Mmmmm peppers.

So there is this place by my house that I have been coming to frequently. It's not just because their food is delicious. But it's also because their food is awesome.

Peppers is as close to a Mexican restaurant with a side of George the Greek I can get (George is a delicious burger place by my old high school).

Peppers has an amazing rice and chicken combo, an amazing chili cheese fries (with actual chili in the chili! None of that Del Taco chili), and awesome fajitas wrapped in a tortilla.

My mission while in Japan, other than learning the language and holding a conversation in Japanese with a Japanese native, is to try everything once in Peppers menu.

Yes, my wallet is gonna go broke (not really, their combos are as much as a Carl's Jr. combo) but my stomach is going to be ecstatic to have Mexican wannabe dishes.

That's all for now. じゃね

Where are you from?

I normally get asked this question back in the States because I often have people confuse me with being of an Asian decent due to a last name dubbed "Zinzun." I always end up telling them the whole history of my last name. Now, granted, I have never heard the story myself, this was something that I looked up in the good ol' internet. According to Google, I have Mexican Indian blood in me because my father's father (which is just my grandpa) was a Mexican Indian from a tribe called TzinTzunTzan. I suppose they got bored with the long last name and deleted the T's because they were just place holders and dubbed the new last name Zinzun. Now, there are some cousins (Very distant cousins) that still have that T, but I will be going on a tangent if I get into that side of the family.

Well, now that I am in Japan, I don't get into the whole speel about my family's last name. Yes, one of the reasons is because I don't speak fluent Japanese, but the other reason is because I don't speak fluent Japanese. Yup, both in the same ball park. Keeps it frustrating because I want to tell people that no, although I look Asian I am one hundred percent Mexican.

I suppose the reason that I am instilled with Mexican pride is because I am the only Mexican in Okazaki, unless someone out there wants to prove me wrong and come outside and play... because seeing another Mexican out here would be peachy. I'm not joking.

Well, the reason that I am talking about my last names and Mexican innuendo is because I recently went to a culture festival that had Indians, Philippines, Brazilians, and of course Japanese. I went walking through the food section, which all looked as good as the next, and stumbled on the Brazilian food cart. They had premium sausage (actual sausage not a sex reference) and this pulled pork sandwich. I pointed with my index finger and asked how much.

"Hyaku go ju en," she said. One hundred and fifty yen, which is like a dollar fifty, depending on the exchange rate.

I grabbed my change and she knew that I wasn't Japanese, so she asked if I was Brazilian. I have the tan skin, a little bit of a pointed nose, bigger eyes than she does, so I could have passed as a Brazilian girl, with a sexy Portuguese accent.

"No, Mexican," I said.

I have been saying that a lot. I don't say I'm American. I say I am Mexican.

Not only that, but I have around 5,000 songs, some of which I did not pay for. I will not say the other way, lets just say I have found ways of finding old CDs around the house. Anyways, so 5,000 songs, and the majority of the time I am listening to Adan Chalino Sanchez, Alejandro Fernandez, Jesse y Joy, and much more beaner and Spanish songs.

I think one of the reasons that I do this is because I miss Mexico, but this place does remind me a lot of Mexico. It's foreign ground to me, it holds that essence of translucent objectivity that brings me back to when I was a little girl walking down my street corners and visiting my cousins who were just a walk away. The houses are the same, just the colors are not as extravagant or garishly eye appealing, like you are forced to look at them. The drivers here are just as ballsy, but the cars look small as if they already crashed and that is why they have no front or back.

But more than that I do miss home. I miss my family and such, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, honestly. I do believe that a year will pass like a loop over my head. As if I woke up in my futon one day and close my eyes and wake up in my bed back in Riverside.

That's all I can say for now. Before I start getting nostalgic of home.

Taking notes... A TON of notes.

Oh man, this week was he rice the whole way through. I was happy to embrace the weekend, only to have it literally rain on my parade.

So far the children are sweet but it takes them a while to learn and ease up to me. The babies especially.

The babies are adorable! They have cute little faces, cute little eyes, chubby little cheeks, adorable little outfits, everyone is adorable!

I think I will have a hard first couple of classes. I just have to know how to manage my time, how to have students speak up, and especially, how to properly lesson plan a class.

So now that talking about work tomorrow, I'll go into my day yesterday!

It was my first day off after working a whole week straight along side my NET trainer, so what I wanted to do was head out and explore the city on my new bike that my NET left me. As cliche as it will sound, I pulled open the blinds that morning and saw cloudy skies and wet roofs. It was raining.

That didn't really deter me from going on and exploring. I took out the bike from the bike rack and departed.

As I was biking I wasn't hit with any serious gusts of wind, or any splashes of water into my face. It wasn't until I traveled close to the school that it was getting ready to pour.

I stopped by a stationary store and bought me some little trinkets to get me through the year, and then walked outside to a downpour. My bike was getting soaked like crazy! And if it wasn't for my waterproof trench coat, I would have been as soaked as my bike.

And let me say for the record, it is hard to bike with one hand while you hold up an umbrella with the other.

I needed groceries as well, so I dropped by the Cibico, all the while not realizing that it was going to get worse as far as raining goes. The rain got a lot worse after I left the grocery store.

Once I arrived, so did my fellow new NET, his name is Fred. It was nice to meet a new arrival, and I hope to have a good working situation as well as a good friendship. God knows I can use a friend.

Yesterday was also my NET's last day in Okazaki, so to celebrate a bunch of amity and aeon NET teachers were going to meet up in the big city of Nagoya. I was excited to see and meet new people, and it was great to be reunited with Mark! We talked about work, our first few days, our apartment, and everything in between. It was great seeing an old face and so much fun to meet new ones!

Chicken wings here are incredible! Not as good as the ones at home, but still in its entirety, they were good enough for me, and I don't even like bone wings or traditional as they like to say.

Saying goodbye made me realize that my NETs kids, were now mine. And I had to figure out how to make it work, as Tim Gunn would say.

I will make it work as smoothly as I can. That was my promise, to care for my NET's kids. :)

First day of school. Accomplished!

Oh man, since I have internet for a while it seems appropriate to actually be blogging and such. And I have a few minutes before my walk to work so I can talk about my time in Okazaki so far.

In such a way that Japan is modern and fresh and new, there are also instances in which Japan is old and keeps to its heritage. I have been placed in the latter of the two.

Okazaki is old, and still holds a ton of old roots to their culture. I have run into more old people that anything else. But they are incredibly adorable! And of course well mannered. I have yet to have anyone give me bad looks. But this could also be due to the Asian face my mother claims I have.

I got off the train station from Okayama where I departed from my friends Deren and Richard, and said goodbye to Naomi and Mark who rode along with me. Each one of us gave each other a big hug with the hopes that after we get used to everything in our area we would meet each other again. Hopefully, Nagoya, but we still worked out anything.

I was greeted by my manager and we walked with my heavy luggage (why did I pack so much!?) towards another train station that would take us into the heart of Okazaki. As we were traveling, I asked Manager (that's what she likes being called) about the apartment.

"I am very sorry, but your apartment is very old," She said.

In all honesty, I was thinking peeling walls, spiderwebs, broken sinks, things like that. But it wasn't the case.

We took the bus, got off and walked in a straight line all the way down to a little apartment complex. White Cloud III. I heard a ruckus upstairs, and I knew that was going to be Ayumi and Alex, the NETS that I would be replacing.

My first impression of them was that they were cheerful people. Ayumi I pictured to be a little bit taller, so you should have seen my surprise when I saw her as a fun size Snicker's bar (kind of like another friend I know).

I walked in and didn't notice much other than that it was spacious! So much leg room to do so much! I didn't care about the old feel to it. I was happy with it's condition (minus a few minor details).

Anywho, they took me out both days, and I ate merrily and happily so there is a happy note of things. I will talk about it later right now I want to get to the point at hand.

My first day of work. Man, it was not as hard as training was that's for sure. I think it's because you are working with children that you need to have a feel of what you will be doing with them. Yesterday, we had to work with one of each classes that I will be teaching on a regular basis, or when Manager changes my schedule. She is already primping me for the new and old moms to observe and see if I do a good job.

One student in particular was so scared of me that he didn't want to do anything at all for activities. He just held the rattle, the abc board, and clutched it. Kind of reminded me of Emilio.

