On TV and visiting the castle

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This week the four other junior high JETs and I were going to meet the mayor. We didn't know much about the meeting. We were told that we would just sit down with him and he may ask us a few questions. When we got there, the room was filled with photographers and a camera man. We were completely shocked. We all did our self introductions. I was able to do mine completely in Japanese, a very short introduction of course. Tsubasa, our bosses daughter, acted as our translator for the rest of the interview. He asked us lots of questions about how we liked Japan, what we wanted to do while we were there, etc. The next day while we were eating out, a man came up to us and said he had seen our picture in the paper that day. None of us have cable, so we didn't get to see ourselves on the news. Even so, it was a really cool experience.

On Thursday, I went with about 60 other JETs to Nagoya to get our re-entry permits for our visas. Nagoya is a big city about 2 hours away by train. After getting our permits, we decided to split up and explore the city. After a eating and little shopping, I went with a small group to see the Nagoya castle. It was actually destroyed and rebuilt after WWII. Now the inside is a museum. We had a great time exploring the castle.

On Friday I visited my Junior High for the first time. The kids are on summer break, so there were no classes going on. Unlike summer breaks in America, kids in Japan have to go to club everyday during summer break. Clubs consist of a variety of activites (baseball, track, basketball, cooking, etc.). Kids pick a club at the beginning of junior high and must stay with that same club all three years. They go to club everyday after school and then all day, every day during break. I don't see how they do it. I personally think I would get sick of something if I had to do it all day, every day, but I guess the kids here are use to it. I met 2 of the four teachers I will be working with. They were both very nice and I can't wait to meet the other two. On Monday, I will visit my elementary school for about 30 minutes and give a short speech in front of 550 students. It's a good thing I'm not shy!! Then I'm off the rest of the week until I begin my normal daily schedule on Friday. That's when I go to my junior high and have to give another speech in front of 500 different students. Let the school year begin!

Obata Fireworks Festival and more Karaoke

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Saturday I went to a fireworks festival in Obata, a nearby town. It's the biggest festival I've been to yet. There were lots of games for kids, a ton of food, and a stage where children and adults performed dances and taiko drum shows. I have become completely fascinated by the Taiko drum. The drummers keep stern faces and pound the drums with such force. Emily, the girl who had my job before me, took Taiko lessons. She said I would need to learn some Japanese before taking the classes, so I'm waiting a little before trying it out. I am definitely going to do it though. The end of the festival was marked by a great fireworks show. Fireworks are very popular in Japan and are used in many festivals. After the festival was over, we went out for a night of Karaoke. In Japan, it's one of the only things to do late at night. I've never been a huge fan of it in the states, but I'm starting to love it now!!

Last week I made some plans that I'm really excited about. First, I got tickets to a professional Japanese baseball game. I'm going with several other JETs to see the Nagoya Dragons play the Tokyo Giants,. It's the end of the season and the Dragons are playing great, so it should be a good game. The Tokyo Giants are kind of like the Yankees over here. I guess I'm going to pull for Nagoya though, since they are one of the closest teams to me and the team I'll have the chance to see the most.

I also found out this week that there is a JET soccer league. The teams travel around and play in different areas of Japan. Kristine and I both signed up. I'm so excited to play again. There aren't many practices because some people have to travel a good distance to get there and unfortunately, our first practice is the same day I am going to the baseball game, September 2nd. I'll be sure to let you all know how things go when I do get to play for the first time!

I'm also starting to plan a few trips I hope to take. Traveling around Asia can be really cheap and I'm going to take advantage of being here. We are planning to go to Okinawa in October and to Thailand in January. By we, I mean the group of JETs in my city (Kristine, John, and Taylor for Thailand, plus Pamela, Katie, and Chris for Okinawa.) Again I have to say that I got very lucky with the group of JETs in my area. I really like everyone so much.

I have so many exciting things going on right now, but I'm really anxious to start teaching. This week I'm meeting the Japanese teachers I'll be working with on Tuesday, meeting the mayor on Wednesday, and traveling to Nagoya to get my re-entry permit on Thursday (it's something you need on your visa to get back into Japan if you leave). Next week my supervisor at the board of education is going to take me to my schools and show me around. I don't know exactly when I'll start having to go to the school everyday, but the students start back Sept.1, so I know it will be before then. I can't wait to meet my students.

