Well, I'm continuing the post now!
So on Thursday I tried to get as much prepared and organized for Friday as I could. The building's architecture is set up so that it takes a while to walk back to the teacher's room, and there are only 5-10 minutes in between each class. Sometimes I have time to make it to the bathroom or to the teachers room for a drink of water, but sometimes I do not. I thought it would be best to know as much about Friday's schedule as I could beforehand, so I did all of the preparation on Thursday.
Friday finally came, and I was a bit nervous for the first class. The teacher did most of the introduction to the class, but also kind of expected me to just jump right in. First we did a check to see if all of the students had all of their books and supplies. They got a stamp if they did, and nothing if they didn't. The one's who had forgotten things had to stand. Then the teacher told them who I was, and we did the morning greetings together. I was then given a large chunk of time to free-talk about myself. We had put together a worksheet for the children to do, which I'll try to remember to take a photo of. They didn't understand most of what I was saying, but I used a lot of photos and things to pass around the class from home. Also, the Japanese Teacher of English (JTE) explained things they didn't get. We gave them the worksheet that they did in pairs or groups of threes, and then we walked around the room checking if they understood. It was hard for me to communicate with them because I wasn't allowed to speak in Japanese. They picked up that I understood a lot of Japanese though, and I would just answer them simply in English. It was pretty fun, and after the first few minutes in class I wasn't nervous anymore. The teacher can be used as a big support it I need them. I was a little nervous about being able to keep the class in control, but it was ok. I'm learning different techniques as I go along. I'm also learning that my attitude REALLY effects the attitude of the class. If I am energetic and giving it my all, it will help them be motivated and focused. Not everyone of course, but it is better than if I am tired and slow with no energy. It will directly be reflected in them!
The worksheet was a little too difficult for the students, and I think they would have preferred to play a game. Now I know for next time to get them to do something a little more active/competitive. We've been using the same worksheet for each new class until the self-introductions are over. In most classes there are some people who are way beyond the level and finish the worksheet in a matter of minutes, while there are other people that don't even know the roman alphabet. I was warned that the level of English at the school was very low, but I think it is hard to understand exactly what that means until you see it. Also, in one of my classes I had to go around the room asking some people questions. Some of them just stood up reluctantly and looked to the teacher for help to translate, but one girl did the sterio-typical Japanese silence act. I asked her a question, for example, "What is your name?" She stared at me... "What is your name?" "..." "Name?" "..." She looks at her friends. Her face is red. Her friends say to her in Japanese the word for name... "..." Well, it was clear she wasn't going to say anything, so I moved onto the next table. Again, I knew things like that would happen, but it is hard to understand what it feels like until it happens.
There are some classes who are REALLY talkative, and there are some classes where it is like pulling teeth to get them to volunteer. There are some students that think I'm pretty and interesting and want to talk to me, and there are other students who could give a ---- less. Then again, the same thing goes for students of any subject! I can't be personally offended when I student is not interested in learning English. There were subjects I really did not want to learn when I was in middle school. It is difficult to be a teacher now and try to figure out ways to involve those that don't really want to learn, as well as those that do.
There are seven English teachers that I work with throughout the week, and usually roughly 23 lessons. On Monday's and Wednesday's my schedules are a little less busy, so I eat lunch in a different classroom to try to get to know the students. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I eat lunch in the teachers room in order to get some rest before I have to go to the next classes. Until the school festival, which is the weekend after next I believe, the schedule is a little changed because they are preparing for the performances and sports day. Until then my schedule is a little changed around, and maybe even a little less hectic. This is good for my first week only because I'm not used to how many classes I have to teach in a row. Being a full-time teacher is definitely hard work. I'm only an ASSISTANT teacher, so I'm not even doing the main planning. I wonder how they do it? Just get tired, or get used to it?
There are some things about the school life in general that I am sure I've forgotten to mention, but I think it's because to me it doesn't seem out of the ordinary. If you've seen any anime, you are probably used to it as well! For example, the bell that chimes is a very typical "doorbell" sound. Not "ding dong" but, "ding ding ding dong, dong ding ding dong." I will try to find a sound clip of it.
(Please click this page, and scroll down to the clip that says "household, doorbell, chime, ring, modern, musical." http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/display/sounds.cfm/sound_group_iid.43)
This sound happens at the beginning of the day, and in between every class and activity. The students start the day around 8:30 usually I believe, and the teachers are supposed to be there by 8 or 8:10 for the morning meeting. There is lunch provided by the school for a very small monthly fee, and I decided to eat that so that I didn't have to make my own every day. The students and staff are expecting to eat everything that is there, which I think is too much so I bring in a tupperware and discreetly bring half of it home with me for after work. At lunch a student goes on the PA system and announces what the lunch is, and how nutritious it is.
Every student and teacher has to wear INSIDE shoes in the school, and different specific shoes in the gym. Each grade level is designated a different color, and the students gym clothes and accessories are highlighted with this specific color so that their grade level is easily known. I think the current rotation is blue=1st years, red=2nd years, and green=3rd years. When the new first years come in next year, I believe they'll be green.
In Japan, students until college (I think?) typically do not rotate classes like we do in America. Every year they are put in one class, and the class basically stays together. There is a homeroom teacher who is basically in charge of the class, but the different teachers of different subjects go to the different classrooms. All of the teachers desks are in that one room as I said in a previous entry. Perhaps this is one reason the teachers get tired? If I had all of my materials in one room and my own desk, and didn't tromp all over the school, I probably wouldn't be in the same condition. Look, even my English is turning Japanese!
I think there is a 5:30 curfew in this town. It might be only this town, or it might be all of Japan. The students are supposed to stop playing, or stop doing their school sports/activities and go home before 5:30.
Today I had one class of third years, immediately followed by a class of first years. I don't realize it when I'm going from 1 to 1, or 3 to 3, but the difference in maturity level and appearance of 1 to 3 is so big! I had forgotten what it was like to be in middle school. I wish I could go back and remember what I was thinking in order to get a better idea/understanding of my students. What kind of teacher would I have wanted?
On Friday afternoon (starting at 3:00 or 3:30 I think?) I went to the English club meeting. I got to meet a few students and talk with them. I think they are looking forward to mostly playing games or attempting to watch movies in English (with subtitles...), so I have been searching for English games to play with them. I'll have to put together a list of games and propose it to the teachers to see if the school will buy them. This will probably be a long process, but might as well start sooner than later. What kinds of games do you think would be good for practicing simple English? Apples to Apples? Monopoly? Battleship? Guess who? What else? I'll think of some other card games too, because they said they liked those. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Also, do you have any middle school related or teaching tips in general?
I think I am going to end here for now. There are a few more things I could mention, but you'll just have to wait until the next post! Sorry for the delay. A few more pictures will follow. I took one of my English board with a few pictures, and I will try to take a picture of the worksheet I made. Anything else I've mentioned you'd like to see? I don't think I'm legally allowed to post any pictures of students or teachers in the school, so that probably won't happen. Maybe some day with permission?