The other students were happy and participating, so I have an idea of how to continue their teaching. I just hope I don't have any babies that cry. I don't think I will be able to handle it.

Yes I can. I survived five munchkins at once, one crying one shouldn't be that tough. :)

Japan week 1?

God, I feel like I can finally breathe.

I have finally completed my training for work. Now comes the real thing: working with actual children!!

Man, I can't believe it's been one whole week and some extra hours. I completely forgot that we landed here in Japan last Saturday at 3.

I didn't even notice that during time I was already in Japan for a week. It was that intense of a training week.

I feel as though I don't have enough time anymore because lesson plans will kill my downtime. Not only that, but also the fact that I lack the Internet connection. I am lucky to just have the wifi on my phone let alone my computer.











Overall, this training week has been exhausting but in a good way. And the dinner was delicious too. Hopefully I can upload them.


Here is some of them. My training group as well as my fellow NET trainers!

I am too tired to continue with my day. It's one in the morning over here. Not just that, I doubt you wanna hear about my awesome color coded lesson plans that will be the rest of my life.

Sleep. Sleep. Zzzzzz

Japan Day Two

The second day was a day of exploring. That sums up the feelings of yesterday along with the enjoyment and pleasure of another's company. I had the company of two awesome guys. And today, hopefully, it will be with the other two to complete our little group and bond together instead just three musketeers.

The adventure for me began when I was awake at almost six in the morning. I am either still getting accustomed to the whole time difference OR I really am a morning person.

I do have to recall that I was awake at 3 in the morning, so that was a nice pick me up. I was hoping this wouldn't be the case today since I was on my feet 24/7, but I still ended up waking up hella early, and I still woke up in the middle of the night. I think this morning it was like 3:50 am.

Anywhoser, where was I? Oh yeah.

So six in the morning greets me in the face and I am happy (?) that I was startled to awake with the sun hitting me in the face. I think today I am detaching curtains and pulling them over the balcony door. Light wakes me up so easily.

I decide to stay in bed because I still want to adjust to the difference of time. The essences of being in Asia: when it is morning here it is afternoon back home.

I eventually get up at 7 or 730 and hop in the shower, lather myself from head to toe and scrub. I get out and realize I have no hair dryer. So my hair had to dry au natural. I apply my face on and storm out to venture and find some hot coffee at 8 ish. What was funny was at the first convenience store I was at actually had hot coffee but I was merely looking in the wrong direction, so yeah. I ended up going somewhere else and found this coffee called BOSS which is pretty fucking BOSS. They have the right to be called that. I bring the coffee back home and start journaling in my mac rather than in my paper journal. I just feel that it will be a smoother transition if I just type everything up about my experiences in Japan to put in my blog this way rather than look at what I wrote. Maybe that journal will be reserved for a more personal experience, like when I am weeping away with the pain that I have no friends in this country.

After that, my roommate Naomi is all ready to hit up her mormon church, and we don't see her for the rest of the day. Mark, Deren and I decide to go explore for the day and invite Richard, but he is nowhere to be seen. Our first destination: the market.

I would have thought people were kidding when they said that their fruits were expensive. They weren't. Fruit is hella expensive here. Vegetables, kind of more or less the same.

Deren ended up buying some onigiri which is like a rice ball packaged in seaweed and ate that for breakfast while Mark and I were craving udon noodles that looked divine in plastic. I could only imagine what they looked like in real life. The picture should speak for itself. The broth, noodles, the ebi fry (which is shrimp in Japanese), everything about it screamed authentic and delicatessen. Delectable, not firm at all type of noodles, slurping in delicious sips to emphasize just how glorious it is streaming down your gullet with glee. The shrimp dipped in the broth to moisten the tempura batter encasing it, intermingling with the soup and noodles in a slow dance and I break up and speed up with the tempo of my chopsticks. Adding green onion, chili powder, sesame seeds, soy sauce to give it a flavor I can stomach that reminds me of home. Reminds me of Mexican dishes that is drenched in chili powder or flavor. I got so full I don't even remember finishing the broth. A very good 900 yen well spent.

After the enjoyment of a meal and company, we walked out to a train festival. I never seen so many little ones running around with their parents trailing behind, getting in line to ride a little train ride. Facing a bit of humiliation for one child's enjoyment is the ultimate sacrifice. Music was trailing through the festival, and we continued our adventures for the day. Next stop an electronics store.

The three of us hit the electronics BIC CAMERA, which had everything electric and not under the sun. There was a slew of video games, for the children. And toys in the other direction. I saw a power rangers figure and instantly became nostalgic of Dino, and luckily, there was wifi in the building so I managed to send him a picture of it and to tell him that I missed him. I was also able to update my Facebook and hook up my sister's with my whereabouts and that I had survived the second day so far. But the day was just beginning so that was sheer dumb luck I'm afraid. Going downstairs from wasting so much time on the internet, we stumbled upon the home goods section. Japanese people have a strange fetish with their faces. But I guess that is why their skin is as pretty as it is. We tried out some massage chairs in the back and I didn't necessarily enjoy the massage, but I did, if that makes any sense. If it doesn't, let me just say I was indifferent towards it. Happy I got it, eh if I didn't get it.

We walked so much. I don't know how much but we did. It was well over a mile. And if that's how its gonna be all the time, I might just lose the weight after all, unless the food is really good and I don't want to stop eating. Then I might not lose the weight after all. Which I am okay with. 

We found the garden after crossing a bridge and noticed that there was a food festival going on. Mark, Deren and I were bummed because if we would have known that there was a food festival we would have just eaten there instead of going to the udon place. Not that I regret the udon, but the food there was cheaper. Hella cheaper.

After checking out the spread of plenty, we sat down to watch some old ladies dance for us. A nice old young man began to talk to us in English.

“Where are you from?” He asked.

Deren pointed to us and said, “America.” I pointed to Mark and said, “Canada.” I don't want him to think that Americans will be selfish and plot us all together. The hoser must be identified!

We asked him about the festival, he asked us about our mission here, our jobs.

“We are going to teach English,” we said. Not in unison. We complimented him on his english, because he did speak it very well. We watched as the old ladies danced and paraded, the announcer waving his flag. Some were energetic, others looked bored, none looked confused. One thing I did notice was that there were no young ones in the group. They were all pretty old.

Once the festival was done, we paid our 400 yen to walk into the garden. There were a few flowers here and there, but what we really saw was grass everywhere. We sat down in it and I felt the grass: cushions well, didn't feel itchy in the least bit. Enjoyable to be sitting in grass that felt different from any other grass I have ever felt. After sitting we walked around some more, found a pond full of koi fish, fat ones, colorful ones, ones that looked like they had been there forever and young ones that looked as though they were born there. Oh, and spiders, lots and lots of big ass spiders. Rosie would not like it here for that reason alone.

After we were done touring the garden we stumbled into the Okayama Castle. It was beautiful, stone steps leading up to it, a rock hopping garden, but it cost to go inside it, so we just admired from afar type of thing. We stayed looking at it, and then walked to the rock hopping garden and posed for pictures, took a video, laughed at each other's antics. Seriously, I love hanging out with these guys. So much fun.

After that we stumbled into an anti nukes peace rally. Hippies. I never thought I would have seen hippies in Japan. And yet there they were. I thought it was funny that they had signs in English like Fuck Government. I kept thinking in my head, 'They probably don't know what that means.'

We walked into an imitation English/British square while we were looking for an information center, we were on a mission to find the arcade to play the table flipping game. Here, an arcade is called a game center. And they have gambling places called pachinko, but we didn't go in, much less gambled. I didn't have the best of luck in Vegas, I doubt here will be any different.

After the adventure there, which wasn't much to recall or recount because it was nothing but walking (I do have to add that the anti nuke peace rally was walking up and down it with pots, pans, hippies, peace signs, and other such cool people), we called it quits and went back home. We found out that there was a game center by where we are at, found no game flipping table, went to McDonalds in search of wifi with no such luck but we did find a nice japanese girl who told us of said game center who spoke English just as good as the old man from the garden, and then went back home to the annex. We found Naomi alive and well, back from her church group and getting ready to soak in a bath. Mark, Deren and I were jumping towards the wifi zone where mamakari gives us such wifi powers and reconnected with the world we have left behind.

