So starts another “typical” week. Though the head teacher’s sister is getting married and he won’t be back until Thursday and the assistant manager wasn’t in today either. Thus, the feel of work was quite different today. There were less people in the lobby that didn’t have class and the office over all just had a lot less bustle. Fortunately, because of this of the lack of “things going on” I finished all my lesson prep for the week. Awesome!! Now I can prep better for classes for the rest of the week or take care of other things that may need attending to.
The actual classes of the day went well enough. On Tuesdays I have three kids classes and two of them only have one student; who both of which are really good at English and make my job fairly easy. The other kids class is one of my better one’s also. Anywho, since last Thursday and until tomorrow, the kids are doing review units where they basically go over everything they learned from the previous 3 chapters and put it together. They have gone well so far and my classes today pretty much killed on them and made me very happy. Review units do a good job of indicating student weaknesses. This time around, I am noticing a lot of problems phonemic comprehension. The kids cannot spell on command as well as I think they could. I will try to adjust my method for the coming weeks so that this problem does not remain.
On a funny note, my manager as well as a lot of Japanese people love stitch (from Disney), but have failed to see the movie he failed in. I find that pretty funny. Therefore I took it upon myself to download and give a copy of the movie to her. I am presently working with her to get the right software to play the file and hopefully we get it worked out and I get to see her get crazy over how much cuter she thinks stitch is. Hopefully I remember to post her reaction >_<
Now I am off to bed . . . for real this time =P
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Been out of it
Wow, it has been almost a week since I have said anything about school. Yikes! I think this starts the slacking off period or trend that happens when one starts to get settled and gets lazy more often. Well, at least I am aware of it and am taking action to ensure that doesn't happen right now.
As far as school is concerned since Wednesday last week , I don't remember to much that I want to mention beyond two things I have been able to recall at the moment. The first thing I am able to recall took place on Friday . . . That's right you guessed it. My class of little molesters struck once again, but not as bad as the other two times though. This week, one of the girls gave me a quick playful spank that I didn't see comming. It wasn't too big a deal I guess, but what is up with those two, really? More over, at the closing of the class they were touching my head like I was some sort of animal. I'm not sure as to why they did that, but maybe my weirdness and being different is interesting to them or something.
The other thing I wanted to comment about took place on Saturday. my headteacher came in and watched me once again to teach another lesson of a different (and our primary and most expensive) format. It went ahelluva lot better then when he watched me last week and he stated that he was quite pleased with where I was at withwith the material nd how I made the class flow. It was very encouraging and I am now motivated to improve even more. I want for there to be nothing for him to nitpick on the next time he should see me ^_^
Saturday was also one of my coworker's birthday and we ended the workday with some cake and chatting with students in the lobby of our school. It was really nice and my co-worker seemed appreciative of how we made her birthday a big deal. After work, a bunch of us were suppoesed to go to the next town down on the railway and drink a bit, but it fell through and I ended up going alone with the birthday girl to meet another coworker in the Yokohama Chinatown. It was a super relaxing evening and good idea. The coworker showed us to this "american style" bar where chatted over cocktails and I marveled at how the joint was making feel like I was back in downtown LA or SF. Afterward I walked around and explored Yokohama for a while before I headed back to my apartment. It was a really nice evening overall.
Something that I am super grateful for upon my reflection of last week is how close I am growing with my co-workers. I get along with pretty much everyone so far and have realized I am getting to hang out with them all quite frequently and I cherrish the fact. it makes me look forward to work even more and feel more comfortable with life here. They are good people and I am thankful they are letting me in, as I am happy to receive them as well.
Sunday I just stayed in, did chores, laundry and caught up with a few loved ones on Skype (skype me at unpouramor). So nothing needing to be shared there. Today as you may have noticed from twitter, my weekend was cut short by some training I had to attend today. Usually, losing a day off is a bummer, but I am glad that I went to today's follow up. It really helped me out. It was all about kids lessons and how to conduct them as well as possible and for every possible age group that we have. I will be feeling a lot more comfortable in my kids classes now and am even ready to teach more should the need arise.
It was also nice to see a bunch of my training mates again after a month. Everyone has plenty of interesting stories and catching up on eachother was a fun time during our breaks and lunch. We even managed to set some plans in order. Some of us agreed on a Mt Fuji trip over Obon week, watch a soccer game in november at the nissan stadium nearby and a couple other possible trips. I am looking forward to those, should they happen. I should also mention that the training was at the head office in Shinjuku, Tokyo and that was something else. The view from the 16th floor we were on was beatiful as I was distracted by it for a good portion of the day. Japan is really an interesting place to just look at sometimes. Pictures will be on facebook soon!
