Home time!

I'm back in America for a couple of weeks, so I'll have to try to catch up on a lot of Japan stuff in January. For now, I'm spending all my time with family and friends~! I missed everyone so much!

Tonight I'm spending the night at my best friend Diana's house. Here she is with her husband and baby. I'm very happy that the baby Leena LOVES me even though I haven't been around during her first year of life. Aunty Steffie will come back...... sooner or later.

Hofu Flea Market 2

It is strange to be at the point where I've already written about these things before. I never thought that I would re-contract...I thought I'd be home to America by now. But here I am. A year has gone by since last year's annual flea market.

Wonder if there will be a third flea market to write about...

So this picture is suppose to be at the very bottom, but that means that I needed to upload it first, and I forgot. I can't drag it down. Blogspot annoys me more than sporadically.

So pretend this is on the bottom. After finishing going around the flea market, we went to see a live production of Carmen. It was really difficult for me to understand. I don't speak French, and the Japanese was hard and fast! But it was fun to watch. I will continue to watch Japanese movies and such without subtitles, because it's the best way to practice!

Hello Mr. Policeperson Pufferfish! Or is it blowfish? Whichever it is, in Japanese, its Fugu. And it's my prefecture's specialty cuisine.

This year, Chris came down from Shimonoseki, which is great. There is Christina and Yoko. Yoko is a good friend. She is a T.V. maniac just like myself. Her favorite television show is "The 4400" and she knows about all shows! Shows that any given Japanese person has never heard of. We are currently watching "The Event" together.

You can see all the people in the Shotengai (covered shopping area). It's nice to see it busy, because more than 50% of the shop spaces in the Shotengai are vacant. The economy is really struggling around our area.

More fast cars! I like last year's better.

Desktop cleanup again :)

So today is basically 5 planned posts, but only using one of two pictures from each, and not bothering to write too much. Because these things are from so long ago!! Not that I didn't love them, but I can't be blogging about stuff that happened like half a century ago! :D Anyways, enjoy the pictures. This is my life. :)

Summer Sonic was really really amazing. I went with my friend Jessica. We are both crazy about Coheed and Cambria, which is who we went to see. And we both ended up liking Slash a bunch more. Claudio from Coheed was in, like a bad mood that day. He cut songs in half and was just a grumpy fellow.

I can't wait for the next music festival that rolls around! But music festivals make me miss my best friend Diana. hmmmmm. Gone are the days of us rocking out all night long. :D
This was just an amazing sunset that I noticed from the teachers room of one of my schools. Amazing.

This is forever ago. I got my hair cut in a bar, in front of dozens and dozens of people. It is pretty scary when the hair and make-up guy looks just as surprised as you!

He gave me a mullet.

More Choruru! I still love Choruru!!!

see last years post: here.

This was a nice day....all of my Japanese class went to a Coto concert. Coto is a traditional Japanese instrument.

I am glad that my Japanese class is all so friendly, and that we do lots of cultural things, and have meet-ups outside of class, and such. It's nice because I can't speak English, so it forces me to practice. :)

It was my first time hearing traditional Coto playing.

And that is all for now. Happy December! Going home in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!! :)

Crepes and Tacos

A little while ago we had "Crepe" night at the church. It was really fun! Crepe Night even inspired Christina to buy a crepe making machine, which has provided me with lots of good home cooked meals when she makes too much :)

I always thought of crepes as sweet things, and I don't like sweet things. But apparently you can make savory crepes! Nice combination over here to the right, eh? :)

Crepe Night also inspired Taco Night! Taco night was sorta led by me.

I never thought we'd be able to go through 72 taco shells, and all the Doritos that the store had in stock (yes, people looked at me very strangely when I swept all the Doritos into my basket).

A great couple of nights that we had! You can always count on church for great refreshments.

Also for great Japanese practice.

Anyways, sorry in general about not keeping up with my blogging. I am busier than I've ever been (in Japan...don't even get me started on those Hollywood Video/Blockbuster days) :D I'll try to update more!

Burritos

I introduced Mexican food, or my version, to one of my schools. My English club was 4 girls, but 40 people showed up to this English club! Lucky I bought A LOT hoping this would be the case........

But I couldn't teach them how to really FILL a burrito! Japanese people are so dainty :) Every single person said it was the first time they've ever eaten a tortilla or guacamole, not to mention a burrito!

Anpanman

This is one of Japan's most famous characters. Anpanman.

He is a super hero with a head made out of bread. He goes around feeding the hungry with his head. He feeds his head to people. And a helper of his helps bake him new heads whenever he needs. I see him everywhere.

