FALLing in love with Nippon

So despite the busy schedule that this fall has brought me, it has also brought me a new appreciation for the country I am living in.  With the hot and humid weather behind us, fall has proven to be a wonderfully temperate season filled with mostly beautiful days.  So, I have tried to take advantage of all that Nippon has to offer me in fall, and in true form they mostly revolve around holidays!!

KAWAGOE MATSURI

The first weekend in October, Kawagoe (about one hour from where I live)hosted their yearly matsuri, or festival.  To try and describe it would be near impossible, but I will do my best.  Basically you can imagine a city full of food booths selling everything from hamburgers and chocolate dipped bananas to squid on a stick (no joke).  When the sun finally sets, huge wooden floats get pushed through the streets by volunteers from the town.  In a cacophony of music, dancers, and yelling from the crowd, the floats spin and jet through the crowd at one another.  Two floats that pass each other end up battling one another making this one of the most famous matsuris.  What really impressed me was the amount of people.  It was so crowded, that at times it was near impossible to move making this festival not for those who suffer from any kind of claustrophobia.  

Squid on a Stick!  

Ramon Burger

Battling Floats

HALLOWEEN

To really get into the Halloween spirit I decided to throw a Halloween party at my apartment.  Letting my inner Martha Stewart out, I tried to put together a night that would be fun and memorable, marking our first official holiday in Japan.  Thanks to a care package from home and the generous donations of those who attended, we had many delicious dishes, drinks, and of course all while we wore our costumes.  And, leave it to me to find a pumpkin in Japan, but I did!  So we were able to carve a pumpkin to!!  

It was a wonderful way to start Fall off right!!

Yummy!

NIKKO 

Really there is not much to say about Nikko in fall.  I would prefer to let the pictures speak for themselves.  Suffice it to say that Nikko is about 3 hours from where I live and totally worth the journey.  The colors are more vivid than I could have ever imagined.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is a very important holiday in my family.  Unlike Christmas there is no concentration on shopping and present exchanging, therefore the sole message of “We are Thankful” rings out above all else.  Despite being away from the people that I am most thankful for, I was able to celebrate here in Japan with my newly formed family.  

I contributed the mashed potatoes, gravy, and potato salad (thanks to my Mom and Grandma's cooking tips it was not difficult to make either!)

Aaron did the honor of carving the turkey!

Teachers from Ina Gakuen

Everyone that came brought a dish to share and it was not long before the bar turned into some new aged-Plymouth rock; Pilgrims and Native Americans replaced people anywhere from Jamaica, Canada, and  England to New Zealand, America, and of course Japan.  Although we were far away from America, I think in that little bar we were able to capture what Thanksgiving is truly about: being with people you care for and whom care for you.  And that is something to be truly grateful for.  

Traveling Around....

So, I have been placed in a town that is very small and incredibly rural!  Yet, as I am finding out...its advantages are actually outweighing the 30 minute train ride to civilization.  Here are a few things that I have been doing around Japan that are fun and incredibly interesting (at least to me)! Most of these will be pictures because it is so much easier to show you than to explain using my own words, which will inevitably fall short.  

TRICK ART MUSEUM- in Tokyo, this museum is all about optical illusions and tricking your mind.  It takes 2D art and makes it seem as if it is real!  It is really fun and I felt like a kid playing around in a museum where I could actually touch EVERYTHING!!  Yay!

Got to go down the stairs to get to the next room...

Is he strong enough?

Careful...Careful!

Monster Lady

Here I am actually lying down on my side!!  Do you see it???

Is that a mirror?

TOKYO ICE BAR-Although this is a little redundant, the Tokyo Ice Bar is a bar made completely out of ice.  When you arrive they give you a nice warm poncho with gloves attached.  When you open the door you go from sweltering hot Tokyo to a frozen wonderland.  Tables, walls, and pillars are made out of ice along with chairs and, of course, your cups.  

Brr...

An ice table which doubles as a drinking game!

SUMO-So a group of us ALTs went to see a Sumo match in Tokyo.  It was a great cultural experience and I actually really enjoyed the game...go figure!

Outside of the Sumo Stadium in Tokyo.

The ring is supposed to resemble a Shinto Shrine.

Well...I hope you enjoyed this pictorial account of my times in Japan so far.  I still have many other posts, so look forward to one on my school that I teach at (Ina Gakuen) and our school festival!  Until next time...Sayonnara!!

