Nagoya

This past Saturday, I visited Nagoya -- the fourth largest city in Japan and the closest (1.5 hours by local train) to where I live. Nagoya is best known for its castle adorned with golden dolphins. Although the structure is a reproduction (the original was destroyed in the 1600s), it still was beautiful as was the surrounding gardens.

I also visited a crazy shopping district that had not only a second-hand kimono shop, but several that sold kosupure wear as well (elaborate and EXPENSIVE costumes designed to look like famous Japanese anime and manga characters and worn recreationally by citizens who want hide behind the mask of another so that they can have an outlet for personal expression). I also stumbled across a store that sold clothes by their weight. Unfortunately, I didn't buy anything the 1 gram = 100 yen brought a quite a crowd and I wasn't patient enough to stand in a never-ending line.

St. Patrick's Day in Japan!

I have a friend who visited Ireland on St. Patrick's Day this year and although I am sure the festivities there were quite awesome to see, I don't think the experience was quite like St. Patty's Day in Japan.

If you were green, you were invited to march in the parade (even if nobody had any idea who you were!)...

...or you were a frog carrying an inflatable leprechaun...

...or a man wearing a traditional Japanese hopi coat and a green origami hat made by your six-year-old daughter...

...or you could play bagpipes decorated with balloons and successfully march behind your neighbor wearing a green plaid sweater...

....or you were sporting your newest spray-painted lucky clover tattoo!

More Purikura!

Remember, its just a green screen...

Graduation -- Blooming into Adulthood

Graduation for a middleschooler in Japan is in many ways a coming of age ceremony. Known as the "time to discover oneself," middle school is the last three obligatory years of school for students. Although many will continue on to high school (assuming they pass the rigorous the entrance exams), some will instead directly enter the work force. In fact, during the graduation ceremony, the PTA representative presented the students with their own personal inkan (a seal, as binding as a signature in the US, needed for all business transactions in Japan). Thus, graduation is a formal bittersweet affair as the students say goodbye to their childhood and anticipate their adulthood. For my school, it was especially poignant since most of the students have been together since kindergarten and they now were saying goodbye to their life-long friends. Due to the formality of the ceremony, I didn't feel comfortable snapping pictures and the one video I thought I took, I actually didn't. Due to my inability to understand the majority of the pomp, circumstance, and speeches, I was provided with lots of time for observation. Below are some of my discoveries:

• 100%: number of students who will graduate in Japan (no student is ever held back and they will automatically graduate even if they don't attend)
• 63: the number of graduations in the history of my school
• 163: number of graduates from my school
• 157: number of graduates who were accepted into high school
• 13: number of fathers who attended the ceremony
• 25: the number of times each graduating student bowed during the course of the ceremony (During rehearsal, I learned that there is also a specific way to bow and stand up. We practiced and practiced and practiced....)
• 2: number of mothers who wore kimonos (considered to be the most formal of wear for females)
• 1: number of students who fainted during rehearsal (If you lock your legs, you will cut off your circulation. If you lose blood flow, you will fall. If you start going down, you hope you have a friend to catch you)
• 1: number tuxedos (Tails were a must for the principal)
• 5: number of male teachers who got teary-eyed
• 2: number of male teachers who sobbed (whoever said that Japanese people don't express their emotions has never attended a middle school graduation)
• 0: number of pieces of graduation cake served (But we did get red bean rice again!!)

Pink Soda!?!?!?!

When Erin and I were young, we made it our mission to try as many unusual flavors of soda as possible. Some of our more memorable ones included celery, chocolate, and pineapple. In Japan I have decided to revive the tradition and above is another one I found. Known as Sakura Mist and made by Canada Dry, it is a beautiful hot pink color (as in filled with my nemesis Red 40). So Erin, since I have used up all of my sick days for the year, you are just going to have to fly over and taste it :-)

Uh-oh, Japanese culture is rubbing off on me!

Not only am I standing by some "kawaii" Japanese character (Hamamatsu's own Eel Dog), I am making the ubiquitous peace sign. And, I successfully asked in Japanese some random person to take my picture (and I didn't just wave my camera in their face!). What is happening to me????

