Once upon a time in Osaka...

24

2008-07-27T20:57:00.001-07:00

I definitely don't have time to write. I leave for the airport in about 30 minutes, and I've had guests in and out all morning. I planned on writing a good, sappy entry to top off this experience. But when all is said and done, I think this blog has done its duty and deserves a vacation. With that said, know that I am anxious, sad, happy, and a little impatient. When I arrive back to Rochester, maybe I can write with a bit more clarity. It's funny how countdowns seem to get lost in craziness toward their end.

37 hours...

2008-07-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

I will land in Rochester in exactly 37 hours (I hope). I'm taking a break from my fruitless packing to vent some of my mixed emotions.

When people ask me anxiously, "You're going home tomorrow?!" I can't help but smile, even when I give a somber (and honest) response. My brain may send a signal to my mouth to tell how scared I am to start fresh or how much I will miss so-and-so, but somewhere inside my mouth is getting a mixed signal and that smile contradicts my thoughts.

On the way home from a concert tonight, one stop from Tennoji it suddenly hit me that it was my final time on JR railways. I felt heavy and a bit stupid - like I had just wasted an entire day being social and happy and forgot to be sad. To make up for it, I took pictures of almost every beloved or hated landmark between the train and my door.

I emailed Kelly to get the lowdown on customs upon re-entry. I asked a million questions, nervous I will get in trouble for having too many chopsticks or pocky. She reassured me that it was quick and painless, and she reminded me that everything is in English. At first I was relieved, then I regretted that soon I won't be able to blame my ignorance on language barrier. I will still be overwhelmed by the customs form or the gate information, even if it's technically in my own language. It's been frustrating not knowing what's going on around me or what my students are gossiping about, but it's sometimes refreshing to be allowed to tune out - exempt from understanding. I will lose that luxarious curse tomorrow.

Of course, the best news of my day comes in the form of my friend Yoshi's innocently overwhelming Starbucks marketing. United Airways serves Starbucks on their flights, so I need not worry about a thing.

Turn up the car radio...

2008-07-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

Today, I said a lot of goodbyes, finished packing just about everything, and ate too much. But instead of making you read a few minutes of sappy, boring stories, I will spare you by giving you a short video to watch instead. I think it sums up my day better than my own words.

Dear Kelly-chan,

2008-07-24T00:38:00.000-07:00

You had a postcard waiting for me when I arrived in Japan last year, depressed and alone. So I figured it was my turn to have a greeting waiting for you as you return to NY, no doubt feeling like you are in a foreign country as well. I hope your flight was pleasant, your jet lag minimal, and your reverse culture-shock inspiring.
I am no good at expressing gratitude or sentimental feelings in person (we both hate Japanese goodbyes). So now - an ocean apart - I want to let you know how amazing it was to share this past year with you. Often, I found myself jealous of your position - you had a great friend network, better pay, and a much better view. Other times, I found myself feeling proud - I got to know my students (because I taught on a more regular basis), my job was easy and convenient, and I experienced city life.
In the end, I reached the not so difficult conclusion: How amazing is it that two girls from tiny RWC went to Japan at the exact same time for almost the exact same reason, yet experienced completely different facets of a surprisingly diverse country? How boring would it have been to both have been in Osaka or both to have been countryside JETs?...How one dimensional! Because we were mere acquaintances at first and we were at just enough o af distance from each other, we didn't rely on each other for everything (and therefore stifle our individual, independent growth). Because we taught different ages, spent time with different friends, lived in different areas, traveled to different cities, and fell in love with different aspects of Japan, we were able to learn that much more through each other. Looking back, I am so grateful I didn't live on the beach or have JET friends, and I'm glad you lived in the boonies and taught cute little kids. I feel like I have had two experiences in Japan because of you.
Japan would have been great regardless, but I thank God I had you to encourage me and visit me and challenge me - it turned a great experience into an life-altering, unforgettably amazing experience. Your upbeat attitude, objectivity, humor, insight, and eagerness to learn drove me to try to maintain the same attitude. Thank you for coming to Japan, thanks for being there for me, and thanks for the kind of person you are. I can't wait to see you again and learn about your ever continuing adventures (they're not over yet!).

Love always,

Cassie

My last rice ball

2008-07-23T06:36:00.000-07:00

Tonight was my last trip to Kamagasaki to make onigiri. The crew was thrilled to see me - despite our wonderful communication, they thought I had left last week. As such, they were especially sentimental tonight. They even gave me umeboshi, one of my least favorite foods in the world (pickled plum). Best of all, they made a cake because they know I like sweets. When we split up at the end of the night, I was showered with hugs, hand shakes, and ogenkides...When I took my usual extra onigiri to drop off on the way home to my usual homeless neighbor, he wasn't around. I just left it on his cart. It was an extremely depressing way to end that chapter in my life, but not entirely unsatisfying. He'll get his rice tonight - a big surprise after left an empty cart to go look for food. And maybe he'll even remember who gave it to him, the same foreigner every Wednesday night. Then again, maybe he's already forgotten me - and I will try to be okay with that.

One week

2008-07-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

Tonight I rounded out my Japanese theater experience with a horror Bunraku performance. That's right...cute, little puppets gone mad. For all those people who have nightmares about dummies and clowns...this is not the art form for you. I literally watched an innocent bystander have his face cut off. Cotton and wooden body parts were flying everywhere. You should never mess with a samurai's heart.

Nevertheless, it was amazing and impressive. Before the show, Ikeda sensei took me backstage to meet some of the performers (the men and the puppets). She goes about 20 times a year, so she has an unoficial backstage pass. They let me hold a beautiful puppet and attempt to make her face and hands move, but I failed miserably. I learned that most performers have to begin by 15 or they have little hope of ever becoming good in their lifetime. In fact, one of the musicians tonight was around 80 and had been training since he was 9. Now, with fashion and pop stardom on everyone's mind, Bunraku is gradually disappearing because no new performers are signing on.

Afterward, we ate oden (a very traditional Japanese food...basically any food you can think of boiled in a special broth) at the most famous oden shop in Osaka (Takoume). I felt so Japanese, in fact, that when I arrived home and saw the mess of suitcases, I was jolted back to reality and remembered I will be American again in only a week...

I missed 10

2008-07-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Somehow, life fast-forwarded to 9 days. I was watching my countdown so carefully, I don't know what happened...

Today, I said goodbye to my very first Japanese friends. I hosted (I mean that in the lightest sense of the word...I literally just opened my door, they did the shopping, cooking, and cleaning) an udon party for last year's graduates. Eight girls came...some I hadn't seen since graduation. They gave me a Mickey&Minnie picture frame for my wedding - they are adorned in traditional Japanese wedding attire. The girls even came up with creative kanji names for me and Brian to write on the frame. Then they all signed the dress. As if that's not sweet enough, Keiko started crying as they said goodnight. Of course, I waited until they left to cry. That took a while, since they stopped to take pictures of my soon-to-be-replaced mailbox label.

I can hardly believe that my relationship (at least face-to-face) with these friends is at an end. I can't believe a year has passed. I feel like I just got here on that horribly lonely day in September.

Unemployed

2008-07-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

Not officially...but I taught my last class today. I felt numb afterward. Actually, I didn't have a lot of time to think in general, because I was dragged away to karaoke with some students. However, once I had a moment alone and thought about how I need to return all the text books to campus and clean out my desk...I realized I may never step into a classroom again. I don't know if I can live with that. Whether behind a desk or at the black board, classrooms feel like home to me. How can I be finished? I think that's a little voice telling me to get myself back in school and to pursue teaching.

Of course, a week of vacation may change my mind.

Sayounara party

2008-07-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight was my Sayounara party, complete with a yukata and Japanese speech. I may have choked up a tiny bit, but it was mostly nervousness.

I got several albums of pictures and goodbye messages, three songs, my own quiz show, tons of presents (yukata, purses, earrings, etc), and a hilarious movie which features a skit mocking me. That's always appreciated.

Of course, I was on show the entire time, so I never got to take pictures or really socialize. Goodbye parties are definitely different here. The emphasis is on honoring the subject, not spending one last night together. Either way, I enjoyed it. But I am glad it's over. From here on out, I have no more official obligations and no more sad speeches.

Tomorrow are my final adult classes, then I have a week of packing, cleaning, and saying goodbye.

doyoubi/nichiyoubi

2008-07-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

[more photos]

I climbed Mt. Fuji.

From the second I got on the plane to Japan, I had it in my head that I would climb it (I mean, Kelly did it...so I just had to!). However, plan after plan fell through, and it seemed like it would never happen. Yet, I stand here today and can proclaim that I am a Fuji veteran (well, I am actually sitting in a lot of pain).

My weekend began at 5am. I met Yoko (Maekawa sensei - but that takes a lot longer to type) in Namba for a quick McDonald's breakfast and then we caught our bus at 7:30. After a few pit stops, we arrive at the 5th station of Fuji (about 2000meters) at 5pm. After dinner and changing, we got to work.

The first few hours was ridiculously slow even though we were basically walking up gentle slopes. Because we went with a tour group, we had to walk between our two guides at their pace (very slow in order to prevent altitude sickness, with frequent oxygen breaks). My muscles were in no pain at all the entire night...and the slow pace gave me great opportunity to take pictures and chat with Yoko.

By station 7, we were beginning to feel the burn. I was constantly dizzy, freezing cold, and fighting impatience as thousands of people inched along to the top. I have to admit, though, that I appreciated the traffic jams. They gave me so much time to absorb it all, think, and breath. For the first time since I've been in Japan, I saw stars. I'd never been so happy to see the Big Dipper...it felt so familiar. The constellations below were just as amazing - a river of lights zig-zagging up the mountain. I've never felt so much peace while surrounded by so many bodies.

After a pit-stop at station 8, we scaled the last two stations at an even slower pace. I wasn't feeling so grateful and reflective at that point. I was half asleep, freezing, and regretting the trip altogether. But by 4am just as the sun began to peak out, we were finally at the top. I can say it was the best sunrise I've ever seen, but maybe that's because 1)I never get up early enough to see the sun rise and 2)I earned this one.

The hike down was the worst part. Not only did I basically just skid down gravel (or lava remains) and try not to fall for four hours, I also had to stop constantly to dump rocks out of my shoes and take off layers. Beyond the weather and pain in my knees, it was slightly disappointing to turn my back on the mountain so soon. I don't think I was ready to be finished.

Of course, by the time I was at the onsen, I had changed my mind.

kinyoubi

2008-07-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mao, a pretty talented tako roller

Erika, Kyon, Mao, Me - we had the security gaurd take our picture in the middle of the night...if I weren't leaving in 2 weeks, I think I might get fired for this past weekend ;)

I've never seen such a cheerful holdup

oishii! deep fried mocchi, cheese, and eggplant (one of several assortments)

We ate next to Billiken, and we rubbed his feet afterward

Obviously, I'm a few days behind. But once you read the next few entries (or skim and look at pictures), you will see why.

On Friday, after more speech contest tutoring, I taught my two Abeno community adult English classes, beginners at 10:40, intermediate at 1 (keep in mind: those classifications are self-appointed and therefore completely off-base). These are probably my favorite classes to teach. Of course, I love my Kiritan students and teachers, but my Friday lessons give me a bigger sense of responsibility and influence. It's a lot of pressure, and I love that. I feel like my adult students come eager to learn. They are paying for this and veering from their normal daily routine, so they expect to be taught well. I love that attitude. In turn, it influences me to teach better, clearer, and more seriously.

After class, my beginners and I went to a nearby district to eat kushikatsu (deep fried vegetables and meat that you can dip into a community pot of sauce - no double dipping!). Though unbelievably fun and delicious, I was late for my own slumber party and extremely stuffed.

So when I finally did arrive home, my three guests agreed to hold off on our takoyaki party until later. In the meantime, we watched South Park (Kenny's mom's voice is ridiculously proper in Japanese), practiced English and Japanese, and went out for purikura. These girls were hilarious. As we talked about Japanese youth and culture, I started to realize how completely different they are from my guests last weekend or last semester's girls. Sometimes I think Japan is more diverse than America, despite the stereotypes. Their clothes and fashion are the same, but their personalities, goals, communication styles, and senses of humor are all over the charts. I guess the only difference is that, in Japan, it takes much longer to crack through the exterior fashion and manners into that unique personality.

We finally had our tako, then stayed up talking until about 2/3am. When I awoke at 5am to get ready for Fuji, I found three sleeping girls and a couple of encouragement/thank you notes hidden around the house.

mokuyoubi

2008-07-10T06:15:00.001-07:00

three amazing characters: Kana, Hosana, Satomi

She's a big girl

drama queen

we got free sherbert - the waiter claimed it was "4 beautiful girls day"

Satomi insisted he accompany us to dinner

Typically, by the time Thursday rolls around I am exhausted and happy to have the morning free. That's how I remember moku:mocha:By Thursday, I need a lot of coffee. (I know it's a stretch, but it beats "I sue people on Wednesdays")

But this Thursday was different. I had a speech tutoring session at 11am, then was uninvited to ESS club over lunch break (so they could secretly plan for the sayanara party). But when I went to print off my Japanese sayanara speech (which I will definitely not be giving in Japanese as far as I am concerned), I ran into some students and we ended up spending the rest of my free time talking. It was the most fun I'd had in months. I really felt like we were connecting beyond hobbies and blood type. I even got away with sarcasm. Afterward, I had a few level-up classes and then prepared for my [final] Thursday night Bible study.