I also got to meet my head trainer for my division. She came in as we were leaving and introduced herself to the teachers under her wing. She was very kind and friendly and it put me at ease bout seeing her in the future if she ever showed up at my school. She had actually heard about me from my head teacher and said that I was very energetic. I dunno if thats good or bad, but will hope for the best hehe. I'll just show her whats up if she ever gets to see me in action ~_^
Other than, I cant think of anything. Now it is off to bed for an early morning tomorrow. I hope this finds you well and amidst good times.
As far as school is concerned since Wednesday last week , I don't remember to much that I want to mention beyond two things I have been able to recall at the moment. The first thing I am able to recall took place on Friday . . . That's right you guessed it. My class of little molesters struck once again, but not as bad as the other two times though. This week, one of the girls gave me a quick playful spank that I didn't see comming. It wasn't too big a deal I guess, but what is up with those two, really? More over, at the closing of the class they were touching my head like I was some sort of animal. I'm not sure as to why they did that, but maybe my weirdness and being different is interesting to them or something.
The other thing I wanted to comment about took place on Saturday. my headteacher came in and watched me once again to teach another lesson of a different (and our primary and most expensive) format. It went ahelluva lot better then when he watched me last week and he stated that he was quite pleased with where I was at withwith the material nd how I made the class flow. It was very encouraging and I am now motivated to improve even more. I want for there to be nothing for him to nitpick on the next time he should see me ^_^
Saturday was also one of my coworker's birthday and we ended the workday with some cake and chatting with students in the lobby of our school. It was really nice and my co-worker seemed appreciative of how we made her birthday a big deal. After work, a bunch of us were suppoesed to go to the next town down on the railway and drink a bit, but it fell through and I ended up going alone with the birthday girl to meet another coworker in the Yokohama Chinatown. It was a super relaxing evening and good idea. The coworker showed us to this "american style" bar where chatted over cocktails and I marveled at how the joint was making feel like I was back in downtown LA or SF. Afterward I walked around and explored Yokohama for a while before I headed back to my apartment. It was a really nice evening overall.
Something that I am super grateful for upon my reflection of last week is how close I am growing with my co-workers. I get along with pretty much everyone so far and have realized I am getting to hang out with them all quite frequently and I cherrish the fact. it makes me look forward to work even more and feel more comfortable with life here. They are good people and I am thankful they are letting me in, as I am happy to receive them as well.
Sunday I just stayed in, did chores, laundry and caught up with a few loved ones on Skype (skype me at unpouramor). So nothing needing to be shared there. Today as you may have noticed from twitter, my weekend was cut short by some training I had to attend today. Usually, losing a day off is a bummer, but I am glad that I went to today's follow up. It really helped me out. It was all about kids lessons and how to conduct them as well as possible and for every possible age group that we have. I will be feeling a lot more comfortable in my kids classes now and am even ready to teach more should the need arise.
It was also nice to see a bunch of my training mates again after a month. Everyone has plenty of interesting stories and catching up on eachother was a fun time during our breaks and lunch. We even managed to set some plans in order. Some of us agreed on a Mt Fuji trip over Obon week, watch a soccer game in november at the nissan stadium nearby and a couple other possible trips. I am looking forward to those, should they happen. I should also mention that the training was at the head office in Shinjuku, Tokyo and that was something else. The view from the 16th floor we were on was beatiful as I was distracted by it for a good portion of the day. Japan is really an interesting place to just look at sometimes. Pictures will be on facebook soon!
I also got to meet my head trainer for my division. She came in as we were leaving and introduced herself to the teachers under her wing. She was very kind and friendly and it put me at ease bout seeing her in the future if she ever showed up at my school. She had actually heard about me from my head teacher and said that I was very energetic. I dunno if thats good or bad, but will hope for the best hehe. I'll just show her whats up if she ever gets to see me in action ~_^
Other than, I cant think of anything. Now it is off to bed for an early morning tomorrow. I hope this finds you well and amidst good times.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Real quick
First off I want to thank my family for the wonderful care package. There are somethings in the states they don't have here, and I am well stocked up now. Thank you so much for the love! ^_^ 
So, I meant to comment on this before as I discussed it with someone a while ago, but I want to say something about the concept of "life moves on." The concern was posited about how cold it was that life moves on when one leaves a place, group, or the living realm. No matter how popular or hated and individual may be, life does in fact move on after that person makes their exit. Does that seem sad and hopeless? If you want it to be; but there is something else to keep in mind.