I'm doing well, and know that I can always try harder. I'll leave you with this quote I found in one of my JET teaching books...
"A positive attitude and rigorous work ethic are as important to a professional image as personal appearance."
Much love,
Ms. Lana
or
Ms. Kitcher
or
Lana先生
or
ラナ先生
or
キッチャー先生
PS. Sorry about mistakes. I didn't have time to reread this entry... will do so later.
3129
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Aaaaah! Actually busy now.
Hello hello!
I apologize in advance that this entry is not going to be very fulfilling or detail ridden. It is already nearly 10:30 PM, and I have to get up again tomorrow at 6 so I'd like to go to bed soon.
I'll do my best to write what I can, but I'm sure I've already forgotten a lot of it. Maybe I'll add another entry onto this one later, or add extra ideas as comments, or just go through and fix the entry at a later date. Either way, if you're interested about the last week and a half check back HERE to see if anything has changed.
Where did I leave off...?
Last Wednesday was the opening ceremony. The whole school convened in the morning in the gym, and listened to a few speeches by the administration staff about conduct and making this a good second semester. (The Japanese school system is opposite to the American one, so instead of starting a new school year in fall, we are starting the second half of a school year. The students go up a grade level in the spring.) There is a new English teacher as well as me, so we both sat in the front of the crowd with the Principal and Vice Principal to be introduced. The Principal did a very brief introduction, and then Ms. Mochizuki (which is her name) and I did our very short introductions following. Hers was in Japanese and very polite, and mine was in English. I would have been able to do it in Japanese, but they wanted me to do it in English for the kids. Also, I think they want to postpone the kids realizing that I speak Japanese as long as possible, so they'll at least attempt to speak to me in English sometime. I think the speech was kind of fun, and despite giving it in front of 700 middle schoolers, I wasn't that nervous. Preforming in front of lots of people makes me less nervous that performing in front of only a few.
After that I was able to go back to the office and prepare some more things for the first day of class. The actual school day was shortened for the students so I didn't have any classes.
Thursday was a test day to see what level all of the students were at. Again, the class schedule was rearranged for this day so I didn't have any classes I had to teach. I spoke to a few of the English teachers that I would be working with on Friday, and they finally started to tell me some more concrete things they wanted me to put together. I knew I was going to have to do a self introduction, so I had been putting together objects and pictures from home to show to the kids. I also wrote down a few sentences about myself. Finally, one of the teachers (Ms. Mochizuki 1, which I will explain in a moment) came up to me and said that she'd like to make the whole 50 minute period basically for my use. The first 5 minutes or so are dedicated to checking for materials and giving out points or returning tests or whatever, and greetings in English. She wanted me to put together a game or sheet that had to do with my self introduction, so I thought about a crossword puzzle. I took some time putting one together and setting up my introduction speech so that it would be easy enough to understand, and exactly all of the points that needed to be on the worksheet. After I was done with the worksheet she told me that it would be way too hard for the first years, so she put in some Japanese words where they wouldn't understand. I prepared this, and basically used the same introduction speech for a different teacher who had put together her own worksheet with only a few different questions added.
I have to go to bed now. Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I'm not focusing.
Good night! I'll finish tomorrow. This entry is just going to have to come in installments.
I apologize in advance that this entry is not going to be very fulfilling or detail ridden. It is already nearly 10:30 PM, and I have to get up again tomorrow at 6 so I'd like to go to bed soon.
I'll do my best to write what I can, but I'm sure I've already forgotten a lot of it. Maybe I'll add another entry onto this one later, or add extra ideas as comments, or just go through and fix the entry at a later date. Either way, if you're interested about the last week and a half check back HERE to see if anything has changed.
Where did I leave off...?
Last Wednesday was the opening ceremony. The whole school convened in the morning in the gym, and listened to a few speeches by the administration staff about conduct and making this a good second semester. (The Japanese school system is opposite to the American one, so instead of starting a new school year in fall, we are starting the second half of a school year. The students go up a grade level in the spring.) There is a new English teacher as well as me, so we both sat in the front of the crowd with the Principal and Vice Principal to be introduced. The Principal did a very brief introduction, and then Ms. Mochizuki (which is her name) and I did our very short introductions following. Hers was in Japanese and very polite, and mine was in English. I would have been able to do it in Japanese, but they wanted me to do it in English for the kids. Also, I think they want to postpone the kids realizing that I speak Japanese as long as possible, so they'll at least attempt to speak to me in English sometime. I think the speech was kind of fun, and despite giving it in front of 700 middle schoolers, I wasn't that nervous. Preforming in front of lots of people makes me less nervous that performing in front of only a few.
After that I was able to go back to the office and prepare some more things for the first day of class. The actual school day was shortened for the students so I didn't have any classes.
Thursday was a test day to see what level all of the students were at. Again, the class schedule was rearranged for this day so I didn't have any classes I had to teach. I spoke to a few of the English teachers that I would be working with on Friday, and they finally started to tell me some more concrete things they wanted me to put together. I knew I was going to have to do a self introduction, so I had been putting together objects and pictures from home to show to the kids. I also wrote down a few sentences about myself. Finally, one of the teachers (Ms. Mochizuki 1, which I will explain in a moment) came up to me and said that she'd like to make the whole 50 minute period basically for my use. The first 5 minutes or so are dedicated to checking for materials and giving out points or returning tests or whatever, and greetings in English. She wanted me to put together a game or sheet that had to do with my self introduction, so I thought about a crossword puzzle. I took some time putting one together and setting up my introduction speech so that it would be easy enough to understand, and exactly all of the points that needed to be on the worksheet. After I was done with the worksheet she told me that it would be way too hard for the first years, so she put in some Japanese words where they wouldn't understand. I prepared this, and basically used the same introduction speech for a different teacher who had put together her own worksheet with only a few different questions added.
I have to go to bed now. Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I'm not focusing.
Good night! I'll finish tomorrow. This entry is just going to have to come in installments.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Another Adventure to Japan... 私の旅: Free-Style
Another Adventure to Japan... 私の旅: Free-Style: "In an attempt to do some more free-writing, I may try to force myself to write something creative here every once-in-a-while. The only way ..."
Read more under the "free-style" tab!
Lana
2974
Read more under the "free-style" tab!
Lana
2974
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Hawaiiiiiiii
Oh yeah! Also, I think it is closer for me to go to Hawaii from Japan than to go from NY... while I'm here, if I have time, I am thinking about taking a trip there! I've never been, and I think it would be neat to go. Maybe we could have a family reunion in Hawaii?
~_^ I'd also like to sometime see some other Asian countries. Any suggestions of amazing places to visit?
2925
~_^ I'd also like to sometime see some other Asian countries. Any suggestions of amazing places to visit?
2925
Test day? 12:45??
Well I learned some new things today...
At the BOE, a chime would sound, everyone started eating an noon and then went back to work at 1. The lights would dim, and unless a customer was there everyone kind of relaxed during this time.
