Being Part of the Group

Being part of the group is extremely important here in Japan. It isn't always what you can do for the group, but that your presence is there (case in point -- it is acceptable to sleep in a meeting, but looked down upon if you miss it because you are tired). Also, members of a group do things for the group and don't think about the individual (remember my Japanese speech story?? This is why I made a fool of myself!) Anyways, being accepted into a group (especially as a foreigner) can be a challenge. I knew this from the start, and decided that I would do everything that I could to become part of my school's group. I didn't want the other teachers to ever be jealous of me because I acted on my own accord but instead I have attempted to assimilate as much as possible (that's why I eat my crazy school lunch everyday without complaining, daily sweep the floors while dripping with sweat instead of sitting in the air-conditioned staff room, don't wear jewelry or bright colors to school (okay sometimes, I cave in and wear dark pink), attend meetings I don't understand...you get the point!) For me, to be part of the group is an important cultural lesson and witnessing opportunity. You see, Japanese are very wary of people not in their group, so I figure I can be a better tent-maker if I can get to know my fellow-teachers. Though sometimes, its challenging and I find myself doing things that I don't particularly enjoy (I don't particularly relish wearing a dark suit and not smiling for photo day ), I also realize that I, unlike the rest of the teachers, don't have to be part of the group for the rest of my life. (By the way, here is the newest staff photo. It is of the "free" teachers -- those not assigned to a specific grade. We have little bubbles coming from our mouths explaining our subject area, favorite Japanese word, favorite song, and what our dream was when we were a junior high school student)
Of course, being accepted into the group takes time, which I found out my first day at school almost two years ago. After giving one of my "crazy attempts at Japanese" speeches to introduce myself, I found myself sitting alone in the staffroom while all the other teachers had meetings. I really felt like an outsider...and though I had absolutely no idea what was going on, I wanted to join. (Looking back, I am sure they didn't invite me because they thought I would be bored -- which would probably be true! Plus, my school had had an incredible turn-over of ALTs, so I am sure they figured that I was going to be like every other one -- in, one day, and out the next!) Anyway, as time has progressed, my teachers have seen that I want to participate in their daily lives and have slowly started to integrate me into their group. For example, now my desk has my own name plate, just like everyone elses! I have my own locker, and shoe cubby instead of using the "guest" ones. I also have been added onto the "staff list" -- a checklist used for important events like invitations to lunch and teacher "game days." I also get my own mailbox for important papers, and it is here that my story really starts...

So, about two weeks ago, I found a really pretty hot pink and lime green cherry blossom paper in my mailbox. Usually, I don't understand about half of the papers in my box (but I have become really good at reading all the "wear suits tomorrow notices!), so I make it a daily practice to ask my school secretary (her desk is directly across from mine) what is important and what I can throw away. This paper, though, was especially intriguing. Not only was it printed on the color printer (a big novelty at school) but I could also decipher it was for women only. I thought that maybe it was an invitation to the a "women only (plus the principal) end of the year lunch." They have them occasionally, and I have been honored to be invited (even if the menu includes eel). Anyway, I was really excited about this paper so I asked my secretary about it. She looked at it very quizzically, told me it was important, and then said I should talk to my vice-principal about it. Well, I had class next, so I proudly displayed it on my desk to remind myself to ask about it. When I arrived back to my desk several hours later. It was gone!!!! I was so baffled. Where did it go? I started searching, wondering if it had blown off or if I had gone crazy and actually misplaced it. When I couldn't find it, I finally came to the conclusion that someone must have removed it from my desk. After-all, the secretary did seem surprised that I had it in the first place. I was genuinely disappointed. Maybe, I had been wrongly invited to a party...maybe I really wasn't part of the group! Weeks passed, and I completely forgot about my mysterious invitation....that was until Thursday, when my vice-principal came to talk to me with pretty hot-pink flowered paper in hand. I was so excited!! Maybe it had blown off my desk after-all and they really wanted me to join something special!

"This is really difficult for me," my vice-principal said. "Every month, women have something..."

As for being part of the group, I am in a new one -- "Educated Teachers in the Proper Disposal of Feminine Products!" And, I can only thank the members of my "group" who were looking out for their clueless foreigner and removed that "mysterious" paper from my desk!

Indiana Jones (Toelcke Style)

Just because I have a blog and Daddy doesn't (and these pictures are too fun not to share)...









... and for those of you wondering he is on a business trip in Dubai which I think is somewhere in India, right? :-)

On Shampoo, Kimonos, and "Big Feet"!

