Progress
Well, I eat lunch from the cafeteria at school a lot, but not always in the cafeteria or at the same time as the students. If I eat in the cafeteria, I get scared and don't know who I should sit with because I can't remember most of their names. Last week, I sat with a couple of 3rd year students (seniors) and one of them is this badass boxer. I just learned that he's won some titles or something like that. Anyway, I hate asking to sit somewhere and today I didn't have to. Four 3rd year girls asked me to join them! I was so shocked. And later, two of them asked me to hang out with them so they can practice more English conversation either at lunch time or after school. It was really cool. They were so shy, but I told them they could speak Japanese too if they needed to.
I was so impressed that they tried at all. And I feel like I'm making headway--learning names (I know what they look like, but I have a really difficult time learning J-names), hangin' out, speaking broken Japanese/English, it's cool. I've mostly been learning their nicknames too, which is good and bad. I guess it's easier, but I don't really know their real names either. It's really funny what they call themselves. There are 3 "max"es--ojimax, shimax, and hamax--and today I ate with "Monroe" as in Marilyn Monroe (it took me a long time to figure out who they were saying it in Japanese 'cause it sounds nothing like Marilyn Monroe). Other people I know their first name and the teachers know them by their last name or the exchange student knows their first name and I know their last name. It's really quite funny.
Gobble Gobble!
Yeah, so perhaps you're wondering what the hell I did for Thanksgiving. Well, I can tell you that I definitely did NOT eat turkey. I guess that there was that turkey option at a bar at near this weird station, but I didn't feel the need to go there. Especially since it's the stop where my stalker lives. (Long story.) So, I just didn't bother.
I ended up eating at our favorite okonomikaki restaurant eating of course okonomiyaki and yaki soba. Um-um. Yummy. Not exactly the most traditional Thanksgiving, but I stuffed myself in true American fashion. In fact, one Thanksgiving, we made duck and sushi....Those were the days, choosing sushi over turkey. Haha. I still do--take that America! I ate sushi for dinner tonight in fact. And, again, had the chance to eat turkey last night. Whatever. I just wished that we didn't have to work. Food is food. I'll eat almost anything. Almost.
We had Wednesday off which I spent sleeping at bunraku (Japanese puppet theater). Oops. I felt bad about that. Anyway, we had mandatory meetings Thursday (Thanksgiving) and today. Afterwards, many people went to the Hard Rock Cafe, which I did after dinner (cause it sucked so bad last time). I had one 1/2 priced drink which basically made it regular priced and went bowling. Yes, bowling.
The bowling was fun. I only bowled two games, and scored over 100 on the second one, so not bad. Just not great. It was expensive too. It was 1500 yen for the two games and shoes. No beer either. Wasn't the same. But, it seemed like the states in that there were hochie mamas present, yet on the other hand, the group next to us was salary men (wearing ties still) and their girlfriends. (Yeah, I think they were mistresses, not wives.) A few times, the lights went down, the black lights by the pins lit up, and the music got crazy. I guess if you get a strike during this time, I saw people get fake Hawaiian leighs and then they're photos taken (the winners) wearing bowling pin costumes. Weird. I don't know if you actually win anything of not. It was weird.
Okay, that's it. I'm about to pass out. Too much been going on lately. Happy Belated Turkey Day!
The "Grind"
Well, it's back to the grind tomorrow. This week is a weird one though. While the rest of you are stuffing yourselves with turkey and mashed potatoes, I'll be in meetings on Thursday and Friday. We have Wednesday off for "Labour Thanksgiving Day" whatever that means to people in Japan, I don't really know. I already had an oversized piece of pumpkin pie last night from Costco so I'm good to go as far as Thanksgiving food.
This week will be easy for that reason. I hate going to the meetings because they're out of the way, but I get to see a lot of other people that I don't usually see. Also, I have no classes tomorrow. All of my classes are on different schedules because afternoon classes get cut which makes those classes behind. It's all out of sync. So, tomorrow, all I have to do is show up. Not so bad. I need to write some tests that are coming up in a couple of weeks, but that's not a big deal. Ahhhh. Studying Japanese and getting paid for it is a beautiful thing. And the staff loves that I'm trying to improve, it reallly impresses them. The fact that I know any kanji seems to impress them even more. I guess they don't understand that reading kanji is easier to me than learning by listening.
