Picture Uploads

I am pretty much bad at updating everything except for my Facebook status. So if you haven't found me there, good luck looking here. Sorry, I wish I were dedicated about these kinds of things but they are a bit hit and miss.

For springtime pictures, please go here!

And for pictures of my AMAZING trip to Cambodia, please go here and here! There are TWO albums because there are SO MANY PICTURES!!!!!

Here is a preview of the aforementioned albums.

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms that covered the ENTIRE hill!

Shiraito Falls

The Reflection Pool at Angkor Wat

The strangling fig tree at one of the lesser temples
in Siem Riep, Cambodia

So where to next? I am debating between Morocco or Turkey.

Good News

Second Harvest Japan Volunteers

I thought I would post some "warm fuzzies" that all this work is not in vain.

Power Restored to Nuclear Plant in Fukushima
Source: The Japan Times Online, Electricity restored at reactor No. 2, March 21, 2011


Survivors Found After 9 days
Source: The Japan Times Online, Pair found in rubble in Ishinomaki, March 21, 2011


Overzealous Foreign Media vs "Timid" Local Media and Finding the Balance in Responsible Journalism
Source: The Japan Times Online, Foreign media take flak for fanning fears, March 21, 2011


If you feel so inclined to donate so that food and supplies may be sent to those in the Tohoku Region, please visit the Second Harvest Website and make your donation.
Over the weekend, two trucks packed with goods were sent and we'd love to continue sending more!

Saturday's Truck

Sunday's Truck

If you live in the Tokyo area and would like to do more, OXFAM Japan will have the Tokyo Yamathon in which teams walk/jog/ramble the length of the Yamanote Line.
100% of the proceeds will go towards assisting those in the Tohoku Region.
As I am not an organizer (go Joey!), please visit the Tokyo Yamathon website for further details.

Basic Details of Tokyo Yamathon
When: Saturday 9th April 2011
Where: Harajuku Station
Meeting Time: 06:15 am
Starting time: 07:00 am
Participation fee: 6,000YEN (One team of three or four members)
Distance: Approximately 35 km

Ganbare, Nippon!!!!

After the Quake

UPDATE! (March 18, 8:30pm, Japan Time)

You are probably hearing a lot of numbers and statistics thrown around on the news but may not have an idea what they mean in "real terms". This update is thanks in part to my friend, Sonja, and various articles from the Japan Times newspaper.

To put things into perspective (μSv/h = micro sieverts/hour):
Current levels in Shizuoka (my area) are about 0.04μSv/h and fall in between the normal ranges for Shizuoka (0.0281-0.0765 μSv/h).
By the way, WHERE is Shizuoka?
I am near that black dot on the bottom left of the map.
Source: The Japan Times Online, Embassies launch emergency measures, March 18, 2011

How can I compare this measurement to stuff I already know?
A chest x-ray would expose you to 50μSv.
A round trip flight between Tokyo and New York would expose you to 200μSv.
A stomach x-ray would expose you to 600μSv.

For more details, check out this chart (click to enlarge) and article!
Chart Source: Gakuranman PDF File
Article: The Japan Times Online, What Exactly are the Risks?, March 18, 2011.

So putting two and two together, I would be exposed to more radiation on a flight home than staying put in Shizuoka, which has always been my intention.

Currently, there are two measurements used in these statistics: microsieverts and millisieverts. The foreign media (non-Japanese media) are using the form that has the larger numbers for their own purposes of ratings and web clicks on their sites.
I also hear of people in Japan and abroad complaining that the Japanese government has been withholding information from the public. This kind of talk is not only absurd, but harmful. To make such a claim would be to say that the government is not working in the best interest of its citizens, tourists, and foreign workers.

But then why did the U.S. embassy ask for citizens to evacuate 80km when the Japanese government only required 20-30 km?
Hello, McFly? Anybody home?

Put yourself in this scenario: there is a natural disaster crisis that has left people without power, limited resources, possibility of further aftershocks and tsunamis, nuclear plant issues, and oh, by the way, you can't speak the local language very well.

The Japanese government has supported the U.S. embassy's call on this one and said that they would instruct their own citizens living abroad in the same manner in such a crisis.