Then soon after we got hungry, sat down relaxed watching mean girls from my mac, then went in search of curry but found a japanese conveyor belt instead and had that. Now I am eating a bowl of ramen for breakfast that I bought last night before changing into pajama bottoms and bidding good night to my fellow brethren who are embarking on this journey with me.

Ramen here I come. :)

Japan Day One

I am happy to report that the first day in Japan was not as bad as I had imagined. I pictured myself lost in the vast valleys of squinted eyes and yellow skin, with signs shouting at me in a language I have yet mastered. But in all honesty, not so much so.

The plane ride was more unbearable. But I will get to that in a second.

The morning of departure my mother was telling me to be safe and not do anything she wouldn't do. Not to trust anyone and so on and so on. In other words, the language of look out for yourself because she will no longer be able to. And it is understandable, she is a mother she has feelings and she wants nothing but her child's safety. I gave her my promise that I would act accordingly, and not do anything she wouldn't do. But therein lies a dilemma. I am not her, and she is not me. I am my mother's daughter, but I am not a mother. Do you see the flaw in that careless statement? I mean, I have been doing things that she wouldn't do, and garnered knowledge from those mistakes. I guess it just takes a life to know a life and hope for the best in things.

All the way down the long corridor I was still crying. I even the dramatic turn my back to look to see if my mother was still looking at me departing from her arms and I would rush back to her and stuff like in the movies. She wasn't so I continued.

I passed TSA without a hitch and boarded the plane for San Fran. Got there in less than an hour. Unpredictable only towards the end of the plane ride when there was an object in our way and stuff. So that was fun waiting in the plane for like an hour. Give or take.

My last meal from America was breakfast a lá Burger King style, with some tasty fries and a disgusting tea. Raspberry iced tea my ass.

The second plane ride was a total of almost 11 hours. That was the longest plane ride of my life. Granted I have only been on 2 plane rides before but hey shut up.

The good thing is that we had tv shows, and movies, and other cool stuff. You could even play games if we wanted to. I didn't want to.

I crashed in 21 Jump Street (again) Brave (not really as good as I would have thought), The Italian Job (again), Stand by Me (a movie that I was wanting to watch for a while) and TV shows Family Guy, New Girl, and HIMYM. From the haziness that is my memory I think that was it. If there is more I will try to include it as I continue with the entry.

I met my fellow NET Mark on the plane ride over, but he was further behind me so we didn't have a chance to talk. Oh, and a plus, I had the economy plus (see what I did there?) seat that provided a pillow and blanket. I was like yes!

I also tried sleeping on the plane, so I accomplished that somewhat, and went to pee twice, once in each bathroom beside me which was unintentional.

The plane food was adequate, but I lost my brownie from the first meal. I had chicken and rice with a side salad for the first meal (where the damn brownie got lost. I swear I should have lost the tissues and spared that poor brownie). For the second meal we had noodles with dim sum which again adequate. There was nothing bad about the plane food, I don't know why people complain. Shit, food is food. You want something gourmet go to the fucking restaurant that is hidden somewhere in the airplane.

Getting off and going through customs was again no big deal. Everything went off without a hitch and picking up luggage was no big thing either. The problem was that my fellow NET Mark Meihm (I should ask him how to pronounce his last name) got his luggage lost. Only one so he still had something to work with for training.

We walked out together to get greet by Alex, Stephanie and the rest of our group. I was happy to know that I was not the only girl. Too much testosterone would have been problematic for only one girl like me to handle. She is my roommate for the time we have for training. We are only five in total. Mark, me, Naomi, Darren, and Richard.

Any whoser, after two train rides, heavy lifting thanks to my dumbass for packing heavily when I just needed one bag, we got settled in and shown around our rooms for the week and started to unpack so things could get unwrinkled. Something exploded in my suitcase and got some things wet but nothing was soaked so for that I am grateful. I am assuming what exploded and until I get my scent back (did I mention I was fighting a cough? No? Well I am fighting a fucking sore throat, coughing and sniffles) was my cleanser and make up remover, but innocent until proven guilty.

Afterwards, we walked around to look for something to eat and went to a restaurant that had really decent food. In all honesty, the noodles were my favorite. The shiskabob meat was good and the japanese pancake was also pretty good, but the noodles were out of this world. I am hoping to try some curry next. Maybe for lunch with the guys.

So after that, we were just walking around some more. We found a Karaoke bar (damn you sore throat!) and were told that we couldn't walk through somewhere because it was an exit so weird number two. That's how they could tell we were foreigners. And that's how I felt really bad that I was a foreigner.

I was able to get in contact with Nancy and not so much so with Edith, but I was happy to know that I could give them a heads up about my situation. I am alive and well, I do miss them. But I am excited to be in Japan.

It's my second day, and after waking up at 3 in the morning today it still feels very surreal. Like I am still asleep or something. And then I pinch myself and realize, no I am not. I am actually in the place that I have dreamed of going to since I was a little girl. And I know that I still miss everyone, I am just happy to be here. And can't wait to get on with the day and take my camera, my non working phone, and money wallet with a passport.

Everything feels surreal. And I can't wait for it to sink into me more, so I can learn more from them.

I will let you know how day 2 goes after day 2 is over and done with.

Holy Crap I am in Japan...

It all seemed like days ago, well weeks ago when I was looking for clothes like suits and such to get everything ready and hop a plane ride over. Now I am closing in on the third day here. If anything, I am going to post what I have already written about my first two days here, and then add on as I continue typing until I don't know what to write about.

I doubt the latter will happen because this is Japan. How often can I be willing to say that I am working in Japan? How often will I be working my butt off to get somewhere I have always wanted since I was a little girl?

The emotions are going to run through me if I continue talking about it. So instead, I will just post up what I have written up until now. :)

Biting the Big Apple

My mother came home in a rather good mood. And when I told her that the only time I have for vacation would be around the beginning of September, she got in an even happier mood.

"Look at travel deals for New York," she instructed.

Granted, I have never been to New York so this did sound rather exciting. I started looking up travel packages and the sort and found some pretty good deals. I was getting ready to book it so that we can go.

"I first have to ask your dad if we can go," she said.

I wanted to slam my head on the keyboard.

Decisions and Okazaki

I have decided to keep working through this blog as I continue with my travels in Japan. If I decide to put out for a real website, I will be moving to Squarepace, but that will be until I decide to lay down some coinage (Something like $16 a month doesn't sound too pricey, but it does when you are in the negative in funds).

So, to continue with my pre-departure adventures, I have decided to fill in some questions my mom was asking me today: Where in Japan will I be working?

I will be working in the city Okazaki, in the Aichi Prefecture, which I  shall let Wikipedia fill everyone in with the rest of the information:

Okazaki (岡崎市 Okazaki-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the coastal plains of southeastern Aichi Prefecture. The ground rises to undulating hills in the former Nukata area to the northeast. About 60 percent of the city area is forested and remains sparsely populated.The area around present-day Okazaki has been inhabited for many thousands of years. Archaeologists have found remains from theJapanese Paleolithic period. Numerous remains from the Jomon period, and especially from the Yayoi and Kofun periods have also been found, including many kofun burial mounds. During the Sengoku period, the area was controlled by the Matsudaira clan, a branch of which later rose to prominence as the Tokugawa clan, which ruled Japan during the Edo period. During this time, Okazaki Domain, a feudal han was established to rule the immediate area around Okazaki, and was entrusted to a daimyō. Several smaller domains were also located within the present-day city limits, including Fukozu (later Mikawa-Nakajima), Okudono Domain and Nishi-Ohira Domain. The town prospered as a post station on the Tōkaidō connecting Edo with Kyoto. Following the Meiji Restoration, the modern town of Okazaki was established on October 1, 1889 within Nukata District of Aichi Prefecture. On October 1, 1914, Okazaki annexed neighboring Hirohata Town. Okazaki was proclaimed a city on July 1, 1916. The city suffered damage in the 1944 Tōnankai earthquake (which killed 9 people) and the 1945 Mikawa earthquake (which killed 29 people). During World War II, the July 19, 1945 Bombing of Okazaki killed over 200 people and destroyed most of the city. Okazaki was considered an important military target because of its central location, providing food, shelter, and communication to neighboring towns which contained small factories and plants. The attack was meant to destroy industries and decrease Japan’s recuperative potential. Of the .95 Sq. Miles of the city at that time, 65% of Okazaki was destroyed.In 1955, through a series of mergers and consolidations, the area of Okazaki expanded considerably. The former towns of Iwazu, Fukuoka, and Yahagi, and the villages of Honjuku, Yamanaka, Kawai, Fujikawa and Ryugai were all merged into Okazaki. The 1959 Isewan Typhoon caused considerable damage, and killed 27 residents. On October 15, 1962, Okazaki annexed the neighboring town of Mutsumi. Okazaki was proclaimed a core city on April 1, 2003 with increased autonomy from the prefectural government. On January 1, 2006 the town of Nukata was merged into Okazaki.


