Sometimes I think this blog should just be renamed "cute kid stories" since that's what usually ends up in here, but here it is, the most recent batch of adorable things I've seen, heard and encountered:
1. Santa-san's boshi: Today at the nursery school I was with the 2-3 year olds, a rare occasion since they can barely speak Japanese, much less English. They were having a kind of bread-y cake for snack and a boy pulled off a piece that was triangle shaped and said in the most adorable squeaky voice, "Santa-san no boshi mitai!" "It's like Santa's hat!" and he held it above his head and giggled for the longest time. Adorable.
2. On the way back from school I passed some of my students going the other way and one of them yelled after me, "Sara, I rabu you!" Sometimes I love this town.
3. Upcoming Christmas plans: I'm so excited, soon I'll be hosting my very first Christmas party on my own! It will just be a few friends coming over but it's going to be so nice to have such a great group together to celebrate the holidays. Since this is the first Christmas I'll be spending alone I feel really lucky that I'll be surrounded by such good friends- and good food, hopefully.
4. COLD: This isn't really a super positive thing but I couldn't not mention that it's gotten really cold here! I know it's nothing compared to Minnesota, but at least you all have central heating. My apartment is so cold. I don't feel like doing anything most of the time besides crawling into my bed and waiting for it to be dinner time. I really can't wait for March when I can start walking in the mornings again. I miss the old folks I usually see in the morning!
Well, time to head off to taiko practice. I hope you are all well this Christmas season!
Sending my love all over the world,
Sarah
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!
Today's Halloween Highlight:
1. Middle school students. Even though they didn't wear costumes they did come all the way to my apartment in the rain just to trick or treat. It was very cute. Two boys and two girls came. I think it wasn't raining very hard on the way over but after I gave them candy and said goodbye I could still hear them talking outside of my door for a while. I figured they were waiting for the rain to stop but it must be cold outside, so I made them some hot chocolate and gave it to them in the various cups and mugs I have lying around the house. I hope it wasn't too sweet for them. I think they liked it. By the time they finished their hot chocolate, though, the rain was even worse so one of the girls called her mom to pick the two of them up and I lent my plastic umbrella to the two boys who were walking home. I think they may be my only trick-or-treaters this year but they were some of my favorite 9th graders so I'm glad I could give them candy and hot chocolate. Yay! Happy Halloween!
~Season's Greetings~
In other news tomorrow is November. WHAT?! I honestly don't know how it got to be November. October was so busy! I'm happy I got to see so many friends but I'm definitely not used to December being so close... my time here is dwindling!
I have made significant progress on my applications so hopefully there will be something amazing for me around the next corner but I just don't know what that is yet. Whatever it is I hope it allows me to be home for Christmas in 2011. I'm starting to get really sad that I'll be missing Thanksgiving again this year. Actually my good friend Erina who lives in Kyoto will be going back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving for the first time in four years! And I'll be here :( We're hoping she'll be able to join me when I go home in August, though, so we can have fun in Minnesota then.
Wishing you all a happy November!!!
xoxo
1. Middle school students. Even though they didn't wear costumes they did come all the way to my apartment in the rain just to trick or treat. It was very cute. Two boys and two girls came. I think it wasn't raining very hard on the way over but after I gave them candy and said goodbye I could still hear them talking outside of my door for a while. I figured they were waiting for the rain to stop but it must be cold outside, so I made them some hot chocolate and gave it to them in the various cups and mugs I have lying around the house. I hope it wasn't too sweet for them. I think they liked it. By the time they finished their hot chocolate, though, the rain was even worse so one of the girls called her mom to pick the two of them up and I lent my plastic umbrella to the two boys who were walking home. I think they may be my only trick-or-treaters this year but they were some of my favorite 9th graders so I'm glad I could give them candy and hot chocolate. Yay! Happy Halloween!
~Season's Greetings~
In other news tomorrow is November. WHAT?! I honestly don't know how it got to be November. October was so busy! I'm happy I got to see so many friends but I'm definitely not used to December being so close... my time here is dwindling!
I have made significant progress on my applications so hopefully there will be something amazing for me around the next corner but I just don't know what that is yet. Whatever it is I hope it allows me to be home for Christmas in 2011. I'm starting to get really sad that I'll be missing Thanksgiving again this year. Actually my good friend Erina who lives in Kyoto will be going back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving for the first time in four years! And I'll be here :( We're hoping she'll be able to join me when I go home in August, though, so we can have fun in Minnesota then.