President Obama is chartering planes to Japan to evacuate U.S. Citizens. Shouldn't that be an indicator that things are bad?
The indicators I go by are my neighbors, my fellow co-workers, and the Japanese government.
Life has been going on as usual, but perhaps with an increase in the amount of time co-workers are glued to their cell phones. This is because we cannot use web-based email, blogging, nor social networking while at work.

True, Obama is sending planes to evacuate family members of diplomatic personnel and the U.S. government will foot the bill. HOWEVER, for ordinary citizens, you will be required to sign a waiver that promises you will reimburse the cost of your removal from Japan. It is very likely you will not get to choose the location of your removal and to get to your desired final destination would require your own arrangements. Sounds like an unnecessary hassle and expense given the proofs I have already provided of my safety.

-----------------------END OF UPDATE-----------------------

By now, many of you are familiar with the Great Tohoku Earthquake. It's been all over the news and there are fears of nuclear meltdown.


First of all, everyone please calm down.


Many international news companies are blowing this out of proportion and comparing the Fukushima plant with Three-Mile Island and Chernobyl. A lot of this is exaggeration. Please take all news you hear with a grain of salt. I am not denying the dire circumstances, but I am asking that you take into consideration everything that you hear and PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF, myself included, about the situation before you start to lose your head.


For your entertainment, I am including a video that will hopefully explain in simple terms the situation in Fukushima.





I am putting my faith into knowledgeable people who are experts with nuclear know-how. I also am putting my faith into the Japanese government to communicate the truth of the situation to the Japanese people.


Have you heard the amazing things about the Japanese people? They line up in an orderly fashion outside supermarkets, waiting for their 10 items rations. They accept the round-robin power-outage rotation because it is for the best of the community, for the nation. They still go to the train station to commute to work even though the irregular power situation has caused fewer trains to run.
Today at work, a strawberry farmer came by to sell her fruit at discounted prices to cheer up the people in the neighborhood. By the way, they are delicious!


I have heard that President Obama is chartering planes to take U.S. citizens home. While that is a generous gesture, it is not one that I think I need to take. That opportunity is for those in the directly affected area. I am more than 300 miles away from the nuclear plant and radiation readings in Shizuoka have not been abnormal. Until I hear from my JET advisers and direct higher-ups, I will stay here in Japan to finish what I started.


I appreciate your prayers and messages of concern.


Also, I cannot immediately answer your emails and messages because my workplace has blocked all web-based email providers, Facebook, and blogging. Please give me time to process your message and prepare a thorough answer.


Lastly, I want to bring attention to those who are at the nuclear plant site. I don't know what levels of risk they are putting themselves into, but there is a chance they will come away with health issues. They are acting on behalf of the country. Whatever your stance is on nuclear energy, these people are doing their best to protect its citizens. For that, I am most grateful.

Flying by the Seat of My Pants

I took a random, not-well-planned trip to Osaka and Kyoto.
Here are some pictures of that adventure!

That's my train! The Hikari 463!

The shink! By the way, "shink" is short for "shinkansen"
meaning bullet train.

And a little bit later, Osaka Castle!

Eskimo me!

Osaka Castle from a different view.

This is called a Capsule Hotel.
Obviously, my "room" is nothing but a capsule.
Not too bad and quite roomy for a little girl like me.

Shinsaibashi Shopping District.
It's especially popular with the young generation.

Shinsaibashi Shopping District

That's a mall. It's pretty sweet looking.

I was swept away by my friend, Junko, and her family to Kyoto.
And I FINALLY got to see Kiyomizudera,
one of the most famous temples in Kyoto.

Kiyomizudera

Because it was a 3-day weekend, the temple was crowded with visitors.

Thank you, Junko, for a wonderful trip!

Funny Things Students Say

Today ~
Me : You aren't wearing a coat! Aren't you cold?
Student: Are you kidding? Look at me! I am a hot boy!


Last week ~
Me: Let's discuss this topic: "Who would be your perfect Valentine's date?"
Student: YO' MAMA!


A while back, reading students' compositions of Japanese Folk Tales:
"Then the God of the Stars said, "Oh no, you di'n't!"


During summer English camp ~
Student : If I were an animal, I would be a snake because I am a dangerous boy.

Golden Week 2011 Outlook

Golden Week? Yes, Golden Week.