When the girls arrived, there was already some sadness lurking in the room (or it was just miserably humid). Afterward, I was given a million presents from Satomi, her random friends, and her mother (via Satomi...I have never met any of the other givers). Gifts included Rirakkuma (the cutest bear in the world...sorry, Pooh san), Kyoto perfume, and more. Then I treated the girls to okonomiyaki/yakisoba at a fantastically cheap and convenient shop around the corner. Again, I had a great time....I realized how seldom I actually laugh here. I almost snorted at least three times tonight. Emotions are pretty stiffled and catored when working around language barriers. But tonight it didn't matter.

Why are the girls waiting until I have to leave to start connecting with me? Or is it me who waited?

suiyoubi

2008-07-09T01:10:00.000-07:00

Apparently, "su" is water - which explains the temperamental and spontaneous downpours today (and every other Wednesday, it seems).
Wednesday is by far one of my favorite -and, in turn, busiest- days of the week. I assist the 1nensei English conversation class at 9am and 2nensei class at 10:40am. Afterward, I spend lunchtime in the CALC lounge with whoever wants to eat with me...that's why it's called "Lunch with Cassie in the CALC." I have three tutoring sessions throughout the afternoon. Then I squeeze in dinner and some blog time. At 7pm, I head to Kamagasaki to make a few hundred rice balls. I always want to collapse at 10pm when I get home...but I have never crawled into bed on a Wednesday night feeling anything less than satisfied.

Since I love Wednesdays, you will get quite the slideshow this time around.

kayoubi

2008-07-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

Eigo class

Nihongo class

Typically, Tuesdays also start out fairly slow - one tutoring session at 9:45, an occasional department meeting at lunchtime, and then 2 tutoring sessions in the afternoon. However, today I had several speech contestant sessions, a RWC tour meeting (preparing the 9 girls for their visit to Rochester in September), and the English speech contest semi-finals this evening. I had to skip my weekly Japanese class to attend the contest as one of the judges (which I most certainly did not want to be...especially after months of working side by side with most of the girls).

I won't bore you with too many details. A few interesting tidbits: In one level-up session, all of my students wrote down the same "C" answer for Scattergories' U.S. Cities: California. That was the highlight. The low came after the semi-finals when we had to announce the 6 (of 10) students moving on to the finals...One of my favorite contestants (whose speech is amazing and her effort is definitely deserving of the gold) was eliminated because she read most of her speech (she has horrible stage fright, and she couldn't remember any of it). After the announcement, several students cried, but I didn't cry with them. Not until this particular student ran over to me and hugged me, apologizing frantically in Japanese for wasting my time and letting me down. Then I lost it. And if you know me, you know I don't cry (unless John Coffey is executed). What respect and humility! She was upset because I invested time in her, not because she lost. And I'm practically a kid...full-grown professors in America don't even get shown that kind of respect and appreciation.

Times like this remind me why 20 days is approaching way too fast...

getsuyoubi

2008-07-07T01:08:00.000-07:00

I decided before I leave - and before things get too crazy - I would give you a play-by-play of my week. This is also a good heads up for Lorraine, who no doubt is getting antsy about the uncertainty of the next year of her life.

Monday is probably the most mundane day of my week (at least this semester). This morning, I woke up at 7:30 for a quick workout and shower. I tutored an English speech contestant at 9 and then came back for some quality Skype time with Brian. Monday is always slow in the morning. At noon, I had lunch and led a Bible study with a small group of students. Seike san was absent today, so they had to listen extra carefully (Sekei san usually translates at the end of the study to clarify what they didn't understand).

At 1, I had my first level-up meeting of the day. On Monday, I only have two groups (both 2nensei). Unfortunately, the second group didn't show up because they noticed a sign on the door that said the International Relations Office had moved, so they weren't sure where we were meeting (this sign has been posted since March...). Instead, I got to work on a farewell speech that I will spontatneouly be giving (in Japanese) at my spontaneous sayanara party next Thursday night. Full of surprises around here.

At 2:40, I headed to 2nensei English conversation class to assist Maekawa sensei (the woman I will climb Fuji with this weekend). I love this class (it is the regular class -Dan teaches advanced - so it has given me a chance to get to know the quiet, underachievers and discover how hilarious and bright most of them are). However, the humidity gave us all an especially big dose of the Mondays...so it was pretty difficult to survive. At 4:20, when I arrived at the 1nensei English conversation class to assist Horiyuchi sensei (the woman I went to Nagano with this winter), she delighted us by sending us all home.

So here I am, writing in my blog instead. I hope these entries will get more exciting over the week, but we're off to a slow start. Give us a break...we are literally melting. Central a/c would be really nice at this point.

I will be meeting with another student at 6 to work on her English speech (hopefully the last of the speech tutoring sessions since tomorrow is the semi-final round). After that, I am going to eat some cheese (I bought it at Costco last week and couldn't be happier) and read a Chinese book about Eastern thought. A Chinese book translated into English and sold in Japan. I feel so stinking enlightened.

At least there were fireworks

2008-07-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

the grand finale (I'm serious)

Saki, chotto kowai

no, my apartment is not big enough for 7 people...my futon was all the way in the kitchen.

Mifuyu, pretending to be wild

Hanae, actually playing a game (she has a lot of pent up anger, apparently)

We had an ESS party on the 4th of July...complete with hot dogs, apple pie, and sparklers (they call them fireworks...but I know better). Believe it or not, it was the most festive Independence Day I've had in years. Last year came in a close second...Jess B. and I spent all night jogging through traffic to try to get to the fireworks on time, but we only got to hear them.

After a crazy week and a crazy cookout, I had a crazy sleepover. Six student and I stayed up until all hours of the night teaching each other card games and laughing...and not getting much sleep. So after brief bowling and purikura, we called it a day. Now I am going to take a nap until it all starts over again tomorrow...

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-06-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

1. Extreme talent

2. Engrish

3. Privately owned shops

4. Unidentifiable, but delicious, foods

5. Eyes that smile bigger than mouths

This past week has been killer. I have been editing and recording English speeches day and night, visiting churches and homes, making a lot of new friends, watching a Kabuki performance, and trying new food. It feels like the first week all over again. I also had a few unexpected expenses and stresses from the other side of the ocean. I typed up a résumé for my first job application. And I think I have a hangover from some candy I ate last night. (I didn't know they were full of real whiskey!)

To say the least, I am tired and stressed. I have wanted to collapse and cry and sleep all week. BUT...I think my mood has a lot more to do with leaving than busyness. As the work piles up, I am reminded how close my departure is (32 days to be exact). Then I get tense thinking about leaving all of this behind and starting fresh. As appealing as fresh starts are, change is always partially negative.

I don't want to leave behind my students. Sure, they wear ridiculous amounts of eye makeup and embarrassing Engrish clothing. But have you ever met an American student who didn't want to win a game of Scrabble? Who wanted to forget the point system and work as a team? And yes, in class they ALL answer "shopping" as their hobby and "he is handsome"/"she is beautiful" as the reason for their favorite celebrity. But do you have a class where the students bow and say thank you to their professor afterward?

I don't want to leave my apartment. It is ugly, tiny, outdated, and very UNsoundproof (as my elementary neighbors are constantly reminding me). But it is mine. I have my own space, my own tiny fridge, sink-bath, cherry blossom bed, and rice maker. Registering for wedding gifts has made me a little excited for my future place with Brian, but it is still hard accept never being completely independent again.

I don't want to leave this country. Not because it is perfect. Not because all the beautiful, preserved images we see in America are accurate - because they aren't. My region is one of the worst when it comes to unemployment, poverty, homelessness, crime, and...westernization (which still isn't that bad compared to the rest of the world). But that is just more reason to want to stay. I could see myself serving here in so many roles - never getting bored because there are so many people to help and learn from. It's like the artificial shell is being cracked open and revealing the real, authentic, imperfect core - just as I have to turn away.

I don't love Japan any more than America. It's not that I don't miss homecooked meals, fast food, English, RWC, my friends, etc...but I know I will return to that in time. Who knows if I will ever return to Japan?

Riot

2008-06-18T22:23:00.001-07:00

I got to ride my bike through a riot. That's right. And I lived to tell about it. How? Because this is Japan, and even their riots are safe and orderly. Long story short, the police in this homeless/day laborer area are corrupt and treat all the citizens like criminals (because some of them are, the rest earn a bad reputation). Recently, four officers at Nishinari station in Kamagasaki (where I make and deliver onigiri on Wednesday nights) beat/tortured a day laborer brought in on charges of...take a deep breath...complaining about the service at a food shop. Though I would want to throw some beer bottles at the station, too, I can't imagine it is doing any good or serving any purpose but to further ruin the reputation of the citizens and their relations with the police force.

Unfortunately, last night was the only night I have gone to the rice cafeteria without my camera, sorry.

[blog and pictures of the riot]
[more pictures]

Homecoming

2008-06-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

I booked my flight! I will be back to Rochester on July 28 at 11:33pm.

Light's out

2008-06-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

[more photos]

Last night, on a whim, I went to Umeda with two girls from my Bible study to investigate Candle Night 2008. I'd heard from a student that around summer solstice, many cities have events like these. In Umeda (a VERY busy shopping and entertainment district), a ton of companies and stores agree to turn their lights off (or dim them to the bare minimum) and light candles. They either use the candles to illuminate their store (instead of a huge billboard or lit-up sign), or they simply construct something bizarre on the sidewalk so we can gawk and take pictures.

Lights are turned off between June 21-July 7 from 8-10pm each night. This particular event (the candle displays) was just a one night thing. I'm glad we went. It was incredibly crowded, but really peaceful. Sounds impossible for that to occur in the middle of Osaka, but it's true. With skyscrapers black, everyone's eyes were drawn to the ground. Of course...in the end I bet the electrical cost of re-charging thousands of cell phones and cameras will negate the savings of a voluntary blackout. But it's the thought that counts.

RWC Visit

2008-06-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

[more photos]

I wish I had had time to update along the way, because now that the week is over, I can hardly remember the details. I'll give you an overall summary, I guess, and then fill in the blanks for the days I do remember.

The group was a good mix: they were each mesmerized by different aspects of Japanese culture and lifestyle, which in turn fascinated me. They were always asking questions, taking pictures, or searching for Japanese fashion, art, history, food, and more. However, I don't think we had any takers for J-pop. Too bad.

They also had a lot of energy. Add that to the Japanese pace, and you get really tired legs and hungry bellies. So we always topped off each day with delicious dining. I added just about every variety of tofu possible, soy ramen, hiroshimayaki, cheese okonomiyaki, and some other unknowns to my list of accomplishments. Some other random bragging points: We fit 13 people into a tiny purikura booth, I scratched Buddha's feet, and I got a Japanese haircut (not necessarily a Japanese haircut, but a Japanese haircut).

Their visit has left me extremely exhausted and all I want to do is sleep for the next week. However, I know in the back of my mind that after that week, I want to do a lot more exploring and interacting. It was so good touring Japan with the Kiritan students. They didn't necessarily serve as expert tour guides (as some of them have never left Osaka), but they added some authenticity to the experience. They can help explain or commentate or even make fun of what I'm seeing. And it added something to our relationship. After the RWC students left yesterday, my students were treating me differently. They were texting me, planning sleepovers, chatting about which boys they liked, etc. Being with them outside of the classroom seems to have given them a different perspective...they aren't nearly as intimidated or shy around me.

The sudden increase in my exposure and appreciation of unknown cities, shops, and people along with my increased intimacy with my students is making my countdown less exciting. Of course I can't wait to come home and see everyone, but every day closer to seeing you all brings me a day closer to saying goodbye to all of this.

Funions

2008-05-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

[more photos]

I just returned from a day-long trip to Wakayama, the prefecture south of Osaka. I woke up at 6am tired and disappointed at the rainy weather. But within a few hours, my mood had reversed. The clouds were a blessing in disguise, preventing me from needing sunscreen or a big goofy hat. It only sprinkled (creating a lot of mud), and the worst of it was when we were inside eating lunch.

I went with about 20 others from Ikoi Shokudo (the "cafeteria" where I make onigiri on Wednesdays). I am still unsure as to why this group goes onion farming 2-3 times a year. Perhaps they are volunteering just to help a community/farmer? Maybe it's a fundraiser? Not sure. Either way, I am glad I went because when we arrived (after an amazing car trip through the mountains and bamboo forests), there was a bus load of kids awaiting us. Despite the onion fumes and array of insects (2 of my least favorite things in the world), I was in heaven.

Basically, we were on our hands and knees picking the bulbs, trimming off the roots, and then sorting them into large/small bins. Sounds tedious, I know, but imagine being surrounded by goofy old men (who refuse to accept that I can't speak Japanese) and cute little kids...takes the focus off the spiders and watery eyes. While I spent most of the morning alone, by afternoon I had an entourage of old men and little girls trailing me to learn/showcase their English. Just before the girls left, I was invited to a game of tag (which only reminded me how fat and slow I am compared to the Japanese, despite my advantage of leg length).

