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.