A popular British topic.
It's getting cold here now. It's so cold in my house that when I use the toilet in the middle of the night, my bed is freezing again on my return. When I lived in Lnacaster in my last year, the house was always cold. Me and Emma would wear dressing gowns over our clothes and sit in bed as soon as we got home just to stay warm. However, my workplace and the university were places to get warm. This is not the case in Japan!
I'm currently sat at elementery school with a coat on, shivering as I use the computer. They leave the windows open around the school and there is NO heating what so ever! At the moment it's not as cold as Britain, but the lack of heating and insulation means it feels quite cold. Thankfully I haven't taken this as bad as the otehr ALTs, Melissa is not used to living without heat, and she's already concerned about January. I have a kotatsu (heated table) and an electric heater, and Melissa has a heated carpet, so we'll be fine. Just wish school was warm, the poor students!
Anyway, I know I haven't written a thing in forever, but it's really got busy, my workload and activities. I'm going to try and update on Friday, but lets see. I'm going to see the Pixies on Saturday so very excited.....tiny venue, should be amazing. Also booked a holiday for Christmas, YEY.
Smoker? Well heed this warning!
While on my travels to Kumamoto I spotted this informative poster about smoking. In the UK we are bombarded by anti smoking adverts and campaigns thats are hard hitting and a little gruesome at times. However, in Japan, the issue is dealt with in a calm way that points out how smoking is annoying while walking. If you click on the picture below it should enlarge to show the text....which just amused me while we waited for a train
Anyway, I love theme parks! Me and Will went to Kumamoto city on Thursday and I have to admit that a big factor in us choosing there was the theme park! I happened to really love Kumamoto city anyway, it was big, bustling and full of atmosphere. On the Friday we headed to Omuta to get a bus to Mitsui Greenland (the theme park). We had to wait for a while in Omuta for the bus so I took pictures of the dragon there.
The whole museum was about the culture of the dragon!
We eventually got a bus there, and it was great! A better theme park than I imagined with loads of really scary rides, and then loads of activities inbetween, such as crazy golf, archery, and rifle shooting. These were included in the wrist band we bought at the start so everything (except food of course) was free. We went on most rides, scary and slow, except I bottled out of the haunted house....it was weird! Here are some pictures anyway.
Here is Will, on a table, with a bear....looks happy eh?
Will smacked the ball out of the golf part, but he played it where it lay. He actually won this game....but I won the second.
Here is a nice shot of the theme park, the ferris wheel was cool, but a tad scary as it had a see-through bottom!
I have to admit I made Will go on this ride to take this silly shot...he was not happy. Though all the rest were his own suggestions.
Will enjoys another childrens ride!
Here is the cool transport between two ends of the park, though Will was a little too tall for the end.
We had a great time, and the weather was great, I even burnt! The rollercoasters were quite an adventure and the spin mouse was great. The car racing was equally amusing though I thought Will would make us crash at one point. We went home at 5, park closing, and then we went for dinner.
We found this random international bar that reminded me more of Ibiza than Japan, it was weird because it felt so foriegn and it was empty. We got pizza and I drank many cocktails.
Will shows his happiness at finding guiness in Japan
I enjoy the cocktail fuzzy navel!
The place didnt liven up, and I don't know why we stayed there so long! Probably the good cocktails. The music turned to this depressing teenage angst music from America where this whiney boy was singing 'Give me my photographs'. Uch, horrid music, and me and Will had to leave then! We wandered around for a while until it got too cold and then we went to bed. It was fun, we were just shattered from the days activities.
The next day we went to the castle in Kumamoto. It was so beautiful, and another lovely day. It was only 10 minutes walk from the hotel, but it couldnt be a more different place. It felt so calm in the castle ground in comparision to the city.
Here is the statue of a Japanese warrior near the entrance of the castle.
Here is the view of a small part of the castle from the bottom walls. These huge walls surround the castle.
Here is a very big tree, that Will is pointing out for me.
Here I am sat under another tree, this is on the path up to the castle.
Pretty flower arrangments.
This is the tower, it's opposite the castle, we started there. You had to take your shoes off to go in.
Here is the view of the castle from the tower.
This is the opposite view.
This is the castle, apparently it's where they filmed the Last Samarai, but I'm not sure about that.
Here is the beautiful view from the top of the castle
Here is a view from the front, long way to fall yeah!
It was a really relaxing day, just what we needed after the day before. Many of the signs were also in English which is a big help. Some random men wanted me and Will in a photo, which is sweet...if a tad odd. After a few hours we started to head back. We came across this culture thing, and they were serving noodles for 1,000 yen, it was yummy and different.