I've been working at the school for a little over a week now, and I kept wondering why no one would eat at noon. I was always ready, so I got out my dishes and ate alone. Today we were handed schedules for the first week of class and for September. I looked over the schedule to see if I understood it, and I finally put two and two together that school lunch is from 12:45-1:20 during the school year... I suppose the teachers eat at the same time over summer too, because low and behold, people were actually eating during this time. All week and no one said anything to me. Hopefully this kind of thing doesn't happen regarding something more serious or embarrassing!
I also decided that I needed a pair of pants that I could wear at work other than suit dress pants, so I went looking at 'Uni Qlo' yesterday. The only thing I could find was a stretchy pair of tights that are made to look like jeans. They have elastic around the waist and a drawstring. This was a size L, and they still tug in curvy places. Not only do I feel like a giant because I wear a shoe size LL or bigger than they typically sell, but I also feel pregnant because I have to now settle for the drawstring/elastic waist pants. Thanks Japan.
Tomorrow is the big opening ceremony, staff meeting, and two afternoon classes. The scheduled classes in the afternoon I don't think I teach, so I'll probably just have some time to spend in the office. Tomorrow is the beginning of my new work hours... 8:00 am - 4:45 pm. This will probably be my more typical day from now on, unless there are after school activities for me to go to. I don't know why other ALTs complain about having nothing to do. There have only been a few times that I felt like there was nothing more useful I could be doing, and it was mostly because I was simply tired of doing what I was already working on.
Thursday is a "test" day. I don't really know what that means, but I'm pretty sure it means that there aren't any real classes for me to go to until Friday. Friday's schedule will be 1st period through 4th period (which I believe is all before lunch?) and then they have special time blocked for the afternoon. There is a big school festival happening next weekend, and the student's class schedule has been rearranged until then to accommodate for prep time. Due to the fact that all of the teachers have to go in to school for the whole weekend for the school festival, we get two random days off the following week.
Good for now.
Lana
At the BOE, a chime would sound, everyone started eating an noon and then went back to work at 1. The lights would dim, and unless a customer was there everyone kind of relaxed during this time.
I've been working at the school for a little over a week now, and I kept wondering why no one would eat at noon. I was always ready, so I got out my dishes and ate alone. Today we were handed schedules for the first week of class and for September. I looked over the schedule to see if I understood it, and I finally put two and two together that school lunch is from 12:45-1:20 during the school year... I suppose the teachers eat at the same time over summer too, because low and behold, people were actually eating during this time. All week and no one said anything to me. Hopefully this kind of thing doesn't happen regarding something more serious or embarrassing!
I also decided that I needed a pair of pants that I could wear at work other than suit dress pants, so I went looking at 'Uni Qlo' yesterday. The only thing I could find was a stretchy pair of tights that are made to look like jeans. They have elastic around the waist and a drawstring. This was a size L, and they still tug in curvy places. Not only do I feel like a giant because I wear a shoe size LL or bigger than they typically sell, but I also feel pregnant because I have to now settle for the drawstring/elastic waist pants. Thanks Japan.
Tomorrow is the big opening ceremony, staff meeting, and two afternoon classes. The scheduled classes in the afternoon I don't think I teach, so I'll probably just have some time to spend in the office. Tomorrow is the beginning of my new work hours... 8:00 am - 4:45 pm. This will probably be my more typical day from now on, unless there are after school activities for me to go to. I don't know why other ALTs complain about having nothing to do. There have only been a few times that I felt like there was nothing more useful I could be doing, and it was mostly because I was simply tired of doing what I was already working on.
Thursday is a "test" day. I don't really know what that means, but I'm pretty sure it means that there aren't any real classes for me to go to until Friday. Friday's schedule will be 1st period through 4th period (which I believe is all before lunch?) and then they have special time blocked for the afternoon. There is a big school festival happening next weekend, and the student's class schedule has been rearranged until then to accommodate for prep time. Due to the fact that all of the teachers have to go in to school for the whole weekend for the school festival, we get two random days off the following week.
Good for now.
Lana
Monday, August 23, 2010
What do I want to do in the long-run?
Some free advertising for my friends:
1) Cooper-Fenske Photography
2) www.heelsandmacarons.com
3) www.kellychloe.com/
1) Cooper-Fenske Photography
2) www.heelsandmacarons.com
 |
| Heels and Macarons |
 |
| Kelly Chloe |
Forms, and more forms
Today was quite the learning experience.
I had it planned since last week that I would go to the bank during work today to pay my rent. Since classes aren't in session, doing that wasn't a problem. The bank closes at 3, and I don't get out until 4. So I left school at 10, expecting to be back at 11:30 or so at the latest.
I got to the bank and had to ask what ticket to take. You have to take a ticket with a number on it to wait on line (in line), but you have to also specify what you need when you're taking the ticket. I was called to the counter and tried to tell her what I wanted to do. I told her that I wanted to pay one month's rent, and then set up automatic payments starting next month. She pulled out an application form and went over all of the different places to fill things in since I couldn't read most of it. (Imagine all of a sudden being illiterate. Everything you see written around you, visualize suddenly being in symbols you didn't understand... yeah.) So when she got to the part about who I was paying and the number code for that person, I realized that I had just assumed all of that information was on file. I asked her if I could take the form and come back. I called my supervisor and asked him, but he said I should have that sheet at home, or he could help me out after lunch-time because he was out running errands for the BOE when I called. I said fine, and decided to move on to my next task- going to the post-office. (I couldn't do the one time payment either since I didn't know the payment number.) The bank helper assisted me in using the ATM to withdrawal some money, and I rode my bike to the post-office. There I bought stamps pretty painlessly, and took another number ticket to be helped. It took a minute to explain that I was trying to send money over seas, because apparently I was using the wrong word for "money transfer," but eventually the teller got it and gave me a form that was half in Japanese and half in JapaneseEnglish. JapaneseEnglish is the language that is somewhere between Japanese and English, and can sometimes be as hard to understand as Greek. If you don't speak Greek, that can be a problem.
So I filled out the form, but had started writing my name in the Japanese alphabet, crossed it out and wrote it again with roman letters, because that is what the form asked for. I figured out what went where, and waited to be helped again. At the counter they looked over the form briefly, and told me that I couldn't hand it in with my name crossed out and fixed, so they gave me a new one to fill in.
I went back to the counter with the new form, and he told me that the address had to be written in English letters as well, so he gave me a new form to fill it in again.
I went back to the counter with the newer form, and they said that my name had to be written in the exact order that it was on my foreigner identification hard. The female teller that was helping me, and had probably never worked with one of these forms before, had started to cross out the names that they told her to fix. She accidentally crossed out one of the ones that should have been left alone, and after doing so made it so that the name couldn't fit anymore. Her supervisor started yelling at her, and I started getting really frustrated with this whole process and started to tear up. They told me I would have to fill in another form due to the woman's error. I felt bad that she got yelled at, and at this time had already been in the post office for about an hour. I held myself together though, and regained emotional stability before anything serious and/or embarrassing happened.
We had used all of the forms in the drawer, so a few people went running all around looking for a new form. They found one, and I filled it in again.
