Hmmm

I often hear that Japanese teachers are overworked. That they`re expected to stay and work until 7pm or 8pm sometimes 10pm. Well this is only the summer and the students aren`t here so I could see them having a lot less work. So you would think that this wee bit of fact would coincide with no working while students are out. But that`s just not how it works here. I see no need for them to be here since, in truth, the majority of them just sit in their seats and pretend to be busy. I`d rather do that on vacation somewhere else or at home or something. I think it is such a waste of time to sit in at school and pretend to work for hours on end when you really have nothing to do but stare at the wall or your desk or just check your email endlessly.

Guess What ;)

Dan dan dan....

Well folks, I ended up not...missing out on the fun! And let me tell you, it was some good times. I was so close to not going after realizing that I would be driving across my state to the next without proper directions. Can you imagine being in a foreign country, and not being fully acquainted with the driving system, AND having sparing information about your destination? What would you have done? But, when I woke up the next morning I thought, Sherley, when has doubt or lack of information ever stopped you from doing what you wanted to do? Huh? So I said forget this, I`m going. I pushed aside all reservations and maybe even sanity out the way and went off. I thought, if I get lost I get lost, it`ll be better than staying here and feeling like I missed out on something. I`m usually okay with finding my way around places, even foreign places so this shouldn`t be any different. You know? And sure enough, I found my way to the people that would be riding with me, who lived the next couple of towns and over, and four hours later we were all at the beach having a good time!

I am so glad I went. The trip taught me the value of taking risks! I learned to trust myself more and my abilities or knack for navigation. I was even happier when I found my way back home without getting lost just by following my instincts and looking at a map. The feeling of finding my way back home was great! But I have to admit, God had to have been helping me as well. Because there where a couple of turns that I could have missed and would have ended up lost. But alls well because I found my way there and back AND I had an opportunity to hang out and have fun with a group of wonderful people. I`ve posted up some pictures so I hope you guys enjoy them!

Seems like an Exciting Weekend :)

Help me out guys.... What do you think? Should I go or not?

There is suppose to be a big beach party tomorrow somewhere in another prefecture located right above us. I really want to go, but there are a few things hindering me. One directions. I wouldn`t have a clue as to how to get there. Second, I don`t really have insurance and my car is not registered and all that good stuff, so taking such a long car ride wouldn`t be the best thing. Third, I`d need to be back early the next day because I actually have to work on Sunday morning. Apparently, the parents of the students as well as the teachers will be coming in to clean up the whole school. This happens ever year, mid-year. Doesn`t it sound a bit strange to you? Parents cleaning up the school? Well, not to them it doesn`t. So as a new body on the payroll, I`m to be there as well. This will probably be the first time that I meet all of these parents, but I`m a bit worried because I can`t very well meet them in professional attire when I`ll be cleaning the toilet later. Uh...

But, if I don`t go...What could I possibly do here? I know I`d miss out on some hard core fun if I don`t go. Oh what shall I do....

Snippets of the New Teacher

Before anything, I just want to comment that I have come to really enjoy this pudding that they all eat here. It is soo tasty. I didn`t think it would be so tasty, but it is definitely growing on me. Today I had one that had caramel at the bottom as well as this custard on top. Just dee-licious.

Okay so here and there I hear a whisper as I walk through the hallways and I think to my self, uuwa, this is going to be so much fun. I have adopted a "I don`t speak ANY Japanese" role with the students in the school. And let me tell you, it is so much fun. Because they don`t think that I can speak Japanese, I hear them say out loud some funny stuff. Things like "Wow, she`s got long legs" or "Her face is so small/tiny" (the former two I hear quite often) and "She looks cool." And I think, a tiny face, I can`t remember the last time or any other time that someone has told me that. But, I`ve heard it so many times that I`m beginning to think that the size of my face is an anomaly. Well, with them at least. Huh, who would have guessed. They say so many things right in front of me, not thinking that I understand a word they say. Sometimes it`s really hard not to let the cat out of the bag, but I`m enjoying this game way too much to end it now. hahaha

And for those of you that think I`m being really mean...There`s also an educational motive behind my little devilishness. I want the students to constantly be using their English around me. Both in and outside of the classrooms. If they ever find out that I do speak Japanese, they would abandon any attempt to speak the language and ask me endless questions. I`ve found here in Japan, there seems to be no limit as to the "kinds" of questions that are asked so the less they do so the better. I now know how my Japanese teachers must have felt like when they pretented they knew no English. And now it`s my turn! hahaha! Revenge is mine. jk

I`m Not Alone!

Guess what? This Friday night I actually went out with other JETS in the area. I guess I won`t be the only foreigner for miles after all. This past Friday night before I left work an invite was sent out to hangout. I was so happy! Of course I said I wanted to go, knowing that I had not even a clue as to what I would be doing once I got home that evening. Uh, it felt so good to go home and have somewhere else to be. I must say, not doing anything (but going for a run to the konbini (convenience store) on Sunday night) left me so drained. I just stayed in my apartment all weekend. Coming in and out of sleep. Sporadically I would watch television, but then fall asleep again. It was pitiful. But that Friday was certainly refreshing. We went to dohton bori. A place that serves, um, these pancake/pizza like pies. You pick your toppings and you cook it on a hot grill in front of you. It`s really tasty! I had corn, cabbage, eggs, bacon and something else with mine. DEE-licious!

Anyways, I had thought that I would be too far to hang out with other JETS. But, this doesn`t seem to be the case. Luckily because I have a car, and don`t mind the commute, I`ll be able to hang out with peeps on the weekends. It`s only about a 25 minute to 40 minute drive (depending on who it is) to meet up with folks. I figure, considering the glamorous weekend I just had. That commute is nothing.