That night we had dinner, then went shopping and read in bed until night
Will point out the very early christmas lights.
Finally here is Will looking silly on the street.
Anyway, the two of us had a great time (though I am speaking for Will). There were many laughs anyway. I got back to Sasebo for 3.20pm on Sunday and then met Catherine for the trip home. The ferry was packed out, and me and Catherine had to sit upstairs, outside. It was colder again!
Here is a lovely view on the way home.
Ok, I thought it was so pretty I took it again, with a boat.
Here is Catherine showing how windy it was on the boat.
Here the both of us are, using the camera as a distraction from the cold.
Here is the view from the ferry later, this is what is was like for an hour.
When we got back we went to Carries house for dinner, and Lori wanted to try the kids bike!
border="0" alt="" />Anyway, work is over and I have to go. Will finish this tomorrow but I am still happy! Yey, so much to look forward too.
I miss........
1. My family
2. Staying at Cristin and Suzannes till 6am talking about everything and nothing and drinking and laughing and realizing these were my best friends in the world.
3. Chatting with Emma over strange TV programmes and having someone who knew me so well that ever time I was ill/sad/stressed I would get crumpets/chocolate or care.
4. Bothering Sean and Rob late at night when I was writing an essay and couldn't sleep and needed some company.
5. My good Colwyn Bay friends who were so much fun. I hope Jason and Noel will visit soon.
6. Having long chats about criminology, life and small insignificant things with the best tutor I ever had, Ryan.
7. Shopping with Rhys, just one day was great. I look forward to him helping me update my wardrobe on my eventual return.
8. Pub drinking and intellectual chatter with Helen, I love that we became great friends and I miss her. I know she would love Japan.
9. Poker with Neil and James, and the general banter that came with it, and all the fun we had!
10. I miss pasta and sauce and jacket potatoe like you wouldn't believe.
11. I miss Lambie
12. I miss Lancaster, the castle, the uni and everything with it.
13. Fairfield stores, I miss that job, that life, the smiles, the fun that came with it.
14. I miss my hair straighteners.
15. I miss a good darn hairdressers!
16. I miss the freedom of not waking up at 6am everyday!
17. I miss TV! I miss cheap CD's!
Don't get me wrong, I love it here. I love it so much that I think I will stay here 2 years and not come home until then. I've made amazing friends, but there are some people who you always miss, some songs that you remind you of them. I am happier than I have been for ages, but I still wish my closest friends were here with me. Anyway, it's late, and I should head to sleepy land. These are my thoughts.
A special visitor.
Last Tuesday my mum arrived on Kamigoto island. She had been on business in Korea and managed to arrange to come see me for 4 days afterwards. It was so wonderful to see her. On Tuesday night we didn't do too much, just went for dinner at the yummy yaki-nikku place in Urakuwa. Anyway, the rest of the weekend was packed busy with activities as loads of people were really excited to meet my mum.
WednesdayThis evening we went to a Tea ceremony that Chisato san (the womans house I went to last Sunday) and Mizorogi sensei (the Tai chi teacher). I went half an hour earlier to be dressed in a kimono! They are very tight and there are so many layers! I never realised how complicated they are to put on.
Here is me in the Kimono. Although I will never ever look as good as a Japanese woman does in this get-up, I thought it was ok.
Unfortunately the tatami room was being used this time, so we had to use a normal classroom instead. It wasn't the same but it was still really nice. All the people that came were so friendly, and it wasn't as formal as it usually is
Here is Mizorogi sensei making tea and showing how to turn bowls the correct way.
Here is the kettle heater to keep the water hot.
Here is everyone enjoying the unusually relaxed tea drinking atmosphere.
It was a great night, everyone was so welcoming for my mum and she fitted in perfectly. After that me, mum and Lori went for dinner in George's place. It was great and Daisuke bought us all a drink, bless. George then invited my mum and the ALT's to dinner the next evening. He was really great.
ThursdayI had to make pumpkin cake this day at Kita-sho. It was great fun and the kids all wore halloween costumes...awww. My mum had given me loads of halloween sweeties from Britain so it was perfect.
That evening we headed to George's, expecting to eat there. Instead he took us to this reataurant round the corner. We had some amazing food, it was delicious, and he insisted on paying for everything....which was far too much but really lovely. Then we went to karaoke (well mum had to experiance all types of Japanese culture. She seemed to have a great time. It was me, mum, Lori and Melissa, and of course George, and we all had a brilliant time.
It was another late night however and I was shattered for Friday.