In Japan, Golden Week is (usually) a week of consecutive national holidays that provides a golden opportunity for people to travel abroad. This year, the holidays are as follows.

April 29th (Fri) - Showa Day. HISTORY LESSON! Japan divides its time periods according to the reign of the emperor. The Showa Period dates from December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989 under Emperor Hirohito. Showa Day is ALWAYS on April 29th because it corresponds with Emperor Hirohito's birthday.
Side Note : The current period is called the Heisei Period and the Emperor's Birthday is December 23rd. I suppose on his passing that Day will become Heisei Day. Who knows?

May 3rd (Tues) - Constitution Memorial Day. The Constitution of Japan was put into effect on this day in 1947. Also, this is the ONLY DAY the Diet Building is open to the public. Ooooooo.

May 4th (Wed) - Greenery Day. As the name suggests, this day is to take in the joys of nature.

May 5th (Thurs) - Children's Day. Also known as Boy's Day, this holiday is to celebrate children's personalities and to wish for their health and happiness. You can often see carp-shaped kites/flags dancing in the wind.

SO! Why do I write all this?

I am THRILLED to say that I will be spending my Golden Week (taking Monday and Friday off) in CAMBODIA!

Did you read that?

CAMBODIA!!!!!!!

I guess the reason why I am so excited is because I will be the only one in my direct family to have traveled there. There's so much to see: Angkor Wat, Siem Riep, and beautiful beaches. I am from ARKANSAS and I will be traveling to CAMBODIA. I feel as though I am living the life of a celebrity. I dare you: go to the Google website and search "Cambodia" under images. Yeah, that's me in 3 months!!!!

Then I thought some more...
I've been fortunate to travel A LOT in my lifetime. By the time I get to Cambodia, I will have visited 26 countries by the age of 25! WHAT?! Yeah... TWENTY-SIX!!!

Somebody pinch me.

Hakuba Ski Trip 2011

A while back (January 14-16), Shizuoka Prefecture ALTs and Yamanashi Prefecture ALTs met up in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture for a weekend of skiing fun! The drive took about 4 and a half hours (forecast for almost 6 hours) thanks to good directions and generous speeding on the expressway. Shh! Don't tell!

We arrived about 10:30 at the Lady Diana Hotel in Hakuba. There wasn't much snow on the ground, but it was forecast to snow all night and all weekend.

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning!!!!
Talk about a Winter Wonderland!

Sophie, Drew, and I are ready to hit the slopes!!!!!

Making some new friends with the Yamanashi ALTs.

My apologies that I didn't get any pictures of me actually skiing this time. The snow was coming down VERY hard and it was difficult to maneuver poles, gloves, cold fingers, and to keep my lens from fogging up all at once. We're meeting again in February so maybe I'll have better luck then!

Christmas 2010

This year, I was able to come home for the holidays!
Here are some highlights of the trip.

Wood Fireplace! It smelled so good!

Mia (L) and Ally (R) on the way to get our Christmas tree!

Trekking through brambles

Loaded and ready to go back home!

(L-R) Abby, James, Curt, Mia, Kale, and Davis
in the front loader.

Wilson and I decorating the tree

Robertson grandkids Christmas morning
Mia, James, Archie, Abby, Hannah,
Ally, Davis, Kale, Curt, Emi

Family Picture!

Cheese platter with the Bakers

Making muffins!

Snack time!

Merry Christmas everyone!

If you'd like to see more pictures,
they can be found here

Christmas Spirit

There is no way there will ever be a White Christmas in Shimizu, but a girl can still dream, ya?

Since the weather around here is still early fall-ish, the "Christmas feeling" hasn't sunk in yet. Yes, a few houses have lights up and Christmas carols play in the supermarket, but I just haven't gotten that bounce in my step.

Well that all changed the other day. At school, some of the third year students in the elective music course gave a performance of White Christmas on hand bells. I couldn't stop smiling throughout their performance as I was thinking of the loved ones who are waiting for me.

These kids are like my babies because we started together, and we'll probably finish together.
Love 'em!

My Own Horn

Toot! Toot!

In the previous post, I mentioned that I attended a seminar. So let me elaborate.

