Xmas Is Over!!!! ????????メリークリスマス
Wow!! Did you ever think that going to the club on xmas eve and having a xmas party the next day at your house is a good idea? Well, it's not. Pulling an all-nighter and then having company can be difficult. Thank gawd for fried chicken--and amazingly we didn't buy the KFC gaijin xmas special.
Xmas was good. I know that some of you may have been worried, but I haven't been "home" for xmas in 9 years. So, the last xmas I feel like I really had was in 1996. Hmm. I've spent those 9 xmas'es at the casino, drinking, and other such mayhem. Of course, drinking is a family tradition and even more so at xmas. So, this was no exception. The only weird part was that there wasn't any snow and we went grocery shopping on xmas. Oh, and Starbucks. もちろん
I'm tired. Wanted to let you know I survived xmas. Whew!
Public Transportation Nightmare
Okay, I already mentioned the 2 hour bus this morning. I was scared to go home because I didn't know if the buses were running or not let alone if they were on time or not. 30 minutes later, I was at my station.
1 hour to the airport to get my sister....but 1 1/2 hours later I am FINALLY told that she flew into a different airport on a different flight 4 hours after she was supposed to arrive from Tokyo. 1 hour home, of which I had to take the local part way, and transfer onto another train where we had to self cram in order to get everyone into the train.
In total, not counting how long I was at the airport, I was on a bus or a train for about 4 1/2 hours today. Holy shit!!!! And of course, the first part was cold and somewhat treacherous and the last part was crammed and I almost fell many, many times.
Anyway, the sister is fine and staying at a hotel tonight. I couldn't meet her before the trains stopped running. I'm going to bed now.
Don`t Let it Snow
Damn! So, it doesn`t snow every year here in Osaka, but today it did. I`m lucky in that I didn`t have classes today which is good because it took me 2 hours to get to school on the bus. Usually it takes 30 minutes. The snow was coming down and it was quite slippery. I saw a woman wipe out on a scooter and someone else on a bicycle.
It was cold on the bus too. I read, took a short nap, it was cold though so it wasn`t very enjoyable. There were 4 students on my bus too. At some point, there was an annoucement which I didn`t understand and I figured that it couldn`t be good. A stop or so later, we were kicked off the bus. The students were waving to me to come with them as this was a couple of stops away from our usual stop. We walked for about 15 minutes and the students (all girls) were freezing and slipping a lot. They were wearing the usual uniform--a skirt and school jacket--but not a coat or gloves.
Why did it have to snow today? Some of my friends are flying back home and my sister`s flying in tonight. Dammit. I was hoping to leave early too, but I think that the bus schedule is fucked up. The students were asking me how and when I would go home today. I couldn`t understand everything that they were trying to tell me.
So, I`ve been sick with a cold the last few days which is why I haven`t posted anything recently. I`m frantically getting ready for the holidays--not happening. I`ve been sucked into watching "24" and loving it. I should be studying, but with this cold, my mind wanders too much and can`t focus at all.
That`s all for now. I did do a lot last weekend that was super fun and cool, but too tired to discuss that now. And I should be "working" but probably won`t get anything done anyways.
Potato Party!
So, I was invited by one of the Home Ec. teachers to come eat something at 6th period today, outside. I really didn't know what they were making, I didn't understand what she told me. I was late getting outside, but when I finally made it, I realized that the 2 nen-sei were eating potatoes.
All I originally saw was them standing around a bunch of mini-fires. I just thought that they were burning leaves. Nope. They were cooking the potatoes in tin foil in the fire. Can you imagine being able to play with fire at school? It seems bizarre to me, mostly because most people I knew were starting the fires.
As I found out, they were eating potatoes and I think sweet potatoes. The word in Japanese includes yam, sweet potato, and just plain potato. Same word. I ate a regular potato and a sweet potato. Yummy! The kids were trying some English on me. One of the class clowns said to me, in English, "I am from Japan." And I replied in Japanese "Is that so?" Everyone died laughing. It was pretty funny. Those kids crack me up. They're so ridiculous. I told one of them to be careful, in Japanese, next thing you know, he's breaking something. We all laugh. And he says in English "Laugh away!" I was impressed.
Two potatoes and you'd think I'd be full, but I'm not. Why!?
Wham!
Yeah, for my xmas lesson, I was told that I need to include "Last Christmas"--yep, that`s right a Wham! song. I guess all of the kids know it. I really didn`t understand why at first. I mean, it`s so old that I don`t think I really remember it too well. And I actually remember the 80`s. I guess that some Japanese artist covered it and it was on some drama here. So, everyone, yes everyone, loves it. Or at least knows it.
This week I`m running the same lesson for everyone, less confusing for me and at least everyone is caught up after test week. Weird to have test week, a week of class, then a partial week of class, and then winter break. I think that would suck for the students come next test time--too much time passes and then they forget everything.
