Jeanneabeck’s Weblog

Everyone knows that Japan has a string of national holidays called “Golden Week,” but did you know that we have a “Silver Week” as well?  Actually I didn’t know about Golden Week until I started studying Japanese and just learned about Silver Week this past weekend while experiencing it.  The two national holidays “Respect for the Elderly Day” and Autumn Equinox day fell on a Monday and Wednesday respectively leaving a the government no choice but to give Tuesday off as well creating a long string of holidays equivalent to that of Golden Week in May. 

So what did we do? 

Saturday we took a day trip to Matsumoto City where Ryan got to see Matsumoto Castle for the first time.  One of Japan’s four national treasures that comes in the castle form, Matsumoto Castle is strikingly different from the others; it’s black roof and walls has given it the nickname the “Crow Castle” while it’s close proximity to Iida makes it the perfect day trip.

 It was a bit crowded being the first day of this long weekend; we saw tourist from all over Japan and all over the world.  Ryan had a bit of culture shock seeing so many other foreigners who were speaking American and British English, French, what we think was Polish, etc.  This happens when you’re newer to a foreign country and have gone a long time without seeing many foreigners. 

Inside is a collection of period muskets  that Ryan actually knew a lot about.  He really surprised me with his knowledge.

Afterwards Ryan lead us to a ramen restaurant that advertised that their ramen was featured on a cooking tv show.  Ryan is turning out to be a ramen expert or “ramen-tsu.”  Not only was this ramen the best we’d tasted (he’s ranked it as #1 on his list of good ramen shops) but it was also at a reasonable price. 

We stopped by Frog Street on the way to an from the castle.  The street incorporates all four meanings of the word “kaeru” or frog.  It also means “return” because you’ll want to return again, “to buy” because there are many shops along the street, and “change over time” because of how the street has changed and adapted, keeping the old style but changing to adapt to the new.

We also stopped by Starbucks twice (once upon arriving and once before leaving) so I could get my fill.  It was heavenly.  Ryan had the java chip frap. on the right, and I tried the coffee jelly kind on the right.  Coffee jelly and coffee jelly drinks are popular in Japan – I have no clue why.  It was good but we ended up sharing each other’s drinks a lot. 

The rest of the weekend we pretty much stayed around home.  We downloaded audiobook for “The Lost Symbol” – the new Dan Brown book and listened to all of it while playing video games and whatnot.  Next week we’ll be going to Nagano City for more adventures (and so Ryan can get his visa re-entry permit), and in a few weeks after English camp we’ll be going to Himeji to visit Yuko and her family.

It’s interesting when you find something in another culture that isn’t even thought about in your own.  One interesting you’ll find in Japan, and now in my visit high school, are these machines.  When pressed it makes a flushing sound that lasts for about 25 seconds so that when you are going to the bathroom no one will hear the peeing sound you make.  I find it hard to believe that hearing the sound of someone else peeing is rude or embarrasing.  It’s something I’ve never thought about.  When you go to the bathroom you go.  Everyone’s human, what’s the big deal?  Apparently it’s a big enough deal in Japan – in order to save water (if there is no sound device some girls will flush the toilet before going so no one will hear them) companies, businesses and schools will buy these things.  It’s annoying for me because they’ve installed these contraptions right next to the toliet paper.  If I’m not careful I’ll set off this machine without meaning to.

On the other hand, yesterday I had to teach a class about going to the doctor/dentist and buying medicine in a foreign country.  I brought in empty boxes of cold and sinus medicine.   Apparently there’s no easy explanation in Japanese for “sinus.”  Teachers and students alike were baffled and the more the girls learned about sinus cavities and the idea of being congested there the more grossed out they became.  I ended up feeling like a freak and was happy when class ended.  What does this mean though? I suppose this means that either Japanese considers sinus headaches and congestion part of another symptom or that no one in Japan ever gets this symptom.  If I get the chance maybe I’ll ask someone more bicultural about this; chances are though I’ll just never bring up the idea of ”sinus” anything in Japan again.  Ha ha.

A few days ago the weather abruptly changed from the scorching summer heat and humidity we’d all become familiar with to fall-like weather. It’s been so nice lately; being able to comfortably snuggle between the covers at night without suffering from heat stroke.  I look forward to seeing the leaves change and to get more chances to get out and see Japan.

I’ve now realized how important it is to get out and have a vacation while being a foreinger in a foreign country.  This may sound strange to the native people here, but living in a smaller city can be trying on a foreigner.  You get tired of being stared at/treated differently/etc. and need to spend a fun weekend away.  I’m thinking that from now on I need to make sure we get out of Iida once every month or two.  With the 5 day national holiday weekend coming up we’ll be going to at least Matsumoto where Ryan can see one of the 4 most famous and traditional castles in Japan.  We also need to make a trip up to Nagano City for his visa reentry permit.   These two places, of course, are in Nagano Prefecture.  I hope to get in contact with some friends soon or otherwise plan another trip around Japan.

At the same time Iida hasn’t been to bad.  Our concert is less than a month away so the number of practices has picked up considerably.  Also we always have Kitty  and our online games.  This weekend was Kitty’s two month anniversary with us.  It feels like she’s been here at least six months.  Funny how time flies and how her small furry body has added so much extra to our home.  As Ryan says, it’s nice to have a furry around.

Summer has come and gone.  We’ve already been back in school for more than a week and this fall’s schedule is slowly filling up with English camps, speech contests, debate contests, etc. It’s the busiest time of year for ALTs and is unfortunately when the majority of ALTs begin working at a school.  I thought it wouldn’t be so bad now that I’ve experienced the fall rush.  I suppose it’s not that bad because I know what to expect, and for the most part, how to survive.  I did go on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster though, one day thinking that I was so happy that I recontracted, the next day thinking “Why the hell did I sign up for this again!” I suppose that’s normal too.  Ha ha.

Ryan and I enjoyed a fairly quiet summer.  His classes just ended today and mine began last week.  We honesty don’t do much, which is a bit sad to say.  We did go on trips around town, took part in Iida’s Puppetry Festival and Ringon Festival (Iida’s biggest summer festival) where tried just about ever kind of street food available.  Mostly though we’ve just been studying, play video games and take care of our cat at home.  Sometimes I wonder if it would’ve been better not to begin this MU TESOL grad program so soon and to be taking classes so intensly.  On one hand, I’ll have a degree by May and Ryan’s on track to earning his own degree, but on another hand we haven’t had the time or money (mostly money) to take trips outside the area.   This is definitely something to consider if you’re getting a job abroad.  While it’s good to take part in trainings and earn certifications while you’re abroad to better your future, at the same time you should take this opportunity to see and explore the new country and region of the world you’re in. 

Our school’s new ALT has arrived from Interac and he seems great.  We’ll be throwing him and his wife a welcome party tomorrow and look forward to having a great partner at school.  He seems very serious and hardworking; it seems like he’ll be getting just as much work as any JET ALT the school has ever had, but yet not be hired by the school itself (not to mention be paid less). He seems to have some perks though not being so closely tied to the school.  For one, he was given a car and can drive to and from school.  The few perks don’t outweigh the downsides, including only having a 7 month contract (until March, the end of our school year – my contract is for 12 months, until August).  Still, I’m very happy he’s here and that he’s so into his job.  If the school has any say in it, I’m sure he’ll be recontracted many times.