guess who!

For my 9 classes of forty freshman, the latest lesson is describing people. For the game, students wrote a descriptions of others, I read them aloud, and we had to guess who. How fun! A few were great, “His head looks like a sea urchin with plump cheeks” , "Looks like Obama" (he's really an amazing asian rendition!) or “She walks like a pigeon” (though I didn’t use that one ha).

But most everyone else? Made the game impossible because they didn't describe clothes like I told them to. So what?
“Hair is black. He is small/medium. He is kind and quiet.”
In Japan, that narrows it down to, let’s see, twenty students. Since the other twenty are described the same way, with "she".

trick or treat(ment)

Although no one (spare a few weirdos, and/including foreigners) ever dresses up for Halloween, all the students know all about it and the phrase “Trick or Treat.” So I went around the school all day making them recite it and then revealing candy (I was thinking full out costume, but the entire school had a very serious human rights lecture, no need to look like a total idiot). For a day, I was the most popular kid in school! I went through about 12 various bags of candy I got, and by the end my mixture dwindled to two types, and they would reluctantly choose a piece and then comment to their friends. As I headed home, I tried one and instantly knew my message:

“Oh yes, treat! Here, enjoy this medicinal yet arguably tasty menthol throat lozenge! It's so popular in America! Happy Halloween!”

Yep, total idiot. No costume needed.

night lights

Here is just a few pictures from the previous night of the festival (described below, lines and all)… Basically every town holds a handful of festivals throughout the year, and people just walk around eating amazing Japanese greasy junk food and watching spectacles of sorts (dance troops, people carrying small shrines, etc). They were about 20 people dragging this cart of lanterns. And here is the lady (arguably) who made my takoyaki, or balls of batter with a little chunk of octopus inside and some other delicious things, then drizzled in sauce and mayo. Oh how the Japanese love their mayo!

camera karma

Excited with my new camera, I traveled to see a devil festival with some friends. Basically, mothers hold their children up, parading demons freak the children out, and everyone under the age of 5 is crying and terrified. “It builds character.” It’s also rather hilarious. At the end of the day, I looked for the first time at all my wonderful shots and I noticed every one had these crazy lines through them that won’t go away (look closely)! I was furious. And for the record, it seems Japan terrified of the pope...

I marched into the camera store and butchered an explanation while pointing at the striped photos on the screen. The chick behind the counter had yellow hair (Japanese hair does NOT bleach well), black circles around her eyes, and resembled a stripper who threw on a work polo. She took a photo, looked at it, and low and behold it was perfect. I tried to explain she owed me a new camera and a time machine to go back to the festival, but she just stared at me through her hideously plastic eyelashes. I didn’t quite understand her response, but it was something like, “That’s what you get for switching all our cameras to English.” Yes baby, I feel your pain. Oh Japan, how you hurt us so!

i'll just pull out this plug

Since my digital camera died lately, I went to the electronic store and was testing them all. Luckily, most are also made for export so English is an option (not the one I love, of course). As always, as I was fiddling around, trying to switch one battery cord into another, and I set off the screeching alarm that sent 3 employees running over to go through the cameras one by one. Needless to say, I backed into the passing onlookers. In stressful situations, my Japanese abilities disappear, so I soon scurried away. Won’t they be thrilled when they realize the stupid America turned the cameras all into English mode!

breaking fast

In most Japanese households, breakfast is a production, so mine too. As the rising sun (I wrote that without even thinking what this is the land of!) often bursts over me through the glass doors as my alarm goes off, I always get up early to prepare, relax, and enjoy my breakfast. Every morning is basically this:

1) Hot rice, egg, soy sauce

2) Miso soup (instant)

3) Fruit or Veggie

4) Coffee or Tea

When the rice is super hot, you can crack an egg into it and it turns into a semi-cooked mess. Oh, but Emi*, you'll get salmonella! The Japanese have it right because a) raw is how eggs should be and b) 1 in 30,000 eggs has salmonella (Dept of Agriculture study). Delicious!

and the winner is...

Most senior students quit their sport/club 8 months before graduation so that they can study for the college entrance exams. However in rugby, five amazing guys stuck around. Since they spoke the most English I could joke around with them. I love these kids. We sweat together everyday for months prepping for the five-round knock out tournament.

Round One. We dominate the entire game, but in the last play the other team scores. The kick is good. Tie game.

Both teams separate and the two captains walk into the middle of the field. The ref says a few words and reveals two identical envelopes. The other captain picks one, looks at the small slip of paper inside, and tries to contain himself. My captain draws the other, already knowing his fate, and fumbles the paper which flutters slowly into the dirt. Yep, just like his rugby career. Into the dirt.

Heartbreak. Tears. How does that saying go? May the best team not get screwed by the “you lose” envelope. Only in Japan.


Thank you for brightening my everyday.

Here's to my favorite five, and the happier times...