February 2013
1 post
Giant Centipedes, Outdated Thinking, and Pricey...
So, I forgot to post in my previous… post that on Thursday night, May 24, I was riding home on my bike. The warm weather made nighttime riding pleasant, as stick summer had not yet settled in (yes, “settled”. I’m speaking in past tense because I’m writing this much later). So as I’m going in front of the fantastic, addictive crack, er, I mean French...
January 2013
2 posts
Classic shoujo coloring book! May 23
Before coming to Japan, I had known I’d be learning Japanese, and decided to take a crack at translating some vintage shoujo manga, like Kaze and Sunroom Nite (update: my Japanese grammar still sucks, and another scanlation group has taken over the Kaze task). Sunroom is a very obscure manga, so there are no scans of it online, which means I’d have to scan the thing myself. Now, to...
The mysterious, futuristic tower isn't open yet?!...
This isn’t a complaint post, but it’s ironic, and it’s out of chronological order (if I can figure out how to move posts around I’ll be set). So when I arrived in Japan I noticed the dark, ominous tower, which I later learned to be the Sky Tree, looming over Tokyo like a promise of totalitarian future rule. I didn’t know what it was, and I assumed it was just a...
December 2012
3 posts
May 22 - Pink eye, Parent's Day, and the mail that...
I woke up at 2:40 AM with itchy, bloodshot eyes. WTF?! No, don’t let it be pink eye! Being as one of the kids has an eye irritation, I wouldn’t be surprised.
When I got to school, all of my kids were wearing their morning uniforms. See, the kids arrive in a “formal” uniform, change into kindergarten uniform, and just before they leave they change back into the formal...
November 2012
0 posts
May 21 - The eclipse that caused M's fury!
Whelp, the total solar ellipse happened. How was it? I don’t know, I wish it had happened really! Why I say that is, yes, it did occur (the country’s been selling corny eclipse glasses for months), and it’s an annual event, but during it I didn’t notice anything - I forgot about it, actually, it was that unimpressive. It’s not like what they show in movies! The sky...
May 16-17
I attempted to start translating “Mesh”, a Moto Hagio manga. However, my Japanese level is still low, so forget that for now. I’ll have to return to it once I’m better with the language.
Okay, more drama. No, this isn’t drama - it’s full-out demeaning abuse. So a few weeks ago M demanded that I write up a list for the craft supplies I’d need for...
September 2012
1 post
May 16 How I hate that woman
What’s worst than an annoying bitch of a boss who thinks you’re stupid because you’re simply American? Yeah, I don’t know, either. In my classroom I have a collection of Disney VHSs that play either English or Japanese tracks, depending on which sound output you choose. Well, when I played Bambi, I heard English, but as I was grabbing something in the room I also heard...
August 2012
3 posts
May 12-15
(Yes, I’m writing this retroactively, so I’ll be writing in the past tense.)
Happy Birthday, Moto Hagio!
All weekend I had the chore of find a swimsuit hanging over my head like Damocles’ sword. See, the school at which I work REQUIRES that I have a swimsuit for the swimming classes, even though nothing was mentioned in my contract. Oh no, I don’t swim; all I do is stand...
Returning to reality (May 7-11)
Upgraded my DA account, as it had reverted to a regular membership.
So, I’m bad about writing down my life. I recalled the Kaze Exhibit wonderfully, because, hey, it’s what heaven’s made of. Other than that, I slack off when it comes to keeping journals. So apologies for that.
I at last got a new bike from my employer. It’s used, but at least the brakes work. I rode it up...
4 tags
Follow-up to the exhibit
Feeling regretful that I didn’t accept the woman’s offer regarding the possible Terra book, I wrote to both the English speaker at the gallery and the English-speaking woman who had assisted me the week before at the exhibit, seeing if they knew who the merchandise woman was; I gave them a physical description and said she’d given me her email but I “lost” it. The...
July 2012
3 posts
7 tags
Kaze Exhibit, Part 2
Up and at ‘em for my revisit to the Kaze Exhibition on May 5, aka Boy’s Day! As there wasn’t a time limit, like last visit’s “first come first serve” practice concerning the autographs, I was able to sleep in a bit later, as in, about half an hour. Damn Shizuoka - why are you so far from Tokyo? >.< But what was this? My stomach was feeling a bit upset? Too...
Great week!
The week was fantastic. Now, whether it was actually great or I just didn’t notice/care on account of being in a veritable dreamland from meeting my idol, I’ll never know. Into the late hours of Sunday night/Monday morning some duck started quacking loudly. This wasn’t the first time, either. They’re punctuated the night before with their night serenade. The thing is, I...
The morning after, or, Rodin at the art museum
Waking up a few hours later from my late-night wine escape, I got ready for the picnic. I was to be picked up by the same woman who threw the Mexican food night, Kazu. I was exhausted, but since I still had the remnants of the Kaze exhibit still surging through me, I didn’t care.
Around 10:00 AM Kazu came over to get me. Beside Kazu and I, her daughter, Tom, and Ally were there. It was...
