I just don't know what to do with myself.
Today I've been extremely unproductive and not done any of the things I was supposed to do and instead spent a great deal of time reading
this blog which made me laugh out load in work frequently. I actually read the whole thing today because it was just too funny. Apart from that we did move the new Kyoto sensei's belongings into his house with his family. He seems like a nice man, and it was nice to go outside for a while. Now, I'm trying to decide whether to go for a run, or continue sitting around not really doing anything. I have been allowed to run around the sports track outside, but I'm a tad nervous about the whole thing. I've never really been a fan of running, and these days, I'm not really sure how to do it. Of course I know how to run, but recently my workouts have been in the gym, using everything bar the treadmill. Running has always seemed boring or too difficult. I really really want to go outside and run, but what if I get too tired after one lap and just stop. Some of my students are in the gym, and my teachers are too. What will they make of the slightly overweight gaijin running around the track once before stopping to clutch her chest and fall to the floor. How embarassing. How many times should I aim to run around, as a beginner? Oh dear!
I have recently been having really strange dreams. I keep on dreaming my day again, but with small but significant differences, so when I wake up I'm not sure whats real. I also keep on having nightmares about things in Japan that could go wrong and sleep paralysis. "Sleep paralysis is a condition characterized by paralysis of the body shortly after waking up (known as hypnopompic paralysis) or, less often, shortly before falling asleep (known as hypnagogic paralysis). Physiologically, it is closely related to the normal paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, also known as REM atonia." as defined by Wikipedia. I think its because I've been sleeping on public transport alot of late, and that my sleep patterns are irregular. It's of course nothing to be concerned about, its just a tad annoying. There is nothing worse then disturbed sleep!
Hopefully I won't develop Somniphobia, the fear of sleep. Other phobias that I find amusing are; hobophobia - the fear of tramps, mageirocophobia - the fear of cooking (the perfect excuse for all men), Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - which is the fear of long words (which happens to be one of the longest words I've tried to say), plutophobia - the fear of wealth (though who suffers from that?), parthenophobia - the phobia of young girls or virgins (also slightly strange), Phronemophobia - the fear of thinking, which must be difficult to avoid, Auroraphobia - Northern lights, Russophobia - the fear of Russians (one of three nationalities there is a recognized paranoia of, the other two being Japan and England) and Clinophobia - which it the fear of beds.
Right, thats my lack of productivity for the day. Tonight is Yuki's farewell party and then I have a dinner/hanami party on Saturday. Whichever I decide to go to, I'm unfortunately double booked. It's so annoying that my evenings are very busy and yet my days at school are quite slow. Though maybe thats because I'm lazy.
Enjoy your weekends everyone!
What can your music tell you?
I never really do these kind of things but this amused me when I read
Carrie's blog today and I thought I would give it a go. Basically I set my i-tunes to party shuffle, clicked refresh and answered the following questions.
1. How does the world see me?
Tekai ni hitotsu dake no Hana - Twelve Girls Band. The song title means "There is only one flower in the world (like you)". Which is a nice way for the world to see me!
Will I have a happy life?
The Reason - Hoobastank. A song about someone making mistakes and learning from them. I think this either means I will have a happy life, or I will have crap relationships...who knows?
What do people really think of me?
Old Master Painter/You are my sunshine - Brain Wilson. Well, if people want to think of me as their sunshine, who am I to stop them!
Do people secretly lust after me?
Heaven must have sent you - the Elgins. Hahaha, I'm assuming this means somebody does...being sent from heaven and all!
How can I make myself happy?
I'm not ok (I promise) - My Chemical Romance. A song about somebody messing you around and that you should get out. Which has some real meaning to me!
What should I do with my life?
Hereos and Villians - Brian Wilson. Apparently a song about enlightened and unenlightened folk and the need to seek out more enlightened people. So my life is heading on an...enlightened path!
Will I ever have children?
Where is my mind? - Pixies. This song can be linked to day dreaming, taking drugs and escaping the responsibilities of life. So, no children for me!
