After waiting 8 weeks for the internet that would only take 3-4 weeks, we finally can use our internet at home. So I've posted pictures of all of the things that we've done since we lost our internet (since April). I hope you all enjoy the pictures.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
INTERNET!!!!!
Finally...
After waiting 8 weeks for the internet that would only take 3-4 weeks, we finally can use our internet at home. So I've posted pictures of all of the things that we've done since we lost our internet (since April). I hope you all enjoy the pictures.
After waiting 8 weeks for the internet that would only take 3-4 weeks, we finally can use our internet at home. So I've posted pictures of all of the things that we've done since we lost our internet (since April). I hope you all enjoy the pictures.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
&%'!!#$ Japanese License
Everyone...I have failed the test twice. First time was yesterday and I expected a failure. Since they are so picky and strict, I imagined they would find something wrong with my first time. I took it well and made an appointment the next day. It just so happened that my school had a special schedule and I only had one class, so luckily I could take that class off and go. I figured it was a good sign. However today, I failed again and now in a fit of anger and depression. There was no reason to fail me except for them to get more money. The instructor even said that overall I was great. There were only two mistakes that I did. The passing rate is 70%, so apparently these two mistakes that I did were worth 20% each. The math doesn't add up right. The instructor was young and I think had to be really strict. There were two other foreigners from India that also failed, this being their third time. I thought they drove beautifully. They were just as shocked as I was. I want to take it again tomorrow, but I have to be at work. The car is being returned this weekend so I will have no more practice with a manual car. And I have to wait until Wednesday to take my test. I had really hoped to have the license by the time we had the new car. Now I can't even really appreciate it. ARGH!!!!!! Im so depressed. I know what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but my driving was strong to begin with. I don't think dropping my speed from 20 km to 14 km on a turn will make me that much stronger of a driver. I think if anything, doing that will make me worse. Im hoping to write Wednesday with better news, but with this shocking failure, who knows, they may want to fail me again.
Monday, May 26, 2008
One Hour of the Worst Luck
I am now on a mission that many foreigners dread... the Japanese Driver's License.
After my interview last week, I was quite happy. My interviewer was not a scary cop like Ron had and I explained all of my sentences in semi-perfect Japanese. The only part that stunk was that the Practice course that Ron used when he took his test was closed. But, the interviewer told me that if I came on Saturday, four days before my test, I can use the course to practice. Since Ron had taken the test I figured that that was even better than the course, with ￥5000 in my pocket. Now, we had promised a friend to visit her town for the weekend, but decided that leaving Saturday morning instead of Friday night would be better as far as my chances for passing the course.
Now, the poop part.
So bright and early Saturday morning, Ron and I drive the 30 minutes to the test site. Once we get there, I see my interviewer and request to practice on the course. He then tells me that I have to buy a ticket from the school shop to practice. No problem, it's right behind me!... It's closed.
Now, you would think that if the people work in the same building and all I needed was a piece of paper that they print out in this little kiosk, my interviewer would just take the spare keys, walk the 20 meters, open the door, turn on the register, and print me a ticket so that I can be happy Juni. NOPE! He tells me that since it is closed I have to go to a Convenience Store 30 minutes away (10 minutes from my house) and get the ticket there. After internally screaming my head off, Ron and I admit beauracratic defeat and turn around to get the ticket. When we finally get there, the convenience store that is suppose to be open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is also closed. CRAP... Not very convenient.
I immediately called the guy and explained the situation. He seemed very empathetic, and suggested that I take the test the following week and use the next weekend to practice. I asked to pay cash for the course, but in good Japanese beauracratic form, I have to have that stupid !@$&# seal. Ron and I decided to give our sanity a break and just try for this week. Thankfully, we had two hours of driving to my friends house to detox that awful experience.
So now, Monday. I am freaking out for the test. At least if I practiced I'd know what to look for and where to be ready, but now all I have are Ron's memories, but still, I can't drive in his head and see how I do. I took off a whole day of work for this Wednesday and if I fail the test, I will have to take off another day because they don't test on the weekend. Luckily, to leave on a good note, we should be getting our car on Wednesday too. So I will eaither fail the test and have a car to soothe my wounded heart, or I will pass with flying colors and Ron will reward my efforts with a brand new (used) car. I will later report on my results.
After my interview last week, I was quite happy. My interviewer was not a scary cop like Ron had and I explained all of my sentences in semi-perfect Japanese. The only part that stunk was that the Practice course that Ron used when he took his test was closed. But, the interviewer told me that if I came on Saturday, four days before my test, I can use the course to practice. Since Ron had taken the test I figured that that was even better than the course, with ￥5000 in my pocket. Now, we had promised a friend to visit her town for the weekend, but decided that leaving Saturday morning instead of Friday night would be better as far as my chances for passing the course.
