This week I went down to Ishinomaki, a small town about an hour from Sendai City. This town and the ones next to it were greatly effected by the Huge 9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami that hit Japan last year.
Upon arriving in Sendai at the ferry port, there wasn't much damage to be seen, but there was differently a lot of new street lights and buildings. It was plain to see that the area had been just recently redone. Sendai city was like wise a normal city without much damage to be seen. If you went there now it would be hard to image the destruction it was in just a year ago. Likewise the town center of Ishinomaki didn't seem that bad. However after arriving at our volunteer group's house the destruction was plain. Every building around the area was broken apart in some way or another. There was debris and dirt flying everywhere. It was extremely drastic the difference between the city center of Sendai and Ishinomaki, and the area closer to the sea.
On the first night after arrival, I walked around the area and out to the beach. It was very hard to look at and process. There was so much destruction, and it felt weird like a ghost town. The schools were probably the hardest to look at. One school in the area had burned down even. It left me feeling very sad. They were also many car lots with tons of cars that looked WAY beyond repair. Apparently they have to stay there and take up land space because of insurance reason, however since a lot of the cars owners are dead its just become a huge problem. This is when rules really should be changed I think, but its hard to change them.
The next day me and my friends were sent out to a small cape town called Minami Sanriku. This town being very close to the ocean was one of the worst hit areas. It was very hard to drive though the town and see nothing but rubble and some combinis, (which by the way seem to have been the first things built after the earthquake). But even these conbini buildings where built out of temporary materials. In this area there was even a train track that led to nowhere, and a car on top of a building. It was one of the hardest things to look at and my heart sank.
However, when I got to the site where me and my friends would be helping out everything changed. We ended up building four green houses in three days, with a couple of local people. These local people were so nice, and open. But not only that they were all elder people, some of which had lot sons or daughter or other family members in the earthquake. It was wonderful talking to them, and hearing anything and everything they had to say. They shared the hard work with us, and we all laughed when they had an easier time of it then us younger volunteers. They also cooked us lunch everyday as a way to say thank you for all the help.
One of the ladies we meet there even told us about how she had lost a daughter of 23 years to the Tsunami and about how painful it was. How she had a hard time with the loss and still things about it today. She told us about how painful and empty her heart felt. But that she is getting better slowly. She know does tea and flower arranging classes for those still in temporary housing or for older people. When the people take joy in creating and commented on how beautiful the flower are she said that it gives her heart joy, that by creating beauty and giving it to others, the same beauty is returned to her heart. This story really touched me.
But besides enjoying the time spent with my working team, it was also very hard and very fun to build green houses. I had no idea how much work it would be to build a green house, but it was differently more than I excepted. I am pretty sure now that I could build one on my own....not that I would want too. They local people will use the green houses to plant many different kinds of vegetables so that they can help feed people that still need the extra help. I am very grateful that I got to be apart of this. I hope that the green houses will be around for a long time and enjoyed by many.
It was though this creating and building and talking with the local people that I saw so much hope. The destruction around them didn't seem to effect them, instead everybody was forced on building and looking toward the future. The courage and commitment of everybody in the effected areas was just amazing and I really wished I had had the courage to go down earlier.
Now that I am home and thinking back on the last couple of days my heart is still torn. On one hand I am glad thinking about all the good memories and the incredible people that I meet and on the other hand when thinking about all that needs to be done still I feel lost. So many people are still leaving in temporary housing, and so many people are without jobs, yet everybody that I meet was friendly and nice and welcomed as with a smile and a hello.
NOW for the part where I bug you guys a bit. I know that many of you don't have any money but if you have anything to spare please send some money or come down and help out the many volunteer groups still working to clean up the area. The group I worked with was called It's Not Just Mud. They have many ongoing projects that could really use the extra support. Recently besides the green houses, they have also just completed two different playground sets in the areas still effected, and they go out and talk to and play with the people in the temporary houses. They are also doing many other types of projects including helping people to rebuild homes. Please look on there website for more information. AND SUPPORT!!! http://itsnotjustmud.com/
( I hope to get some pictures up here soon, but since I didn't take my camera I have to wait on my friends to upload the pictures first...than I can take them and post some here...please look back soon for them).
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Living in the North
For those of you that don't know, I live in Hokkaido Japan. It's the most northern island of Japan. It is also close to Russia and its in the North, so it can get quite cold. So, in true Japanese style there are a TON of winter festivals.
My town's winter festival involves running outside in Japanese traditional underwear and throwing hotspring water everywhere, and playing horse to try and win. The losing team has to carry the penis float around.
A favorite of mine, and most world known is of course the Sapporo Snow Festival. Every year they build HUGE statues of snow, light them up at night and people from all over come to see them.
Then there is the Otaru candle light festival, which was really pretty. They even light up the famous Otaru canal.
There is also smaller festivals like Sunukyo, in which they make a lighted up ice castle of sorts that you can climb around in. And in Monbetsu you can go out to see the ice glaciers as they come from Russia.
So although living in Hokkaido is SUPER cold....the winter also has some of the best festivals around.
My town's winter festival involves running outside in Japanese traditional underwear and throwing hotspring water everywhere, and playing horse to try and win. The losing team has to carry the penis float around.
A favorite of mine, and most world known is of course the Sapporo Snow Festival. Every year they build HUGE statues of snow, light them up at night and people from all over come to see them.
