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Week 16: My Enkai ~November 6, 2000~ ARGH! I want more vacation! I don't want to go back to work! We should get paid to drive around the country and meet people, not sit on our duffs at school trying to keep ourselves entertained! I don't want to go to school.... But I did. Today was a normal day. I went to school, worked on my journal, actually planned a lesson and had fun teaching in class. What wasn't normal was the fact that this has been the first normal day that I have had in months! And everyday is supposed to be like this. Oh well... I taught 2A with Nakasato today. We taught about colors and what they mean. Red = anger, love, blue = sadness, white = innocence and etc... After that we played true/false dash. Once the kids caught on to the game it was alot of fun. I would yell out a sentence, the kids would have decide if it was true or false and then run to the board and pick the right card. It was alot of fun watching these kids rush the boards. It was even funnier when they rushed for the wrong card. For the last sentence I yelled "English class is fun!" I died when all the kids ran for the "false" card. I also taught in 1B today. The teacher asked me 10 minutes before class if I had a new game. ARGH! I had been sitting at my desk all day trying to keep myself occupied and he picked the last 10 minutes to ask me. Not knowing what to do (whenever they do that to me my mind goes blank) I pulled out True/False Dash explained it to him and went to class. Once the class again caught on it went good. The teacher actually enjoyed it also. It was alot of fun. The kids liked running through the class and hitting the board. For the last question, I made the point value on the cards x10 so it was anyones game. It was alot of fun watching the losers faces when I wrote -30 on the board! :) The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Besides freezing my ass off I had a good day. Tomorrow is my enkai so I spent most of the day filling out this form that introduced people to me. I had to write where I was from, what my specialty was, my hobbies etc....This is what I put: Name: Kootonii Doulii (yes that is the romanzied
translation of my katakana name)
Isn't that sweet? I did in all in Japanese so that is why it is pretty simple. But I think it will go over well. One my way home I scared the mail people by mailing away a package and then proceeded to bring terror to the gas station people. I have been running my heater alot and I figured I needed some more kerosene. I went to the gas station, walked in, said "Tooyu!" After they calmed down from being frightened out of their minds (actually they weren't scared at all, the one guy I talked to was very helpful and nice) I showed them where my house was on the map, got a ride back there with the tanker and filled up my one jug of kerosene. Yay! I was victorious! The rest of the evening I spent cuddled up at home, enjoying my heater, relaxing and watching TV. All in all it was a good day. ~November 7, 2000~ When the hand shot out of the futon today to hit the alarm clock it shot right back in. Its cold out there! Finally, when I couldn't take the buzzing any more I got brave and quickly shot my hand out and hit the snooze button. But I had to repeat this 5 or 6 more times as I can't shut off my alarm until I get out of bed or else I will sleep in! And I can't do that! I managed to get out of bed and mobile. Showering is turning out to be quite the chore because it is probably the coldest room in my house! But I am starting to take quicker showers and I turn on my hot water heater a couple of minutes before I start just so it can kind of heat up the room a bit. At school today, I made my students play True/Flase Dash again and it was fun. I really enjoy this game. We also did a communication check for another unit. The unit was asking directions in Kyoto but it was hard for me as the map was in Japanese and so were the directions. I had no idea what was going on and basically faked it. But I am sure that it was okay. Tonight was my welcome enkai. It only took them 3 months to get around to it but it was still alot of fun. And scary!!! At 6:00 Mari Nakasato came and picked me up and together we went to the enkai. It was at a sushi restaurant. As we were coming in she told me not to get too worried if things got strange. I started to get worried. When the Japanese say things are going to get strange watch out! She also told me that I had to march in. I was like "HUH?" So we came in and I sat down. The had a welcome sign out for me. However it said "Well come to our school." It was quite cute and I told them that they had spelled it wrong. I told them that