Whole Again

Maki has finally arrived! I picked her up from the airport yesterday and it's felt like forever since we've seen each other. It's a good feeling, but also a very strange one as it's hard to connect this life and my life in London. It's like she's been cut and paste into my life here, my two worlds have collided, making it all seem evermore more real. Maki is adjusting to life here too and I know she feels like she's just here on Holiday, as I did when I first arrive. It's good to have her here though and I think she'll be welcome of the break from all the stress of organisation before leaving (Thanks to all those who helped her out). Although she's currently as I'm typing stressed about what rubbish goes in which bin, cursing the confusing Japanese recycling system. Welcome home honey. But we have stuffed our selves with wonderful Japanese food today, so there are ups and there are downs.  

Okayama City Castle

It's a local Izakaya for local people...

Went back to my friendly local Izakaya for nomukai (Work drinks) with some of my teachers. It was rather surreal to see some of them in relaxed mode. One teacher was knocking back the sake like water and was rolling around within an hour. I found this rather odd as people seemed to ignore him. I think in the UK people would try and get them to slow down or at the very least make fun of them. Another one of the teachers seemed very much the life and soul of the party and a lot tried their best to speak English to include me! A good night had by all.

Stuff that wouldn't happen in England

Leaving my laptop on my desk and it still being there when I come back.

Getting school kids to clean the school at the end of the day.

Me putting a large poster about London in the school hallway with a picture of myself on it and no one drawing on a moustache (Although it's still early days).

Getting people to not only separate all their recycling, but to allow only certain types of recycling rubbish once a week and make people to take their rubbish to a centre place away from their homes.

Getting schools kids to fetch their food from the canteen, serve it out and clean it all aways afterwards with no throwing of food, leaving of plates and without apparently moaning!

Getting students to eat the healthy food they have carried and served without sneeking in chocolates or crisps.

Having different shoes for inside, outside, the gym and the toilet, and getting everyone to use them.

Saying “Ok, ok, ok.” When you've really no idea what I'm tell you! Grrrr!


Allowing very small children to make there way by themselves to and from school.

Driving in Japan

In Japan they drive on the same side of the road as in the UK, so I have no problems there. But there are a few strange things about driving here.  On the one hand they drive slow and I mean really slow. I haven't seen a speed limit over 50kmph (31mph) yet, and in some cases the speed limit is 20kmph (12mph)! But traffic lights are something of an oddity. Japanese people seem to be ok with squeezing through those red lights, which at first glance seems very counter intuitive for the strongly law abiding population. However, from what I understand, it's part of that famous Japanese efficiency. They know there is a little delay between the lights changing and rather than wasting this time, they trend to try and maximise each extra second. Obviously, I don't advise anyone to run a red light though.

Drink driving is Japan is a major no-no and the limit is zero. You drink and drive, and I mean just half a glass, and you could be facing a fine equal to 6 months wages or a 5 year prison sentence. They don't just throw the book at you, they throw the whole library.  

Tsuyama Hanami

Externalising and Songs

I've noticed something very strange is happening to me. Maybe it's because I'm on my own, or maybe it's because 99% of people have not idea what I'm saying (And visa-versa), but I have developed an external monolog! I'm talking to myself, the same most people would just think to themselves. “Oh, I'd better go to the conbini (Convenience Store) before it shuts to get some milk” I would say to myself. And I was talking to myself about the next days lesson plans as I wondered through the dark streets to obtain my milk. It only became apparent to me what I was doing when I realised too late there was a man walking towards me, close enough to hear my mental, foreign ramblings. They say talking to yourself if the first sign of madness. I say it's the second. The first is moving to Japan.

I think my mental state has not been aided by the fact I've been listening to the same children's song over and over and over again, in an attempt to learn it for tomorrows lesson. I keep getting the damn things stuck in my head, so when I'm lying there awake at night, in the dark, all I can think of are these children's songs on loop in my head.

Shoo-Cho no Hanami.

After the Rain...