Although come to think of it, I didn't see anyone dressed as Anpanman at my Halloween parties last night. I'm sure lots of kids are him today at their English School parties. Happy Halloween!

By the way "Pan" is bread. So he's Breadman.

lol Japan. :D

Lights

Here are the lights leading up to Hofu's main shrine during a special festival in August.

I was glancing at my blog about it from last year, and I found it amusing that I went to Nights 1 and 3 of the three day festival last year. And this year I only made it to the 2nd night. Guess I should go for all or none next year, to keep it even. :D

Here's the link to last year's blog if you are interested. Click.

Sep. 20th

Cool video below! Unfortunately I have no idea what this festival was for. It was in a neighboring city (Tokuyama). A friend just said "there's something or another going on at our shrine" and I went. And it was nice. But no education for ya'll on this one. (hehehe. Sorry.)

(later edit---"OH I do know that September 20th was 'Respect for the Aged' day.....so it probably has something to do with that!")

Tokyo

Look everyone !!! It's MY building!! (the katakana there reads- *biru or *building....which I often confuse with *bi-ru or beer)

This is just a short post to say that I miss doing things outside of this little prefecture. :) I think my Tokyo trip was my last time out of the prefecture, around early August.

Masato was here in Japan on a business trip, so I got to meet up with him.

Christina and I got to Tokyo via Night-bus from Universal Studios in Japan, to Shinjuku station. How many times I will forget that night buses are actually little pieces of hell with wheels...I do not know.

We stayed with the beautiful Yumi who was up there for school. It was a fun relaxing trip, just to meet up with friends, and play play play.

I've never even been to Tokyo Tower, even though by now, I've been to Tokyo a half a dozen times... shame on me. But it was fun!

Anyways, now that my holiday visit Narita to LAX plane ticket is all squared away, I hope to enthrall you all with details of my next journey. Did anyone say _________ [insert destination not-yet-decided]?

Lakeside Fun

Yamaguchi, Japan. Sometimes, you just feel like jumping in.

Photo by: Michael Leung

blah. No really, Blah!

Learn about Natto: click

So happens to everyone once, right? You know, when you see the Japanese on a menu, and you think you understand it? 納豆 means Tofu, right? Well actually, no. Nice try. 豆腐 means Tofu. You let that simpler Kanji for bean: 豆 (mame) get in the way, didn't you?

Well, if it hasn't happened to you yet, below is a pictorial illustration of the results of thinking you know stuff-- that you don't know....

Bunkasai Season

So, Bunkasai season is just about over. Bunkasai is a Japanese cultural festival, and every school has one each year. You can read more about it if you would like: here.

Each homeroom class (usually 40 students) is in charge of one activity. Sometimes it's selling "American Dogs" (strange hot dog on a stick). Sometimes it's making a movie. Sometimes it's creating a game. Parents, friends,... anyone is welcome to the school that day, and there are many crazy festivities!

Left--My co-teacher dressed as a student for a dance. Each class sings, dances, does a drama and the like, in addition to decorating their homeroom classes and executing their activity.

I have been to more bunkasai's than I can count! Usually a bunkasai lasts for 2 days, and I have 4 schools.... Also I have been to other ALTs Bunkasai's. They're fun! Good bonding experience, bunkasai'ing it up with someone. :)

This one was really cool! The kids changed their homeroom class into a giant giant maze!

Bunkasai's are pretty crazy. It's the only time that the kids can really let out and be rambunctious. I don't think I've been to one bunkasai without a great deal of cross-dressing. Japanese boys love to dress up in school-girl uniforms at their bunkasai's! It's just really odd to me, but what's not to love??

Below: Kids performing Thriller. Every bunkasai has a Thriller moment... :D

Sad Tuesday nights

Sometimes life doesn't always go the way we want it to. But the sun always sets on despair.

"Of course you're gonna get your heart broken. And it isn't just gonna happen once, but a lot. That's just part of growing up, and it makes you stronger. Then you can handle it better the next time. You may not get through it yourself, but your friends will help you through it. And you'll be a stronger person because of it. Then, one day, someone will come along, and it'll all pay off, and no one will ever break your heart again."

I will always be your friend!

Sports Day

Hey Ya'll. I hear its Columbus Day over there! Happy day off for most of you!

Over here, its "Sports Day".

This picture is from my school's Sports Day a few weeks ago. Today, I'm not sure exactly how Japanese celebrate the official "Sports Day". Probably like Columbus Day. Just a nice Monday off.

