Busy

I spent the three-day weekend (Monday was a memorial holiday here in Okinawa, and though I have not done the research to determine why, I will presume it is in memory of the many thousands that died in the turmoil of the Second World War) running around and having a blast.

Starting with Saturday morning, I helped MC the first half of the performance before dashing out at half-time to make my way to Naha to catch a flight to Tokyo to meet Andrew and James, a couple of great guys I met on the Rally two years ago.

We started the visit right, with a can of beer in front of the Shinjuku bus terminal. Our first attempt at a bar for the evening - one themed after a mixture of a prison and emergency medical procedures - was not successful, after being told we'd have a table in 15 minutes. I had given my name to the hostess, and when I went back to check on how we were progressing in terms of getting seated, I saw that my name had been penned out. And not just penned, but that really thorough looping penstroke that one uses to completely obliterate any trace of writing. Though we were told we'd only have to wait five more minutes, we decided that we'd have better chances elsewhere. This was also the first moment of several during my time in Tokyo where I thought to myself, "This kind of thing wouldn't happen in Okinawa!" followed by, "I didn't know I already missed it that much."

But our second night was a little better. The day wasn't spectacular, because our plan was to check out Harajuku and even take a few opportunities to chat with any willing people. But the rain kept everyone...I'm not sure really, but wherever it was, it wasn't where we were walking. I was happy to make a nice impulse buy for an Indiana Jones type sidebag, instead of having to trek around with all my miscellaneous items in my pockets.

A littler later on in the afternoon, James and I wandered around Isetan, a relatively high-class shopping establishment in, Shibuya was it? We ate some amazing gelato (I got green tea/vanilla), purchased 50g of 黒毛和牛 kurogewagyuu and marvelled at its deliciousness, and wandered around five levels of department stores looking for the most expensive item from each class of goods. Our most ridiculous find was a pair of mid-length leather boots, with the design of a flowing dragon shaped into the leather. Care to guess at the price?　￥661,000 (highlite the previous space for the answer)

We finished off the main portion of our Tokyo time with 飲み放題 nomihoudai at a great place called Gonpachi, on the 14th floor of a building in Shibuya (though the rain and clouds obscured all the good views). We weren't simply amazed with how good the selection was for the price (three hours for ￥2,500), but also by the service. At one point, we ordered a round of 梅酒 umeshu, a plum liquor, and manager asked us, "And how about a three beers with that?" He also came by when our time limit was almost up, making sure we got one last round for the money. And not to mention the food that we ordered - succulent.

Our last, and most costly, venture was karaoke. Last, because we had to make the 2:00 curfew at the hostel. Most costly, because though I read everything about what we signed up for, I failed to "understand" it. So though I had the money to cover the bill, it was more than I was expecting - but I wasn't really expecting much, since I was off my ass drunk. And finally, upon trying to hail a cab, we were solicited by charming woman working for a soapland. Using the short chat for Japanese practice (lots of new words!), we had to cut her off and get to sleep.

Andrew and James are in Okinawa this week, coming up to Nago tomorrow or the next day. I pondered the thought of getting them into a few of my English classes at my school one day this week. I'm sure it would help to give everyone - students and teachers - a little boost to the week. I'll keep you posted (and write those backlogged stories another time).

PS - though I was not there to see it, apparently one of my students placed third in the Kunigami JHS English Story Telling Contest. It's funny, out of all three I was asked to help, I spent the least time with him just based on bad scheduling. I'm not sure what to think about that... (^_~)

I could be...

Today was busy. I had five classes: two junior high school classes and three elementary classes. The elementary classes I run on my own and go for 45 minutes. For the junior high school classes, (50 minutes) I team up with the Japanese Teacher of English and we work through the lessons, run activities, working with and off of each other to help the kids along. Today, however, my JTE had to leave after lunch, so I had to run fifth period by myself (the JTE took yesterday off as well, because her daughter had a fever, so this was my second straight day teaching the 2nd grade JHS students alone). It was a good day (though tomorrow's post will be in honor of the 3rd grade elementary girl who got a bloody nose during my class).

But let me tell you about a feeling I had yesterday.

I walked into school at 8:10 and found a note on my desk. It was from my JTE asking me to handle the 2nd grade JHS class. Tall orders for me, having not prepped anything and having the class in just about half-an-hour. *takes a break to turn on the AC, because sweat is dripping on my keyboard* So I picked up the textbook, took a look at the upcoming lesson, and it all just clicked. I headed to my JTE's desk and found the new vocabulary cards for the lesson. I also picked up the "passports" the kids had made the previous week (the lesson covers taking a trip to London). I happened to have my own passport on me since I had to make photocopies (applying for a replacement Illinois license), and I always carry my inkan, or personal seal, and I took that as well to add a little something to the process I had in mind.

So I walked into class, briefly explained why the JTE wasn't there (in English for their practice, Japanese for mine), and started class. Warm-up questions, new words, reading practice, then finally acting out the dialog with me as the Passport Official (stamping with my seal of ワーィス, wa-isu), we ended with 5 minutes to spare. Not bad considering it was all a last minute operation.

