In case you were wondering....

I passed my Chinese interview test! Now that the class is over I plan on studying more Japanese. I will study Chinese again someday.

Dessert!

Tiny car

I have seen these cars around town quite a bit. I even pass by some of them parked on someone's lot on the way to my Wednesday and Friday schools, which leads me to believe they are all owned by the same person. I have no clue who makes them, they almost seem homemade to me. I love them though!

Strange house

This house is just down the block from me. It is so strange, but I love it. I don't know who the people are live there or why they decided to put chrome (or whatever it is) along the edges of their house. It is unique though!

So nervous!

I don't know how many people I have told, but this fall I have been taking a Chinese class. The class is offered through the Tokyo branch of Temple University. It is taught all in English.

I took the course for several reasons, the main one being since being over here I have realized how much of an impact China had on the history of, not only Japan, but of Asia (and the world). Whether we like it or not, China is continuing to grow and I believe they are going into another golden age. Well, they still have many problems, but they are up and coming. I thought, why not learn the language, it might be useful in the future?

But I also had another reason for learning. When I visit Corey in Qingdao, him and other foreigners seem to know Chinese more than my foreign friends here in Japan, even without having any sort of Chinese lesson before coming to the country.

There are a few reasons for that. The main one being, though the four tones are difficult, Chinese grammar is very similar to English compared to Japanese grammar. In English we say, I love you, in Chinese they say I love you, in Japanese they say I you love (I think). Basically it is like talking like Yoda!

Another reason has to do with confidence. This is completely my theory, but in Japan having confidence is not a good thing. I know Japanese people whose English is excellent, only to have them tell me their English is awful. I think this mind set trickles down to foreigners. I have many foreign friends who know Japanese, speak Japanese, and have test scores to prove they understand Japanese, only to tell me their Japanese isn't good. Their Japanese is good, they live in a culture where it is not ok to say it is.

China is different. It is much more laid back there and I believe foreigners are more comfortable practicing their Chinese with native speakers. Because of this, they pick up the language really quickly. Many people I know who studied Japanese a bit before coming say they actually lose some of their ability to speak once they come to Japan. I would say instead they lost some of their confidence.

I am not a very confident person at all, so I have not picked up Japanese. I can understand people when they are talking, I can read some hiragana and katakana, but I don't know what everything means and most of the time when someone says something to me I don't know how to respond, even if I understand what they are saying.

So, I took this Chinese class to not only learn a bit of the language, but also gain some confidence.

I can say it is working, I feel I could go to China and tell a taxi drive where I want to go, and I could order food in a restaurant, all in Chinese. My next plan is to study more Japanese now that my class is almost over. I have found this class has showed me how to study again (being out of school four years, I forgot how to study) and I liked the structure the instructor provided and if I study Japanese in the same way I studied Chinese I can pick it up more.

Being in the actual class has been interesting. I thought since the school is an American school and it is taught in English, it would be a mix of foreigners and Japanese. I was wrong! Except for an Indian girl, I am the only foreigner! Plus, since the class is in English, the students are learning a third language in their second language! I tip my hat off to them.

It has been interesting to me to see how Japanese students are in a university. At home when there is a break in the class, most students go outside and smoke, go get something to eat etc. Here many students stay in the room and study during the break! Though as time as gone on I see more students are actually having a rest on the break. Plus I realize we are all adults in the class and I was comparing them to university students from when I was in school. Well of course a 19 year old is going to use their break and not study! I am sure if I took an adult class at home, they would study during the break as well. When else would they have time?

Anyway, on the reason for my post. This Saturday (tomorrow, eek!) is my final. We have a private interview with the instructor! She gave us a schedule and twenty questions from the schedule. She will ask us ten of them. She is going to record our answers and then play them back for the whole class! My God I could die!

I am a bit nervous. I have studied quite a bit, and we are allowed to bring whatever we want into the interview with us (um........can we bring a Chinese person?). But I am still nervous to say the least.

I will post how it goes. Once the class is over I will update the blog more. I have some photos I took that I have been meaning to post, but all my extra time has been for studying.

I'll update soon!

Snowflake

On Wednesdays I go to Sakai High school. I was told the symbol of the school is a snowflake and the students even wear a pin with a snowflake on it.

One day I noticed the fountain was the same shape as their pins. Most of the year it doesn't have water in it, but right now it still does. I have no idea when they will drain it.

I don't really think this looks like a snowflake, but I like the fountain.

Sensing Nature

Milada and I went Mori Art Museum on Sunday to see an exhibit called, "Sensing Nature." It was really cool, but kind of small. The best exhibits were these two. The first one was a snow scene made with feathers and powered by fans that would timed to turn on and off. The effect was amazing, snow on the inside of a building in Tokyo! The only thing that ruined it was the two lines across the glass, can you see them? I wonder how many times the "snow" has moved around?

