Visit: Japan

What a busy and fun few weeks I've had here in Japan!

First, my friend from school Corey Friend (really his last name!) visited us a couple of weeks ago on his way to spend the year volunteering in the Philippines.  He had a layover in Japan for a few days so we got to spend some time with him.  He and Sarah studied abroad together in Tokyo a couple of years ago and he loved Japan so much that he had to make a return trip.  It was fun to have someone here from school who loves Japan so much!  Great to see you, Corey!

As most of you know, my mom was here visiting last week.  We had a wonderful time, and it was so good to see her!  I had a lot of fun showing her around Tsu and some other parts of Japan.  She adapted very well and just went with the flow with everything we did.  I mean, she even ate with chopsticks!  It was so great to show her around the little world I've created for myself over here!  My students were so excited for her to come that a few of them took us out for lunch or invited us over to their homes.  The Japanese people's generosity never ceases to amaze me, and my mom was amazed, too!

She arrived safely on Wednesday night and I promptly walked her to the Price Cut where we bought some great food for me to make her dinner.  I cooked her vegetables, tofu, gyoza, and had her try some sushi and Japanese beer (Asahi).  She liked it all!  Overall, she was very adventurous in her menu choices.

She came to school with me on Thursday and sat in on 3 of my classes.  One of my students was very excited because he got two English teachers that day!  My student Akiko and her husband, an OBC student of Peter's, invited us over to their home on Thursday for lunch.  Akiko also performed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony for us.  It was such a cool experience!  We sat in the tatmi mat room that was built specifically for tea ceremony and she was wearing a traditional kimono.  We learned a lot about tea ceremony, and it was so much fun to watch her go through all of the very deliberate and minute details of serving tea.  It was really an honor for them to invite us into their home like that, and we had a great afternoon.  That afternoon we walked around Tsu Castle Park and got to experience a little taste of a Japanese garden.  Tsu Castle is literally right across the street from OBC, so it's a great place to spend time when it's nice outside.  We went to my student Tomoko's restaurant that night for dinner and she told my mother that she doesn't need to worry about me because Tomoko will be my Japanese mother!  She is so kind!

Akiko performing the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Mom took it very seriously.

Definitely one of the most memorable experiences in Japan so far.

On Friday after my morning class, my student Mariko took my mother and me out for lunch at a really great restaurant near OBC.  It reminded me of what it must have felt like to dine on the Titanic.  The food was delicious, and my mom even made friends with the waitor as she practiced her Japanese!  Mariko is already a good friend of mine and a great student.  We had a wonderful, leisurely lunch.  After that, my mom and I walked to the Tsu Art Museum.  It was a little farther than we anticipated - maybe 3 miles one-way.  We ended up getting quite a workout, but Tomoko gave us free tickets, and it was definitely worth it.  They have a pretty impressive collection, and it's not so big a museum that it's overwhelming.  I think I'll go back in the winter and see how they've rotated the pieces.




Talk about fancy...and delicious!


Saturday began our whirlwind three days of travel.  We went to Kyoto first, which is the former capital of Japan and the most historical city in the country.  It was my first time there so I didn't know exactly where we were going most of the time.  Despite ending up on a few wrong buses, we ended up making it to Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavillion), Ryoanji Temple (the Rock Garden), and Gingakuji Temple (the Silver Pavillion).  The Golden Pavillion is one of the most famous landmarks in all of Japan, and I'm sure many of you have seen a picture of it before.  It was really surreal to be there in person, and I'm so glad I got to share it with my mom.  We also got to take the fancy Limited Express train there (more expensive), which made the trip that much more like a vacation!

Look familiar?  The Golden Pavillion - one of the most recognized landmarks in Japan.

Each story is a different style.

Make a wish!

We had tea in the garden, but it paled in comparison to Akiko's.

In the garden at Ryoanji with Buddha.

Zen Rock Garden

The Silver Pavillion garden - one of the most beautiful I've seen.

On Sunday, we made our way to Nara.  It was my second time in Nara, so I had some great sites and souvenir shops staked out.  We ate Chinese for lunch and proceeded to visit some really great temples, including Todaiji, home of the big Buddha.  My mom loved feeding the deer, but I'm still terrified of them.  We also visited two temples I'd never been to before: Kofukuji and Kasuga Taisha.  Kasuga Taisha was awesome because it had thousands of lanterns lining it.  Goal for Japan: find a replica to purchase.

My mom and I both LOVE the pagoda.  Too bad the lady taking our picture didn't really get it in the shot.

Awakening the gods.

Kofukuji - I didn't go in last time, and it is actually now one of my favorite in Nara.

Of course she loved feeding the deer.

For you, Amanda!

Todaiji, home of the Daibutsu (big Buddha) - my favorite temple in Japan.

Purify.