Now, the poop part.
So bright and early Saturday morning, Ron and I drive the 30 minutes to the test site. Once we get there, I see my interviewer and request to practice on the course. He then tells me that I have to buy a ticket from the school shop to practice. No problem, it's right behind me!... It's closed.
Now, you would think that if the people work in the same building and all I needed was a piece of paper that they print out in this little kiosk, my interviewer would just take the spare keys, walk the 20 meters, open the door, turn on the register, and print me a ticket so that I can be happy Juni. NOPE! He tells me that since it is closed I have to go to a Convenience Store 30 minutes away (10 minutes from my house) and get the ticket there. After internally screaming my head off, Ron and I admit beauracratic defeat and turn around to get the ticket. When we finally get there, the convenience store that is suppose to be open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is also closed. CRAP... Not very convenient.
I immediately called the guy and explained the situation. He seemed very empathetic, and suggested that I take the test the following week and use the next weekend to practice. I asked to pay cash for the course, but in good Japanese beauracratic form, I have to have that stupid !@$&# seal. Ron and I decided to give our sanity a break and just try for this week. Thankfully, we had two hours of driving to my friends house to detox that awful experience.
So now, Monday. I am freaking out for the test. At least if I practiced I'd know what to look for and where to be ready, but now all I have are Ron's memories, but still, I can't drive in his head and see how I do. I took off a whole day of work for this Wednesday and if I fail the test, I will have to take off another day because they don't test on the weekend. Luckily, to leave on a good note, we should be getting our car on Wednesday too. So I will eaither fail the test and have a car to soothe my wounded heart, or I will pass with flying colors and Ron will reward my efforts with a brand new (used) car. I will later report on my results.
Friday, May 23, 2008
New JET Problems
In the JET Program there are two types of Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs). First is a Prefectural JET like myself, who is hired through a school (Ichi-ko). Then there are Municipal JETs who are hired through a city's Board of Education and goes to many schools. In the group of 40 JETs that came to Iwate last year, about 15 were Municipal JETs. Now, it is official that the Educational Board of Iwate will not be accepting anymore new Prefectural JETs. Their budgets are really tight and they figure that the best way to cut costs is to not have foreign teachers. This is OK for my situation. I can stay for my three years, but I am the last (whew!) This is a real shock to the JET program. Morioka alone has 4 JETs that are leaving out of 7. No JET will take their place. Schools will now have to hire independent foreigners and since it will be a pain and added expenses, I'm sure that many school will not be hiring an ALT. While I'm glad and thankful that I will be able to stay and have the JET experience, it is quite a bummer to know that only a handfull of new JETs will be coming in the summer, and even sadder to know that I will probably be the last JET in Iwate.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Being an Adult
The beauty of the JET Program, especially for newly college graduates such as myself and Ron, is that it's a babystep towards adulthood. After being in the college mindset, being in Japan makes it a nice middle ground instead of being immediately thrown into adulthood. We have work, bills, and if we want... savings. Yet, we don't have to worry about insurance, large costs, and othe problems that come with adulthood. We can relax in that "happy medium" while we try to think of our next step into true adulthood.
However, I think we are starting to take a faster approach to adulthood. Recently, we've been very busy. Within this month, we are struggling to get internet, working the mounds of paperwork to get a car, getting ready to pay for car insurance, calling to make doctor's appointments, et...cet...e...ra...
I guess it's silly to say that this stuff is overwhelming and sometimes I want to pull out my hair. But I'm starting to realize just how much comes along after graduating college. There is no parental financial support anymore and all those little things that were taken for granted are now things that are building up to be a pain in the butt. Just yesterday I had to cancel my phone mail function because I was getting so much junk mail and being charged for it. To save $20 a month, it had to be cancelled. Ron and I have started to see where we spend our money and how to save more money in other places. It's kind of our own reality show. "This couple is given $100, how long can they go before it's gone? DUN DUN DUN!!!
Before it was a pain and I went in a state of depression so strong that even my favorite PURIN (pudding) dessert couldn't shake me out of it. Then, I started to figure that we aren't in a bad place and the things we have are things that are needed. I'm a saver by nature so the idea that my money is going somewhere else kills me. Having to pay half of the car last week was like taking a piece of my soul. But now, I've come to a different mentality. One that isn't gauged by how much we save in a month, or what things we CAN'T afford. Now, I've come to enjoy coming home, shopping for dinner, and study nights. So much so that the trip to Mr. Donuts that I won't be taking doesn't bother me anymore. FYI, I've lost 6 pounds because of it.