it was okay and I wouldn't say anything. :) Once everyone got there I had to march into the room. It was sort of scary. Then Motoko gave me a welcome speech, handed me some flowers and then I had to give my welcome speech. In Japanese I said "Hello, I like Japan. I like Yamada high school. I enjoy teaching. Thank you everyone." They applauded and I sat down. After that we had a couple of other speeches for two of the other teachers who were new (? or something...I couldn't tell). Finally we had a speech by the teacher who was leaving, Kamano-sensei. This was the teacher that I had found out was leaving on the day that he left. I was sitting beside him. Finally after all the speeches were over with we sat down for supper. It was sushi so it was mostly raw but I did fine. Alot of the teachers came up to me and talked a bit, especially about the fact that I wanted to be a daigaku no sensei (university prof). I think they were a little surprised that I had such big ambitions. They also wanted to know why I didn't like natto. One teacher was like "Natto is so good. You put it on rice, add a raw egg and yummm!!" I was like "Not me!" Still talking about food, they asked me what else I didn't like. I told them that I liked most Japanese food and that we actually used chopsticks in Canada. Japanese people are really shocked when they here this. Come on! You guys use spoons and forks right? My co-workers were also shocked that I drank alcohol. My predecessor didn't drink at all so thus they think all foreigners don't drink. When they asked me what I like best, beer, sake, orange juice, wine etc...I told them that I liked them all. I got lots of looks of surprise. One of the one teachers, Hirono sensei came by with some umeboshi (japanese plum). I had already tried one of those horrid things during O-Bon and had vowed never to do it again. When I told them that I didn't like them, Kamano sensei said "But they are so good!" Knowing that they wouldn't believe me I picked one up, turned to Kamano sensei and said "This is for you." I then put it in my mouth. After the convulsions stopped and I had washed out the taste with whatever I could get my hands on (beer) they looked at me incredously. They asked me what it tasted like and I said "salt." They said it was sour. I said no it tasted like salt. Anyways, I doubt that they will ever offer me one of those blasted things again. As the night went by, more and more people started to get drunk and they decided to end the enkai party. First off we had the cheer. They stacked some pillows on the floor in the centre of the room and made me stand on them. Nakasato told me not to worry. I was scared. She then gave a cheer "Welcome, Welcome Kourtney!" and everyone clapped and cheered. When she asked me how it was I told her I was scared. I just didn't know what to expect. We did the stand on the pillow/cheer thing for all the teachers and it was quite fun. After the cheer, all of the teacher stood in a ring and we sang the Yamada school song. I had no idea what the words were but I sang along anyways and it was kind of fun in a wierd sort of way. As I sat back down unsure as to what to do I noticed the younger teachers discretely making their way to the door. My eyes got huge and puppy-like as I thought to myself "Don't leave me here with the scary old people!" Hirono sensei popped his head back in and waved me over. The younger teachers were sneaking away to go to karaoke and ditching everyone else. I told them I would get my stuff. I grabbed my jacked and bag and headed over to the karaoke box. We had a lot of fun karaoking. I belted out quite a few songs and talked to the other teachers. Kamano showed up after a while and Hirono belted out an old animated superhero song replacing the superhero's name with Kamano-man. Funny. Hirono also sang another song about Yokota-sensei. Yokota was the one who was pointing at me a couple of weeks ago and I didn't know why. Anywho, no one likes him as he is always really gruff with everyone. I was talking to a few of the teachers about him and they said that he always talks way too long and always through the morning bell. I told them that they thought they had it tough...I didn't understand any Japanese and when he talks for what seems like hours I just sit there and hope that it will end soon. They thought that was funny. After singing and having fun, we finally left at about 12:30. I caught a ride back to my apartment and because I was buzzed after having such a great time I did laundry! Eventually I did go to bed. ~November 8, 2000~ I warily got up this morning. Oh, I so wanted to go back to bed! But I had a feeling there would be alot of bleary eyed teachers this morning. And when I