I went back to the counter, and most of the information on this form was ok, except that I accidentally wrote two letters too close together at the very end, so we just stamped the correction (since it was really small) and wrote the two letters more legibly. I waited a little while longer for them to do the paperwork and process the form, and finally everything seemed to be well and I left. Let's hope the money actually appears in my bank account in a few days...
Since I hadn't heard back from my supervisor yet, I went all the way back to my apartment to pick up the housing form, and took it back to the bank to try to set up the payment schedule. There weren't many people there so I was helped right away, and during this my supervisor called me to give me the information. He said the number I had was only for the very FIRST payment, so he told the bank teller the new corrected information over the phone. We had already started to fill out the sheet, so she handed me a new sheet to fill out. (Sound familiar?) After all was said and done, I only had to fill out 1 1/2 this time, and she said the payments would start next month. I then took the corrected routing number, and paid THIS month's rent at the ATM. The same lady who had helped me previously withdraw, helped me again now with the rent. I'm glad I didn't try to do it on my own because there were a lot of buttons to press and no English. It's strange how I can get around pretty well by using oral communication, but I'm totally helpless when it comes to reading.
So after all of this, I finally rode my bike back to the school and arrived a few minutes before 1:00 PM. I ate lunch, cooled off in the AC, and worked on some projects for the start of the school year. I met a fellow teacher today, who I knew of but had not spoken to yet. For privacy, I'll call her Ms. A. She is one of the school nurses out of two, and she is turning 23 this year. She graduated from University in April, so she and I are in very similar situations, and obviously also very close in age. We talked for a little bit, and she helped me plan out a few things on my English Board. I hope we can become closer friends as the year progresses!
I still have had no luck finding where the "mixed paper and mixed plastic" garbage place is, but my supervisor faxed a map to the school today to remind me where it was. I swear I was looking in the right place, and there was no garbage there. If I have the same problem next time I go, I think I'm going to do like everyone else in the building and say never mind. The place we put our normal trash is right outside the building, and they come to pick it up twice a week. Also, I take all of my bottles and cans down to the grocery store and leave them in the public bins there. Those things are only picked up from the street once a month, and probably at the same mystery place as the paper and plastic. The store is about as far away as the place is anyway, and it doesn't have to accumulate in my small apartment, so bringing it there is no problem for me.
Wednesday I do a speech in front of the whole school, and then a personal introduction in every new class I visit. After a week those should be done, so I'll let you know how they go later.
Also, I signed up for Japanese lessons finally! In this area they have what's called "Nihongo Volunteers." It is only 500 yen an hour, but the tutors aren't real teachers, they are just volunteers. The 500 yen probably only covers their transportation. I'm meeting with a teacher this Thursday in Kofu, and we'll discuss what I want to learn. I don't know if going to Kofu every Thursday night is going to be good for me, so we are doing a one month trial. After the month is up, we'll re-discuss the lessons. I think that doing them would be most beneficial for me, despite having to go to Kofu. With a tutor you can ask questions about what you're learning, they can explain more difficult concepts, and they can actually push you to study since you know you are going to have to meet with them. I chose Thursday since Mon-Wed is the English club, and Friday is the weekend! I think just meeting her is beneficial too though, because that's one more person I know in Yamanashi.
Think that's all for now. I hope you don't go to the bank or post-office anytime soon.
Lana
PS. 二千十年八月二十七日♥♥♥♥
I had it planned since last week that I would go to the bank during work today to pay my rent. Since classes aren't in session, doing that wasn't a problem. The bank closes at 3, and I don't get out until 4. So I left school at 10, expecting to be back at 11:30 or so at the latest.
I got to the bank and had to ask what ticket to take. You have to take a ticket with a number on it to wait on line (in line), but you have to also specify what you need when you're taking the ticket. I was called to the counter and tried to tell her what I wanted to do. I told her that I wanted to pay one month's rent, and then set up automatic payments starting next month. She pulled out an application form and went over all of the different places to fill things in since I couldn't read most of it. (Imagine all of a sudden being illiterate. Everything you see written around you, visualize suddenly being in symbols you didn't understand... yeah.) So when she got to the part about who I was paying and the number code for that person, I realized that I had just assumed all of that information was on file. I asked her if I could take the form and come back. I called my supervisor and asked him, but he said I should have that sheet at home, or he could help me out after lunch-time because he was out running errands for the BOE when I called. I said fine, and decided to move on to my next task- going to the post-office. (I couldn't do the one time payment either since I didn't know the payment number.) The bank helper assisted me in using the ATM to withdrawal some money, and I rode my bike to the post-office. There I bought stamps pretty painlessly, and took another number ticket to be helped. It took a minute to explain that I was trying to send money over seas, because apparently I was using the wrong word for "money transfer," but eventually the teller got it and gave me a form that was half in Japanese and half in JapaneseEnglish. JapaneseEnglish is the language that is somewhere between Japanese and English, and can sometimes be as hard to understand as Greek. If you don't speak Greek, that can be a problem.
So I filled out the form, but had started writing my name in the Japanese alphabet, crossed it out and wrote it again with roman letters, because that is what the form asked for. I figured out what went where, and waited to be helped again. At the counter they looked over the form briefly, and told me that I couldn't hand it in with my name crossed out and fixed, so they gave me a new one to fill in.
I went back to the counter with the new form, and he told me that the address had to be written in English letters as well, so he gave me a new form to fill it in again.
I went back to the counter with the newer form, and they said that my name had to be written in the exact order that it was on my foreigner identification hard. The female teller that was helping me, and had probably never worked with one of these forms before, had started to cross out the names that they told her to fix. She accidentally crossed out one of the ones that should have been left alone, and after doing so made it so that the name couldn't fit anymore. Her supervisor started yelling at her, and I started getting really frustrated with this whole process and started to tear up. They told me I would have to fill in another form due to the woman's error. I felt bad that she got yelled at, and at this time had already been in the post office for about an hour. I held myself together though, and regained emotional stability before anything serious and/or embarrassing happened.
We had used all of the forms in the drawer, so a few people went running all around looking for a new form. They found one, and I filled it in again.
I went back to the counter, and most of the information on this form was ok, except that I accidentally wrote two letters too close together at the very end, so we just stamped the correction (since it was really small) and wrote the two letters more legibly. I waited a little while longer for them to do the paperwork and process the form, and finally everything seemed to be well and I left. Let's hope the money actually appears in my bank account in a few days...
Since I hadn't heard back from my supervisor yet, I went all the way back to my apartment to pick up the housing form, and took it back to the bank to try to set up the payment schedule. There weren't many people there so I was helped right away, and during this my supervisor called me to give me the information. He said the number I had was only for the very FIRST payment, so he told the bank teller the new corrected information over the phone. We had already started to fill out the sheet, so she handed me a new sheet to fill out. (Sound familiar?) After all was said and done, I only had to fill out 1 1/2 this time, and she said the payments would start next month. I then took the corrected routing number, and paid THIS month's rent at the ATM. The same lady who had helped me previously withdraw, helped me again now with the rent. I'm glad I didn't try to do it on my own because there were a lot of buttons to press and no English. It's strange how I can get around pretty well by using oral communication, but I'm totally helpless when it comes to reading.