Its scale never ceases to amaze me.

Rub away those aches and pains!

The temple with all the lanterns.

The whole place is lined with them!

Monday was our most relaxed day.  I planned the most stressful day first and the simplest last.  We went to Ise, where I'd gone with Sarah, Peter, and our boss Naomi the weekend before.  I already knew the best place to get the famous Ise Udon (Japanese noodle) and how to get to the inner and outer Ise shrines.  The Ise Shrine is the holiest Shinto shrine in all of Japan, and it is only a 30-minute train ride from Tsu.  Also, it has one of the greatest shopping streets I've found so far, and we both did a lot of souvenir shopping.  It was a very relaxing day and I'm glad it came toward the end of her trip.

Ise Udon

Ise Shrine, the holiest Shinto Shrine in Japan

We stumbled upon a little concert.

I love the hustle and bustle of this town.

Sake where my mom had her first taste!

My sun-despising self couldn't resist buying a parasol!

Tuesday was another busy day.  I had to work at 10am, so we went to school early.  My mom sat in on another class and then did some last-minute shopping in Tsu.  We went out to lunch with my bosses and Mr. Yokota, which was really wonderful.  The conversation was great, and they loved getting to know her.  Naomi is already asking when she will return!  After that, we biked to the beach and picked up seashells and walked in the surf.  We came back to my apartment and took a nap before heading back to school for one more class and dinner with our friend Aki.  My mom got to try shabu-shabu, which was her last meal in Japan.  Fitting, I think!

Thanks for visiting me at OBC, mom!

A taxi took her to Tsu Harbor at 5:30 in the morning on Wednesday and she arrived home safely.  I have been keeping just as busy since she left celebrating Sarah's birthday and finalizing plans for our Halloween party.  It never stops!  I'm so glad she came and we had a great time together!  Thanks for everything, mom!  The Yokotas are already asking when you will return.  See you in the spring? ;)

Oh...it is finally autumn here!  How is the fall weather treating all of you?

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A Day in the Life

I've decided to make this week's entry one about my typical day in Japan.  Of course it is most exciting to write and read about all of the traveling I have done and people I have met, but I thought it might be nice for you to get a taste of what "real life" is like for me in this wonderful country.

The road on which my school is located.  It's called 23.  Ironic, much, Marshall friends?

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I teach at 10 and 11am and have a break from 12-6pm.  Then I teach at 6 and 7pm on Tuesdays and 6, 7, and 8pm on Wednesdays.  On Thursdays, I teach at 11am, 5, 7, and 8pm, and on Fridays, I teach at 11am, 5, and 7pm.  Mondays I teach at 5, 7, and 8pm, and I teach every other Saturday at 5 and 7pm.  That works out to be 18-20 50-minute lessons per week, and I see the same students each week.  Of course, I also spend time prepping for classes, researching new discussion topics, going to staff meetings, and doing any extra training/enrichment work that is required of us at any time.  It's great that classes never start before 10am, but working until 9pm makes for a long day, especially if I have a lot to do and don't go home during the day.

My place of employment!  See the picture of me in the window on that poster?  Doesn't it look welcoming?

I teach 3 elementary classes, 1 junior high class, 2 senior high classes, and the rest are adult classes.  The adult classes range from first-level Enjoy classes (students are more interested in basic conversation English) to high-level Standard classes (students want to learn the grammar rules behind their conversation skills) and Free Talk classes (students just want to have conversations about all kinds of topics for 50 minutes each week).  The largest class I have is of 4 students, but most of them are 2-3 students.  I also have a few private lessons.  Each class brings with it its own challenges and rewards; I'm continually amazed by how different the dynamic is in each class because of the students.  I like all of my classes for their own reasons, and I love trying to come up with new and interesting discussion topics, activities, games, and ways of working through the textbook in order to keep my students engaged and having fun in class.

This is the Teacher's Lounge.  That's my desk in the middle.  It's only clean because I planned on taking the picture.

 Other side of the Teacher's Lounge.  It's a GREAT napping couch.

I live about 10-12 minutes by bike from OBC with Sarah.  We have a really big apartment by any standards - American or Japanese.  I have my own room with its own air-conditioner and a ton of closet space.  We have a big living room and reall big kitchen.  We also have our own washing machine (they generally don't have dryers in Japan) and a big shower, so we're really lucky.  We even have an extra room that has been dubbed "The Library"!  We've accumulated 200+ books from past teachers, and Sarah is currently cataloging all of them.  We're going to put together new book shelves and create a great little reading den (that's the plan, anyway).

Living Room

Other side of living room

My bedroom

Other side of my bedroom.  You can't see the closets on the left side, but I have A LOT.

Kitchen

Other side of kitchen

Sink and washing machine (The toilet gets its own little room.)

