The First Time is Always Memorable

BEING SICK: THE 4 LADIES OF IIDE TOWN
All of last week and up until now I have been blessed with the cold. I say "blessed" because even though it does suck to be sick, there are always good things that come about. I took 2 days of sick leave last week and that really helped. Over the course of those days I had 4 different ladies come visit me, each bearing gifts (sound like a familiar scene? just in time for the holidays!).

• 1st: Supervisor - During her lunchbreak she came and brought me fruits. She also made me take my own temperature, which was kind of entertaining to do sinc I had to probe my armpit to get the results. But I knew I didn't have a fever, she insisted. She also helped me put kerosene into my heater for the first time. When you have two people doing it - it's such a breeze. But if you have to do it by yourself - it can be quite messy and smelly.
  
  
• 2nd: The Lady who Lives in a Temple - We've become good friends since I met her a month ago and she was the most caring during my sickness period. She was the one who brought the GluCose and face mask.
  
  
• 3rd: The Lady who Sits Next to Me at the Town Hall - I really like her. She's such a kind woman and last week she brought me all kinds of stuff: bread, chicken, soup, vitamin drinks and rice balls. But she brought the most useful gift of all of them: honey and ginseng. It was a jar of honey and ginseng and when I saw it, I immediately didn't like the combination. I don't even like honey and ginseng by themselves. But she said that it would really help with my "raspy/husky" voice. AND IT HAS! Really, as disgusting as it is, it's a miracle mixture.
  
  
• 4th: The Lady that I Teach on Tuesdays - I had to cancel my Tuesday lesson with her last week and I felt really bad because I know she really looks forward to them. And I was bummed because I like spending the evening with her as we attempt to conversate in Japanese and English. Since I couldn't make it to her house she brought dinner to me.

So I'm really thankful to have these people here with me. The first time I got food poisoning here I was really sick and felt so alone, but this time was the complete opposite. It's amazing how much they care and it helps prevent home sickness. Now I'm working on Thank You gifts. =)



THE MOCHI PARTY
I finally went back to work last Wednesday and I was in for a real treat. I was scheduled to go to Tsubaki Preschool and we were making mochi! I didn't have to do a lesson since it was the "Mochi Party," so I just played with the kids. But, amazingly, they initiated a game of Duck, Duck Goose. I was sooooooo surprised and impressed! "Holy crap!," I thought. They actually remembered something and they WANTED to do it. I wanted to cry with joy. It really was so beautiful to see. Then they really got me when they initiated a game of Red Light, Green Light. Eureka!

The Mochi Party wasn't much of a party but it was fun. Some of the kid's fathers came to help us out because mochi is actually pretty difficult to make. Mochi is Japanese rice cake made from pounding a special type of steamed rice. It's very sticky and chewy and there isn't much of a taste, so people tend to put all kinds of seasoning/spices on it.


We were watching them pound away and it went in a rhythmic kind of pattern: one person pounds, the other person rotates the slowly forming rice cake. It can be hypnotizing. Then they let me have a shot at it. The swinging part isn't that bad but once you've made contact with the mochi - it's difficult to lift up. Oh, everyone was chuckling.

THE POUNDING

We ate the mochi for lunch in 3 forms: mochi with natto (ugh, gross), mochi with crushed edamame (my favorite) and mochi in soup (delicious!).

One of my favorite students started calling me "mommy." Uh oh...



TEACHING WHILE YOU'RE SICK
Teaching when you're sick is not fun for both yourself and for the students. But I tried my best. Usually when I go into a classroom I "power up" with as much energy as I can hold and release it when class starts. But I just didn't have as much energy for these classes. After all, I was far from being recovered. By the 2nd class by voice was already going and I had to rely on my volunteer to jump in on my cue. I was exhausted and just wanted to sit. The classes still managed to be fun for the students but I wasn't enjoying the day. I just wanted to sleep and when that day was finally over... man, was I relieved.

Unfortunately, teaching 4 classes that day only made my voice/throat even worse as I soon found out over the weekend.

I hope the students can forgive me for being so sickly and lethargic.



A WORTHY TAIKO PRACTICE
Still went to practice even though I was coughing up a lung. It was our first practice since the mini break we had and I wasn't about to miss it. We have a taiko performance this weekend so this practice was really important. The head taiko teacher showed up and we're always a bit weary when he's there because the pressure is on and we get nervous. So when we saw him walk in with his shnazzy pants and suit we thought, "Oh... sh**..."