An incredible weekend

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This past weekend began with another Ise-Shima night out. As of last Wednesday, all of the JET teachers have arrived. So, we had a night out to meet all the people that will be working in our immediate area. I can't descibe how lucky I am. Everyone was so nice and I think we are going to have a great time together. After dinner, we went out for a night of karaoke, a VERY typical night out in Japan. Unfortunately for all the people with ears, I think this will be a common night out for us. On Saturday, we had the Mie beach party. Mie is the perfecture I live in (larger area that contains many cities). There are about 80+ people in my perfecture, so it was a big party. This was the first time I have seen the beach in Japan and it was beautiful. The water was cold, but it was so hot that I didn't care.

After the beach, several people from my city got together and wanted to go out to dinner. We were so dirty and covered with sand that we needed showers. Being too far away from home, someone suggested we go to an onsen. Let me explain what this is, to the best of my knowledge. An onsen is a natural hot water spring where people bathe together. It's a traditional way of bathing in Japan. Men and women go into different areas. There you shower in a big room while sitting on your individual stool. A few girls were uncomfortable at first, but everyone adjusted quickly. Then you get into what looks like a giant hot tub to soak. We went into one that was outdoors. It was extremely relaxing and a great itroduction into an ancient Japanese ritual.

After the onsen, we went to eat Japanese pancakes, I can't remember how to say it in Japanese. These are nothing like American pancakes. Everyone sits at little tables that have flat grills in the middle. You get to pick between pork, squid, and shrimp. I, of course, chose pork. They then bring a mix of cabbage....and other things I can't remember (but it looked like cole slaw - yuck) to the table. You cook the pork, put down one layer of cabbage, the cooked pork, and the other layer of cabbage on top. It cooks to look like a huge hash brown. You then put either barbeque sauce or mayonaise on top. The picture of me eating with a chopstick is from this night. I actually liked it and am proud of myself for even trying it.

Sunday was my birthday. This was the first day that I was a little sad about being away from home, my friends, and family. Luckily, the other teachers in my city wanted to go out for my birthday. I met Kristine at her house and she opened the door with a strawberry cake. There were candles on the cake that showed 28. She even searched all over to find a birthday card. Cards are not really used in Japan. It was such a sweet gesture and really helped make me feel better about being away from home on my birthday. We met up with friends and the 9 of us went to eat Italian, my favorite! After, we went out for drinks at a very nice bar. Although it wasn't the same as being at home, it was the best I could ever hope for having only been here a couple of weeks.

The entire weekend was great. This week, I'm going to a Mie orientation for 2 days in Tsu, the capital of Mie. I'm excited to see everyone again. Although I've been enjoying my time off, I'm anxious to start teaching in September.

Sidenote, Tommy, your email isn't working....so, happy birthday!!! (belated, I'm sorry)

My bravery pays off, BEST NIGHT YET!!!

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Today, like many other days, I spent shopping with Kristine. Until school starts, I anticipate this will be our daily routine. Tonight I had my first Japanese class. The classes are held at the local community center and costs just $1 a class. The room is set up so that the teachers are working with small groups of students. Since Kristine and I have no Japanese knowledge, a teacher worked with us alone. Our teacher was in her late 40's and so incredibly sweet. She worked with us for an hour and a half on some of the basics. I loved learning Japanese and can't wait to go back to class next week. I'm really going to work hard to study what we learned!!! At the end of class, she made origami balls with us. I felt like a child who was being rewarded for good work, it was awesome! She then exchanged phone numbers with us and told us she would take us to the movies some time. Can you imagine a teacher in the US ever doing that?