Every year, the JET programme has Mid-Year Seminars (MYS) for all their prefectures. In Shizuoka, all 2nd-year and above JETs are required to present at this seminar. Since I am in my 3rd year now, I had to present. I could choose my own topic, choose to have a partner or fly solo, and debate whether I should risk the success of my presentation on Powerpoint.

I decided to be old-fashioned with a handout, magnets, posters, white board, markers, and a great Vanna White audience assistant. There was some great discussions, helpful participation from the audience (primarily first-year JETs and recently-transferred or appointed JTEs and Supervisors), and a lot of laughs. The 50 minutes alloted for the presentation suddenly seemed as though it wouldn't be enough time! I suppose that's a better "problem" to have than to have 15 minutes remaining and twiddle our thumbs.

During lunch break of the second day, participants in MYS could vote for the best elective workshop/presentation and the winners would be announced in the closing remarks.
Well toot, toot, ta, toot, toot! I got 2nd!

As a teacher, sometimes I feel that my hard work goes unappreciated by those that receive it. It can be a HUGE downer over a long haul (like the current second semester) and kill motivation. So it's nice to have my efforts recognized by others who work just as diligently.

If you'd like to take a peek at my handout, it can be viewed here at Google Documents. The formatting has gone wonky and this may be because the head JET doesn't have the font I used on his computer. Ah well, he was kind enough to upload all the handouts used at MYS so I am grateful because now I have even MORE resources to pull from in the future.... like third semester.

1 week and 6 days until I am home!

Anything you can do, I can do in Japanese

I got this idea from a friend at the seminar last week. Any milestone in a foreign country is still a milestone, however big or small. I may be surprised by all that I -can- do on my own and now think that it is no big deal.

In no specific order or ranking...

1) I can order a pizza over the phone.

2) I can update my bankbook in Japanese (please see previous post about the lack of bank statements in Japan).

3) I can call the delivery man and make an appointment for him/her to pick up/deliver a package.

4) I can use the poster-making machine , copier , and fax machine at work.

5) I can fill out my own business trip form. (If you haven't seen one, they are ridiculously meticulous and complicated)

6) I can call a taxi and give him/her specific directions to my location, where I want to go, and how many people will be riding. Often times, I can even hold a casual conversation with the driver.

7) I can find almost anything at the grocery store. Corn starch still eludes me.

8) I can operate Microsoft Word and Excel in Japanese. Yes, I got skills.

9) I can read and comprehend a bus and train map and correspondingly, how to get around the stations. I have taken the wrong bus/train only ONCE in 2 and a half years.

10) I can make photo prints without assistance from a store clerk.

11) I can use the touch panels at sushi and yakiniku restaurants (pictures are very helpful).

12) I can recharge my commuter's card.

13) I can request out-of-state train tickets for regular trains, bullet trains, other luxury lines , and whether the ticket should be round trip or one-way.

14) I can have 3 drinks and not make a fool of myself. (While this is not a skill, after-work drinking is a bonding custom. To not participate in drinking may be interpreted as an indirect signal that the person does not wish to socialize. Before coming to Japan, I never drank alcohol.)

15) I can order sports tickets (specifically sumo tickets) from the ATM-esque machines at convenient stores.

16) I can tell the doctor my symptoms.

17) I can order contacts and update my prescription.

18) I can wire money home or to another account, but I have to brave the severe post office lady who raises her voice at me when I ask her to speak more clearly. I didn't say speak louder.

19) I can tell off my students for bad behavior. They seem stunned that I am capable of raising my voice since I am usually so bubbly.

20) I can write a New Years greeting card.

21) I can write a few kanji characters with a calligraphy brush. Of course, this is after practicing 12-20 times.

22) I can write my address in Japanese by hand. It takes 100-105 strokes of the pen depending on how clearly I write.

23) I can ask people to hand me items that are out of reach and to help me make change from a 500 yen coin or 1,000 yen bill.

24) I can order anything at Starbucks (and I guess any other coffee shop).

25) I can request permission to try on clothes or shoes.

26) I can use, read, and comprehend my TV's internal TV-guide.

27) I can hook up most electronics. Laptop to projector can still be a hassle.

28) I can operate a karaoke machine , find the song I want to sing , and input it into the machine.