Anyway, it's Sunday evening and almost time for my movie. I hope it's a good one. The tv schedule in my zine wasn't printed for some reason this month. I'll be keeping warm under the kotatsu, drinking tea, and hoping that the taco fest that I just consumed won't kill me (I ate 6 fuckin' tacos, ay caramba!).
Costco--America HOOOO!
Yeah, so I finally made it to the land of American goods and America-sized goods--Costco. I know, not too Japanese to buy in bulk, but there we were in the thick of Japanese people going nuts for bargains just like in the U.S......
So, this weekend is a complete waste for me. I'm not motivated and I hardly care. I spent hours at Costco and it hardly seemed like a dent in my time horizon. I just can't deal with reality sometimes, or at least time in a real way. We'll see if I can cope tomorrow. Maybe not all is lost........
4 Distinct Seasons
I know, what the hell am I doing at home on a Friday night? Whew, it was a long week. Not bad though, I guess it was longer than normal because it's cold and I'm finally adjusting to it a bit. Everyday it seems like when I wake up, it's a degree (Celsius) colder than the morning before. I hope that this isn't a continuing trend. I sort of winterized tonight. Really, all this means (since I already busted out the kotatsu) is I got out the space heaters.
I was glad to find the "family size" instant hot cocoa at a nearby foreign food market, well, mini-market. It's not the "Costco" sized one that I usually buy, but it's just me anyway. I actually brought it to work to share and have with my coffee. It's even the marshmallow lover's variety. Yummy!
It's movie time. Junk food night. Ice cream and Pringles, can't beat that!
I'm actually thinking about xmas presents. It's probably because everywhere I frickin' go, there's xmas lights and music. I've also been seeing a crapload of card, stockings, and some ornaments. Yeah, I'm starting to love Kitty-chan (that's Hello Kitty to you)....I know, you're disappointed in me, but she's pretty damn cute. I've contemplated buying a Snoopy ornament for the woman who sits next to me at work, she loves Snoopy.
Anyway, I guess not a lot to report currently. But, I am alive and not suffering from the cold too much. Huh, maybe I should actually turn on the kotatsu or a heater..... What do ya think?
A J-Evening
It's getting cold out and I feel like I'm turning more Japanese by the day. I moved the kotatsu into the living room finally. A
kotatsu is basically like a coffee table that has a removable top to put a blanket under the top. There's a heater underneath to keep your feet and legs warm. I'm all nice and snuggly under the kotatsu right now. I'm having rice for dinner (unbelievable how expensive rice is here), watching J-tv, and will probably take a hot bath before bed. Don't forget about the green tea either.
BTW, I'm watching this weird game show that's on every Monday night. Tonight, "Becky's" on.
Becky is half Japanese and has her own show. It looks like she has blue eyes too, creepy. Yeah, my name is easy to remember for people because of her show. Nice. The show always ends with the 2 contestants (a guy and a girl) playing air hockey against these two guys that wear different customs. On Halloween, one of them (a fat guy none the less) was dressed as a jack-o-lantern. Another time, both of them were dressed up like two different types of noodle bowl dishes. Yeah. That's Japan for you.
I'm starting to recognize some J-celeb's and some pop songs. Working on becoming so J it hurts.
Oddly Productive
Yeah, it's Sunday night. Usually, I'm watching the Sunday night movie that's on, but it's not on. So, I'm kind of pissed, but what can you do? (Sha nai yo!) Hence, I have been doing some of my homework. (Can't you see, I'm working hard, dammit!) Anyway, we can take free correspondence Japanese classes and it's for 6 months a year. You get a book every month and the test is due at the end of each month (except December 'cause of xmas).
