Q&A! and くじら！

Hey guys, I’m back in action on the blog again, sorry the updates aren’t exactly regular.. .woops! The weather in Japan hasn’t been all that good, in fact I’m wearing *gasp* a long sleeve shirt today, and was a quite cold in my shorts (I refuse to wear pants this close to June). We’ve had a lot of rain, and it is really just enough rain to inconvenience you while doing anything outdoors that day, but not enough to keep you inside. Also, it’s a shame, but the weather always seems to peak in the middle of the week, tempting me to skip class… (don’t worry parents, I haven’t been).

Anyways, last week I asked you guys to ask me some questions about Japan/myself that you’d like to see answered here. Mr. Anonymous really went all out, asking a total of four questions! Oh my! Props to Jen’s Dad (I think) for the second (a two-parter at that!). After I answer these guys (that’s about the time where the text ends and the pics begin) I’ll tell you about my Tuesday night… where I ate a whale! But not the whole thing.

How do you plan to apply what you have learned in Japan when you get back?

Oh man, now I have to figure out what it is exactly I’ve been learning all this time in Japan. I think as far as language is concerned, I’m hoping I can take the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test – for the nonacronym-nerds ), which would allow me to say that I kinda-sorta know Japanese at a high enough level to write it on my resume..also I’d like to try and learn Chinese next year so hopefully all the Kanji I’ve had to learn here can ease the transition to that language slightly. Otherwise, in terms of things I’ve learned about Japan, I’m hoping it will give me another angle to view subjects from next year in the classroom and I can look smart. Also, I’d like to think that I’m somehow more independent, but that probably depends on who you ask (Me- Yes! Parents – NO!) Oh..also something about a thesis.

Top 3 things to do and not to do in Japan for future students aboard?

Okay, I apologize here, because I can never remember this stuff on the spot… but if I was hanging out with you, I’d probably have something to say every few minutes that would be a do-or-die event to see in Japan. So instead I’m just going to misread your sentence and come up with a list of things that you should do, even though they shouldn’t be!

To Do and Not To Do in Japan.

1). Gaijin-smash* – Mystical technique in which you a). run through ticket gates or b). pretend to have lost your ticket and have just come from 1 station before… use of the gaijin-smash requires that you pretend to have no knowledge of the Japanese language… ie… use sentences such as “Me Speaking No Japan” (*Technique not limited to trains)

2). Pay for things using the Korean 100 won-coin… or if gutsy, the 500 won coin. They are the same size and look relatively the same marking-wise as Japanese yen, especially in a dark lit bar. Also they carry 10% of the value! (Notice how techniques 1 and 2 result in me saving money)

3). Go to the aforementioned Penis Festival (or something similar). You won’t want to be there because of all the foreigners and the fact that it doesn’t feel like something very traditional, but then again, you’re at a penis festival.

If you were to go back in time, what would you do differently? And why?

Okay, so I’m really not sure what I could say here. Generally, if there are things I’d have wanted to do differently, they get passed along to my brothers... so you might want to see how they approach study abroad… if at all. Of course, that isn’t happening anytime too soon. I think, I would have liked to study abroad earlier, or maybe even extended my time here with an extra spring or summer semester. I don’t know, time just seems to go by so quickly, especially in these last two months.

But if I could do something, seriously differently, I would have opted to study abroad in Korea. Sure I only took the language for 1 year, but I think there would have been so much more to gain from going there over Japan (Taking the road less travelled-kinda thing). I had this thought echoed by a friend, but to explain, I’ve been waiting to come to Japan for a long time, and I’ve studied about it intensely for two years in college, and having been here for a few months, it has lost some of its luster to me. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, it just doesn’t surprise me as much as I thought it might.

What's the meaning of life? How is it different in Japan vs. US?

It is often said that the meaning of life is family. That would mean that the difference between the US and Japan is 4.1 People per family – 3.22 People per family, so about .9 people per family. Quite the difference!

Do tell: What do you want to be/do when you grow up?

Good question, and one that I understand will need some answering since I’m now a 4^th year. Okay, so first off, after graduation, I am hoping I can join a good English-Teaching program in either Japan, Korea, or China. I’d like to do that for 2-4 years, depending on many factors (money, personal enjoyment, more school). If there is anything I’ve learned in Japan, it is that you don’t need to feel rushed to find a career. From there, I’m hoping I can find some job working with the state department or the CIA drawing on my experiences abroad (and I’ll have had 2-4 years to prepare for their respective tests). These generally involve writing up lots of reports about the attitudes of the citizens of a particular country and/or doing translation services. This would make use of the experiences I’d had here (take that question #1!) and allow me to continue doing what I like. I’d also like to continue to be myself.

Wow, so look at that, answered all your questions (but please leave more!) . I’m afraid that if I make this post any longer it will get even less reads. So I’m going to cut my self off now, and leave the whale for another time.

I have a Job, this post isn't about that...

Kidding of course!
So since March I have been working as an english teacher. The general set-up is that I meet my students at a cafe, they buy me a drink, and then I attempt to teach english with varying amounts of success. Currently I have five students, looking to learn english for various reasons and with highly variable english abilities. I've made a small list of them all below!

1# - Male - mid 30's - accountant - wants to learn english for business
2# - Female - early 30's - travel agent - wants to learn english for work
3# - Female - late 20's - bank teller - wants to learn english for travel
4# - Female - late 20's - office lady - wants to learn english to prove that she can
5# - Male - late 30's - salesman - works for US company and wants to be able to read memo's

So as you can see, my students are all much older than me and working professionals. I think that the fact that I'm presently learning Japanese really helps when I'm teaching and its good practice for me to try and define english words in Japanese. I meet my students from 1-4 hours a week depending on the student and am currently making about 20$ an hour (I don't deserve so much).