got to school I was right. Everyone looked tired but in true Japanese spirit they didn't really say anything about it. However when anyone asked me I told them I was tired but okay. Today wasn't too exciting on the teaching front. I went to class, did my thing and then went back to my desk. Nothing really happened. My kids like to come visit me at my desk so that is alot of fun. We talk and they go through my stuff. I enjoy it because it helps me to get to know them alot better. Today at lunch we had a females-only welcome lunch for the science teacher that came back. We got bento lunches and they were very good. Alot better then the PB&J or the instant noodles I usually have. I don't know why, but there is a stigma attached to women ordering bento. All the men do it but none of the women do. They either buy their lunch from the bread people or go out and get it. The bento lunch is quite big and it is hot but I don't understand why the women don't get it. It doesn't concern me too much because I like making my own lunch because that way I know I will eat it. You never know what might rear its head in a bento box. Anyways, I have vowed to solve this lunch mystery once and for all! I walked home today after school. Boy is it starting to get cold out. The days are quite warm (not in the school however....I don't know how but the school is always colder inside then out.) but as soon as the sun goes down the temperature drops. I should have gotten the car. Then I wouldn't have to freeze all the way home. I try to walk fast to keep the blood flowing and the muscles warm and that seems to help at least. I am sure that I can figure something out for when the temperature really starts to drop. I spent the evening relaxing and making supper. And I also did something very important. I managed to get my other 2 channels tuned in. I now have 6 channels!!!! Yay! I can watch SMAPxSMAP!!!!!!! Victoriously, I watched TV and played with my computer. Not too exciting. I usually spend my evenings pretty quietly. Its kind of lonely actually. In Canada, as my parents can attest to, I was usually out every night and hardly ever at home. I kind of miss going out and doing things and seeing my friends. Oh well...once I get back and I can start doing that again. ~November 8, 2000~ Woooboy! It was very cold this morning. Because of the cold I now put my alarmclock in bed with me. Its this tiny travel one so it doesn't even take up any space. And because it is under the covers I don't have to worry about sticking my hand out into the cold air. Yay! I also got up this morning and turned my heater on. I am tired of being cold in the mornings! I have my big heater upstairs and my space heater downstairs. Both are on in the morning now. I am going to get another kerosene heater though. My little one can be my downstairs heater and I am going to get a nice new one for upstairs. I live upstairs and my little heater just barely belts out enough heat to keep it warm up there. A new one would be good for the winter. At school today I taught one class by myself. We didn't do anything, I just handed them a worksheet and hung out. I also played "How stupid do you think I am" with some of the boys. They were sitting by the window and when they thought I wasn't looking (I was staring at them the whole time) they would duck behind the curtain and play with their keitai. I came up, told them to put the keitai on their desk where I could see it. They put it in their desk and when they once again thought I wasn't looking they started playing with it again. I told them to finish the worksheet and then play. They didn't listen. I told them that I didn't really care if they played with their keitai but I just wanted them to do it where I could see them. Ducking behind a curtain isn't inconspicuous at all. But playing hide-keitai-so-ALT-doesn't-see-it was interesting. If I ever get my hands on one of the students keitais I am switching it over to bilingual and sending email from it. :) In my other class we were doing a communication check. The topic was "My Dreams." The students had to respond to various questions with what they wanted to do, what they wanted to buy etc...The kids did really well on it. However, when one of the quiet boys came up some of the other boys who were hanging around at the front started to pick on him. One of the questions was "If you had enough money, what would you buy?" When the quiet boy failed to answer, one of the other boys said "I would buy some words." I gave him a quick subtle kick in the leg and a glare and later he apologized to me for saying it. I told them that they shouldn't pick on people. There is a real problem with bullying at schools in Japan and even though