If one makes some sort of exit, they leave with having changed the people and place they were involved with; even if in the smallest way. Even though life moves on when one makes their departure, they are not forgotten necessarily. Take myself for example. When I left In N Out, it did not shut down and my friends did not quit out of respect for my memory. Life went on as usual and I am certain that the store will be a completely different place the next time I see it again. This could be sad in the sense that I go back and things look like I was never there, but what I choose to dwell on is the fact that even though they are moving on with their lives, my friends/coworkers remember me and have shown it. I do matter and did make some sort of difference and am confident in that.
If you face this consideration when you think about the past or feel like you didn't make an impression on those or the place around. Think about who remembers you or what is different and will never be the same at that place left behind because of you. Life may have gone on there, but you have set life to take a different direction than before. Feel comforted by that. Life will always go on and on and on, but if you change its course in the slightest way, it will never forget you.
So, I meant to comment on this before as I discussed it with someone a while ago, but I want to say something about the concept of "life moves on." The concern was posited about how cold it was that life moves on when one leaves a place, group, or the living realm. No matter how popular or hated and individual may be, life does in fact move on after that person makes their exit. Does that seem sad and hopeless? If you want it to be; but there is something else to keep in mind.
If one makes some sort of exit, they leave with having changed the people and place they were involved with; even if in the smallest way. Even though life moves on when one makes their departure, they are not forgotten necessarily. Take myself for example. When I left In N Out, it did not shut down and my friends did not quit out of respect for my memory. Life went on as usual and I am certain that the store will be a completely different place the next time I see it again. This could be sad in the sense that I go back and things look like I was never there, but what I choose to dwell on is the fact that even though they are moving on with their lives, my friends/coworkers remember me and have shown it. I do matter and did make some sort of difference and am confident in that.
If you face this consideration when you think about the past or feel like you didn't make an impression on those or the place around. Think about who remembers you or what is different and will never be the same at that place left behind because of you. Life may have gone on there, but you have set life to take a different direction than before. Feel comforted by that. Life will always go on and on and on, but if you change its course in the slightest way, it will never forget you.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Weights
Recently, as I ponder why I like it here so much, mind has been mulling over all sorts of considerations. I do admit this post has hit early as the culture shock is said to take about one to two months to set in, but I can not help to comment on the fact how much I like life in Japan and why. Reason for my confusion is that I am working here full time just like I easily could in the US and there are plenty of places to see in America as there are in Japan. Why should I like it here so much when I have the same opportunity in the US where everyone understands and can talk to me?
As I ponder further, I realize that 2 main things explain why I have such high satisfaction (bordering on infatuation) with my current situation. The more minor of the two is that, though my opportunities were the same between the US and Japan, I took and still take the sites to see in America for granted. I admit there are cool things to see and do in the US, but a good portion of it never really appealed to me. This coupled with the fact that the US is spread way far out and expensive to travel makes my motivation fall to practically nothing.
On the other hand, I want to see everything here if I am provided with the opportunity. From certain types of stores to historical landmarks, if I am offered to go somewhere with someone, I will go and even also plan to do exploring of my own. I don’t know how else to explain the fact that I just am innately more interested with what Japan has to offer in terms of experiences than my home country. It is more than likely due to a vast combo of factors ranging from the fact that my cultural/familial disconnection from Japan makes it exotic and more alluring, to sentiments of disappointment I harbor towards certain personally perceived shortcomings in my home nation (yeah that aint fair, but neither was the dismissing the spread of AIDS as the “gay plague” in its early stages or telling a Rwanda refugee that “America doesn’t have friends, it has interests”). Yeah, Japan may not be perfect, but until my home nation shapes up, I have no right to criticize another nation.
The other reason I like it here so much is that I have a lot more faith in and respect for my present job as well as a far deeper sense of satisfaction. All the hurdles I may face in working for AEON were made clear to me or AT LEAST hinted at. My prior experience with National Guard B.S. has trained me how to interpret these subtle hintings and how extensive a headache they could be. I have yet to have an unpleasant surprise. It also helps that Aeon primarily wants me to be a good teacher and takes good care of me for the purpose of providing a good service and that all those above me have treated me with (at least) an acceptable amount of respect.