The best part of the exhibit was the tree one. When I first walked in, I thought we were supposed to be in a cave, but when I saw a hole I poked my head through and was delighted to see a whole world above the handmade paper cave. It was a huge white forest made out of paper! The artist encouraged viewers to try different areas to see many boundaries. It was amazing!

Halloween!

This year I didn't do anything for Halloween. The Monday beforeReiko and I did go to Disneyland to check out the decorations, but the day of I didn't want to do anything. It turned out to be a good idea because on Saturday (the day everyone went out) there was a typhoon! It was wet and windy outside. I did manage to go to Tokyo to my Chinese class, but that is about all I could do.

In Japan people are expected to by omiyage for their coworkers. What is omiyage you ask? Well Wikipedia says, "In Japan, souvenirs are known as meibutsu (products associated with a particular region); and omiyage, candies or other edibles to be shared with co-workers. Omiyage sales are big business at Japanese tourist sites." Now you know.

I have never bought omiyage for my co-workers, mostly because I go to four schools and it is just too many people to buy for. ***I should point out my other friends who sometimes go to more schools than I do, always buy omiyage. Still, my teachers don't expect me to buy it for them and I don't expect to receive some from them, though I often do.*** I didn't bring anything back from my visit to the US because I didn't have room in my luggage, the Halloween candy I brought back weighed four pounds and I had to take it out of my check-in or pay $150 overweight fee! Um...no candy is worth that much!

Enter Costco. We don't have Costco in South Dakota, but Japan does. After I came back from home I went to this magical place and found some bite size Snickers bars on sale! ***It should be noted that Japan does have Snickers bars that can be found in most combinis, supermarkets, and other places where candy is sold.***

So this year for Halloween I made a little sign that said "Happy Halloween" with an arrow pointed down, and put it in the kitchen area of the teachers room. I it was a hit because the candy went fast (I even had to refill the bowl) and someone who was in a festive mood even put two persimmons in front of the bowl in place of pumpkins. I really appreciated the effort!

Good Food!!

There is this restaurant that originated in a town called Sakai that is just the next town over. It is now a chain and it is called Bando. The name has nothing to do with the town I live in. I even think the kanji is different (meaning it would have a different meaning) an Bando is a family name in Japan, so I believe the restaurant is named after a family and the town Bando means slope east. Anyway, it doesn't matter where they got the name, the point is the food, man is it good! The restaurant is famous for udon and soba. I like to get this udon set with a fried pork cutlet, yummy! Don't worry, I never eat the whole thing at once! I usually eat the udon and one piece of pork (and the pickled vegetables) and take the rest home for later!

Lunch

Japan is famous for their bentos (lunch box) but I actually don't eat them too often. My counterparts at elementary and junior high schools do because they must eat lunch with the students. High school is much more relaxed. I often bring my own, or head out for a quick bite. My favorite lunch when I am at my base school is from a place called Sukiya.

Sukiya is a chain restuarant that serves up cheap beef bowl meals. I go there from my base school because it is right outside the gate of my school! In fact, as I type this I am looking at the sign outside the window.

Usually I get just a normal beef bowl with beef sauteed with onions over rice. I get the smallest size because for some reason they do have a lot of calories in them. Then I add on a salad for ￥100 extra. Totally cost for my lunch is about 230 yen, not bad. I usually add a packet or two of pickled ginger for more favor (those are the pink things in the photo).

Today, however I noticed they have a new beef bowl with celery for 330 yen. I am always looking for ways to eat more vegetables, so I tried it. Its really nice! I think I have a new favorite at Sukiya!

I know I know, I need to update more....

I am so bad about updating this blog! I guess I have gotten into kind of a rut with it for many reasons. The main one being, I have been in Japan long enough now, I don't know what will be interesting to anyone at home anymore. I realize that is stupid now because after being at home and talking with people, anything I put on here can be interesting. Ok, I get it. I will try to do more posting, even if it is something small (like what I had for lunch).

Another reason, since I lost my camera (ahem, over a year ago, ahem) I haven't really been into taking photos. I know if I had a nice camera I wouldn't mind so much, actually I think I would become somewhat of a ameuter photographer. My lovely friend Reiko lent me her old point and shoot and I am so grateful for that, but it is still not the best to use and as such I just don't take photos anymore. Photos make the blog interesting, so there you go.

Finally, I don't blog because I hate talking about myself. I have no problem complaining to others about things going on in my life, but actually talking about myself, no. I am someone who really doesn't have any natural or hidden talents, I am not passionate about anything and on many topics I am pretty neutral, so what do I have to say that is important or interesting? Not much! But this is kind of a low self esteem thing that I realize I need to work on. So even if I don't think something is important or interesting, I will still post it anyway. Maybe it would build my confidance?