Then there is the Otaru candle light festival, which was really pretty. They even light up the famous Otaru canal.
There is also smaller festivals like Sunukyo, in which they make a lighted up ice castle of sorts that you can climb around in. And in Monbetsu you can go out to see the ice glaciers as they come from Russia.
So although living in Hokkaido is SUPER cold....the winter also has some of the best festivals around.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Kyushoku
Kyushoku is the Japanese word for School Lunch. Every day I am feed a well balanced lunch, though sometimes it can be a bit heavy on the carbs. Each school lunch contains anywhere from 600 - 750 calories. So, it can be pretty calorific. However....its SO much better than what the kids in the states eat. Not only that, but often times when I don't want to eat something on my plate the kids usually tell me that I have to eat it weather I like it or not. Also although kids have a difficultly when I ask them what kind of snack they like, they can always answer what kind of fruit they like. I think our kids could learn something from them.
Anyways, this is a week of Kyushoku. It changes every week so its never quite the same. But Mon, Wes, Fri tend to be rice days. Tues, and Thurs tend to be noodles or bread.
MONDAY:
"Rice, a form of seaweed, and kimichi pork soup"
TUESDAY:
"Udon Pork soup, strawberry yogurt and a meat/potato filled coroke ball."
WEDNESDAY:
"Udon, Rice, Hijiki"
THURSDAY:
"Spaghetti, Bread, custard pudding"
FRIDAY:
"Rice, Chinese soup, and gyoza"
Anyways, this is a week of Kyushoku. It changes every week so its never quite the same. But Mon, Wes, Fri tend to be rice days. Tues, and Thurs tend to be noodles or bread.
MONDAY:
"Rice, a form of seaweed, and kimichi pork soup"
TUESDAY:
"Udon Pork soup, strawberry yogurt and a meat/potato filled coroke ball."
WEDNESDAY:
"Udon, Rice, Hijiki"
THURSDAY:
"Spaghetti, Bread, custard pudding"
FRIDAY:
"Rice, Chinese soup, and gyoza"
Monday, January 2, 2012
お正月- Ringin' in the New Year
This year I celebrated the New Year with a Japanese family. It was quite the experience!!
Japanese New Year = a lot of eating. There is a lot of traditional foods that must be consumed. These are referred to as Osechi. Osechi is a lot of different kinds of food, that are a bit sweet tasting. Such things like mashed sweet chestnuts mixed with sweet potato (BEST THING EVER!), black beans, a mix of veggies in a sweetened sauce...ect. At midnight you have to eat a New Years soba dish. In the morning you have to eat a special New Year mochi usually served in a miso soup broth.
After New Year's eve dinner, the family sits down together to watch a lot of TV. There is a TV show called Kohaku which is a singing competition between singers split into Red or White teams. The singers are from all over the singing categories, pop and enka ect. There is also tributes to people or events that happened during 2012 though-out the show. It's the most popular TV show on New Years.
New Year's is also a time for family together, and for one to visit as many family members as possible. At each persons house you end up eating something or drinking something. The next day the families will often go to the local shrine and pray for good luck in the New Year.
Than for the kids and other people that you want to give one to, there is otoshidama. Otoshidama is a money gift. It's usually at least 5000 yen per gift. So, I am sure it can get very expensive if you have a lot of people to give it too.
One must also send out New Year Cards. But unlike in the states where you send Christmas cards to family and close friends, in Japan you send it to anyone that you have worked with in the last two years, friends, family and anybody that helps you out a lot. My friend here sent out about 70 cards this year. Each card also has to include a personal message.
On the second of January everybody goes shopping. There is great deals at all department stores (30 - 50% off). There is also a discount bag that you can buy at most stores called a fukubukuro. You have no idea whats in the bag, so its really hit and miss, but its kind of fun to find out what you got.
Japanese New Year = a lot of eating. There is a lot of traditional foods that must be consumed. These are referred to as Osechi. Osechi is a lot of different kinds of food, that are a bit sweet tasting. Such things like mashed sweet chestnuts mixed with sweet potato (BEST THING EVER!), black beans, a mix of veggies in a sweetened sauce...ect. At midnight you have to eat a New Years soba dish. In the morning you have to eat a special New Year mochi usually served in a miso soup broth.
After New Year's eve dinner, the family sits down together to watch a lot of TV. There is a TV show called Kohaku which is a singing competition between singers split into Red or White teams. The singers are from all over the singing categories, pop and enka ect. There is also tributes to people or events that happened during 2012 though-out the show. It's the most popular TV show on New Years.
New Year's is also a time for family together, and for one to visit as many family members as possible. At each persons house you end up eating something or drinking something. The next day the families will often go to the local shrine and pray for good luck in the New Year.
Than for the kids and other people that you want to give one to, there is otoshidama. Otoshidama is a money gift. It's usually at least 5000 yen per gift. So, I am sure it can get very expensive if you have a lot of people to give it too.
One must also send out New Year Cards. But unlike in the states where you send Christmas cards to family and close friends, in Japan you send it to anyone that you have worked with in the last two years, friends, family and anybody that helps you out a lot. My friend here sent out about 70 cards this year. Each card also has to include a personal message.
On the second of January everybody goes shopping. There is great deals at all department stores (30 - 50% off). There is also a discount bag that you can buy at most stores called a fukubukuro. You have no idea whats in the bag, so its really hit and miss, but its kind of fun to find out what you got.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Baking in Japan
Ah the Holiday season is upon us all. And that means its time for baking.