So after all of this, I finally rode my bike back to the school and arrived a few minutes before 1:00 PM. I ate lunch, cooled off in the AC, and worked on some projects for the start of the school year. I met a fellow teacher today, who I knew of but had not spoken to yet. For privacy, I'll call her Ms. A. She is one of the school nurses out of two, and she is turning 23 this year. She graduated from University in April, so she and I are in very similar situations, and obviously also very close in age. We talked for a little bit, and she helped me plan out a few things on my English Board. I hope we can become closer friends as the year progresses!
I still have had no luck finding where the "mixed paper and mixed plastic" garbage place is, but my supervisor faxed a map to the school today to remind me where it was. I swear I was looking in the right place, and there was no garbage there. If I have the same problem next time I go, I think I'm going to do like everyone else in the building and say never mind. The place we put our normal trash is right outside the building, and they come to pick it up twice a week. Also, I take all of my bottles and cans down to the grocery store and leave them in the public bins there. Those things are only picked up from the street once a month, and probably at the same mystery place as the paper and plastic. The store is about as far away as the place is anyway, and it doesn't have to accumulate in my small apartment, so bringing it there is no problem for me.
Wednesday I do a speech in front of the whole school, and then a personal introduction in every new class I visit. After a week those should be done, so I'll let you know how they go later.
Also, I signed up for Japanese lessons finally! In this area they have what's called "Nihongo Volunteers." It is only 500 yen an hour, but the tutors aren't real teachers, they are just volunteers. The 500 yen probably only covers their transportation. I'm meeting with a teacher this Thursday in Kofu, and we'll discuss what I want to learn. I don't know if going to Kofu every Thursday night is going to be good for me, so we are doing a one month trial. After the month is up, we'll re-discuss the lessons. I think that doing them would be most beneficial for me, despite having to go to Kofu. With a tutor you can ask questions about what you're learning, they can explain more difficult concepts, and they can actually push you to study since you know you are going to have to meet with them. I chose Thursday since Mon-Wed is the English club, and Friday is the weekend! I think just meeting her is beneficial too though, because that's one more person I know in Yamanashi.
Think that's all for now. I hope you don't go to the bank or post-office anytime soon.
Lana
PS. 二千十年八月二十七日♥♥♥♥
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday Entry- Next week is classes!
Well hello readers!
A few months ago I wrote that I would try to do my best to write every Sunday if I was not able to write more often than that. In attempts to keep to that, here is my Sunday entry!
I wrote this a few days ago, but this past week I've been working at the Junior High School. Since classes aren't in session until next week, I spent most of the time in the office going through old ALT's papers and notes, or planning new things to do at the school. I will be making the English Board, and I have been trying to put together some materials for that.
This coming Wednesday there will be an "opening ceremony" at the school, which means that all of the students come in for the ceremony and speeches. I believe I will have to be introduced to the school as a new teacher at that time, but no one has said anything about it so I don't know if I'll have to do a self introduction or not. I'll let you know after Wednesday! I believe classes start on Thursday.
On Monday I'll be able to take an hour or so and leave the office to go pay my rent. I have to do this at the bank, and they are only open until 3, and not usually open at all on the weekends. I'll do my best to turn it into automatic payments so that it doesn't become a problem, which I see it could.
I got paid last Wednesday, which was really nice! Not my first real pay check, since I always had part-time jobs during school, but it was my first full-time job paycheck. A lot of money was deducted for health care, pension and taxes, but such is life. I'll get the pension money back since I have no intention of retiring in Japan.
This past weekend I went to the Isawa Fireworks Festival. It was nothing compared to the Ichikawadaimon festival, but I'm still glad I went. I went to the local mall in the morning to show two other girls in the area how to get there, and then came back to my town to watch the fireworks in the evening. Candice, another JET, went with me and we walked around the food booths and found a seat on the side-walk. It was really funny where we sat though, because we were walking and walking, and suddenly decided to stop. We turned the corner and ran into another JET who we had also run into at the mall, and they had an extra tarp and spot we could sit on. Out of how many hundreds or thousands of people and we managed to stop right there!
Unlike Ichikawadaimon, we didn't have to take a train home so there was no long line to wait on (in?). Candice lives pretty far away, so she planned to stay over at my house and we just walked home after the festival. It was nice having a guest over, despite having very little to do as far as entertainment at my place.
Today after I took Candice back to the train station (which is about a 25-30 minute walk... >.<) I went to the supermarket for some food. The basket on my bicycle is quite small, and I often tend to get too much food in one go. I need to be more careful about that because it is so hard for me to get all of the food home alone!
After grocery shopping I came home, went on skype for a little while, and then had the sudden desire to clean my apartment. I pulled out the vacuum and did some laundry as well. Today it is really hot, so now I'm doing my best to sit still and not sweat. The evenings are getting cooler though, so I'm hoping this hotness doesn't hold out too much longer! Tough luck on my part I'm sure. I bought a nice drip coffee maker at the store yesterday though, so now I'll be able to make ice coffee! Instant coffee is only so-so I've found...
After all of the walking yesterday my legs are a little sore, convincing me further that I shouldn't do the Mt. Fuji climb this year. Perhaps a little jogging and stair climbing beforehand would be good prep. Also, I'm not really in the mood to buy the materials for making the climb. Sorry Mr. Fuji! Maybe next year.
I can't think of anything else right now, other than I hope that my expenses start to level out a little bit. I'd like to start putting money away into savings, as well as having enough to pay off my student loans. Should be fine though as long as I'm careful.
Love you all! Let me know how you are doing too please! I'm sorry I don't send more personal e-mails or cards.
Lana
A few months ago I wrote that I would try to do my best to write every Sunday if I was not able to write more often than that. In attempts to keep to that, here is my Sunday entry!
I wrote this a few days ago, but this past week I've been working at the Junior High School. Since classes aren't in session until next week, I spent most of the time in the office going through old ALT's papers and notes, or planning new things to do at the school. I will be making the English Board, and I have been trying to put together some materials for that.
This coming Wednesday there will be an "opening ceremony" at the school, which means that all of the students come in for the ceremony and speeches. I believe I will have to be introduced to the school as a new teacher at that time, but no one has said anything about it so I don't know if I'll have to do a self introduction or not. I'll let you know after Wednesday! I believe classes start on Thursday.
On Monday I'll be able to take an hour or so and leave the office to go pay my rent. I have to do this at the bank, and they are only open until 3, and not usually open at all on the weekends. I'll do my best to turn it into automatic payments so that it doesn't become a problem, which I see it could.
I got paid last Wednesday, which was really nice! Not my first real pay check, since I always had part-time jobs during school, but it was my first full-time job paycheck. A lot of money was deducted for health care, pension and taxes, but such is life. I'll get the pension money back since I have no intention of retiring in Japan.