I returned with a bag of onions, leg and back aches, and smelly/muddy clothes. I could not have spent my Saturday any better.

2 months

2008-05-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

I relocate in 2 months. I have no idea where the last 8.5 months went...

From here on out, I will be especially busy. Tomorrow I will go to Wakayama to pick onions with the church group I make onigiri with on Wednesday nights (long sentence, sorry). On Sunday, the Roberts tour group will arrive. I'll have the whole week off from teaching so I can explore and take pictures with them (poor me!). We will be going to Kyoto, Hiroshima, all over Osaka, and conducting an English camp at the hostel nearby. On Friday, I begin my new adult classes (my favorite classes! and I have at least two students returning from the last term).

In the months to come, I will be spending more time touring Osaka with students, hopefully climbing Mt. Fuji, visiting Tokyo, saying goodbyes, and figuring out what to do with my life. I like to think that my options are endless (but that is CMC talk for "I am indecisive"). I would love to get an exciting journalism gig (like for NG or a nonprofit piece) or work PR for a non-profit. If not, I am open to teaching (though it would require more school to get certified).

I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. First I have to find a stupid, overpriced wedding dress.

Don't look under the vending machines

2008-05-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

I just saw a rat the size of a small cat.

Good ol' Kobe

2008-05-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Environmental Exhibition

Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum

Chinatown

One of two man-made islands

Harborland

Port of Kobe Tower

Meriken area

[more photos]

Yesterday I visited Kobe for the first time since Meg, Natalie, and I went there in March. I wanted to attended an Environment Fair, an event leading up to the G8 Summit this summer in Hokkaido. I learned never to assume that all stations have tourist maps (like my station). But regardless, I found the site with no problem. It seemed it was targeted to businesses...company booths (like plastic factories) expressing their green protocol and hoping to be contracted by big businesses. I was in flip flops, capris, a t-shirt, and pony tail. As if I didn't stand out enough for being a foreigner, I was the only one in the building not in a black business suit. Regardless, it was interesting and exciting to be there. My favorite part - hidden away in the 2nd floor corridors - was a gallery of children's art work depicting environmental problems. I may have taken too many pictures.

Afterward, since I had mostly just observed and not so much learned anything, I decided to go to the Earthquake Museum to make my trip more worthwhile. On my way to the station, I was followed (One of the typical red haired, skinny pants, cowboy boots, glitter-wearing boys this country is famous for). After quiet pursuit (maybe he thought I didn't notice I had passed him heading the opposite direction?), he finally engaged in conversation and we had a nice talk. He said he'd help me find the station. He spoke barely any English, so there were plenty of misunderstanding. Suffice it to say (I will spare any moms the details), the only English he did know was not very edifying. After 10 minutes of pleasant culture sharing, things got ugly. Long story short, he asked me to go to a love hotel (a hotel where the sole purpose is to have sex). He proceeded to make many crude remarks and questions. He even tried leading me past the station (presumably to a love hotel), but when I pointed it out he took me back. He didn't give up easily, but he did give up eventually. We shook hands and I never saw him again, though I did feel like I was being followed the rest of the night - constantly looking over my shoulder. Have no worries, I could have totally taken him down if it came to that. He was barely my height (with the extra inches his hairstyle supplied) and a good 20 lbs. less than me. And I doubt he would have wanted to mess up his outfit in a fight.

That being over, I made my way to the museum. It was really interesting...a theater that simulated the moment of the quake from many perspectives and locations, a set that looks like the aftermath, tons of photography and wreckage, and even a science lab demonstration of why the destruction was so severe. The downfall? I was the only guest there. Literally. So I sat in theaters by myself, was followed by almost all the staff with nothing better to do (making me feel a bit rushed), and when I did arrive at the last room - the lab - the demonstrator spent just as much time interviewing me as conducting the demonstration. He was my favorite part, however. He kept bragging about his English skills (they were impressive) and forgetting about the topic at hand. Eventually, I did learn how to earthquake-proof a building.

All the clocks were set to 5:46 (time of the quake), so I had no idea of the real time. But by the time I left the museum, it really was about 6pm, so I was already late for movie night with the Parry's. So I thought - might as well spend the rest of the night here then, right? My legs will never forgive me, but my eyes already have.

I somehow made it to the harbor (again, no map...but the giant orange tower is a dead giveaway). I walked the same path the girls and I walked (after Natalie's notorious fall over a anchoring post). This time, it was pitch black so the buildings were lit up and the water was glowing. I visited the same tiny wine shop and even took some of the same shots (Meg, remember the window reflection shot of the tower?). It made me realize my aloneness...but I felt more content than sad. I am homesick...but seeing Kobe without the girls almost gave me a sense of possession and belonging...like this is my city, not just a tourist spot I saw on a trip with friends (though it will always be that, too). Am I making any sense? I mean to say...Going there alone made me feel like less of a tourist and more at home. I just took my time and soaked it in, with no agenda in mind, knowing it might be the last time I ever see it. By the end of my walk, I almost missed Kobe more than America - and I hadn't even left yet.

But I did have to leave, eventually.

Just me?

2008-05-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

[Extremely delayed photos (last Saturday) totally unrelated to the entry]

My cutest friend, Keiko, dead asleep

Anpanman assembly line

I taught young grasshopper how to solve the rubick's cube

Mitsuko san gave me a yukata!...but she made me put it on myself :(

This week was not one of those weeks (see previous post).

All my students were genki and enthusiastic. Instead of blank stares, there were smiles and probing questions (okay...not probing, but much deeper than the usual blood type/hobby routine). "Do Americans drink only juice?" "Can you introduce me to your brother?" "What English music do you recommend?" "Why don't you like Avril Lavigne?" This may seem surface level to you, but it's progress to me. These simple questions are a big step for them. You don't learn "Why don't you like Avril Lavigne" in a textbook, and therefore they constructed it all by themselves and were brave enough to ask it.

I was invited to have family dinner with the Parry's, I received candid feedback at Bible study, I made some new friends at the onigiri kitchen, and I was appointed unofficial RWC Tour photographer. Again, simple things. But these simple things are what transform a job into an unforgettable opportunity. These are things that make me feel like a part of this big collective bundle, and not just a temporary guest.

Kelly and I talked a bit about our eventual return and reverse culture shock. Would it really be worse than when we arrived in Japan? Would the comforting familiarity outweigh the nostalgia? She brought up a good point: One of the biggest shocks will be blending in (that's right...we thrive on celebrity status). We will just be 2 of a million blonds with curves and freckles. I will no longer be the tallest or fattest. I'll no longer be the guest of honor at school or the exotic gaijin on the streets. I will no longer catch old men staring at me on the train (hopefully) or little children with their mouths gaping open as I ride by the kindergarten.

Will that be a relief? Or will I crave the attention? I'm not sure yet. It's nice to blend in, isn't it? But it sure is nice to stand out every once in a while. Now that I am finally starting to be a friend to my students, with a bit of fame on the side, I'm not sure if I'll be ready to go back to being just me in America.

One of those weeks

2008-05-14T01:24:00.000-07:00

The worst feeling is spending an hour trying to improvise and improve upon a lesson plan failure - fighting those blank stares. I wasn't sure if they wanted to cry or laugh at me...either would have been better than blankness. I was under the illusion that I was a more powerful, effective, and likable teacher this time around. But the newbies' enthusiasm is beginning to taper off, revealing that I am in fact not spontaneously better this semester - still the same desperate, procrastinating, speed talker who will have to deal with those blank stares. And it's only Wednesday...

Golden Week

2008-05-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

Why didn't we have nice things growing up??

Yukie, world's coolest telephone

Mandy, world's other coolest telephone

Nobu with "banana" mochi

Japanese cemetery

Kelly at the beach with mountains in the distance

[more photos]

Today was the first day back to work since "Golden Week," a long string of holidays (and "substitute holidays") in Japan. I spent the first few days behind my laptop trying to compile random HIV/AIDS facts into a coherent presentation suitable for both ESL students AND naive teenage girls. Tricky. I can't really mention homosexuality, condoms, or abstinence... so instead I eventually decided to focus on stigmas (and not the science...since it is the least of Japan's problems when it comes to HIV/AIDS). AKA...I am going to address the stigma without breaking it. Ironic.

On Sunday, I took the train to little old Himi, Japan. Never heard of it? Most people haven't (none of my students believe I went there...). But Kelly has heard of it!! And she is proud of it, for good reason. Her little, cozy town is nestled between the Sea of Japan and the snow-capped mountains of Toyama (or whoever they belong to...). I spent ~2 days exploring the many parks, gardens, and stores in Himi and the nearby cities. We ventured to Myoryuji Temple (or Ninja dera) where there in fact were never any ninjas. But it was amazing nonetheless. This temple, with the outward appearance of a typical two-story temple, has a secret suicide chamber, 7 layers, 23 rooms, and 29 stairways. There are secret passages and booby traps everywhere, making it an ideal place for samurai to protect important lords - and providing an underground passage to and form the castle. It was incredible...unfortunately the was no photography allowed.

The best part of the trip was meeting many of Kelly's Japanese friends. Not only were they our age, but she even knows boys!!! Crazy. My Japanese interaction is limited to teenage girls and old women. To say the least, when I returned (after standing 3-hours on the incredibly crowded train...a reminder of my destination), I was homesick for country side and my own friends in New York.

The best part of Golden Week? Omiyage. Today at school, my students presented me with souvenirs. My shyest student of all took about 5 minutes to muster up the courage and the words to explain that she'd gone to Disney Land and brought me back a Minnie Mouse towel! In that moment, I didn't regret being in Osaka one bit. It's good to be home.

Everything I know, I learned from Stan and Kyle

2008-04-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

BBQ...Japan style

This week has been pretty tough so far... I got a new, more comfortable couch brought into my apartment, taught card games to my students on Monday, had a holiday and was invited to two BBQs today, and had s'mores. Torture.

Other than that, I have been stressing over my upcoming bible studies (an "intense" one for Christians and an English-focused one for non-Christians). As it draws nearer and nearer, I am feeling less and less godly. I am scared to death of revealing how ignorant and hypocritical I am - and having that be the impression these girls are left with. The more controversial things I read about Day of Prayer, China protests, Earth Day, adoptions, etc (and how Christians keep messing up), I sink into another season of criticizing my church and myself.

I've already had enough to worry about with my own spirituality (without having the entire Christian populations' testimony to consider!). Since the end of high school, I have become less and less optimistic/evangelical. However, I am beginning to realize that being super "spiritual" and charismatic doesn't necessarily mean your faith is stronger or more genuine. Maybe it just means you are in a good mood (aka high school Cassie). But there were plenty of cynical followers (aka the prophets). I am not declaring myself a prophet, I am just making up some excuses for my not-so-giddy attitude.

Maybe I will never open an orphanage in Uganda or cure AIDS, but I don't want to turn 70 and say I didn't try to do something loving for those individuals that I encountered (claiming it's none of America's business or that charity is only to make you feel better about yourself). And I may never live to see the ozone repaired, but I don't want to make a bad situation even worse by living with no regard for creation (claiming my inconsiderate lifestyle was better than being a self-righteous, recycling, go-green hippie).

I know I'm rambling, but in short: I am learning to focus on small acts of love...making responsible decisions with the little things. I can serve God and [will] fail miserably to save the world, but I can't serve Him by merely talking about how lost it is and how found I am (regardless of how into the worship music I am). So when I have my bible study, I will emphasize Christ's lessons and lifestyle - not my pathetic attempt at wisdom and faithfulness.

And no, this is not from Sunday's sermon, but a compilation of lessons I absorbed from a Southpark marathon.

an inconvenient truth

2008-04-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

[Mainichi Newspapers Co.]
Aokigahara woods at the base of Mt. Fuji (also known as "suicide forest")

Today I was told by one of my Jehovah's Witness visitors that she'd read about an interesting suicide in the paper today. She couldn't explain to me in English what happened, so I researched "suicide in Japan" on the internet. Bad idea. The first article I stumbled upon was entitled:

"Man commits suicide in front of Tokyo train, 90,000 commuters inconvenienced."

And in case you are interested, I did eventually find the story about today's suicide. A 14-year-old girl locked herself in her bathroom after making a lethal concoction of laundry detergent and soaps, eventually suffocating on the fumes and sending 10 of her neighbors to the hospital. She was the 30th nihonjin to use this method so far this year (its fatal recipe is being spread on the Internet). Perhaps it seemed less obtrusive to society than jumping in front of a train. And don't you worry, she was also considerate enough to hang a sign on the door knob that read, "Gas being emitted," so as not to inconvenience anyone.

Japan has the 9th highest suicide rate in the world. Most people I talk to and most articles I read online accredit the increasing suicide rate to Japan's unemployment rate. In fact, most suicides are middle-aged men who have lost there jobs and/or feel they've dishonored their family name. However, Japan has the 141st highest unemployment rate in the world (4.1%). And I doubt the 14-year-old was having trouble at the office.

I have no idea how to explain the phenomenon, but I have a hunch that if so much weren't hidden behind formalities and sake, maybe that rate would decrease. Then those 90,000 commuters could get on with their lives undisturbed. I guess the rest of the world really is as screwed up as America, individualistic or not.

