tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74153550322784810692024-03-24T02:44:10.249+09:00Chelsea Does Japan...wherein chelsea relates her japanese adventures to the masses!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-59148459685146199682007-06-24T18:41:00.000+09:002007-06-24T22:36:54.674+09:00Two Parties Definitely Make a Weekend!Another amazing weekend, I can't resist writing about it! If I'm not careful, you guys could get pretty spoiled...<br /><br />On Friday night, Taube organized a party for us to celebrate our old supervisor, Iizuka sensei. After six years, he recently changed jobs, and many of us are returning to the States, so we just wanted to say thank you. He worked really hard for us, and put up with a lot of baloney. Like Julian Friend said, Iizuka sensei was the bridge between American and Japanese expectations; he endured the stress and kept everyone connected.<br /><br />As a token of our gratitude, we taught him the fine art of double-fisting:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSSPUH2pusLj4hi4QMMrbPGZuGt-rz0IfLC4queTOjanqr8Ap_pv5Bl0LYV-sU6qBOIKRD7mUOVhqUOVlxQP-CdO36XetT3YF3-_ZKiAh_HV5oOr3A5EYYmdyQ1qSVwRXoFYSoCwOJbc/s1600-h/CIMG2510.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSSPUH2pusLj4hi4QMMrbPGZuGt-rz0IfLC4queTOjanqr8Ap_pv5Bl0LYV-sU6qBOIKRD7mUOVhqUOVlxQP-CdO36XetT3YF3-_ZKiAh_HV5oOr3A5EYYmdyQ1qSVwRXoFYSoCwOJbc/s320/CIMG2510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079520106789239970" /></a><br /><br />David's about to order the next round. Yes, he is godlike in this capacity.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH-QRIS4qETYkzeDWJZ-bQsY_VRDof-uWt8GM7Rt9QKOV02TqHc1KYnlw8Aa2KJA_WDL4NZ4MMWsWb5TQSCpDrdvaj6d-Vj49ZKA5lLjTaEXFQuq4rblaMXLdLueyh3z3hKnNoqwsXeA/s1600-h/CIMG2530.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH-QRIS4qETYkzeDWJZ-bQsY_VRDof-uWt8GM7Rt9QKOV02TqHc1KYnlw8Aa2KJA_WDL4NZ4MMWsWb5TQSCpDrdvaj6d-Vj49ZKA5lLjTaEXFQuq4rblaMXLdLueyh3z3hKnNoqwsXeA/s320/CIMG2530.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079521605732826306" /></a><br /><br />Hmm, fifteen people and... how many glasses?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkSKbFdgECd_xSOwC9Jjw1tGVgwSMVDatyQFcoqeDZP-NnRrQLCoJlQk0kPVsDl2PgeiF_u4XJuCHNczpsrSfs8hvMaom2_jLHoM0LHyACKLukF18rBOAKJZ9wsLGQLgWJ7Q2TTQComc/s1600-h/CIMG2548.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkSKbFdgECd_xSOwC9Jjw1tGVgwSMVDatyQFcoqeDZP-NnRrQLCoJlQk0kPVsDl2PgeiF_u4XJuCHNczpsrSfs8hvMaom2_jLHoM0LHyACKLukF18rBOAKJZ9wsLGQLgWJ7Q2TTQComc/s320/CIMG2548.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079520759624268978" /></a><br /><br />It was a great party. Everyone's anecdotes made me realize just how much has transpired in the last year, and how little time we have left together. I was happy that the party theme continued through the next day, with the yukata matsuri!<br /><br />Again, we were blessed with a break in the weather. It rains ceaselessly during a Japanese summer, which continues to baffle this monsoon-accustomed Arizona native. Every day, hour after hour, solid sheets of rain. But then you decide to do something outside, like go to the beach or attend an outdoor festival, and the sun decides it would like to be there too...<br /><br />Himeji's yukata matsuri, the annual summer kimono festival, is rumored to be the largest in Japan. Then again, every city is famous for <i>one</i> thing, so it might be a bit greedy on our part if we had the best castle <i>and</I> the biggest matsuri... But it wouldn't surprise me if it truly were the largest because the city was completely transformed! The sleepy streets, numerous blocks in every direction, were lined with food and game stalls, and people were out in droves! The usual ten-minute walk from the station to the castle took the better part of an hour if you weren't fighting the crowd.<br /><br />A lot of our Japanese friends don't regularly go to the matsuri. And if you ask about it, they say, "Oh, no... there's too many people." Which is true; it's absolutely insane how many people are crammed onto the streets. I guess it's similar to the mentality of those Pamplonans who rent out their apartments and skip town during the Running of the Bulls: If you've done it once, you don't need to do it again. But I think our newbie excitement rubbed off on some of them, and we all had a great time experiencing it together!<br /><br />We had a party at the residence while everyone got ready to go downtown. Well, the guys just had to put on their pajama-like jinbe and throw back a few beers while waiting for the ladies to coordinate their outfits, style their hair, and figure out how to tie an obi and make it hold everything together.<br /><br />And it was all just so people could parade their beautiful yukatas! Eiko, my ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) instructor and professional dresser, told me the festival was probably designed to increase cotton sales and boost the economy during the Edo period. Obviously, the ever escalating battle between the police and the biker gangs is a recent addition to the tradition, but a fun one nonetheless! It was so much fun being in the thick of it!<br /><br />There was heaps of good food, all the kind of food I would never trust at a state fair back home! The women were beautiful in their yukatas, and the children were adorable. Catching an eel (as a pet? to eat?) was a game I couldn't really justify spending my money on. However, I did have to think twice about getting a baby quail. And that's all the whole evening was: food and games and people watching, and getting dressed up just for the fun of it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TppcEdfnB1R3-3RK5js2kpEf7aoe9YVdRikzf1lrpVLl61bvhZL6uFpvxRc57wXBmGcQAHSCkb2HAcxU0urlrcxtxAPyCvpudlkA39uDzxO2IDXwYtQKxTqjgNZvePzJqjGER8OqyXI/s1600-h/CIMG2553.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TppcEdfnB1R3-3RK5js2kpEf7aoe9YVdRikzf1lrpVLl61bvhZL6uFpvxRc57wXBmGcQAHSCkb2HAcxU0urlrcxtxAPyCvpudlkA39uDzxO2IDXwYtQKxTqjgNZvePzJqjGER8OqyXI/s320/CIMG2553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079557103637527906" /></a><br />Tomoko and Eiko rocked our obis!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vkAVblVWjUediMPCTES5QqcZXFdSVWf7rawz2pLibE0FDv4CVt8Hjq-xqudDhzzCNCvyLg-Cz2OzqHy3bfqu0kskvamCooFhAZ1S0AMUMuUN-Pv58TZf2ebnB1rk0P5WjE7iSHA3cQM/s1600-h/CIMG2556.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vkAVblVWjUediMPCTES5QqcZXFdSVWf7rawz2pLibE0FDv4CVt8Hjq-xqudDhzzCNCvyLg-Cz2OzqHy3bfqu0kskvamCooFhAZ1S0AMUMuUN-Pv58TZf2ebnB1rk0P5WjE7iSHA3cQM/s320/CIMG2556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079547220917779666" /></a><br />Allison, Michelle, and Yours Truly.<br /><br />I got my yukata at Uniqlo, which is basically the Gap. (They make clothes that fit life-size people, so it's a part of my life here.) Surprisingly, I only saw one or two other girls with the same print. It was fun to squeal and giggle about it with strangers; there were no catty Prom fights that I'd anticipated! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUk21mCmAa0UJf13o-VEnnTdWspkTscr8ChQqYBRR22V6VNuHTMQZ8AeNwYG7NasFmOfY19VHtAoSpl6s9dLFfFFUIE0KMRiXtD-YZCZwF-eptH4G4NlRqOBFjyyCoYBFSJUQR8fLW0Q/s1600-h/CIMG2567.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUk21mCmAa0UJf13o-VEnnTdWspkTscr8ChQqYBRR22V6VNuHTMQZ8AeNwYG7NasFmOfY19VHtAoSpl6s9dLFfFFUIE0KMRiXtD-YZCZwF-eptH4G4NlRqOBFjyyCoYBFSJUQR8fLW0Q/s320/CIMG2567.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079547680479280354" /></a><br />Waiting for the bus.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CINaMv-zDtlKp4u-QuMbErji-2yiYVyhE75HgXjdDjiDtjx5D0iycaaEVF6L11LhmlogQQ1pYqMArfapH651CJJIl06H23AecBXwGxJr78jsax27EyhKO0lKJ71TnluZTyGiV2U3KdQ/s1600-h/CIMG2564.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CINaMv-zDtlKp4u-QuMbErji-2yiYVyhE75HgXjdDjiDtjx5D0iycaaEVF6L11LhmlogQQ1pYqMArfapH651CJJIl06H23AecBXwGxJr78jsax27EyhKO0lKJ71TnluZTyGiV2U3KdQ/s320/CIMG2564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079558473732095346" /></a><br />"Everybody peace!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzndWxtLm3QAdgz9CDJ50ertJY3C12840kuya27aoSWHygxY557lxdNohEVf45Ne2ar3tcYYBie_E606VFHivuNErcHXU5pDLDN9WBxG_5eOEWJz_4X6F8qnhXb0I9FwZA_-XZy1fBp4/s1600-h/CIMG2578.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzndWxtLm3QAdgz9CDJ50ertJY3C12840kuya27aoSWHygxY557lxdNohEVf45Ne2ar3tcYYBie_E606VFHivuNErcHXU5pDLDN9WBxG_5eOEWJz_4X6F8qnhXb0I9FwZA_-XZy1fBp4/s320/CIMG2578.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079559474459475330" /></a><br />And the party's just gettin' started...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3p1DGCewkBzLRqa4xfGbtELyvQNY4ykKwrkbvqbOMeDzFUbmdz75KBjk36mNvynMDd2T_vY1FOcMlaX9aDcAp15vuKqYr2_YQFckr9vjSL35nR09YCOu62GTLX4Q9H3iQpBCrZJ1urw/s1600-h/CIMG2568.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3p1DGCewkBzLRqa4xfGbtELyvQNY4ykKwrkbvqbOMeDzFUbmdz75KBjk36mNvynMDd2T_vY1FOcMlaX9aDcAp15vuKqYr2_YQFckr9vjSL35nR09YCOu62GTLX4Q9H3iQpBCrZJ1urw/s320/CIMG2568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079548084206206194" /></a><br />Why?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-0h216QtYqryFTMZ9B15yHZoJrSANZgrfACQ23KDAyeHK5Dwdw9qP8nIt4xzJxscmfpJ2v9MqdXztkmZWv04VLoGYoDf4oAq8qoJKDeTuPc0FkEA6HSi_dmJI7r6xeWLdJQwnb-8QG0/s1600-h/CIMG2570.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-0h216QtYqryFTMZ9B15yHZoJrSANZgrfACQ23KDAyeHK5Dwdw9qP8nIt4xzJxscmfpJ2v9MqdXztkmZWv04VLoGYoDf4oAq8qoJKDeTuPc0FkEA6HSi_dmJI7r6xeWLdJQwnb-8QG0/s320/CIMG2570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079548934609730818" /></a><br />Baby birdies!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E5ciYCh4Zn7JjWgKada9ZJbTKfaekcpSg_DF9RR9WoQqhf0ew6SWxoy2GF0MmMhyEPYZsMuc7D3KV4u854JKe19l6BYavZQtUcYpqfYwKIwM887Zlx4q728U6ah96C5d10QIjkcdLUw/s1600-h/CIMG2590.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E5ciYCh4Zn7JjWgKada9ZJbTKfaekcpSg_DF9RR9WoQqhf0ew6SWxoy2GF0MmMhyEPYZsMuc7D3KV4u854JKe19l6BYavZQtUcYpqfYwKIwM887Zlx4q728U6ah96C5d10QIjkcdLUw/s320/CIMG2590.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079552684116180258" /></a><br />Um, I'm full, thanks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPn81HU75tw1V6e0PIWFXE3VcBnOMZEj6W1pkuqvRcNFsN4f67ZCL6xEBi-agBndy5DRauh4FoNaU4WC60__tnWRS3b1yextUGm12mGncKkOHJEaWjeeGTkplA83uskWZ9yTTYD9ba_Y/s1600-h/CIMG2588.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPn81HU75tw1V6e0PIWFXE3VcBnOMZEj6W1pkuqvRcNFsN4f67ZCL6xEBi-agBndy5DRauh4FoNaU4WC60__tnWRS3b1yextUGm12mGncKkOHJEaWjeeGTkplA83uskWZ9yTTYD9ba_Y/s320/CIMG2588.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079561720727371154" /></a><br />People watching.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9Sf8ngZfupoOhDMKXYGGcnP-4VIJeoUEd0jcC8NBM54lPmWmBU6nQBqxgpemPA1tVhZod-AkSmUHqd0WSlEA65VB0paoIFl0G2b31PeCWU1p5eGx_DuKTJedoFFbdYPJdzqKPFCsm_s/s1600-h/CIMG2598.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9Sf8ngZfupoOhDMKXYGGcnP-4VIJeoUEd0jcC8NBM54lPmWmBU6nQBqxgpemPA1tVhZod-AkSmUHqd0WSlEA65VB0paoIFl0G2b31PeCWU1p5eGx_DuKTJedoFFbdYPJdzqKPFCsm_s/s320/CIMG2598.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079553100728007986" /></a><br />Scoop as many toys as you can before your rice paper net breaks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIk5myVBnv7zyQgwhOVVhZrrvB1z9n5PfsO129OzVL5iIaZtlUPWs8skBuVAqAjb6JuRJNuFQ8tXor-IDB-zBL74MuGogBr0OElNG7xLPnWEXVheHhy2r-aHDM3diVS40MAGDQqUixLc/s1600-h/CIMG2601.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIk5myVBnv7zyQgwhOVVhZrrvB1z9n5PfsO129OzVL5iIaZtlUPWs8skBuVAqAjb6JuRJNuFQ8tXor-IDB-zBL74MuGogBr0OElNG7xLPnWEXVheHhy2r-aHDM3diVS40MAGDQqUixLc/s320/CIMG2601.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079553491570031938" /></a><br />Because it just isn't a party without an ice sculpture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS6pa-ZcFd6ZnELi8Tu2-DVQ3T7ghB5ihu_PZgxhIMVahCQiWoJPqq4o_6dar6tPbl1nMXc2Kn5ejYGEqENf3VyGeWb4M-Y0VWswQsPWPrh0C0qr2Ui3tv3DIYj1fptEqVIYTjVfUeXE/s1600-h/CIMG2602.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS6pa-ZcFd6ZnELi8Tu2-DVQ3T7ghB5ihu_PZgxhIMVahCQiWoJPqq4o_6dar6tPbl1nMXc2Kn5ejYGEqENf3VyGeWb4M-Y0VWswQsPWPrh0C0qr2Ui3tv3DIYj1fptEqVIYTjVfUeXE/s320/CIMG2602.