Kinders

This blog is very, very late. It's about half a week late this time.

I was aware of it, but I've just been way too tired lately to even consider blogging. Anyway, I just got out of the shower a little while ago and that woke me up a little, so I thought I would get to it. I kind of wanted to write last week's blog by today so that it would end up being categorized under the same month. (Although I know it doesn't really matter... haha)

In my apartment, there's a bookshelf filled with books left behind by former ALTs. I've been somewhat making my way through them (whenever I can get myself torn away from re-re-re-re-reading the Ender series book.) Anyway, this evening I started reading a autobiography about a Japanese man who was born with no arms or legs, Hirotada Ototake.

I haven't gotten very far, but the overall optimism of the book is pretty impressive.

Yes, I do intend to tie this into something about last week.

I already finished the part in the book about his experience being in kindergarten. Apparently, the kids all gathered around him and asked him why he had no arms and legs. He gave a very simple explanation, which the kids accepted and his difference was no longer an issue.

My job schedules me to go to kindergartens every few months or so. I may have all of my limbs, but I am still one of the strangest looking people they've ever come across. But thinking about my experience with these kids, I can perfectly see the scenario in the book in my head.

These kindergarten students are not afraid of things that are different, but rather they are intrigued by them. It makes me think that fearing differences between people is something that is learned rather than something that really comes naturally to people.

I recall being different from that, though, when I was that age. There was a kid in my class who had silver teeth and, in kindergarten, he sat across from me. I was very disturbed by them and I was scared to drink milk because I thought one of his silver teeth could've gotten in there somehow. Looking back, I don't see myself as a kindergarten student going up to somebody unlike anyone I've ever seen before and boldly asking questions.

Is this a cultural difference or am I just making generalizations based off of the very limited things I have experienced?

sunburned

The appeal of blogging doesn't seem to exist within me these days.

I know this blog is very late, but I've just been running very short on energy these past few days.

I've been in the process of trying to get my Japanese drivers license. I went to the course during a weekend and practiced once, then I tried the test the following Wednesday and ended up failing. I'm going to try again next week or so. I don't want to go into details about it at this point, but the driving test is on a course, rather than public roads. It's got insane turns, specifics times to look in different directions, and a lot of switching from pushing the gas pedal to slamming the breaks. It doesn't relate a lot to real everyday driving, but I'm sure I'll pass next time or the time after.

Another thing that happened of interest was that I caught fish for the first time. I went to an event at the beach. I thought that we would have poles and what-not, but it ended up being all of us pulling a big net onto the shore. The event started at 6:30, so I had to get up really early to go to it. It was a pretty interesting/fun experience, Along with the fish, we caught a few rays. Sadly, they didn't let them go although I was hoping they would. We also played volleyball, which I didn't suck at too badly. Then some people went surfing (using that term very lightly...) and we had an awesome BBQ. It was a good day, but it was tiring and the sun drained me and burned my skin.

On the topic of work- same old. I am really starting to enjoy it more and more, though. This past week or so, it feels more like actual school time is taking up more of my work hours- which is great.

I suppose that's it. Sorry my blogger bug seems to have stepped out.

The weather and the months

(Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with this blog.....)

I got my plane ticket and it's official- I am visiting California for the last two weeks of next month.

It'll be nice to get a break from the hot and humid Japanese weather.

The rainy season started. I guess this happens every year, but there was a big storm here on the first day.

It was INSANE. The wind was blowing so hard that I decided to walk the back way around my building after getting home from work so that the building could block the wind for me. The second I got around the corner, the wind hit and I had to close my umbrella so it wouldn't break.

My umbrella collapsed, my face was suddenly splashed with rain water. I ran the last few remaining steps to the door to my building. The wind tried to knock me off my feet but I regained my balance.

It was rather fun, actually.

Since then, however, the weather has been very clear and nice.

It's funny to think that I've been here almost a full year.

And, because the Chuo summer program from two years ago took place this month and my former trips took place in July, I can say that I've experienced every month in this country now. Still another year to go, too.

This year has been pretty incredible in terms of personal growth- I feel a lot tougher emotionally, secure about who I am, and I actually have a very clear and awesome idea of what I want to do in the future. I managed to save some money, have a good job, and have fun at the same time too.

It's June and August will mark one year, so maybe I am speaking too soon in terms of reflecting.

English club and tea ceremony lesson

So one of my elementary school teachers invited me to go to her English club meeting and tea ceremony lesson yesterday.

The English club meeting was held at her parent house- which was AMAZING. It was a really big and nice place (really fancy) and it had a great view of Sakurajima. They even have a Japanese style tea room and garden!

Anyway, the meeting itself was really fun because the members were all very interesting and animated people. There was an American guy there who had lived in Japan for quite some time now and I talked to him quite a bit. Coincidentally, one of the woman in the club is doing a big college (graduate school?) project on Salinas' sister city relationship with Kushikino. She was delighted to find out that I am -from- Salinas and I have been involved in the sister city association. We had a lot of good conversation and had a very delicious lunch.

After that, the teacher that I work with and I went to the tea lesson. The tea ceremony teacher is/was an English teacher, so she spoke very good English. She was really fun to talk to and I really enjoyed meeting her. It turned out that she is a big fan of Steinbeck and has even visited Salinas and Monterey! She was also very delighted to hear that I am from Salinas. (Two in one day- crazy!) I had three cups of delicious tea and dragged myself around the floor on my knees (Japanese tea ceremony style) and they hurt like crazy. All and in all, I was a pretty awesome experience.

I guess some aspect of the tea room changes each month along with the seasons and such- so I think it would be cool to go each month.

I hope to participate in the English club and visit the tea ceremony teacher again.

Anyway, here's a picture-



By the way, I finally updated my photo album. Check them out.

Broken glass and running more than I ever have before

Again, this entry is very late. I was about to write this on Saturday night, but I had sort of a rough week and I wanted to lighten up a little so that the entry doesn't end up too negative.

On Thursday, a student at the elementary school I was at on that day threw a rock at a tree and accidentally broke my car windshield. The whole situation was really overwhelming because I had to watch the upset 5th grader be questioned about what happened by 3 adults (while I sat there trying to look as patient as possible) and I later met the child's mother. Anyway, my car was taken to a repair place and I was lent a car to use in the meantime. I didn't care much for the borrowed car and I looked forward to getting my car back. I finally got it back on Sunday morning and this morning I found a letter from the student inside of it. To my surprise, the letter was written entirely in English. He must've had help from someone, but the letters were written painstakingly well and I didn't see any of the common errors that I see is middle school student papers all of the time, so I was touched by how much effort was obviously put into it.

I suppose that this should really be part of the next entry (...uhh... -this- week's), but on Sunday I took part in a Kagoshima city wide scavenger hunt! I don't believe I've physically exerted myself that much in my entire life, but it was really, REALLY a lot of fun. If the event happens next year, I am definitely participating again! I'll (probably) go into more detail on this one in the next entry.

Sorry again that this is late.