Moreover, the role I am performing and trying to perfect really suites me. I am working everyday to help individuals master a task that will help them understand others of a different culture. At the moment, I believe this is how I can best make the world a better place. How much better would this world be if everyone could understand one another better? My ripple in the ocean of life may be miniscule but it is better than the absolute stillness that I felt I only managed to cause up to this point in terms of my work. I finally believe my job makes a positive difference and that is mostly why I freakin love working here.
As I ponder further, I realize that 2 main things explain why I have such high satisfaction (bordering on infatuation) with my current situation. The more minor of the two is that, though my opportunities were the same between the US and Japan, I took and still take the sites to see in America for granted. I admit there are cool things to see and do in the US, but a good portion of it never really appealed to me. This coupled with the fact that the US is spread way far out and expensive to travel makes my motivation fall to practically nothing.
On the other hand, I want to see everything here if I am provided with the opportunity. From certain types of stores to historical landmarks, if I am offered to go somewhere with someone, I will go and even also plan to do exploring of my own. I don’t know how else to explain the fact that I just am innately more interested with what Japan has to offer in terms of experiences than my home country. It is more than likely due to a vast combo of factors ranging from the fact that my cultural/familial disconnection from Japan makes it exotic and more alluring, to sentiments of disappointment I harbor towards certain personally perceived shortcomings in my home nation (yeah that aint fair, but neither was the dismissing the spread of AIDS as the “gay plague” in its early stages or telling a Rwanda refugee that “America doesn’t have friends, it has interests”). Yeah, Japan may not be perfect, but until my home nation shapes up, I have no right to criticize another nation.
The other reason I like it here so much is that I have a lot more faith in and respect for my present job as well as a far deeper sense of satisfaction. All the hurdles I may face in working for AEON were made clear to me or AT LEAST hinted at. My prior experience with National Guard B.S. has trained me how to interpret these subtle hintings and how extensive a headache they could be. I have yet to have an unpleasant surprise. It also helps that Aeon primarily wants me to be a good teacher and takes good care of me for the purpose of providing a good service and that all those above me have treated me with (at least) an acceptable amount of respect.
Moreover, the role I am performing and trying to perfect really suites me. I am working everyday to help individuals master a task that will help them understand others of a different culture. At the moment, I believe this is how I can best make the world a better place. How much better would this world be if everyone could understand one another better? My ripple in the ocean of life may be miniscule but it is better than the absolute stillness that I felt I only managed to cause up to this point in terms of my work. I finally believe my job makes a positive difference and that is mostly why I freakin love working here.
Monday
So now that I have been in Japan for a month, there are two things I know that I really want to do as soon as possible. The less important one is to find a good place to get margaritas, and I think I have. There are TGI Fridays here!!! One of my friends here has been there and she says they are good and the size is legit. I just checked the Internet and there is one about 10 minutes away from me by train 0_0 I am definitely hitting there soon. Though their giant (or supreme?) margarita costs 13 bucks more or less . . . It better be big and it better taste freakin good. LOL. The other thing I need to accomplish here is to finally “go big.”
My predecessor introduced me to this term. When explaining to me how the trains operate here as well as the clubs, he explained that (since the trains stop around midnight) either one goes home early, or one “goes big.” The term basically means that you stay out and up until around 530AM when the trains start up again. Staying up till around 530 in the morning has been my style of going out for quite a while and I hope to get the opportunity to “go big” soon. Ending a day of exploring at 830 or 9 is kind of a bummer -_- Hopefully my first night of “going big” provides a good story or two to share with you.
Yesterday, work was good. I did my first prospective student interview and it went ok. I had rehearsed and practiced a few times up to this point, but there is no training like doing the actual task for real. There were plenty of things to improve on, but my manager sat in on the interview and indicated later on in the day that she was satisfied with my over all first time performance. Whew! The prospective student did smile and laugh a bit, which also put me at ease. I know I am a loser to admit this, but I look forward to the next opportunity. This is something else I want to be good at. Making a good first impression . . .for myself as well as the company I am representing.
My predecessor introduced me to this term. When explaining to me how the trains operate here as well as the clubs, he explained that (since the trains stop around midnight) either one goes home early, or one “goes big.” The term basically means that you stay out and up until around 530AM when the trains start up again. Staying up till around 530 in the morning has been my style of going out for quite a while and I hope to get the opportunity to “go big” soon. Ending a day of exploring at 830 or 9 is kind of a bummer -_- Hopefully my first night of “going big” provides a good story or two to share with you.