Several weeks ago, my school's nurse walked up to my desk and handed me a plastic bag. Now, I must explain that she is absolutely adorable and loves to talk to me. Unfortunately, a good 75% of the time, I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about. This, of course, doesn't stop her from chattering away to me (which, on a side note, I recently found out that she speaks with a different accent than most of the other teachers, so maybe that's part of my difficulty. Or, it could just be wishful thinking and denial of my lack of Japanese skills!) Anyway, back to the plastic bag... Inside, I found a bunch of samples of shampoo, conditioner, and three sparkly hair scrunchies! As my mind was attempting to process the gift (I'm still not sure why she gave it to me, but I am guessing that she had extras and thought it would be really nice to share) she called my vice principal over to translate. Come to find out, she had another present to give me if I was willing to take it. A distant relative of hers had sent her daughter a woolen kimono; however, it was way to big so she thought I might like it. Of course, I ecstatically agreed. What an honor!!! Soon, I found myself standing in the un-airconditioned 90-some degree staff room trying on a woolen kimono. My vice-principal and nurse decided that as long as I wore flat shoes and didn't fold it up in the traditional fashion, the length should be okay. As I once again attempted to comprehend this gift (the magnitude this time and not the randomness), my nurse and vice-principal began to make plans to take me shopping for the necessary belt (obi) and undergarments needed to wear under a kimono. Anyway, below is a photo of the kimono material. Supposedly, it is a very traditional Japanese design. It was also decided that I should get a bright yellow belt for a nice contrast. They also thought that it would be really neat if I would wear the kimono to the end of the year party in December. (If I have a chance I am sure I will! Of course, it will be much to the amusement of my teachers and bafflement of the restaurant's staff. I can just see the beginning of a new post now: A blonde foreigner wearing a kimono walks into a hotel lobby....)
Well, the story doesn't end there... This week, my school nurse handed me a bag with a beautiful hand-beaded purse and matching zori (Japanese-style flip-flops worn with white "big toe" separate socks) She is definitely enjoying the prospect of "dressing up the foreigner"! (Not that I mind :-)

a close-up of the bead work

the zori

unfortunately, they are too small for this foreigner's "big feet"
(I feel like Gladys Aylward in China) but they are still gorgeous nonetheless

I can't wait till December to wear my newest ensemble!!

Ocean Day

So, last Monday was Ocean Day! I'm not exactly sure the point of the national holiday, but to celebrate, a group of us from the English-speaking church decided to go to a local river! We spent several lovely hours swimming, jumping, splashing, diving for yours' truly's glasses, and enjoying the time of fellowship and beautiful weather!

the river and big rock

three pale foreigners wearing black suits
(Sarah, me, and Joanna)

Mami and Yuko
(two adorable young Japanese Christian ladies)

Per Tiki's request -- a contrast of colors!
(He is too heavy for "three pale foreigners in black suits"!)
Ultimate Frisbee
(I had to quit after I face-planted and ended up with a bruised and bleeding shin)

attempting to blindly climb the big rock

blindly jumping off the rock!
(It's great I can't see without my glasses, or I probably would have never jumped)

a splash ending to a fabulous day!

Conveyor-Belt Sushi

Believe it or not, I decided I wanted sushi for my birthday. Now, the sushi I really wanted wasn't the "normal" kind -- you know, the incredibly raw stuff that is still moving -- but instead moved in a different way. Known as kaiten-zushi or kurukuru sushi (an onomatopoeia for the sound it makes as it goes around) this sushi is just as much of the Japanese culture as the really fresh, wiggly stuff. Anyways, Sarah offered to go with me -- though she did insist we sit at a booth instead of the counter (I think she was embarrassed that I was playing "foreigner" and taking pictures of everything!) Anyway, here they are...

The conveyor belt is behind me and weaved throughout the entire restaurant. To order, you just pressed the touch screen TV (for special orders) or took whatever you wished off the belt as it passed by

A close up of the TV as well as the table's hot water dispenser (each one had one) for making tea

The automatic rice-dispensing machine

Two of the more interesting flavors of the evening:

bacon sushi (above) and hamburger sushi (below). Neither of which were as good as the fried shrimp sushi or the shrimp salad sushi.

Sushi wasn't the only thing that rode around the restaurant.
Below is Sarah with a piece of melon...

a carton of chocolate milk...

and dessert (though I opted for the cream puffs instead of the pudding)

When we were finished, we pressed a door-bell like button, an attendant appeared, counted our plates (they were colored differently for the varying prices) and off we went...

My 27th Birthday!

Ever since I was little, it has been tradition for my daddy to buy doughnuts and make his famous scrambled eggs for my birthday breakfast. Unfortunately, shipping eggs was a bit challenging, but he did send me yummy coffee (and I provided the doughnuts!)...

It has also been tradition for Mommy to wrap presents in pretty bows and place them on the dining room table so I can look at them (I love looking at my presents days before my birthday). She was kind enough to mail them early so I could do the same here in Japan.

The day of my birthday was relatively uneventful, until during one of my second-year students' classes we started practicing how to ask and answer "When is your birthday?" in English (the topic had been pre-planned weeks ago and it just happened to fall on my birthday). My answer led to an impromptu rendition of "Happy Basuday" led by my vice-principal, which was very cute. That evening, Sarah and Helen-Marie planned a little party at Sarah's apartment.

Me entering -- notice that I am happily holding a bag of Cheetos (heavenly food from Grandma!)

Cake, balloons, presents, candles!

Beautiful scarf from Auntie Hildi

Modeling my new eye mask -- the latest attempt to not wake up with the sun at 4
(The sun really does rise in the East!!!!)

My newest "must have" accessory -- scarves!

Pink passport holder from my favorite nieces!
(and guess where I get to go in August)

Matthew (another ALT) and Massu the bear

The yummy multi-berry, custard tart birthday cake

Attempting not to be pelted by balls of wrapping paper (by the boys) while being serenaded by "Happy Birthday" in French (also by the boys)

Blowing out the candles (and then it was off to take purikura where attacking the birthday girl seemed to be a recurring theme)