Helping Hands

How many people come from a place where consideration and kindness are normally a second thought?  I know I do. LA is filled with people who have the “me-first” mentality.  Why?  I do not know, but that mentality was not obvious to me until I came to Japan and experienced the exact opposite.  I am sure many have heard of the unmatched hospitality in Japan.  Well, I have come to experience this first hand, and boy has it made my first couple of weeks here amazing.  So, this blog post is dedicated to all of those people who have extended a friendly hand and helped me settle into my new home.

Penny for your Thoughts

Japanese thoughtfulness comes in all shapes and sizes.  In this case it came in a very small size.  The school year hadn’t started yet but the students all came to school to pick up their schedules.  I went out into the classrooms to introduce myself to some of the students and just walk around.  When I headed back to my office I was flagged down by three female students.  They spoke no English, but I was able to decipher that they thought I had lost something or dropped something. With the look of confusion written all over my face one young, uniform-clad girl held out her hand and handed me a penny!  They thought I had dropped it and wanted to make sure it was returned to me; little did they know what its value truly was.

PB&J

In my last blog I came to point out the many differences in American culture and Japanese culture and complained about the peanut butter.  Now let me tell you I am not one to really crave peanut butter, nor even eat it on a regular basis.  But, the fact that I couldn’t have it actually made me want it more.  Well, one of my many adoring blog fans reached out to me and brought me some peanut butter! It was if Mother Theresa had come back to life to bestow one last miracle on the needy.  Thank you Teigan Babcock for reaching out to your fellow Californian.

Six Degrees of Bacon Separation

A package arrived in Tokyo, from my Mom, via one of her Green Hat friends’ husband; if that isn’t six degrees of “Bacon Separation” I don’t know what is.  I went to pick it up at a hotel next to Tokyo Disney.  Let me tell you, this package was a treasure chest filled with the best things from home.  It included tons of post cards, two boxes of Mac N’ Cheese, coffee (they do not have strong coffee here), a coffee maker, coffee filters, sour straws, and animal crackers.   I broke open the sour straws on the train ride home; I couldn’t wait!  It is so nice being able to have some food from home.  I shared the animal crackers with some of my students and just the other day Aaron and I made the Mac ‘N Cheese.  We ate it with yakitori (similar meat on a stick).  It was a mix of my old home and my new one, it made for a perfect meal.

BEFORE...

AFTER!

Another instance of “Bacon Separation” happened through Vangie, my ex-boyfriend’s mom who was giving me Japanese lessons before I left and whom I have stayed close with.  She put me in contact with the Takahashi’s, a Japanese couple living in Chiba.  They welcomed me to Japan by meeting me in Omiya, the big city next to mine, and taking me to an authentic Japanese restaurant.  After like 12 courses of everything from sashimi to crab legs and of course plenty of sake and beer, I felt like I had found adoptive Japanese parents.  They were so kind to me and made me feel at home.  I feel truly thankful for both the friendship I have with Vangie and, by extension, the Takahashi’s.  

The Not-So Helping Hands (AKA just keep your hands in your pockets from now on please)

So this whole post has been dedicated to people who have lent a helping hand.  Well there were also a couple of cases of people not lending a helping hand....

1.)DO NOT SKYPE WITH ME AND EAT PIZZA AT THE SAME TIME AND THINK.......IT’S OK!!!  The one food that you really can’t find and I can not make is pizza! Thank you Sara for being such a good friend and dangling this delicious cheesy slice of pizza in my face!  I can always count on you!!

Add caption

2.) While I was running the other day through my town I came across a Japanese woman walking down the street.  Now let me set the scene for you a bit; picture: very rural Japan, gardens, blue tile-roof houses, hot and humid, Kira running in baggy clothes and sweating profusely.  Got it? So, this woman is walking and as I run by she stops and stares at me.  I think she is just interested in me because I am a foreigner.  Until I realize that she is GIVING HERSELF A HELPING HAND!!!! Not OK!!  Anyways, I ran across the street and have not had that problem since!  

----------------------------------

Thank you all for reading about my Adventures in Japan. Next time...a taste of Japanese Summer festivals, School Festivals and Sports Day, Sumo, and my travels in Japan thus far!  Be excited!!!

Wakarimasen....AKA Huh?!?!

So I live off of Shiseido and Kumon, not really the street names just the identifiers that allow me to get home.  I mean I’m sure I have an address, but at this point I do not know it.  In fact, this chapter of my life is thematically titled: “Wakarimasen”, or “I don’t understand.”  