So why the big deal? How about running my first class alone, using real lesson materials (not a silly game to waste time), having the kids mostly understand what was going on, and even getting them to laugh and kind of enjoy themselves, and not feel stressed by any part of it, from planning to finish. Wrapping up that class yesterday was the first moment since I've been here where I thought to myself, "I could be a teacher." You know, a real one, with my own subject specialty and a classroom of kids to call my own.

I've been thinking about why it all went so well. I'm not sure, but it might have to do with something a friend got me thinking about a few days ago. She had commented about how I seemed much more chilled out than the first days I was here, and I replied to the effect of, "yeah, I think I've started to find my rhythm." Putting that into a musical context, I'm sure we've all had the experience of listening to someone/watching someone dance without rhythm; it's painful. Now, check out somebody who can keep the beat, make the most of the music, and even improvise when needed, well, now you've got a great performance!

This is starting to sound like boasting; that is not my intention. I just want you to try to understand this little milestone I had 10 months into the JET Programme. Remember, it's not just about me teaching the kids English. It's also about the kids, the teachers, the parents and all the various aspects of Okinawa and its culture teaching me something about themselves, and even a little something about myself.

Coming up tomorrow: Harry Potter unsafe for kids?

Just...good!

I took my second attempt at the Japanese Driver's License practical test, the last step to complete the conversion from my Illinois license. I failed because, according to the proctor, I didn't turn my head enough when looking to my left and right when making turns. Seeing as it was a hot Friday, I had spent 8,000 yen and 6 hours just to take the test, I wasn't expecting to be in a good mood for a while.

Luckily, the fit of discontent passed well before I even started to head home. So with the rest of the day off, I spent some time taking care of little things that I often neglect, like putting away mail and organizing my closets, simple - yet simply overlooked - tasks, and I took a two hour break on one of the beaches of Higashi. It was nice to walk in the sand and swim in the water with no hurries, no sounds of heavy population. Though I did proceed to karate later that night, the encounter with nature (and the brief nap that followed) rejuvenated me for the night.

And things got fun on Saturday. Elina held a party at her place in celebration of her birthday and, as always, it was a great chance to hang out with some of the JETs in Okinawa I don't often see. The strangest thing about this fact, and I wonder to myself all the time, is why I don't make more of an effort to get my ass in gear and spend time with these people who I really like, who given the opportunity would most likely turn out to be some great friends? I'll have to think about this a little more, especially since one of my long-term goals for my time on the JET Programme is to never look back and think, "If only I'd..." Yep, ok, that's going on the white-board right now.

So the night passed well. I'll most likely avoid red wine for a while, because drinking it on a hot night didn't give me the best of feelings. Awamori (the local Okinawan alcohol) with ice and water makes a much more refreshing drink. Among other things, I found myself pondering my maternally-rooted (pun) hair loss, lying briefly and comfortably in the lap of a fellow JET, and meandering into the Sea of Japan at 2:00 in the morning, sans clothing, doing my best to make the sea phosphorescence glow with every quick flick of the feet or hands.

I slept really well, with a mixture of blanket and floor pillow to keep me warm (the A/C was running at this point). I woke with a pretty good hangover headache and I didn't want to move. But the desire to remain prone stemmed not from the headache so much (I had a migraine headache at the "Sea Experience" day a few weeks ago and I fought through it without meds for the kids' sake, so headaches don't hold so much sway on my ability to function). I don't know how to say this well...I was in a good position and didn't want to move; a really comfortable sort of thing. I know I'm not doing a decent job explaining this, sorry, but it was good.

Once everybody was up and at them, Chiye, Elina and I decided to test out the wireless capabilities of our Nintendo DS's. We started a grand-scale run of Mario Kart DS and it was really fun! I don't know what I'm going to do without a good match of racing for a while. Those of us remaining wrapped up the day with some sweet dishes at a local cafe/woodworking shop and a trip to the waterfall and shrine in Kijoka, Ogimi.

Today I only had one class (junior high school first graders) and it went really well. The kids were talkative and lively, and happily participated in the activity. I've got the 2nd and 3rd grades tomorrow, as well as kindergarten, and all the elementary classes will happen later this week. Sometimes, I catch myself worrying about my ability to get up in front of the kids and 1) teach them something useful and 2) keep it interesting for everybody, but I find that once the bell rings at the start of class, all those worries go away. It kind of lends some weight to the fact that I tend to think about things too much, when doing them would just solve most of the problem (that I've invariably built up in my head).

It's approaching one year on the JET Programme; I'm truly amazed at how quickly it went. So here's to not wasting time thinking about all the things I could do, but actually doing them. Here's to not wasting time thinking about all the fun people I could be seeing, but actually giving them a call and seeing them. Here's to not just letting time pass, but making it work for me...making it all really GOOD!

PS - It turns out my high school has listed me as a "Lost Alumnus." (Class of '98) It sounds kind of cool, doesn't it? I think so. But it really only means they don't have any (up-to-date) contact information on me.

New Glasses

I had been thinking about buying a new pair for a while. I decided to stay away from rimless glasses and go for something a little more substantial. I'm very happy with these.