BUT! It was such a great practice! I had a lot of fun and he was in such a good mood that day. We met a new taiko member and were given our taiko uniforms =).

The final run-through of the night, we were able to do the whole song without looking at our music sheets. Whoo hoo!



PLEASE CUT MY HAIR! GOOD LUCK!
On Saturday I went to Yamagata City to do some gift shopping. There are a lot of special days this month (birthdays, annys, etc...) so since I didn't want to be late with my gifts - I was on a mission to get it done. And I did for the most part. I hate it when you finally set out to buy a gift for someone and you can't find anything! But on days when you're not looking for a gift, you see all kinds of things that would be perfect for that person. frustrating.

I walked passed a beauty salon... and I really considered cutting my hair. I paced back and forth and decided to just do it. This was my first time getting my hair cut at a Japanaese salon so I knew it would be interesting. And my voice was gone! Ha! For sure, fun.

So, first thing I attempted to ask in my very, very raspy - barely audible voice, was:

"Can anyone speak English?"

They're reply, "No."

Oh, perfect! Just what I need for this adventure. Then I asked how much it was and it was a reasonable price. The place was really clean and appealing. I always judge a beauty salon/haircut shop by the salonists themselves. I look at their hair. I think that's fair judgement - if their own cuts look like crap, why would I want them to cut mine? And everyone's hair was so cute, so I figured it was safe.

I was given the longest shampoo in my life by a Japanese guy. I swear I was in that washing chair for a good 20 minutes. I don't even wash my hair that long in the shower. But it felt good and I was so tempted to just fall asleep.

They asked me if I wanted anything to drink or if I wanted to get my nails done while I wait. I said no to both cause I had no idea if they would charge me for it. I figured they would.


Luckily, I had some sort of idea and a picture of what I wanted done. But most of my friends know, I don't really care how they cut my hair. Hair always grows back. So I tried really hard to explain it to the guy and the picture really helped. After all that talking, I just said to him, "Good luck!" And we both laughed.


But prior to getting a haircut they gave me a massage. I had said that I didn't care for one, but that got lost in translation. The massage bit was so weird. Never had that happen before. First it started off as a head massage - first time for that too. Head massages are strange. There's one move where they take both of their palms and squeeze them very firmly against your head. It makes you feel like your brain will burst out from the top of your skull at any minute. But in a very odd way, it felt good.

Then I got the typical shoulder/back massage. I was a little uncomfortable about the whole thing, but I have to admit it was relaxing. I had to really resist the urge to laugh from being ticklish. Oh God.

FINALLY: the cut. First thing he tells me and I'm surprised he knows this English, "Your hair is damaged." LOL, why thank you. But he was really nice and he told me everything he was doing - informative, and amusing.

THE NEW CUT

They cut hair a lot different in Japan. There's a whole philosophy behind it: nice, clean cuts. And at the end I walked out feeling a lot lighter and looking even more Japanese than before.

I am satisfied. The experience is a good one for my future novels.



BEHIND IN JAPANESE
Missed both of my Japanese Language Classes and I'll miss the one tomorrow. Crap, crap crap! Sometimes it's NOT in our best interest to be around people who speak English becaue we find it so easy to just revert to our native language. But really, I need to try more and more if I wanna become better.



IMONI + A REAL OVEN = INTL
Sunday I was invited by my co-workers to go to an "Internationalization Imoni." I don't know if that was the best description of the event, but it'll do. I asked many people what an imoni is and I haven't really pinned it down to a thing/event but it's where they cook this particular stew with a unique potato. Very popular during the Fall season. My first time. The internationalization bit was because in the words of my co-workers, "Old Japanese men will be there to talk and conversate with foreigners." I'm the only American in my town, which means that everyone else is Chinese and there was a Malaysian woman.

But! I used to a real oven! They really wanted me to bake something, especially since I've been complaining that we don't have real ovens in Japan. So when they finally found one for me to use, it was a big deal. I baked cookies and brownies and I used 3 ovens. Some problems we ran into along the way:

• Temperature conversions: fahrenheit to celcius
• Pan size conversioins: inches to centimeters
• Trying to explain what cooking spray/grease was
• Not being able to "soften" the butter using a microwave (innovately we decided to boil a huge pot of water and soften it by placing the bowl of butter over the steam; worked!)
• Not knowing how to use Japanese ovens

Never a dull moment - and our section supervisor cooked gyoza (dumplings). I kind of chuckled at the idea because he's really nice but he can be quiet and serious at times, so when I found out that he was cooking I just found it funny. But - he's cool.