Its really been a lot of fun working with each student on readings, essays, and just general conversation. With student #1 especially I've formed a very good relationship (he's taking me out to dinner this week for some whale!). He really has improved over the last two months, especially with his speaking confidence. I guess most importantly watching how my students have progressed (or not) has motivated me to work harder during my last 2.5 months (so SAD) left in Japan.

Anyway, I don't really know what to say about work... so uh... ask me questions?

Oh, and now for pictures!
I went back to Yoyogi park once the weather brightened up. Check out the hot Cadillac these guys have! I wonder how it got to Japan in the first place.
Oh and here is one of the bikers without his shirt. I meant to get the other side of his body, because he had a massive tattoo of a dragon.
These girls advertise their new CD by riding around in the back of a truck. I guess if anything you are getting a lot of exposure.

Anyway guys, I need your help. I'm not sure what to blog about anymore. So please, let me know what topics/questions you'd like to see addressed here!

I went to 群馬！

So for Golden-week (really just a three day weekend) I went to see my old homestay Satoru's family in Gunma. The name means 'group of horses' so you know its gonna be countryside. Once again, instead of saying something thought-out and coherent... I'm going to throw up some pictures and talk about them! Time has been passing by really fast lately, I can't believe its already been two weeks since I last blogged!

Here is Sato and I. I rolled out of bed and through the shower and found myself on this platform in the early hours of the morning (okay... 9AM... early for a weekend...) and ready to go for a 2 hour trip to Gunma!
This is Sato's house. Things of note here include the fact that his dad built the whole thing. Yes the whole thing. He is a carpenter and he told me that his hobby is building houses in his free time. A real Man's man. And truly it's a nice house no? Here is Sato's car. I think it actually looks bigger in this picture than it actually is. I don't know that I've ever been so scared riding in a car. It didn't help that we are zooming down small rain-slicked mountain roads....oh and the fact that Sato hit a wall... twice also added to my fears.

These are some Gundam action figures. I saw them in a barber. They were made entirely of paper! Its called papercraft, I've seen them before but never this complicated.
The next day, we went to the Toy and Doll/and antique car museum. It was started by the head of a hospital who had a large collection of (guess) Toys, Dolls, and Antique Cars (he should pick just one) and decided to open his own museum (this is also where Sato rammed the wall twice).
Taken in the Teddy bear section. I don't know why needs the flying bike if he already has wings.
This is Monchichi. He's ugly, but purposefully so
These are kyupii babies... also purposefully ugly... and in even worse colors.
An aforementioned antique car.
Teddy Chess!
Okay, the most ridiculous exhibit. This is a cage, for squirrels... yes squirrels. Apparently Japanese people don't see them very often and they find the undeniably cute. I'm going to charge admission for people to come over to our house in Va and walk around the lawn.
Udon Noodles. And some tempura in the top right corner.

Anyway, the rest of Sunday was spent visiting Satoru and his friends all-guy and all-girl (respectively) high schools. The weather really didn't cooperate all day as it was raining and dark. Still I ate lots of good food, spent some quality time talking to Sato's family, and got some much deserved sleep. Monday morning came and the sky opened up. I went to the public hot springs, layed naked in the sun for an hour, took this picture (after getting dressed) and then ate lunch and returned back to Tokyo.

Overall, Gunma was much very relaxing, and I found that the people there were much more open to speaking with foreigners than those in Tokyo. I guess Tokyo is just too much of a world-city, but visiting the countryside reminded me of all the cultural aspects of Japan that I also enjoyed. (Not to mention pretty mountains!)

Picture Blitz!

Okay, so, I'm going off to Gunma this weekend (its Golden Week here in Japan... which is actually just a four-day weekend this year) to visit my friend Sato's family. So because I know that I am slow, and that I probably won't be able to tell you everything I want, I'm just gonna throw a bunch of pictures into this post and explain about them real quick.

One of the biggest cultural events in Japan is the 花見 (flower viewing). Basically, everyone goes outside, plops down a tarp in a nice park underneath the cherry blossom trees, and takes time to drink, chat with friends, and enjoy the scenery. This is what a park looked like on a COLD day. This year was unfortunate because the weather was warm at the start of may, causing all the trees to blossom, but then dropped down again very quickly. S

This is a biker gang that can be found outside Yoyogi park every sunday dancing to 50's rock n' roll music. I especially love the hair and jackets on these guys.



A night shot of Yokohama. I've posted picture of Yokohama before, but I just really enjoy the view everytime I go there, and decided to add this shot as well.
Oh, and for my last one. I wanted to throw up some McDonald's pictures. The McDonalds in Japan is essentially the same as its US counterparts. But the menu does have some extra goodies. There is the Teriaki Burger for one. But new items this year are the Shaka Shaka Chicken, which is basically a giant chicken nugget in a bag. You add various flavoring (Cheese, Lemon Pepper, and Chili) and then shake it (the onomatopoeia for shaking is Shaka Shaka).
Also, there is the Green Tea/Orea McFlurry.

Anyway, that is all I have for now... For those of you on facebook, I started up a album because Jen and I are trying to collect the ink stamps found at every JR station in Tokyo. I'll get around to blogging about that hear, but for now, I'm off to bed as I have to wake up early tomorrow.