What is some good advice for me?
Temptingly Yours - Soulwax. A song about someone being betrayed and let down, but always being tempted back. So...stay away from tempting things I s'pose.
What do I think my current theme song is?
Their Law - Prodigy. A song about anarchy! Interesting theme song, clearly I should feel rebellious
What does everyone else think my theme song is?
We'll meet again - Johnny Cash. This is fitting seen as I'm far away from people at home and the leaving teachers! People obvoiusly hope to see me again! I hope this one is true.
What song will play at my funeral?
Refrain - SENS - Not really sure of the meaning of this song...but it's very relaxed. Interesting funeral music!
What type of men/women do you like?
Kamikaze - DJ Kaya. Hahaha...oh the irony. So I'm attracted to men on a path of self destruction. Thats amusing.
What is my day going to be like?
Kurenai - X Japan. In short...depressing. "If it's all dream, now wake me up
If it's all real, just kill me" I blame Carrie for this one appearing!
Why am I here?
Watermark - Enya. A peaceful peice of piano music that I listen to relax. I'm here to find my inner peace. Very new age!
What will people remember me for?
Personal Jesus - Johnny Cash. How amusing. What more can I say?
What song will I get stuck in my head?
Little Willie John - Mark Lanegan. Interesting, it is a good song!
Are there people outside waiting to take me away?
Rhythm is a dancer - SNAP. Only if they're taking me dancing.
What will this year be about
Driving Death Valley Blues - Mark Lanegan. A song about drugs, and giving up. Great year...great.
Read all about it!
As my JTE keeps on telling me my brain has melted. There are maybe a million and one things I want to write about, from recent events to grand narrative sociological speculations, but I can't. A combination of no time, the wrong facilities and not really being able to portray how I feel right now without getting a little personal...means that my blogging abilities have been sapped.
There is, however, big news on the island! Many changes are on the horizon and it means things are going to shift a little. Here is an update on recent events;
Teachers going and coming; As I wrote recently, now is the time when teachers are sent elsewhere and new people are brought in. At my base school I'm losing both the Head and deputy head teacher, and two other teachers. I think it's been hard for everyone, people were even crying in the staffroom today. Even I cried at the farewell enkai on friday when my head teacher said I was like a daughter to her. There are also people going from my other schools, people who I'll miss, who made work all that more entertaining. I'm happy that some of these teachers are returning to their families, and I know I'll see some of them again. Change isn't always a bad thing, and though I'm sure my new teachers will be lovely people, certain people will be difficult to replace. Tomorrow I head to the ferry port to wave teachers away. This is one of the first times I've really been sad in Japan.
An ALT down; It had been rumoured for a while that Sierra would not be replaced next year, and yesterday
it was confirmed . So next year we will be down to five! Catherine and Lori will also be leaving but should be replaced. It's a way to go before they leave yet, but the news was a surprise.
More Goodbyes; Sanae and Yuki will both be leaving at the start or April and end of March respectively. Again they will both be missed. Sanae is heading to London to study business english, and Yuki is returning to Tokyo to go back to university after a break this year.
General news; I recently went on a four day trip to Honshu to visit my friend
Ryan .
It was my first time flying alone and my first ever time on the shinkasen (super fast bullet train). On travelling to Fukuoka it suddenly dawned on me that I had no idea of how to get from the airport in Nagoya to the train station, no map, and that it was the fourth largest city in Japan. To add to my stupidity I realised I had no contact number for Ryan! I had to call Carrie and get her to e-mail Ryan from my account and give him my mobile number. Thankfully he called that evening, and I was also quickly adopted by an old Japanese man and women in Nagoya who showed me the way to the shinkasen. I was very unimpressed (in a British unsatisfied with everything manner) by the shinkasen, which was just a fast train, and didn't seem worth the amount I'd paid!