Rain, rain, go away...

2008-04-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

...come again in July when I need you.

my neighborhood

my street

the prettiest gutter ever

my school

I just finished my first real week of classes (last week consisted of a lot of introductions and schedule tweaking...this week I began my tutoring sessions). Other than a horribly disorganized schedule situation (due to the fact that the girls are being divided into upper and lower skill sections this year...creating twice as many schedule conflicts), the week went smoothly. I got to meet the students individually (well, in small groups), and I am proud to say that I have nearly mastered all of their names. By this point last semester, I was still trying to learn the other teachers' names.

My only complaint this week is the weather. It has been pouring off and on for days. In the center of campus, half of the blossoms bloomed weeks ago and were starting to fall off. Then this week, FINALLY, the other half began to bloom. But now, with the rain, I can't get a descent photo and the weather is causing the blooms to fall off in double time.

Anyway...next week will be sunny and I will hopefully have a schedule set in stone. I will also begin advertising for tutoring and Bible studies at my house. Hopefully I will hear word back from the Chaplain whether or not I will have chapel time to present some AIDS/Ugandan issues before May (a children's choir will be visiting the school then, and I want to prepare the girls with some basics before they arrive). I also will be on my own for one of the 1nensei classes this upcoming Wednesday (the main teacher won't be here). Scary, but exciting.

Even more exciting news (thanks a lot to my American buddies for leaving me in the dark on this one!)...Since I don't get English news here, my exposure is sporadic and consists of my desktop news ticker. I just discovered that this year's G8 summit is going to be held in Japan :) Unfortunately, the main summit is in Hokkaido (basically as far away from Osaka as possible). However, there are sub-meetings leading up to the main summit. Economics is being held here in Osaka (blah), but Environment is being held in Kobe (30 minutes from here in a gorgeous city that I need an excuse to re-visit). They have events open to the public (probably in Japanese...but worth a peak). It's not until late May...

Anyway, enough rambling. I will keep you posted on Japan if YOU keep me posted on America. For instance, giant polygamist colony raids, potential Sabres trades :'(, etc.

Eden

2008-04-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

The new school year is underway. This week I met all of my new students (though I didn't exactly memorize all of their names...). I am incredibly encouraged by their attitudes. There are a few shy freshmen who may need some prompting, but most of the girls seem enthusiastic. It's a refreshing change from last semester when the exhausted sophomores just want to find jobs and go home (senioritus hits two years early here). Their enthusiasm is contagious. One thing I am learning (I re-learn this a lot) is that I am extremely influenced by my circumstances and environment. I like to think that I am independent and completely self-motivated, but I have to admit that my attitude depends mostly on the attitudes of those around me. Therefore, last semester I simply counted down the days until vacation. This semester, I can't wait to get flooded with tutoring sessions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's only the first week, I know. I might recant all of this in a month or so.

Yesterday, in order to fulfill a resolution I made about 50 times, I went on an exploratory bike ride. I stumbled upon Nagai Park about 30 minutes from my apartment. This "park" is the Disney World of parks. It houses the Osaka Museum of Natural History (albeit 4 rooms), botanical gardens, track stadium, indoor sports arena, biking and running tracks, and about 10 playgrounds. I must have done more people-watching and invasive photography in one afternoon than in my entire stay here. I have never seen so much bliss...groups of moms picnicking while their toddlers played in the grass, little elderly couples limping along the garden trails hand-in-hand, and dads with their sons examining giant dinosaur skeletons. I just kept waiting for it to crumble, but it didn't. They were all actually happy. So I decided that if I ever get in a rut or discouraged during my last few months in Japan, I won't turn to booze...I'm going back to get another dose of Nagai.

New semester

2008-04-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

view from my room

dining room

300 pairs of slippers

random Japanese babies, of course

This weekend was the 2008 freshmen retreat in Toba. All of the new students (around 300), the sophomore mentors (around 10), and the faculty stayed in a gorgeous traditional hotel right on the bay (literally...the tide came right up under the hotel). I had to eat snails, fish, octopus...these are a few of my favorite things ;). However, it was still an amazing dining experience...hundreds of people sitting on the floor SO systematically...I got to break the hierarchal arrangement by sitting in the second row with the mentors (not the first row of faculty).

Other than a few boring meetings I napped through, it was fun. I got a lot of alone time and strolled along the bay and bought some pearls (Pearly Island is the main attraction near the hotel). Even when I was with the students, I felt alone (mostly in a good way). Everyone spoke Japanese, so I just followed the crowd and kept to myself...which resulted in my involuntary participation in a 3 hour escapade to find the right onsen in order to bathe with my students (that definitely beats bathing with Meg and Natalie on the awkwardness scale). I also had the pleasure of giving a 5-minute self-introduction to the 300+ crowd. Luckily the lights were low so no one could see my hands shaking.

Now that it's over, the only thing left to look forward to is the start of classes. This semester will be set up differently because the school reformatted the English Communication program. I will teach 4 classes (not 2), and I will be assisting native speakers (not Dan). I'm actually excited about it...meeting twice as often means I will get to know the students better (and the teachers). Teaching alongside Japanese professors will also give me opportunity to practice my Japanese (even though they are both fluent in English). I have an absurd list of goals for the semester, like organizing a weekly Bible study, potluck dinners, and group outings - on top of continuing my Japanese lessons and beginning my 2 new adult classes. Worse case scenario is that I am extremely stressed and busy and the 4 months fly by (I like busy). Best case scenario is that I am extremely cool and collected and the 4 months float by (I like cool). Either way, I am 4 months from being home and in the mean time finally getting back to what I love (human interaction). I am excited to get off my couch and get outside. Besides, it was 70* today...it's beckoning me.

きれね！

2008-03-31T00:52:00.000-07:00

Osaka Aquarium...dramatic entrance

Fushimi Inari Shrine, a little too much orange for my liking

Making takoyaki, perhaps more enjoyable than eating it (for Meg and Natalie)

Harbor in Kobe

Sorakuen Garden in Kobe

Meg, cable car up Mt. Rokko in Kobe

Natalie, photographing the cherry blossoms on OCC campus

Meg, atop Umeda Sky Building

[more pictures on my photo blog]

Meg and Natalie left yesterday after a crazy and intense, but somewhat rejuvenating, week. I have no idea where to start or what to include (so as not to loose my 2 or 3 faithful readers before the end of the post...). Let's just say it was so good to see them again, not to mention their diamonds. It was also great to be the one NOT taking all the pictures (they made my 400+ seem insignificant). These two girls are the perfect travel buddies...not only were they extremely eager to learn and to adjust, but they were like sponges when it came to observing and recording and analyzing their new environment. Given Meg couldn't quite master her r's or go-za-i-ma-su's and Natalie couldn't watch where she was going while looking through her giant camera lens, they adjusted well. They were excited about every little thing, like railroad tracks and potted plants. Like always, my guests' company and fresh perspective made me more observant and appreciative of where I am.

I am amazed and disappointed at myself for how often I forget that I am living in Japan. How does one forget they live in Japan, you ask? It's surprisingly easy. I become accustomed to not being able to read directions on the back of my food, jumping off the sidewalk when I hear rusty bike brakes squealing behind me, flashing the peace sign at cameras, and standing uncomfortably close to businessmen who reek of alcohol on the subway. I found it refreshing that Meg couldn't pedal straight on the crowded sidewalks or that Natalie took pictures of every single flower we passed (and given the cherry blossoms are blooming...that was often). They reminded me how lucky I am to be experiencing this. Even though it is hard being away from home and friends, how often can someone say they got to live alone on the other side of the world? I get to eat with chopsticks, ride my bike to class, take a subway (I'd never even seen a subway until college), and teach people about my country everyday. A boring day at work here is more unusual than my craziest vacation in America.

So once again, as I do after every visitor departs, I am vowing to appreciate my circumstances - not regret them or become too comfortable. I want to be stretched and tested and surprised and scared. I want to look back on this experience and be able to say that every day was an adventure and a lesson. If I'm going to live alone in a strange city for a year, I might as well have some drama.

Sorry this wasn't exactly the recap you expected. In a nutshell, we ate fried octopus balls and we bathed together in the nude. Who else can say they did that with their friends?

This is for ｹﾘｰﾁｬﾝ

2008-03-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Eri san...self-appointed prom queen, apparently.

hungry girls and kimonos should not mix

1nenseis gave 2nenseis a farewell card and hand towel :)

my temporary identity

Despite how completely immobile I've been since school let out, this past week has offered some adventure. It's a bit lame, but for those of you that insist I update my blog in spite of my circumstances, here goes nothing.

This past week I have been cat-sitting for my neighbors (they are in America for a funeral). It is incredible how much of a difference the presence of ANY life can make in a home. Even though they are too snotty to come near me, they still make me feel not-so-alone. Of course, Patch keeps getting into trouble and recently got trapped behind the microwave, so I am glad they're only here a week.

This week I also attended two graduation parties - an informal gathering for ESS members and the official banquet at a spiffy hotel for all students, faculty, and staff. Both were conducted in Japanese, so I was merely an observer. At the latter, we got to dress up and eat sushi. Most of the students wore a kimono, but a few sported lingerie.

After running home in the pouring rain, I finally shed off my heels to engage in some real Japanese art. Another teacher from OCC treated me to Noh Theater, a traditional performance that includes drums, singing, masks, dancing, and more - depending on the plot. Usually very long, we were lucky to only get a sample performance (I guess even Japanese speakers find it hard to sit through an entire Noh production) and then we went backstage for workshops. I learned (I use this loosely...I mimicked, rather) 3 types of drums, how to lift the curtain properly, how to enter through the curtain properly, how to put on and take off a Noh mask, and how to walk around stage in a mask. Let me tell you, it is no easy task. I chose to wear the mask of a man's ghost (all the masks represent mystical characters...normal human characters do not wear masks). The golden eyes are limited in scope, which sucks if you are already partially blind. I found it incredibly difficult to walk in a straight line and hold my arms just so, and found myself tensing up my body time and time again (just like everyone else who tried it out). When you remove the mask, it's said that you are supposed to feel lighter - like a burden is lifted (because of the nature of the character you are taking on when wearing the mask). I don't know if it was just being able to see again - like taking off sunglasses after a long time - but I definitely felt something lifted.

Later that night, Kelly and her mom showed up exhausted from complicated travel issues. They spent the day together in Nara, and then I got to enjoy them for okonomiyaki and yakisoba at my new favorite diner. They're leaving in the morning :(...but they will return in a week along with 2 of my best friends. Until then, I have a busy week ahead to distract me from waiting. My days of being a couch potato man be over...

one of my house guests, Sandy

Guys and dolls

2008-03-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

the art of green tea

"Rie" with her future husband, musicians, and servants

green tea and red bean cakes...mmm

my class (all women, as usual)

So the other day I was sitting around feeling jealous of Jen because she has so many friendships here in Japan. I asked her how she was able to grow so close to students with the language barrier...and how the relationships had lasted so long. For instance, one night while staying here, she was invited over to one of her adult student's houses to experience this month's doll festival and eat chirashi. My adult students hardly speak to me once class time is done. She said that she didn't really do anything - it was really to the credit of a few students who reached out to her.

Well, wouldn't you know it...this past Friday my students wanted to go have lunch together after class. We went to a nearby place and had chirashi (apparently it's popular right now). Afterward, one of the woman invited me to come see her doll display (since they're taken down before Girls Day on March 3 or else their daughters will have back luck in their love life). So I got to visit a real Japanese home, see the display and hear firsthand from her 38-year-old, single daughter about the pros and cons of this tradition (ex: these dolls were made by her grandmother as a special gift upon her birth to bring her a good husband and fortune...but, when her mom sets them out every February, she is reminded of how "late" she is).

So I got my wish and I got a chance to realize how lucky I am...sure, my mom has been pressuring me for grandkids since menarche, but in general we only feel pressure from ourselves to get married. Rie (the daughter) said that Japan has a negative view of women - that they must get married to satisfy men (which I knew, but it was nice to hear it from someone who knows what they're talking about). The poor girl doesn't seem to be interested (and she is doing fine on her own...she travels, has a variety of skills, she is bilingual, and she is one of few trained kimono makers). I forget how many rights we have. Seems like we want more and more, so we are constantly looking forward and never looking back to see where we've been.

In conclusion...Japan is rich with tradition, which I envy. But Japan is also rich with societal pressures, which I can do without.

Jen's Visit

2008-02-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

My first peak at Japanese blossoms...early bloomers, apparently

Sushi variation (chirashi)...mmm seaweed sprinkles

Sayaka, bowling in Shinsaibashi

This past week Jen Schiedel, my predecessor by two years, came to Osaka. At first I wasn't looking forward to her visit because I was so depressed after Brian left. I just wanted to be alone and mope. But it turned out to be one of the best weeks I've had here so far.

Jen had my job in 2005-2006, so she had a lot of advice for me. I wish she had come sooner, but given I still have 5 more months here, her advice will still be useful. Her company also encouraged me to get off my butt and reconnect with some of my favorite students. We went bowling, had a sleepover, went shopping, etc.