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079554513772248402" /></a><br />This is Himeji castle in the Bond movie <i>You Only Live Twice</i>, which was showing at Mr. B's, the coolest new gaijin (foreigner) bar in town. Mr. B is a US military man; how could his bar <i>not</i> be cool?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprxSWA-i_013y8iNo4HXBhTZDntMQc-5xRv_UzsY3WpjesX8YcrLA47SPVjD2xKGceB87-OhHKB08PFfdyR3wQAZ50F4N58t16vx-tSvrvjrHYTFUADWUVmqsKO3EwVxKDkNhpZtGtsQ/s1600-h/CIMG2619.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprxSWA-i_013y8iNo4HXBhTZDntMQc-5xRv_UzsY3WpjesX8YcrLA47SPVjD2xKGceB87-OhHKB08PFfdyR3wQAZ50F4N58t16vx-tSvrvjrHYTFUADWUVmqsKO3EwVxKDkNhpZtGtsQ/s320/CIMG2619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079551262482005266" /></a><br />Kyosuke, Makoto, Lauren, Lucy, Marie, me and Tina outside of Mr. B's.<br /><br />My feet were so swollen after walking around in my geta (wooden sandals) all night, but it was totally worth it. The shape of the geta and the restriction the yukata places on the movement of your legs make you shuffle your feet. With seemingly thousands of people shuffling along, it was one of the most prominent noises of the evening! I wish I could more vividly capture all the sights and sounds and smells for you. Anyway.<br /><br />One of the best parts of the evening was when Tina, Lauren, Marie and I decided to walk home around midnight. When we were leaving dowtown, we crossed paths with a group of about twenty teenage boys who looked to be up to no good. Marie started freaking out, sure they were bent on harming us. I said, "Marie! Just step off the sidewalk, keep moving and don't make eye contact. We'll be fine!" Four pretty girls, and we didn't even get cat-called, although one boy did say "Hello!"<br /><br />And that my friends, is why I don't think twice about walking home after a night on the town. This is Japan.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-67436713731360875542007-06-17T19:38:00.000+09:002007-06-17T19:48:32.475+09:00Shiraishi Island: It's Heaps Awesome!Osashiburi!<br /><br />This weekend we went to Shiraishi, a small island off of Okayama prefecture, about a three hour journey from Himeji. We stayed at the Okayama International Villas location there (the same chain we lodged with when we did onsen in Takebe back in January). It was so nice, and the weather was perfect; we got two sunny days in the middle of the rainiest part of the year!<br /><br />Now I'm a few shades darker and couldn't be happier. I always get depressed as my tan fades during the winter, and this winter was particularly cruel and oppressive. Three cheers for beaches, and little Japanese junior high school girls who point at you and say "nice body!" when you've long been lamenting the fact that you can now play Chubby Bunny without the marshmallows...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uhqv2QBGBo248RnU1SZn9Q1pVT4jDgGN86DySSUxgVytfz8lT3YcHSGDmmtf8gRFFsPxINlkISSslRPb9Mn33KOPdPt7DQ4PwNQneOzZHOeLq7g-oTrqdh56-VlekjKdVTcY6VipcbM/s1600-h/CIMG2411.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uhqv2QBGBo248RnU1SZn9Q1pVT4jDgGN86DySSUxgVytfz8lT3YcHSGDmmtf8gRFFsPxINlkISSslRPb9Mn33KOPdPt7DQ4PwNQneOzZHOeLq7g-oTrqdh56-VlekjKdVTcY6VipcbM/s320/CIMG2411.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076949744956242914" /></a><br />All aboard!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVxCqvZoiGIfliyFO22zwu6pdzj41F8LdKlGm3ypNhKWzXuewMwfCq0yCmkaXbWzR31nBznjL63pSZ5KQQrZXMuzFguU23TVNbmSM70dGL9VscEmNWLpVJ7J35I988OHjikQN1FZcGPo/s1600-h/CIMG2428.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVxCqvZoiGIfliyFO22zwu6pdzj41F8LdKlGm3ypNhKWzXuewMwfCq0yCmkaXbWzR31nBznjL63pSZ5KQQrZXMuzFguU23TVNbmSM70dGL9VscEmNWLpVJ7J35I988OHjikQN1FZcGPo/s320/CIMG2428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076950372021468146" /></a><br />Our SWEET view! That's me with Tina and Marie, sisters from Adelaide (Aussies are heaps cool).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR3E5EE0ksYtx4UKND7zcxs4LkqoKvuU-QpOLE9LX5dOFqHoUxn7UbVz9KGUTqJmpy8GjAjwnDx3oQAOQNm9u36-2IG0InwcG83haEsZA51hyphenhyphenBDWD-f0Rp1ouYxW0ngcMl_Kf7LWPxR8/s1600-h/CIMG2427.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR3E5EE0ksYtx4UKND7zcxs4LkqoKvuU-QpOLE9LX5dOFqHoUxn7UbVz9KGUTqJmpy8GjAjwnDx3oQAOQNm9u36-2IG0InwcG83haEsZA51hyphenhyphenBDWD-f0Rp1ouYxW0ngcMl_Kf7LWPxR8/s320/CIMG2427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076951441468324866" /></a><br />Marie risking life and limb to pick weird Japanese apricots for us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb80-zCiHQGzwnlFoNXsUBd2F5hnL_mp472TRQYhlEPcfJy2FahX-A-X7AtnvXiaJlxbDv3nHhAvIXz77AquDtWf1Z9cSlMxr15KqjOI5-Rv8hmqfonMWYumUeEJ99FO-kFY_KTN0Z10/s1600-h/CIMG2429.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb80-zCiHQGzwnlFoNXsUBd2F5hnL_mp472TRQYhlEPcfJy2FahX-A-X7AtnvXiaJlxbDv3nHhAvIXz77AquDtWf1Z9cSlMxr15KqjOI5-Rv8hmqfonMWYumUeEJ99FO-kFY_KTN0Z10/s320/CIMG2429.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076952038468779026" /></a><br />I actually thought this was a classy alternative to the floating porta-potties we kayaked by in the bay...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtIMFQn9rmZn2OAc_VuDMBAU_GSIGio1gFgAFwrRkZzAn9LttAdY1eHam-t2BhV_ShPX8QVINqLs9hQhzRJGr9hHGW4Nh-TeyrkXbOcHmyOi6FqzbNnOI5JWxnn4QoWxyrv6drdPag1E/s1600-h/CIMG2437.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtIMFQn9rmZn2OAc_VuDMBAU_GSIGio1gFgAFwrRkZzAn9LttAdY1eHam-t2BhV_ShPX8QVINqLs9hQhzRJGr9hHGW4Nh-TeyrkXbOcHmyOi6FqzbNnOI5JWxnn4QoWxyrv6drdPag1E/s320/CIMG2437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076952575339691042" /></a><br />Cute boys swimming in their underwear!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHbVoodOiyCws2vboLEuprmFnnZgyZyy2JDQcb9D9dneYVNEfw1nffmMFEj_GI5iwBMIN1i8V8h1KFKBXFVVm_xZb5guFrtSy4WPJO34T0IUqPR5Nm5ZtBWWk_SLjnROkswVFJBmHgtc/s1600-h/CIMG2443.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHbVoodOiyCws2vboLEuprmFnnZgyZyy2JDQcb9D9dneYVNEfw1nffmMFEj_GI5iwBMIN1i8V8h1KFKBXFVVm_xZb5guFrtSy4WPJO34T0IUqPR5Nm5ZtBWWk_SLjnROkswVFJBmHgtc/s320/CIMG2443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076954074283277362" /></a><br />It's okay. You can be jealous.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8_GlFADlK8LfaOeuMSqPL1MQpFwI0w-9kKGXVuetDR4M1QAxrg59nX_ZKXuUrCxJl-ZyYLRpGBIJRxj_BqHZbCaP91q6dL0qJaEynHInYHCL5soaqZV6-4JSHJBMIJgaix9m68YXbX0/s1600-h/CIMG2480.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8_GlFADlK8LfaOeuMSqPL1MQpFwI0w-9kKGXVuetDR4M1QAxrg59nX_ZKXuUrCxJl-ZyYLRpGBIJRxj_BqHZbCaP91q6dL0qJaEynHInYHCL5soaqZV6-4JSHJBMIJgaix9m68YXbX0/s320/CIMG2480.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076956651263654994" /></a><br />The 800 (vertical) meter hike pays off with this great vista! (That's a cemetery in the center; I think there are more dead than living on this tiny island...)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5djnxgEfTqX1oUNRrcH3L4KGczoweKM91E-Um6-UT7xNfBVm5U3APK_JxRhIwU7aRDfibtTH2Ck22Ozsmyac0nvb-Ce51J9bNwt7Q7QegwvePqyWfxGWdG40OLUKgiQjOW9NAmXOMNrM/s1600-h/CIMG2483.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5djnxgEfTqX1oUNRrcH3L4KGczoweKM91E-Um6-UT7xNfBVm5U3APK_JxRhIwU7aRDfibtTH2Ck22Ozsmyac0nvb-Ce51J9bNwt7Q7QegwvePqyWfxGWdG40OLUKgiQjOW9NAmXOMNrM/s320/CIMG2483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076955745025555522" /></a><br />This is Lauren telling half the group to hike on, and that we'd rather go hit the beach or bicycle around the island...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp8KkycOz3XG3c8ACpnrNUoqjHydcqvzPktMMjPCpV-iNOb4zKCv34uiyyhXA5rDxdJJdHzn99PaarJHONBqFLEIW7RfO6SjV21gs0n7sh2qSb5H5fjfTZVOL0fxACZ_vGIcudZ3AawY/s1600-h/CIMG2485.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp8KkycOz3XG3c8ACpnrNUoqjHydcqvzPktMMjPCpV-iNOb4zKCv34uiyyhXA5rDxdJJdHzn99PaarJHONBqFLEIW7RfO6SjV21gs0n7sh2qSb5H5fjfTZVOL0fxACZ_vGIcudZ3AawY/s320/CIMG2485.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076957149479861346" /></a><br />And this is her on our, err... trip back down the mountain. She totally ate it coming around that last step, but landed just like this. Such grace!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU3rQU2EvC-9QHcokhPzyQRLUqy0sXHBf3ET0Qt42aQkE3-Xw1GH8kjyZDPgYHMYUi9LycdfkrfRXA6XJTWp8XXpkl3HfNZ3EB3XcmbG7c3c_JC6kFLbCMGOOcQFeJUwbXjOVvXLLlCg/s1600-h/CIMG2486.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU3rQU2EvC-9QHcokhPzyQRLUqy0sXHBf3ET0Qt42aQkE3-Xw1GH8kjyZDPgYHMYUi9LycdfkrfRXA6XJTWp8XXpkl3HfNZ3EB3XcmbG7c3c_JC6kFLbCMGOOcQFeJUwbXjOVvXLLlCg/s320/CIMG2486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076971249857494130" /></a><br />This is Jodi and Jono about to tempt fate on The Slope of Death! (This hill was extraordinarily difficult to climb up after our evening beach barbecue slash beer fest. "Don't give up, Lauren! Go towards the light!") I'm excited to go to their wedding party in January! I'll try to leave Australia in one piece...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5gAN1gI4L2o5ghlfzXEMVnKGK4tDjcAOzYDRbxZSNdnqJ8ZIYyHrG8oSwu4Bmb7ZOWj4XSbnY5_gCmDncBaHR8neLjtNEA1ZlfiHUA6kQO5C9wjXE1GbDAj5Ec2CSao0RHkxS6bCw4U/s1600-h/CIMG2487.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5gAN1gI4L2o5ghlfzXEMVnKGK4tDjcAOzYDRbxZSNdnqJ8ZIYyHrG8oSwu4Bmb7ZOWj4XSbnY5_gCmDncBaHR8neLjtNEA1ZlfiHUA6kQO5C9wjXE1GbDAj5Ec2CSao0RHkxS6bCw4U/s320/CIMG2487.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076971881217686658" /></a><br />Postcard!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP25u0PXLkr2Tm_ITIFvM1yH-Wxg5zzGeqhy4gYJ93QSZaj-3UGC6LIalurBw317TnX1fGyHb9LRU-piAgSyBYuVxzIWq0fenWiwJntzXMccSGYuSxfeKnpM00vEC_buunThkm7zsV81g/s1600-h/CIMG2489.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP25u0PXLkr2Tm_ITIFvM1yH-Wxg5zzGeqhy4gYJ93QSZaj-3UGC6LIalurBw317TnX1fGyHb9LRU-piAgSyBYuVxzIWq0fenWiwJntzXMccSGYuSxfeKnpM00vEC_buunThkm7zsV81g/s320/CIMG2489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076972723031276690" /></a><br />Cafe Moooo. Why should the fun stop with the previous night's tipsy Jenga tournament? Time for banana daiquiris!<br /><br />It was a heaps cool weekend!<br /><br />Now, as you can imagine, this is just one story in four months worth of adventure. I feel compelled to bring everything up to date when I write, so as more and more time passes, the thought of blogging makes my head spin. But I blogged today just to prove something to Jodi (I don't know what exactly, but will you stop making fun of me already?!).<br /><br />Anyway, now that I've blogged again, I've realized it doesn't really hurt as much as I thought! So soon (maybe), I will get around to telling you about my journeys to Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and Osaka with my friend Joe; trips to Tokyo (Disneyland!), Nara, Takayama and Kanazawa with Mom and Dad; an escape to Seoul with my friend Will to see my old friend Andy from junior high. <br /><br />Somewhere in between all that I turned twenty-three, made new friends from Delware, was unwittingly used as a pawn to garner support for a mayoral candidate in Nara, started working at a my new school, got taekwondo-pushed by a guard in North Korea, saw cherry blossoms for the first time ever, got hit by a car on my bicycle (and didn't fall off!), went strawberry picking, and taught Japanese kids how to make grilled cheese sandwiches.<br /><br />Wish you could be here! If I don't write about all this, let's grab a cup of coffee when I get back in September; the stories are much better in person, anyway!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-284846186469590682007-03-08T20:46:00.000+09:002007-03-10T07:23:19.338+09:00Mystery MeatI should have known this day would come.<br /><br />But I can't believe I was completely blindsided by it! I didn't even expect to be had! I just walked right into it!