Shower

So on a usual day, I get up, shower, each breakfast, check my e-mail, bike to work, and then either come home for lunch and a nap or stay at school to prep for classes.  Then I teach in the evenings, come home, make dinner, and relax for a few hours before going to bed.  Working every other Saturday is kind of a hassle, but having Sundays off for travel time is great, especially since we live in a really great location because so many of the cool place around us are perfect for day trips.

So far, I really do enjoy teaching, and many of my students have already become my friends.  I can already tell how difficult it will be to leave them when the time comes.  I also really like the Japanese staff members who run OBC, and I always have a great time talking to them and getting to know them on a more personal level.

I hope this was informative and gave you a little clearer idea of what it is that I do every day.  I have a busy week coming up: my mom will arrive on Wednesday!  Stay tuned for the details of that travel adventure!

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Japanese Hospitality

Hello, friends!

I am sorry that I am getting behind in updating this blog.  Working abroad, I'm finding, is quite different from studying abroad.  When I come home from work at night, I'm usually ready to just unwind a little, make some dinner, and watch some TV (online) or read a book.  If you remember my study abroad experience in Ireland, I certainly didn't work too hard in my classes, so teaching English to non-speakers takes a lot more energy that study abroad classes.  I am learning so much about not only teaching through this experience, but also about having a real job, paying real bills, really managing my money, and really being responsible.  I've always been pretty responsible, but it's like I'm a real person now - it really matters because my employers and students depend on me!

For those of you who have seen my Facebook pictures, I had an incredible weekend last weekend.  We laid low on Friday night and stayed in for a movie night, which was really relaxing and necessary.  On Saturday, I met two of my students for lunch.  They are the students I teach on Saturday, and I had to work last weekend (I work every other Saturday), so I ended up spending a lot of my day with them.  We went out to one of my favorite restaurants in Tsu - the Indian curry restaurant - and I had delicious chicken curry and nan.  They are so much fun to hang out with, and we laughed and talked a lot.  I introduced them to my connection to Little House on the Prairie, a very popular show in Japan.  They were so excited that I live so close to Walnut Grove and that I've been to the Wilder Museum and Pageant!  I really enjoy spending time with my students outside of class and getting to know them personally.

On Saturday night after I taught two classes, I joined Peter, Sarah, and Sarah's student Yoshiko for a traditional Bon dance.  The small festival was located in her neighborhood just a short walk from her house.  As soon as we got out of the car, she pulled me into her hair salon, sat me down, and braided my hair.  Next, she pulled me into her living room (most Japanese business owners live in houses located behind or above their shopfronts) and dressed me in a traditional Japanese yukata, or summer kimono.  It was such an awesome experience.  I mean, how many people get to go to a real Japanese home and have a Japanese friend dress them in a yukata, on a tatami mat floor and all?  After I dressed, we walked to the Bon dance.  The only thing I can compare it to is Native American dancing.  We moved around in a circle and did very simple hand and leg motions.  The Bon dance is to celebrate and honor ancestors who have died and to welcome them back for their yearly visit to their descendants.  It was a magical night; we danced underneath the moon and Japanese lanterns, and we smiled and laughed with new Japanese friends.  I am learning so much about how few words need to be said in order to truly enjoy another's company. 

After the dance, we all received tissues and bread (I have no idea why), and then we walked back to Yoshiko's for the biggest dinner I could've ever imagined.  She served us a huge piece of tofu, a hug slab of beef, huge shrimp, countless vegetables (including sweet potatoes!), and about three different kinds of fruit.  I haven't eaten that much in ages.  Afterward, we sat around and looked at pictures of her and her husband's travels around the world, particularly South Africa and Mexico.  She also sent us home with two bags FULL of fresh fruit, and she gave us the yukatas to keep.  She is the most generous woman I have ever met, and it is even more amazing because she treats people she hardly knows as family and expects nothing in return.  I hope I can bring a little bit of her Japanese hospitality back to America.

On Sunday, I went to mass and caught up with a few of my church friends and then headed to the Toba Aquarium with Peter.  Toba is about an hour away by train, and it was a really great, leisurely day.  We saw a sea otter show every single exhibit in the aqarium, and I bought my first cell phone charm: a shamrock.  Toba is also famous because it is the place where pearls were first discovered and harvested.  I will definitely return to Toba after a paycheck or two and check out the Pearl Island (where we can watch people dive for pearls) and do a little shopping.  We topped off our day with a little gelato at a cute Italian cafe.

Oh, and I think my body has officially adjusted to the insane heat because it takes a lot longer for me to start sweating now when I go outside and a lot less time for me to cool down, but I am worried about what that will mean when winter rolls around.  It only gets down to about freezing here, but compared to this heat, I'm afraid it might feel like Minnesota.

School is in full swing back in the States!  How's it going?

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