How, in Japan, I Began 2010

1.“くつを忘れた” (I forgot my shoes!)
Said to me by a five year-old boy who forgot his shoes at the entrance to the school. I walked with him downstairs to get his shoes. I don’t know why but this struck me as particularly cute.

2. Ending telephone conversations with, “Hello!”
One of the five year-old girls at the nursery school and I were playing house and calling each other on the “telephone” (two pieces of cardboard). In Japanese getting off of the phone is like a competition to see who can make the most noise before the receiver clicks. You say something like, “hai~ wakarimashita~, sayonara~, hai~” and continue to hold the last syllable until the other person has hung up. It’s polite...? Anyway, this little girl decided to end her conversation with, “hai wakarimashita, Hello~”. I may not understand Japanese telephone etiquette, but I know that was adorable.

3.Christmas #2!
Since I surprised my parents for Christmas, all of my presents were shipped to Japan. This means that they are currently sitting on my sofa, waiting to be opened. Tomorrow, I’m calling my parents and opening the presents over Skype. First of all: the times we live in: wow. Secondly: it’s like Christmas Eve all over again!!! I can’t wait for second Christmas!!! :)

Kimono and Crack-pipes: A Very Japanese Day

1. Crack pipes. Ok, we're starting from the end, but I feel I should explain this one first. Ok, I did not see, nor have I ever seen a crack pipe in Japan. I don't even know what they looked like, but tonight my new friends/second or third set of surrogate Japanese parents/grandparents decided to introduce me to "brandy tea". First of all, they turned the lights down really low. Then Noriko, the mother, poured a cup of tea. Her husband, Ichiro, poured brandy over a sugar cube that he had in a tea spoon and proceeded to light it on fire. I couldn't help but laugh to myself at how much this seemed like we were doing some kind of hard core drugs. Of course, though, it was nothing of the sort and the brandy tea tasted very good.

2. Kimono. Today was the first time I have ever worn a real kimono for winter. I have pictures, but I don't think I'll be able to load them any time soon. This week is getting really busy!!! However, I will say that it really was an experience in itself. There are a ridiculous number of ties and pieces of padding and sashes you have to put on. It's almost like if a tuxedo were a dress and twice as complicated.

3. Gingerbread cookies. I got to make gingerbread cookies today in Uji for a cooking class. It was really great! They weren't really like our gingerbread cookies, but it was close enough, especially considering I won't be able to actually have gingerbread cookies next year. :(

4. Kyoto play-time. Last night was spent out on the town in Kyoto with my friends from Uji celebrating Katherine's birthday. We actually ended up eating at TGI Friday's but we had a great time and did karaoke afterwards. Despite the fact that I'm feeling rather homesick for Christmas, I also can't help still feeling incredibly lucky to be where I am. Kyoto is a wonderful city.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who has sent me emails and post cards lately. As the Christmas season sets in I want to let you all know that I am thinking of you. (Also if you don't remember having given me your address, please do so now. I very well may send a gift your way.)
Love love love to you all!
Sarah xoxo

Color Me Qualified

1. Practically a certified teacher. What are the necessary skills required to run a third grade classroom in Japan? Well, whatever they are, two teachers this week have decided that I have them. Yes, twice now I have been left in a room alone with twenty-something nine year-olds and somehow the classes managed to not somehow completely implode. It was a miracle. In the one class I taught shapes via Christmas tree/ornament display and lead a card game afterwards. The second class was much easier, I was just giving a little talk about Christmas and letting the kids ask questions. So, I don't know whether I'm angry or thankful at/for these teachers. On the one hand, I think it's ridiculous that they think I could handle a major conflict in the classroom, should one arise; but on the other hand I'm flattered that they trust me enough to take charge of the class. Either way, I think it was really good for me to realize that I can do something like that. In the future I think I'll be all the more brave for it.

2. Manabi salon is OVER. I had a special class today called "Manabi Salon" (don't ask me why, but in Japan "salon" is synonymous with "classroom" sometimes...). For the class we basically sang songs and played some games. Unfortunately, since Japanese students tend to be shy, the songs were pretty low energy. On the other hand, there were 90 students, so it wasn't that quiet. Overall, the lesson went pretty well and I think the kids had fun. I'm just so glad that it's over, I was worrying about it all week. Yikes!

3. The bus lady. Today I got a present from a woman in town who I met on the bus. It's a Christmas CD of Elvis' "duets" with modern singers. Kind of funny, but I really can't get over how sweet of her it was for her to think of me. As the holidays are drawing near, it's hard to think that I won't be home for Christmas this year. There are even Christmas decorations in downtown Kyoto... Well, before this entry gets too sad, I'll just conclude by saying it is thanks to Japanese people like Yoshimi-san (who gave me the CD) and Erina (whose house I'll be going to for Christmas) that I will be able to make it through the Christmas season with a smile on my face. Really, I'll send pictures.