It rained heavily the other day, none stop all day. Just as I finished work it stopped and there was an odd smell in the air, almost a tropical, warm and humid feeling. The mountains around the school began smoking as steam rose out and around the landscape to form halo's around the mountains. The sky looked very dramatic and it was truly a beautiful sight. The photo really don't do it justice. This feeling of being somewhere unique, somewhere different, is a feeling I thought I had lost, but it's great to feel it again. It sounds cheesy, but it makes me feel alive and happy to have the opportunity to have such an experience.

Coach John-san

I mentioned to my Kocho-sensei that I played basketball in England and coached as well and I was wondering if I could join in the club activities after school. He was over the moon with the idea and gave me free rain to coach the team for the evening. It was a group of 2nd year girl and even though they were small they all had such tenacity. I was very impressed with their skills, but I'm seriously unfit and I'm gonna' ache tomorrow. But it's a good ache, sort of. I need to get fit, I cannot keep up with these youngsters any more!

Lesson Time

Nervous, yes. But I was also prepared. My first lesson went really well and I felt I had a real connection with the kids. I really enjoyed it and I hope every lesson is as entertaining. I went in with real energy, the home room teacher (HRT) was excellent to work with and I now look forward to my next lesson with confidence.

Score

I went to the supermarket and hit the jackpot. I found out that if you buy sushi in the evening after about 8, they put these little stickers on them that mean half price! And I found green tea flavoured soft Oreo cookies and for those of you who don't know, I love green tea flavoured stuff and I love Oreo cookies, truly a winning combination. And I found loads of other green tea flavoured goodies as well.

My First Day at School

Those are words I never though I would be uttering again since I left school, let alone 3 times in one week. Everyone is very welcoming and while the teachers have been busy, I really haven't had much to do in the last week other than prepare. The head teachers at all my schools have been the most friendly and I've really enjoyed talking with them. Each school started with an entry ceremony for the new students; a fairly formal affair with military style movements, singing, bowing and children wearing clothes that are far to big for them (I assume it's so they will grow into them). 

It's the Bread-Man!

Last week I heard this organ music coming from a van in the street, I thought it was just going round playing music but it was there for a while. By the time I got out there he was gone. This week he came again. So I went out to look what was going on. He was selling break and pastries from the side of his tiny van. Eclairs to mochi, danishes to loaves, he was telling me about everything and explained that the loaves were different flavours! I brought one that was 'English Tea' flavoured (Well, I had to didn't I) and it was actually really nice. Needs some milk though.

ALT BBQ

Last Sunday I went to a BBQ Hanami (Picnic under Cherry Blossom teas, literally translated as Flower-Looking) party at Tsuyama Castle in the a park, surrounded by Sakura (Cherry Blossom) trees. Its a shame the flowers weren't quite out, but I got to meet loads of other ALTs and English teachers, as well as other Japanese people. Going back next Sunday to take photos with the flowers out though. Stay tuned for Hanami photos!

I know where you live!

I went to my local Izakaya (Japanese version of a pub) last night for some food and to get to know the locals. Everyone was very inviting but it was a little odd they knew me by name. I figured it was just because it's a small town so word gets around. However, they then brought up more facts about me, I'm from London, I play basketball and I have a Japanese wife. I ask how they knew so much about me and was handed the paper below:

It's a village newspaper and there is a whole article about me with all me, with all my details. My previous job, my age and quite worrying that I play the sanshin. I only ever said I was learning to play the sanshin, so I hope they don't have one somewhere!

I had a great chat with the locals though and accidentally ordered way too food, but it was all so great I had to finish it. There was an old man at the other end of the bar who was giving off some weird vibes, but at the end of the night he offered to pay my bill and although I begged not to, he was very insistent. He was also rather drunk and kept hugging me. All in all, a good night.  

Dance is Timemachine

It's not fun being illiterate and I intend to learn as much Japanese as fast as I possibly can (Although I still will need to prepare for lessons and all the other things my day to day life entails). But when you live in Japan as a westerner, your eyes are drawn to any English text in the hope that you can make sense of something. The Japanese normally only use English text so it looks cool and 90 percent of the time its serious weird and/or funny. I have already seen an 'Excellent Book Store', a bin marked 'Others' with no other bin around it and my favourite below, Dance is Timemachine! It says it all really.

Shoo Town

Here is a quick view across Shoo Town where I'll be calling home for the next year.