In Japan, its often hard to find the right ingredients for all those baking recipes from home. So its tends to be a lot of experimenting. :)
This Holiday season I have been baking like crazy. First I made apple spice cookies for a Christmas party I went to. Luckily I didn't need to replace any of the ingredients for this one. Though I did use less sugar, and didn't add the sugar topping..because Japanese people don't really like super sweet things.
Than after that I also baked Gingerbread cookies. The gingerbread cookies taste a bit different, but they seem to be OK. I had to replace the Molasses, which I couldn't find which a product that looked like it would fit called kuromisu (black honey). It seems to have done the job.
Hopefully, I will be able to make fudge next, but it sounds like it might be difficult as I cannot seem to find evaporated milk. I hear that I can use unsweetened condensed milk, but I am not sure. Anybody??
Anyways Happy Holidays!!
In Japan, its often hard to find the right ingredients for all those baking recipes from home. So its tends to be a lot of experimenting. :)
This Holiday season I have been baking like crazy. First I made apple spice cookies for a Christmas party I went to. Luckily I didn't need to replace any of the ingredients for this one. Though I did use less sugar, and didn't add the sugar topping..because Japanese people don't really like super sweet things.
Than after that I also baked Gingerbread cookies. The gingerbread cookies taste a bit different, but they seem to be OK. I had to replace the Molasses, which I couldn't find which a product that looked like it would fit called kuromisu (black honey). It seems to have done the job.
Hopefully, I will be able to make fudge next, but it sounds like it might be difficult as I cannot seem to find evaporated milk. I hear that I can use unsweetened condensed milk, but I am not sure. Anybody??
Anyways Happy Holidays!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Fuji: The climb of a life time
This weekend I climbed Fuji. It was exhausting, and totally worth it.
Seeing the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji is differently something I will never forget. It was all a once an wow nature is amazing, I love the world and at the same time terrifying. Suddenly I seemed very small, and the world just seemed like it was too much. But Fuji is differently something I will never forget.
The hike up is over tons of huge rocks, and if you want to bypass the TONS of group tourists its best to go over the really big ones and skip ahead in the lines. This resulted in me bagging every part of my body everywhere. Also, by the time you reach the top your legs are killing you. But again, WORTH IT!
Hiking down was also difficult. It was more like sliding than actually walking. The ash and gravel from the mountain results in sliding and dust/ash blowing everywhere. Needless to say by the end of the hike I looked like I had taken a dusty bath. Everything felt gross, and my legs where gone.
But again, BEST thing every and something I think everybody should do once. You don't even have to do Fuji, just climb a HUGE mountain at night and watch the sunrise. Best thing you will ever do.
Small video: http://www.youtube.com/user/skateanime?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/YwfMMdDCzd4
Seeing the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji is differently something I will never forget. It was all a once an wow nature is amazing, I love the world and at the same time terrifying. Suddenly I seemed very small, and the world just seemed like it was too much. But Fuji is differently something I will never forget.
The hike up is over tons of huge rocks, and if you want to bypass the TONS of group tourists its best to go over the really big ones and skip ahead in the lines. This resulted in me bagging every part of my body everywhere. Also, by the time you reach the top your legs are killing you. But again, WORTH IT!
Hiking down was also difficult. It was more like sliding than actually walking. The ash and gravel from the mountain results in sliding and dust/ash blowing everywhere. Needless to say by the end of the hike I looked like I had taken a dusty bath. Everything felt gross, and my legs where gone.
But again, BEST thing every and something I think everybody should do once. You don't even have to do Fuji, just climb a HUGE mountain at night and watch the sunrise. Best thing you will ever do.
Small video: http://www.youtube.com/user/skateanime?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/YwfMMdDCzd4
Monday, June 13, 2011
Japanese Baseball
This weekend I went to my first Japanese baseball game. The atmosphere was very different from an American game. But in the end baseball is baseball. So on to the differences.
1) First off there was two cheering sections, one for the home team and one for the opposing team. Really only these two sections cheered, everybody else at the game did a bit of "you can do it!" shouting and calling out players name when they were batting. There was no cat calling or anything. The crowd really only seemed to cheers using these plastic tubes that they bang together.
2) There was cheerleaders, and they looked like they were 12 from our seats.
3) At the 7th inning stretch everybody in the crowd blew up a blue balloon and let it fly. They do this only if the home team is winning.
4) At the end of the game because the Fighters (home team) were winning they let fly white balloons.
5) The mascots weren't there, I think. There was a chick and a fox, but I thought the Fighters was B & B which is neither of those. Confusing.
But it was differently an experience.
1) First off there was two cheering sections, one for the home team and one for the opposing team. Really only these two sections cheered, everybody else at the game did a bit of "you can do it!" shouting and calling out players name when they were batting. There was no cat calling or anything. The crowd really only seemed to cheers using these plastic tubes that they bang together.
2) There was cheerleaders, and they looked like they were 12 from our seats.
3) At the 7th inning stretch everybody in the crowd blew up a blue balloon and let it fly. They do this only if the home team is winning.
4) At the end of the game because the Fighters (home team) were winning they let fly white balloons.
5) The mascots weren't there, I think. There was a chick and a fox, but I thought the Fighters was B & B which is neither of those. Confusing.
But it was differently an experience.