Local attractions in Okazaki

Okazaki Castle was originally built in 1455. Captured by the Matsudaira family in 1524 (and probably relocated from the other side of the river), the castle remains associated withTokugawa Ieyasu, even though the latter transferred to Edo in 1590. During the Edo period it served as the seat of the Okazaki Domain and dominated the city until the Meiji Restoration.

Okazaki is famous for its fireworks. The Tokugawa Shogunate restricted production of gunpowder outside of the immediate region of Okazaki (with few exceptions), and even today, more than 70% of Japan's fireworks are designed and manufactured here. A large fireworks festival, which people from all over Japan come to see, is held annually on the first Saturday in August in the area surrounding Okazaki Castle.

Hatchō Miso is a dark miso paste made using a process of steaming soybeans (instead of boiling) followed by maturation in cedar barrels under the weight of 3 tons of carefully stacked river stones for at least 2 years. Located 8 chō (Hatchō, or approximately 900m) west of Okazaki Castle near the Yahagi river, the old tiled buildings are heritage listed and one company (Kaku) has been a family business for 18 generations. It is one of the most famous miso producers in Japan, supplying the Emperor by appointment, and popular as a health food. The 2006 NHK morning drama serial, Junjo Kirari (Sparkling Innocence) was largely filmed in and around the Hatchō Miso grounds. Tours are available every 30 minutes and free samples are provided. Hatchō Miso's health properties are so great that it was donated to Chernobyl's citizens following the disaster, to help prevent and treat radiation sickness.

The temple of Takisanji (7th century) includes several Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The main hall is from the Kamakura period and is the location of a fire festival held each February on the closest Saturday to the lunar calendar New Year. The distinctive Sanmon gate and the main image are designated as important cultural properties. Adjoining the temple is Takisan Tosho-gu, a Shinto Shrine built in 1646 by Tokugawa Iemitsu.

More to come. :)

Let's get some shoes...

I forgot to type this after I heard the news. My sister is not pregnant anymore. She lost it.

And we are saddened and depressed but at the same time relieved that we won't have to be cleaning dirty diapers every time she comes to visit.

Just looking at the glass half full versus half empty.

On an unrelated note, I feel as though I have bought an excess of shoes to take with me to japan. More or less I will be taking up to ten pairs with me. I don't know why but I strangely feel as though those are way too many. But there is no way in hell I'm leaving any of them. Simply because to each they hold a purpose. Plus, no one wears my shoes because according to them, they are ugly.

I bought shoes for work, shoes for home, for traveling, sandals, heels, and some flats. Oh and of course these adorable ones:

I feel as though my mother wants to buy me all these shoes (I bought my nude heels, and got the sandals free for those thinking that I am "spoiled." Won't name names.) because she doesn't want me to buy anything over there. It may be true, and there is a good chance that all my clothes will survive the year that I spend in Japan. But what if I intend on staying longer? What then?

Buy abroad I suppose. Hopefully I will lose some weight to fit into skinny Japanese Kawaii clothes.

Babies

I found out yesterday morning that my sister may be pregnant. I found out later in the day yesterday that she is five weeks pregnant and will be having the baby in March. Just in time for spring.
I have always been telling my mom how much we need a baby in the family. The youngest nephew that I have is going into elementary, so all those cute moments are not as cute as they were. (not that I am saying he isn't adorable and I would eat him up if I were cannibalistic. I would). But having a baby with that new baby smell, the dumbfounded eyes when they look at you and ponder who you are. The toothless smiles they sprout in your direction. Drunken and clumsy first steps. First words.
All that I miss about babies. And it's a bittersweet emotion that I feel because I won't be here in march. I'll be in another country.
The only thing that helps me cope is the fact that I'll be surrounded by babies and children where I work. :D

No trouble seemed too far away...

I was expecting to blog today about the awesome times that I spent with my sister in Palm Springs. How we ate at Joe's sushi because I haven't eaten any sushi in a while, and just laugh and giggle as the sun would radiate our skin to an even darker brown. We would walk five paces in desperate need of shade, knowing that it would not help at all, because the heat is hiding in the shadows. And melting off my foundation and liquid black eyeliner.

Instead, I was given a simple excuse, followed by a metaphorical boot out of Palm Springs due to neglect.

Not saying that this was my sister's fault. But I won't take the blame for it either.

Is it safe to say that I just felt brushed off? Abandoned? Deserted?

There is a word that I am missing from the databank of the thesaurus. Sadly, at the present moment, I cannot define it.

Maybe empty.

Yeah, empty. And indifferent towards her indifference.

Update for Japan and applying for Amity Aeon

Well, it has been awhile since I gave my acceptance speech, if I can even call it that.

I will be leaving the terrain of the United States on October 12, and be taking an overnight flight to Japan. I still have a long wait ahead of me to spend with loved ones by taking pictures, sharing memories, and eating yummy hamburgers and such. Even though I have been putting restrictions on me for certain days to limit my eating habits, it's not really working as well as my mother hoped. What can I say? This mouth was made to ingest delicious calories.

A little more information for those that are thinking of teaching in Japan: No, I have not began teaching, but so far, I know a bit of the acceptance process, at least for the Eikawa I have applied to.

If you decide to teach abroad in Japan, look into the hiring process, what the people want from you in the essays or paperwork that they want you to fill out. This is your first impression: on paper. As scary as that sounds, don't be afraid, suck it up and just jot down proper vocabulary, good grammar, and correct spelling. Depending on how well they liked your presentation of the essay and/or your other paperwork will determine whether or not you will be invited for a group interview.

Applying for Amity means meeting up for a group interview before you are granted a private one on one interview. What I did to prepare was read up as much as possible in the forums at Dave's ESL and had Google sitting in the passenger seat the whole time. The internet is a massive database of information, and with great power comes great information is what I learned through this trial.

First is dress code: Japan (especially if you will be going to work for an Eikawa school) likes their people to dress conservatively. This means black, navy, dark brown suits with an undershirt. Ladies, pant suits or skirts, your choice, just if you plan to wear a skirt, don't forget hosiery, and not the ones that are fishnet stockings, regular and nude. In other words, be as plain as you can be.

When going up for the group interview, you will be in a room with five other people or just three people. It all depends on how many people were invited for the interview, just be sure you have enough supplies for everyone. If you have left overs that's better than coming up short. They (the people or person that will become your future employer) will come in the room where all applicants are and begin discussing who they are as a company and what they have accomplished and even give a 10-15 minute presentation of a day in the life of an employee. Be sure to take notes throughout the entire time they are talking, don't sit there dumbfounded; look interested.

For the thirty minute lesson plan and the five minute presentation of said lesson plan, do your best. I can't really give much information on the lesson plan, so long as you don't come up short on the five minute presentation and have a clear view of what you wanted to show in the presentation from the lesson plan you should be fine.

Once everyone has done their presentation of their lesson plan, they will give you a grammar worksheet, which should not take you longer than the time given. Afterwards, they will either hand you an envelope or tell you if you will be invited for a second one on one interview.

On the one on one interview, you will be taken to a room to set up a ten minute lesson plan. On the spot, sure, but not that difficult, because it is dedicated to children. Short and simple should do the trick. Afterwards, they will tell you how you did, ask you how you think you did, and then continue with the interview process with questions like why do you want to work in Japan and such. Have a calm complexion and feel prepared to answer their questions. Show confidence mostly.

