Wednesday Morning, Ikata Chugakko, 9:45am

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo bored right now.

The preponderance of the evidence

I just realized that the recent majority of my posts as well as 1:1 conversations with friends have focused on embarassing tales of my mistakes and misfortunes here in Ikata.

If this were American-style civil court I would be so guilty of being the most uncool person in Japan!

So I would just like to say in my defense, for the record, that yesterday I managed to make it through the entire day without making an ass of myself even once.

Its progress...

Oops

I am the worst teacher EVER!

Today I visited Toyonoura Shogakko, the most difficult of my five elementary schools. Difficult because the kids there don't like to play.

Now, who ever heard of children that don't like to play?! Really, these kids are unbelievable! All twenty-two of them, regardless of age, have perfected an expression of such utter detachment and boredom that even the most genki ALT would turn to stone.

So I chose to see an opportunity instead of an obstacle and planned the most dynamic, action-packed English lesson my deranged mind could conceive. I had the ichi and ni nen sei students first (6-7 year olds). I began with an action words warm-up game that the children at another school loved. Really, I wish I could've videotaped that lesson because their reaction was so brilliant. But alas, it didn't work. After practicing "run", "jump", "walk" and "skip" for 25 seconds they began moaning and groaning that they were tired. One student, acting very much like a little obasan, cried out "My feet hurt" and another faked sleeping on the floor. All kids refused to play any more "moving" games and just wanted to sit at their desks and play bingo. The remainder of my lesson plan flew out the window. Tough crowd.

Expecting the worst from the next class (san, yon nen sei), I walked into the classroom somewhat subdued. But then something magical happened: They began having fun. I thought fun might be happening when a boy flashed the slightest hint of a smile, but his facial movement was a little ambigious and I just dismissed it as a sneeze. Then two more kids smiled...large, proper smiles. Then a few laughed and before you knew it there was giggling which turned into laughing which later turned into cheering. I think some English learning also occured.

The rest of the day progressed like a dream with kids who never ususally engage reaching out to me. Everything was going great UNTIL...

on the playground...

I accidently threw a little girl...

INTO A DITCH!!!

And she proceeded to expel large, anguished, inhuman wails of pain so that all games ceased and everyone stared. It all happened very quickly. The older girls were teaching the younger girls a gymnastics move. My job was to help the younger girls get their feet over their heads, which I did with extreme tenderness and the utmost care. First girl, yoshi! Second girl, yoshi! Third girl - well, her feet went over head, then her feet successfully planted themselves firmly onto the ground. But then, for some inexplicable reason, her left foot moved back, then her right foot moved further back. Suddenly the girl began tumbling backwards and somehow found the only ditch in all of Ikata and fell awkwardly into it. I felt like such a shmuck!

Of course she was fine and everyone else, teachers included, were laughing, but I felt like the playground bully.

Sigh...one step forward, two steps back...

Hey, Chicago! My Cousin JoAnn...

...JUST GOT ENGAGED!!!

Поздравляю тебя !
Congratulations JoJo and Ron!

Hurray! I'm over the flu (almost)!

I got really sick last week. I knew something terrible was coming on Thursday when my throat became so dry that I could spit cotton. Friday was even worse. I had all the usual cold sypmtoms: sore throat (のど　が　痛い =のどがいたい), my head was throbbing (頭　が　がんがん　する), runny nose (鼻水), cough (咳), congestion (鼻ずまり = はなずまり), etc. I went into work anyway because I promised Kamada-sensei I'd complete some work for him while he was out of the office that day. However, in the afternoon someone took my temperature (I must have looked really bad), discovered I had a fever, and sent me home. I was so disappointed - I had to cancel all my weekend plans (cooking in Mikame, tea ceremony in Ozu, Davinci code w/friends Sunday evening). Home I went for 3-4 days of boring bedrest.

But not before making a total fool of myself in the local convenience store. Because my American contraband supplies are completely depleted (Mom - send Robatussin!!!) I went to Lawsons to buy some more cold medication.

Ummm -did you know that you can't buy cold medicine in convenience stores in Japan? I sure didn't.

So I stumbled into Lawsons in a daze, face as red as a tomato, and tried to find the drugs. They had aspirin, cough drops, gauze, band aids, and something to gargle with. No syrups. No potions. No pills. I was dumbfounded. I even picked up a box and began to shake it just to make sure there were no drugs in it.

The two clerks just stared at me as I fumbled around stupidly. Feeling that I had to say something at this point, you know, because they were just staring at me, I proclaimed the following in an unnecessarily loud voice,

"くすり。ねつ　が　ある。くすり。なにがいいですか。"

Literally meaning...

