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| Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
3:26 pm
Aren't we fabulous?! This was the first time for the lovely Donna and I to get properly suited and booted in our taiko get-up. This photo was taken just before we performed to 150 people at a private function for some company selling health products from Singapore.
As you can imagine, I was absolutely pooping my pants. Not only was this only our second performance (the first time we performed at a festival to a few old people who were thankfully probably a tad hard of hearing and possibly even a little blind - no offence), but we would be performing the grand finale. It was aslo the first time that we had performed "Matsuri" in public. It's a wee bit tricky this one and involves playing two drums at a time whilst moving along a line of them without stopping, standing on the other girls or hitting anyone with one's sticks. Like I said, tricky! Then the top it off, they planned to wheel out the gaijin at the end (that's me & the Donna) to hold up a big banner exclaiming "GET SINGAPORE!", whatever the hell that means!
Anyhoo, whilst I feared I might pee my pants from the nerves, the excitment and the sheer exhaustion of playing, it actually went quite well. I didn't loose my sticks or injure anyone, and I managed to hold up the banner at the end without breaking it or collaspsing in a heap. Taiko takes a lot out of you you know! So, I'm delighted to say that it was a success. Partly due to the fact that the majority of our audience were completely wasted. You gotta love a good Japanese enkai. Good times gaurenteed!
Our next performance will be at the beginning of June and this time we'll be playing the entire set. EEK!!! I'm currently trying to master swinging my sticks around my head whilst jumping in the air. Bearing in mind that my dearest darling daddy has been known to refer to me as "fairy elephant", you can imagine my trepidation. Oh well, "FIGHTO FIGHTO" I will, and do my darndest not to injure myself or any others in the process. May the force be with me!
| Wednesday, February 07, 2007 |
5:24 pm
I've just received the official piece of paper from my Board of Education which states that I will NOT be recontracting for another year. On August 2nd 2007 my work here will be done. The reason stated, "due to her own will." So why am I so sad!?!
I always knew the day would come when I would have to leave this strange land I've come to call home. In fact I expected it two years ago. And again last year! I never dreamed that I would still be here! In my first year I was certain that I would be returning home, right up until the time came to hand in my paper. But I just couldn't do it. I should've known when I filled it in with pencil instead of pen but I guess I was still in denial. I didn't just suprise myself with my shock decision either. My bestest girl Nori (angel of my life here in Hamada) burst into tears in front of the entire office. Kind of embarrasing actually (sorry babe, but you are a complete nut job at times - I guess that's why we're such good friends!) but it also made me realise that I was making the right decision. One year was just not enough. I had made some amazing friends and was finally beginning to understand a little (a very little) of what was going on around me. A small step for mankind, but a bloody big step for an ALT living in the arse end of nowhere!
In my second year the decision to stay came with the flip of a coin. Well, several games of janken (rock, papaer, scissors) in the pub and two flips of a coin in the office the next day to be precise. Basically the janken told me to GO HOME. I wasn't convince so I flipped the coin and it also told me to GO HOME. "Bugger!", I thought. So I flipped the coin again and it said STAY, and as I felt much less disappointed with this outcome, I decided to go with it. And I haven't regretted it for a second.
This year I thought I would have no decision to make. ALTs could only stay for three years unless they applied for a full time job teaching primary school kids. As fun as that is when you're doing it once a week or less, I feared that every day surrounded by super genki munchkins eating their own bogies with their 'god only knows where they've been' hands, might kill me. I was happy with and prepared for the fact that at the end of my third year, I would be outta here.
Until that was, they decided to change the rules. As of this year, if our contracting organisation agrees to it, we can stay in potentially the same job for up to five years. FIVE YEARS!!! Don't get me wrong, I love this country, I adore my students and I have had a wonderful time here. But FIVE YEARS!!!! A dangerous offer for lost souls such as myself. I could put off making any life decisions for another two years! I could also put off dealing with the copius amounts of crap I've managed to accumulate over the last few years. God damn that 100yen store and those stupid machines that lure you in with their cutsie pictures and funky gadgets!
But I did it! I bit the bullet and made the decision before I even had time to think about it. Progress indeed! Not only did I make a desision in record time, for possibly the first time in my life I actually made a deadline!!! I even handed my papers in EARLY!!!! Yet, when I opened the envelope and saw the piece of paper with my decision not to recontract stamped and signed by the powers that be, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness. This is it! No going back. I have to pack up my three years worth of shit and move on. No easy feat considering that I have more stuff in the boot of my car than I brought to Japan!!! So while I know that leaving Hamada is most definately the right decision, I'm gonna be absolutely gutted when it comes to stepping on that plane. This is the longest I've stayed consistently in any one place since I left school ten years ago!
Every day here is a challenge, more so than I ever could have imagined. But it's been an amazing experience worth every minute. Well except maybe the time I ate uni (raw sea urchine) for the first time, and when I accidently ate natto thinking it was peanut salad, oh and the time when I drove head on into a bus. OUCH! Nah, sod it! It's ALL been an amazing experience. And one I'm gonna be very sad to say Sayonara to.
| Wednesday, January 24, 2007 |
3:30 pm
Here's a picture of the womens Taiko group I joined before Christmas. This is them performing at a local cultural event. Unfortunately I wasn't able to join them on stage, as I've only been practicing for a few weeks and am comparatively a pile of poo. Maybe next time. Watch this space...
| Friday, December 08, 2006 |
5:22 pm
The cutest baby in the world EVER!
