Filed under: JET
I’m really glad I got one high school English camp under my belt. It’s one of those events where it was fun while it lasted but I’m so glad it’s over, if you know what I mean. Despite planning a lot of the event, I had no clue what to expect, having never seen the camp nor all the facilities. For example, I was told we were staying in a hotel, but yet it had a gym, and apparently some place to have a campfire/bbq.
I was so confused but just planned anyways. Turns out camp took place at what was literally called the “Matsukawa Youth House,” an area that school groups, clubs, sports teams, and the like can use for a weekend or whatever. There’s camping grounds, as well as nice tatami rooms to sleep in, and all the facilities one would need to keep kids occupied. The kids got a long lecture on how to properly make their beds and fold everything up after using, although some of the kids admitted to only sleeping about 3 hours. The mystery team the other ALT and myself decided on turned out really well as well, and the other guest ALTs made the event even better. I look forward to next year’s English camp, but at the same time, I’m glad it’s a year away.
“So, what did you do while on the JET Program, Jeanne?”
While I hope my answer includes earning my masters degree in TESOL education, loosing weight, learn how to teach, learning the Japanese language, finding the cure for AIDS, etc, etc, I’ve determined there’s at least one thing I can easily do, and that’s…
BECOME A SUSHI GODDESS!!!
After visting an excellent kaiten zushi place next door to my apartment, I have decided that I will eat sushi there at least once a week, eventually trying everything on their menu. I want to learn all the names of all the fish in Japanese and English, figure out what I really like, what is so so, and what’s not worth my yen. I also want to become a ‘regular’ some place, and what better place than a sushi joint. Even though it’s a bit early in the week, since tomorrow’s yet another national holiday (Autumn Equinox), I decided to start the party early and not only eat sushi, but try one of the $6 dishes. Delicious, but probably not worth spending so much, especially since they add wasabi to that one. Now, will I learn how to make sushi? Probably not. I can hardly trust myself to handle cooked fish, let alone raw.
I’m also thinking about starting a blog specifically for cool stuff you can buy in Japan. I’ll let you know when that gets off the ground.
Filed under: Japan commentary | Tags: blanket statement, generalization, japan, paper, stereotype, towels
At the beginning of my experience in Japan, I posted that Japan does not have the same paper towels as in the US. I said something to the effect of the only paper towels I’d seen came in a tissue-like box and that they were crap. This was a mistake. As it bad to make blanket statements and uneducated guesses on an entire culture based on limited or no prior experiences, and is something I shun (especially when reading posts about what anime addicts and Japanophiles think about Japan - my God people get a life) you’d think I’d be one of the last people to commit such a crime. But I have. I based my beliefs on the whole paper towel culture on Japan on one or two visits to a local departent store. (However, before I take this any further, let me say that if this is the worst blanket statement I ever make about Japan, then I’m not doing too bad.)
A couple weeks ago on a hot and miserable Japanese summer day, the ones where the sweat is just pouring off your face (though may be not your Japanese colleague’s face although he/she complains about it being hot every few minutes), I was at my desk where I see out of the corner of my eye, one of the teacher washing his face. He then walks over and behind his desk extracts a ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS! I said, in a probably too loud voice “Where did you find those?” to which he replied something to the effect of, “In the store, where else?” I expalined that I had looked for paper towels and upon finding none expect the tissue kind, believed that those were the only kind in Japan. He was surprised that I couldn’t find any, but reassured me that you could usually find paper towels anywhere.
Last week, when walking around in a 100 yen shop, I saw a couple ROLLS OF PAPER TOWELS and as tempted as I was to buy them, I really didn’t want to walk all the way back to my apartment carrying them. (But maybe I should have) I still haven’t seen paper towels in the department store next to my apartment, though I admit, I haven’t been looking so hard for them.
