J-List: Part One-TOKYO in particular and Jeeks in general

So, as promised, here's my “Japan List” (hereafter known as the J-List. In fact everything Japan related will hereafter be J-whatever. Because I’m a J-geek and that’s how I roll).

                                                       

This is a list that I’ve been working on since I arrived in Japan (Lies! Since I was 14…), but most of the items on the list haven’t been crossed off because Hokkaido is so far away from most/all of them! Gah! While I’ve made up for it with copious amounts of Hokkaido sightseeing (A Hokkaido Highlights post will make an appearance soon, promise), I’ve been dying to get to these places. Soon I can. Woo!

In general, these are some things I’d like to do when I move south:

·     See a Bunraku performance-(traditional Japanese theatre)

·     See a Kabuki performance

·     See a Noh performance

·     See a Butoh performance (a new form of Japanese dance)

·     Attend an Ukiyo-e (Woodblock painting) workshop-I really want to see how this is done!

·     Join a Taiko team: Best free bicep workout under the sun + bonus stress-relief, guaranteed!

·     Join a Kimono club and eventually buy one to keep and admire but not to wear…something weird about foreigners in Kimono. I love wearing them and think they’re breathtaking, but only when it’s appropriate and doesn’t scream, “Look at me! I wanna be Japanese! I’m Kawaiiiiiiii” Gah. Although I won't deny I’ve always wanted to go to Kyoto and wear the full get-up for a day! Okay, rant over…

·     Learn Ikebana I’d like to be able to, as Lynette from Desperate Housewives recently put it: learn the art of “putting sticks in a vase”.

·     Shinkansen the length of Japan. Yes. Oh yes. When I’m a bit richer L

Okay, let’s start with the obvious:

TOKYO

·     See a Sumo match I’ve been outside the stadium, and even seen a Sumo wrestler in the flesh, but never managed to get to a game

·     Edo-Tokyo Museum Okay, I’ve been here twice already, and rave about it to my friends, but I’m going again because I love it so much! And because I’m a crazy J-History nut.

·     Tokyo Disneyland Does this need an explanation? I hear they give out Easter eggs at Easter-guess I’ll have to go then! Oh, and I’m going to get my Mickey Ears once and for all!

·     Imperial Palace and gardens Just serene. I love cycling around it

·     Harajuku (Crazy fashion people watching never gets old

·     Asakusa-jinrikisha Only because I have a discount ticket haha! Someone come with me??

·     Ghibli Museum because I’ve recently become interested in Japanese animation, and I’m quite impressed

·     Meiji Jingu I’ve been dying to go here ever since I learnt about it! I could talk for hours about this place, but I’ll spare you

·     Yoyogi-koen To hang out with the buskers and troll the markets

·     Ueno-koen

·     Yasukuni Jinja The infamous and controversial war-dead dedication shrine. Also dying to go here

·     Yasukuni Jinja Yushukan The Museum of the above

·     Kabuki-za I’ve glimpsed this briefly-can’t wait to see a show inside!

·     Shitamachi Museum

·     Tosho-gu

·     Kabukicho My J-Culture weakness is Maiko and Geisha-I’m sheepishly obsessed. Need a book on them? I’ve got about 10 and counting…and it’s pronounced “gay-sha” not “gee-sha”!

·     Shinjuku gyoen Tokyo’s largest park-just to say I’ve been to Tokyo’s largest park…that’s the only reason people go to those kinds of places, anyway.

·     Ota Memorial Art Museum

·     Hachiko Statue To see the statue of the dog who waited faithfully for his master every day at the train station, even after he died.

·     Hie Jinja　Orange tori, orange tori, orange tori. It’s all about orange tori!!

·     Oedo Onsen Monogatari (Apparently it’s an onsen town up like old style Edo onsens, sounds very, very cool!)

Food:　(Because, frankly that’s what travel is all about, and, well, because I love food.)　

·     Sakata (Tokyo’s best noodle spot)

·     Ten-Ichi (best tempura)

·     Tokyo Dai Hanten (Sunday Yum Cha, chinese style-not really Japanese but who can sanely pass up Yum Cha?)

I’m totally booked up for the next year at least with this list! This is only a small chunk out of my J-list; there’ll be much more to come.

By the way, I’m totally coining a new word: JEEK (=J—Geek-nifty, I know). If Glee can do it, so can I.

-Your humble, terribly-excited Jeek (the family-friendly, non-crazy-Kimono-wearing kind) ;-)

Golden Week Glee!

So for this year's Golden Week I headed to probably my favourite part of Hokkaido-way out east near the likes of Akan-Ko, Kusaharo-Ko, Masshu-Ko and the Kushiro Wetlands before heading up to Shiretoko. I've been here before but couldn't resist getting one last trip in!

We started off camping by beautiful Lake Kussharo-unfortunately no sign of Kushi-the lake's answer to Loch Ness' Nessie. A great bunch of Japanese friends fed us until we couldn't move, and then fed us some more!

After leaving our friends, we headed off on our own to do a spot of sightseeing. My favourite place to go up this way is definitely Shiretoko Go Ko-5 beautiful lakes surrounded by bear and deer inhabited forest. It's simply breathtaking! This is lake number one:


The ryokan we stayed in near the area put on a fabulous spread for dinner. I'm so full, even now..Isn't the little crabby cute?? Nom nom nom...