This is by no means a sad story, I think that I've grown up a little more and thanks to the JET Program I can take my time to realize these things. I think the "mature" sprout on top of my head just grew another inch (or 2.54 cm... YAY metric!) Hooray, I'm growing!
Thank you mom and dad for paying my phone bill. I recall it being quite high.
However, I think we are starting to take a faster approach to adulthood. Recently, we've been very busy. Within this month, we are struggling to get internet, working the mounds of paperwork to get a car, getting ready to pay for car insurance, calling to make doctor's appointments, et...cet...e...ra...
I guess it's silly to say that this stuff is overwhelming and sometimes I want to pull out my hair. But I'm starting to realize just how much comes along after graduating college. There is no parental financial support anymore and all those little things that were taken for granted are now things that are building up to be a pain in the butt. Just yesterday I had to cancel my phone mail function because I was getting so much junk mail and being charged for it. To save $20 a month, it had to be cancelled. Ron and I have started to see where we spend our money and how to save more money in other places. It's kind of our own reality show. "This couple is given $100, how long can they go before it's gone? DUN DUN DUN!!!
Before it was a pain and I went in a state of depression so strong that even my favorite PURIN (pudding) dessert couldn't shake me out of it. Then, I started to figure that we aren't in a bad place and the things we have are things that are needed. I'm a saver by nature so the idea that my money is going somewhere else kills me. Having to pay half of the car last week was like taking a piece of my soul. But now, I've come to a different mentality. One that isn't gauged by how much we save in a month, or what things we CAN'T afford. Now, I've come to enjoy coming home, shopping for dinner, and study nights. So much so that the trip to Mr. Donuts that I won't be taking doesn't bother me anymore. FYI, I've lost 6 pounds because of it.
This is by no means a sad story, I think that I've grown up a little more and thanks to the JET Program I can take my time to realize these things. I think the "mature" sprout on top of my head just grew another inch (or 2.54 cm... YAY metric!) Hooray, I'm growing!
Thank you mom and dad for paying my phone bill. I recall it being quite high.
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Coolest Thing I have ever seen
I am a lucky ALT.
First, I get placed in Tohoku, where the traditional spirit of Japan still lives without being tainted with too much modernity. Then I am put in one of their largest cities that saves me the sanity of having to go tens of kilometers just to get face cream or avocados. Then, I am based in the highest academic school in the city, nay, the entire prefecture. These students are motivated and have a purpose for themselves. I can speak in a slower, but still natural way and these kids are smart enough to catch on and understand what I'm trying to get at.
Now I'm almost done with my boasting.
In the schools in Japan they have what's called an Undoukai (運動会）which is a competition day. A day of various relays with different teams. There are tug of wars, class jumproping, a "Capture the Flag" sort of thing, and running relays. It's a day where students can stop thinking about their studies and just enjoy themselves. Well, this in itself is a great event to watch, but my school, Ichi-ko takes it one hilarious step forward.
Since the beginning of the new school year, the first year students have gone through an intensive month long initiation. Since Ichi-ko is the oldest school in the area and is killer hard to get it, they are allowed to do this. So, since the first day, the first years have after school activities of learning the 10 school songs overnight and then singing to the top of their lungs in a group while the second and third years taunt them like Boot Camp. Students are losing their voices, getting sick, throwing up. It's a bit ruthless. After the two weeks of memorizing the songs, they then learn a dance to prepare for the Undokai. Girls and boys learn separate dances. Then a couple days before the festival, I noticed that many of the boys started to wear school scarves on their heads. I figure it was a part of school spirit. Apparently, the senior students take a hair razor to the boy students. Zing! Zing! Zing! With only patches of hair gone. The day before the festival, I go outside of the school and my boy students are painted up in red and blue paint with grass skirts on. The girls are wearing decorated smocks to look like Japanese Kindergardeners. On this day, they have to walk 10 km around the city and do their dance for anyone who will watch. I tagged along. It was crazy. Not only did the first years have to dance, but the second and third years also dressed up, but in cuter outfits. There was crazy cross-dressing goin on.
Then the day of the festival, the games were ruthless, but everyone's spirit shone crazy bright. I myself dressed up like a Kindergardener and another teacher and I crashed the girls dance and started to dance along with them in front of the school. Once my students realized it was me, there was an insane roar of cheering. I felt so proud and popular. I guess they do like me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC2PacfQqL8
By the end of the day, I was completely bubbling up with joy. Apparently, no other school goes to the lengths of Ichi-ko for their Undokai. I felt so blessed to be a part of this school and enjoy their activities. I'm so glad I'm staying longer.