Everything is work right now, hard work.  Even just paying for things involves effort and confusion.  I payed with my credit card at a store and the lady held up a her pointer finger, as if she were asking “One?”  What does that mean? Is she asking me if I want my card charged once? Or is she saying that she has an idea? Or is she telling me to look up?  Next time I will look up.

Also, another thing that seems familiar yet is different is the food. So I set out on a journey to find peanut butter. I went to the grocery store and after much debate found what I thought to be peanut butter, even complete with Japanese Planter’s Peanut-San on the front.  When I got home, mouth watering at the thought of a PB&J on toasted bread...I opened my “peanut butter” only to find that it is more like a caramel dipping sauce than peanut butter...hmm.  Well it was great to dip my apples in, not so much to put on my sandwich.  

What do you think this is??

That’s Rubbish!

So I spent a good portion of my first Sunday here trying to figure out how to throw my trash away!  One would think that a college graduate like myself would be able to figure out the simple task of throwing away garbage...WRONG!  It took me close to 2 hours to try and translate the instructions for throwing away the trash and I felt more confused at the end of the two hours than I did at the beginning.  

Let me tell you how the highly systemized and organized Japanese deal with trash.  Everyday of the week is a different collection day.  Here is the paper I was given so that I knew what to do....

Makes sense, right??

Let me translate (actually translation done by my supervisor after he saw the complete annoyance that the schedule induced):

Monday-Burnable Trash

Tuesday-Plastic Bags/Wrappings

Wednesday-Metal/Glass and Newspaper and Old Clothes

Thursday-Burnable Trash

Friday Plastic Bottles/Aluminum

1st Friday of month- Clear Bottles

3rd friday of month-Blue or colored bottles

Ok...at least I know what to throw away now.  But the real question is: What the F constitutes “Burnable Trash”?!?!?!  Also, if you do not use the proper bags they may not throw it away for you.  If you put it out after 8 am they will not throw it away for you.  If you do not throw the correct kind of garbage away on the correct day they will not throw it away for you.  I was so thoroughly frustrated at the end of this that I just decided that I would have to learn through trial and error.  

So, Monday I threw away my trash AND....(drum roll please) I got it right.  At least today.  Now I have to try for “Plastic Bags/Wrapping.”  Hopefully that trash day will be as successful as my first in Japan!

While many things are confusing and different I find that I am adapting very easily to life in Japan.  Right now I am reading The Samuri’s Garden (yes appropriate I know), given to me by my professor at home.  Interestingly enough, and incredibly appropriate, the story is about a boy, from abroad, who moves to Japan and how he finds himself through the culture and language.  In the last chapter of the book, in his grief over his departure from Japan, he says, “Even if you walk the same road a hundred times, you’ll find something different each time.”  That is how I feel about my life so far in Ina.  The town though small and not too exciting, is like a garden. It is obviously beautiful when glance at it, however it is not until you get up close and examine every individual blossom or leaf that you see how all the individual parts make it truly spectacular.  And to even imagine that I would have to leave anytime soon, makes me feel as if I would be missing out on discovering that beauty.

Orienting the Orient (o sorry the PC term is Asia): July 23-27, 2011

My journey began at LAX; with three large (and heavy) duffles, a carry on and a purse I made my way to check in.  I said goodbye to my parents and that was it, off I went to my on my new adventure.

The flight was not bad, actually for a ten and a half hour flight it was great.  Singapore airlines is amazing!  We were instantly given a Givenchy bag with socks and a toothbrush in it, we were served two hot meals and snacks (including Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream...yes I know!), and tons of movies and games to choose from.  O and did I mention that the flight attendants are models, all the women literally looked like they stepped off an advertisement for the airline company.

Bdn and Jerry's on the Plane!  Yay Singapore Air!

Once we landed all of us were tired but that did not deter us from going out and seeing Tokyo.  So about ten of us from LA went to an izakaya, a Japanese equivalent to a bar with cheap food.  This was a great way to celebrate our new lives in Japan.  We sat on the floor, ate gyoza and sushi, and had drinks.  Every other conversation seemed to include, “I can’t believe we are here!”  Everyone was on a high like nothing else, we were just happy to be there.

So the first night I spent in Japan I was welcomed by an earthquake.  Maybe it was Japans way of saying “hello!”  But if it was I would like to tell Japan that you do not need to say “hello” anymore, thank you!