June 2012
3 posts
6 tags
Perfect day (Kaze To Ki No Uta Exhibit and Keiko...
What an absolutely glorious, fantastic day I had today, Saturday, April 28 2012. As many of you know, I have been planning to go to Bunbou-Do Art Gallery in Tokyo to attend the Kaze To Ki No Uta Exhibit, as well as get the legendary Keiko Takemiya’s autograph. I have been writing to Bunbou-Do, and thankfully a woman writing to me could speak English. She told me I had to buy at least one of...
Two steps forward, three steps back
My bills paid, my drawing completed, I was set for Tokyo. M said she’d go with me to pick up my registration card inn the city; I also told her I was going to try getting my hair bleached, and she agreed to help me make an appointment at the place I’d seen in the new mall, which had quoted me 7600 yen.
I was extremely giddy that afternoon. The kids couldn’t do anything that...
Hope abounds!
First thing, I gave Kou his swimming bag. I’d been drying the clothes outside, so hopefully his mother wouldn’t complain too much.
I worked with the kids on a craft of butterflies (I think that was it - there have been so many crafts that now they’re running together in my head). My main employer, who returns to Shizuoka every few weeks, was back again, and I asked her for a...
May 2012
10 posts
How to say "freak" in Japanese.
After a night of my mom’s Japanese friend calling throughout the evening, I went to work, hopeful of getting my paycheck early. Around the afternoon I was folding paper cranes, as I had decided to decorate my class walls with them. Just then, Masa and M came into the class; Masa was holding an envelope, and he asked if I knew someone named Ichi. I answered yes, and he told me that the school...
Tuesday
M informed me that I forgot to give Kou, Kojiro, and Hime their swimming bags containing their wet clothes; sure enough, the kids’ bags were in my classroom. Damn it, they must have forgotten them in Kou’s rush to the door. Hime’s mom took the bags for Kojiro and Hime. However, Kou never came to school, so I had to place his clothes outside to dry, as M complained about mildew...
Countdown!
I spent Sunday doing basically nothing rather than practicing my Japanese, drawing, and wasting time on the internet. On Monday I got the kids ready for swimming, which breaks down into this simple equation: buses come along all morning and drop off a few kids here and there. At 10:05 AM the last bus arrives with the kids. The kids change their uniforms to the casual uniforms, but within a few...
Doctor's visit
The next day my leg swelling had diminished slightly, but they were still large. As he promised, Masa came and picked me up. He also took a package of the ramen to show to the doctor if necessary.
The doctor office was near Shin Shizuoka. It’s in a beautiful house near the Ando Chome 2 bus stop; Masa said the area is expensive, and it does appear so.When we went inside, the office said they...
Will I get paid ever?
My mom’s friend wrote again, wanting my address. As I was possibly going to get paid, I decided to wait a few more days before I replied.
I spoke to my employer and she said she would possibly be able to pay me before the 27th. I used the excuse of wanting cash for Golden Week, as we’d be off a week and would hopefully have cash.
As I was feeling optimistic, I began researching train...
The dreadful week continues
I wrote to my mother’s friend again, asking what was the cheapest way to get to Tokyo. I was determined to get out there, there was no question about it. I had purchased a small loaf of bread (like, personal size), hoping it could last me for two days. I was getting nervous - why hadn’t we been paid yet? From what I recalled my employer said we’d get paid bi-weekly.
On Monday I...
The most dreadful week
I awoke with a horrendous pain in my neck. I couldn’t tilt my chin to my neck at all, nor could I tilt my head to make it straight, and my nose was running. I was burning up, too. The first thing that came to my mind was meningitis, as symptoms include not being able to tilt your chin down, runny nose, and a change in mental awareness (I felt very foggy).
I checked my email and my...
Juku, a quarantine, and a dream come true.
Juku reared its ugly head again on Thursday evening with a new set of students. Like my first group, I was rather lost concerning what to do for lessons. Like the first class, this group had no notebook, and like the Tuesday class, they knew next to nothing concerning English. One of the kids, Minami, is a little smart alec who talks over me, but not in English. Oh, if he used English that’d...
The start of the sickness
M starts the day by telling me to empty my trashcan every night, as she’s “always doing it” (oh, cry me a river, M). Sure, I’ll do it - just don’t act like you’ve told me repeatedly and I never listen. M and the other teachers are discussing the new teacher, Ally. They tell me she’s “difficult” and if I have any problems with her I should go to...
The fun really starts. Juku ga nan desu ka?
Is it bad to say I have favorites in the class, and a trio that I loathe? Hina, Ryo, and Hibi are great kids - so sweet. Ryo and Hibi are extremely sharp learners and love drawing puzzles; Hina draws me cute things and acts as my translator. All three speak English very well.
And then there are the three. Ko, Kou, and Hime. OMG, they’re such monsters. AT first I excused their rambunctious...
April 2012
13 posts
Opening ceremony
The day of opening ceremony. While we waited to go to the small auditorium we let the kids watch an AWFUL dub of “My Neighbor Totoro”. It was Fox licensed allegedly, but I’m not sure which country. The dub wasn’t Disney’s, and everything was just wrong about it. The girls were voiced be women (which is the norm, but they sounded like women doing bad impersonations of...
