Hey guys, sorry it's been a while since my last post. Recently I came across this video (the latest parody in the $h*t that people say series). It is a parody of Japanese students. Most of it is in Japanese, and there aren't subtitles yet, but it's pretty dead on. It was made by an ALT in another part of Japan.
Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty7RmPCP7OI
About Me
Friday, March 9, 2012
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Yosakoi Festival
One thing that I've really been missing here in Japan is dancing. So in June, I decided to finally remedy that. A couple of my students are in a local dance group and asked if I would join. The group is a yosakoi dance group, which blends modern dance in with the traditional Awa Dori Japanese dance style. Every year, there is a huge yosakoi festival in Sasebo, and each year I have so much fun watching. All the performers look like they are having so much fun!
I've been practicing with the team for about two months now, and we are very busy perfecting our dance for the Sasebo festival in October. My friends and I signed up to go with the group to Kochi in Shikoku for the all-Japan yosakoi festival held last week. To our surprise, we wouldn't be dancing the dance we had been learning for two months, but a dance they performed four years ago! In three practices, we did our best to pick up the moves, and then hopped on a night bus for the festival. Our costumes were some of the WORST I've ever seen. One of the college girls did my hair for me, and while she was doing it, all the high school girls kept gasping and saying how good it looked. That's when I knew I was in big trouble...
Bad Sailor Moon costume and freak Elvira hair aside, I had so much fun dancing! We performed twice on stage, and about 10 times down arcades and streets. The crowd really got into it, and some people on the sides fanned us as we went past. It was really hot and humid, but everyone in our group made it out unscathed. As we were dancing down one of the streets, a very nicely dressed lady came in front of me as I was dancing. I didn't see her, so I almost hit her in the face. She put something around my neck. I had no idea what this meant, so I just thanked her, bowed and kept dancing. Later I learned that it was an individual award for dancing with spirit. Or something like that. I'm was so honored to receive that during my first performance!
Here's a link to a video of one of our street performances.
http://www.youtube.com/user/papasankasuga#p/u/6/jWuaYbnwk48
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My first Japanese Wedding!!!
Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in a while. As I'm sure you've heard, Japan has been going through some tough times lately. I'll talk about that more in another post, but I want to share with you my first experience at a Japanese wedding.
One of my coworkers (she teaches Japanese) invited me to her wedding. I felt very honored because only 5 other teachers from our school were invited. In some ways, Japanese weddings are very similar to their American counterparts, but in other ways...they are still very Japanese.
If you attend a wedding, you are expected to give money in a special envelope. There are many styles of envelopes, and all are very beautiful. The only thing to look out for is the color. Funeral envelopes are black and white, but very similar, so it's important not to confuse the two. Generally, 30,000 yen is given by each person. (This is around $400). They need to be new, crisp bills. If you don't know the bride or groom well, 10,000 is ok to give. However you should never give an even number of bills, because even numbers can be divided evenly, and division is something to avoid at weddings. 40,000 is an especially bad amount, because in Japan, four means death. Japanese weddings are ridiculously expensive, so this gift helps offset the cost of the reception. Here is the envelope I chose. The character on top means "congratulations". I wrote my name on the bottom.
Most guests decide to wear a fancy dress to the reception, but I decided to wear a kimono. I rented one from a kimono shop, and a lady came to help me put it on. In all, it took about 30 minutes to put the entire thing on. The obi (belt) is really tight, almost like a corset. There are a lot of layers, making it really heavy and difficult to move around in (not to mention go to the bathroom!). The obi is simply a straight piece of fabric, and she made the back of it look like that with one of my hair ties. Incredible. You will see that my sleeves are really long, and go down past my knees. The kimono my other teacher is wearing has short sleeves. If you are unmarried, you wear a kimono with furisode (long sleeves), and once you get married, you need to wear one with short sleeves. When you are sitting down, it's important to always be conscious of your sleeves, especially if you are eating. Just as an idea, if I were to buy this kimono, it would cost around $10,000.
Do you see the pink part poking out of my sleeve to the left? The wind had blown it out of it's place. Luckily, in Japan, if you are wearing a kimono and anything if out of place, an old woman (o-baachan) will come out of nowhere and fix you. I'm pretty sure if you went outside with the obi (belt) slung over your shoulder, an baachan would swoop down and not let you go until it was properly tied. As my teacher and I were walking towards the hotel (in the background), two old women RAN up behind us and fixed both of us.