At my school's Sports Day, I managed to get in on a game of volleyball. Before I managed that, it was TORTURE to be able to watch and not play. I'm so happy that I whined enough to get in on one game. :)

All the girls had to choose between volleyball and dodgeball, and all the boys had to choose between soccer and basketball. It was mildly annoying, thinking about the sexism of that. But I guess America has boys teams and girls teams too. And probably most of the girls wouldn't want to play basketball. But what about the ones that do?????

One of the reasons that it was such torture is because......man, they just could not play. There were only 2 teams out of about 10 for volleyball that even seemed to try. Americans are definitely more competitive. I've never seen a volleyball game with such little movement, volley action, or noise.

Can't wait to play volleyball myself again! I'll be playing with church people later this month...and let me tell you.... Mormons really know about being awesomely competitive!!!! :)

Happy Sports Day everyone!

Obon

On August 16th, there was a ceremony up at the river. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but heard there would be a lot of lights.

August 16th, was the end of Obon, a short time in Japan where people's ancestors visit them. For three days people celebrate their ancestors ghosts with their family. You can read about it here: click .

This ceremony took place at dusk, and is celebrated as a way to send ancestral ghosts away again. I heard lots of prayer and chanting before hundreds of people sent the spirits of their loved ones away, in a lantern, down the river.

It was quite beautiful.

Here's a short video:

Queen

Queen. Yes. The band. They are only #7 of the world’s all-time best selling artists. Behind the likes of Elvis, ABBA and Madonna!

Only #7? Eighteen number one albums, they have! True rock spirit, they sport! We’ll see in the long run if ABBA stays up there……grumble grumble…. I digress.

What I really want to talk about herein a way to improve your work and personal relationships tenfold. I’m sure most of you have done karaoke here. But have all of you done Karaoke with Queen?! If you have any problems with your JTE, get in a karaoke room with them, and put in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It works every time.

You see, many popular Queen songs actually ignite a chemical reaction in the brain. Queen’s first album, released in 1973 was a bit of a flop. Luckily enough the band kept trekking, and finally met up with a super secret rock scientist.

This scientist knew that all chemical reactions are accompanied by a change in energy. I won’t get into the science of it all here, but Queen songs were actually designed to cause a sudden output of energy as soon as the chemical reaction was initiated. The numerical stimulus for this reaction does vary. For example the cipher that this scientist designated to popular karaoke joint “Maneki Neko” happens to be “56642”. Besides locating the right code for a positive output in energy, you also must introduce a special substance. Of course, this substance is readily available even in countryside Japan: Alcohol.

I’ve heard many stories of new relationships forged over a “We are the Champions”, “We Will Rock You” and “Somebody to Love”. “Bohemian Rhapsody” has saved my relationship with three different teachers. Not to mention that approximately 100% of my Japanese friendships were forged in a karaoke room last February. And those friendships weren’t forged over ABBA.

So if you are feeling lonely, you might even try going to a karaoke place alone and screeching out a Queen song of your choice, with the door open, and see who floods in.

P.S. Queen, Led Zepplin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, The Police, The Who… What do they all have in common?

-Hofu's resident wannabe Brit

Cookroaches

Here is my FAVORITE essay response ever:

"One day, when I was cooking a lunch, tragedy attacked me. Don’t appear big and brack something is coming out of refrigerator. I was struck dumb with astonishment. Brack that as cookroach. Battle was started with that then. My right hand have a newspaper and my left hand have insecticide. I was spraying at the enemy. But the enemy run under the refrigerator again. One story if you find that one, then, there are 20-30 cookroachs in the house can not be seen. May be my house is dominated by cookroachs. I can’t sleep every night that I was very horrible. " -Junior in High School Level (Japanese Student)

Pepsi

Me and Yumi pose with Pepsi-Baobab flavor!

Not sure if I've blogged about the dozens and dozens of kinds of Kit-kat flavors here, but I had no idea that other mainstream products get Japanese'fied/diversified! I remember Pepsi- Iced Cucumber from when I got here, but sort of forgot about it.

When I saw this bottle, I had to buy it! And I didn't like it. BUT I was telling myself not to like it, because good 'ole regular Pepsi is my paradigm. But, I think that if it was given to me in a plain cup, I would have enjoyed it very much!

Be sure to click on the article above, its pretty interesting, if you are into that kind of stuff. :D

Trust

(+1) for Japan! There is a high amount of trust here, and for good reason. Crime is low. People just generally don't steal (although there IS some question to what's going on with Christina's camera).

This is a picture of my school hallway. Everyone was in the gym for some 30 minute assembly on the importance of not using a cell-phone in school. I was just baffled by seeing everyone's personal belongings-valuables included, strewn about the hallway. I used to laugh with others about Canadians not locking their doors. Now, I have turned Canadian/Japanese. I only lock my door if I'll be out all day.