This past weekend I went to the Isawa Fireworks Festival. It was nothing compared to the Ichikawadaimon festival, but I'm still glad I went. I went to the local mall in the morning to show two other girls in the area how to get there, and then came back to my town to watch the fireworks in the evening. Candice, another JET, went with me and we walked around the food booths and found a seat on the side-walk. It was really funny where we sat though, because we were walking and walking, and suddenly decided to stop. We turned the corner and ran into another JET who we had also run into at the mall, and they had an extra tarp and spot we could sit on. Out of how many hundreds or thousands of people and we managed to stop right there!
Unlike Ichikawadaimon, we didn't have to take a train home so there was no long line to wait on (in?). Candice lives pretty far away, so she planned to stay over at my house and we just walked home after the festival. It was nice having a guest over, despite having very little to do as far as entertainment at my place.
Today after I took Candice back to the train station (which is about a 25-30 minute walk... >.<) I went to the supermarket for some food. The basket on my bicycle is quite small, and I often tend to get too much food in one go. I need to be more careful about that because it is so hard for me to get all of the food home alone!
After grocery shopping I came home, went on skype for a little while, and then had the sudden desire to clean my apartment. I pulled out the vacuum and did some laundry as well. Today it is really hot, so now I'm doing my best to sit still and not sweat. The evenings are getting cooler though, so I'm hoping this hotness doesn't hold out too much longer! Tough luck on my part I'm sure. I bought a nice drip coffee maker at the store yesterday though, so now I'll be able to make ice coffee! Instant coffee is only so-so I've found...
After all of the walking yesterday my legs are a little sore, convincing me further that I shouldn't do the Mt. Fuji climb this year. Perhaps a little jogging and stair climbing beforehand would be good prep. Also, I'm not really in the mood to buy the materials for making the climb. Sorry Mr. Fuji! Maybe next year.
I can't think of anything else right now, other than I hope that my expenses start to level out a little bit. I'd like to start putting money away into savings, as well as having enough to pay off my student loans. Should be fine though as long as I'm careful.
Love you all! Let me know how you are doing too please! I'm sorry I don't send more personal e-mails or cards.
Lana
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Isawa Junior High School week 1
Hey!
Here is a short video of my apartment.
It starts out really blue for some reason, but once I'm out of frame the colors even out. Also, sorry I'm so sweaty, but it's quite hot!
Since I've been working at my school for almost a whole week now I'll post some pictures of the empty halls. I'm a little nervous when all of the kids start coming for classes. Eek! So far I've been trying to put together some things for the English Board, and I've also been going through old ALT's piles of papers. I don't really know how to organize it at this point, but I've started by putting things in different folders.
Here is a short video of my apartment.
It starts out really blue for some reason, but once I'm out of frame the colors even out. Also, sorry I'm so sweaty, but it's quite hot!
Since I've been working at my school for almost a whole week now I'll post some pictures of the empty halls. I'm a little nervous when all of the kids start coming for classes. Eek! So far I've been trying to put together some things for the English Board, and I've also been going through old ALT's piles of papers. I don't really know how to organize it at this point, but I've started by putting things in different folders.
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| The main doors |
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| Looking in from the doorway |
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| Main hallway |
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| Teachers/Staff room |
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| My desk! |
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| Boxes of old stuff I was going through |
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| Some old English books |
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| Book recommendation near the school library |
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| Bird's nest... yes this was in the hallway |
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| The two English Boards. That's a lot of space! I'll show an "after shot" in a few weeks. |
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| One of the hallways on the second floor |
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| The school has very interesting architecture. It's two buildings, with this garden and walkways connecting the two. To get from one building to the other there is no choice but to go outside. All of the offices are on one building. The other building (in this shot) is only classrooms. |
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Orientation 2
This past Wed, Thurs, Fri we had a small prefectural orientation. It was great to get to know the new JETs on a more personal level, and it was also great to meet and spend time with JETs who have already been here as well. The orientation was in Kofu, so only two stops away from my stop by train.
We had some time to attend information workshops, go on an outing to a town close to Mt. Fuji, see a museum, and spend the evenings together. I forgot to bring my camera because I was running a little late on Wednesday morning, but it was cloudy and rainy so there wasn't too much to take pictures of anyway. We were able to see the base of Fuji really well, but the top wasn't visible most of the time. Every year they put together a trip to climb mount fuji, and a lot of the newbies do it. I'm not sure I'll want to. I already know the pain, and it requires a bit of preparation. I guess I'll decide when it gets closer.
Today I spent time inside my apartment and only a little time out on my bike. I decided not to go out for a long period of time though because I got to attempt cooking a little bit, cleaned, and put away a mound of papers that had been accumulating. My meal was only so-so, and there are still a few papers that are not organized. Also, there are a few volunteer positions I would like to apply for and I need to get working on the introductions for those. I haven't been terribly academically motivated though. Maybe I can change that now. It's only 7:45 PM after all.
Since I forgot my camera I don't have any new photos to share of my own, but I'll leave you with one rather disturbing thought. Luckily my apartment is pretty new so I shouldn't see any of these, but even people living in the nearest city have encountered these friendly bugs.
Good night!
Lana
We had some time to attend information workshops, go on an outing to a town close to Mt. Fuji, see a museum, and spend the evenings together. I forgot to bring my camera because I was running a little late on Wednesday morning, but it was cloudy and rainy so there wasn't too much to take pictures of anyway. We were able to see the base of Fuji really well, but the top wasn't visible most of the time. Every year they put together a trip to climb mount fuji, and a lot of the newbies do it. I'm not sure I'll want to. I already know the pain, and it requires a bit of preparation. I guess I'll decide when it gets closer.
Today I spent time inside my apartment and only a little time out on my bike. I decided not to go out for a long period of time though because I got to attempt cooking a little bit, cleaned, and put away a mound of papers that had been accumulating. My meal was only so-so, and there are still a few papers that are not organized. Also, there are a few volunteer positions I would like to apply for and I need to get working on the introductions for those. I haven't been terribly academically motivated though. Maybe I can change that now. It's only 7:45 PM after all.
Since I forgot my camera I don't have any new photos to share of my own, but I'll leave you with one rather disturbing thought. Luckily my apartment is pretty new so I shouldn't see any of these, but even people living in the nearest city have encountered these friendly bugs.
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| Mukade |
Good night!
Lana
Monday, August 9, 2010
花火 Fireworks!
08/08/10
| This is a Kotatsu. I mentioned this in a previous entry. |
Yesterday I went to the largest fireworks show in the prefecture. Fireworks in Japan are called hanabi, written as “花火.” It was a ways from my home town, so I took one train two stops over west to Kofu, which is the capital of the prefecture I believe, and then took a different line south to Ichikawadaimon 市川大門. It was pretty crowded at this point, but nothing I wasn’t used to from Tokyo.