After that, you have three to four weeks of free time, so my advice is go have some fun and relax, and get ready to bite your nails after three to four weeks are done. If you have been considered for a position, you will have to submit a background check which you will pay for out of pocket, and soon after (literally for me it was the next day) you will be offered a position or an extended invitation, and put on a waiting list.

After that, it's paperwork after paperwork to send back and forth. I have no complaints so far as to how I have been treated in getting everything ready, because the people that I have been in contact with is the best. I have a question, I get on the phone, and I get the answer right away. :)

Well, that's all I got to say about Japan, the application process at Amity, and will write more in the future to keep those that are interested in teaching in Japan an open door with me.

Working for an Eikawa

The dream has been reached. I will be moving and working in Japan.

I can't say that I was not looking forward at getting a job in Japan. Ever since I found out in my sophomore year of college that I was able to do it, I was given an incentive to have this opportunity to both practice something that I have enjoyed doing (I have worked with children before) and being able to go to a place that I have always wanted to go, even if it was just to visit.

I am feeling a bit bittersweet to be wanting to leave. I mean, who is ever happy to say goodbye to the people that they have grown up with? No one I imagine.

But once I received my general offer of employment from the Eikawa school, I was not at all hesitant to reply with my acceptance.

I hope this to be a rewarding experience, as well as the beginning of writing more about my experiences in japan. I am thinking of continuing my journey in Japan with this blog, or starting up a completely different one. But that will be planned out in due time. First, I have to find out where I will be working and when I will be going.

Thoughts on Japan and Amity

I have weird moments when I like to type something online and looking through threads to have my questions answered. Like when I want to know how to breed some dragons in my Dragonvale app that I have in my iPad, or if I can take my little Roku player overseas (that is, if I get offered the job to work overseas).

Currently, I have refrained from expressing anything to anyone about the Amity Aeon position, except my mother, because she was in the Suzuki when I received the email saying that they are requesting a background check. I can only assume that I am keeping a calm exterior due to the fact if I am denied, I won't take it as hard as the time I was not offered the position for Aeon, their sister school.

But in retrospect, as I am trying time and time again to recount where I went wrong in the Aeon private interview, and where I went right, I see that I did more wrong than right. I stalled, I didn't understand how to properly teach the lesson plan, the answers were wrong, I was gasping and taking time simply because I didn't know how else to continue with the ten minute lesson plan.

In short, I choked because I never had the practice. Sure, I read about it in the forums and what to expect, but I was sweating as much as a horse when I was put on the spot like that.

I felt that with Amity, for the private lesson, I was more prepared. And it wasn't as difficult because I was just teaching simple phrases and animal vocabulary. I thought that I did better, and planning out the lesson plan felt more mature.

The one on one interview also helped me out a lot. And now that they requested the background check, I cannot help but think that this can only be a good sign. Wherever they decide to place me, I already told them that I was an open book and don't have any specific preference, because I have never been to Japan and I know that wherever I go will be a beautiful adventure.

Stiff Upper Lip

I am taking a break on the outside backyard with Pandora playing what is considered to be artists that have the same sounds as The Weeks. It's a band I recently have become too interested in.

I just think the backyard is beautiful, even though there are so many things wrong with it. The weeds are sprouting from the cracks in the concrete. The center of the grass is dead with instances of survival around the edges. The incomplete house my dad started when he was fired- I mean let go.

The lawn mower is resting in the shade the orange tree is supplying. The mango tree is still covered.

Yet the sun is still inviting. It makes me want to stay out here and just remain in the sun even though it burns after a while.

For this instant, it's burning. But I am not bothered by its sting. I am welcoming it.

Nieces.

I have my nieces over this weekend. To be honest, it is a constant reminder that I am either too annoyed at the fact of having children, or I am still going through a selfish phase.

I will admit that I am a selfish person, but at the same time I feel as though my sisters have "difficult bundles of joy." I say this with love in case either one decides to torch me through their teeth.

My youngest niece Emily is the type that can be labeled as psychopathic (I can just imagine Rob Hare scolding me for identifying a psychopath without proper training). She is a pathological liar, never listens, always cries to get her way, and has a tendency to torture pets. Just some cases to being psychopathic.

My other niece Bryana has a mouth on her that is pilfered with attitude. I hate that. So much more than a few simple psychopathic tendencies that my other niece has.

I don't know why I am writing this, when I could be watching something funny like mean girls. It's something I just wanted to get off my. Best I suppose.

Last Official Work Day

My boss came up to me to tell me that it was my last day today. Is this what it feels like to be let go or to be fired? It is ridiculously unfathomable. Like I cannot picture not coming back into work because it was so routine. I feel as though I am supposed to be rolling in tomorrow but I know that I can't. It's not like I can't come to visit, but I won't be working, therein lies the difference.

It seems surreal. Like this is just another day, even though it is my final day. Truthfully, I was hoping to work tomorrow and have tomorrow be my last day, versus having today be and ultimately cut abruptly short of just one day.

I don't feel like crying, I don't feel much of anything really. I cleaned out my folders where I stored things and had my boss tell me that she would need the keys to the drawers in her office. Again, just doesn't seem plausible. Like I will have another person come in and take over from where I left off in the Fall quarter. But I still don't seem to constrict in a general sense.

I will miss my coworkers, my boss, my other boss. Working the front desk and answering the telephone calls. Basically I will miss being an office assistant. And now I just wonder:

What am I going to do now?

I still have a Japan interview coming up, I still am waiting to hear from an Academic Advising position that my friend put in the good word for me. But as far as I am in life, I have no idea. Doesn't really scare me, it just leaves me wondering into different portals with the same constant thought:

What now?

Reflection time part deux

I sometimes find it hard to actually have the urge to open up my macbook pro from its sleep mode and begin typing about my day, because it is very unproductive at the moment. I have only finals to think about.

But as I am procrastinating again on three edits that are due tomorrow in the morning, along with revision narratives one page each, I decided to reflect a bit and look back on my years.

My freshman year was less exciting than most. Where many were having fun and trying to get out, I was lucky enough to get a ride that first quarter because I didn't get my license over the summer. I luckily received it in october and began driving the car left and right. That habit died very quickly, as my parents constantly remind me.

On top of being in classes, I was unsure of the major that I was pursuing. I didn't know that I wanted to be a social worker. And the remedial English classes were deterring me from doing anything special with English. But I got good grades in my research papers, and teachers were praising me for the work I put into my English papers. And even more so, when it came to identifying the premise behind the story and not being corrected like I used to back in high gave me more incentive to venture into the world of English. By the end of my freshman year, I was getting enrolled in English.

Sophomore year had to have been the most dull that I can remember, because I was focusing a ton on my religious studies as well as a bit of writing classes. I took a religion class that both my advisor and I thought would help me but in the end I had to take a few additional religion classes, to which I am thankful for, because it helped me figure out where my true beliefs lie. I am not saying that I was converted. But I did feel more at ease with my spiritual and religious philosophies. I no longer stood petrified at the thought of life after death, and I simply just began living out what I have been calling life.

Junior year was a butt load of writing and English lit classes. I felt as though my popping out of story after story was proving to be uninterested, and started making me want to challenge my writing, and begin an outlet for creative non-fiction, which I loved. I still decided to write some fiction pieces, but without a thought I would have careless tossed in the trash bin where they belong. By junior year was also the time that I found a stable job that had specific hours to comply with, and I had people working under me and also working with me. Plus, it was on campus so that was also nice; I was saving up the gas.

Until finally, my senior year. I recall good memories and bad. I recall changing my position as a tutor towards an office assistant. I watched plays with friends and laughed when we talked about our stories in humor writing. I wrote with purpose again because I wanted to go for a humorous appeal while also contemplating what I would want to publish later on in my life. I studied an epic poem that further made me philosophically question my position in this world. I started a writing group which I intend to follow through in the summer as we collaborate and critique works. I have a checklist of books that are waiting for me to hop into bed with them, while the drawer light encompasses and gives me eyes I need due to my lack of night vision. I want to camp, go to the beach, run again, build up my knee strength to have it work again. But most importantly...

I need to find a job to pay my phone bill. *sigh*

Milton is a tricky reading

I do enjoy a challenge. I have already labeled what I wish to read in the summer and I haven't even started my vacation yet. I feel it so close that I want nothing more at the moment. The first order of business is really reading Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by John Milton.