So, I'm almost done with Book 1 of the Intermediate level. It's not too bad overall, except this month was only on giving and receiving because the grammar is difficult. It's really only a matter of memorization, but I never had it down before, so it was more difficult than what it should've been. (Next month, Book 2, is a bunch of junk that I don't care about. Speaking extremely politely. In most cases, using this form of Japanese makes people extremely uncomfortable.)
Slowly, I am working my way into the language. The more I know, the easier new words and grammar becomes for me. It's like a puzzle coming together in my mind. I've been slacking on the kanji though. It's not that I don't like it, but I've been behind on my other studies because I had that cold for a few days.
Some of you have asked if I've been dreaming in Japanese. In fact, last night, some of my dream was in Japanese, but only really basic crap. Nothing special. Oh, and, I have the worst American accent ever. I'm too busy thinking of the words to think of my accent still. Working on it.
I better start a-cracking again.
Japanese Fire Drill
Not the same as the "Chinese" one that I just partook in on Halloween. But, weird none the less. 6th period (last period of the day), the fire alarms went off as scheduled. I really was only sort of told where to go, I just followed everyone.
I was told that one student from each class would learn how to put out a fire. Yeah, the fire department came, said some stuff (I only caught a bit of it), and started fires for the kids to put out. Weird.
As a side note, the uniforms aren't nearly as flattering as our boys in blue. But, one of 'em wasn't too bad either (^_-). In general, the men just aren't as manly and that includes the firemen.
Anyway, can you imagine letting high school students put out fires? I only knew kids that STARTED fires, not put them out. So, all of these kids were putting out fires and the fumes from the extinguisher went right for the 1st year students. A couple of them were covered in whitish dust--their uniforms are navy blue and their hair was dusted too! Hilarious! Those kids crack me up.
We were outside all 6th period. I'm glad I could understand some of the Japanese, not much though. I was told what the word for fire extinguisher is, so I did learn something.
Only 30 Shopping Days...Until....
My birthday. As my brother always said about his birthday, if you save $10 every day, you can buy me something decent. (^_-) An Amazon gift certificate is easy enough...you don't have to ship anything! Isn't that great?! Just a suggestion.
Anyway, I'm feeling better, in case you cared. I was feeling pretty icky this morning, but I think my cold is almost gone. I'm kicking it with a nice cuppa green tea. Yummy! I should be studying, but I'm not super motivated at this point to try to cram any more into my head than what I've been doing. I don't have any particular focus, but my "method" seems to be working. Every day, I pick up new stuff. I think maybe watching J-tv helps too. Most people speak to me in English because, well, I'm the English teacher. I talk to some students, but in a mixture of English and Japanese. I can't always tell them in Japanese if they don't understand my English. But, I try and they love that.
I just started calligraphy now that I was finally told when and where. I suck. But, I get some great kanji practice and the students like that I'm interested in Japanese culture. This week, there were students in the art room making their own hanko's (name stamp). It was really cool. They were carving the kanji out and then using a type of red, thick ink that I've never seen before. I was impressed. But, I'm always impressed at the kids. They blow me away. They're really smart, talented, and work really hard. It's inspiring. It makes me try harder too.
Better get back to work.....
Yeah, Yeah
I know, I haven't kept my drive to post every other day or so. Gomen, nee! I caught a cold last week and I've been floating in and out of reality. Usually this doesn't bother me too much, but I'm trying to cram a bunch of Japanese into my head, so it's not exactly effective.
And today's lesson, children:
Let me tell you about the izakaiya. Until last week, I just thought this was the Japanese word for "bar," and well, I was wrong. An izakaiya isn't someplace that you stop after work for a beer...you stay usually for 2 hours or so and get completely pissed. The goal is to drink as much as possible in that short amount of time. Often, you sing songs (I'm learning them) to get people to chug their tiny glasses of beer. You take it like a shot, well, a lot of times. You order bottles of beer and then serve them in small glasses to all of your buddies. It's sick and wrong because you can't really count how many tiny glasses you've had.
It's not uncommon to stumble outta of an izakaiya and wonder "What the fuck just happened?" It's dangerous. I really didn't understand the difference until last week or so. And now you know. Did you learn anything? I know I did--the hard way as usual.