Monday, May 23, 2011
JUNGLE BOOK !
Hello,
So the ALT's in Hokkaido do a musical performance every year. It's been going on for quite a while and is supposed to be a way to show the kids that English can be fun.
It's also great for internationalizing.
This years production was the Jungle Book, complete with Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, wolves, Mowgli and other favorite characters. They ALT's also got the kids from the audience to dance with them on stage, making it fun for all ages.
If you live in Hokkaido, and can stop by to see the show please do so. It's wonderfully done and all profits go to the Red Cross to help victims of the Earthquake.
MAY 28th - Takinoue 5pm
June 4th - Kutchan 5pm
So the ALT's in Hokkaido do a musical performance every year. It's been going on for quite a while and is supposed to be a way to show the kids that English can be fun.
It's also great for internationalizing.
This years production was the Jungle Book, complete with Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, wolves, Mowgli and other favorite characters. They ALT's also got the kids from the audience to dance with them on stage, making it fun for all ages.
If you live in Hokkaido, and can stop by to see the show please do so. It's wonderfully done and all profits go to the Red Cross to help victims of the Earthquake.
MAY 28th - Takinoue 5pm
June 4th - Kutchan 5pm
Monday, March 28, 2011
Old Toys Theatre
Last weekend I was fortune enough to see a children's theatre performance with my Japanese family. The show was very cute, and introduced a Japanese folk tale about the zodiac and old Japanese toys. It was a very engaging performance.
The toys they forced on was Kendama. Kendama is a ball and stick game were the object is to get the ball onto the stick. Another one was a Koma. Koma is the Japanese form of a spinning top, but instead of spinning it with your finger you have to whine it up with a string and than let it fly. Just getting the string to whine properly was difficult, getting it to spin was a whole other story. They also did lots of juggling tricks. After that they introduced a batabata, which is a line of picture boards that have two sides to them and make a banging sound as you change them to the other side. Its really cute.
After the show we all got to play with the Japanese toys. Surprisingly they were a lot harder than they looked. I kind of want some of them now.
The toys they forced on was Kendama. Kendama is a ball and stick game were the object is to get the ball onto the stick. Another one was a Koma. Koma is the Japanese form of a spinning top, but instead of spinning it with your finger you have to whine it up with a string and than let it fly. Just getting the string to whine properly was difficult, getting it to spin was a whole other story. They also did lots of juggling tricks. After that they introduced a batabata, which is a line of picture boards that have two sides to them and make a banging sound as you change them to the other side. Its really cute.
After the show we all got to play with the Japanese toys. Surprisingly they were a lot harder than they looked. I kind of want some of them now.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Hinamatsuri
Hinamatsuri or doll festival in English, is a day to celebrate girls. Its a day all for the ladies of the family. Boys also have a day for celebrating them but, its in summer.
There are certain things that you do to celebrate this day. One of which is setting up a display of dolls. Some displays are huge and other displays are small. These displays are handed down generation to generation so they tend to be quite old.
Another thing is the eating of certain foods, such as sakura mochi and chirashisushi. Both of which are SUPER tasty. The leaf on the sakura mochi is from actually sakura trees, and it tasty a bit salty. The combination of salt, and sweet make it prefect to celebrate girl's day. Sakura mochi, I was told started in the Edo period and has been made ever since. Its made from the past years leaves that they freeze and hold onto until the next spring.
Some times in school lunches they even give sakura mochi, or cake or something special to celebrate the day. In the end its like most Japanese holidays, it has lost it original meaning and has become more about the food. Its still a very fun holiday though, and I think it would be great to celebrate it in the states too. :)
There are certain things that you do to celebrate this day. One of which is setting up a display of dolls. Some displays are huge and other displays are small. These displays are handed down generation to generation so they tend to be quite old.
Another thing is the eating of certain foods, such as sakura mochi and chirashisushi. Both of which are SUPER tasty. The leaf on the sakura mochi is from actually sakura trees, and it tasty a bit salty. The combination of salt, and sweet make it prefect to celebrate girl's day. Sakura mochi, I was told started in the Edo period and has been made ever since. Its made from the past years leaves that they freeze and hold onto until the next spring.
Some times in school lunches they even give sakura mochi, or cake or something special to celebrate the day. In the end its like most Japanese holidays, it has lost it original meaning and has become more about the food. Its still a very fun holiday though, and I think it would be great to celebrate it in the states too. :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Come April
This time I wanted to explain a bit about the changes that start up in April, in Japan.
The start of April for schools means the start of the new year. Which in America happens in August. Its also when the Cherry blossoms come out and everything starts a fresh and new, the long winter is finally over.
In April, all the teachers change around. Some move to a different town, and others just move schools (within town), or positions. So March and April are very busy for teachers.
They do this so that nobody gets stuck in a cycle, and so that the town and kids can benefit from having different teachers with different style, ect. This makes perfect logically sense to me. But, I feel very bad for the teachers and knowing this makes me very happy that I am not a Japanese teacher because I would not like this at all.
Teachers sometimes don't find out that they will be moving or where they will be moving to until mid March. So, in between when they find out and the new school year starts they have to completely pack up their places, finish their work at their previous school, move, meet all the new coworkers, find a place to stay, memorize their class list and come up with lesson plans. It's this part that I find ridiculous. If your going to make them move then you should at least give them time to do it all in. As it is some teachers only end up with about 3 weeks to do it all in. The teachers higher on the pool can end up with about 1 month to 2 months.