At the present, I am jumping around because reading all twelve books and having other homework due is making it difficult to truly enjoy it. I really do enjoy the prose as well as the poetry that he conveys throughout the rest of the poem, but I am just as interested as how he pictured the fall of man and extended what is said in Genesis as the Original Sin of man due to a woman.

I have to hate and love the fact that man is placing this blame on us poor females, but also the fact that they blame women as bringing them down with us. But that is besides the point.

I didn't think that there can be angst and passionate carnal lust in an epic poem such as this until I read it with my own eyes. You see the innocent smile that Eve gives him in the fourth book, and see how Adam has initially transformed as he demands her almost. It was enticing, and I have to agree with my Young Adult Literature professor as she states that the innocent scene in book 4 was cute and lovable, but the lust scene in book 9 was loads steamier and the lyrical prose is much more enticing.

Even so, I want to reread this poem, alongside with Homer's Iliad and Odyssey because so much of it is intertwined within the other. That's why I say that Milton's readings can be difficult, because if you don't know your Greek history, you are going to have a hard time understanding what he is referring. Sometimes, even the references within my own book is lacking in description. I feel as though I need a Plato book in one hand, a dictionary in the other, and a bible to look up the verses that he is referencing towards on top of my head.

I can't wait for summer vacation in all honesty. It couldn't come any sooner and the anticipation is just as bad as it is because I am graduating this summer as well.

Ay, poor me, you might think. No I don't deserve pity. I just deserve more time to dedicate to reading. :P

I wasn't planning on blogging two posts in one day, but the turn of events and a sudden rejection letter waiting for me at home had me feeling as though I should talk about it right away, unlike how I put off all feelings like I did with my grad school rejection letter. And I have less than five minutes to pour it out so here I go.

I decided to get spruced up for our invited author that we were going to have dinner with tonight so I went home. I got there and my mother told me that I received a letter from AEON, the company that I applied for my job in Japan.

Because it was light weight I automatically assumed that it was a rejection letter, and I wanted to hold off on opening it because of that feeling alone. I decided against that feeling and tore it open to read that I had been rejected.

My feelings about it are abnormal. I want to cry, because this was something that I was passionate about  but at the same time had to face facts that I screwed up in the interview process because I had clouded moments of delaying, which could not have been good. Either way, the other reason that I am not so forlorn is because I have another opportunity to teach with them. And if not them, then wherever in the world will take me.

That is the only way I am able to contain my tears: Keep looking on to the next adventure. If all else fails, I can just come back and work at school while I attend grad school here and get some teaching under my belt.

There are many other places that I can go, I just have to look for them.

Student Research Week

Student Research Week is coming up at my school, and my professor chose me (and a handful of others) to present some creative fiction or nonfiction pieces we have done. I offered to represent my humor writing course by presenting my final piece that I submitted at the end of the quarter. It was something that I slaved over and produced ten pages that I was fondly attached to. Imagine my surprise when she said that we have to shrink it to 5 pages. That's half of what I wrote!

I am not afraid of such a challenge, because I feel as though I can tighten my piece. I just feel as though I won't be able to include as much as I initially planned. I loved talking about my family and how their constant strain they put me through when they come over and I have mountains of homework that I have put off until the very last day (kind of like now how I have a Milton piece due and two books and so much work to organize etc).

This is something that I am just adding to the mountain pile. If only I had the heart to get a matchbox and light the sucker with fuel and watch it burn like the Joker. Unfortunately, I care. And this is something that I am looking forward to and hope to leave a dazzling impression on the group of people that go to hear me talk about the horrible virus that is sniffles.

Graduate and PhD?

I had to attend my senior seminar and we had a presenter come in from previous years to discuss how the class affected her in her career and her dreams. I couldn't deny that I was fondly moved as she discussed her inward struggle as she transitioned from a nursing program towards an English degree.

It inwardly made me reassess the process of how and what I wanted to do in my life with my career. I was always so hell bent upon going into publishing and editing, because I loved critiquing other people's works and loved reading, but now, I think I would want to go more into the teaching aspect of things. More so, I still wish to teach overseas and try to help spread my love of the English language.

But now, I would also consider going into a master's program here and studying for English Literature as I mold young minds that come here. I am sure that I would still be working as a student and possibly look for another area to work in, but a master's career never really strayed from my mind. And now, I am even considering a PhD in whatever I feel like specializing in. I think, however, that I would fall into a Greek Mythology category. If not, then Humanities like this presenter did. I don't know, there was just such a fascination that I developed in those 50 minutes of class time that made me reassess what it is that I want to do now. But it was as she said, "Never underestimate what you can do."

I don't underestimate my potential to do something great with my life. I do believe that God has a plan for many people in the world to do something great with their lives if they choose to do so. Maybe the reason that I don't have anything going for me other than family is because he wants me to do something that will be achievable and overwhelmingly positive?

Maybe he wants me to go into this graduate program, still working out my life to do something amazing. Maybe I was born to be a teacher and help young minds grow profusely. Maybe I have that unhidden potential to actually do more with my life.

Or I will crash and burn. But I won't know until I try.

I need to keep up with the blogging.

Man, I feel like I don't have much time to do anything when the family comes over. I am always busy having a blast with them. But at the same time, I feel as though my time (as in my personal time) is limited. Therefore, I feel like I can't accomplish anything.

I feel as though I should let everyone know what is going on in my mind right now. At the moment I am one month away from graduating so please excuse me while I bite off the remainder of my nails to the brim that I have hang nails on each one. One month and I will be clutching onto my Bachelor of Arts in English Writing. And more so, I have back up plans left and right to see where my life is going to be headed. Because, I have to face it: I don't want to live my life in just one setting. Even more so because I have nothing to settle me.

I recently went on an interview with an Eikawa school in Japan called AEON (pronounced EON, which was weird to say, and I felt like a klutz when they gave the proper pronunciation of that school). I put on my pretty granny stockings, ripped off the ticket prices on my newly bought navy suit, whined as my sister pulled my hair back like a stewardess in an airline, and was off. On the way over I took the wrong turn and went into the south bound instead of the north bound freeway (or I think the other way around. Point of the matter is I went the wrong way) but luckily I was there an hour early and arrived in time. I hopped into the elevator after asking the front desk for directions and waited upright because if I didn't stand upright, the skirt would have sliced me in half.

As we, (another interviewee and I) stepped into the waiting area, I looked around at my competition. I noticed two people (asian descent and no this isn't me being racist, their eyes were slanted) in black suits, and two more in a grey suit and a nice dress shirt. If there was one thing I learned from the forums is DO NOT WEAR BLACK. They are not fans of black suits and even state in their dress code pamphlets they had laid out for us is to not wear black. Good thing I went into those forums and went with the navy skirt dress suit.

After the initial background information and the break time, we were given the floor. We had to prepare a 30 minute lesson plan and present a five minute portion of it to the recruiters. The first one that went up was so nervous that he couldn't control himself from shaking. The lack of smiles doesn't help. One thing that I also remember from the forums was the fact that they like to have the students talk more than the instructor, and also to be very energetic and smiling the whole time. When the nervous shaker's time was over, I decided to step up and present my lesson plan. I initially forgot to give them my lesson plan but was promptly reminded to do so. When I did, I began with a smile plastered on my face. The game was simple enough, I grabbed the tape they provided and played a "Who am I?" game, in which the students had to ask around the other students what animal was on their backs. It looked fun enough and I made sure that I was smiling and saying as little as possible. Once my time was up, the other presenters came and went, still with not as much energy as I assume AEON enjoys.

After the initial five minute presentations were done, we had a few more information announcements for what we should expect if we leave to Japan, and finally we were given a short quiz, in which we had to spell some words and describe the difference between certain words. I vaguely remember some of mine: describe the difference between lay and lie, I'll be there in 10 minutes vs. I'll be there within 10 minutes, describe the difference between pick up and pick out, and the most dreadful one: describe the difference between effect and affect. I pulled a blank but still managed to give out the most of my knowledge on the two. After our twenty minutes were up, we were asked to wait while they went to get the results and give it back to us.