The Special Meal

Yesterday was the last day of school lunches for the school year. As I anticipated the meal for the day (I can't read the menu, so I am always curious to know what is going to appear on my desk at 12:20 each day), I wondered if there would be any sort of acknowledgement. I mean, in America, every holiday and special event always has special foods and usually a calorie splurge. Christmas has eggnog, and gingerbread. Easter has carrot cake. Valentines Day and Halloween -- chocolate. When I taught kindergarten we had a pizza party at the end of the year and when I left work in Tallahassee last summer, the office threw me a yummy ice cream party complete with delicious chocolate, coconut, butterscotch brownies. So, I mused, what kind of sweet surprise would await me on this day? Would the lunch ladies even dare to break the strict daily allotment of calories for one day of the year? Well, I shouldn't have been concerned. The Japanese like to celebrate, too! Our special red rice and beans wasn't exactly chocolate cake, but it was a cultural indication that the students had been successful in of their accomplishments!

I Love English In Japanese Schools (Part 2)

Because I teach conversation English, I try to keep writing in my class to a minimum. However, my substitute had the students write clues for a Jeopardy type game. Below are some of my favorites:

• What is the uriter name?
  
• This teacher is woman. She is a short hear. She is a music teacher.
  
• It is a bird. It is red hed. It is coward.

• He playes swimming. He is the fastest swimming in the warld. He got two gold medals in Pekin Orinpic.

• He's in the Star Wars. He has back mask and red sword. He's dark side.

• He's in Toy Story. He can't fry.

A Cultural Lesson from a Hammer

Since we are coming to the end of the school year (our last day of classes is Monday), I have been trying to keep up my students' interest. So, this past week I brought in a collection of these crazy "hammers." I wondered what would happen when the student realized that I only had six and not one for each. What followed in the classroom completely amazed me. Had it only happened once or with one or two students, I wouldn't have been surprised, but in each of my nine classes?!?! As I passed out the hammers to the front row students they began to gleefully pound away, but then thye immediately passed them to the person behind them. Nobody asked, nobody sat anxiously. Instead, they each waited patiently knowing that indeed they would have a turn because their friends would share. The camaraderie was once again revisited when I asked the front row of students a question. None were able to answer and sat silently, unwilling to hit their noisemakers. After 30 seconds of uncomfortable silence, the students behind them began to whisper - not a whisper of criticism, but instead a whisper of encouragement and assistance.

Find the one that's different...

I don't know what I find to be the most hilarious aspect of this school faculty picture. Is it the fact I that I am the only one not wearing drab colors? Or fact that I am the only one smiling? Or that I am the only one not wearing a suit (since someone forgot to tell me it was picture day)? Or that I am the only one who is sunburned instead of tan? Or that I am the only one who doesn't like fish? Or the only one who can't speak Japanese? Or the only one who wasn't really in the picture? Yep, I got "Photoshopped" in...

So this is what a Japanese magnolia is supposed to look like!?!?!

The one in front of my Florida house never looked like this!

The Circus -- Part 1

When I first came to my school in August, I was told that today would be a special goodbye presentation for the graduating third year students. When I asked what type of presentation, I as told a circus. So, for the past seven months I have had visions of circus tent in the school's field....

...elephants marching through the gym...

...and hungry tigers running loose looking for the kitchen while students and teachers ran in a panic wondering why on earth they invited a circus.

Well, I needn't have worried. While the circus did have a big top, clowns, acrobats, and magicans, the only dangerous animal was an invisible butterfly....

...and the only safety concern was for the brave man willing to balance on chairs, wires, a unicyle, and a huge ball. Or so I thought....

The Circus -- Part 2

Like any circus, the one that visited school today encouraged audience participation. Like anywhere in Japan, I stick out in school. And, like in any school activity, I was volunteered. So, like any good ALT, I went along for the ride (literally!)

UP!

UP!!

And Over!!

UP!! UP!!

And AWAY!!!

But not for long....

The next Harp Car wannabe

Too bad its a little short :-( Love the color though!

Who would have thought!?!?