As I see it the good idea is there, but the way they do it just stresses out all the teachers, and must be hard for the kids. Not to mention the teachers that have families. Lets just say, I am starting to understand why so many men/women cheat on their spouses in Japan.
The start of April for schools means the start of the new year. Which in America happens in August. Its also when the Cherry blossoms come out and everything starts a fresh and new, the long winter is finally over.
In April, all the teachers change around. Some move to a different town, and others just move schools (within town), or positions. So March and April are very busy for teachers.
They do this so that nobody gets stuck in a cycle, and so that the town and kids can benefit from having different teachers with different style, ect. This makes perfect logically sense to me. But, I feel very bad for the teachers and knowing this makes me very happy that I am not a Japanese teacher because I would not like this at all.
Teachers sometimes don't find out that they will be moving or where they will be moving to until mid March. So, in between when they find out and the new school year starts they have to completely pack up their places, finish their work at their previous school, move, meet all the new coworkers, find a place to stay, memorize their class list and come up with lesson plans. It's this part that I find ridiculous. If your going to make them move then you should at least give them time to do it all in. As it is some teachers only end up with about 3 weeks to do it all in. The teachers higher on the pool can end up with about 1 month to 2 months.
As I see it the good idea is there, but the way they do it just stresses out all the teachers, and must be hard for the kids. Not to mention the teachers that have families. Lets just say, I am starting to understand why so many men/women cheat on their spouses in Japan.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Tale of Yuki Mushi
Once upon a time, in the far away land of Japan there was an old women and an old man.
They wished everyday for snow so that they could go skiing. But, the snow refused to come and the cold winds of autum continued to blow. But, one day they saw in the sky what looked to be snow but, it wasn't coming down like snow and it was blowing in all different directions. "What is that?" The old man wondered. When the snow like things got closer, the old women and old man gasped. They were bugs. "This is not snow?" the old women said. But, within a weeks time snow began to fall. And that is the story of Yuki mushi.....jk.
Actually I don't completely understand the whole backing behind the yuki mushi (snow bugs). But, I do know that its a Japanese superstition. Basically Yuki mushi are white aphids. Once they start coming out in full, that within a week or two snow will fall. Lately they have been so many, I believe I have eaten some while riding my bike. Everybody has been saying it will snow on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I completely don't believe them because we have been having such great sunny weather but know it is suddenly very cold. Maybe over night it will snow. If that happens I will totally believe in the Yuki Mushi power because if my memory serves right last Tuesday was when I started to see them all the time. I guess only time will tell.
EDIT (Oct. 26..Tuesday): OK. The Yuki mushi theory is totally true. I snowed. :( Bring on the winter.
They wished everyday for snow so that they could go skiing. But, the snow refused to come and the cold winds of autum continued to blow. But, one day they saw in the sky what looked to be snow but, it wasn't coming down like snow and it was blowing in all different directions. "What is that?" The old man wondered. When the snow like things got closer, the old women and old man gasped. They were bugs. "This is not snow?" the old women said. But, within a weeks time snow began to fall. And that is the story of Yuki mushi.....jk.
Actually I don't completely understand the whole backing behind the yuki mushi (snow bugs). But, I do know that its a Japanese superstition. Basically Yuki mushi are white aphids. Once they start coming out in full, that within a week or two snow will fall. Lately they have been so many, I believe I have eaten some while riding my bike. Everybody has been saying it will snow on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I completely don't believe them because we have been having such great sunny weather but know it is suddenly very cold. Maybe over night it will snow. If that happens I will totally believe in the Yuki Mushi power because if my memory serves right last Tuesday was when I started to see them all the time. I guess only time will tell.
EDIT (Oct. 26..Tuesday): OK. The Yuki mushi theory is totally true. I snowed. :( Bring on the winter.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The School Festival
Right now the fall leaves have started up and the weather is slowly getting colder and colder. For schools that usually means school festival time. A school festival is the Japanese schools way of allowing parents and others to come to the school for the day or two days, and enjoy what their kids can do.
School festivals (for Jr. high) usually start out with chorus contests. Each grade sings one song that each class in their grade has too, followed by their classes song of choice. After this one group is chosen as the winner in each grade, as well as an overall winner. The overall group gets to preform against the other schools in the area at a big hall concert. After singing each class/grade performs either a dance or a play. Than there is lunch time, in which the students help to serve the lunches (usually made by PTA moms in Jr. High). Than finally in the afternoon each class sets up their games/shops, and the parents and others get to shop around and play the games the kids created.
The elementary school festivals are not as intense. They last only in the morning time, about 9 - 12. First, they start off with the whole school singing a song, as well as their school song. Than each grade performs either a play or does music/sings. Each grade gets about 30 minutes to preform. Than everybody goes home and the poor teachers have to clean up the gym.
The great thing about Japanese schools is that they have things like this. The bad thing about things like this is....they tend to use time that should be spent studying in the classroom on it. Often two weeks before the festival the schools will slowly start to cancel afternoon classes so that the students can work on their festival instead. Sounds great right!? No, because they still have to get though the textbook by the end of the year. This means after the school festival teachers tend to push though the textbooks super fast to make up for lost time, which in turns means the kids don't have any idea what is going on, (at least in English).
Don't get me wrong though, I love school festivals. I just wish they could do them without missing so much class time.
