This week was again a little sad. I had the Monday off as it was a holiday. So I spent the day playing tennis in fukui which was good and I was happy to get back into it and see all the other members But Tuesday to Friday I went to school and I was not in the mood to teach. But I did and I taught about Cambodia which I enjoyed. I also went to tea ceremony which I ALWAYS love, and to my adult English class which was also a lot of fun this week as we were talking about the vacation. I met up with a group to have coffee on Wednesday in Starbucks which I love doing. It was cool to exchange stories and catch up on the fjets gossip!
Friday night I went to bears after tennis as there was a big gathering to celebrate the peoples birthdays who we missed while on vacation. It was an ok evening but I was driving and I don’t really like beign in such big groups. It isn’t very sociable or intimate I don’t think. On Saturday I went to mikuni with john and kim to have a walk along the beach. Unfortunately the beach we had visited for the fireworks back in august looked like a completely different place. It was covered in litter, looked tiny and had masses of power plants in view! There were a big group of surfers in the non surfable freezing water, and it began to sleet on us. Apart from that it was great. Luckily we did manage to find a woodland walk away from the beach, which was a little nicer but I was frozen! We followed the walk with sushi and then the three of us headed into fukui to meet andy and go to a surprise bday party for donna. I had a really nice evening chatting to people and drinking the delicious home made ume shu Mayoumi gave me as a new years gift. Soooooooooooo good!
On Sunday gallina invited myself and jordana to a get together at her host family’s house in awara. I think it was in aid of new year but I’m still not sure. Whatever it was for, I was there and I was happy eating the delicious spread that had been put on, drinking the non alcoholic grape drink, colouring with the kids, learning about aromatherapy from the host mum who looks like a very good beauty therapist and aroma therapist. She let us drink her amazing herbal teas and gave us a quick colour therapy test to see which colour and corresponding smell alleviates stress in each of us. I am grapefruit apparently in case you ever need to calm me down.. it was such a fantastic and relaxed event. I felt so welcome by them, and as a leaving gift we got a bag full of beef tomatoes! A girl can always use a bit of beef tomato.
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I have now been in Japan for over 10 months. I have been living in a small rural town, and attempting to teach Eigo to Nihon-jins who really can't be arsed. But i have done some awesome travelling and had some amazing experiences!
I is hot
WHAT I HAVE LEARNT SO FAR IN NIPPON....
- how to enjoy 'the natures'- changing colour of the leaves and cherry blossom viewing especially
- how to drive an automatic- its pants
- how to say 'cute' in the most annoying way possible
- how to throw a round plastic disc around a field
- how to teach better than i did...i hope
- how to speak in katakana engrish
- how to walk like a penguin
- how to clean a bathroom properly
- how to pretend i understand what people are saying
- how to pray at a shrine
- how to sleep on a futon
- how to plant rice
- how to make soba-ish
- how to slurp
- how to grunt unnecessarily to show i'm attentive to the person talking
- how to bow
- how to make and drink japanese tea- kind of
- how to do taiko
- how to eat japanese food- and how to know what japanese food to avoid
- how to use chopsticks
- how to use a rice cooker
- how to speak and read sukoshi nihon-go
Amazed, dazed and confused
Although I have lived in Japan for 9mths now, I’m still nowhere near use to the culture here. Everyday I’m still aggravated and amazed by things.
- teachers never taking time off but saying they are tired and need a break
- people are overly polite in conversation and use the most confusing honorific speech, but they can also be quite rude. I.e. Never holding doors open for one another, barging past, pushing people out of the way, not making eye contact with each other, no respect for privacy, no awareness of others whilst walking or driving….
- Eating manners from a western point of view are appalling! Slurping, sniffing, scoffing, spitting, gurgling and talking with food in their mouths- all completely acceptable and witnessed at every meal time. i will never be accustomed to these!
- At my enkai the teachers seemed to suddenly act like teenagers. It was though they have been so repressed, and been made to conform in society to such an extent, that when they are given a small chance to let their hair down, they go over the top. Is this why so many adults as well as children are obsessed with Disney characters? Their childhoods were so controlled and they were made to work so hard, that it is only as adults they can enjoy such things?
- You can never tell whether they are being genuine in their comments. Once again this is because of the over politeness.
- Old men having certain rights over all other people and demanding respect. It is so funny to watch old men in social situations as they do whatever the hell they like. Fart, burp, order people about, ignore others etc!
Gangs..
As i walk down a dimly lit path infront of me i see a group of teenage boys. All dressed in the universal baggy trousers, baseball caps and hoodies. What social ill are these boys performing? drug dealing, graffiti, robbery? dont make eye contact. dont make yourself seen.
But wait a minute... these boys are japanese! Drug dealing! Graffiti! Robbery! I think not. With their homework hanging out of their bags, these boys are having a super evening socialising with their chums and learning to juggle and perform other such tricks and stunts! Theyll be home by 10pm to study and get a good nights sleep. Good old Nipon.
JAPANESE DRIVERS
ok, i have been ranting quite a bit recently but i feel that:
a) all my rants are legitimate
b) this is a good way of venting my frustrations
c) japan can be very frustrating!!!
But this is going to be a proper rant. i cannot hold myself back any longer from discussing the issue of RUBBISH AWFUL STUPID UNAWARE SLOW japanese drivers. of course i dont want to use the stereotyping stick here, but i have to say that the vast majority of japanese people are horrendous drivers. i wont make this rant too long but here is a little insight...
1) never using mirrors- apart from to assess makeup and hair
2) pulling out of junctions whether it is clear to do so or not
3) using red lights as a suggestion rather than a command
4) their delight in trying to kill cyclists
5) driving so slowly- ok i know the speed limit is low but it is still a huge annoyance
6) taking at least 1minute to put a car into gear (baring in mind all cars are automatic here too) and actually move when a red light changes.
7) using both lanes to dordle along and travel stupidly slowly
8) parking wher ever they feel like it - usually next to vending machines or at particularly dangerous junctions.
9) being unaware of the new addition of indicators to cars nowadays
10) driving half in your lane
11) having stupid OTT decorations on the dashboard
12) believing they drive tanks and therefore cannot park or fit through normal size car gaps
ok i'll stop, but just so you know, i could continue. I asked a japanese person about their driving. They said that it takes people 1mth to learn to drive. it is not difficult to obtain a license.
I should point out that Fukui has the highest traffic accident rate and so maybe the rest of japan is different but from what i have seen, i'll be lucky to survive the year without an accident or fatal injury
lots of love kisse hugs and happy things
omoshiroi- by my students
- Alex i was born to love you
- i want to see big bin in london
- we have a hore lunch break
- 'do you take a dump'- any ideas on how to reply????
- 'i will be sad when my friends die'- happy chap
- 'i hate green peace'- yeah those damn charities
- 'rord of the pings'- that world famous novel and film
engrish
horny remover what every girl needs
anpanman!
About Me
- Alonje
- Maruoka, Fukui, Japan
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