pictures

May these pictures begin to capture the bizarreness, beauty, and saturation of the enduring yet ever-changing culture of Japan.

Not explicitly captured in these pictures are my steep learning curves, confusions, realizations, isolations, assimilations, and well you know how it goes.

It's telling how I'd rather use my limited Japanese here, and as any competent speaker would say in the tradition of farewell speeches, かんどうしましたよ, or simply, "I was moved, no doubt."

With that, "Let's Enjoying Pictures!"

First Half
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2110727&l=3f80761e92&id=13303406

Second Half:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2110737&id=13303406&l=1de69b9800

blog ending? perhaps

So as all bad bloggers, I have inevitably given this thing up. Maybe I will come back and post about what came from studying the language, having a love/hate relationship with my job, and getting to know the locals. But I will probably just leave it to you to find time to chat sometime, or leave it to your imagination because that might be more interesting ha. Though I may end up posting a few things here so yours truly won't forget them, so we'll see if I can ever motivate myself to do that.

Regardless, everyone loves a good set of pictures. The digital camera has been a blessing and a curse. Imagine having about 385 pictures of cherry blossoms to sort through... realize cherry blossoms are cherished for being ethereal and oh so ephemeral, with each area peaking for only 3-6 days before a strong wind destroys them. Suffice it to say, I did a lot of sorting.

in (dis?)honor of the great

The Japanese teacher and I were just discussing the next lesson in the teachers room (where all the teachers sit). I asked if I could do a short intro on Michael, and then we both got up and practiced our best moonwalk. Although his was not the moonwalk at all, but him flailing backwards and dancing on his toes. Mine sadly wasn't much better. Next, we will try it in front of our 40 students...

musical choices

Every day I hear the Big Ben chimes about a dozen times, as every school in Japan uses that as their school bell (yes, it's rather long and slow at that).

The "hold" tone on the hospital line is "What Child is This" (yes, I'm no longer terrified of Japanese phone calls).

I went to a work drinking party at a banquet hall where no joke the entire three hours was Enya's "Sail Away" on repeat (yes, I love Enya!).

hibernation complete!

From December to March, the temperature barely falls below freezing, which isn’t anything to complain about. However, inside is comparable to igloos, if not colder due to the complete lack of insulation and central heating. Luckily, my walls aren’t paper thin (one of my friends in the countryside has interior walls of literally framed paper) but it seems pretty close. Like in summer when the window is open, I can hear my neighbors’ every sonorous testament to their lives- cooking, crying, flicking light switches. It’s my most intimate Japanese relationship, and I’ve never even met them! It would probably be quite awkward, if I ever do...

So anyways, I was too cheap to heat much, especially as warmth dissipated quickly. So I spent most of my time working late with students and then going home to lay prone with a mini heater on my face, under the electric blanket, and with my laptop. Needless to say, the novelty of living that Japanese lifestyle wore off fast.

obama

Japan loves Obama.

There’s a small coastal town in Japan called Obama. November 4th is now an annual holiday there, and a statue of Obama is going up in front of the city hall. Not to mention the rice sweets with his face, or that song “Obama is Beautiful World” (it pretty much sums up Japan’s sentiments and knowledge surrounding Obama, probably worth the youtube).

Of course my kids love him too. The chalkboard in the back of the rooms is usually full of the scribbles in Japanese, anime drawings, and a few random things in English (including the occasional SEX or the like). This week, they’re all chalking Obama-isms. I missed this photo opp, but here was my favorite:

“Yes we can.”
“No you can’t.”
“Yes, we did.”

Here’s the new school inspiration which appeared in the halls one day (the Japanese is the translation, and that large character is just says the name of the school)

taro aso

Here’s a Taro Aso (Current Prime Minister) classic:

"[Japan should attract] rich Jews to help solve the country's problems of repeated economic recession and dwindling population. This might be arbitrary and biased, but I think the best country is one in which rich Jews feel like living."