School festivals (for Jr. high) usually start out with chorus contests. Each grade sings one song that each class in their grade has too, followed by their classes song of choice. After this one group is chosen as the winner in each grade, as well as an overall winner. The overall group gets to preform against the other schools in the area at a big hall concert. After singing each class/grade performs either a dance or a play. Than there is lunch time, in which the students help to serve the lunches (usually made by PTA moms in Jr. High). Than finally in the afternoon each class sets up their games/shops, and the parents and others get to shop around and play the games the kids created.
The elementary school festivals are not as intense. They last only in the morning time, about 9 - 12. First, they start off with the whole school singing a song, as well as their school song. Than each grade performs either a play or does music/sings. Each grade gets about 30 minutes to preform. Than everybody goes home and the poor teachers have to clean up the gym.
The great thing about Japanese schools is that they have things like this. The bad thing about things like this is....they tend to use time that should be spent studying in the classroom on it. Often two weeks before the festival the schools will slowly start to cancel afternoon classes so that the students can work on their festival instead. Sounds great right!? No, because they still have to get though the textbook by the end of the year. This means after the school festival teachers tend to push though the textbooks super fast to make up for lost time, which in turns means the kids don't have any idea what is going on, (at least in English).
Don't get me wrong though, I love school festivals. I just wish they could do them without missing so much class time.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Japan: the center of technology
Or not ..?
A lot of times when a foreigner things about Japan they think about a couple of things. The most common being technology and Anime.
(my amazing heated toilet!)
This is just my experience but, I feel as though Japan is actually quite ghetto, when it comes to technology. One look around my office work place already lends to my experience. The use of wireless, even in the work place is often unheard of. Inside everybody uses a line to hook up to the internet. There is no AC, and although they all have computers most of them are old, and malfunctioning. Also, most things are done on paper, filed away and then also done on the computer.
Than there is home life. Some ALT's have no plumbing. Instead they have a drop tank that is picked up when it gets full. I am lucky to have plumbing but, I have an ancient shower to make up for it. To turn on my shower there are many steps, one of which involves cracking on the gas. Oh, and all my cooking and heating is done by gas and kerosene. There is no central heating, expect in the new expensive homes in Japan and very few have AC. To have internet at home is slowly becoming more popular but, for the most part everybody goes to internet cafe's or uses their phones for internet.
(my only source of heat in the winter, it this kerosene heater and I live in Hokkaido, some of my friends on Kyushu and Honshu don't even have this).
(My gas store on which I cook food)
( My ghetto shower/bath)
Than there is the doctors offices. I recently went to an eye doctor in Japan to get new contacts. It was culture shock the minute I walked in. Instead of a machine which clicks around to find how strong your glasses/contacts need to be, a person holds up different lenses to your eyes and has you read a chart. The X-ray equipment is so old it pints off a tiny picture on a Polaroid machine. They don't usually dilate your eyes to see if something could be wrong either. As for regular doctors its pretty much the same. SUPER old equipment and what seems to be no confidentiality. Oh, and when you get an X-ray you have to ask for a vest, they don't even think about it no matter how close your X-ray is to that area.
There are many other ghetto like things hanging out in Japan. So can you really call it a center of technology ???
Nikki~
A lot of times when a foreigner things about Japan they think about a couple of things. The most common being technology and Anime.
(my amazing heated toilet!)
This is just my experience but, I feel as though Japan is actually quite ghetto, when it comes to technology. One look around my office work place already lends to my experience. The use of wireless, even in the work place is often unheard of. Inside everybody uses a line to hook up to the internet. There is no AC, and although they all have computers most of them are old, and malfunctioning. Also, most things are done on paper, filed away and then also done on the computer.
Than there is home life. Some ALT's have no plumbing. Instead they have a drop tank that is picked up when it gets full. I am lucky to have plumbing but, I have an ancient shower to make up for it. To turn on my shower there are many steps, one of which involves cracking on the gas. Oh, and all my cooking and heating is done by gas and kerosene. There is no central heating, expect in the new expensive homes in Japan and very few have AC. To have internet at home is slowly becoming more popular but, for the most part everybody goes to internet cafe's or uses their phones for internet.
(my only source of heat in the winter, it this kerosene heater and I live in Hokkaido, some of my friends on Kyushu and Honshu don't even have this).
(My gas store on which I cook food)
( My ghetto shower/bath)
Than there is the doctors offices. I recently went to an eye doctor in Japan to get new contacts. It was culture shock the minute I walked in. Instead of a machine which clicks around to find how strong your glasses/contacts need to be, a person holds up different lenses to your eyes and has you read a chart. The X-ray equipment is so old it pints off a tiny picture on a Polaroid machine. They don't usually dilate your eyes to see if something could be wrong either. As for regular doctors its pretty much the same. SUPER old equipment and what seems to be no confidentiality. Oh, and when you get an X-ray you have to ask for a vest, they don't even think about it no matter how close your X-ray is to that area.
There are many other ghetto like things hanging out in Japan. So can you really call it a center of technology ???
Nikki~
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The amazing world of Taiko
Its been a long time since I updated. This time I wanted to talk a bit about Taiko drumming. Taiko drumming, or Japanese drumming came to Japan in the Yayoi period from China. Although the Taiko drums of today are distinctly Japanese the concept came from the traditional Chinese drums. Modern Taiko was started in 1951.