This week made me realize how much time I've wasted being depressed and tired and lazy. I spent the last 5 months telling myself I had a whole year to travel, make friends, learn Japanese, and sort out my post-Japan plans. This week also made me realize my time isn't up. I still have another 5 months to accomplish those goals. And, even if I don't, I know this year was not a waste. I've already learned more and made more connections in these past 5 months than I ever thought possible. Who knows what will be added to that experience in the next 5.

Back to my lonesome

2008-02-12T20:55:00.000-08:00

[more photos in my photo blog]

Brian's trip came and went much faster than I predicted. He and I both admitted how awkward we felt meeting at the airport - I was so used to his electronic voice and image on Skype. The real Brian was much taller and mobile than Skype Brian. And it had been so long since I had held his hand that it took me a while to feel like a girlfriend (fiancee) again.

However, by day 2 I felt like he was my best friend again. We visited Nara, Kyoto, a nearby shrine, the aquarium, a city ferris wheel, a floating observatory of the city, and okonomiyaki restaurant, and more. He got to meet a lot of my students who came to pick him up at the airport and those who came over for a wii and nabe (winter stew) party. But most of all, we just watched movies and lounged around, taking advantage of my warm living room (as Brian brought western NY weather with him on his visit...it never snows in Osaka...until he arrived).

It was great having him here - not only because I love him and needed a dose of face-to-face contact - but because he noticed everything. I was like that when I first arrived, but slowly the novelty wore off and I started walking through the streets like a zombie, completely unaware of how I got from point A to point B. Brian, on the other hand, pointed out the people, the buildings, the differences between American and NY (given almost everything he said was negative because country boys have no chance of survival in booming Osaka).

After a sad goodbye at the airport (like a band aid ripping off, we made it quick), I fell right back into my zombie-ness. I rode the train home and hardly noticed a thing (except how sunny it was once Brian left and took his weather with him). Not only was it miserable walking back into an empty apartment, but also realizing how boring and unobservant I am without companionship.

Only 5 more months...

Notes

2008-01-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

I had a pretty uneventful weekend/week/month. I have been coasting through recently, partially because my schedule has been so light (the semester is finished after today and most of my major obligations have been finished for a while) and also because I have been distracted by Brian's upcoming visit. I teach, eat, and sleep - with a little bit of tv time in between.

Last night I finally got off my butt and went out to Yao to see Johanna and to meet her replacement, Jen. Honestly, every time we hang out I can't believe we don't hang out more. We get along so well and talk a mile a minute with each other (unbelievable, I know). Maybe it's just that we've found someone else to reminisce with about America - but there seems to be more than just that (I mean, I don't especially like most Americans I've come across in Japan). It's too bad she is leaving in March. I feel like there was a lot of time wasted and very little chance we'll hang out back in America. However, she and I had a great talk about friends that drift in and out of your life - how valuable they can be despite their temporary nature (of course we weren't talking about each other, but it applies).

That was about the extent of my January adventures. Good Italian food with friends. I did have an interesting few weeks at church. The pastor is growing on me, as are his messages. He has been discussing Creation and the corresponding theories. He has done an excellent job (in my opinion) of objectively presenting conflicting theories about a 7-day creation. It really made me question my own beliefs (as unstable and vague as they already are) and challenged me to see the good in the others. However, I noticed something interesting. Over the past two weeks, I saw someone taking notes on the messages. However, they were really just copying down verses from Genesis along with notes - a mile ahead of the pastor. Why? Because they already knew what the answer was, and their opinion - written in ink - was not going to change simply by hearing a 30-minute sermon by some liberal guy. Ugh. I found myself really angry watching this person scribble notes to her own sermon in her head - clearly drowning out the pastor's words. There's absolutely no chance of learning something new. There's no room left on the page if we have the outline filled in before we hear the other side of the story. I guess I do the same all the time - I'm just too lazy to write it down.

Just like an Olympian

2008-01-14T03:14:00.000-08:00

I just spent 2 days and over $500 on an unexpected venture to Nagano, Japan. One of my co-workers spontaneously invited me to go. I had no equipment and less than a comfortable budget, but I accidentally said yes before getting all the details. I was just excited that she invited me to join her.

The price estimate was over $200 off...the trip was an hour longer because we got on the wrong highway...the first day there was a blizzard...and they served fish for every meal. BUT I am so glad I went. It was gorgeous, I had so many firsts, and I was doing pretty well by day 2. Too bad I have no strength or feeling left in my tail bone, wrists, neck or knees...

The trip ended up being with 3 experienced snowboarders, so they made me stay back and take a lesson - good idea. However...they had no English speaking teachers, but she still insisted I try. So I did. The teacher could say "Lefto" and "Righto"...but beyond that, I just relied on watching him....Which was difficult given the blizzard (do keep in mind that I had no idea it was a blizzard...I just figured when you go thousands of meters into the mountains, it was bound to be snowy). Needless to say, it took me and my peer about 2 hours to get down once. The worst part was starting and stopping, starting and stopping. I mean, falling sucked too (as my tail bone will attest), but I am not a strong person. By the 3rd time trying to lift myself back up off the ground, my arms were dead. It was so embarrassing being so weak (the other student was a guy...he fell just as much, but had no problem jumping right back up).

Anyway...we finally made it down, frozen and sore and exhausted. I met up with the others for a late lunch and found out that they had only been down once too - they said the weather was too bad to be boarding in. Good to know!

I went to an onsen (Japanese public bath/hot spring) with the fellow teacher that night. It wasn't too bad because I didn't let myself chicken out, just stripped down as fast as possible and thanked God for the surplus of steam! I will admit it was incredibly nice after a long day in the snow. My muscles appreciated it.

Day two was MUCH better. I went off on my own again while the others went to the highest lift. I could actually see where I was going, I learned (by trial and error) how to turn and how to slow down (the teacher hadn't forgotten those details, but it's hard to "show" how to shift your weight, especially in a blizzard). I also made it a complete time down without falling! I almost cried with joy. Oh, and I made it down about 5 or 6 times in the same amount of time I went down once the previous day.

It was a huge waste of money and my body is in terrible pain, but I would definitely do it again...

Times like these

2008-01-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

My biggest regret of coming to Japan is simply that I don't have the option of coming home when something bad happens. I want to be there for my Mom when she's having her multiple crises. I want to be in Bradford for the Camerons. I want to be there for the bad and for the good. It sucks being close to someone and not knowing what to do or say to help them. It sucks even more not even having the chance.

If nothing else, it's times like these that get me off my butt to do what I can from so far away. Mending friendships, getting back in touch, calling home, remembering old friends, preserving new ones...Not wasting time. I thank Alissa for that.

Q: Wanna know how to get there?

2008-01-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

Kelly just left to visit family friends, and so begins my alone time for recovery and reflection from the past week or so. It was amazing, scary, relaxing, stressful, beautiful, ugly, and draining. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing (except maybe pack lighter). It would be too overwhelming for you if I wrote a huge entry about it all, so maybe I can break it up day by day and you can read a small segment each time. I will also post my 800+ photos and videos (or maybe just a sample of them) on my photo blog/you tube, so check that out if you're a slow reader ;).

12/22: Kelly and I spent that cold, rainy day shopping for last minute necessities and cramming as much as possible into our suitcases before heading off to the airport. The wait seemed unbearable, and after a long delay we decided to pass time recording our first video log in the restroom. Ironically, that one-minute clip almost made us miss our flight!
We gained a few hours flying to Bangkok, so as we landed it was still the 22nd, but we were exhausted. Luckily, the airport was fairly easy to navigate and exit, though the taxi service was overwhelming. That was our first glimpse of how crazy Thailand can be and how desperate its people sometimes are. Hundreds of people swarming around neon cars, bartering over mere cents, and bringing out the most hectic and dishonest sides of humanity. We eventually crawled into our own brightly colored cab and watched the driver subtly unplug the meter (we had agreed upon a price before getting in like the guidebooks told us to). We soon found out that the driver had no idea where Asha Guest House was, though we got a great tour of all the popular allies in Bangkok. Eventually we arrived (an hour and a half later) to our oasis. It was exotic, if nothing else. A gold fish pond and fountain, gold satin blankets, Buddhas on the wall. However, the hard bed and the howling of strays were anything but peaceful and relaxing. Good thing we only stayed there two nights.

12/23: I had many firsts this day: tuk tuk rides, bartering for jewelry, Thai temples, sky train, foreign movie theater (and standing ovation for HM the King beforehand), and more. It was probably one of my least favorite days, though still memorable. I was bitter at people's dishonesty and the fact that everyone really was a salesperson (we had been warned). However, there were also bright spots. One Thai woman practiced her English on us while trying to plan out our entire outline based on her recommendations. Of course, she was marketing to us too, but in a genuine attempt to be helpful.

12/24: This day really redeemed Bangkok for me. We were crushed when we discovered our flight to Phuket wasn't until that evening, and both dreaded spending another day in Bangkok. Luckily, we stumbled upon a park one stop away from the hostel. Palm trees, swings, paddle boats, young couples, and virtually no tourists. We could have stayed there all day, but we eventually had to check out of our hostel. On the way there, we unfortunately witnessed a man get hit by a car. It reminded us just how overpopulated and dangerous Bangkok is.

12/25: It was by far the most unconventional Christmas ever. We spent it on a beach, watching hundreds of crabs and children play in the sand, diving into waves, climbing over rocky shores, and sipping drinks from recycled glass bottles. After sufficient charring, we had pedicures and a nice lunch. We spent the afternoon touring Phuket Town, known for it's European architecture, and then ventured up the steep Rang Hill to watch the sunset. By the end of the day we were sore and burned and tired, but exchanging stockings in our cozy beds at The Backpacker hostel put the cherry on top of our tropical Christmas together.

12/26: This might have been my favorite day of the trip. We spent the day on a boat, eating fantastic food, meeting tons of natives, and exploring lagoons and caves in canoes. A little rain did not dampen our spirits...what could dampen my spirits after coming face to face with a wild monkey, spying on mud skippers, and discovering glow-in-the-dark plankton after sunset? It was perfect.

12/27: We solemnly left our Phuket oasis to return north, this time to Chiang Mai. I would say it was a mix of Bangkok's city life and Phuket's exotic scenery. Not quite the jungle, but more green than polluted Bangkok. Besides the long, torturous walk to find our abandoned, oh so comfortable hostel (and the creepy woman who ran it), the city was beautiful - centered around a moat and crowded with school children and monks. We went to the much anticipated Night Bazaar, spending a ton on jewelry, spices, material, clothes, and more. It was insane but exciting.

12/28: We got up early to grab a yummy breakfast and venture to Maesa Elephant Camp in the mountains. We rode a big 20-year-old male elephant and were guided by his 17-year-old partner (who was so proud to show us a few tricks along the way). We watched a mom and her baby, posed for pictures with the friendliest of the herd, and watched a show - including harmonicas, painting, darts, soccer, and heavy lifting. They were not only agile and intelligent, but also humorous and goofy. I love elephants, and I loved seeing the smiles and bows of their proud trainers.
That night, we rode a bus to Chiang Rai in the very north of Thailand. We stayed with some missionaries who are friends of Kelly's parents. They were hosting a youth Christmas sleepover, so it felt like I'd traveled back in time to my youth group days or intruded upon game night in the Quads at Roberts. Either way, it was bittersweet to interact with young Americans and Thais for a night of games and relaxing.

12/29: This was a hectic, messy day. The missionaries were about as disorganized as my own family, which was actually kind of nice. Though we wasted much of the day and didn't get to see all we wanted, we still got to sit back and relax and NOT be in charge of the routine, which was a nice break from the previous days. We went to the Golden Triangle, and overlook of where Laos, Burma, and Thailand meet. We also learned a lot about the King and visited his Mother's beloved garden in the mountains. We ended the day with a dinner outing and one last visit to Rai's own mini bazaar - surprisingly more crowded and expensive that Mai's.

12/30: On this final day, we finally saw the other side of Thailand. We went to church with an Aka tribe. Males on one side, females on the other. We sat through a service even the missionaries struggled to understand (the female pastor spoke to her congregation in Aka, not Thai). After the long, but fascinating service (complete with powerful and youthful hymns), we toured the village, sampled homemade rice snacks from one man, and watched the children play on a huge, bamboo swing. Kelly gave it a try, and was successful. It was great to see a Christian community that retained its cultural values and traditions. I have been so frustrated witnessing mini American churches in Namibia and now here in Osaka. I wanted to see proof that when the gospel is spread, it can be spread in a pure form and not contaminated with the deliverers' own culture. I saw that in Chiang Rai.
After a much needed nap, Kelly and I took an overnight flight home to Osaka. The frigid cold was not the warm greeting we wanted, but Kelly and I did notice that it felt more like home and more familiar than before we left. Maybe being somewhere even more foreign and exotic than Japan was just what we needed to regain some confidence in and loyalty to our temporary home.

12/31: Kelly and I weren't finished yet. We went out on the town and accidentally explored my neighborhood for a shrine. Finally we found what we'd been looking for: Sumiyoshi Shrine was packed with thousands of families and young groups and couples. It was like an American carnival - haunted houses, games, food, and shops. So after sufficient snacking and screaming, we gathered around the sardine packed shrine for whatever would happen next (as far as we knew, the Japanese simply visit the shrine to pray before midnight, so we'd already been surprised). I tuned in to my cell phone tv to find a countdown, and sure enough, in step with Tokyo, the crowd around us counted down (I couldn't think quick enough in Japanese to join them). Kelly and I found anonymity even among the thousands, shared our resolutions and celebrations in English. A few girls wished us "Happy New Year!" ( a much appreciated gesture). It was fantastic getting away from this mundane culture, but then returning with new appreciation to end this crazy year and begin a new year together in our new home. Time flies.