We were each handed an envelope and asked to not open it in the building but rather when we were alone. I was hopefully wishing one of us would be begging to open them at the same time while we were in the elevator, but unfortunately, nobody was feeling impulsive. And with good reason. I was nervous more than anything. I didn't waste anytime, as I was alone in the elevator for the parking garage and opened the flap to read that I had a following appointment at 1:15 for a personal interview. I was beyond ecstatic.

I returned on the following day an hour before I was scheduled to arrive, and walked into the waiting room and listened as I waited quietly for the interview to begin. I've been to interviews before, such as like the one that I went to for my tutor supervisor position but for this one, it was a bit more demanding. They put me in a room and gave me the floor to ask for any questions that I had, and all I could think of was whether or not I could take my iPhone (selfish and possessive I am about that thing, I know) and if it would work there. I also asked if he (the interviewer) had any special place that he liked in Japan, and he said that he never went anywhere past Tokyo, such as Hokkaido, which is the coldest place in Japan.

After a few more questions, he then asked me if I was ready to teach something from their lesson plan and I told them I was ready. The lesson plan was simple: adjectives and superlatives and comparatives. Big words that basically mean, "This is the biggest of all the things (biggest being the adj) and this thing is bigger than that thing (showing a comparison between the two objects)." They left me in a room for ten minutes to prepare and had another person join him, who was to be my "student" that I was teaching the lesson plan to. I was comfortable teaching and listening to make sure that they were answering it correctly but took too long before I was able to go into the next lesson (I must admit I did that on purpose, I didn't know what I was planning to do for the second part of the lesson). They gave me my feedback and then gave me an example of how they would present the lesson to me, where I was the student learning English. Afterward I put on the teacher hat again as I repeated the lesson that I was just put under to give the "student." I stumbled twice and got through it simply at the same time.

After the mock lesson was over I was given a few questions and was asked the regular, how did you hear about us? Why do you want to work for us? Why do you think it is good to teach/learn English? Those types of questions. By the time we were done, they said that they would notify me in two weeks to see if I got the job.

It will be one week on Tuesday. I don't know how I am going to wait any longer after that. My finger is itching to dial that number to see how I did.

I hate the fact that it is ridiculously late and although I should be in bed, or have HIMYM rocking me to sleep, I still find myself awake trying to type up letters to my fellow classmates about their writing styles and such. It's not that I don't enjoy it, I just want to sleep.

I knew I shouldn't have watched Funny Girl, singing along with the lyrics.

Reflection Time

I looked through some of my old pieces of fiction and non fiction (also research papers, but who really cares for those, ;P) and noticed something about the two: For fiction, I write very poorly when I am not motivated and for non fiction, I still write as if I have walls put up.

I realized that the little short pieces for fiction were fun and playful, but the dialogue was a bit askew, the plot was submissive or inexistant, and it all had to do because as I was writing it, it gave me no pleasure in writing it. At first, it was something nice because there is a genesis to the idea of what I am writing about. For example, I thought it would have been a funny piece to write about a poor sad man who lived with his mother fall in love with a woman that he didn't know was a lesbian. At first thinking about it, I thought it would be a funny story. But it was just... sad. Nothing really happened, the characters stayed the same, the guy still lives with his mom, the girl is still a lesbian. I think the only good thing that came out of it was a practice round for how to establish semi-good dialogue. Even then, the dialogue lacked anything to bring the story into fruition. Now, I plan to have something happen, instead of keeping the story so static. That Long Project class helped me to better fix that. To give a point to the story, not write pretty phrases. Although they may be pretty, they lack anything of value to the piece.

My non fiction wasn't any better. Although I did enjoy writing about myself and my family, I felt as though I still needed to keep the laundry from airing out in the green fields. I wasn't sure whether it was a good idea to bring up the scenario with my sister, but I was also feeling as though it was really no one's business, and trying hard not to bring it up. But the problem was, there was nothing going on in my life other than the thoughts pertaining to my sister. So, I wrote with caution. Now as I think and look back, it would not have hurt anyone because no one knew her, she was just another person that was going through something. I failed to tell the truth. Failing to tell the truth in stories is misleading to the audience. Now, I try to bring out the truth, while peeling layers of skin off me to expose truth.

Anyways, this was just to bring out some thoughts about my writing, and how it has affected me in my writing style.

Thoughts... as Spring quarter is my last quarter

Spring is here, the birds are chirping away the infinite end to my long line of education. I can't believe that I am one quarter away from receiving my Bachelor's degree.

And what do I plan to do?

Fly off to another country.

I do want to go teach English in another country, simply because I feel as though I am a liberated liberal that is up to the challenge. I am not afraid of trying new things, and my thoughts are still in bound to try and make something of myself.

I just hope I get the opportunity to do something as thrilling as teaching in another part of the world. Who knows, I might make something out of it. :)

One Final to go...

I am almost complete with school.

I was wanting to talk about my rejection to Oregon MFA's program, but I just felt as though I knew that the rejection was coming forth. It's not that I was being pessimistic about it; I was being realistic.

I find it hard to say that I am done with school. I want to continue studying. I always said that if I could, I would stay in school all my life. I just love to learn.

But now, that dream of joining a Master's program at Oregon is shattered, so I have other ideas that are springing to mind.

When I went to talk with my advisor, she asked what I wanted to do with my studies and what plans do I have for the near future.

"I was thinking about moving into Los Angeles with my sister and start looking for jobs that can build me in experience with publishing and editing," I said. I didn't know what else to do if I wasn't accepted to Oregon. My life line was riding on being accepted.

"If you aren't accepted, have you thought of other things besides moving to L.A? Or even applying to a Master's program in Professional Writing?"

"Yeah, but thats if I don't have to pay. I don't want to get more into debt."

"Good point," she said.

"I heard you telling a student about wanting to teach overseas, I suppose I would want to go teach in Japan for a year."

"That's great!" she said. And opened up Dave's ESL Cafe. Now I am really contemplating it.

Contemplating is a bit of an understatement. I want to do it more than anything in the world.

I love learning. What better way than to learn from someone I am teaching? Teaching is not an issue with me. I have worked with students small and students big. Teaching English, although challenging, just excites me to the point I am oozing with the possibility of actually being accepted to teach overseas. If the MFA program didn't work out, there has to be a reason. This could be that reason. Or moving to LA, but I am opting for the more adventurous one.

Fingers are crossed.

daylight savings time

I don't know if it was the alarm or the fact that it felt too late that I decided to wake up (by waking up, I mean feeling the soreness of my throat and my clogged nose make me get up due to suffocation) and begin my day. Apparently I was an hour behind everything. Instead of it being 7 in the morning, like I thought it was, it was 8 in the morning like the television, cell phone, and ipod said it was. I didn't hear it from anyone that daylight savings time came yesterday. I was surprised if anything.

Needless to say, instead of spending my time enjoying a cold Kix cereal bowl, still in pajamas as the straightener heated up in the bathroom with the broken toilet, I stripped off the pjs, unplugged the straightener, and grabbed my bag and a fruit to munch on as I drove on the way to school.

I was, and still am, in no good mood. To have the day just pull the rug from underneath you with such a force that you come plummeting face first into the floor was menacingly mean. And I'm sure DST is having a kick at seeing me frustrated and running around in the morning.

I can't wait for it to disappear.

I had a dream last night.

I can't say that it was a happier time, because the life that I am currently living is fun and happy too. But it did make me feel nostalgic. Nostalgic because it was how it used to be when I was a freshman in college, up to where I was a junior.

It was during those times because I was talking with people that I have not seen since that time. Believe me it was interesting to see those faces again.

It was my birthday party and we were celebrating in the garage like we always do. Everyone of my friends that were close to me were there. There was the one that didn't have a baby yet, one that wasn't pregnant. The ones that were still talking to each other, and the underage drinking going around.

When my other two friends came over, I knew I was dreaming. These two have not talked to each other in years. That's how I knew that I was dreaming. He was smiling and holding a poorly gift wrapped object while the other one smiled somberly and handed me a smaller present. The happiness upon seeing both of them still talking was the last thing I remember.

It made me reminisce about the old times, when I would tell people, "Hey, movie night at my place you in?" and everyone would be running down the street or driving up in their cars getting ready to veg out on the couch and just enjoy a movie.

My only question is, where did that urge to hang out go? Where did the friendship go? Is this what happens when you grow up?