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5:08 pm
I know, I know, I crap at keeping this thing up to date. It's probably a miracle you're reading this at all as most of my friends have probably given up on me by now.
It's been a super hectic couple of months, Halloween came and went , we had our annual school festival, I spent two months coaching my students for English speech contests and now it's almost Christmas!!! I can't believe how fast my last year in Japan is going. I'll be clearing out my desk before I know it. But more of that later, I'll get on with telling you what I've been up to for the last few months.
I finally found a Taiko(Japanese drum) group that woud have me (it's only taken two and half years!), and it's awesome! I heart Taiko! It's the most amazing sound. If you've never seen a Taiko performance, find one and get over there quick smart. You can feel the vibrations in your chest, like when you turn your stereo up full blast but minus the pain in your eardrums. The sound and the rhythms are supposed to represent a heart beat. Apparently that's why babies can sleep through it. Reminds them of being in the womb. Anyway, I think it's the bestest sound ever. Must've been a happy fetus.
In October I went on a wee trip to Beppu (in Kyushu - the southern most of Japans four main islands) with my partner in crime, Natsuko. She's a crazy girl and that's why I love her! We stayed with her old school friend Yukie (whe's also a tad on the crazy side), and her wonderful family, Nurse Eiji and baby Yuuji. They really looked after me, and in return I've offered to let Yuu-chan do a homestay with me as soon as he's old enough. He is by the way, the cutest baby in world ever. Apologies to all the other babies in the world, I'm sure you're all very cute, but Yuu-chan is my No.1. He has a permanent 1950s teddyboy quiff, a smile to die for, and the funkiest frog and penguin suits I've ever seen. Beat that babies!
The picture is of me and Natsuko being eejits at one of the 7 Jigoku Meguri (Hell Waters) that Beppu is famous for. This town is full of natural hot springs. There are spouts of steam randomly popping up all over the place and it literally stinks of sulphur! Thankfully you don't notice the smell after a few hours but it hung around in my clothes for a good few washes when I got home. Lovely! I ate pudding and cake baked from the steam, ), I saw a Japanese Frank Butcher (so uncanny I actually though it was him at first, right down to the dodgy chain, hat and leather jacket), a hippo (yes a hippo!) and I bathed in a mud onsen once visited by Jackie-chan. Oh yes! The mud onsen was the real attraction for me. Until I actually got there that is! I so wish I could've taken a picture but alas, due the naked people roaming around, I doubt I would've been allowed. This place sounds amazing, a natural hot mud onsen, so famous that it's visited by celebrities, one of the oldest in Japan! Oh, it's old alright and not in the beautiful, traditional style you may be imagining. Oh no, I mean old in the 'the place is almost falling down and imagine all those naked bodies that have soaked in that mud over the years leaving behind hair and skin and god knows what else' style. Not to mention the fact that the main bath is outside, so it's also filled with leaves and bugs and naked old men trying to get a squiz at your boobs! And me being the graceful ballerina that I am (or 'Fairy Elephant' as my Dad used to call me), as soon as I ventured outside and realised that all and sundry could see me in my birthday suit, instead of quietly slipping into the mud, where I would be hidden from wandering eyes, I gasped loudly, tried to make a dash for it and almost ended up going arse over tit into the bloody thing! I don't have a good track record with onsens. As if I don't stick out enough being the big white foreigner! The first time I went to one I slipped on a stone and pretty much belly flopped into the water. Thankfully, that time there were only ladies present to witness my shame. Damn those places are slippery!
So anyway the mud was gross and it gave me a rash, but I had such a great weekend with such great people that it really didn't matter. If anything, it just added to Beppu's charm. Besides, it seems I can't have a trip away without something going tits-up - sometime literally it seems! Adds to the adventure and always keeps things interesting!
So other than the trip to Beppu, I've danced with my 3rd year girls in my school festival (dressed as a drag queen I may add!), I sang with the PTA choir (in Japanese!), all my students got prizes in the regional speech contests, I've played Heaven's bouncer in a Halloween play for primary kids(didn't actually have any lines but got to wave a glowy stick around which was cool), I sang at Hamada's first open Mic night (took a few gins but I got there in the end), I've been to see Nathan in Fukuyama, I've had small children attack me for my great sticker collection, I've lost my voice, got it back again and basically just knackered myself out. It's been grand!