At the station, we got off and walked a ways to the area where people buy food from booths, fried noodles and ice cups, drinks, etc. We pushed our way through a large sea of people (which I believe was the line for the restrooms? I’m not sure though, it literally was just a sea…), and got to the top of a large ravine type place. It kind of looked like a dried out riverbed? There were rows and rows of people camped out on their tarps and blankets. It kind of looked like a stadium in a way, but instead of being circular it was just straight. Everyone was facing the center of the small “riverbed.”
We walked for several minutes and finally found where our group had put their tarp. I was joking with the JET who was guiding us to our location that whoever got the spot must have been camped there since yesterday and his response to this was, “yesterday? They’ve been holding this spot since May…” Turns out this group of people brought a tarp and some things to the location in May, and came by once a week since then to make sure that everything was still there. They probably came by more often as then actual even drew nearer. I got a kick out of my under estimation.
When the fireworks started though, it was absolutely amazing. I’ve never seen so many fireworks, so close, and so large before! I took a few video clips of them, but it doesn’t accurately portray the massiveness of it. It also does no justice to the way the sound of the booming fireworks would resonate in your chest! A few of them filled up the whole sky several times.
At the end of the show, nearly everyone left at the same time. There is only one train line that goes through this town, so if people didn’t drive or weren’t close enough to walk home, there wasn’t any other way to go. Stupidly I waited around with the rest of the group until the end, but if I had followed my instincts I would have left 15 or 30 minutes before the end of the show. Hundreds (thousands?) of people all tried to leave this small town at the same time, and there was a massive build up of traffic. The people leaving the ravine were allowed in waves. Then we walked back to the train station, and had to wait on another long line before we were able to get to the train station to get back on the train going north. What I thought was a sea of people leading up to the station was actually a sea of people leading down the street, around the block and back to the station. We waiting in this line for nearly two hours I believe to get onto a train. The train took another 30 minutes and then by the time we got back to Kofu I had missed the last train going eastbound. I didn’t feel like walking that far (probably would have taken several more hours…) and I didn’t feel like trying to contact anyone in Kofu so I just took a cab to my station where my bike was parked. $31 spent. If only I had just left 20 minutes earlier, I would have gotten home three hours sooner. ^_^ Oh well. Now I know for next year to not wait. I do think it is worth going to see, however you just have to plan it right. Also, the trains around here don’t run nearly as often as I am used to. I went to my station without checking the schedule in hopes that I could just hop on one and be on my way. I waited for 45 minutes before anything came at all, and then I was afraid to get on it because I couldn’t understand what the conductor was saying. I waited another 15 minutes for the next train, which turned out to be a train that was an hour late of it’s expected arrival.
This is called Inaka 田舎. Inaka is country basically, but for others can be roughly translated as “the boonies.” I have learned from this, and will now check the train schedules to AND from Isawa train station so I will not run into these problems anymore. I have Internet now however! I have also inherited a free printer; free mini television set, and a smallish couch. The couch is not free, but I’m still deciding if I want this one of a different one. This one folds out into a mat kind of thing, but it’s pretty low to the floor and low tech. I saw a cute green one in the store the other day and it was only $200. Not cheap for how small it is, but nice. I guess I’ll just have to decide if it’s something I really need or really want. I also got a free basic blender. By basic I mean it has functions on and off. ^_^
This is called Inaka 田舎. Inaka is country basically, but for others can be roughly translated as “the boonies.” I have learned from this, and will now check the train schedules to AND from Isawa train station so I will not run into these problems anymore. I have Internet now however! I have also inherited a free printer; free mini television set, and a smallish couch. The couch is not free, but I’m still deciding if I want this one of a different one. This one folds out into a mat kind of thing, but it’s pretty low to the floor and low tech. I saw a cute green one in the store the other day and it was only $200. Not cheap for how small it is, but nice. I guess I’ll just have to decide if it’s something I really need or really want. I also got a free basic blender. By basic I mean it has functions on and off. ^_^
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| This is the couch I was thinking about buying maybe. |
On a very different note, although Japan does not have as much free wifi as the US, there is this new thing that is starting to get popular I believe. It is a tiny little box (about as big as a folding cell phone) and you can carry it around with you wherever you go. If the service provider is pretty good in your area, you can get this wifi as long as you have the device with you. I think wifi is still considered more reliable than 3G (which is what iPhones and things work off of…) so it might be a more popular option if it get’s good ratings. I’ve spoken to one person who uses it. She says it’s good for surfing websites, but it’s not quite fast enough for using skype and things. It is less expensive than the fast internet that I’ll have in my home though. If I had a very “on the go” type of lifestyle and needed internet throughout the day, I would probably consider this option. However, sometimes I will want to watch video and use skype for calling people back at home. The times I’m not in my apartment needing internet probably won’t be great enough to consider buying this item, but you never know what kind of popularity it might get. I wonder what companies are doing this in the states? I wonder if people will use it?
Two videos of the fireworks. If you compare them to the fireworks from my apartment window, maybe it will give you an idea the scale!!
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| Went to what's called "kaitenzushi" which is sushi that rotates around the room on a small belt. This was the largest type I'd seen like it though. Also, special orders came out on a small plastic "shinkansen/bullet train" in that top area. Very high-tech Japan... |
08/09/10
Real internet! Woohoo! This Wednesday through Friday we have our local orientation though, so after tomorrow there may be a Lana-less block until about Friday night. We'll see!
Lana
PPoE is what?
Lana has internet again and feels connected with the world once more!
I'll write when I get home from work, but I have to go now. I spent all day basically waiting around to hook it up, then another while putting it together. The boss at my work came to help me set it up.
Lana
I'll write when I get home from work, but I have to go now. I spent all day basically waiting around to hook it up, then another while putting it together. The boss at my work came to help me set it up.
Lana
Friday, August 6, 2010
Vegetables! 食べ物、野菜
Dearest blog readers! Hello!
Today I haven’t prepared anything really. I am just updating to tell you that I am still safe, and that Monday is approaching, meaning that I’ll have my own Internet soon! It’s funny, because I realized that the internet café has free wireless leaking from it, but you have to be basically RIGHT in front of the building for it to work. I took my iPod in front of the store a few times to check my e-mail, but waiting there too long is conspicuous so I wasn’t able to respond to any that way. They probably wonder why I go by there so often. ^_^
Tomorrow is a big festival that some JETs in the area are going to, so I should be going to that. Hopefully I’ll have one or two pictures to show after Monday.
One of my bosses at the BOE gave me his old TV. It’s made the apartment less quiet, despite not really enjoying TV and not really understanding the majority of it. Because Japan is switching from analog to digital, it will only work for one more year the way it is, but you can always buy a little adapter box if you want. There are also only about 13 channels… I think that knowing what’s going on in Japanese pop-culture will help me relate to the kids at school though, so I plan to watch it from time to time. Right now it’s just something to make noise I think. :-p
Also, a woman named Ms. Oka from work gave me some vegetables from her family’s garden. I made a stew (basically for the first time…) and it actually tasted pretty good! There were enough potatoes for a family of 5 though… so I’ll be eating potatoes for a few weeks if they don’t go bad. Maybe I can cook them and then freeze them if that starts to happen.