"Medicine. I have a fever. Medicine. What is good?"

Hey - I know it wasn't art, but I was sick and it was the best I had.

Initially they recoiled, cringing, with looks of horror. I can't say I blame them. Everytime I imagine myself in their shoes I just laugh. But their horror was soon replaced by sheer panic and they began to run around the shop trying to assist me. I waited for the medicine but it never came.

They offered me some cough drops, but I declined.
They offered me a cold compress in a box for 599 yen.
They offered me a super-vitamin energy-type drink that came in a suspiciously small vial for 399 yen. I declined that too.

Then they apologized and told me that was all they had. They apologized so very profusely that I again felt the need to say something to them. So I said:

"だいじょうぶ、だいじょうぶ。いまから、びょいんへいきたい。"

Literally meaning...

"Thats ok. Thats ok. Now I want to go to the hospital".

Oh god, when will I learn to just shut up? I sounded so wierd! I meant to convey that the clinic was only three buildings away, and you don't need an appointment, so I could go over there and pick up some medicine very easily. But of course thats not what I said.

I have noticed that every time I act foolishly I end up making new friends. Those two women from Lawsons, who never really talked to me much before, have been quite chatty the last two times I've seen them.

No wonder I'm so popular in this town...

Japanese Study

Here are the lyrics - in romaji - to this song that I can't stop playing...

Sakura zaka
by Fukuyama Masaharu

Kimi yo zutto shiawase ni
Kaze ni sotto utatau yo
Ai wa imamo ai no mama de
Yururu komorebi kaoru sakura zaka
Kanashi me ni nitau sube ni iro
Kimi ga ita koi o shite ita
Kimi janakya dame nano ni
Hitotsu ni narezu
Ai to shitte ita noni
Haru wa yatte kuru noni
Yume wa ima mo yume no mama de
Hono ni kuchizuke somaru sakura zaka
Dakishimetai kimochi de ippai datta
Kono machi de zutto futari de
Mujaki sugita yakusoku
Namida nikawaru
Ai to shitte ita noni
Hana wa sotto saku noni
Kimi wa imamo kimi no mama de
Aenai kedoKisetsu wa kawaru kedo
Itoshi ki ni to
Kimi dake ga wakatte kureta
Akogare o oikakete
Boku wa ikiru yo
Ai to shitte ita noni
Hana wa sotto saku noni
Yume wa ima mo yume no mama de
Kimi yo zutto shiawase ni
Kaze ni sotto utatau yo
Ai wa imamo ai no mama de

Variations on a Theme

The teacher asked me: What Chinese food do you like?

I replied: I like spicy tofu.

What I heard all day long in the hallways...

"What do you like Chinese food?"
"I like Chinese food is spicy tofu."
"Spicy tofu, spicy tofu, spicy tofu (kind of sing-song)."
"I like gyoza (potstickers)."
"Do you like Chinese food?"
"I...like...I...I...like...gyoza."

and my all-time favorite:

"I like spicy tofu, and I LOVE you!"

Awwww!

Female Heads of State

interesting info from today's "Ask Yahoo":

The first female president (or prime minister) was Suhbaataryn Yanjmaa. She was elected president of Mongolia in 1953. Since then, according to this page from Florida International University, there have been dozens of female heads of state. Some of the more notable include Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Edith Cresson of France, and Corazon Aquino of the Philippines.

As of today, the following women are serving as either presidents, prime ministers, or chancellors:
Michelle Bachelet of Chile
Helen Clark of New Zealand
Luisa Diogo of Mozambique
Tarja Halonen of Finland
Myeong Sook Han of South Korea
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines
Mary McAleese of Ireland
Angela Merkel of Germany
Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica
Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia
Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh

We're Number THREE?!?!

According to this article in the Mainichi Shunbun our very own Ehime prefecture is the highest producer of mikans in all of Japan (no surprise there!). But did you know that we are only third in sales? Hmm...do you suppose its because so many farmers keep giving me crates...

...and crates...

...and crates...

...and crates...

of free mikans?

Oh yeah, and apparently frozen mikans are the latest fad.

I can honestly say that in my former life, back in 2004, long before I came to Japan, I never would've fathomed this news could possibly be of interest to me.

I am so country now.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20060516p2g00m0dm017000c.html

Isn't this picture funny? I'm beginning to fear that I wear this mask of confusion everywhere in Japan. BTW this photo is courtesy of my friend David. Usually I can't stand photos of myself but when David takes them they seem so much better. Must be something about seeing yourself through the eyes of a good friend...