Pictures!!

I have new pics up on my site, so you guys should take a look at them. Check out the link on the right side there=>. There shouldn`t be any incriminating pics on there, but if you feel there are.... please let me know and I`ll... think about taking it down. ;)

Some Thoughts on Japan

Japan is definitely not the States. I once lived in Switzerland and although I wasn`t in the States somethings stayed pretty much the same just because both were western countries. On the other hand, one sees extreme differences between Japan and the States. The respect that people have for others is huge here. People really think twice before doing anything here. And EVERYTHING is done backwards, practically. It seems like anything that was done in one direction in the States is done in the complete opposite here. For example, they drive on the left side (and yes, I do drive here. It`s actually not bad at all.) Faucets and locks are turned on/opened in the opposite direction. They think, grammar wise, opposite of how we think.

When I first got here, I found out that I would be in the boondocks. My predecessor and others kept saying "oh it`s a really rurual town." There`s practically nothing to do here. In addition to this I found out that I wouldn`t have any other people in the program near me. I thought this a REAL bummer. So much so, I got soo nervous. I thought, `God why in the middle of nowhere with no communication with other foreigners?` I mean, I was definitely all right with me being in the middle of nowhere. But the thought of not having any other foreigners around made it seem a bit frightening. But, this is the perfect way for me to improve my Japanese. This means that when I leave school, I`ll HAVE to speak Japanese to get around. Anyways, I`ve found that my town ISN`T as small as everyone kept saying. It`s actually a nice size town. It has everything that one would expect of a city. There`s a department store, a blockbuster type store :) (I`ve got to keep myself enterained somehow) and tons of other little stores and restaurants that make a city a city. So in that respect I think I really lucked out. AND! My school is only a 6 minute walk away from the beach. Next week I`m going to start running there before school.


I`ll take pictures of the beach, my school and the town next so that you guys could have a look-see :)!!

My Big Victory!

Somehow I was able to get around the red tape! I got my totally cool and stylish cell phone yesterday! We went to one cell phone company the day before and we were told that we wouldn`t be able to open up an account because I didn`t have my "gaizin card" yet. But then we called this other company and they said that it would be okay if we had proof that I had applied for one. BUT!!! We get there and after two hours of choosing the phone and selecting a plan, the agent (who my supervisor spoke to about not having the actual card- and then repsonded that it was okay) calls in headquaters to set up the new service and they "inform" her that it isn`t possible without the actual card. Apparently, there`s a new law which was implemented in April. I sit there dumbfounded because my supervisor, Y-San, explicitly made her aware of our situation and she knowingly (me and my supervisor definitely agree on this) lied to us and told us that we could open it to get us there. Of course my supervisor tried to get info as to why this was the case when we called beforehand. But, all the agent could say was "sumimasen" (I`m sorry). Later I find out that my supervisor was livid and that she would have shown her anger and made the agent squirm if it had not been for my pressence. When I heard her say this I was quite shock. I didn`t think the Japanese would do such a thing in public. There goes one stereotype out the window. I definitely couldn`t tell she felt that way. She held her anger with such poise I hadn`t thought the news bothered her at all. Anyways after another 10 minutes the agent "suggested" that the account be started under my supervisor`s name. My supervisor asked me if this would be okay, and I just looked at her. I was one, amazed that she would even consider this option. And two, grateful that she would trust me enough to open an account in her name when I had only known her for three days. Uh, I was so grateful!!! I then said of course, if it was okay with you and then..... I had it! We`ll be able to change it to my name once I get my dang card.



This thing is totally loaded. I don`t know if you guys know how advanced cell phones are in Japan, but if you don`t you`re about to find out.

In the States, it`s usually all about the size, i.e. how cute and compact your cell is. In Japan it`s the complete opposite. Cell phones here are definitely bigger on average, but they are absolutely loaded! You can use it as a credit card, a bus card. You can use it to download information off the web or store info in it. You can watch television on it, use it as an mp3 player. Download music onto it from cds. Taking picutues, maving video clips, and emailing from your phone are considered basic features. It can be used as a pre-paid card for purchasing food at convenience stores and so much more.

With my totally cool cell phone, I have all the "basic" features. I can use it as an mp3 player and download music from my cd`s. I can also watch television from it! They let me pick out my own telephone number, 080-5411-shrl (7475). And my phone`s email address is shashe_giggles_06@ezweb.ne.jp (for know, I`ll have to change the email address again once I transfer over the name to mine). But I`ll have to let you know that if you email me through my phone it might take me a while to get back to you on it just because, my phone is in JAPANESE! It just took me 40 minutes! to find out what my email address is from my phone bc I hadn`t written it down. This creates a little difficulty, but gives me loads of practice on my kanzi :).

I miss you all!

My New Environment

Yesterday while I was waiting to be introduced to my new supervisors, I wasn`t a bit nervous. On the contrary, I was especially happy when I saw them. Compared to all the other people waiting to meet their assistants mine where significantly young and looked pretty hip! Before I knew they were my supervisors I was so crossing my fingers and wishing that they would be. And then they came to greet me! The least I could say was that I was happy. :)

They took me around town yesterday. We were running back and forth trying to get my gaizin card (lit translation= foreigners card, polite translation `registration card` yeah right). We tried to open up a bank account, but I needed proof of a registered address. All I can say is this, red tape, red tape, red tape. To do anything I needed tons of paper backing up the request, which turns into a never ending vicious cycle. And to make things worse, it seems I can`t get connected (online) or get a cell phone and all those vital connection mechanisms until I get this `gaizin` card.