We got to the hotel, handed in our envelopes, and received the seating chart with our gift bags. In this case, the gift was a catalogue, and we could choose whatever we wanted from it. The bride, groom, and their parents were in a line at the reception entrance. One by one, guests bowed and congratulated them before entering. The bride was wearing a white dress with a huge white hat to hide her "horns of jealousy". (yeah, I don't know either.) Once seated, we were served a 7 course meal. Throughout the meal, the bride would change dresses. Overall, I think she had 5 different dresses. There was a contest where you guess the color of her next dress, and put your name in the corresponding box. (Her mother and grandma MADE the white traditional wedding dress!!!) Of course, there were speeches, and even a rendition of that song in Sister Act by her old high school friends. When it was time to "throw the bouquet", all the single ladies were called up to the stage by name. There were 8 of us, and 8 strings attached to the bouquet. Only one string was actually tied around the bouquet though, and the other 7 would fall off if pulled. We each chose a string and pulled. Mine didn't come off.
After the reception, the bride, groom, and parents once again lined up outside, and we congratulated them as we left. There was a second party which some people were invited to. This was a less formal time to talk with the bride and groom. It was mostly just friends with no family present. I had to leave before the party ended, but I had a great time and the reception was beautiful! I'm thinking of incorporating a few elements into my own wedding!
One of my coworkers (she teaches Japanese) invited me to her wedding. I felt very honored because only 5 other teachers from our school were invited. In some ways, Japanese weddings are very similar to their American counterparts, but in other ways...they are still very Japanese.
If you attend a wedding, you are expected to give money in a special envelope. There are many styles of envelopes, and all are very beautiful. The only thing to look out for is the color. Funeral envelopes are black and white, but very similar, so it's important not to confuse the two. Generally, 30,000 yen is given by each person. (This is around $400). They need to be new, crisp bills. If you don't know the bride or groom well, 10,000 is ok to give. However you should never give an even number of bills, because even numbers can be divided evenly, and division is something to avoid at weddings. 40,000 is an especially bad amount, because in Japan, four means death. Japanese weddings are ridiculously expensive, so this gift helps offset the cost of the reception. Here is the envelope I chose. The character on top means "congratulations". I wrote my name on the bottom.
Most guests decide to wear a fancy dress to the reception, but I decided to wear a kimono. I rented one from a kimono shop, and a lady came to help me put it on. In all, it took about 30 minutes to put the entire thing on. The obi (belt) is really tight, almost like a corset. There are a lot of layers, making it really heavy and difficult to move around in (not to mention go to the bathroom!). The obi is simply a straight piece of fabric, and she made the back of it look like that with one of my hair ties. Incredible. You will see that my sleeves are really long, and go down past my knees. The kimono my other teacher is wearing has short sleeves. If you are unmarried, you wear a kimono with furisode (long sleeves), and once you get married, you need to wear one with short sleeves. When you are sitting down, it's important to always be conscious of your sleeves, especially if you are eating. Just as an idea, if I were to buy this kimono, it would cost around $10,000.
Do you see the pink part poking out of my sleeve to the left? The wind had blown it out of it's place. Luckily, in Japan, if you are wearing a kimono and anything if out of place, an old woman (o-baachan) will come out of nowhere and fix you. I'm pretty sure if you went outside with the obi (belt) slung over your shoulder, an baachan would swoop down and not let you go until it was properly tied. As my teacher and I were walking towards the hotel (in the background), two old women RAN up behind us and fixed both of us.
We got to the hotel, handed in our envelopes, and received the seating chart with our gift bags. In this case, the gift was a catalogue, and we could choose whatever we wanted from it. The bride, groom, and their parents were in a line at the reception entrance. One by one, guests bowed and congratulated them before entering. The bride was wearing a white dress with a huge white hat to hide her "horns of jealousy". (yeah, I don't know either.) Once seated, we were served a 7 course meal. Throughout the meal, the bride would change dresses. Overall, I think she had 5 different dresses. There was a contest where you guess the color of her next dress, and put your name in the corresponding box. (Her mother and grandma MADE the white traditional wedding dress!!!) Of course, there were speeches, and even a rendition of that song in Sister Act by her old high school friends. When it was time to "throw the bouquet", all the single ladies were called up to the stage by name. There were 8 of us, and 8 strings attached to the bouquet. Only one string was actually tied around the bouquet though, and the other 7 would fall off if pulled. We each chose a string and pulled. Mine didn't come off.
After the reception, the bride, groom, and parents once again lined up outside, and we congratulated them as we left. There was a second party which some people were invited to. This was a less formal time to talk with the bride and groom. It was mostly just friends with no family present. I had to leave before the party ended, but I had a great time and the reception was beautiful! I'm thinking of incorporating a few elements into my own wedding!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Vietnam
From Christmas Eve to New Years Eve, I spent a week with my friend in Hanoi, Vietnam. We spent a few days wandering around the city, and discovered a few great restaurants. We also saw the outside of a few monuments like the Ho Chi Minh Masoleum. For a couple of days, we took a boat cruise around Halong Bay (a UNESCO world heritage site). The views were absolutely gorgeous! After we got back, we took a night train to Sapa, and trekked to a few Hmong villages. The surroundings were just beautiful!