Wishing you all a happy November!!!
xoxo
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Gas heaters and steaming bowls of daikon... it must be winter
懐かしいな〜
Today when the kids left school I could hear them screaming さむい！ (it's cold!) in the halls, and indeed it was. My three quarter sleeve sweater did not cut it. Then this evening I went to Mamiko's house and we had oden with big hunks of daikon (Japanese radish) and on the bike ride home from Mamiko's I could smell gas from space heaters spilling out into the dark streets. It's winter in Japan.
Today was cold, thus only one highlight:
1. Vocabulary diversification. Today one of my teachers had a few extra minutes at the end of class and decided to have me say a list of colors while the kids repeated after me. I was really not in the mood for rote memorization stuff. So as "revenge" (adopted into Japanese as a much cuter word) I contributed a new color to their vocabulary: a whole class of Japanese fifth graders saying, "cerulean".
Honorable mention: Mamiko. It always brightens my day to go to her house and chat. Also she makes a mean café au lait.
Today when the kids left school I could hear them screaming さむい！ (it's cold!) in the halls, and indeed it was. My three quarter sleeve sweater did not cut it. Then this evening I went to Mamiko's house and we had oden with big hunks of daikon (Japanese radish) and on the bike ride home from Mamiko's I could smell gas from space heaters spilling out into the dark streets. It's winter in Japan.
Today was cold, thus only one highlight:
1. Vocabulary diversification. Today one of my teachers had a few extra minutes at the end of class and decided to have me say a list of colors while the kids repeated after me. I was really not in the mood for rote memorization stuff. So as "revenge" (adopted into Japanese as a much cuter word) I contributed a new color to their vocabulary: a whole class of Japanese fifth graders saying, "cerulean".
Honorable mention: Mamiko. It always brightens my day to go to her house and chat. Also she makes a mean café au lait.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Persimmon月
October has been busy. Let's go weekend by weekend.
1. Nicole. My friend Nicole came from Virginia to tour around Japan with her friend Elizabeth but lucky for me she came a few days early so we had some time to catch up and shuffle around Kyoto together, reminiscing about our times in Nagasaki. Actually Nicole and I have only ever met in Japan, but we're pals. Haha. Highlights include Ginkakuji, an organic cafe with amazing sandwiches and even cooler people, a cake shop, and wandering around my town in the rain. However, I think the most memorable part of the trip was leaving a note in a drawer for two cute guys we saw at a coffee shop. I'm pretty sure the only person who will come across that note will be a very confused waitress.
2. Heather and Joe. Heather D'Evelyn and Joe came to visit me the next weekend and we met up in Kyoto for dinner one night and had Italian in Uji the second night. Unfortunately Joe lost his phone so the first day was hectic but he got it back and everything worked out just fine on day number two. It was so wonderful to see Heather, it almost felt like being back home! (Siri, we missed you!!!Beee!!!)
3. Shinichi. This weekend my friend Shinichi came over from where he works in Mie and we had fun catching up and seeing some really amazing spots in Kyoto. We went to Nanzen-ji, which may be my new favorite temple in Kyoto, discovered a magical thatched roof house (actually probably part of a secret temple where monks get to meditate in the mountains all day... luckies) and had delicious green tea flavored cream puffs with Godiva milk shakes.
General life updates:
The grad school application process is still underway but I'm such a slow writer I'll be amazed when the TC application is done and astounded if I have enough energy to finish two or three more.
Looked at the Bank Street application and it requires at least three essays. Buh.
In other news it's already started to get really dark really early. I am in danger of becoming a bear and hibernating all winter under my living room table under a blanket with a bag of chocolate and some books. Hence I may undertake joining a Japanese gym in the near future. Wish me luck.
Finally, it is persimmon appreciation month. Since the fall leaves aren't out in full force yet, bright round shapes of orange persimmons stand out against the dark green mountains, anticipating winter. It's still cheery, but getting colder.
1. Nicole. My friend Nicole came from Virginia to tour around Japan with her friend Elizabeth but lucky for me she came a few days early so we had some time to catch up and shuffle around Kyoto together, reminiscing about our times in Nagasaki. Actually Nicole and I have only ever met in Japan, but we're pals. Haha. Highlights include Ginkakuji, an organic cafe with amazing sandwiches and even cooler people, a cake shop, and wandering around my town in the rain. However, I think the most memorable part of the trip was leaving a note in a drawer for two cute guys we saw at a coffee shop. I'm pretty sure the only person who will come across that note will be a very confused waitress.