Thinking of you all, and missing you all very much,
Sarah xoxo

Adorable

It's been a long week of conferences, lectures and mingling so I'm off to bed soon, but I wanted to record one thing:

1. Today one of my students in middle school (an 8th grade boy) asked the Japanese English teacher if "Sarah" was my first name or my last name. Then he asked which part of my name "Emily" was. Then we told him about my last name and he was a bit confused but mostly surprised. It was just a small thing but it was moving at the same time. I couldn't believe he remembered my middle name. I guess I have a new friend in 2-2 (second year of junior high, second classroom).

Bara Babies

1. The Bara room. I got to visit the three year-olds again today and it was another wonderful day of rolly-polly-baby-laughter. I really think I'm the luckiest JET there is. Anyway, I felt pretty good about the amount of English I spoke with the kids today. Now that they know me a bit I feel like I can use more English and they're less likely to lose interest. When I say something to these kids they say things like, "she's still speaking English!" and "what are you saying?" but then they just laugh and we keep playing. Oh, and I also got to put them to sleep for their nap since I was there for the whole day. These are the days when I think, "I can't believe I get paid to do this." Fifteen sleeping babies = so adorable.

2. Bike rides after school. Today I biked to the post office to send something off to Minnesota and on the way I saw two of my elementary students. I heard them say, "Ah, Sarah-sensei" and so I called out, "bye-bye!" to them and they yelled, "bye-bye!" back to me. It's not uncommon but it makes me feel at home in Ujitawara whenever I run into my students outside of school.

3. Sara-sara. The latest thing that the students at the junior high, and the preschool have picked up on is how different my hair is from theirs. They've started messing around with it while saying, "sara-sara! sara-sara!" I believe 'sara-sara' is one of their many sound words and it means... I don't really know but apparently it can be said in regards to the consistency of someone's hair... "soft," maybe? It's actually really amazing; Japanese has tons of designated onomatopoeias like, 'byon-byon' for something that goes fast and 'kira-kira' for something shiny. Anyway, of course, they all think it's also funny that my name is Sarah, although, my favorite association will always be the fact that my name literally means "dish". Japanese can be pretty great sometimes. 

Moshi moshi

1. Moshi moshi. Today I taught some second years at the junior high and one of the taiko kids was in the class. I was helping the kids with their worksheets when someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was that one boy from taiko and he said something like, moshi moshi... something.... I don't know the rest of what he said, but he did a little dance with it. His friends were laughing near by and I could tell that they had made him do it. I felt kind of bad for the kid because I think he was a little embarrassed but I laughed it off with him and everything was okay.

2. Kosumosu (Cosmos) days. Yesterday I went to the Cosmos room at the nursery school and got to play with the kids. I feel like I'm starting to be able to use more English with them now that the kids know who I am and feel comfortable around me. This is great because I was starting to feel like I wasn't doing much good for them in terms of learning English.

3. Three day weekend! Again! I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like we get three day weekends a lot here. I think some of it is that I work on Saturdays sometimes and then get Monday off which makes it feel like a long weekend but... anyway, I'll be climbing a (small) mountain on Monday with Mamiko and then we're going to get our hair cut and go shopping... haha. It sounds funny, but I haven't gotten my hair cut since... May probably so it's about time.

4. Friends and correspondence. I don't know if I wrote to anyone about this, but I met a woman on the bus a few weeks ago who told me that she had spent about four years in Europe. Of course, I was impressed, but then she reminded me that at that time she could only contact her friends and family by mail. Since then I've really been grateful for the emails and letters that I've received while I'm here. I'm not sure if I would be able to make it for a whole year if I didn't have that kind of support and encouragement, so thank you, everyone! Keep writing to me, and I'll keep writing back! xoxo

Is it Christmas yet?

1. Singing in the office. Today I was asked to host a Christmas party/cultural event in the cultural center. We were brainstorming about what I should do (Christmas cards, present exchange) and my boss began singing "White Christmas." Before you knew it there I was singing "White Christmas" with two old Japanese men in Kyoto in early November. Oh, also they asked me if I could play it on piano- most female teachers take piano lessons in Japan. Anyway, I'm going to try. Those two years in elementary school have to be worth something, right?

2. Renée Fleming. If I can't have St. Olaf I can at least pretend I'm there while listening to a little Schubert. Side note: to all you musically inclined Olaf grads: if you have recordings you should send them my way. I'll make you famous in Japan. ;)

3. Charles Dickens: thank you for entertaining characters.
Dostoevsky: see above- also thank you for teaching me about Russia.

4. Minnesota: thank you for teaching me how to survive in the cold. Everyone here complains about the cold but I think I'm going to make it just fine.

5. Halloween. One epic night in Kyoto: bar hopping, kabob-eating, and karaoke singing until dawn. Not something I need to do every week, but not going to lie, it was great fun.

That's all I have for now. Keep warm!