I mean, if I ever had anything stolen, it would be the story of the century. I almost invite people to steal my stuff. I've leave my belongings in my unlocked bike when I go on a quick shopping spree. I could go on. But, I'll just leave it at: Japan is cool. ...Well, rural Japan is cool. (I don't even want to think about my stolen money in Tokyo!)

Lock your doors people! Or move here.

USJ

Last month I went to Universal Studios Japan with Christina!

It was hecka fun, like amusement parks are suppose to be. Not much to say about that, except that super scary roller coasters are only really fun the first time around. The second time is just a let-down!

But one thing I do want to say is that I enjoyed USJ (in Osaka) a lot more than I enjoyed Tokyo Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland was exactly like California Disneyland. Nothing was translated into Japanese. The electric parade was still 80% English, and I just don't get that! How are little Japanese children suppose to enjoy songs that they can't understand! USJ on the other hand was totally geared toward Japanese people, which I find better for the majority of people that go. Perhaps I couldn't understand the Terminator show as well as I ought to have, BUT I would be much more dissapointed if it was everyone around me who didn't get it. ...

Best thing about stepping onto Universal Grounds....... Trash cans!! Japan is notorious for not having trash cans AnYwHeRe in public areas! I always have to carry all my trash around with me all day until I get home. Thank you Mr. Green trash can.

Omiyage

This is Omiyage! There are many different types of omiyage (souvenirs), but in Japan, Omiyage nowadays specifically refers to regional sweets. There are 47 prefectures in Japan, and each prefecture has its own specialty omiyage.

Whenever anyone goes on a trip in Japan, it is customary to bring back omiyage for their co-workers. This works out great for me, because with so many teachers, there are many chances to grab some!

The tradition, I hear, started in Japan a long time ago when travel was very difficult. Often times there would be a standout student or citizen of a village. The Japanese people knew that it was important to send this smarty out into the world to learn more. So villages would pull their resources together, for years sometimes, to save up enough to send their person from, lets say Yamaguchi, to lets say Hokkaido.

Because so much time, money and effort goes into this trip, the traveller needed to bring back something from their destination to prove that they actually went. That they made it, and didn't get sidetracked in Kyoto with some geishas or what have you. Or so I've heard.

I rarely eat breakfast, so I am always excited to see what kind of omiyage is on the special omiyage table each morning. :D Well, usually Mondays. Monday morning or the morning after a holiday, I can expect lots of sweet bean paste sweets.

BTW, when I brought back tortilla chips and salsa, and Sour belts from my America Christmas trip last year---THAT was the best omiyage ever. Japanese teachers treat eating sour belts like eating grenades; they are so scared.

Firefly Festival

Perhaps you will forgive me......but this is from MAY 29th!!!!

I don't want to just throw out this blog that has been patiently waiting in its queue. A blog opportunity is a blog opportunity, no matter how old it is.

Or maybe not.

So what was this firefly festival again? Oh, yeah. In Yamaguchi city, there is a cute little area. A walkway along a darling river. The river bank fills up with fireflies around this time of year. Before coming to Japan, I have (to my knowledge) never seen a firefly. So it was a nice night, to say the least.

It is appropriate, but by no means mandatory to dress in Yukata for any summer festival. Yumi here (left) was so amazing, and took us to her aunt's house, who is a CYP. "Certified yukata person" (hehe). Yep, thats the best I could come up with. :) But she is a professional, so she dressed us up in 2 of Yumi's yukatas. The belt is called an Obi. You may know the word "Kimono", but Kimono's are even more complex, and are only for the winter. Summer-yukata, Winter-kimono.

The friendship bond between Christina and I was solidified this night! Friends that dress in yukata together, stay together. :D

BTW, Yumi is the most awesome person in the world, and insisted that we both keep the yukata's that we were suppose to just be borrowing.

Good Times in Korea

South Korea is, simply put, heaven on Earth! :D

Interesting people walking down the street...

Christina and I enjoyed street stall dinner for about $2.00, for the both of us! It was so delicious.

We made friends at the hostel we were staying at! It was my first time ever staying in a dormitory style hostel, and it was clean, cheap and fun! Most of the other hostel-goers were European, and could speak 5-8 languages. And I learned that Luxembourg is a COUNTRY, not a city. Yes, I smacked myself, don't worry!

The girls went clubbing, shopping, eating, and just enjoyed the wonderfulness that is Korea. :D

Need a vacation spot? Seoul is the answer! And try to fly Korean air. You might get bumped to first class like Christina and I did!