Yesterday, work was good. I did my first prospective student interview and it went ok. I had rehearsed and practiced a few times up to this point, but there is no training like doing the actual task for real. There were plenty of things to improve on, but my manager sat in on the interview and indicated later on in the day that she was satisfied with my over all first time performance. Whew! The prospective student did smile and laugh a bit, which also put me at ease. I know I am a loser to admit this, but I look forward to the next opportunity. This is something else I want to be good at. Making a good first impression . . .for myself as well as the company I am representing.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Sorry it took so long!
Wow, it was quite the weekend. Even though I work through Saturday, my weekend did in fact begin on Friday night. A lot has gone down since I last posted and I apologize in advance for how long this may be. Friday: As I always say, and will try to say less often now, slowly but surely my teaching is improving in the sense that I am more comfortable with it and on top of all the steps I have to attend to in class. Other than that I have no real news of a serious nature, but there is once again a funny situation with the same kids class as I had that one awkward moment with last week. This time, I am actually trying to teach and am in the middle of doing a game activity with the kids. One of the girls is already done and out and I let her draw on the board behind me while she waited. No biggie. The problem presented itself as she turned around and touched both my butt cheeks with her hands and rubbed em for about a second till I stopped her (in a playful kid way I guess though) . . . Man those kids. I will be on my top guard for this class on Friday. Who knows what I face next with them?
After school, two co-workers (later to be joined by our manager), two students, and myself headed over to a local izakaya to wind down. It was a fun and relaxing dinner as we got to know each other and laugh over life’s simple or exciting pleasures. Nights like that are one of the many things that keep me smiling at work ^_^
Saturday:
As usual, Saturday is a busy day but it was a good one nonetheless. This was somewhat entertaining also. So, my head teacher needs to watch me teach a lesson and sits in on a lesson I am teaching to an 18 and a 20-year-old girl. For those of you who know me, stop laughing cause this isn’t going to be what you think . . . Jerks. Anywho, the class was about calling people on the phone and for the most part it went really well and while I am at the last ten minutes of class, I have one of the girls pretend she is calling a guy’s house, but he isn’t home while the girl (other student) is and she is his girlfriend. I didn’t even consider where they were gonna take this -_-
So here is the convo:
Student 1: Hello? This is (can’t say her name) . . . is Wes there?
Student2: No this is ___. I am Wes’s girlfriend (“oh geez” I thought to myself) Why are you calling here? (OH IT GETS BETTER)
Student1: Oh . . . I am also Wes’s girlfriend . . . (and the skit goes on, but that’s the funniest part)
So I got a little red, but we all got a good laugh out of it. Things like this definitely keep work rather interesting haha. In terms of my head teacher observing me, He liked me better that I expected. I did manage to forget a big chunk (which I had never done up to that point), but it wasn’t too big a deal. There are some preparation things I need to work on and a couple other fine details, but other than that, I am doing ok. I now have a better idea of how to improve and am grateful for it. He says he plan to watch another class this week. Hopefully I knock his socks off =P
After work, three of us teachers and one of the students went down to Yokohama city to have a night in the town. We got there around eightish and had ourselves a good time. We went to this pizza joint that is pretty popular here called Shaky’s. I guess it's a US based company with all the English and American culture that was all up in the place. The pizza was quite good though. Of course we had some pepperoni, but we tried some terriyaki chicken also, which was quite delicious.
From there we went and did some karaoke for about an hour and later took the show to a local arcade. It had several floors and all sorts of games you would and would not recognize. There were also a lot of those claw games where the prizes were anything from food to watches. Some of my friends would have never left hehe. I played this game that is like guitar hero but for Taiko drums (Japanese style drums). Very fun, and I posted pictures of it on the profile. Before we headed home, we went to this department store called Don Quijote. Its like the Wal-Mart of Japan 0_0 they had everything there >_<>
Sunday:
I met up with an old friend who actually lived next door to me in my first year at college. She was an exchange student doing a home-stay and I saw her quite often before I got deployed. It was nice to see her again after so long. We met in the city of Asakusa and initially checked out the Sensoji shrine that was there. It was an amazing site (pics posted). The structures of the gates and buildings were very impressive, and so was the long network of souvenir/snack shops between the inner and outer gate buildings. Not to mention there was a ton of people there that day. My friend said that over the New Year holiday, it is so crowded that one can’t even move around in the crowd. Crazy. Even though the place was hella crowded, I still felt the same way around this shrine as I did the one back in Omiya. It was amazing.