I really enjoyed my vacation, but I have to say that I don't especially want to go back to Vietnam. All the native Vietnamese we talked to only seemed to be after our money. I don't know how many times we were warned to guard our things, or how many times we heard the phrase "buy from me," but it was definitely enough to wear us down. Nothing seemed really genuine.
My absolute favorite part about Hanoi was a local ice cream shop just a few doors down from our hostel. We discovered it mid week, and went back at least 4 times! If you can believe it, it tastes even better than it looks!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween!
This Halloween, I had a costume for every occasion. For my kindergarten, I wore a Tigger onsie. At my high school, I had a pair of glowing rabbit ears. For the ALT Halloween Party, a couple of friends and I were Intergalactic Beastie Boys. And for the 10k, I gave those rabbit ears to a friend and donned a tortoise shell.
Let me start by saying that I hate running. In fact, my friend who ran the half marathon, signed me up for this 10k. So I had a little fun with it. The hare and I started out running together. He is much faster than me however, so soon he left me behind. When I finally reached the finish line, the hare was sitting in a chair just before the line, fast asleep. I woke him up before finishing first!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Driver's License: A Gripping Tale of Survival
In the last few months, I have faced my worst enemy thus far in Japan. The DMV. Or whatever they call it here. First, a little backstory...
Before I left America, I went to AAA, paid $15, and received an International Driver's Permit. This handy booklet allowed me to legally drive in Japan. However, the IDP expires exactly one year after I arrived in Japan. Knowing this, and also having heard stories of other ALTs having to take the test multiple times, I started preparing for this test in early July.
First of all, I needed to get all my documents in order. I needed to get my Colorado license translated into Japanese. I also needed proof of having driven in the US for at least 3 months after I received my Colorado license. I needed a few more things as well, but you get the general idea. Having prepared everything, I took a day of paid leave from school (of course the DMV is only open on weekdays from 10-4), and off I went. After submitting my paperwork, I waited. Then, I took a written test (in English). That was pretty much a joke. One question was, "True or false: There is an old lady walking in the street with a cane. You shouldn't slow down because you're in a hurry."
I'm not joking.
Anyways, after passing the written test, I waited, then I took an eye test. I can still see pretty well. Then I paid the test fee, was given a map of the driving course, and went outside to walk the course before I took the test. After walking it a few times, a few instructors came in to talk to everyone in rapid Japanese. Before I knew it, my name was called, and off I went. Needless to say, I failed the first time. I think the pass rate for first timers is around 30%. My pride was a little hurt, but I expected to fail the first time. Most of my friends took between 2-4 times to pass. No big deal, right?
The next week, I took my second day of paid leave. (I get 20 a year). I didn't need to take the written or eye test again, but I certainly had to pay the test fee again. Drove the course again, perfectly, I thought. But alas, it was not to be again.
Reasons I have failed the driving test:
- Going too slow.
- Going too fast.
- Running over a curb (I just kissed it, I promise)
- Not signaling soon enough (30 meters) even when there is a possible earlier turn I could make.
So I failed 4 times. My school is getting a little worried, so they send one of my teachers with me for my 5th time. I'm "strongly advised" to take a practice course. I was stubborn and didn't want to, but I gave in. So I paid the money, and took a practice course in the morning before the test in the afternoon. I'm feeling pretty good, and am confident I'll pass this time.
My name is called. The man says to me (in Japanese) "Run!" Oh man. I get in the car, go through the motions, and off we go. He says something to me, but I can't hear him, so I ask him to say it again. He doesn't. We round a corner, and he says something else. Still, I don't catch it, and still he doesn't repeat it. I'm not even halfway through the course when he says "Finished. Go back to the start". I am bewildered. We get back to the start, and he YELLS at me in rapid Japanese. All I can understand is the end when he says, "DAME DAME DAME." This means "WRONG WRONG WRONG." He asks me if I understand. In my most polite Japanese, I say I'm sorry, but I don't. He tells me to study, then opens the door.
I might have cried a little in the bathroom after that.
After taking a few weeks off, I'm back for the 6th time. I get in the car, and drive the course just like I do every other time I've taken the test. When I finish, the man (a different one) tells me one time I didn't look out far enough, but that was it. I passed easily.
2 months, $200, 4 paid days of leave, and 6 tries later, the war has ended. I still don't understand. But, I have my license, and that's all that matters.