A: A Tuk Tuk!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

Kelly and I had an amazing Christmas, without snow. In fact, we each got a nice sunburn to bring back. This morning we went to Karon beach and had a blast. It was cheap, beautiful, and warm. After sufficient swimming time, we ventured Phuket Town to look at the architecture (famous) and trek up Rang Hill to watch the sun set over the city. We also ate Thai food (finally)! And I didn't even get sick (yet). We didn't succumb to tourist traps at all (except splurging on a pedicure - a whole $5), we got amazing pictures, and we encountered several gorgeous babies.

Tomorrow we will be kayaking off an island north of Phuket all afternoon and ending the day with a sunset cruise and a Thai seafood dinner on the water. I expect more sunburn and sore feet, but it will definitely be worth it. I would post pictures, but I signed on to the computer without a drive for my camera :( Do check out Kelly's blog, and I will try to post some soon.

As much fun as we are having NOT in NY, I do miss you all. There is something to be said about getting away on a vacation, but there is also a lot of worth in tradition and normalcy. Merry Christmas everyone :)

1 city down, 3 to go...

2007-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kelly and I survived Bangkok, but just barely. To quote an expert (aka Traci), it is "overcrowded and over polluted." Given it was extremely exciting and "omoshiroi," we were severely taken advantage of by tuk tuk drivers gallore, treated to mattresses fit for a king who likes to sleep on pavement, and forced to feed pigeons who didn't know they were eploiting tourists.

On the bright side, we got to see a giant buddha, an amazing park, and National Treasure in English (after we all paid homage to the youthful king). We visited on election weekend, so no alcohol. We found some great food and shopping, but it took forever to get around. We also witnessed a man get hit by a car, and we still aren't sure whether or not he is okay.

Overall, yesterday was extremely stressful and tiring, but today we spent all morning in an oasis of green - riding in a paddle boat and spying on Thai lovebirds - and then relaxed in the airport playing Dutch Blitz. Now we are in Phuket, and successfully checked in to our MUCH nicer hostel (we have mattresses AND pillow cases). Tomorrow, we will spend Christmas exploring beaches and fine food. We are both homesick and feeling very short on holiday cheer, but Phuket will make up for it in sunshine.

Merry Christmas everyone!

less than an hour to go!!

2007-12-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

2 days to go????

2007-12-20T04:13:00.001-08:00

I have no idea how it is already Thursday night. Where did the week go?

Monday: I did a heck of a lot of shopping and teaching.

Tuesday: Annual Christmas chapel. Dan warned me that despite the beautiful candlelit atmosphere, it would be boring. He was half right. I couldn't understand a word of the long sermon, but the Christmas music, candles, tree, and carols was definitely not boring. I needed that quick dose of Christmas to get me through the week. That night I had dinner with Tomoko san (who got me slippers for Christmas....men's, because she couldn't find any women's big enough for me...). Then we headed off to my Japanese class entrance interview. I passed ;)...which everyone does, it is just a matter of getting a spot in the class. Our text is all in hirigana/katakana, which means I will be the slowest reader there, but also that I will leave being a ton faster at grocery shopping.

Wednesday: I don't really want to revisit this day - it is naturally chaotic because I teach all day long, but this was especially bad because I had to make at least 100 sugar cookies and frosting and buy a secret santa gift. However, it was all well worth it. A few of the girls visited throughout the day to help me bake, and our English Christmas party was a blast. I got a bag of toys, so my Christmas is already merry.

Thursday: We had two Christmas parties for Dan's English students and finally got my package from Brian. He sent me an anniversary gift along with 48 candy canes I requested. Unfortunately, they didn't arrive in time for the party, and only 28 arrives in tact. However, I had just enough time to glue on red pom-poms and googly eyes and pipe-cleaner antlers like it was my job. I took those with me to ESS and the girls were thrilled. Then I took a ridiculously long nap before Dan and I went to investigate another Japanese class down the road. It was fruitless, but I was able to find and buy a snickers bar on the way home, so overall it was a successful day.

Forecast for next week: I predict I will be living it up in Thailand, but I could be wrong. Have fun with the blizzards ;)...

I ate octopus. and I liked it.

2007-12-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

mmm...

The biggest tree in the world

This is for JJ :)

It has been an insane week.

Monday-Wednesday were business as usual (bonus: Wednesday I got to see the Kindergarten Christmas concert :D), but Thursday I got to go to Universal Studios Japan with 4 other American high school students. It was great, given it was a rainy day and that kept most of the crowds away. There is nothing more amusing than seeing the Terminator 3-D with Japanese voice overs. I felt like a kid again, blowing money on caramel corn and roller coasters. And it was neat to be surrounded by a merged American-Japanese world. Sites that I recognize, but with the obvious Japanese flare. Like Hello Kitty walking around instead of Mickey Mouse. We fortunately came during the Christmas season, so I was treated to English carols, dancing snowmen, and even an Elvis-impersonating Rudolph.

On Friday I hosted a Takoyaki party in my apartment. FINALLY I got to have the girls over to just hang out. It was great. I dreaded the whole eating deep fried octopus tentacles...but I will admit that I loved it. It might even be my favorite Japanese food so far. Erika, Sayaka, Keiko, Miki, and Yuchi took care of everything and tried teaching me how to fry and roll the balls. I failed miserably, but had fun doing it. They also had the chance to talk to Brian (and JJ) via Skype for a little bit. It was great seeing the girls as friends rather than students, and I hope they felt the same way.

This upcoming week is going to be insane. I will be attending who knows how many Christmas parties, finishing up classes for the year, finishing Thailand plans with Kelly, and then flying to toasty Bangkok on Saturday. We will be back in time to spend New Year's Eve here in Osaka and hopefully take part in some local celebrations. I am homesick, yes. What I wouldn't do for some Hooker/Nobles baked goods, putting thousands of Christmas cards in students' mailboxes, and helping decorate the Christmas tree. But since I can't be there, I wouldn't rather be anywhere else but here. I am kept busy and I am having a great time teaching my students and friends about my traditions for a change. It's not half bad.

I'm watching Japanese TV

2007-12-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

These are the ladies who are "shy and serious," the ones I spent weeks dreading teaching!

...because Dan said it would help me begin picking up more of the language. He said to just have it on in the background all day so I am exposed to it and slowly absorb it. Clearly not vocabulary, but maybe intonation and all that. But I am really good at tuning it out. Right now a young girl is talking to a puppet who is apparently an old man with a bowl haircut. I think they are talking about animals, but they seem so sad. It's hard to tell with puppets.

I've had an eventful week. I had my last 2 adult classes on Friday. It was surprisingly depressing, but one class even gave me a present (a really cute pair of half-gloves. I'm not sure why...). But with the end of those 2 classes came the start of my new tutoring group: the two girls who will be attending Roberts next year. I have been looking forward to this for a while. They are both Kindergarten Education majors, so neither are fluent in English. In fact, I have to back track quite a bit in my thinking because I found myself teaching and speaking the same way i do with my other students (who are English majors and have been in tutoring all year). It's difficult, but fun. They are going to be coming to my apartment every Friday night for some crash courses in everyday English conversations. These lessons will be more fun for me, though, knowing that the students will actually be using them. I can fashion my lessons easier, too, knowing what types of situations they will be in at RWC. And I will get to see them once I am back in the states, so I know these will be lasting relationships. Hence, I have been looking forward to this class.

I went Christmas shopping today. Actually, I went hunting for candy canes (which they don't sell anywhere!). I finally experienced the craziness of it. Having lived in the middle of Missouri or Pennsylvania, I have never exactly witnessed a "Jingle All the Way" Christmas (You know, where Arnold fights to get his son some highly demanded robot toy?). I can't imagine everyone was actually buying gifts for all their family and friends (since it's not the same holiday here), yet there were still a million people on the streets! It must be chaos in NYC. I never did find those candy canes, but had plenty of distractions to make me feel better (like $5 shirts).

Kelly and I are going to Thailand in 2 weeks!!! I am going kayaking at sunset, watching baby elephants play darts, and buying wicked cheap silk. All for less than a trip to Disney World.

Oh, and Brian and I just turned 3 years old yesterday :).

Have you ever heard a deer's mating call?

2007-11-25T04:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I have! It's actually quite pathetic and wimpy for such a large, graceful (even when they're rolling off your windshield) animal. Today I went to Nara, a nearby town and the original capital of Japan (apparently Kyoto was 2nd). It was gorgeous and it helped me lay to rest a bit of my jealousy toward Kelly (her pictures are amazing). Kanai san and Fuyuki san took me for a great lunch (okoge) and a tour of all the temples, shrines, and parks. The leaves were amazing - Japanese maples blow New York's out of the water - and the weather was perfect and the crowds were minimal. I even got to feed and pet a few of Nara's famous tame deer.

On Friday and Saturday (that's right, I'm working backwards. Try to keep up.), OCC held a school festival. The girls competed in a talent show (except here that means the entire class competes in a group, more of that communal culture showing itself) and had carnival booths. I spent a lot of money on junk, but got to hang out with a lot of the girls outside of class, which is always encouraging. I always ate a giant squid tentacle.

On Friday night, I went with the Seike family to their church's performance of Handel's Messiah (in Japanese). It was great, but 3 hours. So, that's a once in a lifetime endeavor.

Thanksgiving was horrible. On top of issues at home, it was lonely and boring.

Wednesday we had a Thanksgiving party for the girls. It was crazy busy, and while only about 20 showed up for dinner - by the end of the event, there were probably 70 girls packed in. It was great to see them getting involved when I know they were incredibly busy preparing for the festival. I like to think that they are more and more interested in English, which makes me feel like my job is not in vain.

Well, that's where I will have to end because I can't remember anything before. You can only pack so much in before the rest starts to leak out. That's why I take so many pictures.

As homesick as I am today...

2007-11-22T01:08:00.000-08:00

I am still thankful.

*For technology (which makes distance seem bearable)
*For universal emotions (like crying when your friend tells you she finally got a teaching job...now that is friendship)
*For extra moms (as crazy as they are, my Japanese co-workers sure do take good care of me)
*For wool socks (cheap at Walmart)
*For an elementary school right outside my window (despite of and because of the noise)
*For Christmas lights (and all of the other western trends that pop up now and then and remind me of home)
*For really long letters and emails (that make me miss late night talks with my girls)

Arigato

2007-11-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight Shigetomi sensei never called and wasn't at his office at 7:15pm. So I made my way back home, depressed because I couldn't really go alone (I've only ridden there once and it was a blur). But as I put my key in the lock, I was ashamed...because no one was making me go, I was going to stay home. UGH! That's how I have always been when it comes to church or volunteering...When no one is going with me to hold me accountable, I have no motivation. So, I rode...without thinking....I didn't know where I was going! But, by the grace of God or repressed memories, I kind of just ended up there...

Tonight was the wrong night to come without an interpretor. Kanai sensei, 76, died on Monday. He was the founder of the center. So everyone was solemn and reserved, and I doubt they enjoyed having to try to explain everything to me by writing down broken English on paper. He had been sick (a smoker and drinker until changing his life around in the 80's) for a while and had been writing the church regularly until November 12th, 2003. By then, he was too sick to continue writing, so he sent his final letter. Exactly 4 years later, he died. They said (as far as I could derive) that when he died, he kept saying "Arigato, arigato" and "his face looked like peace" ("like Cassie," she said!...maybe I misunderstood that part...). They read his letter aloud, but no one tried translating it. However, one girl (Junko..who never introduced herself to me and seemed a bit unfriendly), studied it by herself for a long time.

As we began distributing the food, Junko pulled me aside. She said (in great English!), the letter said: (paraphrase) "Thank you for everything. Please do not have a funeral for me. People die here everyday, so instead give back to them." Turns out unfriendly Junko had been focusing on translating the letter for me all that time! She was very sweet, but kept whispering when we talked and said "shh!" when I asked how she learned English (very secretive about it?!!? maybe she didn't think she was good enough? I couldn't figure it out).

Anyway, tonight, for the first time, we had leftovers. I was SO excited. On my way home, I always pass several homeless and always feel sad that I didn't sneak any back for them. So tonight I asked (through Junko) if I could take some of the leftovers. They gave me a lot and said I could eat it if I had extra! (or maybe they said don't eat it? I just heard the verb "Eat"). So on my way back I gave some out, but held on to the last two rice balls for a man I see every day (Kelly should remember him...he has the longest dreads ever and is usually chilling at 7eleven). After searching a few blocks (I was determined), I finally found him picking up cigarette butts on the sidewalk down the street from 7eleven. I gave him the food and he said, "Thank you very much!" He spoke better English than most of my students!

I love Wednesday.

