I am the most popular ALT!

On a drowsy feeling Saturday, I went shopping with a friend and our plan was to meet a bunch of other ALTs for a 4th of July BBQ and fireworks. We made it to the park and the day seemed to get more and more tiring and awkward since there was no food or fireworks, something we were promised. Eventually, we started playing frisbee. I was in the middle of a horrible frisbee toss when I hear a group of people scream "JUNI!!!". I turned around and it was one of my Ichiko classes. 40 students coming right at me. It seems that they were all together to celebrate their victory in the Sports Festival and came to the park to light fireworks. This was luckily one of my favorite classes. Any other class would have been much more quiet and awkward. It started to downpour on everyone so the big group of drinking foreigners were mixed in with my students. I got to have so much fun talking with my students and so many of them were saying how much they would miss me and how they don't want me to leave. I felt so lucky with a little too much pride as the other ALTs saw how my students gush over me and how freakin' brilliant they are with their English. Even after the rain stopped, the kids stuck around to light their fireworks so I know that they weren't haging out because they were stuck. I was light on my feet the entire evening knowing that I would be missed in my school.

We are officially going to Shanghai high school. It was up in the air for a little while, but finally we got our letter. In the city, free housing, free utilities, school lunch, one month Christmas vacation, $2000 a month each, and both of us in the same school. Can't complain one bit.

Enjoying Okinawa

Nago City and the Ocean Expo Park

Nago brought us a lot of adventure and firsts. After arriving and searching for our guest house for an hour, we finally found a series of shacks that barely looked like they were holding themselves up. The walls were peeling, everything felt "beachy" and it just looked worn down. However unsure we (I) felt about it, it was indeed our place. However, after going to the Orion brewery and sitting in the hammock watching the beach only ten steps away while talking with like-minded guests, we changed our one night stay to two. Great choice!






The next day, Ron went scuba diving for the first time. He said that he touched fish and coral and went down nearly 8 meters. I stayed on the boat because of my fear of the underwater world. I just felt like if I did scuba, the fish would scare me enough to panic, burst my eardrum, and die. Afterward, we wanted to go to the nearby ocean park that had Japan's biggest aquarium (apparently, it's not in Osaka) so as our mode of transportation, we hitchiked. I would never try it anywhere else but Japan. However, five minutes of shaking our sign and we were saved by a cute couple from Kobe who took us to the park. After enjoying the aquarium, dolphins, beach, and whale sharks, we were debating how to get back, since lightning may not strike twice. We started to walk with our sign and I was cranky so we stopped at a small Taco rice shop. While we were eating, a random lady saw our sign and asked if we could drive her car to Nago since she just drank some medicine. We gladly accepted her offer and along with a free ride to our destination, she also gave us fresh passionfruit. We came back to our guest house to a huge BBQ party. We drank the local liquor and enjoyed beach roasted chicken and homemade pizza. I like Okinawa.

A Foreigner's Fire

Japan has small portable stoves that are used to put on the dinner table to make one-pot stew. In our case, we used it to cut our food costs in half by cooking the food ourselves. After all, we live here. We know what the food tastes like. So after a long morning of driving, we stop by a rest stop in Nagoya on our way to Hakone for some onsen. We find a really nice spot away from the restaurants and we were planning a wonderful meal of corn pasta. I assembled the small stove, put in the gas can, and turned on the flame... It started to burn much bigger than usual. Becky and I looked at it with the same amount of strange curiosity when... BOOM!!

Our stove burst into a large fire. I put in the gas can improperly and the gas was seeping into the fire. Becky and I took the water in the pasta pot and pour over it, but the gas was still leaking through making more of a fire. Afraid of an explosion, Ron quickly took the stove and tossed it far away from us. Unfortunately, where he threw it was a large amount of dry grass. We screamed for Ron's attention and he again tried to pick up the stove and started to bash it with his foot. By the all the luck in the world mixed in with a little grace from God, the gas ran out and the fire stopped. My jacket singed a bit, but that was the most damage, besides to our new broken stove. Looking behind us, Japanese families stared speechless at the foreigners who tried to burn down a Japanese rest stop. No wonder they hate us. Ron yelled out a "Daijyobu desu" (We're alright!) and they snickered away.

The worse part was that we were still hungry and in a couple minutes we took out some money that we hoped to save for another time and headed into the restaurant with our tails between our legs. These are the challenges we faced on our voyage. May we be a lesson learned to any traveler who does not look at their gas can when attempting to make a fire.

Hiroshima Christmas

December 24 and 25





We finally arrived in Hiroshima, the land of my roots, my people. We went to all the typical sights and the one thing that I felt in the end was a sense of pride. From what I know, I am from this area. When such a disaster happened, the idea was that Hiroshima could not become a place worth living for more than 70 years. Yet, immediately after the explosion, the people picked themselves up and started to restore their city and in only a few years later, they created a wonderful thriving city. Everywhere I looked I couldn't imagine that the city I was looking at was once completely leveled. It really gives a sense of hope to humanity, being able to pick themselves up at even the hardest times. It was a humbling way to bring about Christmas.





