Nationality/ Ethnicity

Today, during the 3 hour staff meeting, the teachers talked about the upcoming year's students and the potential problems that may arise with certain students.
Of the 120 or so in-coming 1st grade junior high students, they have identified 52 as students with "issues." The whole time, I was thinking... "Are you for real? If that's the case, then you guys are in big trouble."

Although I didn't understand everything, some of the "issues" they pointed out was...not so ordinary to me.

Example 1) Student "L," she will be a 3rd grader soon. She has Chinese citizenship, but since she speaks Japanese, she seems to be ok.

Example 2) Student "N," his mother is Filipina.

Ummm...wha? What's nationality and ethnicity gotta do with anything?!

Oh yeah, one more thing

It was snowing here in late March! It's April, I still have the heater on. What the heck?!

Since January

So, between my New Year's Resolution post and now, many things have happened. Here are some highlights:

• I passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test that I took in December- whoop whoop! I'm gonna shoot for the next level up and take the test in July, right before I leave! Wish me luck!
• In the beginning of March, I went to this conference meant for JETs who are not recontracting. It consisted a series of sessions about grad school, job hunting, continuing in ESL/EFL, etc. Every session, their basic message was: "Be prepared! The market SUCKS out there." Crap.
• I found out about this program called the PeaceBoat. It's mainly for Japanese participants to learn about Peace Studies and initiatives throughout the world while they go on a 3 month boat cruise around the world. They are hiring for English teachers and there is a program leaving in early August this year. It would have been perfect timing...cept that this upcoming voyage's included Cuba as one of their port of calls. Although it's the American government that has the ban on its citizens to go into Cuba; the program specifically stated on their website that they wouldn't allow any American citizens to be accepted into this round's program. In my opinion, that's a step back in terms of promoting peace education.
  
• Heading to the Philippines this month for Habitat for Humanity. When I originally signed up last fall, I didn't know too much about the organization. Now that I'm monetarily invested in in, I find out that it's a Christian organization and that it's freakin' expensive although we're doing hard labor. Crap! I'm sure it's gonna be a rewarding experience, but I feel a bit tired already. Hahaha. We also found out that we are going to be in a malaria-prone area of the Philippines. Ahh...great. Less than three weeks till we leave! Wish me luck on that too.
• The end of March is fiscal/school year ending time. There were staff changes and lots of goodbyes to a group of people in my school and also to other Japanese friends I've made. They were also moving because of company transfers and decisions to move on in life, etc.
• My school counselor- going to Vanuatu for a PeaceCorps-like program; my former Japanese tutor is moving to Portland to teach Japanese; my English tutee moved to Hokkaido because her husband got transferred, many staff members moved to another school, and I'm the one being left behind! I though I was the one who should be saying goodbye first!! What the heck!?!
• My friend Jessie and her sister came to visit for two weeks. Got fed plenty of delicious desserts and got a taste of what it's like not living alone again. There's good and bad, I'd say.

Umm...that's it for now! =)

Less than 4 months

The countdown is on. I officially have less than 4 months here in my city as an English teacher. It also means that I have less than 4 months to figure out what the heck I should be doing with my life.

Everyone around me seems to be as worried for me as I am about the whole thing. For the longest time, I will 50/50 about going home and moving on to China...but last week, I called home to talk to my family and ended up getting a 2 hr lecture by my eldest brother about various things in "life," mostly my future. The 2 hr conversation went in circles, but it involved the basic components of:

1.) I should stop "playing around" abroad. I've had my "fair share" when I studied abroad in Brazil and France, and now having spent 2 years in Japan.
2.) If I intend on eventually have a career in the US, I should quickly return to the US, build connections and start my career, rack up seniority points, get paid better.
3.) According to him, my Berkeley education should be worth gold and that I shouldn't be in any not-so-fulfilling positions.
4.) That money is important, and that I shouldn't let my interests be my only drive in considering my career/life choices.
5.) That I'm not getting any younger and my 20s and early 30s should be spent building a steady career and life because "time" ain't waiting for me.

I was glad that he told me, but there were parts where I nodded in agreement and there were other parts that I was just thinking..."are you for real?" or "you're the one to talk!"

Anyway, it seems like everyone has an opinion. In the true-me fashion, I will probably wait till the last minute to decide what to do.

I'll keep you posted! Actually, I'll keep you posted if I get internet again. Hahaha...

LAME, I know!

Hahah....so, ummm....I just read my last post about my New Year's Resolution and how I was gonna blog more. Yeah, didn't happen.

I like to blame things on other people, so I will continue to blame my neighbor for not having reliable enough internet for me to steal. It's all his/her fault.

I totally would have written more...but I'm glad that I have a split second of it for now. I will waste this time by writing a meaningless entry. Muwahahaha

New Year's Resolution

I started this blog in August of 2007 and I had 36 posts for the short 5 months.
How is it that in 12 months of 2008, I only wrote 35 posts?
I have a problem.
I have an internet problem and I have a keeping-people-updated problem. Sorry guys!

So, I've made it my New Year's Resolution to write more on this blog with the ever-so-exiting details of my life. Hahaha...

Enjoy! Happy New Year!

Japanese: Progress!!

I realized recently that I am no longer starting out my conversations with Japanese people with, “Sorry, I’m a foreigner, so I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
Instead, I have been simply uttering whatever I can in very broken Japanese and wrong vocabulary. More and more, I am understanding the conversations that are going on around me. Although I still cannot carry a conversation to save my life, I feel that by understanding the gist of what’s going on, something has changed.
This past weekend, I took part in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). But because I filled out an entire section incorrectly and not knowing the answers to many problems, I know that my chances of passing are on the slim side.
Aside from losing face (which is essential in this country) factor, I was really glad that I took part in the grueling 4 hour exam. It sorta reminded me of taking the SATs again.
This test and its results serve no purpose for me. While many international students take it to qualify for Japanese universities or jobs, most of the JETs take it to get a gauge of where they are in their Japanese language progress.
Anyway, I guess my point is to say that it helps me feel like I had accomplished a goal during my stay in Japan.
But maybe the test is not the only indication of it.
Before I left work today, I realized that I understood what was going on between the teachers in the staffroom.
3rd grade science teacher: Mr. Tsuda, you look really cool in one of the pictures for the yearbook!
Mr. Tsuda: Really? Which one? Which one?
3rd grade Japanese teacher: Really? You’re lying!
3rd grade science teacher: Here, this one!
3rd grade Japanese teacher: Oh, right, it’s true.
3rd grade math teacher: Where, where? I want to see. [Before he sees the picture] It must be the one where Mr. Tsuda is wearing sunglasses and a cap. It’s what you can’t see that’s cool.
It’s a normal silly conversation that goes on in the staffroom filled with lame jokes, but understanding most of it made me feel giddy inside.