Quick update

2007-11-11T02:20:00.001-08:00

>Monday I got a spankin' new ride (see below), and took her for a test drive as soon as possible.
>Tuesday I experienced my first earthquake (however brief...a room shaking is still scary as all get out).
>Wednesday I went back to the feeding group and continued my training as a professional rice ball roller. This time Yoshi was not there, so I had no English speakers except Shigetomi sensei (the chaplain who brought me). It was good, because I had to strain even harder to try to pick up any of the language.
>Thursday I did nothing but teach ESS (English Club) how to play Psychiatrist (made me miss the quads...). But that's when I had a revelation that I need to get off my butt, learn some Japanese, and make some friends.
>Friday my adult classes went great, though I slipped up and told my beginners that they were old women (in all due respect...). They laughed (besides, they are old women). I also got an invite with two staff to go to Nara soon! (It's a cute tourist town, but the extent of my interest is in the rumor that deer are tame and hang out on the sidewalks...).

This weekend I've been a bum, just trying to find a wedding photographer and keep up on Prison Break. Nothing ground breaking or breathtaking this week, so stay tuned...

Christmas in November

2007-11-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

I GOT A NEW BIKE!

I ate at McDonalds!

2007-11-04T05:05:00.001-08:00

The most unprofessional news crew ever.

Kelly, a tourist in denial.

James the Hedgehog.

Kanami, one of my favorite witches ever.

I haven't written in a while, so I will quickly run through my last week or so (if that's possible for me).

>The Halloween party was fun. But no one actually dresses up here, just puts on Halloween-esque accessories, so my basketball player costume wasn't that impressive. But the hot dog roast and apple pie a la mode made my day!

>Classes are ok. I am beginning to like the adult classes more and more, even if they are rushed and stressful. I enjoy the pressure and feel like a real teacher. Not to say I don't enjoy my girls. I need to invest more time into planning each tutoring session, because each group is at a different level and one lesson plan isn't cutting it.

>Kelly came down this weekend and we visited Kyoto Saturday. Thank goodness we went with laid back attitudes and short to-do lists, because we got terribly lost and everything was so hard to find. My preconceptions were really off base. Kyoto is indeed an actual city with buildings, people, and traffic. It was not a street of shrines, temples, castles, and souvenir shops. darn it. as soon as we arrived, we were interviewed about our experience in Kyoto....maybe that was a hint that we were running behind schedule? We did succeed in accidentally finding a McDonalds, visiting 3 or 4 beautiful shrines/temples, and checking out a cute craft store where I picked up my first deck of Japanese playing cards :) I plan to get one in every city. Of course, Kelly's stay was all too short, but I enjoyed the adventure and staying up way too late to talk about college and our future trip to Thailand. ^_^

>Today I visited Johanna and Kyoko in Yoa again. I went to their church for an outreach event (we watched Night at the Museum and ate really good sweets). I didn't plan on staying long, but they invited me to eat, so I said ok. I'm so glad I did. I forgot how much fun it is to hang out with them. Kyoko speaks perfect English, and they act like sisters, and they always teach me good inside facts about Japan and teaching. We went out to a barbecue place (which I expected to be like Dinosaur BBQ...silly me). There was a stove/grill right on the table. They bring you an entire cow and you grill it up. It was fantastic. Then we went shopping/exploring at their huge mall and I bought a Disney puzzle and an ice cream cone at a place much like our Cold Stone. mmm.

Now I am home and terribly behind on lesson plans, but of course blogging is more important ;)

Enough Said...

2007-10-27T03:47:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-10-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the Japanese get started on holiday marketing even earlier than we do. I was told that maybe the store owners don't really know the significance of Christmas, but put the decorations on display simply because they are pretty and appealing. Sounds like America ;)

This week was tiring. I got a lot of negative feedback from students (which is good...I ask for their advice so I can improve), so I've been self-conscious. Also, it has been cold and rainy. I've been feeling sick, and my mind is moving slow. Come Wednesday, I just wanted to sleep after my busiest day of the week. A few weeks ago, I had told the chaplain I was interested in volunteer work in Osaka, and he told me that his brother-in-law works at a feeding center for the homeless on Wednesday nights, and invited me to go. Last week I simply never reported or investigated, so this week I knew I should at least show up to his office to arrange to go in the near future. However, when I opened the door, his face lit up and he said, "Ah! So you want to go tonight? Meet me here at 7." Don't you just hate when your manipulative plans are ruined by happy people?

Well, I was mad. I just wanted to sleep! My feet and nose and eyes and ears and throat hurt. But I showed up at 7. And I am really glad I did. I had an amazing time, as amazing as it can be while examining poverty in your neighborhood. The center is no bigger than a lounge in minor (and much narrower). We crammed 10 or so bodies around a table, and got started making about 300 rice balls. One man said I was a very good rice ball maker, and would make a good Japanese mom anytime. Impossible, technically, but I appreciated the compliment :) After an hour of dipping my hands in water, rubbing salt over them, and picking up steaming rice balls to pack tightly, my hands were raw but I was having fun. (It was sort of like making snowballs, but a little more rice and a little less snow). We then packaged them up with a hard boiled egg and laid out some fleeces. After a tea break and some political discussions (I just ate pears and kept my mouth shut, obviously), we were ready to go.

We each took a discrete bag of food and a few jackets and went out around 9pm. Shops close around this time, so the homeless materialize from wherever they trekked during the day to set up camp on the sidewalks. Some had tents, some had tarps draped over a bike or a dumpster, some had some cardboard boxes, and some simply curled up on the ground. I only saw one woman the entire night, but no one really had an explanation for me. Maybe, though, they were sleeping elsewhere. As we walked, the chaplain brought to my attention that many stores - though closed by 9- still had a lamp on in the doorway or window. I had never really seen a red light district with my own eyes...

The food ran out far too soon, and I felt horrible as we approached a very populated area with only a few items left. The manner in which they are distributed is something we should imitate: you must get down to eye level with whoever you approach and say "dozo, konbanwa, daijobi desuka?" Mostly, no one replies. But occasionally, a man will light up and engage in a short conversation. One man told me "thank you" in English and seemed mighty proud of himself :) Point being, the crew was very careful not to treat this like charity, but to instead approach each individual, ask how they are, and offer a treat. I know in general the Japanese way seems overly concerned with face saving, but maybe in this case it is needed. We avoid eye contact. When we do help, we walk over and throw a quarter in a cup and walk away, proud. This groups' method was so discrete, so sensitive. I felt like I was simply walking around and handing out treats to anyone I saw, not hunting out homeless to bring salvation.

At the end of the night, I felt bad because we hardly brushed the tip of the iceberg. The chaplain says that our area is the most concentrated in Japan because the government has programs here to help - like temp. job placement or allowances, but because Osaka's economy is not very good right now, there aren't many jobs available. He said the homeless also find safety here. That's something you'd never here in America. Anyway...I didn't really conclude anything about the economy or social system of Japan from that once experience, but I did conclude that I like the attitude that accompanies volunteering here. They didn't seem proud - like me - but simply like they were doing their job, doing what they were responsible for...Though I did catch one boy smiling an awful lot after handing out a few coats to especially cold men...how dare he! ;)

Manich Friday

2007-10-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

Keiko
Chika

Yesterday was one of the craziest days so far, even though I only had 2 classes. Those two classes were my first adult education classes...and I was so nervous. First of all, the staff in charge speak very little English, so it was difficult to even prepare for the courses. Also, it poured all day which put a damper on my mood and seemed to make me late for everything. Also, because the courses are sponsored by the city, two representatives from the Ward's office (like our city halls) sat in for a bit and took pictures. On top of that pressure was the fact that 3 other OCC staff sat in (to support me, I guess, but it really just made me self-conscious).

The first class, beginners level, was great after all. I had been warned that they spoke little English, were scared, and probably wouldn't talk at first. However, they were great speakers (just needed a bit of prompting) and seemed really friendly and excited. Other than the fact that they are 10 older women, I kind of felt like I was teaching a kindergarten class that was pumped up for learning and excited about everything I said.

The second course, however, seemed scarier. It could be that it was much darker and rainier by the time it began, I was late because I was told the wrong building (turns out there is no basement in the library...just storage..oops), and the class was a bit more reserved. They were intermediate level, so they spoke better English, but they were also more confident in themselves, which means less reliant on me. They asked a lot of questions, but with a less childlike tone. They participated, but seemed too concerned with my judgment of their work. It felt like a serious college course where the students are educated, but much less enthusiastic by what I have to offer.

Again, the outside factors probably had a lot to do with it...but I definitely sensed a different atmosphere in each class. Either way, I survived! Then I took a long, deserved (I decided) nap.

That evening was the Cassie Welcome Party put on by the International Relations office and English Club. Turns out the party was more of a ceremony (I should have known!), but fun nonetheless. I gave a short slide show presentation of myself and took questions (most ended up being about Brian....), then participated in all sorts of Japanese games/traditions. I was the guest at a traditional tea ceremony put on by Chika and Yumi (on stage....in front of a crowd....that was bored watching some foreigner drink tea for 20 minutes, I bet). I got to dress up and mime Keiko perform kendo, Japanese fencing. I also learned about all sorts of Japanese toys from Miki, and I got to try them out (why does everything in this country have to be super advanced?! Don't they have bouncy balls??). I failed miserably in every case, but had fun. There was also food, but I hardly had a chance to eat. I must have taken 90 pictures....have to master my peace sign. That part was the best, I'd say, because the girls all approached me one on one and I felt like they were finally befriending me. They all promised to send me their pictures, so I will post them eventually.

It was a long day following an extremely long week, but I had fun and lived to tell about it.

[check out more pictures from the party on my photo blog]

I should be having a blast,

2007-10-12T00:40:00.000-07:00

but I actually feel kind of blah. I guess that's not true. I meet new people and learn new Japanese and do new things everyday, but I feel unaffected. More to do with me than my environment. Maybe because it is coming at me so fast, but I can't rake in much more or I have to push out the old. Like every new name I learn, I lose an old one. Every new word I learn, I forget another. Sensory overload...so my defense is to be comatose!

I think if I weren't broke (I haven't been paid yet, and I blew a lot of money on unexpected expenses up front) and if I knew a tiny bit more Japanese, I would be living it up in this city. Tennoji itself is amazing, and it's right out my door. But when I walk by concerts on the street, interesting smells coming from restaurants, or see cute little artists' shops, I have to keep walking cause 1) I'm broke and 2) I don't even know how to ask how much things cost. Hint to those ever venturing overseas: learn the language from a native speaker, because CDs and books and English speaking teachers don't do it right. I thought I knew how to ask directions, but everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when I speak. Maybe the accent is wrong? Maybe its too fast or too slow? Either way, I must not be saying it correctly.

I also am a bit down about some of the failed promises. I have no bike...I can borrow one from security if I'm feeling bold and if its not after 5pm. There were a lot of costs I wasn't warned about - an $80 cell phone the school asked me to buy, health insurance costs (which I thought was free), etc. I also have no office computer, which is fine- I can bring my laptop. But I don't actually have a desk - it's a shared space. So I hang out in my apartment a lot, which they don't want me to do - they want me to spend time in the CALC lab so I can connect with the students (if I could just remember their names!).

Either way, I am feeling more and more settled everyday. I'm also getting more and more laid back every day (good or bad? I don't know...). If I get lost on the subway, oh well. If I am a few minutes late, it's okay. If I have no plans on Saturday or if I am sooo busy it hurts on Sunday, so be it. This could be because everyone here is so forgiving and gracious to foreigners. But it could also be because everyone here is in such a hurry that I already feel sluggish in comparison, so its worsening naturally. This mean I will return to the states in a year either super fat, lazy, and apathetic. Or I will return 50 pounds lights, running everywhere with sore, tiny feet...

Anyway, I'm having a great time. I just wanted to record all the ups and downs honestly for anyone interested. I'm hoping as time goes by and I learn more Japanese, I won't feel completely zoned out in the city. Seriously...it's like walking through a movie on mute....with a really loud, distracting soundtrack...I know they are saying something. I know they are talking about things we talk about in our cities. I know they are eating and listening to music and buying clothes and getting on trains, but without understanding the language, I can't follow the plot. So I just listen to the loud music and keep walking. It's kind of fun sometimes, because I feel like I am a sociologist and this is my experiment. I can study everyone without them knowing it, because they can't understand me either. It's just that when I am tired from a long night class and just want to get home on the earliest train, I wish I knew how to ask which one it is.

Only 3 weeks??

2007-10-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Inside the home church...Meg, you like?

Our feast!

Today is my 3rd week anniversary in Osaka. I've experienced a lot already...homesickness, jet lag, awe, etc. This weekend was especially fun. Friday was pizza and movie night at the Parry's, and they bought white chocolate macadamia nut cookies :-D Then Saturday I finally gave in a played with James...I forgot how fun Legos were! But seriously, I did experience Japan a little bit this weekend...

Today I went to Tomoko's church (in Totsuma's - another OCC staff- house). It was nice, and I had two personal translators...we had lunch afterward and I actually like it! (curry stew and rice maybe?). To top it off, it was the pastor's birthday so we had chocolate cake! Afterward, Tomoko wanted to introduce me to Johanna, another American from her church. Well, she is amazing and invited me to spend the day at her apartment. I met her roommate and friends, and we had a great meal and good time talking. Johanna and I swapped stories and talked about Christianity and evangelism her (or lack thereof). Dinner was Oden, a spicy winter stew that cooks in the middle of the table while everyone digs in together. I even ate soy beans and nattoo (so I can mark it off the list for good, right Kelly?).