Today, after making an emergency run to the 100 Yen store (think Japanese Dollar Tree) for flyswatters (no, I don't have a fly infestation, I needed them for my class), I visited a new supermarket. As soon as I walked in, I could tell there was something different. I couldn't quite pinpoint it, but it really felt "western." Sure, there was an entire aisle dedicated to seaweed and another to dried fish, but there were also unheard of "treasures" such as sour cream, cheese, nuts, frozen lasagna, and even a bakery! As I was basking in my find, I walked around the corner only to discover the above bag. Yep, I had stumbled upon the Japanese version of Walmart. Upon closer inspection, I realized that even the milk in my cart was labeled with both Walmart's Great Value brand and Japanese Kanji! I got so excited (not that I'm a Walmart fiend, but it really felt "homey") that for a moment I forgot where I was. Unfortunately, that moment was a bit too long, as I soon realized that it isn't appropriate to divide a bunch of bananas in Japan.

Hina matsuri

Hina matsuri is the Japanese holiday known as Girl's Day (or Doll's Day) and is celebrated on March 3. Girls display their doll collection traditionally given to them by their grandparents and they host girlfriends over for tea and to view the dolls. I have read about this holiday in many books, and I personally have always thought it sounded like a "national tea party day." I also had secretly hoped to be invited over for a "tea party" and, yesterday, was pleasantly surprised to be invited to my neighbor's house for an entire meal of chirashi zushi (a form of sushi), miso soup, strawberries, and chocolate cake. Their almost two year old daughter, Nana, enjoyed helping her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother play hostest. During dinner, she also enjoyed adding various other toys to her doll collection (if you look closely at the picture above, you can see a teddy bear just to the right of my head). Unfortunately, I did not get a close up picture of the dolls, but they are handmade cloth dolls with intricate clothing and distinct faces. The two on the top are the emperor and empress while the below figurines are court attendants. A complete set ranges from approximately $500-$1000.

I Love English in Japan (Part 5)

Are you calm?

Happy Birthday Mommy!!

I believe that this picture was taken two years ago on Mommy's birthday -- a representation of how we wish we could celebrate birthdays now (all together). At least she did get to visit Japan on her birthday (even if it was at Epcot!). All kidding aside, dearest Mommy, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. When I think of your birthday, I also remember it vividly as the day, at age 7, you led me to Christ. For this, your Christian dedication and guidance, I am most grateful. Thank you, too, for your willingness to put Erin and I first in your life, for homeschooling us, and providing us with a wonderful warm and loving home. I love you dearest Mommy and wish I could be there to celebrate with you.

Spring is Coming!

The plum trees are blooming and the sakura (cherry blossoms) soon will be showing their beautiful pink flowers. Oh, how I love spring!

Purikura!

This past Saturday, two of my other ALT friends Sarah (from New Zealand) and Helen-Marie (from Scotland), and I engaged in a true Japanese female trend -- purikura. Following the meteorologist's technique of "green screen," purikura allows you to choose your background, pose in a little booth, and then get your picture superimposed into a fabulously crazy setting. After all pictures are snapped, the models get to digitally add props -- the tackier the better! The stamp-sized pictures are then printed to be shared with others, glued to your cellphone, pasted on pencil cases and kept as mementos of your dearest friends.

What I'm Reading Right Now

Today, in an attempt to improve my very poor Japanese, I asked my vice principal if I could borrow books from the school's library. She promptly took me there and asked the librarian to assist in locating a book. One of the seventh grade classes was using the room to work on a poster project so the three tripped over legs, arms, and huge pieces of paper sprawled all over the floor. The students found it particularly amusing that the librarian and vice principal kept on bringing me books to attempt to read while I stood there like a kindergartner sounding out words. Soon, I proudly took my new book downstairs and started practicing reading it (of course with the assistance of my really cool new electronic dictionary!) "The clock goes bong, bong, bong, whose awake at this late hour? The owl, the horned owl, the black alley cat..."