:-)
PS. The British and Australian ALTs don't have to take the driving test. Really Japan?
Before I left America, I went to AAA, paid $15, and received an International Driver's Permit. This handy booklet allowed me to legally drive in Japan. However, the IDP expires exactly one year after I arrived in Japan. Knowing this, and also having heard stories of other ALTs having to take the test multiple times, I started preparing for this test in early July.
First of all, I needed to get all my documents in order. I needed to get my Colorado license translated into Japanese. I also needed proof of having driven in the US for at least 3 months after I received my Colorado license. I needed a few more things as well, but you get the general idea. Having prepared everything, I took a day of paid leave from school (of course the DMV is only open on weekdays from 10-4), and off I went. After submitting my paperwork, I waited. Then, I took a written test (in English). That was pretty much a joke. One question was, "True or false: There is an old lady walking in the street with a cane. You shouldn't slow down because you're in a hurry."
I'm not joking.
Anyways, after passing the written test, I waited, then I took an eye test. I can still see pretty well. Then I paid the test fee, was given a map of the driving course, and went outside to walk the course before I took the test. After walking it a few times, a few instructors came in to talk to everyone in rapid Japanese. Before I knew it, my name was called, and off I went. Needless to say, I failed the first time. I think the pass rate for first timers is around 30%. My pride was a little hurt, but I expected to fail the first time. Most of my friends took between 2-4 times to pass. No big deal, right?
The next week, I took my second day of paid leave. (I get 20 a year). I didn't need to take the written or eye test again, but I certainly had to pay the test fee again. Drove the course again, perfectly, I thought. But alas, it was not to be again.
Reasons I have failed the driving test:
- Going too slow.
- Going too fast.
- Running over a curb (I just kissed it, I promise)
- Not signaling soon enough (30 meters) even when there is a possible earlier turn I could make.
So I failed 4 times. My school is getting a little worried, so they send one of my teachers with me for my 5th time. I'm "strongly advised" to take a practice course. I was stubborn and didn't want to, but I gave in. So I paid the money, and took a practice course in the morning before the test in the afternoon. I'm feeling pretty good, and am confident I'll pass this time.
My name is called. The man says to me (in Japanese) "Run!" Oh man. I get in the car, go through the motions, and off we go. He says something to me, but I can't hear him, so I ask him to say it again. He doesn't. We round a corner, and he says something else. Still, I don't catch it, and still he doesn't repeat it. I'm not even halfway through the course when he says "Finished. Go back to the start". I am bewildered. We get back to the start, and he YELLS at me in rapid Japanese. All I can understand is the end when he says, "DAME DAME DAME." This means "WRONG WRONG WRONG." He asks me if I understand. In my most polite Japanese, I say I'm sorry, but I don't. He tells me to study, then opens the door.
I might have cried a little in the bathroom after that.
After taking a few weeks off, I'm back for the 6th time. I get in the car, and drive the course just like I do every other time I've taken the test. When I finish, the man (a different one) tells me one time I didn't look out far enough, but that was it. I passed easily.
2 months, $200, 4 paid days of leave, and 6 tries later, the war has ended. I still don't understand. But, I have my license, and that's all that matters.
:-)
PS. The British and Australian ALTs don't have to take the driving test. Really Japan?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
FUJI!!!
The last month has been absolutely crazy! I went back to America for a week or two to visit family and friends. I had a great time, and ate a lot of amazing American food!
After I got back, many of the ALTs in the area were packing up and heading out. It was hard to say goodbye to some good friends. New ALTs have also started to arrive, and I can't wait to get to know everyone in the next few weeks.
Last week, I had one of the best experiences I have ever had. I climbed Mount Fuji! A friend and I took the night bus to Tokyo, and then a bus from there to the Fuji 5th station. We arrived at the 5th station around 7:30, and found that all the restaurants had closed. We managed to find a cup of noodles, filled our packs with water, and got ready to go. We started to climb around 8:30. By the time we reached 8th station, we realized we were going a little too quickly, so we stopped for around an hour to rest. Near the top, the route had become so congested with people, that we actually formed a queue. It was slow going for the next two hours to the summit. We reached the top around 3:30, and settled in to wait for the sunrise. Around 4:00am, I witnessed the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. I felt like I was on top of the world, and it was an amazing feeling! After paying 3.00 to use the bathroom, and another 4.00 for hot cocoa, we began our descent. I have to say, going down was so much worse than going up. My knees almost gave out at the end! We stopped at the 5th station to pick up some gifts, grabbed a bite, then took the bus to Tokyo. We then hopped on the shinkansen, and went home. It was a whirlwind trip, but an amazing one!
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