We then proceeded to just walk around town to watch people and catch up on the 4 years we were out of the loop with each other. There were plenty of interesting people as well as sights. For instance there was this 4 or 5 story building dedicated to televising horse races for gambling. I never guessed it was so popular here. We also walked by a movie theater where I was surprised to see provocative pictures of scantily clad women in the middle of what seemed to be “romance scenes.” When I asked my friend what that was about, she told me that XXX theaters do exist here and that they call them “pink theaters.” I thought that was funny. Then, we just chilled by the river for a bit next to the Asahi headquarters building and enjoyed the peaceful and pretty afternoon. Gosh, Japan is so peaceful at times!
Next, we stopped a few cities over in Ueno. There is this big shopping center there called “Amayay okocho.” This place was also hella crowded, but that had pretty much anything you needed in terms of shopping. I managed to get myself this really handy coin-organizing wallet. Now I won’t jingle like santa clause with all the change I carry here.
We then bought a couple of bento dinners and cans of umeshu for ourselves and ate lunch in Ueno park. It was very relaxing as well as entertaining. There were plenty of people to watch and we also had to intimidate some crows that were intent on snatching our food. My friend said that this park is a prime spot for Sakura watching during April. She pointed out that basically all the trees lining the walkway would blossom. It sounded breath taking. Maybe I will make a stop there during April. Once we finished our meals, I then got to experience my first movie in Japan . . . Transformers 2!! It was in English and I liked it a lot better than the first one. Also, theaters in Japan are a little different but not really so much as to make for the necessity to comment more on it than this.
That was pretty much the excitement of my weekend. On Monday I just did errands and took care of ish at home. I guess I just need one of those days to relax. Work was fine yesterday and more or less uneventful. Though one of the staff is having her birthday on Saturday and we may do something after work. We shall see. You know I will keep you informed.
After school, two co-workers (later to be joined by our manager), two students, and myself headed over to a local izakaya to wind down. It was a fun and relaxing dinner as we got to know each other and laugh over life’s simple or exciting pleasures. Nights like that are one of the many things that keep me smiling at work ^_^
Saturday:
As usual, Saturday is a busy day but it was a good one nonetheless. This was somewhat entertaining also. So, my head teacher needs to watch me teach a lesson and sits in on a lesson I am teaching to an 18 and a 20-year-old girl. For those of you who know me, stop laughing cause this isn’t going to be what you think . . . Jerks. Anywho, the class was about calling people on the phone and for the most part it went really well and while I am at the last ten minutes of class, I have one of the girls pretend she is calling a guy’s house, but he isn’t home while the girl (other student) is and she is his girlfriend. I didn’t even consider where they were gonna take this -_-
So here is the convo:
Student 1: Hello? This is (can’t say her name) . . . is Wes there?
Student2: No this is ___. I am Wes’s girlfriend (“oh geez” I thought to myself) Why are you calling here? (OH IT GETS BETTER)
Student1: Oh . . . I am also Wes’s girlfriend . . . (and the skit goes on, but that’s the funniest part)
So I got a little red, but we all got a good laugh out of it. Things like this definitely keep work rather interesting haha. In terms of my head teacher observing me, He liked me better that I expected. I did manage to forget a big chunk (which I had never done up to that point), but it wasn’t too big a deal. There are some preparation things I need to work on and a couple other fine details, but other than that, I am doing ok. I now have a better idea of how to improve and am grateful for it. He says he plan to watch another class this week. Hopefully I knock his socks off =P
After work, three of us teachers and one of the students went down to Yokohama city to have a night in the town. We got there around eightish and had ourselves a good time. We went to this pizza joint that is pretty popular here called Shaky’s. I guess it's a US based company with all the English and American culture that was all up in the place. The pizza was quite good though. Of course we had some pepperoni, but we tried some terriyaki chicken also, which was quite delicious.