So, I`m trying to be on top of my game. I really didn`t do anything last week but sit around the office because I was really unmotivated, it was my birthday week, there were tests, and it was cold so I didn`t want to move. I`ve been huddling around the stove (gas heater) for at least the last week and a half.
I also need to attempt to go xmas shopping. Ha ha. Nobody`s presents are going to be on time--fyi. If you`re lucky enough to get something that is. Shit. I don`t have a lot of money, so I hope you understand. It`s expensive enough buying and sending cards.
Well, maybe I should study some more. I`m just worried that everything I`ve shoved in my brain in the last 2 or 3 days is about ready to ooze out. I`ve been cramming again. I need to finish or almost finish the book that the JET program gives before my sister comes to visit. They send 1 book a month for 6 months of the year. I just got the 3rd book, but I`m barely half done with #2. So, I`m behind but the test for #2 isn`t due until late January. Ugg. I just don`t like being behind. And believe me, I`m way behind the curve on my Japanese as it is. It`s tough to make progress unless I`m cramming all the time. I try, I really do.
Back to the books.
Happy Birthday--to me!
Yeah, gawd I`m getting old. It`s sad when you realize that you`re about twice as old as a lot of the students. Ugg. Oh well.
I`ve been recieving e-mails all morning--thank you!!!! Also, a (female) gym teacher bought me a small bouquet of beautiful flowers. That`s so nice of her. We don`t even share the same office. I was shocked. She heard it was my birthday and went to some store to buy them. I think that she even arranged them, if I understood her Japanese correctly.
And here I sit. I noticed a lot of the other English teachers aren`t even here today, so I`ll probably leave soon too. I do plan on coming tomorrow and finishing that damn xmas lesson, plus I`d feel guilty if I didn`t come in. (Even though I think it`s okay if I just don`t even show up.) Oh, yeah, I have a few tests to correct too. Goddamn it. I actually have work?! What is this place, anyway?
So, we`ll see where the rest of the day takes me. Maybe to the mall. Or I might save that for tomorrow when I leave early from that.
Until then....I plan on having a good birthday!
Sitting on My Ass
Yep, I`m an expert at it, good at looking busy, and now experienced at sleeping in an upright position either sitting or standing. These are all the skills I have been honing for a long time now. I`m drinking a mocha (instant coffee and coco), keeping in close range of the stove, and dreaming up a xmas lesson for the kids. Hmmm. BTW In Japan, xmas is couple`s day. I don`t know why, but most Japanese people have dates for xmas. It`s a little strange to me.
For some reason, I`ve been pretty cold lately. I sat in front of the space heater on my new (soft and pretty too!) kotatsu rug for like 8 hours. I ditched work early yesterday, went out for Indian curry with a friend, and then just sat glued to the tv or computer screen. I`m starting to learn a lil about J-tv and what the shows are called. I`ll fill you in on some good ones later.
It`s raining and I`m hoping for something to brighten my day. I should be studying Japanese, but I`m not motivated at all. Hmm. Maybe the mocha will help. Or the fact that I`m stuck here until my sensei will record the listening portion of the test with me. It`ll only take about 5 minutes, but I have to wait.....And I already had it recorded, but they weren`t happy with it entirely. Long story. Damn him and his stupid rules. At least, I got outta bed to at least make it to school today. Otherwise, I would have only left my bed for the space heater. Hehe.
Shit. It`s only 10:30 and I`ve only been here for an hour. That`s not good. Gonna be a long, cold, rainy day.
Horoscope
Hmmm. Proof that sometimes I think before I speak. Hey, I said sometimes, dammit.
"Your internal editor -- that little something that intervenes between what goes on upstairs and what you say -- is taking the day off. While it's putting its feet up somewhere and enjoying a drink with an umbrella in it, those around you are subject to your genius-containing monologues, your sudden brilliant plays-on-words, your outbursts about how the world should be and more. Just have an apology ready in case you inadvertently put your foot in that wide-open mouth."
Haha. Aren`t you glad that you don`t live near me? I guess you`d get an earful today. Compai little umbrella drink! I miss the tiki`s at Suzie`s.....(x_x)
BTW I`m at work right now. I`m staying close to the heater and happy that it`s test week. Rough for the students, good for me. Back to "work" (ie keeping warm and deciding if I want more coffee).
American Woman
Yeah, so yesterday I went with two friends to this "international party" that is held once a month. The idea is to meet people that speak either English or Japanese. I was the ONLY foreign woman there. I was swarmed by about a million Japanese people--men and even more women. I felt like a total rockstar. The wierdest part was that there were way more women that wanted to talk to me. I've noticed this phenomena before, where women want to come and be my friend or something. I was kind of scared about some of it. These older guys kept trying to talk to me too. It was weird.
So, I felt kind of weird about how much attention I received, but I guess I should be used to it. I think everyone just wanted to practice their English on me. I guess I've never just had people shoved my way before, at least not in droves. Hmmm. The problems of being an American woman. Such is life.