As I was riding my bike home alone, I heard the sound of a taiko drum and saw lights through some trees at the top of a hill. I realized the sound was coming from an area I had discovered the day before on my walk around town. If I was at home, I would have kept going. I wouldn't have stopped, but that is not why I'm in Japan. I'm here to try new things and that's exactly what I decided to do. I parked my bike and walked up the dark hill. When I made it through the trees, I realized a festival was going on. There were Japanese men, women, and children dressed in traditional clothing. Many were dancing in unison around a man playing a taiko drum while music played in the background. It was the most incredible sight to walk into.

Instantly, a group of elderly Japanese men approached me and started talking to me. It was so loud, I couldn't hear a word they were saying. They were all smiling though, so I figured it was ok. Finally, I realized one was telling me he loved me. I blushed immediatley and giggled like a child. One took off his robe and put it around me and another took my camera and attempted to take a picture of me. Unfortunately, he didn't understand why it was dark in the screen and didn't aim the camera at me. Oh well. Then one of the gentlemen escorted me through the dancers to the center so that I could get better pictures. He was talking to me the entire time, but I have no idea what he was saying. Then a little girl approached me and I took her picture. She walked to her mother, said something, and then came back over and gave me a painted balloon, filled with water and tied to a string. Another woman walked to me and said in English, "it's for good luck." I smiled and told the girl thank you in Japanese. I spent the next several minutes talking to the woman who spoke a little English. I also spoke to her two year old son using the few Japanese phrases I knew.

This night was so great because it was completely unexpected. I loved getting to communicate, or at least attempt to, with everyone. The people were so nice and it really made me excited about being in Japan.

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus!

Today I went shopping at my local Jusco. It's a combination between a department store and a grocery store. As I was walking down an isle, I saw it. Out of the corner of my eye from 10 yards away, I spotted the beautiful white and green label surrounded by a sea of red. My heart skipped a beat as I literally ran to the shelf. I picked up the bottle and nearly cried tears of joy. That's right. In Ise, Japan I found the nectar of the gods....Heinz Ketchup. I think I'm going to make it after all.

My Apartment

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Here are some pictures of my apartment and surrounding area. I'm still working on getting my apartment set up, so more pictures will come later. Ise is expecting a typhoon tonight/tomorrow. It's been raining on and off all day. During one of the breaks from the rain, I decided to walk around and explore my area. It's something that I either couldn't or wouldn't do back home. I really enjoyed doing it alone. It's kind of liberating just walking through unknown areas, finding new places, and trying to find my way back home, haha. In Japan, or my city at least, there are no residential or business districts. Homes and business are all mixed together. It makes walking around the area really interesting. I tried to smile and say "konbonwa" (good evening) to everyone I passed. I found a shrine as I was walking, but was too nervous to walk up to it because I couldn't read the Kanji outside of it. Maybe next time I'll be brave enough to walk up to it and just hope no one runs out and yells at me. I think walking around my city alone will be my new nightly ritual. I've also been getting up early in the morning and running. Both are habits I hope to keep up.

What I need...

As promised, here is a list of things I would really appreciate people sending me:

1)FOOD (Crystal Light-strawberry or something fruity, poptarts, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, peanut butter south beach cookies, the boxed meals with everything included-like chicken and dumplins, speacial K strawberry bars, apple oatmeal (low fat), low-fat ravioli, low fat popcorn-noticing a low fat trend, canned fruits, canned anything else, etc. Basically, anything that can be mailed over. It's really hard to buy food here when you can't read the labels.

2)TV shows!!! Preferably on video instead of DVD, but either is ok. Shows like friends, ER, desperate housewives, Windfall, OC, Days of our lives, Passions, General Hospital, Law and Order, Yankees games, Etc. I'll take anything.

3)Magazines- Marie Claire, Cosmo, National Geographic, etc.

4)Other stuff I can't find- Sounds strange, but I can't find any candles. The only ones I can find don't have holders to go with them. And, anything else you feel like sending.

Thanks so much!!!