2. Heather and Joe. Heather D'Evelyn and Joe came to visit me the next weekend and we met up in Kyoto for dinner one night and had Italian in Uji the second night. Unfortunately Joe lost his phone so the first day was hectic but he got it back and everything worked out just fine on day number two. It was so wonderful to see Heather, it almost felt like being back home! (Siri, we missed you!!!Beee!!!)
3. Shinichi. This weekend my friend Shinichi came over from where he works in Mie and we had fun catching up and seeing some really amazing spots in Kyoto. We went to Nanzen-ji, which may be my new favorite temple in Kyoto, discovered a magical thatched roof house (actually probably part of a secret temple where monks get to meditate in the mountains all day... luckies) and had delicious green tea flavored cream puffs with Godiva milk shakes.
General life updates:
The grad school application process is still underway but I'm such a slow writer I'll be amazed when the TC application is done and astounded if I have enough energy to finish two or three more.
Looked at the Bank Street application and it requires at least three essays. Buh.
In other news it's already started to get really dark really early. I am in danger of becoming a bear and hibernating all winter under my living room table under a blanket with a bag of chocolate and some books. Hence I may undertake joining a Japanese gym in the near future. Wish me luck.
Finally, it is persimmon appreciation month. Since the fall leaves aren't out in full force yet, bright round shapes of orange persimmons stand out against the dark green mountains, anticipating winter. It's still cheery, but getting colder.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Moon Viewing
One of the things I really love about Japan is their appreciation of the four seasons. Today was a national holiday (for the vernal equinox) and we had a "moon viewing party" and it was terrific. There were people playing the shamisen and some of the taiko ladies did a performance reading of the childrens book "Mochi Mochi no Ki" (the mochi mochi tree). I got to wear yukata with my friend Yui, her friend Midori and our Vietnamese friend, Trang. Mostly there were a lot of old people there but it's always fun to talk with and observe them. These people really liked shamisen music. It's really traditional and strange sounding if you've never heard it before but it's a string instrument so whether it's twangy or melodic, I'm bound to love it. I wouldn't say that I would listen to shamisen music on a daily basis but for a live performance in a traditional(ish) Japanese building, surrounded by Japanese people, it was a really interesting and enjoyable experience.
That's the report for today, oyasumi~ (goodnight!)
That's the report for today, oyasumi~ (goodnight!)
Friday, September 17, 2010
September is upon us
Well, actually September is almost over. Here are some things I am thankful for:
1. Sand. Today I played in the sand with the 2-3 year-olds who were almost as cute as the 3-4 year olds. We sat on a bench shaped like a dog and served each other ice cream out of plastic buckets. Sand ice cream, mind you, but boy it was delicious. One little boy even served me a meal. I don't know what it was (besides a pile of sand and a big rock in a tin) but he said it was sour. He also served me something that I thought was very spicy but when I made him try it he said it wasn't spicy at all. いろいろあったな〜 There are so many different kinds of people in this world... (that was all just pretend, to those of you who think that I eat sour and spicy sand, by the way).
2. Barbara Kingsolver. I'm reading the Poisonwood Bible right now and I can't put it down. It's quite humbling and a bit scary. Especially the part where the US government is involved in the overthrow of the Congo. It's incredibly well written.
3. 3-3. The third 組, or class, of the 9th graders at the jr. high are some of the most adorable kids ever. Even the bad kids are kind of adorable... kind of. Tomorrow is the sports festival and for the past few months the kids have been preparing synchronized dance numbers and practicing games like, let's-tie-our-right-feet-together-in-a-long-line-and-race-around-the-track, or let's-ride-each-other-like-horse-crabs-and-tear-each-others'-hats-off. They have some awesome games here. The best thing, though, is to see these kids cooperating with each other- and dancing like fools. Who knew middle school kids could be so cute?
4. Japanese TV. Most of the time I get fed up with their ridiculous game shows (which are usually just selling something anyway) and their over the top dramas that reinforce the ridiculously low standards for acceptable male behavior, but a few days ago there was a cooking show on from Kyoto that showed how to make fish in a cream sauce. You must understand I have NO idea how to cook. So tonight I made a feeble attempt at making my own vegetables and sausages in cream sauce (because I wanted to save my fish for later) and it actually turned out ok. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to have to eat what I made but to me it was pretty good.