For more of David's photographs and experiences in Japan be sure to check out his blog at http://genkidavid.blogspot.com/

One of the many reasons why I want to intern for Barack Obama...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-il-obama,1,149453.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Useful Japanese?

Here is another sentence from my grammar book that made me laugh because it was presented without context and just sounded really strange. I only hope the speaker was referring to an employee interview or something...

私はいい人を見つけたので、さっそく田中さんに会ってもっらた。

わたし　は　いい　ひと　を　みつけた　ので、　さっそく　たなかーさん　に　あって　もっらた。

Translation: I found a good man, so I asked Mr. Tanaka to see him right away.

I can't wait to use this sentence!

If you have time, please read this article from the NY Times. It addresses the living conditions of some orphanages in Romania. The information here somewhat relates to an issue I care a lot about (the orphan crisis in Russia) and, more generally, the social impact of years of bad policy in many former communist states...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/10/world/europe/10romania.html?th&emc=th

A Few Old Photos from Aki Matsuri 2005

I was just looking through some old pics and found these from last year's Fall Festival in Minatoura.

Mmm...I might need to upgrade my camera, huh? The Karashishi isn't looking too hot...

When I began this blog 6 months ago my vision was to use it as a creative/intellectual space in which I - and perhaps other ALTs - could share honest observations and stories (serious, silly, whatever) about our experiences in Japan. I didn't really know where I was going with it, I just knew that it was personally important for me to share these experiences with my friends. I guess the whole thing was, and still is, a kind of online journal experiment.

So here's my problem: about three posts ago I wrote a questioning, factual, but seriously unflattering account of something that happened between me and a girl in the office. And today I decided to delete it. And I don't feel good about that decision at all.

The reality is that unflattering things do sometimes happen to foreigners living in Japan (as they do everywhere). And, in my opinion, one way society here differs from that of America is in its reluctancy to confront those realities directly head-on. Things just operate differently here, as those who have lived or worked in Japan would probably tell you. I believe passionately, fervently, in the importance of transparency of all our experiences in Japan, good and bad. But I also believe in sharing this information responsibly. And I just wasn't sure that my post was responsible. Especially since my small community of readers, at first just immediate friends and family, has grown substantially (thanks to word of mouth-hurray!!!) to include Japanese friends throughout the prefecture.

So those of you who read it - and there were many - please let me know what you think. I could really use the feedback. Am I behaving responsibly or just being a chicken?

I've just got to mention that I don't have an inflated ego or think that my blog is important or widely read or anything like that. But check this out! I was SHOCKED to receive hits from the following places/orgs/domains in which I currently don't even know anyone working/living/studying:

Palo Alto

Plano, Texas

New York and New Jersey

Columbia University

University of Chicago

FoxLake, Elmhurst and Oakbrook Illinois

Five Hits from Tokyo! (Hey -does Monbusho have blog tracking software?!)

Wow!!!

Today's Japanese lesson comes from my favorite English song sung during Karaoke (well, not really, but they sure do sing it a lot):

Just the way you are (by Billy Joel)
in Japanese is

素顔のまま

素顔 = すがお = a face without make-up; one's true face

Picnic in Honai Town

Here are some photos from a lovely afternoon picnic in the park with friends. The fuji hana (wysteria flower) was really beautiful and fragrant.

I visited my friend's house to meet her family for the first time. Her husband and children made this welcome sign for me. It reads "Dear Angela-san, Our family has waited for your arrival from 100 years ago". How amazing is this?Wow!

Takoyaki Dinner Party

Have you ever eaten takoyaki (small piece of octopus fried in a special batter)? If not, I highly recommend it! Here's a recipe, its easy to make. http://www.bento.com/tr-tako.html

And you can use my pictures from Thursday's takoyaki party in Misake as a guide. Itadakimasu!

Kite Festival

I went to the Ikazake Kite Festival yesterday with my "gang" (pictured above) to celebrate Kodomo no Hi (Childrens' Day). For those of you who don't know, childrens' Day is May 5th and celebrates the health and happiness of all children in Japan. It also coincides with "Tango no Sekku", Boys' Festival, which celebrates the virtues of strength and courage of all male children (see my April post on Hinna Matsuri for information about Girls' Festival). Families with sons usually hang kites in the shape of carp (called Koi Nobori) outside the house. For the Japanese, the carp symbolizes energy, vitality, and the ability to overcome obstacles (because carp swim upstream). Therefore the koi nobori represent the family's desire of these virtues of masculinity for their sons.
At this particular festival razors were attached to the strings of each kite. Teams battled each other by manuevering their kites (often by running across the river) and attempting to slice off the competition.