My apartment is slowly coming together! The TV needs a new stand for sure… not sure if I should get a couch or not, but there’s a pretty big empty space in the living area… and I plan to get a kotatsu later in the year. The couch I’m also trying to find for free, or very cheap if possible. Today we went to a home goods store though and found a pretty nice one for $200. It’s small of course, but I liked it. I wonder if I should buy it before the price goes up. I should probably wait until after my first paycheck, which will be at the end of the month. They usually pay once per month in Japan. I’m sure there’s more I could talk about right now, but I’m going to save money and keep it short. More later!
Miss you all tons.
Lana
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
BOE week: kinda see fuji?
08/02/10 ~ 08/03/10
I think I understand the recycling schedule now. Certain things are only picked up once a month, and recyclables is one of them. I looked at the date yesterday and I was like “great! I can put this out today!” but I noticed that no one else’s things were out. Soon I realized that it was 8:45, and that the bags had to be out by 8:30, so it must have already been picked up. Oh Japan, you and your workers doing things on time!
Also, I was wondering why my apartment building was at such an odd angle to the road.
The building runs perpendicular to the road, forming a T, and the driveway/parking area is in the back of the building. To get to the doors, you have to walk all the way around to the front, which faces a house next-door. I think that the front doors are facing north however, which means that the balconies are facing south. Perhaps they did this so that Fuji would be visible? I haven’t been able to see it from anywhere yet though. The heat makes it foggy and yesterday and today it is raining. If I am able to see if from my balcony I will be really excited. Another JET told me that it won’t really be too visible until fall or winter when there is less moisture in the air. Also, I’ve been told that it doesn’t actually snow a whole ton in Yamanashi, so I’m grateful for that too! If it did I’d have a heck of a trek to school everyday.
I haven’t met anyone else living in my building yet, but I saw one person. And there’s a really nice motorcycle parked in the driveway. There was a tarp over it until yesterday but I took a picture! I wonder who it belongs too…
Several people have told me that there is a big Yakuza population in this area. Nothing to be too worried about, but just to be careful I was warned. For example, I met an American who’s lived here for 20 some odd years and he said he’s only encountered them three times directly, and it was nothing scary. He helped an old man who had fallen off his bike and apparently he was the father of a Yakuza. The guy came running over yelling, but when the old man said that the foreigner was helping him, the foreigner got “brownie points” with them. Might still be on the “good list” to this day. If you don’t know what the Yakuza is, that’s ok because I don’t really either. Basically they’re like a gang that control different aspects of Japan. They're in the gambling business I believe, small drugs maybe, other black-market items, and recently got in trouble for influencing the Sumo world in ways. They also sometimes have pull politically. They’re known for being kind of rough, having tattoos, stuff like that. They’re not like NYC gangs who die from gunfights and knifing, but I’m sure it’s not impossible that they possess such weapons. Basically, all I was told was to mind my own business and I’ll be dandy, which is what I intended to do anyway. :)
After work:
お疲れ様でした！自分に言うと失礼なんだけど、人がいないからいう。疲れた！
Today was kind of long. I went in at 9, did this and that, and left at 4. Then I went to the post office to buy stamps and after waiting all weekend for them to open, the worker was trying to tell me NOT to buy stamps, but to go in every time I wanted to send something in case the letter was too heavy. I understand why he was trying to say that, but there’s no way I’m going in EVERY time I want to send a letter, especially when mostly the letters I send will be small. Post office hours are pretty sketchy anyway. Why are they only open when people are at work? Or… why are they only in the wrong direction from your home? Oh well, it happens. Work wasn’t too bad, but I definitely came close to sleeping with my eyes open at one point. At first I was going to study some Japanese, but one of the workers found the English books that they use in the middle school. It was quite convenient actually because I looked through them and got a feeling for what they’re learning in Middle School. I’d like to know what they learn in Elementary school too, so maybe I’ll ask to see those books tomorrow. Also, it would be nice to see the high school books just so that I get an idea of where they’re going next. After looking through some of the books though, it makes me realize that English is quite complicated. It’s not impossible, but there are a lot of rules, and there are a lot of exceptions to rules. “I like” vs “he likes” or “I am” and “she is” or “is she?” and “she is.” Things like that.
I was told today that Fuji may not be very visible from Isawa, only the tip of it. There is a string of mountains between me and it, and being close to the string makes it hard to see fuji over them. It’s ok though, because I saw a photo of the mountains in winter and it’s just as beautiful!
My co-workers said I looked like Angelina Jolie the first day I was there. I got a kick out of that.
Now that I’m not in school, it’s not as easy to make Japanese friends out of the blue. At Waseda, you could run into someone in a hallway and say something like, here’s my number! Let’s be friends!” I’m not sure that would fly here. In the working world you have to do things a little more tactfully… like get introduced, etc. I’m not sure I’ll become close friends with any of the teachers, but I would like to have a few Japanese friends at some point. At least the English Teacher’s community around here is pretty open and inviting to new teachers. They all went through the same thing at one point really.
I saw two kittens when I was parking my bike. My guess is that they’re stray, but I did my absolute best to walk away without one. I doubt kitties are allowed in my apartment anyway, and they must be doing fine. Maybe I can just feed them outside and hope they keep coming back. ^_^
Speaking of school (above), it feels very different to not be in school full time. Of course I’m still studying Japanese, and I’ll always be learning something because I like to learn, but not having formal studies feels very different. For example, yesterday I went to a neighboring town with another new JET and a 2nd year English teacher in the area. We were talking about plans and what we were doing these days. It’s not that I don't have things to do, but not having to go home and do studies before tomorrow feels so different than I’m used to. Soon I will have real work though, and will probably have things to do from home to prepare for it. The computer system in the school is pretty inaccessible. The BOE is giving (lending?) me an old printer that I will be able to use and it should be good! I’d love it if they lent me a kotatsu and a couch too, but I think that’s asking a bit much. ^_^ I might ask around a bit once I get settled. I’m still not really interested in buying any furniture because I’ll have to eventually just give it all away. I’m not opposed to used furniture at all. ^_^ Unless it has bugs.
I should really start working again. Not having Internet at home makes me feel like I can dabble here and there. Also, cooking and doing the dishes seems to take me a while, and figuring out what garbage goes where also gets me. I wish I could accurately explain how difficult it is. They gave me a poster with pictures of all of the different kinds of trash days. There’s plastic bottles, cans, burnable garbage, mixed paper, reusable things, hazardous things, other plastics, etc etc. We American’s would benefit from paying a little more attention to what goes in the trash and what get’s recycled…
Well, I think that’s all for now. Tomorrow off to the BOE again. I’m going to try to get a few more letters written at some point. Oh yeah! I got my first letter today from Rino, one of my host sisters from Shimane! It felt good to get mail. I’m glad everything is activated too.
またね！ Later,
Lana
PS. Sorry this post is so hard to read. I wrote it off and on between two days. Also, thank you to those of you who have posted comments here! I really do appreciate it.
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