Spring Matsuri and Mexican food, Japanese and...
Friday! Thank you! Armed with the knowledge that I had to get my lunch the night before, I purchased my food on Thursday night, also discovering a dangerous bin of 55 yen breads and pastries at Winderland; yes, dangerous in that it’s tempting.
Singing! And crying. Both Ria and Take sobbed. Geez. One of my employees, Maso, told everyone he’d be playing shakuhachi (a Japanese flute) at...
Slimy food and more crying!
America is truly a great place. Once upon a time stores opened at 5:00 AM and closed at 11:00 PM; many stay open 24 hours now. Japan, however, has much to be desired in regards to store hours. The next morning I left for the school at 7:20 AM, making a detour to the store to buy my lunch for that day. To my great surprise, the store didn’t open until 9:00 AM, and it closed at 10:00 PM....
More shit ensues!
Oh yes, I forgot to mention earlier, but am too lazy to edit the post: when I arrived there was a 2400 yen phone bill on the table in my apartment. Apparently, it was the bill for the previous girl who lived here. I paid it at a convenience store! Yes, anyone can pay their home bills at convenience stores all over Japan.
Why I bring this up is today I got a 7600 yen gas bill dating back primarily...
The week starts!
As I’m writing this I have a stiff, sore neck from my crummy futon and pillow, so I’m in a rather bad mood ATM.
Not much really happened the first part of the week. I went back to 109, and bought the beautiful shirt in black. After looking carefully at it, though, it gave me the impression of being a bat, so I took it back for an exchange. OMG, exchanging something in Japan is a...
Sengen Shrine festival
So following the dreadful occurrence at Mishima, I never wanted to interact with another human ever again, and I slept in on Sunday. For some reason, I’m always exhausted around 9:00 PM, so midnight was way past my… ahem, bed time. It was to my great surprise that my employer called me in the morning, asking if I wanted to go to a Japanese flea market. I told her I’d need at...
Saturday, the 5,000 yen regret!
Saturday started with rain. Wow, who’d of thought? It rained all day and into the afternoon. I called Emi and asked if the fireworks were still on; she said they were checking the website, but it all seemed fine. We agreed to meet at Cenova in Shin Shizuoka at 4:00 PM, as a train was leaving for the city in which the fireworks would be.
It eventually stopped raining, and I got to Cenova. Oh...
First Friday here, aka cleaning day and tofu...
Cleaning day! I decided to tackle this place with bleach and hot water. I cleaned out shelves, threw some things away (my employer said she’s go through the stuff I wanted to throw away and sort through it, but she hasn’t yet), and stored other thing in the closets. I moved furniture to clean behind it, wiped the walls, cleaned under the sinks, disinfected the toilet, wipes most...
First Thursday here
So I forgot to mention that when I went to Shin Shizuoka with the British guy I bought a tea kettle. I’m glad I did, because on Thursday the 28th there was a rainstorm, and the kettle provided me endless cups of hot tea. Firstly, you have to imagine that this place was freezing at the time, and the Astroturf pathway in front of my apartment, always in the shade, was perpetually wet. So when...
First few days, part five
Okay, journal-keeping is not my strongest suit. I tend to skip days and make up for it later in a jumbled mess (like what I’m doing now!).
One of the teachers I’d met the day before showed me how to use the washer. The washers have to hot water. He told me all the commands on the washer, so that was good.
Then the other teacher from before gave me the ropes about the school, writing...
First few days, part four
So the guy who came over could speak English! You don’t know how nice it is to hear your mother tongue in a foreign land. He’s British, from Birmingham. He took me to Winderland, as I had my list still. He showed me bleach (time to clean my apartment!), soaps, lips glosses, stuff like that. I was pleased, but I couldn’t find a blow dryer; he said we’d have to go to the city...
First few days, part three
I awoke the next day with the worst back pains. Now, I’m sure there are better futons out there, but I felt like crap. My back hurt, my legs hurt, my neck hurt. As I didn’t sleep with a pillow, my neck had a kink in it. Later on I discovered the pillows in the closet, one cotton-stuffed, one soba-like. The latter was too overfilled.
Having finally slept from my 36 hours awake, I...
First few days, part two
Okay, so I finally arrived at Shizuoka Station. Thankfully, the train messages were in Japanese and English, as the Japanese audio was very low. I got off the train and was greeted by an elderly man who knows my employer; his English is minimal. We head to the street, and the city I’m in resembles something like Denver, with shops and bustling people; I’m happy, because I enjoy city...
March 2012
1 post
First few days here part 1
Okay facebook people, here’s my official log for my time out in Japan. I’ll make updates here and on facebook.
Ah, it’s all been such a whirlwind adventure. As many of you know, I arrived here on March 27 (still March 26 in the US). The trip over was practically a nightmare. I flew United from Denver to San Francisco, which wasn’t too bad. When I arrived at SF I was...