So, in coming days, weeks, months I will post more on the blog. I promise! Now to clear the memory card in my card, which has photos in it from June.....!

It's so hard to say good-bye :'(

A few weeks ago I posted that some of my friends were leaving Japan in coming weeks. The time has now pasted and they are all gone :( I know everyone reading this has had people move away, or you yourself have moved away. When I came to Japan I didn't really expect to make such good friends. I don't really remember what I expected. I certainly didn't expect having everyone leave would be so hard on me. It is hard for me to describe what it is like. Friendships in Japan are different than at home. We become close on a level that doesn't happen at home. We become more like family. However, unlike family, we all live so far away from each other, we can't be certain we will ever see each other again. Even if we do, it won't be the same and we won't be all together. Still, I am thankful I met such wonderful people in Japan. I will miss them so much.

Pictured is some people who left. Not everyone is who left is pictured. Next to me is Cat, who went back to the UK. The tall brown haired stud Cat's boyfriend Adam who also went back to the UK. In the front Liyan (the girl with the glasses) went back to Singapore. I will love them forever.

Snake!

I had something funny happen on Tuesday morning. After I moved to my new place my cat Chloe was kind of anxious being in a new territory. She would whine a lot. So I started keeping the sliding back door open a bit in the evenings so she can come and go as she pleases, because she doesn't whine at me when the door is open. Lately I haven't been doing it as much because she seems to have adjusted, so I told myself by winter time, no more open back door.

On Tuesday morning Chloe woke me up at 4am because she wanted out. She likes to follow me everywhere I go and the night before I had gone out for a walk. I didn't want her to come, so I made her stay inside. Because of that she slept a lot and was ready to get up early. I let her out, ate some breakfast and went back to sleep keeping the door open. I didn't want to get up again to let her in, otherwise she whines outside until I let her in. I usually wear earplugs, but I didn't want anything in my ear because I had an ear infection last week.

At about 6:30 I woke up to some noise in my living room (my bed room is just off the living room). Chloe had just gotten some new toys from Emily and I thought she was playing with them. I told her to shut up and tried to go back to sleep. She kept playing though, so I finally turned over and looked into the living. Imagine my surprise when I saw a snake slithering across my living room floor. It was hissing at Chloe and she was playing with it.

The snake was skinny, but long (maybe three feet?). To be honestly with you, I really wanted to just go back to sleep and deal with it later. Then I called my brother on Skype. As I was telling him I started to feel faint. He told me to put the camera on Chloe. I did, but the snake was under a cushion. I wanted to move the cushion to show him the snake, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I really started to feel faint at that point. He told me to go get my other friends in Bando and to close all the doors so the snake doesn't go into another room.

I did what he said and I went to my friend Milada's house. I must have been in shock. When we got back to my place wasn't anywhere to be found and Chloe was relaxing on the floor. I thought Milada and Nick (her boyfriend who is visiting) would think I was crazy. I also realized in my panic I had failed to close the door to my bedroom.

Both of my fears were unjustified because Milada noticed the snake under the kotatsu. It wasn't moving as much as when I left. Chloe was really picking on it. She would swat at it and then roll around with it. She was having so much fun. We managed to get Chloe away and then we threw a plastic bin over the snake. Next, we slid cardboard under it. Then we lifted it up and finally took it outside where we released it. It didn't move much, I think it was dying or in shock.

After Milada and Nick left I managed to go back to sleep for a few hours. Before that, I talked to my brother again. I kind of hung up on him on Skype and he was worried. He called me nine times while this was going on. I didn't even know he had my keitai number! I couldn't answer because my keitai was in the same room as the snake! When he realized the snake was gone and I was ok he started laughing because he said Chloe looked so calm when he saw her, she wasn't afraid of the snake at all and she thought she was doing something good by bringing it in! After that I went to bed again. I kept Chloe outside and the door shut. When I woke up and let her in again she started looking for the snake and whining when she couldn't find it! I thought that was so funny.

So now my door is shut all the time. I don't want this to happen ever again!

When I woke up again I remembered Nick had said something like, yay my first snake, or something. I thought it was odd because he is at least 40 and never had to deal with a snake? Then I remembered he is from Ireland, Ireland doesn't have snakes! They legend goes Saint Patrick drove all of the snakes into the sea, that one of the reasons why he is remembered. Milada (who is from Ireland too) and Nick were much calmer than me. I have seen many snakes, but I guess it is different when they are in your house! I don't know what I would have done without them.

Wonderful Wednesdays (or at least they used to be)

Wednesdays used to be a great day for me here in Japan. When I first met Guy, he told me 1. there were other ALTs in Bando, and 2. they got together a lot on Wednesdays. And that is how it all got started. I met Cotter and Jeff on a Wednesday. We used to go eat ramen or sushi, or I would cook. We would play games or watch movies. It didn't matter what we were doing, as long as we were together it was fun.