I haven't noticed much of it here I know that it does happen. After school I headed up to Miyako for Japanese class. I really enjoy it. I know I am not really learning much there but it is nice to hang out and talk to people. Even though I have hard time speaking Japanese, my reading and writing is very good. :) Today we had to use adjectives to describe things. It was funny because David said "Watashi wa, tsumetai koohi desu." He said that he was a chilled coffee. The rest of us died, including our instructors. After Japanese class I headed home on the train. While I was sitting on the train looking through my new Japanese text book, I noticed my vice-principal get on the train also. He saw me, sat down beside me and said "I be drinking!" Apparently there had been a Miyako and area vice-principals enkai. He was very drunk. We talked and he asked me if I wanted to study Japanese driving. I told him that I already had my license. He then asked me what days I wanted off around Xmas. I told him and he didn't seem too opposed to the idea. I am only asking for two days off, when school is in session and the rest of the time is when the school is open but there are no classes. I figure that I should be able to get my time off. Sitting across from us were a couple of students from Miyako High School. That is the school that the brainy kids go to. Anyways, my drunken vice-principal leaned over and started talking to them. Apparently one of their teachers had been one of my vice-principals students and when he was a teacher he had taught physics. Its interesting what you can get out of some one when they are loaded. :) He kept talking to these boys and once we made it to Yamada and stepped off the train I turned to them and apologized for him bugging them. They said it was okay. The vice-principal and I walked home together. He had wanted to go to this other place for a drink but I told him no. I said that I was tired and had to get up early. The real reason was that he was plastered and I didn't want to haul him back to his house over my shoulder. I told him that next time we would go out. He seemed happy at that. I made it home and went to bed. Only one more day and then it is the WEEKEND!!! WAHOO! ~November 10, 2000~ Yay! Friday! Everyone do that Happy Friday Dance! Well....I don't have a happy Friday dance but if I did do one I am sure I would be dragged down to the nurses room faster then you can say "NANDE?!?!" I taught my happy 1A kids today. This kids are my favorite. I love them!!!! We did True/False Dash but we did it using questions to check their comprehension. I was saying sentences like "King Sejong invented the McDonalds alphabet" and "King Sejong worked with young soccer players." It was too much fun watching them run to the board. I also went to 3A today. The kids had noticed my new bracelet and were curious about it. I told them that I got it a a Buddhist temple. then the boys started to ask a wierd assortment of questions. They wanted to know if I could dance like in Flashdance. I told them "No." I asked if they could dance like the girl in Flashdance and they blushed and said no. For the last 3 weeks I have been freezing at school. It has been bloody damn cold! And today was the first day the rest of the teachers started complaining also. Hopefully something will get done now!! I am so sick of being cold. I wore my jacket and scarf all day today!!!!!!!!!!! After school finished I hightailed it home. Tonight I was going to go to Miyako to meet Morgan and go out for supper. But instead of taking the train I was going to catch a ride up with Blair. Blair and Brian have rented a car so they could go places and do stuff. It was Blairs week to have the car and he was going to Miyako so he offered me a ride also. Yay! I get to go for a car ride. At 5:30 Blair showed up at my house and we headed over to his so he could get his stuff and pick up the car. He drives the town's car during the day to get back and forth to work. The car they rented is a 4-door Honda Civic. It is quite nice and sporty. I want a car!!!!! We got to Miyako and picked up Morgan from the Station. We then headed over to Blairs. Blair lives in this tiny tiny apartment. The whole thing could fit in the upstairs of my house!! The up side is that he has air conditioning, insulation, a flushing toliet, and satellite TV. I could move into a place like that but I don't think all my furniture would fit! Morgan and I chatted with Blair, Brian and Emily (another New Zealander) and then went for supper at our nice restuarant. I think this is turning into a tradition. We go have a nice meal, a glass of wine and relax. I had prime rib tonight! Gods was it good!!!! I also managed to spill