Wow! I can do a lot! Before I came to Japan, I could not do ANY of these things. So maybe I won't pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December, but at least I know that what I couldn't do before, I can now do. HA!

Super Mario Bros.

As most of you know, I am a video game nerd.
Zelda, Ocarina of Time for 64 redefined gaming for me. That and multi-player Tetris.

Here is an excerpt from one of my student's journals.

"Now, Mario celebrates 25 year. But I have big shock. Mario is sink man! Cool hat man I was thinking. Overalls is stylish recently, so Mario have nice sense I was thinking. Before, what I thought is now a lie! I am in a shock."

Translation:
Super Mario Bros is celebrating their 25th anniversary. But I am in shock: Mario is a plumber! I thought he [just] wore a cool hat. Recently, overalls are in style, so Mario has good fashion sense. But, now I realize that what I thought before is wrong! I am so shocked."

I had a good laugh over this.

Ugh. Ths blog stuff is not going over well, is it?

I am going rafting on Saturday (assuming I kick this cold before then) so I should have something to post.

I am so stressed at work. I am exhausted. I need more sleep.

A Good Week

I am trying to stay positive.

Last week (September 13 - 17) had its extremes ups and downs. I went to work Monday and managed to put on "the mask of duty". But really, I was panicking inside. Thank goodness my first period class was taken over by the other teacher, Ms. Kobayashi. Tuesday was exhausting because I had 4 classes and couldn't focus my head to really teach the classes all that well. I went home feeling defeated. Wednesday was much better. I had two enthusiastic first-year classes and they really boosted my spirits. Thursday and Friday almost felt normal.

I haven't told my students why I missed the first week and a half of the second semester. I feel as though I will lose my composure if I do tell them. Also, for some reason, I feel like I should be inpenetrable when I am in front of them. Since being a teacher in Japan, I have only cried twice in a pity-party sort of way due to the stresses of work, an unmanagable class, or something like that. Both times were in the seclusion of my classroom on the 4th floor of the 2nd building so I highly doubt anyone else at school was aware.
As a high school student, I can only recall one time when a teacher cried in front of the students due to her own struggle with a chronic illness. I was floored. Then again, I could fully understand everything she said to me and that wouldn't be the case with my students, especially since my English while crying isn't all that clear.

This week was even better. Monday was a holiday so I spent the 3-day weekend at my aunt and uncle's place in Kamakura. I love going there because it is so relaxing. Sure, it was busy around the station and beach, but I spent most of the time with my aunt and uncle, reading manga, listening to the birds, and watching the sumo tournament on TV.

After the 3-day weekend, I came back to a 3-class work week. This is almost unheard of for me since I have a 17-class work week. Insane. Monday was a national holiday (Respect for the Aged Day), Tuesday was morning classes only in order to prepare for..., Wednesday: the school's Field Day. I didn't take any pictures this year, but if you would like to look at previous years' picture, they can be seen here and here. Thursday was ALSO a national holiday (Autumn Equinox) and it rained all day. But with the rain came Autumn. The temperature FINALLY went below 30 C and today is very cool as well. Since there wasn't much chance of getting out, I cleaned the apartment which has desperately been needing my attention. And today, I had 3 second-year classes and we talked/wrote about movies, books, comics, and TV shows. I had a lot of fun and the students took up the writing assignment enthusiastically. Sometimes students can really surprise you!

Tonight, I will have dinner with a good friend, Joe, and then spend some time at home tomorrow Skyping and relaxing and getting back to studying for another JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) in December.

By the way, I failed the July test, but only the grammar section. I am not too surprised since I didn't feel all that confident after the test. This year, the examinee must pass all three sections of the test. I passed kanji reading/vocabulary usage and listening, but my grammar was dismal at only 30%. So I guess I know what I need to work on.

Grief still comes suddenly. Before this post, I was looking through pictures of my nephews and nieces and thought just how precious family truly is. I am so glad I will be coming home for Christmas time for almost 3 weeks. Don't be surprised if I only stick around with them. If you want to see me, you may have to come see me on my turf at 1111. I love that address...

Loss, Shock, Grief, and more

As some of my readers already know, my family has had a sudden loss.

Words seem really pointless to try to process my feelings and my grief, especially to do so on a public forum.

Now I am back in Japan, back to work, and don't feel like myself.