Ok, I should sign off. I hope you all are having a splendid time wheresoever you are. I've been thinking of home a lot lately and wishing that I had my friends around me and the ability to get around more freely (a car really would be nice). Sometimes I think about becoming a monk and living in the mountains... but that's mostly because I just want to live in the mountains... except there are monkeys there and sometimes they come in your house. Really, that actually happens. What would you do if a monkey came in your house? You might give that monkey a muffin. But then you'd be sorry.
Goodnight
1. Sand. Today I played in the sand with the 2-3 year-olds who were almost as cute as the 3-4 year olds. We sat on a bench shaped like a dog and served each other ice cream out of plastic buckets. Sand ice cream, mind you, but boy it was delicious. One little boy even served me a meal. I don't know what it was (besides a pile of sand and a big rock in a tin) but he said it was sour. He also served me something that I thought was very spicy but when I made him try it he said it wasn't spicy at all. いろいろあったな〜 There are so many different kinds of people in this world... (that was all just pretend, to those of you who think that I eat sour and spicy sand, by the way).
2. Barbara Kingsolver. I'm reading the Poisonwood Bible right now and I can't put it down. It's quite humbling and a bit scary. Especially the part where the US government is involved in the overthrow of the Congo. It's incredibly well written.
3. 3-3. The third 組, or class, of the 9th graders at the jr. high are some of the most adorable kids ever. Even the bad kids are kind of adorable... kind of. Tomorrow is the sports festival and for the past few months the kids have been preparing synchronized dance numbers and practicing games like, let's-tie-our-right-feet-together-in-a-long-line-and-race-around-the-track, or let's-ride-each-other-like-horse-crabs-and-tear-each-others'-hats-off. They have some awesome games here. The best thing, though, is to see these kids cooperating with each other- and dancing like fools. Who knew middle school kids could be so cute?
4. Japanese TV. Most of the time I get fed up with their ridiculous game shows (which are usually just selling something anyway) and their over the top dramas that reinforce the ridiculously low standards for acceptable male behavior, but a few days ago there was a cooking show on from Kyoto that showed how to make fish in a cream sauce. You must understand I have NO idea how to cook. So tonight I made a feeble attempt at making my own vegetables and sausages in cream sauce (because I wanted to save my fish for later) and it actually turned out ok. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to have to eat what I made but to me it was pretty good.
Ok, I should sign off. I hope you all are having a splendid time wheresoever you are. I've been thinking of home a lot lately and wishing that I had my friends around me and the ability to get around more freely (a car really would be nice). Sometimes I think about becoming a monk and living in the mountains... but that's mostly because I just want to live in the mountains... except there are monkeys there and sometimes they come in your house. Really, that actually happens. What would you do if a monkey came in your house? You might give that monkey a muffin. But then you'd be sorry.
Goodnight
Monday, August 2, 2010
One Year
Yes, it's been exactly one year and one week since I first arrived in Japan. I would say I can't believe it's been a year already... but to be honest I can. Don't get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying myself but I've gone through so many phases (maybe what some would call culture shock) it almost seems like it's been more than a year. Somehow every season was a new adventure. My hope is that in this next year I can just enjoy being in Japan, knowing what's around the next corner and getting to delve further into the mystery that is Japanese culture.
That being said, here's my list of things that I've appreciated in the past few months:
1. Gion Festival: perhaps the most famous festival in Japan, my friends and I got there at 8:00 am just to be able to stand in front when the parade went by. There were giant portable shrines (this time on wheels) with people riding in the front, up in a room-like space and then there were some on the roof as well. I wish I could put pictures up but I really don't know how... Oh, also the incarnation of God was riding in the top of the first portable shrine (called hoko).
2. Babies. Right now it's summer break so I'm not going to the Jr. high or elementary schools. It's all nursery school all the time! Sometimes I get a little fed up when I have four children pulling on my arms in different directions asking me to play with them but really... is that something to complain about? For the most part the kids are really sweet and really cute and a good two hours of my work day is spent either putting children to sleep or taking kyukei (an hour long break in a small tatami room where I eat snacks with the other teachers). It's perfect.
3. Mamiko. I don't know if I've written about Mamiko before but she is my best friend in Ujitawara and has not only helped me in times of need (cockroach emergencies, homesickness etc) but she is an amazing friend whose amazing, old Japanese house is a place I can go anytime. We've spent the year driving around Kyoto prefecture, traipsing through malls, mountain climbing and eating all kinds of Japanese food together. She is someone I'm really going to miss when I leave next year.