The moral of the story: if you ever think someone is making a huge generalization, blanket statement or seemingly stereotypical comment, they probably are, although they might not always be aware of it. Confront that person, ask them what proff they have. Maybe they were just having a blonde moment. (Ha ha, whole ‘nother issue)
Before logging in to update my blog, I couldn’t help but clicking on one of wordpress’ hot blogs of the day – one by the name of Mudflat’s, which is all about Alaskan politics. It made the front page of wordpress because of the author’s excellent reporting of both the pro-Sarah Palin rally and anti-Sarah Palin protest that happened recently in Anchorage. But most importantly, the author taught us how rare such a well-attended political event was in Alaska; the anti-Palin event broke the record for largest political event in Alaska and was like nothing this political blogger had seen in 17 years of Alaskan politics. The author had pictures and a youtube video of the event posted, and from there I was able to access even more coverage of the Anchorage events including personal videos other protest goers had made and local and national news coverage of the events. Here’s the link if you’re interested in checking it out: http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/alaska-women-reject-palin-rally-is-huge/
What this showed me was the power of blogging and the internet, how this tool that we sometimes take for granted can be a great resource. Being able to receive first-hand accounts of an event, as well as learning the significance of it… The Internet can really bring the power back to the people in politics, and be a great educator. The national news won’t cover what the people are saying – check youtube, check blogs, learn what all is out there. I’m an English teacher in Japan, but at this moment I feel as connected to real American politics as the time when I was doing an internship my Senator’s constituency office.
I’m sure for others, you’ve realized the power of blogs long before this. Before starting this Japan blog of mine, when I’d hear the hype about blogs, I’d think “What’s the big deal?” but now I get it. The more sources, the more points of view, the closer to the truth you can get. I’m not sure what I can do for the world community here from my little post in Japan, but I think I know now how I can make a start.
A few things have happened since I last posted. First off, I finally got Internet in my apartment this weekend and despite having it fully funtional since Saturday, it is now Tuesday night (my time) and I’m finally getting around to posting. It’s not that I’m lazy per se; I’m just still not sure what direction I want to take this blog in (if any).
Monday was “Respect for the Elderly” Day, so no school for me, which was awesome. Another ALT friend who teachers in a small town up the tracks came to Iida for some much needed shopping, kaiten (conveyer belt) sushi, and karaoke. It was a good time, but all good things must come to an end. The online grad school class is going along well too, and I even got social and went to movie night tonight with other ALTs in the area. Handcock is now in Japanese theaters so I got to see it a second time (first time in US). We’re going to watch Iron Man next month, another movie I’ve already seen but wouldn’t mind seeing again. I heard that the trend with Takamori folks (where I live) is that they come to Japan, stay completely isolated, and then leave after a year. While I’m not the social butterfly my predecessor was (and for good reason – I don’t want to balance work, two community activities, grad school, and planning activities for the whole JET community), I need to break this Takamori curse, because, afterall, it’s a pretty cool place to live. I will go to movie nights, as well as try to meet up with other ALTs in the area now and then. Besides, I fully intend on staying at least 2 years minimum.
This week is test week at school so I only have regular classes and no extra visit classes, which makes this a pretty easy-going week. (Yay, extra time to finalize the plans English Camp, which is this weekend) I also took nenkyu (paid time off) on Thursday and will head up to Nagano City to change my visa to multiple reentry, as well as go shopping.
Anyway, now to leave you with a photo. This is a picture of my visit school, Osahime High School, taken from the road that leads up to Apple Road. If you look in the distance, the big mountain on the left is Fuetsu-zan, and part way up on the right side is where my main school, Fuetsu is located.
Thursday I have to visit both schools and instead of taking the train last Thursday, since I had two hours to kill in between schools, I walked from Fuetsu to Osahime. It took about an hour, including a brief stop and a conveience store. I think I will continue to do that on nice days (I just gotta remember to bring gym clothes when doing so).
Filed under: Info, J-merch | Tags: buy, japan, joymart, stuff, tshirts, uniquo
I’ve been wanting to post for the past week but have been busy with school and whatnot. Anyway, here is some t-shirts I’ve been buying with my paycheck money. Since I will most definitely be coming home for Christmas, if you want something from Japan let me know and I can bring for you.
Here are some shirts I bought from the boy’s department at JoyMart. For every 50 or so English shirts you see in Japan (correct or incorrect English) you’ll find a few shirts with Japanese on them. These tofu guys were so cute, and for only $10 I couldn’t resist. The penguin bag was for about the same price at some random store in Kobe. It’s been really useful to haul stuff around in, including the mail/packages that I hope to send out to family and friends today. I also sometimes use it as a grocery bag in the supermarket b/c I’m getting tired of all the plastic bags piling up in my pura gomi (plastic trash) bin.
Uniquo did a comic book series of t-shirts this year. Last year they did a traditional Japanese style shirt series, which was really cool (I think I bought 4 or 5 for myself and others). Anway, this time of year is the best time to buy these shirts b/c they’re on clearance for $5-$7. These two shirts in particular are cross-over shirts with characters from two different series. I think at least one of these shirts is going to Malinda for Christmas, lol. Hope you like it, man.
Well, that’s it for now.
~Ja ne!
