Tomorrow I leave for a 10 day tour of Thailand, with a short stop in Cambodia. This trip will mean I've been in a different country every month from December to May. I plan to take it easy in Japan for a while before I head home, hopefully via the Trans Siberian Railroad.
Why am I not renewing my contract again?
2009年4月27日月曜日
2009年4月21日火曜日
Cherry Blossoms Galore!
Due to my cousin Rachel's visit to Japan during cherry blossom season, I saw more cherry blossoms than usual. Here is a sampling, enjoy!
These are the trees lining the street up to a temple in my town.
Rachel, biking under the blossom lined canal in Kyoto.
In Gion in Kyoto, on what the Lonely Planet calls one of the most beautiful streets, ever (when the trees are in bloom).
At Kyoto Botanical gardens, almost more blossom than branch.
A "weeping" cherry blossom tree at Nijo castle in Kyoto.
These are the trees lining the street up to a temple in my town.
Rachel, biking under the blossom lined canal in Kyoto.
In Gion in Kyoto, on what the Lonely Planet calls one of the most beautiful streets, ever (when the trees are in bloom).
At Kyoto Botanical gardens, almost more blossom than branch.
A "weeping" cherry blossom tree at Nijo castle in Kyoto.
2009年4月16日木曜日
First Day Back
After more than 3 weeks of not teaching, and only sporadically showing up at school to sit at my desk, I had a full day with 4 classes at my Junior High. And it was a good day. Not in any ground-breaking "my students are so smart!" moments of glory but simply for the following reasons:
-I was asked to make a short listening test for the 3rd grade and then have questions to test them on it afterwards. I quickly typed something up about my recent adventures, and the teacher loved it! He asked me to do one every week, and do one for the 2nd graders too.
-The students yelled "Joy Feddes" at me as I biked back from lunch. Not sure why they suddenly love my full name, but I'll take it
-My new desk placement is away from the fish vendor. Yes, my school has a man who comes about 1x/month and sets up his fishy wares in the staff room for teachers to buy. I am now mercifully farther away from this man.
-The new cleaning time music makes me feel like I am in a video game.
-I was asked to make a short listening test for the 3rd grade and then have questions to test them on it afterwards. I quickly typed something up about my recent adventures, and the teacher loved it! He asked me to do one every week, and do one for the 2nd graders too.
-The students yelled "Joy Feddes" at me as I biked back from lunch. Not sure why they suddenly love my full name, but I'll take it
-My new desk placement is away from the fish vendor. Yes, my school has a man who comes about 1x/month and sets up his fishy wares in the staff room for teachers to buy. I am now mercifully farther away from this man.
-The new cleaning time music makes me feel like I am in a video game.
2009年4月4日土曜日
Why Japan is Amazing (1)
Last night, while waiting for my cousin Rachel to arrive from Tokyo, I was walking around the Himeji castle grounds with two friends. It's cherry blossom viewing season and there was a plethora of picnickers sitting on tarps and enjoying a nice spring evening. As we walked by a group of men they called out "Hello!" to us so we said "Hi!" back, and they they invited us to sit with them. As we didn't have anything else to do, and in the name of cultural exchange (and free drinks), we agreed. They promptly gave us food, beer and sake. Asked us random questions (What is your name, what do you do, where do you work, where are you from), were impressed with our meager Japanese and occasionally broke into song. After a while it was time to pick up Rachel so we said thank you and goodbye, and then left them to their merry making.
Fast forward to Rachel and me, on the train to my stop. I told Rachel that we would see if anyone would offere to give us a ride before I called for a cab because the past few times I've been offered rides by people, but had already called a cab. Sure enough, just as I'm about to get out my cell phone and call I hear "Joy?!?". It is one of the guys that we met at the castle-- his wife is waiting at the train station to pick him up and take him home. So he offers to give us a ride and even helps put the suitcase in the back. His wife says she's seen me before on my bike.
A man that I randomly met in a park, whose friends inivited me and my friends to join their party due to our novelty of our being foregin, lives in my town, and offers me a ride home.
People offer me rides in my town because I am the only foreigner, and they know who I am, often because they've seen me biking.
These are some of the reasons Japan is amazing.
Fast forward to Rachel and me, on the train to my stop. I told Rachel that we would see if anyone would offere to give us a ride before I called for a cab because the past few times I've been offered rides by people, but had already called a cab. Sure enough, just as I'm about to get out my cell phone and call I hear "Joy?!?". It is one of the guys that we met at the castle-- his wife is waiting at the train station to pick him up and take him home. So he offers to give us a ride and even helps put the suitcase in the back. His wife says she's seen me before on my bike.
A man that I randomly met in a park, whose friends inivited me and my friends to join their party due to our novelty of our being foregin, lives in my town, and offers me a ride home.
People offer me rides in my town because I am the only foreigner, and they know who I am, often because they've seen me biking.
These are some of the reasons Japan is amazing.
2009年4月2日木曜日
USJ
When my dad and Henry came for a visit, they said they’d like to visit USJ—Universal Studios Japan. While I was more than willing, it did strike me as an odd way to spend time in Japan when there are temples to visit, and all that cultural jazz. But while the history and culture of Japan is rich and rewarding in its depth, there are limits. And if you just want to relax and have fun, a theme park is designed to do just that (well, that and to take your money). There is no pressure to understand what you are looking at, or to contemplate its history. USJ is nearly identical to its cousin in Florida. A bit smaller, but basics remain the same: rides, salty/sweet/deep-fried foods, line ups, thrills, people in character costumes.
There are a few Japanese touches to keep you aware of the fact that you are, actually, on a slice of Osaka real-estate and not in the USA. The usual reams of women in high heels, an unusually high number of people in cute novelty hats, and of course, the entire preamble to the rides is done in Japanese. But it doesn’t matter, because you’ve seen the movies—even if you are a bit rusty on all the details (Oh ET, it’s been ages).
Here are some photos for your enjoyment.
The main entrance of the park
The spider man ride = amazing
The Jurassic Park themed hats were quite excellent
Henry, post Jurassic park ride-- he got a little wet
The end.
There are a few Japanese touches to keep you aware of the fact that you are, actually, on a slice of Osaka real-estate and not in the USA. The usual reams of women in high heels, an unusually high number of people in cute novelty hats, and of course, the entire preamble to the rides is done in Japanese. But it doesn’t matter, because you’ve seen the movies—even if you are a bit rusty on all the details (Oh ET, it’s been ages).
Here are some photos for your enjoyment.
The main entrance of the park
The spider man ride = amazing
The Jurassic Park themed hats were quite excellent
Henry, post Jurassic park ride-- he got a little wet
The end.
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