Bring on Christmas!!!!!
| Friday, September 22, 2006 |
12:27 pm
Last weekend has to have been one of the craziest weekends Shimane has seen. We kicked things off with Ken's 30th birthday party which resulting in many complaints from his neighbours (sorry Ken). It was just a small gathering, 12 friends having a few drinks and some food at his house in the bonnie inaka (countryside) of Hamada. But by the end of the night, there were minature pigs all over the place, everyone had pink ribbons tied around their heads (people here tend to like to tie things round their heads when they've had a few too many), Darrell had a wet arse from falling in the bath, Mario was outside peeping through the windows (apparently it's like watching a movie) & there was a Japanese teacher wearing someone's aviators & weilding a catapult gun, shouting "where are my f**ing PIGS!!!" And this was just the warm-up for the 70s party Titia fabulously hosted the following night.
The only thing I can tell you about this party is that Darrell and I won the prizes for best costume & Donna (who made all of our outfits), quite rightly won designer of the year. Anything that might have happened after this shall remain in the hazy half memories of the polyester wearing, hairsprayed lovelies who attended. All I can say is that it was, as the americans would would put it, OFF THE CHAIN!
And for your viewing pleasure, a wee pic of me & the Don working our 70s mojo.
Peace!
| Thursday, September 14, 2006 |
3:53 pm
I've just dragged myself away from colouring in cheeseburgers (I have a very varied and fulfilling job!) to make an announcement. Well, two in fact...
1) I 'M GOING HOME!!!!
Today I finally sorted out my ticket home for Christmas. Wahooo!!! Might not seem like big news to you, but for me it's pretty exciting stuff. I get eat Christmas dinner, cooked by my fabulous mum and dad, for the first time in 3years! I know, I'm talking about food again. It may seem like I have a slight obsession with it and anyone who knows me will no doubt say that's true but this is Christmas dinner we're talking about here. Anyone who's been living in abroad for any period of time and is about to head home (well in 3 months time) for the best homecooked meal of the year will know what I mean. I'm almost dribbling on the school's computer just thinking about it. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYY!!!
Oh, and the best part of all... not only do I get to eat Christmas dinner, I get to see my family and friends, too! (Naturally that's the real reason I'm going home - it's not just for the scrummy food, honest folks!) I canny wait!
2) I have the BEST STUDENTS in the WORLD!
I LOVE THEM! Sorry, just wanted to share that with whoever might be reading (probably no-one as my friends seem to have given up on me ever actually writing anything on this bloody blog). It doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in, they always make me genki! Even the cheeky ones. In fact, especially the cheeky ones. Thank you my little munchkins! You're the bestest!
| Tuesday, September 05, 2006 |
11:16 am
This weekend is my school's sports festival. In Japan, that's a pretty big thing. In this country a lot of emphasis is placed on social activities. It's all about team building! The students are all given jobs to do in the weeks, sometimes months, leading up to an event. Then they practice and practice and practice so that when the day comes, no one has a even a chance to f**k up. They know the routines so well, they could do them backwards in their sleep.
When I first moved here I thought that Japanese people had this miraculous built in ability to know exactly what was going on in every situation without anyone ever actually saying anything. It certainly seemed so. Things run by clockwork here and there's never a coiffeured hair out of place. It's amazing to watch! Anyway, after living and working here for two years the mystery is sadly gone. The truth of the matter is that they drill every move of every event into them. I can't deny that it's effective, but it kinda takes the excitement and anticipation out of it I feel.
Anyhoo, sports day is one of the biggest events in the school year and actually one of the most fun! It's certainly nothing like the school sports days I remember. I'll try and upload some pictures after the event. It has to be seen to be believed! The students have been here all through the school holidays, practicing in the suffocating heat of the Japanese summer. You've got to take your hats off to them, these kids are dedicated! Even the sporting events are practiced to perfection. And they're STILL practicing! Hence why I'm SO BORED!!!!
With the sports festival taking obvious precendence to actually doing any academic work, I have got very few classes until the big day. I've spent all morning marking papers. My other option is to watch the students practice, and there are only so many times I can watch them cycle up and down the play ground on their unicycles. Yes, I said unicycles. Pretty cool huh! For some reason every child in Japan is taught to ride a unicycle at elementary school. It's quite something... the first time you see it. Then after many hours have passed and no-one is falling off anymore, it kinda loses it's appeal. So anyway, here I am blethering away to you lot instead. Nae luck!
Leading on from the marking papers thingy, I actually have some good advice to impart to any teachers real or pretend (I class myself in the pretend bracket): Get down to the stationary shop and treat yourself to an ERASABLE PEN! I never knew it was possible, but yet another perk of living in this truly unique country is erasable pens. They're truly magic. As any teacher (real or not) knows, marking papers is not exactly the greatest part of the job. You may come across the odd gem, like when one of my students wrote "it's dangerous to ride a dike without a helmet", but generally it's pretty mind numbing. The majority of the students have either copied their answers from the text book or a friend and it doesn't make for very interesting reading. The result... sleep marking. I often nod off mid sentence with the red pen in my hand, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Very dangerous and it doesn't look very professional when the poor kids paper is returned to them covered with tipex (white-out).
Enter the erasable pen! You drop off, you wake up to find red scribbles over your students homework and instead of turning to the tipex, you turn over your pen and simply rub it out. It's PURE GENIUS! All hail the erasable pen! A truly magnificent and highly practical invention.
Whoever invented the erasable pen - I LOVE YOU!!!!
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