<br /><br />This evening I went out for yakiniku with Toshi, a friend of mine. He's part of what my neighbor Gayleen calls "The Awesome Foursome," which is a group of super-friendly and generous community members who have made so much of Himeji life available to all of us at Shirasagi. Yakiniku is a Korean dinner, where you cook plates of raw meats and vegetables on a grill in the center of your table. I love meat.<br /><br />For the most part.<br /><br />But now, I question the term "delicacy."<br /><br />After I watched it grill to perfection...as it basked in the open flames, perfectly seasoned and lovingly bathed in a shower of fresh lemon...I popped it in my mouth. But it was tough and completely unappetizing. And the second piece didn't succeed in winning me over, either.<br /><br />And Toshi said, "What do you think?"<br /><br />"Oh, I don't know. It's not my favorite. It's kind of chewy."<br /><br />"It's tongue!"<br /><br />WELL DUH IT'S CHEWY!<br /><br />Augh! I've eaten raw shrimp that were still moving on my plate, and I've eaten chicken heart and chicken cartilage and practically every part of a chicken you can imagine, but at least I knew what all of it was beforehand!<br /><br />I took no time to stop and question what I was about to consume because I had already slipped into the yakiniku pleasure coma! And now I have to live with the psychologyical ramifications of unwittingly ingesting tongue! To me, it's way more gross than brains or livers or anything. It's way too personal.<br /> <br />And as Theo Huxtable once said in the infinite wisdom of youth (and scripted humor), "I don't want to taste anything that can taste me!"Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-60136848812279261392007-02-11T18:19:00.000+09:002007-02-11T18:31:14.790+09:00I'll Take Tanuki for 800, Please.Until the last few days, it has been a slightly uneventful month. Yeah, my wallet is still recovering from the year-end's nine consecutive nights of partying... Yes, Auntie, I do work! Sometimes. But now I finally have a few stories to share!<br /><br />On Friday I went in for the requisite health checkup for Himeji city employees. And I thought the FIRST doctor's visit was fun! I was subjected to a litany of tests, all of which were completed in less than fifteen minutes...and it probably would have gone faster if I actually spoke any Japanese beyond "err, wakarimasen" (I don't understand).<br /><br />When I first got to the office, I waited in line with other women for the session to start at 1pm. As soon as the second-hand was vertical, the line started moving. First, we all took a paper cup from a stack at the front of the line and made our way to the restroom. It was so funny because it was so contrary to the practice in the States, which is so discreet. Anytime I've done a urinalysis at home, you get a plastic cup with a lid, and when you're finished, you put it through a little door in the wall of the single-unit restroom. You never have to look the nurse in the eye!<br /><br />Here, we had to pee in paper cups in a three-stall bathroom, and all the girls would set them down on the counter as they washed their hands, and then carry them back into the lobby and wait in line again. At the first table, we set our samples down and the nurse placed a little test strip in it while she looked over our paperwork. I nearly knocked mine over while placing my mental health questionnaire in the box. That would definitely have given me a complex...<br /><br />Then I went to the next station, where a man measured my height and weight, and I couldn't figure out if he wanted me to take my shoes off or not. Obviously he wanted me to, not just because you don't typically get weighed with shoes, but merely because this is Japan, you know. I think I was just expecting to be confused! And then they tested my hearing, and I'd done that before so I nailed it! But then they tested my vision and I failed miserably...with my glasses ON.<br /><br />Thankfully the test is conducted without using any of the three Japanese alphabets (that would be cruel). Instead, there is a black circle on a white background and it moves around and decreases in size, and you have to say in which direction a small opening in the circle is facing. But I didn't figure out how to take the test until they tested my right eye, so they probably think I'm completely blind in my left one! Anyway.<br /><br />Then they took my blood pressure, listened to my heart and lungs, and took THREE vials of blood! Holy crap! Hopefully my test results will let me know my bloodtype, since I don't know it and everyone here always gives me a crazy look when I tell them that. It's practically the most commonly asked question behind "What's your name?" and "Where are you from?" And then I signed a waiver (that I couldn't read) before being given an electrocardiogram, which was also an event in itself. I think Mom and Dad should be happy to know that I don't understand "Take off your shirt" in Japanese. LOL!<br /><br />So that was fun, and I got a half day out of it. Later that evening I got to go to a formal party with all of the other ALTs and our principals. We were required to entertain each other, so a few of the principals sang some really great songs for us. Then we shared some really important aspects of our culture, you know, like the Time Warp. Fortunately everyone had been drinking for awhile by the time we performed! It was quite an enjoyable night. They really take care of us here; it's a great program.<br /><br />And today was wonderful. The weather is gorgeous, and it's been a day full of little things that remind me how much I love Japan. Once or twice a month there's a flea market in the park across the street from the castle, so my friend Michelle "Apparently I'm Not Aerodynamic" Gates and I rode our bikes downtown to peruse the merchandise. I went with the express intent of purchasing some locally cultivated honey, but of course I came back with more. I finally got a tanuki!<br /><br />Check it out on Wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki">What is this girl talking about?</a><br /><br />I see them outside of drinking establishments a lot here because they're kind of folklorically connected with good times and mischief. Taube and Julian have one outside of their room and I've wanted one since I got here, but the ones I've seen have been too expensive because they're usually ceramic or wood carvings. But the one I found today is ceramic and it was only eight bucks! And even though it's a little on the small side, it's a statue of a boy tanuki AND a girl tanuki, and it has a cork at the top, which means you can fill it with liquids! I'm totally going to keep my shochu in it! Don't worry, shochu is Japanese for "water" (um, but don't Wiki that).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9uHKqJdpYlSQrY1FnGx7Hh73dL6OEdXnzhKa-UCzBfElJAM6NwfJjkKN8uVmMJpTQ_VH7-RyYiRdCsGM1D-3VhUnrEEJKTc9Apgow1hHLSHjjFgTknkkMu58cY3Hef6nTZGgONx0DbA/s1600-h/CIMG1441.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9uHKqJdpYlSQrY1FnGx7Hh73dL6OEdXnzhKa-UCzBfElJAM6NwfJjkKN8uVmMJpTQ_VH7-RyYiRdCsGM1D-3VhUnrEEJKTc9Apgow1hHLSHjjFgTknkkMu58cY3Hef6nTZGgONx0DbA/s320/CIMG1441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030191514025182402" /></a><br /><br />I'm so glad I found one because it's just a little part of Japanese culture that will remind me of my time here. And the market was fun as usual. I always get to talk to a lot of interesting people. The honey lady, whom I've talked to before, and who knows I'm an English teacher and don't speak much Japanese beyond describing my profession, talked my ear off anyway. I love her.<br /><br />The Chinese people who sold Michelle a vase taught us "shei shei," which is Mandarin for "thank you." Since I know how, I told them my grandmother is Filipina and they said they could see it in my eyes. Of course, the honey lady (who had long since abandoned her booth) agreed.<br /><br />And then I talked briefly with a nice Peruvian guy (who thankfully put down the hat I was eyeing). We were talking about what languages we speak:<br /><br />Chelsea: "Eigo shaberimasu ka?"<br />Mr. Peru (shaking his head): "Spango."<br />Chelsea: "Watashi mo! Poquito, porque Arizona-shu wa muy cerca de Mexico."<br /><br />Chelsea: "[Japanese] Do you speak English?"<br />Mr. Peru: "[Japanese] Spanish."<br />Chelsea: "[Japanese] Me too! [Spanish] A little because [Japanese] Arizona [Spanish] very close to Mexico."<br /><br />Yeah. There wasn't even a verb in that last sentence. That's pretty much my life here; I can't think in a straight line anymore!<br /><br />Maybe I should lay off the shochu.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-10724911608701823582007-01-06T17:55:00.000+09:002007-01-06T22:17:56.492+09:00Onsen and Creepy Crustaceans! (Thankfully Not in the Same Room...)On January 2nd, some friends and I went to a hot springs villa in Okayama, which is about a ninety minute drive from Himeji. It rocked!!! I was a little nervous getting naked in front of all my girlfriends, but by the end of the trip I was a professional speed-undresser (unfortunately, I don't think that will do much for my resume)! Being that nudity was the primary state of the trip, I don't have a lot of pictures. <br /><br />But! Our rooms had the coolest bathrooms in the whole world! Japan definitely knows how to do small...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6RUIWvj8gcEMmUeZ_-NhawGK3mjyV1XJk1NEgxIrwDHuB8sEaoyuudku5Acpphz8m927AgPrtVMQoS6A4XdNxaG32O1PFN6suvSyVFoAggJ1QxZF64HeCapva7UNDgC5RWx9qRmIF48/s1600-h/CIMG1371.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6RUIWvj8gcEMmUeZ_-NhawGK3mjyV1XJk1NEgxIrwDHuB8sEaoyuudku5Acpphz8m927AgPrtVMQoS6A4XdNxaG32O1PFN6suvSyVFoAggJ1QxZF64HeCapva7UNDgC5RWx9qRmIF48/s320/CIMG1371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016829566302782594" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWlwr69yClke-3HaKfF59YIi6xNrRYEaP-l928RGBu1pwPLbyVHQ1LgP3uBwhGeAzSFguGuimIK7vaRC7uKahex83Rs89Rxr4S04JG_u4CLP9WO5Sx-_-7rqBm7NnHJhsLvuxCwp-To8/s1600-h/CIMG1376.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWlwr69yClke-3HaKfF59YIi6xNrRYEaP-l928RGBu1pwPLbyVHQ1LgP3uBwhGeAzSFguGuimIK7vaRC7uKahex83Rs89Rxr4S04JG_u4CLP9WO5Sx-_-7rqBm7NnHJhsLvuxCwp-To8/s200/CIMG1376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016831636477019330" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUBVjxHr0heFCnCkSTf295DiFoR3tyYxRfjWXpkYOfxD2Ju-i8wZ9DSaa-oM-SHS_zMZAlRSDtn9-3lpTfygaxyYm487FgK7pN_-_zL7cgGhvgYLNgMNHjxhNAmNRyCZfYuZ97wgA3_E/s1600-h/CIMG1374.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUBVjxHr0heFCnCkSTf295DiFoR3tyYxRfjWXpkYOfxD2Ju-i8wZ9DSaa-oM-SHS_zMZAlRSDtn9-3lpTfygaxyYm487FgK7pN_-_zL7cgGhvgYLNgMNHjxhNAmNRyCZfYuZ97wgA3_E/s200/CIMG1374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016833496197858514" /></a><br /><br />The toilet paper is underneath the sink; readily accessible when necessary, and duly protected from shower water. Yes! You shower in there too! See the hose running up the wall from the faucet? I don't know how you're supposed to wash your feet, but no space is wasted...<br /><br />So after oohing and ahhing over our rockin' toilets, we enjoyed the night soaking in outdoor jacuzzis and cooking a meal together. We made nabe, which is a soup you cook in a big bowl on a hot plate in the center of the table. You continually add ingredients (such as cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and meat or fish), and as the soup cooks, everyone serves themselves. I love the communal aspect of cooking a meal together and sitting around the same meal for a few hours.<br /><br />And now I will leave you with some food for thought, generously provided by our crab nabe:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJY4G7nRPN94ngDDTdHTTICHG7IGr7npv1VqHrrcY5MoBWA5BORe8F_-VkGAMvl9J9-JEFO1WiSJy6f9aIrWHwwmftonZt2tGgERl4YtVpguWAOqMro0FRFUVQVGi64iTjqrDASkt0BU/s1600-h/CIMG1370.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJY4G7nRPN94ngDDTdHTTICHG7IGr7npv1VqHrrcY5MoBWA5BORe8F_-VkGAMvl9J9-JEFO1WiSJy6f9aIrWHwwmftonZt2tGgERl4YtVpguWAOqMro0FRFUVQVGi64iTjqrDASkt0BU/s320/CIMG1370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016835222774711522" /></a><br /><br />Mmmmm...oishii, desu ne? (Mmmmm, delicious huh?)Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-80794187713973893802007-01-06T00:45:00.000+09:002007-01-06T02:09:13.235+09:00Himeji Castle!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMoiJLzolzgWziQSK_TLA3Qxj4XlOZgRmunhT5jJHt-_TqbYMGKwh9ut8vz0DKUDN6TAqWOz0EB0WPhAqy3ZFCCFw5nEH5xfkc2xroa4w1ZpxNJzm0n3eNEEnOO27Km3DOxb1-YfdaPY/s1600-h/CIMG1195.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMoiJLzolzgWziQSK_TLA3Qxj4XlOZgRmunhT5jJHt-_TqbYMGKwh9ut8vz0DKUDN6TAqWOz0EB0WPhAqy3ZFCCFw5nEH5xfkc2xroa4w1ZpxNJzm0n3eNEEnOO27Km3DOxb1-YfdaPY/s320/CIMG1195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016593136943072338" /></a><br /><br />I live in a city built around a 398 year-old castle. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?! On December 16th I FINALLY visited it! I see it every day, and I ride my bike through its park every time I go downtown, but it still took me a solid four months to see it from the inside out. I went with Junko Doi, who is the mother of one of my first-grade students (remember, first-graders are the equivalent of American seventh-graders). Junko is so sweet; she brought a bunch of her friends, and she paid my entrance fee and arranged a private tour with Yoshiko Nakamura, who speaks impeccable English and knows all there is to know about Japanese history! And she does it on a strictly volunteer basis!<br /><br />Unfortunately for those of you who aren't coming to visit and won't get the extra-special, historically informative live-action tour, my online version of it will be mainly photographic. There's a reason my stint as a History major lasted less than a semester...but here's what I can remember:<br /><br />The castle was completed in 1609. It was not inhabited; rather, it was built as a testament to the power of the Tokugawa Shogunite government. In the event of an attack, all the samurai living within the castle complex were to defend the main tower from destruction. Fortunately it was never attacked, and because of its long history, American troops made a conscious decision not to bomb it during WWII. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.<br /><br />As soon as you are inside the central complex, there is no direct route to the main tower. It is literally a maze to the base of the tower, and you are continually tricked until you reach the top. Ceilings get lower, doorways get narrower, and there is even a hidden level (visual trickery from the outside, achieved with the design of low eaves). So once inside, you're farther from the top than you think you are. And Himeji City still reflects this design to protect the castle. It is not built on a perfect grid, like Phoenix; the roads are narrow and they don't continue for any respectable length or intersect in any predictable fashion. You have to see it to believe it!<br /><br />So this was our tour group. Junko is on the left in the front row, and Nakamura-san is next to me on the inside:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB5UWq-qSZDy7WOK7FJvdJi5x3nBosSmwbQLUJArIJdtnDszndrtNQ2vwzTa2oW6doNAeVxNV1n0wmOrcrbGhFvhTkqjJQfuxtJDadv7K4gMjl3JqVrLZz0bRkmSffVez_A4yKWV-4y8/s1600-h/CIMG1196.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB5UWq-qSZDy7WOK7FJvdJi5x3nBosSmwbQLUJArIJdtnDszndrtNQ2vwzTa2oW6doNAeVxNV1n0wmOrcrbGhFvhTkqjJQfuxtJDadv7K4gMjl3JqVrLZz0bRkmSffVez_A4yKWV-4y8/s320/CIMG1196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016593381756208226" /></a><br /><br />This is my view of the castle when I head downtown:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTys3wgnAt2hea7T-02x3uAxcGsIfF_5GIrfuh_vrTzwKOmy1UoPoMvjttrt61gYX_AYnE2fkjrmUYzQZ1youMTxjChCFQaiQRA_Ki8TXzDQvK4ew5pIadDysCzLPDVyo7F2XvKh9LHmM/s1600-h/CIMG1193.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTys3wgnAt2hea7T-02x3uAxcGsIfF_5GIrfuh_vrTzwKOmy1UoPoMvjttrt61gYX_AYnE2fkjrmUYzQZ1youMTxjChCFQaiQRA_Ki8TXzDQvK4ew5pIadDysCzLPDVyo7F2XvKh9LHmM/s320/CIMG1193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016593682403918962" /></a><br /><br />And this, I finally found out, is what my trip downtown looks like from the top of the castle:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikccfzndwtdk8YPqBnD4B_KIfiHnqGzioOWYHqGfKLbRcL9SvlSvZj5OWpBVNw9G3yNl8Pl-XLw-iSLvX-a2ndE5knr_h83NsRmgOzjKmZRZX-dnD4ITHJSoSmhiV7DdAdbF9PoaA6kAI/s1600-h/CIMG1205.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikccfzndwtdk8YPqBnD4B_KIfiHnqGzioOWYHqGfKLbRcL9SvlSvZj5OWpBVNw9G3yNl8Pl-XLw-iSLvX-a2ndE5knr_h83NsRmgOzjKmZRZX-dnD4ITHJSoSmhiV7DdAdbF9PoaA6kAI/s320/CIMG1205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016543195063354322" /></a><br /><br />[If you double-click this (and any) picture, it should open a larger copy in a new window so you can see it in greater detail.] The first picture, looking at the castle, was snapped right where the road wraps around the right side of the hill in the center of the photo. The view from the castle is looking relatively West-ish, and my apartment is Northwest-ish, near the base of the mountain in the background on the right.<br /><br />And these are some of my favorite pictures from inside the castle grounds:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4itY4Nxc2o10eLK2_pdD6G_lmtOWVFvpDQXK2oXDLvOrQAe2CnVlpztQgaldkeB1QBHLVgMKaWkS5CcsATQXL5hpooxL5pzxTZyacGuq4Vw9mMC4sSuZaIBWSwb2OklQHe6wXqirGNE/s1600-h/CIMG1199.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4itY4Nxc2o10eLK2_pdD6G_lmtOWVFvpDQXK2oXDLvOrQAe2CnVlpztQgaldkeB1QBHLVgMKaWkS5CcsATQXL5hpooxL5pzxTZyacGuq4Vw9mMC4sSuZaIBWSwb2OklQHe6wXqirGNE/s320/CIMG1199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016549409881031666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9EQPKbJy2u5wm721VEOuCFHVm1PLVidnfka9u9nSqePUGQemlzZHW8E2KeGQ5QReK-8FHR5npEZar-z8XFhpzSAebfGP8UFXhbHDU89UdRZUnoEhFqXe8OaFUkVj8VJfRWy7LevJODc/s1600-h/CIMG1212.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9EQPKbJy2u5wm721VEOuCFHVm1PLVidnfka9u9nSqePUGQemlzZHW8E2KeGQ5QReK-8FHR5npEZar-z8XFhpzSAebfGP8UFXhbHDU89UdRZUnoEhFqXe8OaFUkVj8VJfRWy7LevJODc/s320/CIMG1212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016559365615223826" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFAE4ukduHR5ftlHLhjmdqqdLnPqImJoQa0ckwmzKUYmnEUAQmkBPgUN63lwya59bjKRHXFP27ceOJtwMyoptF-jG-awQwU0j0gE84m4jd4FOk2AlTgaH1lKmopfr1X5RII848R2CQ_8/s1600-h/CIMG1211.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFAE4ukduHR5ftlHLhjmdqqdLnPqImJoQa0ckwmzKUYmnEUAQmkBPgUN63lwya59bjKRHXFP27ceOJtwMyoptF-jG-awQwU0j0gE84m4jd4FOk2AlTgaH1lKmopfr1X5RII848R2CQ_8/s320/CIMG1211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016560173069075490" /></a><br /><br />Oh! And in the event that the tour of the castle awakens any latent suicidal tendencies, they provide basement accommodations on your way out:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtBLRtYPECr0KeOX3INIyDz-EtS6QsTLrf34-6K_85xNxMkEsz6hruL4fz28RBCeLgPLLMjk993jG_4gv-e7ZFxrLHGgKr4QY5iIFzjVVEwzzxqIFzMi99rd3aJf4ZZ1n14RTnFUJHM0/s1600-h/CIMG1213.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtBLRtYPECr0KeOX3INIyDz-EtS6QsTLrf34-6K_85xNxMkEsz6hruL4fz28RBCeLgPLLMjk993jG_4gv-e7ZFxrLHGgKr4QY5iIFzjVVEwzzxqIFzMi99rd3aJf4ZZ1n14RTnFUJHM0/s320/CIMG1213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016551995451343874" /></a><br /><br />?!<br /><br />Happy New Year!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-40381638765561251642006-11-29T16:02:00.000+09:002007-01-06T03:18:15.124+09:00Watashi no Migi no Mimi Desu!Can you say "doctor" in Japanese? No? Neither can I, but that didn't stop me from going today!<br /><br />The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I came down with yet another cold, which explains but doesn't justify the lack of phone calls. Sorry! Happy Thanksgiving! Anyway, yesterday I finally realized that I have an ear infection. Although it feels almost better today, I decided I should go to a clinic for antibiotics like I normally do at home, just to nip it in the bud. Enami Sensei was so cool; she called her favorite clinic and told them I was coming and explained my condition, in order to make the language barrier a little less of a problem. There are English speaking doctors my friends recommended, but where's the fun in that?<br /><br />Now I was just happy I found the place. Looking at a rough map and for a particular sign when you can't read is always an adventure. But the fun doesn't stop there! I walked in and handed the secretary my photo ID and my medical insurance card. Fortunately I do understand "denwa bango" (telephone number!), but "zero kyuu zero san roku ni san ichi ichi go hachi" is a bit of a mouthful when you realize you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into; so, unable to speak, I wrote it down for her. And then it was another jumble of mixed signals until I finally figured out that she was just asking me to take a seat and wait for my name to be called.<br /><br />So I waited for about ten minutes, and then a lady came out with several files in hand and called out a few names, one of which was mine. We fortunate few, you guessed it, moved into another waiting room (which I had been staring into from the first one). In the second room, there were still some other people waiting, and we sat on a bench along one wall and faced a curtain that divided the room in half lengthwise. On the other side of the curtain were four dentist-type chairs and several nurses flittering back and forth between patients. One wonders why there was even a curtain in the first place, since the patients had no privacy from each other, let alone those waiting to be helped. But, you know, whatever.<br /><br />So I waited for another twenty minutes, which isn't bad at all. I've heard nightmare stories about waiting all day for help since you have to bribe secretaries for appointments (not my words). I took a seat and waited a few more minutes for the ancient Dr. Fujimori to make his way over to me, and I sat in horror as I watched the other patients get their nasal cavities pillaged with obscenely long instruments.<br /><br />Then Dr. Fujimori looked in my ears and apparently recommended a hearing test, so I followed the nurse to another room. I didn't understand one word she said to me the entire ten minutes we spent alone (a phenomenon I've become surprisingly comfortable with), but apparently I passed the test! I haven't done a hearing test since the fourth grade at Mt. Carmel, so I don't know what the kids do these days, but the one I took was way cool! They try to distract you by playing distracting noises in one ear while they test the other. And then the nurse took me upstairs and left me with another nurse who sat me in front of a tympanograph. It was like a tire gauge for my ears, and it even printed out a little graph of their respective pressures (all systems go)!<br /><br />So I went back to the inner waiting room and waited to be seated again. And then Dr. Fujimori poked at my brain with the same nefarious apparata I had seen weilded on so many defenseless others. It sucked, and now I am more acutely aware of my ear ache, but at least I have meds! I also got to breathe through a nebulizer that reminded me of Harold & Maude's Odorifics, but it wasn't quite the olfactory banquet I had hoped for.<br /><br />Still, it was a rather exciting day, and worth the two hours of paid time off I took to skip work after lunch!<br /><br />PS: The title of this blog is "It's My Right Ear!" I can't be clever in Japanese yet, sorry.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-68695145972316030952006-11-15T21:17:00.000+09:002006-11-16T15:01:10.448+09:00Newsflash!Hey! Did you guys know that just because the sun is shining, that doesn't mean it warms up in the afternoon? And did you know that when you're riding your bike, pedalling faster doesn't warm up your muscles? It just makes the wind feel colder! Winter, man, I just don't know how the two of us are going to get along (and apparently it's been unseasonably warm)...