It makes me sad more than anything, because I really do love hosting movie nights and seeing old faces. I just miss that.

Lent

I will say it once and again that I am not as Catholic as so many out there are. I simply do not have that drive to be as Catholic based on the fact that I no longer feel like I should belong to a Catholic church.

Consciously, I will still raise up my hand and give the signal that means, "In the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit," but it's just out of habit. Also, I still believe that if I don't give out the signal in a Catholic church, God will shun me for being a bad Catholic.

But with Lent coming around again, I feel as though it is time to begin the matters of giving up things for it.

One of the usual things that I give up for lent is fast food, chips, soda, and candy. I strive to pull myself forward away from the greasy delicacies and ignore the sweet tooth for forty days. Sadly, I cheat and find loopholes like, "Subway isn't fast food," and, "I can eat this because it isn't fast food."

This year, I want to do that but also so much more.

For one, I spend a lot of time on the internet, just trolling around doing nothing productive on Tumblr, facebook, YouTube, or recently 9gag. Each website has taken over my time and effort to want to work out, or find a good spot to finish reading books that I have on my shelf and whatnot.

So here is my intentions of limiting my internet leisure time. I will not be accessing my facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, or anything social media for the entire day. It isn't until I fall asleep that I will decide to check it. And even then, unless it is important to check it, I will abstain if it means that I need to sleep or do something much more productive.

In other words, I am in charge of deciding whether or not I want to read posts or see feedback or watch videos.

I know that with Youtube it is very often that I will be checking, simply because that is where I normally get my news. So, yeah, I already know I am going to rule out that possibility of abstinence towards it. The rest I feel pretty confident.

Other than quitting the majority of the media cold turkey, I decided to sacrifice all types of meat, such as pork, chicken, and beef. I will not eat anything with meat for these next 40 days.

I will also still hold out on the usual: fast food, chips, soda, and candy.

A lot on my plate, I know. But, I feel as though this challenge that I have presented on myself will better help me get focused on me and what I need to do (or not do) in order to better accomplish and go out this year with a bang. (Bang meaning I am graduating and want to make sure I have an idea what to do once done with school)

Think I can do it?

Coughing and Sneezing

Sneezing and coughing.

Not a pretty sight at all if you ask me. The snot is seductively approaching your bottom lip and you forcibly wipe it away hoping it gets the memo. It doesn't as it playfully tries to follow the same path the previous boogers before it. They aren't so quick to surrender.

So you do the next best thing, take in a deep breath. As you do so, your lungs inhale with the sounds of a motorbike trying to come to life but lifelessly returning into pockets that are shaped in your nose.

The coughs that come out are not pretty either. You brace yourself to cover the shame with your hands, and desperately reach for the antibacterial green hand sanitizer that is conveniently sitting on your desk.

Use me, it says. You're all germy until you use me.

One pump later and you brace yourself for the next cough.

Only this time, the cough turns into a hack. Not a hack like the internet is so fond of. The type of hack where the sounds escaping from your esophagus actually turn up with a prize. A prize that is clear and gooey like the hand sanitizer or a light green silly putty.

You need this. You need it out of your system. That's the only way to get better.

You pop pills that are over the counter, wait for it to take effect, then wait another 4-6 hours for the next dosage. You want to say to yourself, I am not sick, it's just a little cold. But then your body hits you with a strong sneeze.

It's one of those sneezes that you need to control if you are in public. Not so much if you are alone in your room with your chicken soup and bunched up Kleenex tissues. When that sneeze hits you, your whole body convulses as your eyes close tightly and your head lunges forward. The debris of the sneeze is evident as you open your eyes and see the tiny specks of bacteria infesting the air. It's those types of sneezes that you have to watch out for in public, or else they will infect the rest of those around you.

You swallow the warm gunk back into your body instead of  releasing it onto a tissue space that is conveniently lurking behind the desk phone. It's not on your desk, and the little packet of tissues that your mom gave you to stuff in your backpack was clumsily left at home. You regret not packing it.

Curse your constant bickering with yourself that you are not sick. You are.

And yet you are still in denial.

Because you believe the science that it is all mental rather than physical.

And your bones are obviously telling you it is physical.

Valentine's Day Through the eyes of a Fat Chick

Valentine's day. The day where cupid kick starts your hormonal engines into overdrive and forces you to secrete all these lovey dovey toxins.

That's if you are in a relationship. If not, then you secrete a different kind of emotion based solely on the fact that you are single: rage.

Which is strange. Why should the plus or minus of a person in your life ruin one day out of 365 (or in this case 366 because it's a leap year)?

I for one am single, but I feel far from forever alone memes imply. I have family that love me everyday, friends that show affection towards me and not to mention my own selfishness in brashly explaining that-case in point- I love myself.

I think that having all these other people extradite all this love around me brings happier times. It makes me have that faith in humanity because there is still love in the world. Can you imagine a life without love? Go watch Moulin Rouge and see what they have to say.

I love seeing love. I love the fact that people are in love. I don't like seeing people make out in the broad daylight. That is a much different type of love that has a more erotic aspect. I love seeing the couples holding hands. The small smiles they direct towards one another. The simple gestures of gentlemen acting chivalrous and the women daintily thanking them with a simple look. I love seeing those types of romantics out on the streets because that is a true example of a loving couple. They don't have to be all over each other to show that they love each other. They show it discreetly, as if that look is meant only for the one that they are with.

I don't believe that by having a relationship it would make you blissful and happy through all your days. If that is all that you have going for you, set your priorities in a different order. Don't breathe for another person; breathe for yourself. Be selfish and take the other's air supply because when it comes down to it, you are going to want it when the going gets tough *cough* ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE *cough*

I don't think of me as being cynical or neurotic on such a festive day. I just don't believe that you need one day to show a person that you love them. I tell my mom and dad (when I see him) that I love them. I don't need a day to tell me that. She pushed me out of her lady parts and he gave me my body type. I have to show that I love them everyday. And my sisters and my brother and my cousins and my nieces and nephews and whatnot. I love telling them and showing them how much I love them. I can't get enough sloppy kisses from my dogs. The wagging of their tails.

And don't push me in the closet just yet because I feel like I can go on forever right now. Love, to me, is unconditional. I love being in relationships but I won't make it the highlight of my life because there are other things that are far more important. I have school, I have work, I have friends. I'm not trying to make an excuse for myself but to add a relationship on top of everything that I have would just mean no time for me. And as I mentioned before I am one selfish being.

But would I like that special someone to bring me flowers or just a card or even just a hug accompanied by a kiss? Of course I would, who wouldn't?

But, I don't. And again, not killing myself over not having a boyfriend. I don't believe that I have found that person that gives me butterflies as well as goosebumps. That can trigger my mind with questions as well as trigger other parts of my body. I haven't met that person that makes me look at the world and say, "You are the nicest thing I have ever seen." I still haven't found what I am looking for. Not even sure that I will find it anytime soon. But I'm not depressed because I won't have someone to share all this love that I have for others. I will just give it away as I go throughout the day, and continue writing points of view revolving around what I consider important or not.

To all you singles out there. I love you. Happy singles awareness day. Take time in finding that special someone or stop looking so they can find you.

For the couples, happy Valentines day. Show them how much you love them without it losing a PG rating. Honestly no one wants to see that in public. We like to watch our porn behind closed doors.

For the haters, grow up. It's just another day. You don't like the smooching couples, look away. I'm sure if you stare at the sky you won't find anybody making out. Unless you see a cloud shaped like one.

Fighting Sickness

It's the last seven minutes before I am done with work. I just thought I would discuss my theories of battling sickness.

It comes to me because I am battling a little war myself with a sore throat and apparently another headache. What I have come to learn is that to be sick is a battle of wills.

If you tell yourself that you are not sick, you will be fine. You will carry on your day like you would any other day that you are not sick.

If, however, your attitude is sour, and you don't feel like you will be the victor by the time rolls around to when you have to apply yourself, you will lose everything.

Not everything like your house and stuff. I mean your mentality, your healthy glow that is gilded within a coat of bacteria infested corpse.

I am telling myself to this point that I am not sick. That the sore throat I am experiencing is just a nuisance. Nothing can put me to bed right now.

I have midterms to worry about, to keep me from caring much about a sickness.