Deep breaths.

Still Around

My apologies to my dedicated readers.

There's no excuse for my lack of posts except for the blatant admission of laziness. This summer is the 3rd summer I've experienced in Japan and it also happens to be the hottest of the 3. Naturally, such circumstances do not foster motivation for anything other than loafing around the house where there's A/C. Why I don't post pictures in the meantime? Perhaps I consider that "work" and since I am technically on summer vacation (though still required to go to school and explaining that system requires a separate blog post), I'd rather use my vacation for just that... a vacation.

But I am here, alive and well, and smothering in the heat.

4 Years from Now

Wow. It just hit me.

The World Cup Soccer (Football) Tournament is this year. Do you know what this means?!

I am officially a has-been.

...

How did I come to that conclusion?

4 years ago, during the time of the previous World Cup, I was touring Europe with the HU Chorus. There were weeks of rain, international singing festival in Poland, the beauty of Dresden Germany, reuniting with college friends in Vicenza Italy, crepes in Lyon France, and a super long bus ride from Calais to Bristol.
My fleece pullover became my best friend because, unlike Arkansas, most of Europe is still pretty chilly in May and June. Close runner-ups were my Febreze fabric deodorizor and Shout Wipes. Remember those hideous asparagus outfits? Yikes...
Most memorable are the other members of the Chorus and the generous people who hosted us on our tour. In Germany, I seemed to bump into a lot of people who knew me as a child or knew my family. In Croatia, I learned a valuable lesson in friendship. In France, I fell in love with white peaches.

That was 4 years ago.

Now, I am teaching English at a high school in Japan.

I have been so blessed and priveleged to have so many experiences young in life. I hope that 4 years from now, I am still as adventurous and appreciative of the world and the people who make my life amazing.

Where will I be 4 years from now?

Long time, No Blog!

*wipes the dust from her keyboard and screen*

Hisashiburi, y'all! Wow. It has been awhile since I have posted here!

Since Korea, a new school year has kicked off. I have 241 new students and this batch seems a lot more eager and confident to volunteer in class. This makes it a lot easier on me especially since OC is all about communicating!

But the first semester is a bit odd. I can never get into a groove. School starts but I didn't see the first year students for a week. Then two weeks later, we had a week's-worth of holidays so I missed a class here and another one there. Next week, we'll have midterms and 3 weeks after that is our school culture festival. With so many hiccups, it's a bit difficult to settle into a routine. Also, since all my classes are on different lesson plans, I am having difficulty making a midterm that is challenging enough for the students who are ahead without being impossible for the students who are behind.

For general grown-up talk, I finished my taxes last night. HALLEJUAH! I am glad I get a 2 month auto-extension since I live overseas because all those calculations of deductions from yen-dollars was a pain.

In family news, my parents arrive in Japan tomorrow! My dad retired from teaching business/commercial law, international relations, and some economics courses so now both parents have the time for an extended visit. They will be in Japan until late June, but only with me for maybe 2 weeks of the time. This weekend, we will be attending the May Sumo Tournament and next week, we will travel to the Northern Coast of Japan to Kanazawa. Of course, they will stopover at my place for a few nights and meet Kiyomi. We're set to go out to my favorite yakitori shop.

A short jaunt to South Korea

Now that schools are on spring holiday, I can travel too!

YES! Sensei is allowed to take time off! About time!!!

For 3 nights and 4 days, I explored Seoul with Kiyomi.

We ate, we shopped, we ate, we saw shows, and just to shake things up a bit, we ate some more.

You can view my Facebook album, Anyohaseyo, to view my adventures there.

By the way, Anyohaseyo means "hello" in Korean.

Kam-sa-ham-ni-dah!

Pork Style Korean BBQ

View of Downtown Seoul from our hotel

Starting to Hate the System

He's been hacking for two days. And he won't go home.

Well, he could go home, but he'd have to take paid leave.

But he's obviously very sick. And staying here at work, in the staff room, means that he's just spreading his yuck with every coughing fit.

Spring vacation officially starts Friday night. I don't want to get sick before my trip to Korea, but I am already feeling the yuck attack my throat and creep into my sinuses.

So, Mr. Hack-Up-My-Lungs-Sensei, please go home.