<br /><br />So it's been a solid month since I last posted, and of course I have about eight thousand stories to share. But I figure I should take this in bite-size pieces because spending hours in front of the computer can be a little mind-numbing. Lets see if smaller quantities yield more posts!<br /><br />I went to three more Autumn festivals on October 14th (Oshio in the evening), 15th (Nada in the morning) and 21st (Aboshi in the evening). The first two wore me out on festivals because after awhile they all started to feel exactly the same.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0906.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0906.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />That's me with Kevin and Mac at the Nada festival. I love it because we all look so epically dorky. We had the sweetest seats and we got free snacks and alcohol, though; it pays to be a city employee! But this festival was a lot like the Shinzaike festival a week before, with lots of guys carrying shrines above their heads, so it was hard to get excited.<br /><br />However, the Aboshi festival the following weekend was really cool. All these guys get snockered and smash paper lanterns together. By the end of the night there's paper and wood scraps everywhere, and all the guys are bruised and scraped up from their moshpitting. I just realized I don't have any pictures...only videos (still trying to figure out how to upload them)!<br /><br />Festival season is over. Whoo! But my friend Cecy is right...it's good that we went to all of them because there are no more until April, and by then we'll be glad they're back. Plus, I realized that I ended up seeing all the local festivals recommended in the Lonely Planet Japan guide without even trying!<br /><br />On October 28th, we put on a Halloween party for kids in our neighborhood. Due to a scheduling conflict, only about forty kids came (versus over a hundred last year), but it worked out great! We shuffled them around in groups of ten, and they did pumpkin origami, a few different games, and bag decorating for trick-or-treating. We also showed them how to carve a pumpkin! The kids had a blast, but we had even more fun when they left!<br /><br />I dressed up as a Koryo Junior High School PE student! I told Enami Sensei I didn't have any ideas for a costume, and she told one of the third graders (eighth grade in The States) to bring me her PE uniform...white knee-high socks and all! It was too perfect.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0939.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0939.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Just add pigtails!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0941.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0941.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Julian, the Pumpkin Master.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0946.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0946.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Allison the zombie pirate trying to eat my brains!<br /><br />But the best part was when a few of us moved the party from Shirasagi Residence to our favorite local pub, Hosannah. I saw one of my teachers there, and he was totally freaked out! At first he thought I was one of his students!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0951.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0951.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Ahhh, Katsura Sensei, always a good sport.<br /><br />So, this blog wasn't all that short, but it wasn't near complete, either. Look forward to stories of food that still moves on your plate! <br /><br />Over and out.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-74695894522714470122006-10-10T00:13:00.000+09:002006-10-09T21:44:16.093+09:00Let's Play Catch-UpIn as little space as possible, I will attempt to bring you up to date on the goings-on, since my inability to make myself blog could really just spiral out of control.<br /><br />On the evening of Sports Day, I went to my second enkai (work party). It was fabulous; a few of the teachers did their own Soran dance (if I can figure out how to upload videos, I'll get that up ASAP), but the best part was when Enami-Sensei took a nap. She is absolutely my favorite person, and the fact that she took a nap at the party perfectly illustrates the Japanese work ethic of putting in your time, whether you're being a productive addition to the task at hand or not!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0585.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0585.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My kind of party!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0593.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0593.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Some of my teachers. They invited me to the second and third parties to be held that night, but I figured I should pace myself...<br /><br />The day after Sports Day I went to Kobe with Lexy to kick off my three-day weekend. She is super cool, and we had a great time just window shopping and "soaking in the city life." On the way there, I saw the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge from the train, which is the longest suspension bridge in the world. I was really sad because it looked really short. (Fortunately, though, it was just perspective; when I saw it from the freeway the following weekend, it was much more impressive. I hope to walk across it sometime.) While in Kobe, we did Purikura, which is like a photo booth on steroids. It's so much fun and it's such a forgiving camera! You stand in front of a green screen and strike poses that are superimposed over different background scenes of your choice, and then you are alotted a certain amount of time to edit them afterwards, adding all kinds of text and stars and wigs and props and anything you can imagine. The pictures are printed out on sticky paper, so girls always decorate their notebooks and cell phones with pictures of their girlfriends. It's so cute!<br /><br />The next day, Tuesday the 19th, I got a crazy Japanese haircut! I got my hair cut in Phoenix just before I left, and I got it cut by the woman who has been cutting it for the last seven years with the express intention of NOT letting ANYONE ELSE touch it in the coming year. But alas, that didn't work so much. I wanted to feel comfortable wearing my hair down (I never have, even though it's longer than it's ever been), so Lexy helped me translate my thoughts to the stylist, and he layered it all up and gave me bangs. Yeah! Haven't had those since I was like seven, but I love it! I love the cut because it's like bedhead for long hair, totally low maintenance. I've tried taking pictures of myself but they always turn out really awkward and googley-eyed since my face is only two and a half feet from the blinding flash, so as soon as I trade pictures with my friends, maybe I'll find some decent candid pictures of myself to show you.<br /><br />That Thursday I started taking Japanese classes at Egret, the local community center. As much as I love everyone I live with, I've enjoyed the chance to widen my social circle a bit. I get along with everyone in class really well, and we usually hang out afterwards. Plus, having something to study A) gives me something to fill my time at work, and B) has temporarily satisfied my desire to go back to school. <br /><br />That Saturday I drove two hours to the Costco in Amagasaki (which was when I got to see the bridge again). Eight of us piled into a van that belonged to some of our Japanese friends. I'm not sure exactly whose it was, but Mayumi-San drove, and even though you can't throw a stone without hitting twenty-seven toll booths, she absolutely refused to let us compensate her for gas or toll fares. Everyone I've met is that generous! We had a great trip...my American membership worked here, and it was just like being at home! They even had hotdogs and churros! I stocked up on a lot of the essentials...sometimes Japanese just doesn't hit the spot and you gotta have your refried beans. When we got home late that afternoon, Mayumi-san gave me a free tennis lesson. She has competed across the globe and is a total pro. I hope to have more lessons with her because I had great time! I don't have any pictures of her yet, but I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to take one in the future as she always attends community events if she isn't hosting them herself.<br /><br />The funniest thing that happened that day was my mini panic attack in the back seat before the trip even began. I can't get used to the fact that the driver's seat is on the right here, so when I saw the person up front get out and we started to roll forward, I hollered, "Oh my God, the car's not in park!" But then I realized Gayleen wasn't driving, she was merely the passenger. There's always something to adjust to!<br /><br />On Sunday I drove four hours to Koya-San with my friend Allison and her two Japanese friends from her Aikido class, Kakeuchi-san and Kobayashi-san. I was so glad she invited me because even though it was kind of an exhausting drive, it was completely worth it. Koya-san was the center of the establishment of esoteric Buddhism in Japan in 816. As a result, there are over a hundred temples even though it is just a tiny little town at the top of a remote mountain. We toured a few of the main temples:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0609.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0609.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me with a rather large piece of wood (sorry, the sign wasn't much help). [Oh, those are my bangs! My hair is still long, it's just pulled back.]<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0612.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0612.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The stones in this garden are said to represent monks in prayer.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0618.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0618.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The temple in the back is the Dai-to.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0619.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0619.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It is seven stories tall and is the center of a geographic representation of a lotus flower formed by eight mountains surrounding Koya-san.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0620.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0620.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0621.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0621.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I totally illegally snapped this picture inside (the railing in the middle of the picture is waist-high).<br /><br />The highlight of the town was definitely Okuno-in, the cemetery for prominent Japanese Buddhists. It is over two kilometers long, and every square inch fifty to a hundred feet off each side of the path is covered by breathtakingly beautiful and complex ancient shrines. At the end of the path is Toro-do, a temple of lanterns which is tended by the monks; two of the lanterns supposedly have been burning for over 900 years. We happened to be there when about a hundred monks arrived for their daily prayers. Their devotion was humbling. (Unfortunately I only got a few pictures of Okuno-in and NO pictures of Toro-do because my 1 gigabite memory card was full!)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0641.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0641.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0647.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0647.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0648.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0648.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0640.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0640.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I loved the offerings...