Everyone really liked the desserts, which is such a relief and they asked me for the recipe. HAHA. I told them that it was out of a box. Easy! Sorry to burst your bubble.

The imoni was good and there wasn't as much internationalization as I thought there would be. The "Old Japanese Men" stayed in their corner. The Chinese in their own and we were interspersed among them. But as with most things, sometimes, it's just the thought that counts.



CAN YOU HELP ME WITH MY ENGLISH?
Friday I was approached by a man at the Town Hall who I've never spoken to before. He's young and he works on the 2nd floor, so I hardly run into him. Out of the blue, he approaches my desk. I thought he was just going to pass and go speak to one of my co-workers but he stopped at mine and paused.

I looked up a bit surprised (he was also wearing those unattractive face masks), "Oh, Hello!?"

LOL. At first I had no idea what he wanted and why he was talking to me and then I pieced it all together at the end. He was scheduled to be a translator between a Japanese person and a English-speaking person so he wanted to brush up on his English. He was already pretty good at it. He asked if I had any English children's DVDs or books that he could borrow.

So I come back with the only ones I brought with me: Alice in Wonderland and Little House on the Prairie DVDs and a very simple Halloween book. HAHA, he seemed please.

Yesterday he returned the materials and I asked him how it went. Unfortunately, they didn't really need him. What a bummer. He had studied all weekend, but I ensured him that any studying is beneficial.

I think it's funny that he actually watched Little House on the Prairie and liked it... or maybe that's just him being nice, you never know.



OUCH!
Taught at another preschool this week. Why do boys have to play so rough? They're sweet, but they love to play "fight," and just because their munchkins doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Geez! But I will man-up and take the bruises just to hear them say ANY English, "Fighto!" "Apple" "Hello, How are you? (punch!)"



THX UMO
...for the letter! It came quickly and I love getting snail mail.



VETERAN'S DAY
Of course this isn't a Japanese holiday, but I'm not Japanese. Keep them in your prayers.




TACOS, MEATLOAF & STEAMED WEENIES
Last night went over to a friend's apartment for tacos, fajitas and meatloaf. Delicious! Conversed with 2 Japanese women - they were really funny and it was good practice for us.

We learned that:

• "otaku" (nerds) are not cool in Japan
  
  
• Gay people are commonly found in big cities (not surprising)
  
  
• The best best time to go to an onsen is probably 10am, when the water is fresh
  
  
• Osaka-ben, which I refused to absorb because I'm already having a hard time learning Tokyo and Yamagata dialects
  
  
• Nescafe can be a universal term for "coffee" in some European countries
  
  
• if you park in someone's parking spot at an apartment complex they will park directly in front of your car

So the last one we learned the hard way. The parking lot of our friends' apartment structure is never full, but we always just randomly guess where we can park. So far the spot I've chosen has been safe, but last night was not my friend's lucky day. When we were leaving we saw a red car parked right in front of my friend's car - he had no way of getting out. He apparently was in their spot. There is a paper that has all of the tenants and their assigned spots listed. We found the lady who owned the spot... and she was not happy.

In fact, she was pissed - steamed as weenie! That certainly was one of the first times I had seen a Japanese woman so angry. And it was silent anger; her face said it all. She stomped out and we all about pissed our pants. Oh my...

And I can understand her frustration, I would be pissed too. In fact, in America we probably would have towed them. Especially since this was the 2nd time that my friend had parked in her spot. The first time she let it slide.

To compensate we did a lot of bowing and said a lot of "sorrys."



NOVA
Nova, a very large English-teaching enterprise in Japan has finally caved in. I learned that the president of the company spent ridiculous amounts on luxury items and the whole system was very corrupted. It is so unfortunate for the teachers. The company was just bought by another guy, who is only 38 years old, but owns over 300 amusement parks. I don't know if they'll be able to recooperate.





GOOD DAY AT DAI NI ELEMENTARY
The lesson was on different countries, their flags, what they're famous for and the target English, "Where are you from? I'm from _______." Both classes were superb and I'm happy. Back on track. =D



ORIENTATION
Tomorrow I will be leaving for a 3-day mid year seminar to try improve our teaching skills. Fun.



RENTING 5 MOVIES: WHOOPS!
Over the weekend my movie rental joint had a half-off sale on DVD rentals. I rented 5 DVDs: 3 discs of Greys, Broken Flowers and Hooligans.

But, I forgot that I have the seminar... so when will I watch these?
LOL. Maybe in my sleep...?



Oyasuminasai!