Like anything else I do at the school, it soon brought a huddle of other teachers around my desk curious to see what I was doing. They all laughed at the book saying that it was what they used to read to their young children before putting them to bed. Of course, I could only laugh with them and ask for some help for out of the 35 words, I only knew seven. According to my elementary education training, having a 20% readability level is in the frustration zone of early readers so it, too, is beyond my capabilities. Tomorrow, though, several teachers promised to bring me in their children's old picture books with one word per page. So, it looks like it will be back to board books for me. But hey, I can read them to Clara next time I see her because we will be at the same level!

Fashion Faux Pas

I received this outfit for Christmas and was really excited to wear it today for my first day back of teaching. Little did I realize that I was going to make a horrible fashion faux pas...

Scene 1 (In the teacher's office)

Vice Principal: Good morning, Emily. I think your neck must be cold today.

Emily: Good morning, Kyoto-sensei. Oh, I am fine.

Emily's Brain: (Why would she think I'm cold? I'm actually roasting, this sweater is wool and I have a thermal on underneath).

Scene 2 (several hours later -- In the women's bathroom)

Vice Principal: You must be so cold.

Emily: I'm okay.

Emily's Brain: (Of course when I wash my hands, the water feels like ice, and I would love to wear gloves in school but it is rude and I would never want to be considered rude or offensive.)

Scene 3 (Back in the Teachers' Room)

Vice Principal (placing her hand on Emily's neck): You must be so cold.

Emily: (Smile)

Emily's Brain: (Okay, I remember reading that the Japanese are indirect in their comments. Is she trying to tell me something?)

Scene 4 (In Emily's Apartment)

Emily's Brain: (Let's see what I can find regarding immodest dress in Japan...... Oh, no....)

The Discovery (excerpt from Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden): I must tell you something about necks in Japan, if you don't know it; namely, that Japanese men, as a rule, feel about a woman's neck and throat the same way that men in the West might feel about a woman's legs. This is why geisha wear the collars of the kimono so low in the back that the first few bumps of the spine are visible; I suppose it's like a woman in Paris wearing a short skirt...[it has] an erotic effect on men.

Emily's Brain: Oh my goodness! What was I thinking? Of course, I would have never guessed that a neck could be so...so offensive. Now I must add covered neck to my list of clothing requirements along with no makeup or jewelry, covered shoulders, long skirts, suits on certain days, socks at all times, special shoes.... there's got to be any easier way! Hmm... I could wear a burka and only have my eyes showing. Or, I have a better idea. I could steal one of my student's uniforms. Wait, I already did that once :-)

Calling All Photographers!!!!

So I got this really cool hot pink digital frame while I was home (I had been given a black one before I left, but it malfunctioned while in Japan and needed to be returned) and now I have to fill it with pictures. So, please send me snapshots of you!!! I want to see your smiling faces (or what else you want to share!) (Disclaimer: If the photos aren't horizontal, they will be)

When All Else Fails, Use the Ancient Technique

The gokiburi in Japan are huge, and one greeted me in my apartment at my return. Thankfully, I found this demonstration lesson to help me eradicate it.

My Newest Discovery

Isn't it cute?? It's a mommy cat carrying her baby. Its also the logo for my new favorite Japanese invention -- luggage transport system. Yes, I made it back to Japan without much difficulty, and I utilized this amazing service. All that is required is dropping off luggage at the service counter, paying a few thousand yen (1000 yen = $10), and walla, it shows up on your door the next morning. Yamamato Transport sure beats dragging suitcases on trains, planes, and automobiles!

I'm Doing it Again!

Yep, you read it right, I have been cleared for takeoff! I am no longer contagious, my spleen has returned to normal size (on a side note, an un-normal-sized spleen has a very strange feeling!!!), and my energy levels have increased (no longer do I need 19 hours of sleep -- I can function on 10!) So, I am going to return -- leaving Orlando at 6:30am on Thursday. I will be honest, I do have some concerns, I know what I am getting back into, and its not easy work, but I feel like this is the right time and the BOE has been very understanding and has been working towards alleviating my load. Plus, I am not in it alone!! I would be a hypocrite if I wrote yesterday's post and didn't embrace it today. Please pray for me, though. I really do cherish your prayers, and I would love to hear from you, too (I know how lonely it gets sometime).