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0644.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0644.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />and the bibs and hats.<br /><br />The next week I fought off a cold which finally hit me last weekend. It wasn't too miserable, but it was enough that I decided to skip an all-nighter in Osaka with Lexy. Everyone said it was a good idea to lay low because a lot of people get colds they can't shake off for a few months. Whether it's adjusting to teaching and using your voice in a new way, or exposure to new kinds of bacteria, or working with kids, or just your body's way of telling you to slow down, everyone seems to get the same cold a month into their stay here. Enami-Sensei hooked me up with some good cold medicine from the school nurse's stash.<br /><br />Last Thursday, the 5th, I taught at my first elementary school. Every Thursday I rotate between three different local elementary schools and teach first- through sixth-graders to get them excited about junior high school English instruction and to satisfy their parents' demands for earlier learning opportunities. I got to teach first graders all day, and they were so much fun! I got to sing and dance and do animal impressions all day long, but man, I was so tired after only four classes! The best part of the day was eating school lunch with them. Half the students don white coats, hats and masks and go to the kitchen to retrieve lunch (bread, salad, stew, milk). Then they form an assembly line and serve their classmates. Six years old and they do it without any instruction! I wish I had pictures...I'll definitely take some next time!<br /><br />Friday there was a moon viewing ceremony at Himeji-castle. The full moon was the kick off for all the community harvest festivals this month. The party was what we like to call "nomi hodai". Oh yes, all you can drink: I know it well. 500 Yen (under five bucks!) and endless locally brewed sake! But it was such a subdued gathering, considering the amount of free-flowing alcohol. There were dance and musical performances, and people sat around on picnic blankets. And they love their schedules here; when 9:30 rolled around, I turned around and everyone had packed up and left. The whole park just cleared out in a matter of minutes and there was NO trash anywhere. Japan rocks. Afterwards, a few of us went out to karaoke. I tell you, karaoke is wonderful...I never thought I would love it, but it's such a blast!<br /><br />Yesterday, Sunday, was so awesomely bad. My community, Shinzaike, had its festival, which began at 8am. Traditionally, all the community members wear their hapi coats and pull their own shrine around town. Inside the shrine are two children who constantly beat a drum for at least four hours as we walk through neighborhood streets (it was a great tour of the area). Sometimes the men carry the shrine above their heads, and they "battle" other community shrines. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0701.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0701.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0706.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0706.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0707.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0707.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0709.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0709.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0710.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0710.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0713.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0713.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Even though they always took breaks and fed us snacks along the way, I think all the sun exposure on top of merely picking at a bento lunch (I never considered myself a picky eater until coming to Japan) compounded to make the endless beer and sake a bad, BAD IDEA. I was passed out drunk by 3pm and hungover by 7pm. I don't ever want to look at another beer again. EVER! But at least I remember every part of last night, which is more than some others can say!<br /><br />Fortunately, we got a long weekend. As sick as we all were, today was such a lovely day. It was cool enough for me to justify wearing a light sweater when a few of us rode our bikes downtown. We decided a few Bic Macs were in order, but the McDonald's didn't help as much as the ice cream. The Baskin Robbin's is definitely what made us feel better!<br /><br />And now we're all caught up, so this concludes our broadcast special. Thank you for tuning in!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-23913807844192676782006-10-02T00:35:00.000+09:002006-10-01T22:28:04.137+09:00Kimonos and Kotos and Geishas, Oh My!Hi, yeah, sorry! I know I should write more often! Slowly but surely I'm falling into a daily routine here, so my goal is to pick a specific time to blog. Patience, dear friends, is a virtue. Good things come to those who wait...and whatnot.<br /><br />On a slightly related note, my hard drive is completely full, which means I can't import anymore of my photos until I do a little computer spring-cleaning. So the stories you get tonight are a bit old. Oldies but goodies!<br /><br />Saturday, September 16th was a really fun day. I got to leave work early (yes, I was working on a Saturday because of Sports Day, which is addressed below) to go to the Okamachi Community Center for a welcome party. People here are so amazingly kind; they seem genuinely happy to have foreigners in their midst and to share their time and their culture. Volunteer work is a huge part of the culture here, especially among the retired.<br /><br />The first item on the itinerary at the welcome part was a geisha dance! Several older women performed three traditional dances, and they were so cute! They were dressed in traditional garb, and they twirled umbrellas and flipped fans and everything. It was definitely a treat. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0509.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0509.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0516.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0516.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0522.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0522.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And THEN, we all got free kimonos! I chose a yukata instead, which is a summer kimono. I loved the pattern, but I was dismayed when I put it on because it was too large in every direction and it dragged on the floor. But it turned out that there were women in attendance who were expert kimono dressers! Before I could bat an eye, they had chosen an obi (belt) to complement my yukata, and they had me all wrapped up. I loved it so much, I wanted to bike home in it! We were all so sad to take them off at the end of the party!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0527.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0527.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me with Taube.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0533.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0533.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Me with Lexy.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0530.0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0530.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My summer knot!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0534.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0534.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The group!<br /><br />While we were still in our kimonos, we went to a koto performance. The koto is a traditional, twangy Japanese instrument...but these ladies were totally hooked up because they were playing electric koto! The music was so beautiful, but the highlight of the event was when they let US try it out! All you have to do is pluck a string and hit some numbered keys, and the numbering makes the sheet music really easy to read. But the absolutely ancient lady whose koto I was playing kept telling me what a natural I was! Afterwards, she gave me her pick. I'm considering taking koto classes at Okamachi just because she is so cute.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0543.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0543.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />On Sunday, September 17th most of the junior high schools in Himeji held their annual Sports Day Festival. That Sunday was the culmination of a seven-day work week for me! It's not like field day at home, where all the kids basically get a free day to run around and do high jumps and discus throwing. Nope, it's all rehearsed. The kids were outside all day, every day the week prior (even Saturday). Since there was no regular class schedule that week, guess what I got to do? That's right, pull weeds! In Japan, people do so many things themselves that we regularly hire people to do at home. <br /><br />So by the time Sports Day finally rolled around, the kids were pros. And of course, a lot of the day was filled with speeches. This is the principal (he is a very quiet and gracious man):<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0545.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0545.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The kids marched around the track to the center of the field, grouped by class (each grade level has five homerooms), and each class displayed the flag they had painted.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0546.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0546.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Then they all performed the "Radio Exercise," which is a nationally broadcast stretching exercise.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0547.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0547.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Then they did what seemed like 500 relay races...I even got to run with the teachers! Finally, after almost two hours, each grade level participated in its own contest. The first graders' was the best: each homeroom had to hurl practically weightless bean-bag balls into a basket ten feet above their heads, and the winner was the group with the most after two minutes. It was hilarious! The third graders' mukade (poisonous centipede) race was also hysterical; with all their right feet bound and all their left feet bound, some groups couldn't jog ten feet without toppling! (Speaking of mukade, I've had one in my room. It's always something.)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0554.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0554.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0561.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0561.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Afterwards, about 75 to 100 kids performed the Soran dance, which is a traditional Japanese dance about fishermen, and it's quite a workout. It culminates with a human pyramid!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0564.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0564.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We got rained off the field in the last hour, so we had to skip the closing ceremony (e.g. more speeches). Darn! But it was a really fun day, and I got Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off because of the long week prior!<br /><br />I've been spending a lot of my free time getting moved in. The second law of thermodynamics definitely holds true when you're living in confined quarters: entropy of an isolated system always increases! It's hard to find out exactly where everything should go, and I have to spend so much time cleaning. With wood flooring and no dishwasher, the work just piles up! But I love having my own space. Soon I will post pictures. It's finally starting to feel more homey, and I think I'm starting to realize that I actually live here now...Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-44664163396597326302006-09-11T23:07:00.000+09:002006-09-10T19:09:56.594+09:00Miscellaneous Musings...As I was writing the date on the chalkboard in class, it struck me how removed I feel from my country today. My hope for everyone on such an anniversary is that we remember to count each and every one of our blessings! And now I will make a conscious effort to discuss happier things going down on this side of the Pacific.<br /><br />My inner editor cries daily in this land where English is the second (if even) language. But it's always amusing!<br /><br />This a placemat at Muche ("Moooooosh"), our favorite authentic "Italian" restaurant in the neighborhood:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0403.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0403.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Are you enjoy? I sure are.<br /><br />And this is my favorite trash can! <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0414.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0414.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Being creen sure IS wouderful.<br /><br />Now, reading the placemat and the trash can is a bit like reading the first graders' summer essays. They don't have a command of English, but you can always understand what they're trying to say because it's simple enough. The third graders, on the other hand, are trying so hard to compose such complex sentences that they convolute their work beyond all logic. It's cryptic, much like this ten-dollar purse I couldn't pass up:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0430.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0430.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(?)<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0432.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0432.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(?)<br /><br />I love it here.<br /><br />Here is something else wonderful about this city: gaijin traps. "Gaijin" is a not-so-nice term for a foreigner. Now, to be fair, Japanese people ride bikes too, but it's usually the Americans or the Australians that come home with cuts and bruises from top to bottom after sliding off the road into one of these:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0483.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0483.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Isn't it nice how the asphalt just kind of gently rolls down into the ditch? You can see another ditch on the other side of the road, too. Now, gaijin traps come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're narrower, maybe only six inches or a foot wide. They're usually this wide and this deep, roughly two feet. Sometimes they're six feet deep. As necessary drainage, they are on EVERY road, but maybe only five percent have grates to cover them. The rest are waiting to eat me.<br /><br />Now, let's talk about school, particularly the bathrooms:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0466.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0466.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Yeah! It's like camping every day of the year...in your work clothes!<br /><br />This is the teachers' office. All of the teachers work in the same room. There are three groupings of ten desks, and the principal and vice principal sit at the front of the room:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0437.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0437.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />These are some of my teachers:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0470.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0470.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />That was the third grade boss and Kano-sensei (with the fan). Kano-sensei is so cool! She always gives me the Japan Times in English. And she always finds chopsticks for me since I usually forget to bring my own.<br /><br />And this is Kawakami-sensei:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0480.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0480.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, her eyes are closed, but she is so pretty! And she's a dancer and she's just the nicest lady ever. Today, she randomly asked me how I felt about my schedule, and I told her my concerns, and she said she would talk to the other teachers about it. And when 4 o'clock rolled around, she was like, "Just go home!" <br /><br />And, saving the best for last, this is Hamada-sensei:<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0479.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0479.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />All of the other teachers tease him because he looks like yakuza (Japanese mafia). When Enami-sensei asked me to explain the difference between cute, handsome and sexy, she asked me to classify Hamada-sensei. Without even thinking about it, I said, "HE IS DEFINITELY SEXY!!!" He looks totally scary, and he can be (I watched him make a disruptive fifteen year-old boy cry today), but he's the biggest teddy bear when you're on his good side. I think he's why I like teaching the third graders so much. (Yes, I am giggling like a school girl right now.)<br /><br />And I took pictures of cleaning time as promised!<br /><br />First they move all the desks to one end of the room, and they sweep and "mop." And then they do it to the other half of the room. All the while, a few kids are cleaning the chalkboards and the erasers...even brushing or vacuuming the chalk dust off of the tray! It's so fun to watch how much they get done in fifteen minutes!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0456.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0456.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0461.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0461.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0464.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0464.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />But now, I think I'm going to go to bed. Sorry if this post was too picture-heavy. More stories later.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-68216695074336125292006-09-09T20:24:00.000+09:002006-09-06T21:04:31.922+09:00"Worklife"Sorry the posts have been few and far between; I promise I will get into the habit of writing more often! There are definitely enough stories to fill pages and pages of intangible internet space!<br /><br />On Wednesday it rained all day long. Solid sheets of rain from 10am to 6pm. It's charming until you remember that you rode your bike to work. And then it's charming again when you realize that you work with the nicest group of people ever! When I was getting ready to leave work around 5pm (that's super early in Japanland) and a few of my teachers came to the realization that I own absolutely no rain gear, the kocho-sensei (principal) offered to drive me home. And even though my school is only a ten-minute bike ride from home, they arranged for another teacher to pick me up the next morning so I didn't have to walk. Again, everyone is always so helpful!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0413.4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0413.4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This is my desk!<br /><br />My first week at school was a little repetitive. I've been working towards introducing myself to over 550 students, two classes at a time. Every period I visit two classes and give the same spiel. I just tell them about myself and my hobbies, and about Arizona. Surprisingly, no Arizonan had ever told them about The Diamondbacks before! And I'm not even that big into baseball, but I mean, hello! We won the World Series; it's a talking point. <br /><br />The kids seem really nice. Even though it's junior high, they are labeled as first, second, and third graders. So the first graders turn 13 and they are so cute! They giggle and they like answering the questions I ask them about myself for listening comprehension skills. And when given the chance to ask questions of me, they always ask, "What are your favorite fruits?" The second graders on the other hand, just stare into space. Maybe they're just a little more shy, as the teachers rationalize, if sleeping can be interpreted as such. <br /><br />And I was so scared to meet the third graders! On the first day during cleaning time, there was this total punk towering over me. He was angry because my ears are pierced and they're not allowed to have ANY piercings. Enami-sensei (the teacher who has taken me under her wing) told me not to worry because the disruptive students are never in the classrooms. When I asked her where they were if they weren't in class, she didn't really have an answer for me... But it was true, there were no disruptive students in the third grade class. In fact, they were the most fun and they're easier to relate to because they're older (15) and their English is better. <br /><br />You're probably wondering what cleaning time is! Everyday after lunch the kids clean the school for fifteen minutes. All the kids are assigned to specific areas. Some clean their classrooms (kids in Japan stay in the same room with the same peers all day long and the teachers move around). They move all the desks and sweep and mop and clean the chalk boards. Other kids clean the hallways or the teachers' office (all the teachers work in one big room). It's so funny watching the kids clean the hallways because they push rags along the floor, but instead of crawling on their knees, they race each other with their behinds up in the air. I promise I'll get pictures next week!<br /><br />Worklife in Japan has definitely been the culture shock. The fact that I can't read any road signs or any labels in grocery stores, or understand a single word anyone says to me, that's all manageable. But adapting an American work ethic to Japanese expectations is a bit challenging. Here, it's most important that you show up and stay late. Even though my contract is for 35 hours a week (part-time), my teachers expect me to stay until 5pm, which is 45 hours. Most Japanese teachers don't leave school until 8 or 9pm, but I think that's just the cultural standard. He who stays the latest and attends the most staff parties shall succeed.<br /><br />I think there's also some time management issues at play. For example, on Monday I was given a large stack of summer essays to grade. It was maybe four hours of work, and when I returned it to the teacher the same day she gave it to me, she was completely shocked. She didn't need it or expect it until the end of October! I spent the last ninety minutes of every day this week checking my email and reading the newspaper, and no one cared. In fact, it was one of the teachers who would lend me her newspapers (Kano-sensei is so cool). And teachers frequently sleep in the lounge!<br /><br />A lot of the other Assistant Language Teachers from America and Australia who have been in the program awhile are upset about the expectations being placed on us. We were hired as part-timers, but we are expected to work "as hard" as the full-time teachers, even though we aren't receiving the same benefits or pay. They say the focus of the program has switched from experiencing Japan to just having a job, and they see more and more of the new ALTs getting walked all over by their teachers. They tell me I have to insist on leaving by 4pm at the latest. I guess it really isn't fair that I should be made to stay and do nothing. We'll see how it goes.Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-19784883879443390852006-08-31T19:30:00.000+09:002007-07-02T09:01:30.556+09:00Kanpai!I have had such a great time these last few days! On Wednesday morning I went to the new-teacher orientation and met the teachers from the two schools I will be working at this year. My first school is Koryo, and it is only a ten-minute bike ride from my apartment. Luckily I'll be there for two trimesters, so commuting through the winter won't be too much of a hassle. The second school I go to (in April) is Yasutomi, and due to a district restructuring, it's NINETY MINUTES AWAY. BY BUS. But I don't have to worry about that for several months. I can't believe tomorrow is September 1st! It will be my first official day of work. But if yesterday was a true indication of the school atmosphere, I'm going to have a great time.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0396.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0396.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(These are my teachers: Sakaguchi-sensei, Takeuchi-sensei, Enami-sensei, and Takayama-sensei. Kawakami-sensei was also there, but she left lunch early. They are all very warm and welcoming.)<br /><br />I was afraid that Chelsea would be a very difficult name for Japanese speakers to wrap their mouths around, but apparently they are very familiar with it because it's a candy! Enami-sensei said that every child in Japan has eaten it, and most older people can sing the song they used to use in the advertisements!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0412.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0412.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />First, after the orientation, my teachers took me to lunch at an American style restaurant called Royal Host. They were very impressed that I ordered a traditional Japanese meal (and that I could use chopsticks). Then we went to the school, and Enami-sensei let me borrow her track pants and a t-shirt so I could play ping-pong with the other teachers. Apparently, Koryo junior high school has paired up with the elementary school down the street and there was a huge meet-and-greet party for all the teachers. So after eating a huge brunch, and getting my butt kicked in ping-pong, we had a bigger celebration lunch while sitting on tarps on the gym floor. Then I was invited to my first enkai (work party)! <br /><br />I had thirty minutes after the party at school to go home and freshen up, and then Katsuhiko-sensei came to my apartment, and we rode our bikes to the restaurant downtown. He was very nice, because even though he can't speak much English, and I can speak even less Japanese, he knew I was having the hardest time riding my new (used) bike. The seat was too high, and he lowered it for me (which I wish would have solved the problem, but I really just suck at riding a bike). <br /><br />At an enkai, you sit on tatami mats around round tables, and the beer flows like water. You pay a set price (just under thirty dollars) and you eat and drink as much as possible. Since all ALTs work at different schools, I was the only English speaker in attendance, but I had the greatest time. Japanese people are very big into speeches, so anytime there is a gathering, they all take turns with the microphone, I think introducing themselves and giving thanks. Some would spend several minutes speaking to the group, and all were very funny and engaging. But I don't know much Japanese, so one of the nicest girls, Azusa (pronounced "Ahhd-tsa") stayed at the front of the room hoping she might translate a little bit of my English for the group. But I spoke Japanese! I said "Konbanwa. Watashi wa Chelsea desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu." (Something like "Good evening. My name is Chelsea. Please look out for me, I beg of you.") And everything I said in Japanese, Azusa repeated in Japanese, which earned us great laughs. It was a wonderful ice-breaker all around! <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0400.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0400.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />(Azusa, Tomoko, Noriko, Yuko & Ritsuko)<br /><br />Fortunately, all the twenty-something girls sat at my table, and we chattered like chickens for three hours! You can always find a way to cross a language barrier when it comes to talking about boyfriends! We were also teaching each other vocabulary, and they kept saying "Your English is SO GOOD!" And I would tease them back and say "Your Japanese is SO GOOD, too!" I'm looking forward to spending more time with all of them.<br /><br />And then, the highlight of the evening: I found my way home from downtown all by myself! This city is mine!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-4685184329743348052006-08-29T17:18:00.000+09:002006-08-29T17:27:30.945+09:00Without AC in the Land of the Blazing SunMy air conditioning is broken! Yay! This is one of the adventures I can laugh about (when I get home). It works sporadically, but it's weak and it randomly turns itself off. I asked Kevin to help me talk to the custodian (um, because the custodian of our entirely English-speaking apartment complex doesn't speak any English). It's now Tuesday afternoon, and he says they will have someone come and look at it on Monday. Is it me, or is that kind of a long time to wait just for a repairman to "take a look" at it? And the custodian keeps coming in and reminding me (in Japanese, of course), "Yes, very weak, very weak." I'm serious! He has come back a half a dozen times in the last half hour and doesn't do anything except put his hand in front of the air flow and tell me it's not working! I guess it's polite; he's showing me he knows I have a problem...it's just awkward. And Kevin (who has been in other parts of Japan for a few years already) told me I can look forward to it taking several weeks for anything to get done with any problem that presents itself. Where did we get the stereotype that Japanese people are ultra-efficient?Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415355032278481069.post-21933344283833094522006-08-29T16:03:00.000+09:002006-08-29T16:29:26.736+09:00First Impressions<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0357.0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0357.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />So I've been in Japan a few days now! I arrived on Friday evening, and this picture is from our arrival at the airport; Dan and Karen (who were also sent here through the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission) and I were so happy to see our names on a sign in the airport! Iizuka-san and Honda-san are our liasons here in Japan. They both work for the Himeji City Board of Education, and have been very helpful in getting us settled in. On the far right is Kevin, another Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) from San Francisco.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0376.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0376.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/1600/CIMG0379.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6317/905194706088681/320/CIMG0379.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Friday night I went out to dinner with a few of the current teachers in the building, and then I started unpacking a little bit (it's Tuesday afternoon and I'm still not entirely unpacked). I decided that I should at the very least just get my sheets on the bed because Mac was having a party in his room, and I didn't want to come home too lazy to make my bed and have to sleep on a bed with no sheets! The party was nice because it showed how kind and outgoing everyone in Shirasagi Residence is, how happy they are to be here and how much help they have to offer in the adjustment process. I went to bed around 2AM and woke at 9AM with no signs of jetlag.<br /><br />On Saturday afternoon, Dan and Karen and I went out walking. We knew we wanted to find the big mall a few kilometers south of us, but we didn't know quite how to get there. However, there's so much to see when you're out walking that it never really matters how long it's taking you to get where you're going.<br /><br />So we ended up in a small little neighborhood, and realizing that we had lost our bearings, I asked a bicycle shop keeper, "Sumimasen, Himeji-jo wa doko desu ka?" (Excuse me, where is Himeji castle?) I only asked because we had lost it behind the rooftops and it is a good landmark for knowing which side of town you're on.<br /><br />He pointed us to the castle, and a man getting on his bicycle twenty feet down the road hollered to the shopkeeper and asked us where we were going again. I think he just really wanted to speak English with someone. So he gave us directions to the castle in English and we were on our way.<br /><br />When we were maybe 200 feet down the road, the same gentleman caught up with us and ended up taking us all the way to the castle. He showed us a shortcut and told us a lot of things about the city on our way. His name is Nishikawa-san, and it turns out that he's a teacher at Hakucho elementary school and knows our program coordinator, Iizuka-san. He gave us his phone number and offered to help us with whatever we needed! And it turns out that everyone here is that friendly.<br /><br />We finally found our way to the mall and spent a few hours looking at all the shops and buying things from the dollar stores. The Hundred Yen stores are the best things in the whole world!!! Truly, they're 85 Cent stores when you take conversion rates into consideration, and you can find ANYTHING you need in them! But trying to read labels in Japanese is interesting. It's really fun trying to pick a laundry detergent when all you can do is hope there's no bleach in it. But anyway, we decided to take a different route home (going north and then east, as opposed to east and then north), which was probably an error in judgment...but a fun one!<br /><br />It took us forever to get home. But every person we stopped on the street or talked to in a supermarket got us closer to our destination. The postal delivery guy got on his cell phone and asked someone, then drew a map for us. A woman with two kids on her bike spent five minutes looking up and down the street and reciting the street names aloud to herself. She then apologized profusely and told us to ask someone in a shop. Two girls in a convenience store pulled out a city map and drew another map for us, telling us which lights to turn at and which landmarks to look for...and the ONLY Japanese I understand is "Excuse me, where is (blank)" and "Thank you so much!" But it works!<br /><br />Later that evening I went out to dinner with Mac, Avi, Steve, Karen and one of Mac's Japanese friends...I think her name was Mao (but I don't remember). Mac is from Phoenix, Steve is from Seattle, and Avi--from Australia--is Rosie's daughter (Rosie is our designated Filipina "den mother" who reminds me of Nana). I ate sashimi and raw prawns and squid and it was all really good! Surprisingly, deep-fried chicken cartilage is also quite tasty (I feel like Nana would be so proud).<br /><br />Then we went to a gaijin (foreigner) bar, and then to a nightclub called Roxy, and then to a karaoke bar. When you do karaoke in Japan, you get your own room to share with your friends, and all you can eat food and drink are included in the price! The Cranberries and songs from The Little Mermaid were definitely the hits of the evening. And then we went to a curry restaurant and didn't get home until after 2am. They're crazy here! Avi said that's why you see people fall asleep standing up on the trains.<br /><br />On Monday afternoon, John (yet another neighbor) took Karen and Kevin and me on a bike ride through the city to help us get our bearings. It turns out I can follow the canal all the way through the city and through the beautiful Himeji Castle park, and you end up at the shopping center we had tried so hard to find a few days earlier. The shopping center is called the Miyuki Dori, and it is the location of the train and bus stations, and it is also where Egret is, the foreigners' community center where they offer really cheap Japanese lessons. It's definitely the city's hub.<br /><br />Soon I will write about my humble abode!Chelseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08955597524564812059noreply@blogger.com0