Numazu is the city Ryan lives in, and is very close to Mt. Fuji, infact the area itself is very much at risk of earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruption, which was good to learn during my stay. I had a brilliant time though. Me and Ryan are both equally good at talking excessively, and it was nice to talk about a range of things, from politics and sociology, to day to day life. The other ALT's in the area were also really lovely and it was great to have such a relaxing break. The Izu area near by was exceptionally beautiful.
Sexy for Summer has dwindled recently, but mainly as most of us have been travelling or ill. I have managed to start losing weight and I'm also avoiding the daily cakes and sweets thrown my way at work. We should all be back on track come next week when holidays have finished and other activities are not so pressing. I have foolishly offered to join P.E. class at JHS, though god only knows why. I hated P.E. at school and my desire to get fit must have warped my mind when I asked if could join in. I'm just hoping the kids don't laugh at me too much...oh dear, what have I done.
Here is the Sexy for Summer folk near the end of our hike up a local mountain...well I say mountain...its really a hill, but a steep hill!
Anchi (a bar/grill me and Lori tend to visit alot) has been closed down, which is sad. Ipei and Shin chan worked there and it was always fun to visit them. Ipei is also our local hairdresser, and I'm hoping he'll cut my hair next weekend. We are currently on the search for a new hangout!
Me and Ipei on my birthday.
Lori and Shin-chan.
Finally, to end on a more uplifting note, the cherry blossoms have bloomed here. It's a sign of spring, warmer weather and parties, and hopefully their early start is a sign that good things are on there way. Catherine, Melissa and myself had a picnic under the sakura on Saturday, and they are possibly one of the most beautiful things in Japan.
News story over.
A time of change
I got back from a weekend away on the day my teachers heard the news of transfers. Teachers in Japan usually get transferred every 4 years. It's a method of change that ensures teaching practice doesn't become stale. If you are a teacher from the mainland you have to do four years on an island, and if you are a teacher from the island you have to do four years on the mainland. I found that this system had been beneficial for me as an ALT on an island that had become accustom to change. With people from the mainland only living here for 4 years my temporary status was not unusual and I felt that made the community warmer towards me than maybe an area where people rarely change. I was, however, aware of the downside that teachers could change this April, and how that could affect my life. In my base school, I thought I would be losing only two teachers, and though it would be sad to see them go, I wasn't close to them. One of the people I was close to though, was my Kocho-sensei. She had made me feel exceptionally welcome from day one on Goto, taking me to festivals, events and coming over for dinner. She had always been warm and caring, and taken the time to make sure I was always included in school activities and events. This year was only her second at Uonome, and everyone was sure she would be here another two years..but today I found out she is being transferred. I can't describe how upset I feel about this, and that maybe Friday will be the last time I see her. I took for granted that she would be at the school during most of my time on Goto and I wish I hadn't.
I always believe that everything happens for a reason, and I only hope she is tranferred closer to her family who currently live in Nagasaki. I will be sad to see her go, and only hope that life doesn't change too much with the new school year. All I can say is thank you, and hope she knows I will never forget her kindness.
Do you ever get the feeling you are associating with children?
Look at Yuki!
Two little ducks.
Well today it's my birthday, and I'm turning that slightly dull age of 22, which means you're not young but neither are you old. You're just in a meaningless age where by you should learn a little bit more about where you are heading in life, but not feel compelled to make any rash decisions. On an up note 22 is also my lucky number, and whether that will mean this to be a special year who knows.
You may be wondering what a birthday in Japan is like. Well, at 1 o'clock this morning I was sat in bed thinking 'It's my birthday...and it just feels like another day'. I was filled with a feeling of unsatisfaction....that in Japan christmas and birthdays were meaning less without the people from home who love you. To be fair my last birthday was perfect, it was a great night with friends and Emma made me a headgehog cake...a HEDGEHOG cake...you can't ask for more! So, I was a little dissapointed with my birthday prospects in Japan. How wrong I was.