FridayToday my mum came into school with me. It was really great to have her there. She watched my 3rd year class, and then my wonderful kocho-sensei took her sightseeing and bought her gifts to remember the island. My mum was so happy! I wish I could have gone sightseeing though. I had to work :( it is what I'm here for though!
In the evening we went to this ladies house to learn flower arranging. She's a student at the eikawa and a really lovely lady. Me, mum, Lori and Sanae (my Japanese friend) went along. She was really patient with us and helped us make some wonderful creations. Mum is sending me photos soon! She also got us dinner, Japanese people are sooooo nice!
SaturdayOn this day I had to go on a fishing trip with Uonome chugakko. It started far too early, well Higashi sensei picked me up at 6.50am, yuk! It was freezing cold and I was very sleepy. Ages ago I had been asked what role I would like that day, cutting fish, watching or catching (pulling the nets up), and I went for the catching! I was put on a small fishing boat with 4 fishermen, my JTE and 8 third year boys. There were 5 boats like this that went to different areas. I was very lucky that Abe sensei had bought a 100 yen rain mac otherwise I would have been soaked! It was so beautiful heading out to the nets, the sun was rising behind us. The net pulling wasn't too bad, and the fish were huge! Quite scary!
Once all the fish were in the boat, we headed back to help the cooking finish and prepare the room for breakfast. the sky was full of hawks, crows and seagulls, it looked beautiful! For breakfast there was miso soup, sashimi and onigiri (rice balls), it was good fun and the kids were really great. I got a lift home at 11am and then could spend some time with mum. We went for lunch with Catherine and Alistair and then my kocho-sensei picked me and mum up at 1pm to take mum to the ferry port. It was really sad to see her leave, and I had really enjoyed her stay, at least I will see her and Colin again in April,not too long.
Me and mum on the way to the ferry port near Wakamatsu bridge.
The beautiful view from Wakamatsu, pretty yeah?
After I got home Catherine and Alistair returned from a mountain trip together. We all wnt to Karaoke together, it was great fun. Here was where the love story of Catherine and Alistair began;
Alistair in loveI recently profiled Alistairs love with the Big man, but his heart is too big, he just wants to love more. As Catherine found out as the sung Karaoke love songs together.
The romance begins with eye contact and singing beautiful songs of love together
"Oh Catherine, you are so pretty" says Alistair, "Oh, she's so pretty I look at her and giggle with happiness
Alistair sings his true feelins with "The power of love", awww bless.
*please note this is a fictional story, no Catherine's were unwittingly used in these scenes and no love is really involved.
Here are some other random karaoke shots.
Alistair with those wonderful Jazz hands, what a mover!
Me trying very hard to sing a difficult song, sob!
After karaoke we went to what I thought was an outdoor festival in a tiny town near my school. When the three of us arrived we realised it was a tiny event in a small Shinto Shrine. We deliberated for twenty minutes outside whether to go in or not. We finally decided to go on for half and hour maybe, and entered the shrine. When inside we were ushered to give an offering to the gods (maybe). You had to go to this alter and kneel and place a green leaf with a white thing on it, and then bow twice, clap your hands twice, then bow once more before shuttling away. The dancers were amazing and it was such a tiny place the performers were really close to us. Some dances were really scary, and the music is very eerie. After the festival we went to Urakuwa for dinner, yum.
On sunday I had my cultural festival, which was really great. Tha plays were really interesting and quite deep. I had to spin poi, which I was very nervous about because I'm a bit pants. I managed to master 3 moves pretty well, and combined my performance with trying to teach 3 kids the moves after. It seemed to go down well, it's different anyway!
Here are some of my third year boys at the cultural festival, aren't they sweet!
I had an enkai that evening that went really well. I though it would be awful as mmy JTE couldn't make it, but my Japanese has improved enough so I can talk about where I am going etc etc. I couldn't make the second party however, I was shattered.
Today I am at Uonome JHS, this morning when I got in my JTE informed me that he was going to hospital over second and third period and I would have to teach the first year class alone. It was scary but I was well prepared. I thought of a great warm up game and a worksheet and it was ok. I had done shogakko alone before, but never JHS. This was also the first time I had ever taught completely alone! The kids were really good though, and worked well. They seemed a little shocked when I came in alone, but they still did well.
Anyway, I have to go to elementary school now for a meeting. I probably won't write again now until Monday as I am going to Kumamoto on Thursday with Will, very exciting!
Also, Critin and Suzanne, thank you for your lovely messages, I love you both very much. Emma I miss you too. Also, Glyn, promise I will email asap.
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