctly ( I think), I still haven’t figured out where I need to buy the "appropriate" garbage bags for each type of garbage…and also where to set out the garbage. Why is everything so complicated?
Communications
8/13/07
I boldly went into Yodobashi Camera, a gigantic electronics store by the Sendai train station, by myself on Saturday to open up a cell phone. As many of you know, I don’t really talk much on the phone. I rarely make calls to chat and I always seem to miss the calls when people are trying to locate me. I don’t do it on purpose. It just happens.
So, why did I feel the need to have a cell phone in Japan? A place where I know literally nobody? Perhaps it’s the need to feel included. It’s a need to feel like I’m part of the JET group (the only people I really know so far) and be asked to join into activities. All kids hate being the last one to be picked for a team. Perhaps, I’m just that kid.
What pisses me off is that in order to satisfy this insecurity of mine and to connect with others, I am now spending close to 40 bucks a month on cell phone charges. This includes the 2560 yen that I’m paying for the handset (basically, the phone), the 980 yen for the “White Plan” offered by Softbank (a cell phone company), and miscellaneous charges when you call outside of the network or outside of certain hours.
Is that a price I’m willing to pay for being connected to the modern world? I’m not so sure, but I signed up!
Everywhere I go, Cameron Diaz’s face is plastered all over the walls. She is the poster girl for Softbank. She looks out at me as if she’s taunting me with a new, up-to-date phone. America sells. The ultimate pisser-offer is when I found out today that you can actually get a phone for nothing. 0 yen. Nada. No 2650 yen monthly charge for the “handset.” Where were our helpers when we needed them the most? If I had that, I wouldn’t feel as gypped. Maybe I wouldn’t even be insecure.Alright, enough complaining.
One thing makes me super happy though…I’m getting free wireless access right now in my apartment!!! Hahah…hope this lasts.
I boldly went into Yodobashi Camera, a gigantic electronics store by the Sendai train station, by myself on Saturday to open up a cell phone. As many of you know, I don’t really talk much on the phone. I rarely make calls to chat and I always seem to miss the calls when people are trying to locate me. I don’t do it on purpose. It just happens.
So, why did I feel the need to have a cell phone in Japan? A place where I know literally nobody? Perhaps it’s the need to feel included. It’s a need to feel like I’m part of the JET group (the only people I really know so far) and be asked to join into activities. All kids hate being the last one to be picked for a team. Perhaps, I’m just that kid.
What pisses me off is that in order to satisfy this insecurity of mine and to connect with others, I am now spending close to 40 bucks a month on cell phone charges. This includes the 2560 yen that I’m paying for the handset (basically, the phone), the 980 yen for the “White Plan” offered by Softbank (a cell phone company), and miscellaneous charges when you call outside of the network or outside of certain hours.
Is that a price I’m willing to pay for being connected to the modern world? I’m not so sure, but I signed up!
Everywhere I go, Cameron Diaz’s face is plastered all over the walls. She is the poster girl for Softbank. She looks out at me as if she’s taunting me with a new, up-to-date phone. America sells. The ultimate pisser-offer is when I found out today that you can actually get a phone for nothing. 0 yen. Nada. No 2650 yen monthly charge for the “handset.” Where were our helpers when we needed them the most? If I had that, I wouldn’t feel as gypped. Maybe I wouldn’t even be insecure.Alright, enough complaining.
One thing makes me super happy though…I’m getting free wireless access right now in my apartment!!! Hahah…hope this lasts.
Arrival
8/9
Today was my second day in my apartment. I live in an apartment called Fragrance in a district in the northern part of the city. Isn’t the name lovely?
However, it’s very much like a sauna in here. The main windows face the west side and the heat is unrelenting throughout the day.
It is 8:35pm right now and I just came back from a trip to what will now be my favorite place 7-11. I bought myself a quick dinner of omurice (an omelet filled with rice on the inside and two flavors of sauce poured on top). It’s pretty good. They even heat it up in its original plastic packaging for you at 7-11. Hahaha…
On my way back to Fragrance, I met my neighbor to the right. As I walked by her house, I nodded and said, “Konbanwa.” She replied and slowly followed me to the steps. She asked me something I didn’t understand, so I gave her the I-have-no-idea-what -you’re-saying look. She didn’t seem to mind or understand, because she kept asking me another question…or maybe it was the same question.
Then, I said, “Gomenasai, I don’t speak Japanese.” I think she thought that was a signal for her to keep talking. For the next 5 minutes (literally), she jabbered away in Japanese, occasionally pointing at my apartment (at which I nodded and said yes). She spoke a million words per minute and I could not help but laugh hysterically. Maybe she thought I was crazy, but she laughed with me nonetheless.
Andrew, a fourth year ALT in the city once told me he had visited Katie’s (my predecessor) apartment and he spoke of a strange neighbor…maybe it was her? =)
Today was my second day in my apartment. I live in an apartment called Fragrance in a district in the northern part of the city. Isn’t the name lovely?
However, it’s very much like a sauna in here. The main windows face the west side and the heat is unrelenting throughout the day.
It is 8:35pm right now and I just came back from a trip to what will now be my favorite place 7-11. I bought myself a quick dinner of omurice (an omelet filled with rice on the inside and two flavors of sauce poured on top). It’s pretty good. They even heat it up in its original plastic packaging for you at 7-11. Hahaha…
On my way back to Fragrance, I met my neighbor to the right. As I walked by her house, I nodded and said, “Konbanwa.” She replied and slowly followed me to the steps. She asked me something I didn’t understand, so I gave her the I-have-no-idea-what -you’re-saying look. She didn’t seem to mind or understand, because she kept asking me another question…or maybe it was the same question.
Then, I said, “Gomenasai, I don’t speak Japanese.” I think she thought that was a signal for her to keep talking. For the next 5 minutes (literally), she jabbered away in Japanese, occasionally pointing at my apartment (at which I nodded and said yes). She spoke a million words per minute and I could not help but laugh hysterically. Maybe she thought I was crazy, but she laughed with me nonetheless.
Andrew, a fourth year ALT in the city once told me he had visited Katie’s (my predecessor) apartment and he spoke of a strange neighbor…maybe it was her? =)
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