4. My Uji friends (and Kyoto, Kameoka friends etc.) Of course, when you live in a country where the culture is so different from your own you definitely need to get out sometimes and talk with other native English speakers. For me my friends in Uji and Kyoto have been so amazing and we have had so much fun in Kyoto city together. I'm especially going to miss Katherine (from Australia) who lived in Uji last year, and Ian (from the US) who was living in Kyoto but was a regular guest in Uji and host in the big city (Kyoto). It's not going to be the same without them :(
5. Fall: it's hot right now. So hot and so humid. No one feels like doing anything or even eating really. I can't wait for it to cool down and for the fall colors to come out! (Even if that's not really until November >_<)
6.Giant frogs: Mamiko and I saw a frog cross the road that was seriously the size of a small puppy. It was huge.
7. Cicadas: I used to hate how loud they were in Nagasaki because they woke me up every morning, but in Ujitawara they're not so noisy and it's come to be a really soothing sound during the hot summer days. Also, I'm not as afraid of them anymore (they're usually about two inches long or even bigger) I think because the boys at the nursery school bring huge bugs to school to play with every day. I'm talking about 3-inch-long stag beetles that these boys keep as pets! They're an inch tall!
8. Going home: I have been looking forward to August 13th for MONTHS. I cannot wait to come home and see all the people I love and miss so much! I only wish I didn't have to leave again!
9: People who read this blog: if you are reading this (and are not some creepy stalker) I appreciate it. I hope you've been able to get a little glimpse of what my life is like here from this random assortment of events, impressions, and experiences.
That being said, here's my list of things that I've appreciated in the past few months:
1. Gion Festival: perhaps the most famous festival in Japan, my friends and I got there at 8:00 am just to be able to stand in front when the parade went by. There were giant portable shrines (this time on wheels) with people riding in the front, up in a room-like space and then there were some on the roof as well. I wish I could put pictures up but I really don't know how... Oh, also the incarnation of God was riding in the top of the first portable shrine (called hoko).
2. Babies. Right now it's summer break so I'm not going to the Jr. high or elementary schools. It's all nursery school all the time! Sometimes I get a little fed up when I have four children pulling on my arms in different directions asking me to play with them but really... is that something to complain about? For the most part the kids are really sweet and really cute and a good two hours of my work day is spent either putting children to sleep or taking kyukei (an hour long break in a small tatami room where I eat snacks with the other teachers). It's perfect.
3. Mamiko. I don't know if I've written about Mamiko before but she is my best friend in Ujitawara and has not only helped me in times of need (cockroach emergencies, homesickness etc) but she is an amazing friend whose amazing, old Japanese house is a place I can go anytime. We've spent the year driving around Kyoto prefecture, traipsing through malls, mountain climbing and eating all kinds of Japanese food together. She is someone I'm really going to miss when I leave next year.
4. My Uji friends (and Kyoto, Kameoka friends etc.) Of course, when you live in a country where the culture is so different from your own you definitely need to get out sometimes and talk with other native English speakers. For me my friends in Uji and Kyoto have been so amazing and we have had so much fun in Kyoto city together. I'm especially going to miss Katherine (from Australia) who lived in Uji last year, and Ian (from the US) who was living in Kyoto but was a regular guest in Uji and host in the big city (Kyoto). It's not going to be the same without them :(
5. Fall: it's hot right now. So hot and so humid. No one feels like doing anything or even eating really. I can't wait for it to cool down and for the fall colors to come out! (Even if that's not really until November >_<)
6.Giant frogs: Mamiko and I saw a frog cross the road that was seriously the size of a small puppy. It was huge.
7. Cicadas: I used to hate how loud they were in Nagasaki because they woke me up every morning, but in Ujitawara they're not so noisy and it's come to be a really soothing sound during the hot summer days. Also, I'm not as afraid of them anymore (they're usually about two inches long or even bigger) I think because the boys at the nursery school bring huge bugs to school to play with every day. I'm talking about 3-inch-long stag beetles that these boys keep as pets! They're an inch tall!
8. Going home: I have been looking forward to August 13th for MONTHS. I cannot wait to come home and see all the people I love and miss so much! I only wish I didn't have to leave again!
9: People who read this blog: if you are reading this (and are not some creepy stalker) I appreciate it. I hope you've been able to get a little glimpse of what my life is like here from this random assortment of events, impressions, and experiences.
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