This weekend had a theme of meat. On friday, Ron and I hosted a yakiniku party at our house with some friends. Well... some is an understatement, more like 20 people. We probably had about 6kg of meat. One of the perks of hosting a Japanese party is that everyone brings stuff for the party and the hosts end up with it. So after the party, Ron and I ended up with still 1kg of meat. On Saturday, we invited our friend Tom over and had yakiniku yet again, oh not to mention having it for breakfast after the party. Then on Sunday, we decided to have a mini road trip to test out our car with a few friends and we ended up...of all places... at the Maesawa Beef and Beer Festival. Yet again, another 3kgs of meat. This was pretty yummy though, but in the end I ended up eating 20% meat, 80% grilled veggies.
Today at school, I feel BLEGH! My stomach hasn't had rich food like that in a long time. Right now it's 4:00 and I haven't had lunch yet. I can't stomach it. I think this week will be a diet of cabbage, tofu, and raw veggies.
I really want a salad.
Monday, June 2, 2008
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.
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