My new home, Ise-shi

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Today my bosses daughter, Tsubasa, took Kristine and I on another tour of our city. She is going to school at Kansas State, so her English is very good. She took us to Okage Yokocho, an area that resembles old Japan outside of the Ise shrine. We walked around the town and toured a traditional Japanese house. We then bought good luck charms with our fortune inside and tied the fortunes with others to a small rope for good luck. Tsubasa read my fortune and said it was very good. She said I was strong, but stubborn (how very true). She also said that if I gave myself completely to someone, I would have very good luck in love. Later, Kristine and I met up with Pam and went back to actually see the Ise shrine and swim in the river below it. The shrine in Ise is said to be the holiest in Japan. Because of this, you can't walk up to it and can actually only see the top of the building from behind the gate. You also can't take any pictures of it. Hopefully I will actually get to walk up to the next shrine I go to.

Since I've been doing so much touring around my city, I haven't been able to get settled in my apartment yet. I don't have many plans, that I know of yet, over the next few days so I'm going to try to get my apartment set up so that it will start to feel more like home. I'm still really enjoying being here and feel as if I'm adjusting well.

Last night in Tokyo, First days in Ise

These pictures are from my last two days in Tokyo, but I'm now in Ise - my new home!! The train ride here was insane. Although I only had my small bags with me, it was still incredibly hard to ride the train here. Kristine and I were met at the train station by Emily (the girl whose place I'm taking) and my new boss, Hiramoto. They took us to the Board of Education where I had to introduce myself and say a short greeting to EVERYONE in the office, in Japanese!!!! Out of the twenty times I did it, I messed it up about 6 or 7 times, haha. Everyone was so nice and the few people who spoke a little English were eager to show us their language ability. I was then taken to my new apartment. It's pretty big by Japanese standards. I will put up some pictures after I've had a few weeks to get situated. After a quick trip to the grocery store for dinner, I was then left alone to unpack. It was a very strange, but wonderful feeling. Today I started my new bank account and got a cell phone. Emily then took us to the mall, which I of course was happy to see. We met Pamela, who is a 3rd year JET in Ise, and we had lunch. It was great to meet someone else who will be working in the area.

While doing all of these things, I was riding a bike. It was extremely scary. Not even considering that I can barely ride a bike, it was just terrifying riding with all the crazy drivers. Many streets are barely big enough for a car to fit down. I've had to step off the bike many times, but haven't fallen yet. I'm sure I will though. I just hope I don't hit too many cars!

Tokyo Orientation

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Yesterday was filled with workshops and seminars. In the evening, I went to my perfecture party. All the people from Mie went out to eat at a place called Heaven and Hell. You had to ring a gong three times to get in. A creepy mask answered the door and you were escorted into a "hell" like area. The best part was the bathroom. In the stall there was a huge, and I mean huge, face that came out of the wall and towards you as you used the bathroom. It sang in a high tone and scared everyone!!! We then all went out for my first night of karaoke. In Japan, you get a private room with just your friends to sing in. There were over twenty of us so it was really fun. I've never enjoyed karaoke so much. Then a few of us went out to another bar and didn't get back to the hotel till 5:00am. I was tired the next day, but it was such an incredible night.

Tonight, I went out with Eric, his roommate Matt, and Eric's Japanese friend Eriko. Eriko took us to the 45th floor of the government building for an amazing skyline view of Tokyo. Later we went to the red light district of Tokyo. Honestly, other than the massive amount of young drunk people passed out on the street, it didn't look much different than the rest of Tokyo. We went to an arcade where the boys played a Taiko drum game and we all took pictues inside the coolest photo booth ever. After taking many pictures, you get to digitally draw on them and create lots of special effects. The pictures are printed out as tiny stickers. Eric said that all Japanese girls love doing this and have the stickers all over their stuff. It was a great experience.

Tomorrow I leave Tokyo and head for my new home, Ise. Although I am excited to get settled in, I am also very nervous. In Tokyo, my lack of Japanese hasn't been an issue because there are so many people speaking English and I have had the help of other JETs that speak Japanese. Tomorrow, however, that will be over. I will be heading to Ise with Kristine, who will live 5 minutes from me. She doesn't speak any Japanese either, so I guess will have to figure things out together.

Although I've only been here a few days, I have loved every minute of it so far. I have met so many interesting people and have really enjoyed being in Japan. I look foward to the adventure that is ahead of me.