My birthday started in a lovely way, I was in a restaurant in Arikawa with Lori and Andy, and we had spent the whole night talking to a five year old girl. We decorated balloons for her, and played games, and she was soooo sweet. When it hit midnight I had completely forgotten it was my birthday until the owner of the restaurant brought me over a box of chocolates for my birthday. As always, I'm so overwhelmed by peoples kindness.
My day at school was also lovely. I was given cards by some of my students at chugakko and I had a great lesson with the second years. After lunch I was taken away to elemetary school and given cake, flowers adn some lovely cards. My favourite card read like this;
"Congratulations on the birthday of Bikke and 22 years old. Seven months have passed sice it (me) came to Shin Kamigoto. It might have been a lot lonesomely. However, come to like us. We love bright, lovely Bikke"
I was very touched to read something so lovely, and was really happy.
I was taken out in the evening by my good ALT friends, Yuki, Andy and Genki. We went to a lovely restaurant and played bingo and I was given so many lovely presents. After the meal we went to Karaoke where Ipei, George, Mieko and Shin turned up and many drinks were had. I had a wonderful birthday and left feeling so happy. So now it's one O'clock, 24 hours later, and I can honestly say I had the best birthday I could ask for. Pictures will follow tomorrow of gifts and celebrations. I had a great time, and right now..I love Japan.
Can I also thank Grandma and Grandpa and Aunty Barbara and Uncle David for their wonderful gifts...they made my birthday even more special.
Sexy for Summer
There comes a time when you look yourself in the mirror and think "Oh crap...I really have become a giant monster of weight...what happened?", well I'll tell you what happened, Japan bloody well happened. Now early readers of my blog may remember my rambling entries where I was desperately concerned that I would be the "giant whale" of Japan. I had visions of children poking my tummy and asking why this year they had a monster teaching them and not a westerner (though maybe those things can double as the same). Well, thankfully I found I wasn't such a hideous mess and that Japan was a country easy to get comfortable in.
Many people have this idea that Japanese people eat incredibly well, and maybe they do, but more recently there has been an increase in fatty foods in the Japanese diet. For myself, I have to admit that the fried chicken, pizza and tempura did seem far more appealing than the raw fish and jelly like soups that I had to choose between, and it was easy to slip into an unhealthy diet. Shopping is also more difficult, as some products are not here and everything is in Japanese, obviously. After 7 months of not eating brilliantly, and not really getting enough exercise, I was kinda feeling a bit run down.
As the other ALTs gathered in my house last week for pancake day, the topic of weight came up. It became clear that all of us wanted to achieve a weight related goal, losing, toning, eating better. We all felt that exercising often was difficult, and that avoiding sweets at work was tough. We all realised we wanted the same things, and so 'Sexy for Summer' was born.
The name 'Sexy for Summer' was decided because thats our goal. So many slimming groups have negative names, I wanted a name that reflected where we were going rather than where we are now. We had our first meeting on Thursday and it went really well. Sierra (as secretary) made amazing log books and we wrote aims for the summer inside. Every Thursday we're going to meet and cook a healthy meal for each other, and also exercise together. Today we're going on a hike up to the view point in Arikawa, and yesterday three of us went to the gym. I'm feeling really positive about losing weight and being healthy. Before, it seemed so difficult, but now that all of us are pulling together and supporting one another, it all seems so much easier.
I hope that when we reach June, I'll be closer to my goal to be sexy for summer.
Hair Changes
There has been
so many hair changes going on blogs and many of my friends have ben getting their hair done. I decided to bite the bullet when I was in Fukuoka and get a straight perm done. It was amazing! Now I just dry my hair and is just as if I've blow dried and straightened it. I saves me so much more time and my hair still feels soft. It lasts six months and I can still get highlights done. I'm very happy. I was sooo scared about getting it done, but now I wish I had it done sooner!
Here is me before my haircut...it looked so horrible.
Here is me after. Happy!
I still want more work on the cut, I was thinking it needs more layers so I'm going to get Ipei to cut it for me. I just hope it turns out ok.
Right, time to go hiking!