There are four major drum types. One is the Odaiko, the biggest of the drums. This drum is usually horizontal so that two people can play it on either side. There is also the Kodaiko, this one is a smaller version of the Odaiko and is placed on the floor, so only one person can play it. Shimedaiko, is the smallest of the major taiko drums. It can be played on either side but again this one is only played by one person and stands straight not horizontal. The last is called the Hiradaiko. The Hiradaiko is about half the size of the Kodaiko and is only played by one person, usually.
Taiko to me is a high energy drumming art. To play the Taiko you have to use your whole body, including your voice. Often in the middle of songs, at the beginnings and at the ends of songs words are shouted out, which raises the tension and performance of the songs. Also, how you move your body and how you team moves their bodies can make or break a piece. Therefore when playing taiko, you have to do more than drum, you have to become one with the other drummers and create a wonderful play throughout the song.
It takes years and years of practice to even play the simplest songs well. In Japan kids can start playing Taiko when they are 3 years old.
Every time I go to my Taiko group I am amazed at how fast the kids can learn new songs and how quickly they understand when to move their bodies. I have been playing Taiko for about 6 months now and I am just understanding the basic movement and I only know 2 songs, neither of which I play well. After practice I am always drenched in sweat. Taiko drumming is seriously a full-body workout. And I LOVE IT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jXFAVZ3xs
(This is me and my group playing Taiko at a festival in town.)
There are four major drum types. One is the Odaiko, the biggest of the drums. This drum is usually horizontal so that two people can play it on either side. There is also the Kodaiko, this one is a smaller version of the Odaiko and is placed on the floor, so only one person can play it. Shimedaiko, is the smallest of the major taiko drums. It can be played on either side but again this one is only played by one person and stands straight not horizontal. The last is called the Hiradaiko. The Hiradaiko is about half the size of the Kodaiko and is only played by one person, usually.
Taiko to me is a high energy drumming art. To play the Taiko you have to use your whole body, including your voice. Often in the middle of songs, at the beginnings and at the ends of songs words are shouted out, which raises the tension and performance of the songs. Also, how you move your body and how you team moves their bodies can make or break a piece. Therefore when playing taiko, you have to do more than drum, you have to become one with the other drummers and create a wonderful play throughout the song.
It takes years and years of practice to even play the simplest songs well. In Japan kids can start playing Taiko when they are 3 years old.
Every time I go to my Taiko group I am amazed at how fast the kids can learn new songs and how quickly they understand when to move their bodies. I have been playing Taiko for about 6 months now and I am just understanding the basic movement and I only know 2 songs, neither of which I play well. After practice I am always drenched in sweat. Taiko drumming is seriously a full-body workout. And I LOVE IT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jXFAVZ3xs
(This is me and my group playing Taiko at a festival in town.)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Yosakoi Soran Dancing
In Sapporo there is a HUGE Soran dancing festival held every June. It gains nation wide coverage. Soran dancing comes from an fishermen's dance. But, now it has been modernized into what many call, "rock-in soran bushi." Recently, this dance has gained popularity.
The concept is people pulling in fishing nets. Therefore deep knee bends and the usage of arm movements is very important to the soran dance.
Many people also use fans, flags, Japanese noise markers and other things to get people more into the dance. They also must incorporate high energy. This has truly become a sport.
The concept is people pulling in fishing nets. Therefore deep knee bends and the usage of arm movements is very important to the soran dance.
Many people also use fans, flags, Japanese noise markers and other things to get people more into the dance. They also must incorporate high energy. This has truly become a sport.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Going to School
Hello all. Its been a while. Today my topic is about schools in Japan. This post might get a little long, sorry.
I am sure you all have this picture of well behaved, smart students who wouldn't say anything back to the teacher and do all their homework. I hate to say it but, this is NOT true. While I do have much better behaved students then the ones back home they are still kids. I still have to deal with the kids not turning in their homework, not studying for their test, and ditching classes or sleeping though them.
http://www.lifeaftertheboe.com/2006/08/12/bait-and-switch/
So, how do schools in Japan work? From my experience, this is how it works.
Elementary is 6 - 12 years old (1 - 6 grade), Junior High is 12 - 15 years (7-9 grade), and High School is 15 - 18 years (10 - 12 grade). To get into High school the kids have to take an entrance exam which makes their last year of Junior high kind of like our last year in high school. The exam is not easy, and they can only take one for public schools and up to 3 for private schools. If they don't pass their high school test they can opt to take a year off and study or they can go to a private school (if, they get in). It is important to note here that high school is not compulsory and so some kids just find work.
As for the happens at school, I work at a Junior High so...this is what happens at Junior high. School starts at 8:40 am - 3:30pm, (sometimes this changes). The first 10 - 15 minutes is for homeroom/morning reading, and then classes start. The students stay in their classroom and the teachers move around, except for P.E/Art/Science. Classes are about an hour long. Sometimes classes are canceled for teachers meetings, school festival, chorus contests, and ceremonies. The shedule for the kids changes everyday and every week, so teachers and students are always looking at their schedules to find out what class is next.
After school kids have fun by doing clubs. Clubs in Japan are taken VERY seriously. Sports clubs tend to be EVERYDAY for a couple hours and on the weekends for longer. The teachers who are in charge of these clubs don't have any vacation days, instead they are at school all the time, even on the weekends to help with clubs. Poor teachers.
Alright, that is my summary of how school works here. I will go into more detail about some of the things mentioned here on later posts.