my wine on Morgan. I was telling a story, got really animated and knocked the wine glass over onto her. She wasn't mad (thank god) and she said the stain would come right out. After our meal we headed back down south and we home. I got home, turned on my heater and relaxed and watched TV. Having 6 channels is great. I think my VCR might also speak english but I have no idea how to make it. I will keep playing with it I guess. Hopefully I can get it figured out. ~November 11, 2000~ Today I slept in and proceeded to do laundry. I also vacuumed my house to. It was starting to get pretty horrid so I decided that I had better clean it. I also got a phone call today. In Yamada there is a cram school where kids go to do some extra work. The head instructor at the school, Takeuchi-sensei, wanted to know if I wanted to come by and help out. I said sure. She was going to come get me at 3 in the afternoon. After I vacuumed I headed out to do some shopping. I picked up a plastic blow up Xmas tree. I have no idea if I will even be able to get a real one so I bought this one. I figure Chris and I can get some different colored paper and decorate it ourselves. Should make for a cute couple moment. After hitting the big Bihan for some food, I went home and made myself some lunch. At 3 Takeuchi-sensei came by. She is pretty nice and she helped my predecessor out alot. She took me to her school and I met the kids studying there. There are all ages of kids who come to their school. I helped them out with their pronounciation and talked to a couple who wanted coversation practice. I had 2 year junior high school students who could read and converse better then my 3rd year high school students. I just about cried. I told Takeuchi sensei that I could come to her school every Wednesday night to help out. It is alot of fun because it is one on one with the students. I really like it. I stayed till 6 pm and Takeuchi's mom made me supper. When I go to the school, I get fed. I don't have to cook myself supper! Wheeeeeeee! I came home that night and relaxed, talked to Chris, watched Saturday SMAP and not a heck of alot else. Pretty quiet night. But I was warm! I had my heater going and my kotatsu out! I really heated up my room fast. ~November 12, 2000~ I got up this morning at 10 and decided to go Miyako to do some shopping. I also needed to shrink two of my shirts back to size. There is a laundromat in Miyako, right next to Dora. I loaded up my stuff and boarded the train. About halfway to Miyako I realized that I had forgotten laundry soap. I went to Dora and did a little bit of shopping. I bought Cheddar Cheese!!!!! I haven't had real cheese in such a long time! I went over to the laundrymat but when I got there I realized that there wasn't any laundry soap there either. I went over to Yakudo, a giant drugstore and got some soap there. Finally I got my shirts washing and I headed back to Dora. I did some more shopping there. I bought some CD singles and I found out that in 3 weeks the movie theatre is going to be playing the newest Godzilla movie. Chris and I are going to go. I headed back to the laundrymat put my clothes in the dryer and watched it spin. I miss having a dryer. I figure if I really need to get things dry I will just bring them here. After my laundry finished I went back to Dora, bought a new pair of shoes (cute and cheap) and then headed to Denkodo. Denkodo is an electronics/appliance store. I wanted to price out a portable Mini-Disc player. I found a recordable one for not too much money so I think I cam going to save up and buy one. Maybe it will be my Xmas present to myself. After stopping off at Saty for some food I trained down to Tsugaruishi to visit Morgan. I hung out with her for a while and Maki, my japanese class instructor came to visit. Morgan wanted Maki to check her speech for her presentation in Hanamaki. It was alot of fun to hang out with Maki. She isn't a stereotypical Japanese woman and is quite opinionated and almost brutally honest. But I have a soft spot in my heart for hard asses and I like her. We spent the evening talking and hearing some of the gossip around the area. We also tried to set Morgan up with one of Maki's friends. There is a party coming up and Maki is going to invite him. We will have to see what happens. :) In two weeks, Morgan, Peggy and I are going to go to the Love Shrine in Tono to help Morgan get a man. I came home, unpacked all my stuff and cleaned
my kitchen. I obught myself a lunch box today so I am making a Japanese
style lunch tomorrow. I am sick of instant noodles! I figured
out how to work my rice cooker timer so hopefully it will work. We
will have to see.
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