What I am Thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In school, I am teaching a lesson about Thanksgiving. I asked my teacher what students knew about Thanksgiving and he says "Turkey." So I have a lot to explain. At the end of their lesson, students write in their journal of 3 things they are thankful for. I was surprised by two students responses. Since it made me so happy, I would like to share their amazing English with everyone.

"I appreciate you. I didn't know about Thanksgiving Day. You taught me very important thing."

"I appreciate Ms. Juni. Because it is easy for me to listen to her English and she often talks to me. I like to talk in English, but sometimes I don't know what to talk to. She makes me take it easy to speak in English."

Three Cheers for crying in school!

Held Hostage

I've been feeling a little bleh lately. In the sense of having all this energy, but not many ways to use it. It's gotten too cold to go outside especially when my little bedroom is sooooooo warm. Luckily, I was invited by a friend to go to her fancy gym and try out some fitness classes. I trudged through the newly fallen snow (after Ron dropped me off at the shopping mall it was at) and I was ready to have some fun. I was told that guests can get in for free if it's their first time because that's what happened with her other friend. Once we get in and she *beeps* her membership card, the staff looks at me waiting for my card. Without my own card, I got the stare that after one year of being here, I knew it's meaning. "You are going to pay for entering." I start playing the American card and trying not to understand what she was saying, but that was something else I learned after being here for a year. My face means that I understand Japanese. So, I bit the bullet and told her that a did understand a little bit. I ended up spending $20 for the day. So, I let out my frustration with Latin Aerobics and Flamenco Dancing. By the way, my friend and her other friend were caucasian (majority discrimination *angry fist*).

I stayed at the gym for three hours. I felt that I had to after paying $20. I was very relaxed after working out. It was worth it. I was very satisfied. I changed my clothes and headed out the gym, but the doors were already locked. I asked the staff if I could be let out and they said that they are only letting people out at 10:30. (It was 10:20). Ron was already waiting outside for a half an hour. But with stupid Japanese bureaucracy, I conceded and waited the ten minutes... in a massage chair. At 10:30, I left my massage chair and headed to the door, locked again. I asked the lady and she said the 10:30 group already left and I now had to wait until 10:45. I looked at the clock, it was 10:31. The security guards were right outside and the elevators were directly to the right of the gym, but I could not get out. I said in my nicest- angry voice that my husband was waiting outside, it was only a minute, they would only need 10 seconds to escort me out and I had already waited. This is why I should have kept playing the dumb card, but as another thing I learned after being here for a year... Japan makes really stupid rules sometimes. At 10:46, yeah they were late, I was escorted ten steps to the elevator, and then escorted another ten steps to the outside where Ron had been nicely waiting for an hour.

No more gym.

On this day, Morioka has been gifted with snow. It is now 34 degrees and will end up being 28 degrees tonight. Instead of going to my warm cave at home, I will be venturing to the downtown to brave the cold for a work party. I can't complain. It's a time to window shop, look for Christmas goodies, eat expensive food and a lot of beer, and the best of all, my honey will pick me up so I don't have to endure the cold way back home.


SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW

I can feel it... The impending doom of snow.

Last bits of autumn

Talking Politics

An Insider's Outsider Point of View

The elections passed and it looks like this is something worth putting into the history books. Not being active in the voting process, but following this election more than I have any other election it really made me see how much America needs something special to happen. It seems that we've really lost faith in the government and its systems. In a nation that outwardly ridicules and makes fun of its leaders and even wants to make a Sewage Plant named after their former President...something seems wrong. I think that's why Americans think Obama is "the One". America seems to need a positive change so much that many of their conservative and traditional views seem to be pushed back with this new way of thinking. Which, for a new America is great. The part I'm having so much trouble over with is this huge anticipation and expectation for Barack Obama. It seems like he has so many holes that he needs to fill and it seems that America in its hasty nature wants the results NOW. Now, bring the troops back. Now, bring oil prices down. Now, stop global warming. Now, make the poor, middle class, and rich happy. Now change the world. I think we've watched too many episodes of Heroes.

I am in full support for the new President. I do believe he can make a positive change in America and get us out of this crisis that we have. I think his optimism is infectious and hopefully will also infect those who can help aide him. But, I'm hoping that we don't hold him under a microscope and demand the results that he promised, today. I know that we are in for a couple more rough years before we see his change. I hope America can be patient.

I am not an expert in politics and have actually never been interested in elections. Perhaps that's what the past elections have done to me. Now, with an uninterested person's interests, perhaps that's a good sign for our future.

Happy Halloween!

I just finished my school's Halloween Party. This was quite a large feat since I had never planned a party before. Plus, making a party for about 1,000 students in a 30 minute time period. This past month has been pretty busy with making decorations, costumes, and other Halloweeny things. But it was worth it. The party was a big success. I also had to teach 4 classes that day which didn't help my stress, but with some lucky breaks before the party and super helpful students, it was flawless. Once lunch time started, kids just started spewing into the classroom. We had a Candy Jar guessing game, a voodoo game and a bobbing (fishing-it's cleaner) for apples game. We gave out some prizes and students all left with a little bit of American culture. One of my teachers even came in and offered some of his own candy for me to share with the kids. My English Club especially seemed to have a great time and I think that this will be a good memory for Ichi-ko students. It's one of my favorites.