The next couple of days included workshops at the Keio Plaza Hotel.  It was hard being inside all day and paying attention with jet lag slowly taking over.  Actually it was easy to forget that I was actually in Japan since we were surrounded by English speakers.  It wasn’t until the evening, when we ventured out into Shinjuku that it became clear we were in a foreign country.  

Our first Kampai (cheers) in Japan!  

One evening Julie, a girl from UCSB, and I ventured out on our own.  Let me tell you that we had about 30 Japanese words between the two of us and so we hesitantly stepped out into the city on our own and selected a restaurant to eat at.  We did not fool anyone and before we could even attempt ordering food in Japanese we were brought a knife and fork and asked what we wanted in English!  We were so bummed that we were not even able to practice.  

The next day we all said our good byes and separated into our prefectures to start our journeys to our new homes.  It was really sad to see the friends that I had made leave, knowing that it will probably be a while before I see any of them again.  My prefecture, Saitama, was taken to the Board of Education in Omiya (a district of the capital city).  We had a very nice ceremony and were introduced to our Vice Principals and Supervisors.  

I met my supervisor, Saito-Sensei, a short man with longer hair who was very kind and welcoming.  The two of us, along with others from our school decided to go to lunch after the ceremony.  We ate at an “American-style” restaurant.  I use to term “American-style” loosely because really it only resembled the country in decor and nothing else.  They served “hamburgers”, no bun on a sizzling hot plate, and rice on the side.  It was actually really good but it proved to be a preview of the new life I was beginning; things seem the same yet are very different.  

This day was really busy, so I will try to not bore you all too much.  Let’s see, I saw my school Inagakuen.  This school is HUGE! When I walked in I think what surprised me most was not even the size, but the amount of students at the school.  It is summer vacation yet clubs meet almost every single day at school, in their uniforms, practicing.  The second floor hallways are filled with students practicing dance, watching their reflections in display cabinets. The bottom floor is filled with huge posters and projects.  Everyone is preparing for the start of school when there will be a huge festival.  

My first day I was also brought to my apartment.  The style of apartment is a Leo Palace, but do not be fooled by the name, it is far from a palace.  Actually, it is perfect for me.  Not too big and not too small.  But, I was left there at the end of the day by myself and this is when the trouble began.  I decided to unpack, but first I wanted to turn on the air conditioning.  It was  33 degrees Celsius, aka 92 degrees Fahrenheit, IN MY ROOM!  I could hardly function.  I searched for the remote for the air but could not find it.  This is when I had a break down...tears and sweat poured down and I truly felt defeated.  All I could think of is calling King Leo of the Leo Palace and telling him I wanted my air conditioning on.  But since that was not an option I looked for other solutions.

The Palace!

I had to open up the air con box to get it to work (it took me about four days before realizing that there was a remote hiding behind my curtains haha).  Once I cooled off I felt better and began unpacking.  My suitcases exploded and I began sorting through what I packed.  Just at the apex of the explosion, where clothes and shoes and everything else peaked in piles, my supervisor, predecessor, and another teacher came over to help me with my cable.  If the exploded suitcases didn’t scare them, then my appearance sure did.  My pencil skirt I wore earlier was replaced by pajama shorts, my cardigan and blouse were thrown off in the heat and now were a tank top, and my make up had long ago sweated off.  What a way to make an impression on your new colleagues!!  I think at the time I was too tired to be embarrassed, but now as I write this I feel completely mortified.  

(I am still trying to upload a video I took of my apartment when I first arrived...get ready there is plenty of raw emotions in it haha!)

My Adventures Begin....

As many of you already know this Saturday, July 23, 2011, I depart for Tokyo, Japan.  I will stay for a year teaching English through the Japanese Exchange Teaching Program, aka JET.  Although my information is some what limited, I do know I will be staying in the city of Ina, part of Saitama Prefecture.  And teaching at Ina-gakuen, a rather large middle-school and high school.  I invite you to share in my adventure (and all of the misadventures as well) as I attempt to discover Japanese culture, language, and lifestyle.

With that, I begin my blog the only way a true English major really knows how to, with a quote.  I feel as if Judith Wright speaks directly to me when she writes, "You are about to begin the hero's journey.  Travel well on the quest.  A life of more is your birthright.  Know the vast resource that resides in you and are provided for you in the world.  You have raised the battle cry of There Must Be More Than This."  And with that I venture out into the unknown searching for the "More," searching for what will help me define who I am and who I want to be.

I hope you enjoy the blog, and please feel free to write back and ask questions.  This is for you as much as it is for me.

Until next time...Sayonara!