From there we went and did some karaoke for about an hour and later took the show to a local arcade. It had several floors and all sorts of games you would and would not recognize. There were also a lot of those claw games where the prizes were anything from food to watches. Some of my friends would have never left hehe. I played this game that is like guitar hero but for Taiko drums (Japanese style drums). Very fun, and I posted pictures of it on the profile. Before we headed home, we went to this department store called Don Quijote. Its like the Wal-Mart of Japan 0_0 they had everything there >_<>
Sunday:
I met up with an old friend who actually lived next door to me in my first year at college. She was an exchange student doing a home-stay and I saw her quite often before I got deployed. It was nice to see her again after so long. We met in the city of Asakusa and initially checked out the Sensoji shrine that was there. It was an amazing site (pics posted). The structures of the gates and buildings were very impressive, and so was the long network of souvenir/snack shops between the inner and outer gate buildings. Not to mention there was a ton of people there that day. My friend said that over the New Year holiday, it is so crowded that one can’t even move around in the crowd. Crazy. Even though the place was hella crowded, I still felt the same way around this shrine as I did the one back in Omiya. It was amazing.
We then proceeded to just walk around town to watch people and catch up on the 4 years we were out of the loop with each other. There were plenty of interesting people as well as sights. For instance there was this 4 or 5 story building dedicated to televising horse races for gambling. I never guessed it was so popular here. We also walked by a movie theater where I was surprised to see provocative pictures of scantily clad women in the middle of what seemed to be “romance scenes.” When I asked my friend what that was about, she told me that XXX theaters do exist here and that they call them “pink theaters.” I thought that was funny. Then, we just chilled by the river for a bit next to the Asahi headquarters building and enjoyed the peaceful and pretty afternoon. Gosh, Japan is so peaceful at times!
Next, we stopped a few cities over in Ueno. There is this big shopping center there called “Amayay okocho.” This place was also hella crowded, but that had pretty much anything you needed in terms of shopping. I managed to get myself this really handy coin-organizing wallet. Now I won’t jingle like santa clause with all the change I carry here.
We then bought a couple of bento dinners and cans of umeshu for ourselves and ate lunch in Ueno park. It was very relaxing as well as entertaining. There were plenty of people to watch and we also had to intimidate some crows that were intent on snatching our food. My friend said that this park is a prime spot for Sakura watching during April. She pointed out that basically all the trees lining the walkway would blossom. It sounded breath taking. Maybe I will make a stop there during April. Once we finished our meals, I then got to experience my first movie in Japan . . . Transformers 2!! It was in English and I liked it a lot better than the first one. Also, theaters in Japan are a little different but not really so much as to make for the necessity to comment more on it than this.
That was pretty much the excitement of my weekend. On Monday I just did errands and took care of ish at home. I guess I just need one of those days to relax. Work was fine yesterday and more or less uneventful. Though one of the staff is having her birthday on Saturday and we may do something after work. We shall see. You know I will keep you informed.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Lonely?
I was asked recently if I was homesick yet and I have also even questioned myself as to why I am not lonely here. I have come to believe that this blog is the answer to that. as I type these words I am speaking from my heart to yours and that makes me feel closer to you. Knowing that my friends and loved ones care enough to bother to read my simple ramblings makes my heart content at its deepest point. I admit there are the moments where I would like to be able to reach out and hug you or something at will, but the knowing that you care is enough right now. Thank you.
Also, I was pretty unhappy with myself and who I was during the end of my senior year in college and the year I waited to to get out here. As my college career came to close, I didn't want to attempt grad school right away and I lost a lot of respect for my job. I was living everyday with no real tangible purpose, until I decided to come here. Even then, I had to wait to have that purpose for almost a year. I had things to work toward, but I couldn't help but feel that I was in a holding area and my life was sort of on pause (though i did live it up hehe). Now that I am here though, I feel that sense of purpose again and it makes me a lot happier with myself and life in general. It is really nice to have a positive (but realistic) spin on most things around me again.
So am I homesick . . . at times, but not in the way you think. You are my home and you are always with me. I just wish you were here sometimes.
Also, I was pretty unhappy with myself and who I was during the end of my senior year in college and the year I waited to to get out here. As my college career came to close, I didn't want to attempt grad school right away and I lost a lot of respect for my job. I was living everyday with no real tangible purpose, until I decided to come here. Even then, I had to wait to have that purpose for almost a year. I had things to work toward, but I couldn't help but feel that I was in a holding area and my life was sort of on pause (though i did live it up hehe). Now that I am here though, I feel that sense of purpose again and it makes me a lot happier with myself and life in general. It is really nice to have a positive (but realistic) spin on most things around me again.
So am I homesick . . . at times, but not in the way you think. You are my home and you are always with me. I just wish you were here sometimes.
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