First, I get placed in Tohoku, where the traditional spirit of Japan still lives without being tainted with too much modernity. Then I am put in one of their largest cities that saves me the sanity of having to go tens of kilometers just to get face cream or avocados. Then, I am based in the highest academic school in the city, nay, the entire prefecture. These students are motivated and have a purpose for themselves. I can speak in a slower, but still natural way and these kids are smart enough to catch on and understand what I'm trying to get at.
Now I'm almost done with my boasting.
In the schools in Japan they have what's called an Undoukai (運動会）which is a competition day. A day of various relays with different teams. There are tug of wars, class jumproping, a "Capture the Flag" sort of thing, and running relays. It's a day where students can stop thinking about their studies and just enjoy themselves. Well, this in itself is a great event to watch, but my school, Ichi-ko takes it one hilarious step forward.
Since the beginning of the new school year, the first year students have gone through an intensive month long initiation. Since Ichi-ko is the oldest school in the area and is killer hard to get it, they are allowed to do this. So, since the first day, the first years have after school activities of learning the 10 school songs overnight and then singing to the top of their lungs in a group while the second and third years taunt them like Boot Camp. Students are losing their voices, getting sick, throwing up. It's a bit ruthless. After the two weeks of memorizing the songs, they then learn a dance to prepare for the Undokai. Girls and boys learn separate dances. Then a couple days before the festival, I noticed that many of the boys started to wear school scarves on their heads. I figure it was a part of school spirit. Apparently, the senior students take a hair razor to the boy students. Zing! Zing! Zing! With only patches of hair gone. The day before the festival, I go outside of the school and my boy students are painted up in red and blue paint with grass skirts on. The girls are wearing decorated smocks to look like Japanese Kindergardeners. On this day, they have to walk 10 km around the city and do their dance for anyone who will watch. I tagged along. It was crazy. Not only did the first years have to dance, but the second and third years also dressed up, but in cuter outfits. There was crazy cross-dressing goin on.
Then the day of the festival, the games were ruthless, but everyone's spirit shone crazy bright. I myself dressed up like a Kindergardener and another teacher and I crashed the girls dance and started to dance along with them in front of the school. Once my students realized it was me, there was an insane roar of cheering. I felt so proud and popular. I guess they do like me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC2PacfQqL8
By the end of the day, I was completely bubbling up with joy. Apparently, no other school goes to the lengths of Ichi-ko for their Undokai. I felt so blessed to be a part of this school and enjoy their activities. I'm so glad I'm staying longer.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Our Inner American
Bigger is better, right?
After getting our wonderful fabulous new house, we are confronted with the contorted faces of people who don't know why two people need so much space. No children, no family. But we slide it off because for us, it's necessary. For sanity and future fun, it's necessary.
Now, we are forced to give our car back to the owner with the ultimatum of buying the car from him or giving it back, thus being car-less. Now we are thinking of buying a new car. Since our Yamagata expedition, we've realized and enjoyed the perks of traveling road-trip style. The thought led us to a beautiful blue van, one that can easily hold 7 people and can transform into a beautiful bed. Perfect for sleeping in and enjoying a holiday. Now, with the idea of our too-big house and too-big car, I'm hit with the pangs of American greed. Living in the teeny sized nation of Japan, I feel like we've supersized our lives here. I think I'm thinking too much of other people's opinions, but to me, I've never had what I didn't need, so having so much makes me wonder not if we NEED it, but if we should have it. This is my own weird Juni-ness and Ron just smiles and insists that this is the greatest purchase in the world. By the way it will be $3,500 for everything, not bad. So now, it seems like we have to stay for the next two years, to really enjoy not only our new house, but our soon to be new car.
After getting our wonderful fabulous new house, we are confronted with the contorted faces of people who don't know why two people need so much space. No children, no family. But we slide it off because for us, it's necessary. For sanity and future fun, it's necessary.
Now, we are forced to give our car back to the owner with the ultimatum of buying the car from him or giving it back, thus being car-less. Now we are thinking of buying a new car. Since our Yamagata expedition, we've realized and enjoyed the perks of traveling road-trip style. The thought led us to a beautiful blue van, one that can easily hold 7 people and can transform into a beautiful bed. Perfect for sleeping in and enjoying a holiday. Now, with the idea of our too-big house and too-big car, I'm hit with the pangs of American greed. Living in the teeny sized nation of Japan, I feel like we've supersized our lives here. I think I'm thinking too much of other people's opinions, but to me, I've never had what I didn't need, so having so much makes me wonder not if we NEED it, but if we should have it. This is my own weird Juni-ness and Ron just smiles and insists that this is the greatest purchase in the world. By the way it will be $3,500 for everything, not bad. So now, it seems like we have to stay for the next two years, to really enjoy not only our new house, but our soon to be new car.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Golden Week Vacation- Bimbo Ryoko!