I knew Wednesday would never be the same once the guys left, and I was right. No more dinners, no more games or movies, no more anything. I got used to it. Wednesdays became my one night of free time because I started going back to my Japanese class on Tuesdays (which was my old free night). I still missed wonder Wednesdays.

My Wednesdays have changed again, only this time for the worse. When I went to the doctor for my first ibo treatment (which was on a Thursday if you must know ;) ) he informed me that a doctor from the same hospital comes to Bando on Wednesdays and he can give me treatments. It was good news because going to Tsukuba every week wouldn't be easy. And how would I have done it anyway? Take a day off each week just to go to the doctor? I doubt my schools would have liked that. It was just a huge mess in my head, so when the doctor said I can get it done in Bando on Wednesdays I was happy.

My joy soon faded when I realized how painful the treatment is. I have already posted how awful it is a few weeks ago. Let me give you an update. The black and blue on my fingers has faded, but the week after my first treatment I had a fever. Last week was ok because I took some aspirin before I went in, but he used a bigger swab on my foot, so it was in pain for days. This week I didn't get a chance to take aspirin before I went in, so I was forced to take seven...SEVEN that evening before the pain finally dulled..and now I am black and blue again.

I am so disappointed that my wonder Wednesdays have turned into this. I can't even make plans with anyone on Wednesdays because I can't guarantee I won't have a fever, or that I'll be able to walk. Funny how quickly my favorite day of the week has turned into my least favorite.

More good byes a comin'...

Summer break is on the horizon here in Japan, and with that comes another loss. Many of my friends who are in the JET Program are leaving Japan. Some of them I arrived with two years ago, others have been here longer. They are all leaving for various reasons, some want to start their careers, others have been in the JET Program as long as the program allows (five years).

It will be hard for me because my friends are really great people. Of course I am hopeful whoever replaces them will be just as great, but there is something about going through this with the people I came with that is lost upon the newbies. At least I will be here to help them with the transition.

Also, I am just now getting used to the guys being gone, and I will have to go through all of it again. Luckily before they leave we have lots of fun planned. Some of them are even staying with me before they leave. Yay!

So, here's to having a good time. I am thankful I have good friends from all over the world that I can go and visit someday.

Fuji

Today Junpei sent me a photo from the top of Mount Fuji today. How nice!

Safety for YOU!

Last night Cotter, Milada and I went for a walk and and we came across an old condom machine. The photo is kind of bad, but here it is.

The condoms in the machine are not old, and actually they are a bit expensive ($5 to $10). I like running into little things like this in Japan.

Ibo

So, about two years ago I got warts on my fingers. However, I thought they were just dry skin, so for a year I put lotion on them. Then when my brother was here last summer he told me what they were, so I went to the doctor and he gave me some stuff that did nothing. I have spent the past year using over the counter stuff to treat them, but they have only spread (on my feet) or have gotten bigger. So I finally went to another doctor who put nitrogen on it to kill it. I am happy to finally have a treatment that works, however it could take months or even a year for it to work. In the meantime I know whatever treatment that is used in the US probably works faster, but is illegal here in Japan. So I might have to put up with my fingers looking like this for

a year.

Maybe when I go home I will have someone look at them.

I'm comin home!

Hey everyone, I just want to tell you that I finally bought a ticket to come home. By the time I go, it will be over two years since I was home last. I am a bit afraid to return. My ticket is for September 16th-28th. I hope I can see a lot of people while I am home!

Otherwise, things have been going ok. I am getting used to being in Bando without the guys. Of course I still miss them, but I am ok. I had an open house this past Saturday. In total, thirteen people were there. Not a bad turn out! At the last Saturday of every month this summer Bando is having a small festival. Since my party was the day of the festival we all headed down there. It was a nice relax, chill festival. Next we tried to do some bowling, but the league was having a meeting. We went back to my house and then some people started to leave (it was after ten at this point). After they left a small group of us went to watch the South Korea game. All in all it was a good night in my small town. The only thing missing was the guys.

I am sorry I don't have photos of the party. Other people took pictures though, so maybe some day I will put them on. It was nice to have a fun night in my town again, it had been too long.

Ageha

Well, as you can see from the photo on the title picture, I am raising caterpillars again. The one above will be Ageha (swallowtail butterfly-I only now the name in Japanese because there is a club I have been to called Ageha, is that bad?). I found some of these guys before I left for China. Cotter took care of them for me while I was gone. They all changed, so when I got back I went and found new ones. It has been fun having them again. Cotter has photos of what they look like once they emerge, but for now I have to wait until the ones I have even go into chrysalis. Cotter has really gotten into having them as well. It is fun to have something to share together.