When the ladies found out I was engaged, they made me tell the story. It made me miss Brian a lot...and this weekend was his birthday. It kind of scares me that all these things are going on at home and I don't know about them...people are going on with their normal lives, but I kind of imagined that they would pause while I was away. Johanna said she forgot about the term shotgun (she has been here 2.5 years) and who the president was...that scares me! I mean, I don't care about politics, but what if I forget birthdays and inside jokes and all that?

I don't have much time to mope...I begin teaching for real tomorrow. I am glad because it has been boring...I mostly eat junk food and watch tv (though my English choices are limited). So I am excited to get busy again. However, I am a little scared...I've always felt and looked so young that I'm afraid the girls won't respect me. And I'm even more afraid of my adult classes. I also talk like a New Yorker now, and need to slooooooow dooooown. There are just so many little things I should have been working on these 3 weeks, but now I'm out of time. Here goes nothing...

School of Models

2007-10-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone here at OCC looks like they just stepped off the catwalk. I attended 3 classes today and repeated a game of introductions, and the entire time I was distracted by their style. Though every girl seemed like she had thrown on everything in her closet (cowgirl boots, knee high socks, tights, a mini skirt, 3 shirts, and 14 accessories), not one item appeared twice. So in three classes of ~25 girls, I think I saw more articles of clothing than I saw my entire Roberts career.

Anyway...fashion aside, today was great. Not all of the girls were friendly or curious, but most were. And of course, every class asked if I had a boyfriend, followed by "ooos" and "ahhhhs," followed by, "I am envious," or, "Does he have a friend?" Overall, today was not as embarrassing as I feared and got me pumped for tutoring and getting to know the girls better.

My favorite part of the day, however, was tea time with Tomoko. She spontaneously invited me for a date after reading my testimony for chapel (she is interpreting for me). I think she was more devastated than I am that my dad left our family, and wanted to talk about it. She bought us Starbucks' treats and made hot tea, and we chatted about dysfunctional families, my wedding, suicide rates in Japan, Christianity in Japan, and more. And as I left, she said "Goodbye my daughter!" She began working here right before I did, and I seriously can't imagine what this experience would be like if she weren't hired...she is definitely a Godsend (and I rarely consider people or events to be the will of God).

I will be heading to my first Japanese class tomorrow night, though this is really just an initial evaluation to determine which level I will be enrolled in (I could save them the trouble and just tell them "beginners," but it's important to follow protocol here...). I want to at least nail down my Katakana before then, but it is impossible! Advice: If you ever decide to move to Japan, learn Katakana before Hiragana. Despite what the experts say, Kelly and I agree that it is slightly more important to be able to buy food than to be able to spell out verb endings. I can't possibly focus on drinking if I can't distinguish juice from vinegar. ..

No news is good news...

2007-09-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

That's right...you don't have to live in Cali to have palm trees on your campus :-P

The Central building where I will spend most of my time...

What keeps me going: Babies holding hands in matching hats :-D

I sort of stopped posting, eh? Well, it is because I lose track of the days (I'm trying too hard to stay in step with NY time) and because nothing is happening here.

I did meet with all of the English teachers/International Relations dept/Adult Ed., and ironed out what exactly I traveled across the globe for. I finally met Dan Perry (I primarily TA for his English courses), since he had been at Roberts when I arrived here. He is American, so I can be sarcastic and know I'm understood.

I will be teaching a ton of TA groups and 2 adult classes, participating in the English club, organizing off campus/out-of-class English gatherings, speaking in chapel, and sitting around in the CALC Lab (like our Learning Center) in between my other duties to aid any girls with work or to simply talk to them in English. I will also be taking a weekly Japanese class. I can't wait to get started, but I'm also a little bummed because I thought I would have more free time. Really I will be out of the apartment 9-5 everyday and also some evenings. I mean, I shouldn't complain because this is a much better job with much better benefits than some alternative in Rochester, but I guess I was under the impression that I would have a lot of spare time to be by myself (and therefore get wedding planning done and catch up with all of you).

Who knows, maybe even with the 9-5 I will have a ton of spare time. I guess I won't release an official statement until after I begin working.

The Advetures of Cassie and Kelly

2007-09-24T03:06:00.000-07:00

breath taking flowers :)

real bamboo...and I touched it!

the "GREATER" panda, trapped in a glass box :(

Osaka Castle, rebuilt again after a very traumatic history

my favorite part of this weekend: jelly fish!

I think I took more pictures of babies than anything else this weekend...

This weekend was absolutely crazy. Kelly and I did more sightseeing and walking than I have done in my entire life. We visited Tennoji Park & Zoo, Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, and every mall this town has to offer (about 900). My feet are so sore, my camera battery drained, but I feel so refreshed. I needed that visit to remind me that I am not completely helpless, lost, and depressed here. Kelly, having been here 6 weeks now, is beginning to pick up the language and manners as well as the confidence to try out Japanese culture. She was such an encouragement just by being here and leading me through subway stations, escalators, menus, and more. I'm sad she had to leave, but definitely feeling great now that I am a bit more comfortable with my city/neighborhood and the year ahead.

We also visited an international church Sunday and a coworker's barbecue today. The service wasn't spectacular and the food was a bit much, but I made a lot of connections that I am excited about...I met some foreigners that are going through the same thing as me, and hopefully my new mini-support group will make the year fly by.

I don't want to bore you with pictures, so I just posted my favorite pictures from each spot (the rest are in my photo blog), and I am sure you can check out more on Kelly's blog as well.

Accomplished.

2007-09-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

Today I cleaned the apartment and organized it top to bottom (there is so much clutter here from the girls before). It finally feels like my place, and not a temporary home with everyone else's leftovers. I also figured out the whole trash thing...burnables in one bag, plastic wrappers in another, metals and glass in another, and cans in another (that last one is really an improvisation by Jill because people were going through her trash to get the cans out, so she finally just began putting them in a separate bag to take).

View Larger Map

I also nailed down where I am on a map (check out this Google satellite image...zoom out to see how big/crowded the city is...it's scary). I looked up a few things for Kelly and I to do this weekend, AND I went grocery shopping and made it back to campus all by myself :-D.

I also introduce myself in front of the Child Education majors today in chapel. It was scary because the girls were chatting the entire time, so I couldn't tell if they were talking about me or just ignoring me and talking in general. By the way they acted during the message, I think it is the latter. Today gave me a bit of purpose and a reminder of why I am here (even if I have no idea my assignment yet!): the girls here could care less about Christ, it's just another school to them. So I have to do my best to be a good representation of both Americans and Christians. It's hard enough expressing Christ in English, I'm a bit nervous about doing it in a language I don't comprehend. But then again, maybe that will help...

Pressed, but not crushed.

2007-09-19T16:11:00.001-07:00

I encountered, and killed, my first giant cockroach today.

I hate bikes.

2007-09-19T04:18:00.000-07:00

What everyone needs in the morning: a good bathing in a giant sink.

My department: Office of International Relations.

Tomoko and I had more adventures in the city today...opening a bank account, buying a cell phone, getting my own signature stamp (Japanese sign with stamps, not pens), and getting lost. It took forever to open the bank account because the teller thought I was an exchange student, not a teacher, and students cannot open an account for 6 months....then after visiting two cell phone stores and finally making up our minds, I couldn't purchase it without the proper forms from the city ward, which Tomoko will get tomorrow. Tomorrow is a holiday (as is every day in Japan), so the cell phone store is closed, so I can't get the phone until Friday, which is crucial if I'm to meet my guest (Kelly!). It was a very fruitless day, save for the stamp, and I feel even more insecure on a bike than yesterday (though today no blood was shed).

But today was also good. I talked to Bob, Meg, Mom, Brian, Kelly, Katie, Bethany, and more. I felt more comfortable with Tomoko, I was okay with being lost (given I was with her), I watched a movie in English, I didn't sleep all day, I figured out how to use the washer, and I ate actual food! I think my spirits are improving.

Tomorrow I have to introduce myself in chapel (first of 3 introductions), but I'm not nervous because I have Tomoko to interpret---there is something about translation. Certainly a lot is lost, but then again it serves as a great buffer between stupid things I say and eloquent things the Japanese say. Wish me luck!

Abeno-ku

2007-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Erika, Sayaka, Chika...My tourguides (minus Keiko)

OCC, Huge and spacious in comparison to its surroundings

Yesterday was my first full day here...and it was horrible. I woke up dozens of times at night because my internal clock was switched, and when I finally arose at 10, I just wanted a warm shower to calm me down. I spent an hour trying to get the hot water to work! Turns out I was adjusting the volume for and hour, but I finally got it after a few breakdowns.

I had a mini-tour of campus and my neighborhood (Abeno) with Erika, Chika, Keiko, and Sayaka. Erika is very outgoing and talkative, so her and I chatted the whole time. The others hardly spoke, but were friendly nonetheless. I have no idea half of what they showed me because they either couldn't explain it in English or we don't have things like that here (a slot parlor?). Good news is there is a huge grocery store/mall, post office, ATMs, and train station within 5-10 mins walking. That much I figured out. Oh! And there is a KFC right down the street....the Colonel is FAT...I wonder if that's how they see Americans :-P

Before the tour, OCC campus seemed small, cramped, and noisy. However, after the 2 hour tour of Abeno (I almost got hit by about 1,000 bicyclists), walking back into campus seemed so calm, spacious, and welcoming.

I am really overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise here...maybe once I can understand some of the language I won't be so bombarded. Then again, my English classes will bring some comfort...

I can't read my screen :(

2007-09-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

I think I am updating my blog, but since I don't read Japanese....who knows!

I have arrived safe and sound (fairly). I almost missed my flight in Honolulu (they rushed me off the plane and i ran through the airport to the gate where my last flight was waiting for me). I was the ONLY American on the plane...Besides being stared at the whole time, I was feeling sick, the stewardess told me my luggage didn't make it (I found out later it did!), and my buttocks is so numb I don't want to sit for the rest of my life. But alas, I arrived. The airport was humid, but relatively simple to get in and out of, and I was greeted by 4 students and Jill and James (her very friendly 8 year-old son), and the head of my department---With a giant welcome sign and flowers. :) Tomorrow the girls are coming over at 2pm and taking me around town and campus.

The apartment is old and small, but cute nonetheless...I think once I organize it a little and unpack, it will feel more like a home. But for now, I am going to sleep...it is about 11pm here, but 10am at home and I have been up since 7am at home....er....for a long time. I will be more reflective when I can think again....

En route, technically

2007-09-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

I guess today begins my journey to Osaka...though a few bumps in the road have already tainted the adventure. I'm sitting in Rochester Airport right now waiting 4 more hours until my flight to Detroit. Originally, I was flying to Detroit at 12:30, then straight to Osaka from there. Excellent, right? Well, since all flights to Detroit are delayed (Grace warned me about taking flights with short layovers in between), I would miss my connection. The NWA rep was great, though, and she tried her best to compensate. Now, I will get some free food, free hotel stay (in Minneapolis tonight), first class seats, and a trip to Honolulu (for an hour...)! I fly to Detroit, Minneapolis, Portland, Honolulu, then Osaka....I will arrive Sunday night Japan time (2 days from now either way). But good news: only one of my suitcases was overweight!

It was hard enough trying not to cry all morning with Brian, then all of this....I was happy I'd at least not have much time to think before arriving in Osaka, then crash for the night and sleep away the depression and jet lag....but now I have 2.5 days worth of traveling to contemplate and depress myself further.

I'm going to need a visit from Kelly pronto!

Once upon a time in Osaka...

24

37 hours...

Turn up the car radio...

Dear Kelly-chan,

My last rice ball

One week

I missed 10

Unemployed

Sayounara party

doyoubi/nichiyoubi

kinyoubi

mokuyoubi

suiyoubi

kayoubi

getsuyoubi

At least there were fireworks

These are a few of my favorite things...

Riot

Homecoming

Light's out

RWC Visit

Funions

2 months

Don't look under the vending machines

Good ol' Kobe

Just me?

One of those weeks

Golden Week

Everything I know, I learned from Stan and Kyle

an inconvenient truth

"Man commits suicide in front of Tokyo train, 90,000 commuters inconvenienced."

Rain, rain, go away...

Eden

New semester

きれね！

This is for ｹﾘｰﾁｬﾝ

Guys and dolls

Jen's Visit

Back to my lonesome

Notes

Just like an Olympian

Times like these

Q: Wanna know how to get there?

Merry Christmas!

1 city down, 3 to go...

less than an hour to go!!

2 days to go????

I ate octopus. and I liked it.

I'm watching Japanese TV

Have you ever heard a deer's mating call?

As homesick as I am today...

*Arigato*

Quick update

Christmas in November

I ate at McDonalds!

Enough Said...

Merry Christmas!

Manich Friday

I should be having a blast,

Only 3 weeks??

School of Models

No news is good news...

The Advetures of Cassie and Kelly

Accomplished.

Pressed, but not crushed.

I hate bikes.

Abeno-ku

I can't read my screen :(

En route, technically

Arigato