びんぼ旅行
Bimbo- "poor" Ryoko- "vacation"
Ahh! It feels like college again. Golden Week is one of the largest group of national holidays. So many and so close together that they call that week "Golden Week" and many Japanese families take this opportunity to go north and see the Cherry Blossoms or somewhere south to just rest. Basically, everyone in Japan is on the move during this week. Not to miss in the experience, Ron and I too were planning a trip of our own. With many summer plans in the making, Ron's change of job, and a new house, we've decided that using the minimal amount of money was necessary for future living. So we decided to go to Yamagata, a prefecture where many Moriokans refer to as the "Ohio" of Japan, why go? BECAUSE WE CAN!!
During the three day trip, we slept in the car in sleeping bags, took rest in 24 hour supermarket parking lots and convenient stores, cooked with our little stove in the trunk, and took baths in nearby onsen. Some may say that's barely living, but in that trip, we did more things than I could imagine any Japanese person could do. We saw a brilliant amount of sights and tasted the delicious food. We saw a famous war reenactment festival, tasted their famous cherries, dipped in the most famous onsen, saw "take your breath away" temples and the Pacific Ocean scattered with small islands, and a gigantic crater. In the end, we spent $350 on the whole trip, transportantion costs included. By pinching pennies (yennies) and trying to find the best deals, it felt like our own reality show adventure, minus the drama and the backstabbing.
Yonesawa Festival
Yamadera- A mountain hike lined with temples
Yamagata City- known for it's cherries ($100 for one box of cherries!)
Okama- In Yamagata it means "Gigantic Crater", in Ichi-ko it means "Gay" :( Either way, to me it means " freakin' cool)
Matsushima... This place is one of the three best sights of Japan. This beach area near Sendai is peppered with mini islands. Real pretty, but we came when it was a little overcast. I think the next time we go on a beautiful day, it will show it's true beauty.
Truly unconventional ね?
Bimbo- "poor" Ryoko- "vacation"
Ahh! It feels like college again. Golden Week is one of the largest group of national holidays. So many and so close together that they call that week "Golden Week" and many Japanese families take this opportunity to go north and see the Cherry Blossoms or somewhere south to just rest. Basically, everyone in Japan is on the move during this week. Not to miss in the experience, Ron and I too were planning a trip of our own. With many summer plans in the making, Ron's change of job, and a new house, we've decided that using the minimal amount of money was necessary for future living. So we decided to go to Yamagata, a prefecture where many Moriokans refer to as the "Ohio" of Japan, why go? BECAUSE WE CAN!!
During the three day trip, we slept in the car in sleeping bags, took rest in 24 hour supermarket parking lots and convenient stores, cooked with our little stove in the trunk, and took baths in nearby onsen. Some may say that's barely living, but in that trip, we did more things than I could imagine any Japanese person could do. We saw a brilliant amount of sights and tasted the delicious food. We saw a famous war reenactment festival, tasted their famous cherries, dipped in the most famous onsen, saw "take your breath away" temples and the Pacific Ocean scattered with small islands, and a gigantic crater. In the end, we spent $350 on the whole trip, transportantion costs included. By pinching pennies (yennies) and trying to find the best deals, it felt like our own reality show adventure, minus the drama and the backstabbing.
Yonesawa Festival
Yamadera- A mountain hike lined with temples
Yamagata City- known for it's cherries ($100 for one box of cherries!)
Okama- In Yamagata it means "Gigantic Crater", in Ichi-ko it means "Gay" :( Either way, to me it means " freakin' cool)
Matsushima... This place is one of the three best sights of Japan. This beach area near Sendai is peppered with mini islands. Real pretty, but we came when it was a little overcast. I think the next time we go on a beautiful day, it will show it's true beauty.
Truly unconventional ね?
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Happy May Day!
Wow! We have been in Japan for 9 months! That's three-fourths of a year. That's fast math! Well, we now have beautiful weather in Morioka. The birds are chirping and the cicadas are creeking (crap!) We've had a few visitors from the underground to give us a "hello" which is a sure sign of warmer weather. The sleeves are getting rolled up in the school and the paper fans are coming out. UH OH!
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