On Christmas we woke up bright and early to visit Miyajima. Then when we came home, I was happy to talk with my family on Christmas only to find a great Christmas present, my acceptance into the China program. We all then took a nap to get us ready for a Spanish dinner.

Amazing News!

This past week, Ron was accepted into a teaching program in China. Once my diploma gets sent to them, I too will be accepted. We have been waiting for two months for this answer and finally it is certain that we can teach in China for a year.

This was a really new idea that started in September when Ron and I were planning out our new JET year. With so many of our friends leaving because they don't/can't stay in Iwate, we too were thinking about our options. We really love Morioka, but we knew that after this year, we would be satisfied with it and leave on a happy note. That was when Ron looked on the internet and found Appalachians Abroad. This program starts in September and finishes the following June. We will most likely work at the same school with free housing and a month off for Christmas. Being in China just gives us an opportunity to travel more, which was the main reason we left the States. We are so happy and even though this secret was not well kept by us, I am happy that I can finally talk about it, now that we are accepted. The next problem is figuring out how to tell my school.

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!

My Japanese Style Pasta

Back at home, I often go to Spoon House which has the best Japanese Style spaghetti, even in Japan. There are few places that compare. There is this one dish that I absolutely love and I have been looking for it in Japan, but can't find any place that does it. Additionally, Ron and I have finished our new Japanese drama called "Bambino" which is about this Japanese guy who wants to be a chef for Italian food. Needless to say, they make a lot of food in the movie. More so, we have been having dinner at a friend's house and he makes us dinner showing off his skills of living in Italy, while I take notes.

Spoon House+ Bambino+ Italian lessons= My own recipe!

I actually made my own Japanese pasta that greatly resembles the pasta that I love so much in America. Ron loved it, I loved it, and I am so happy that I was able to think of what I tasted and it came out the way that I wanted.

Brava me!

ジュニのあさり和風スパゲーティ　Juni's Japanese Style Clam Spaghetti



Clams with sauce
Dashi
Shoyu
Sake
Pasta
Shimeji Mushrooms
Garlic
Sliced nori

Kekkon Kinenbi

One Year Anniversary

I had the realization that it really is something special to have a completely new event in your life. Something that just starts and you know that it will last until the day you die. This is true for birthdays, holidays, and relatives' special events. So today is the day that July 16th will forever be ingrained in my forehead as a special holiday. Although Ron and I didn't paint the town red (we prefer orange), we still were able to fill our day with quality time, special moments, and little things that make people want to throw up. So for those of you with strong stomachs, here are some examples of the Ron and Juni cornyness.

Breakfast




Dinner



Sticker Pictures.

The 24th year Challenge.

Well, everyone. I passed my driver's test....after 5 times. It has been a dreary two weeks. I had to take a total of 1 full day and 4 half days of my paid vacation to be failed four times. Apparently in Japan, for foreigners, getting your license is quite hard...not hard...frustrating. Even if you already have a license of your own, there is still a waiting period of X amount of times they want to see you drive before they pass you, regardless how well you do. Case and point, here were my mistakes:

1st time: Too fast on the big turn (about 25 km/h)= 15 mph...go slower!
2nd time: Too fast on the big turn ( I went 20km/h, he wanted 14km/h) 14km/h= 8mph ARGH!! and too shallow on my right turn.
3rd time: Too wide on my right turn......................
4th time: Before the big turn, I didn't use my foot brake THREE times (hello?! where did that come from) Pon, Pon, Poooooonnnnn

Then the 5th time, I woke up without a soul. They sucked it out. No makeup, bad hair, good appearance was not my goal. When I drove, I felt myself make a bunch of mistakes. In all my other tests I drove real well, but this one felt awful. I even stalled the car once. In the end, my examiner lectured me yet again of what my mistakes were (I didn't go into the left side of the lane after signaling to turn left before 30 meters of the turn, I merged in 20 meters.) I was waiting for my "Zan nen deshita", something I had heard 4 times already, but he turns to me and says "OK."

So finally, I have my license. Before this ordeal, I had taken my picture in a photobooth for the License Center. It was a great picture and I was happy that I was going to have a real nice picture on my license. Of course, when I passed they wanted my to take a whole nother picture, where I am minus a brush, liner, or anything that could hide the exhaustion from being in such a place. My license reminds me of what I can't control and how in those cases, perservering and trying my best is all I can really do. The satisfaction of finally getting what was so hard to get makes up for the turmoil of going through such unesassary steps. When I see the exhaustion in my face on the license, I remember the big challenge that I overcame.

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.

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?