I am sure you all have this picture of well behaved, smart students who wouldn't say anything back to the teacher and do all their homework. I hate to say it but, this is NOT true. While I do have much better behaved students then the ones back home they are still kids. I still have to deal with the kids not turning in their homework, not studying for their test, and ditching classes or sleeping though them.
http://www.lifeaftertheboe.com/2006/08/12/bait-and-switch/
So, how do schools in Japan work? From my experience, this is how it works.
Elementary is 6 - 12 years old (1 - 6 grade), Junior High is 12 - 15 years (7-9 grade), and High School is 15 - 18 years (10 - 12 grade). To get into High school the kids have to take an entrance exam which makes their last year of Junior high kind of like our last year in high school. The exam is not easy, and they can only take one for public schools and up to 3 for private schools. If they don't pass their high school test they can opt to take a year off and study or they can go to a private school (if, they get in). It is important to note here that high school is not compulsory and so some kids just find work.
As for the happens at school, I work at a Junior High so...this is what happens at Junior high. School starts at 8:40 am - 3:30pm, (sometimes this changes). The first 10 - 15 minutes is for homeroom/morning reading, and then classes start. The students stay in their classroom and the teachers move around, except for P.E/Art/Science. Classes are about an hour long. Sometimes classes are canceled for teachers meetings, school festival, chorus contests, and ceremonies. The shedule for the kids changes everyday and every week, so teachers and students are always looking at their schedules to find out what class is next.
After school kids have fun by doing clubs. Clubs in Japan are taken VERY seriously. Sports clubs tend to be EVERYDAY for a couple hours and on the weekends for longer. The teachers who are in charge of these clubs don't have any vacation days, instead they are at school all the time, even on the weekends to help with clubs. Poor teachers.
Alright, that is my summary of how school works here. I will go into more detail about some of the things mentioned here on later posts.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Festivals
Festivals, or Matsuri (in Japanese) are very important to the culture of Japan. The biggest time for festivals is in the fall near the end of summer but, also in the spring. Noboribetsu even has a couple festivals that it is famous for.
This is the Noboribetsu Hell Festival. It can be seen in late August. This is by far one of the best festivals I have ever been too. This one is to "celebrate" hell valley (our active volcanic area). It has ema-sama as the lead star, and he comes down at the end of the night and talks about taking out your toungue, if you lie. He is pulled down by demons and before this there is even an oni dance in which people dress in crazy costumes and dance the oni dance. I luckily got to be apart of the oni dance. :)
At festivals, there are usually games, Taiko (Japanese drums), music, and dancing, as well as other performances. Festivals are a great way to see the more fun loving side of Japanese people. Its really the one time that its ok to be completely drunk, and walking around the streets. In the picture my friend is trying hard at a game, in which you try to caught goldfish. The net used though is made of paper, and therefore breaks easy in water. It's much harder then it looks.
This is a picture of another famous Noboribetsu Festival. This on is in mid February.
I loved it, even if it was VERY cold to stand and watch. This festival is called yukake matsuri (or Throwing Hot Water Festival). This festival starts with a dance in which a man and a women dance and make a baby while the man hold a HUGE phallic in his hands. Then they make mochi and finally two teams come out and play horse while hitting each other with hot spring water.
This is the Noboribetsu Hell Festival. It can be seen in late August. This is by far one of the best festivals I have ever been too. This one is to "celebrate" hell valley (our active volcanic area). It has ema-sama as the lead star, and he comes down at the end of the night and talks about taking out your toungue, if you lie. He is pulled down by demons and before this there is even an oni dance in which people dress in crazy costumes and dance the oni dance. I luckily got to be apart of the oni dance. :)
At festivals, there are usually games, Taiko (Japanese drums), music, and dancing, as well as other performances. Festivals are a great way to see the more fun loving side of Japanese people. Its really the one time that its ok to be completely drunk, and walking around the streets. In the picture my friend is trying hard at a game, in which you try to caught goldfish. The net used though is made of paper, and therefore breaks easy in water. It's much harder then it looks.
This is a picture of another famous Noboribetsu Festival. This on is in mid February.
I loved it, even if it was VERY cold to stand and watch. This festival is called yukake matsuri (or Throwing Hot Water Festival). This festival starts with a dance in which a man and a women dance and make a baby while the man hold a HUGE phallic in his hands. Then they make mochi and finally two teams come out and play horse while hitting each other with hot spring water.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
My Job
So, what is it that I do? I work in Junior high schools, in a small town in Hokkaido, Japan. I will be here for at least two years but, maybe more. I am an assistant language teacher (ALT). I help, the Japanese teachers teach English. Its a very fun, and rewarding job.
I love getting to teach, especially when they let me throw fun parties.
This picture is from Halloween. I had the 1st years cut pumpkins and the 2nd years got to play the gross game.
Besides teaching though, in Junior High Schools I am also here to help promote international understanding. I do this by helping out with community events, or planning. Also, I try to talk to anybody that wants to. It's great, living here. But, it can be hard.
I love getting to teach, especially when they let me throw fun parties.
This picture is from Halloween. I had the 1st years cut pumpkins and the 2nd years got to play the gross game.
Besides teaching though, in Junior High Schools I am also here to help promote international understanding. I do this by helping out with community events, or planning. Also, I try to talk to anybody that wants to. It's great, living here. But, it can be hard.
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