I decided that today, after I woke up and got ready really early, that I decided to experience a little bit of the outside world. And what a fun day. I don't have much to say that won't be better said than a picture. So, I guess I will save a thousand words and show what I did this afternoon with a very good friend. I will give some background information of this festival though, then I will allow you to enjoy it. This festival is called tezutsu hanabi in Toyohashi. It's basically a bunch of fireworks going on with people holding onto the fireworks as they are showered by the little sparks of the flame. Then they bring in big firework cannons and shoot off a ton of fireworks. Overall, it's an interesting festival that they have. Now, enjoy the rest of the pictures.

I leave and come back and leave again...

ひさしぶりね。

It certainly has been a while since I last posted on this blog. I am a bad writer. Bad. Like someone should hit me on the nose with a newspaper.

I still don't have that same satiation for writing like I used to. But I am slowly regenerating myself to want to drive that energy towards writing.

I still do the whole vegging out after work, but I do write at least a page about my day or about a thought that crossed my mind. It has been interesting to get back on that horse. But, it feels like I am picking up a bicycle and riding a bit again. With no training wheels.

That's not to say I have not stopped living in Japan. I still am living on the other side of the world, with nothing to do but eat Ramen noodles and day dream about Mexican food drenched in salsa verde that my mom makes.

Since the last time that I posted, I found out I have not updated what has been going on with my life. I guess I should update something of what I have been up to.

Summers in Japan are in a word HORRIBLE. It makes cold showers and big ice refrigerators seem like a paradise! All I did was create new pit stains on some of my favorite shirts! It has not been pretty.

But fall is here, so the sweat pools have dwindled down nicely. Now I only worry about getting my cardigans dirty and what not. Otherwise, it is only going to get better now.

I have done a few more things on the bucket list that I made back in May. I did see a Kabuki show at an old retirement home. There was this cute little old lady that kept singing alongside the show. Speaking of little old ladies, one time when I was walking home to lunch, I got hugged by a random one on the street. It made me happy for a while.

Also, I have switched apartments. It's bigger, more spacious and has a little bit of a bug problem. But that was my fault. I let trash fester in the summer and must now reap the consequences. But I will say in my defense, the time I had to take out the trash, a typhoon came and would have made it very difficult to take the trash out.

I don't know what else I have yet to mention to make it sound like I am having a good time versus I am just complaining about the time I have spent in Japan. Because I don't like to complaining about this place. I love it here. I don't have much of a choice, I mean, I'm still planted here for another full year.

I wonder what to do for my one year anniversary. Probably nothing but a wine bottle for me. Raising a glass, October 13.

My inspiration is drained!

I have been trying to get back up on this horse of writing. But I have noticed that as soon as I get home, I will get on my laptop and instead of opening a writing application, which I have paid some decent money to say to myself well I bought it I might as well use it, but instead I go on tumblr, look up an episode I have not seen yet, pig out, and rest my eyes for the following day.

My inspiration has been slowly sapped from my skin. It has left no trace of hunger to continue this passion that I majored in.

And I find it ironic that while I Have no more inspiration to write, I keep looking at writing seminars, and universities that offer a master of fine arts in writing. I figure that if I want to get into these prestigious schools, I should be writing on a regular basis.

And yet, here I still sit, doing nothing.

But I have been giving some thought about a bucket list.

A bucket list of Japan, because, although I don't want to be pessimistic, I will probably not return to Japan. So, I have to do everything I want to do in Japan before I leave October of next year. So here is a bucket list with things I have already done and plan to do in Jaapan before leaving in October 2014.

1. Go to every Pokemon Center in Japan (7 total, 2 completed)
2. Climb Mount Fuji (To the top of the mountain. Go big or go home)
3. See a sumo match
4. See a Kabuki play (even though I understand no lick of Japanese)
5. Go to an Onsen (with monkeys or no monkeys; just as long as its an onsen)
6. Go to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Disney Sea
7. Visit all the beautiful shrines and areas in Kyoto (Fushimi Inari shrine done, around 8 more to go)
8. Visit all the islands of Japan.
9. Stay in a capsule hotel
10. Buy a Kimono and a Yukata
11. Ring a shrine bell and pray
12. Do a Tea ceremony
13. Go to Universal Studios Japan


And heres the finished or completed parts of the bucket list:
14. See the cherry blossoms bloom
15. Go to Tokyo Tower
16. Visit the Winter Illumination in Nabano no Saito
17. Cross Shibuya Crossing
18. Visit Akihabara
19. Play UFO Catcher games in Akihabara
20. Visit a maid cafe
21. Visit Osaka and Dotunbori


And I know I have done a whole lot more, but I think due to the lack of sleep I am feeling, I am forgetting. But that's all for now. I will update as I think about more things I want to do while in Japan.

Once, I had a great schedule planned out for me. I would wake up and read a bit while enjoying a ham and egg Muffin sandwhich with powder style tea. Or I would watch a few Youtube videos to get my fill of news from back home.

Then I invested in a Playstation, and it all went to hell.

Damn you Playstation, for being so god damn awesome. For filling my nights with multiplayer sessions, and for pointing out how bad I have become at shooting games. To point out my rustyness and fill me with nostalgia from all the ps one classics I purchased.

And also, thanks for being able to let my External Hard Drive work on you so that I can watch television shows and movies on a much bigger screen than the one on my computer.

I need to get off that thing. And start hopping on here more often.

I do have something written, so hopefully, the next time I log on it will be with more time.

Four Months Already?

Four months in Japan. Yes, today marks four months that I left from LAX and came to the land of rice and neon signs. Seriously, so many neon signs. None near me thank God.

Well, a reflection of the four months that I have spent here? I thought you would never ask. Especially since I haven't written in a while. But slowly starting back up and being reprogrammed. And once I start, I will try to continue.

To begin with, Happy New Year! Wow 2013. We have survived another end of the world scenario. I don't really know how many is that now, but I kind of lost interest the minute we survived Y2K. Well, maybe a bit after.

For the 10 days that I had of vacation, it was in a word, glorious. No work for one week and spending 4 days in Tokyo, can be something that the doctor ordered.

I will say for the record that Tokyo is huge. like Huge. And to make matters weirder, there is a ton of Americans in Tokyo. Like, when I go to Nagoya and see another American or something I stay surprised for a second because it's crazy rare to see them. But going to Tokyo, seeing all of them made me second guess whether or not I was still in Japan. It was nice not to feel alienated for a while. But not much could have been said for it.

We visited many places in Tokyo, Roppongi and Wendy's where we spent New Years Day, Shibuya and Shibuya crossing and their poochy mascot, Shinjuku and the hotels we found to stay the night, Harajuku and the nostalgic feeling of the callejones from Los Angeles (and a churro for a snack!), and Akihabara and the maid cafe that my friends were called masters and I was called princess.

After vacation it was nothing but sleeping and resting and playing video games, all the while fearing stepping outside because it was outside. I just didn't want to okay? I'm broke at the moment so the only thing I can afford is food and drinks. Which I don't mind.

So for now, I will remain in bed while the cheese nan I have leftover cooks in the toaster oven I almost burned down, along with my apartment. That's what I get for sticking in a tortilla and not watching over it.

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 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. :)

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.

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.

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.