And at this very moment I'm on board the Aurora sightseeing ship checking out Iozan and the Sea of Okhotsk in Utoro. It's a hard life, but someone's got to do it!



I really don't want to go to work tomorrow..

Chao!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Before I go...

So, I'm a list kinda girl. I can make a list for anything, and everything. I love it, perhaps a little too much, but I'm not going to stop! Something satisfying about seeing your thoughts lined up on a piece of paper. So, of course, I have umpteen Japan-related lists. I've added tabs on the side of my blog-lists of my favourite Japanese study books, regular books, websites, and I'm sure there'll be many more to come.
Of all of my lists though, the one in the front of my mind is my "Do Before Leaving Hokkaido List", so I'd thought I'd share it! Here it is, in all it's glory:

• One more Nippon Ham Fighters game at Sapporo Dome (I have to walk out with a T-shirt, at least)
• See the Lion King (seen in before in English, so Japanese should be interesting!)
• Climb as many mountains as I can (not many of them 'round Tokyo I'm sure!)
• See the carps  flying in Jozankei
• Go to the beach! 
• See Matsuyama-jo (Hokkaido's only castle)
• Have a raging Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnic
• Find more cool restaurants in Sapporo
• Have as many Wii/Nabe/Sukiyaki/Takoyaki parties as I can with my lovely Hokkaido friends
• Go east. Those lakes are amazing
• I secretly want to go to Rishiri and Reibun again, and visit the crazy youth hostel, once more
• Odori Summer Festival-beer anyone?
• One last (and first, actually) picnic at Yuni lookout
• Go drinking with the teachers
• Hip Hop night..
• One last crazy night in Sapporo
• A road trip, somewhere!
• Take some nice shots of my town
• Eat as much Hokkaido food as I can (ramen, seafood, melon, gengisu kan and soup curry!) 
• Add to this list

If you think I've left anything off, let me know. Next up is the "Japan List".  Watch out, that baby's huge!

Exciting News!

Okay, I'm determined to get better at this blogging thing! Especially because there will be a change of pace in my adopted Japanese life. After three years in lovely, picturesque Hokkaido, I've decided to try the fast-paced life of Tokyo. And I couldn't be more excited. Hokkaido is very different from mainland Japan, not so traditional, and incredibly spacious! I'm really looking forward to seeing a little more of Japanese culture and catching the crazy Tokyo trains (hold me to that, because I'm sure I'll be sick of them soon enough!)

At the moment the plan is to find a job, (probably something English-teaching related, as there are so many of those on offer!) and move into a little apartment of my own (no more 5 year-old hand-me-down couch!) and set up my new life. I don't really have an end point in mind, so I think I'll be in Japan for a long while yet! I'm already going gaga over Ikea catalogues! I have to try and not get ahead of myself ;-)

I have a bunch of mixed emotions about this decision. I'm finding it really hard to imagine saying goodbye to all of the wonderful people I have met here. I have made some really amazing friends. Teachers that were afraid to talk to me 3 years ago are now banting with me in the staffroom. I feel like I've got a little Yuni family here. I know my way around, and if I'm ever in any sort of trouble, there's someone I can call. I've had so many members of my family come and visit me that I feel everyone knows me pretty well, and we have a lot of common ground now.

I've grown to love the Hokkaido snow. I went from being a complete dunce on the slopes to sliding down on my beloved board quite smoothly (if I do say so myself..) Moving to Tokyo will mark an end to copious amounts of powder snow and snow cleaning (yay), but I'm determined to get back at least once every winter for a boarding holiday (and to visit my dear friends!)

The other half of me is excited beyond words! I can't wait to do so many things, and see so many of the places I've wanted to see for three years but haven't been able to because of the time and money it takes to go anywhere from Hokkaido. I have a huuuuge list of places I want to see, things I want to do (finally going to join a Kimono Club!), festivals I want to go to (i.e. ALL of them). I can't wait to be closer to so many of the Japanese friends I've made over the years of hosting Japanese students. My host mother from my first trip to Japan (10 years ago) and I have kept in contact and I can't wait to see her again. I could go on and on and on about all the things I want to do, but I'd be here forever! Let's just leave it at this: I've found my calling, and you'll be hearing a lot more from me and my new adventures! Let's go!

Summer Time and Update!

So Summer is well and truly here! I've been keeping busy with Summer Festivals, welcome parties for the new JETs that have arrived, Pre-School visits (more on them later), and summer activities (hiking, rafting, travelling!). Throw in a 6-day whirlwind trip to Australia and that's my Summer so far!

My favourite part about Summer in Japan is definitely the Summer festivals. Getting kitted up in a Yukata, eating festival food (fairy floss, yakisoba, shaved ice and more!), dancing, playing taiko and catching Mochi (pounded rice cakes) are just some of what goes on at one. The other night was the last of the Summer festivals, so I'm kind of sad that they're all over. There are some more in Autumn so it's not all bad new, but I'll miss the ones in my town the most. I always end up seeing everyone I know (which after teaching English to 500+ kids and adults for two years, is quite a lot!). It's sometimes is overwhelming but mostly it's heartwarming. I feel like I have so many lovely friends in this town, which is going to make leaving them so much harder ;-(

One of the most recent festivals was the Centipede Festival in my town (the centipede is my town's mascot, for what reason I'm yet to discover!). The festival involves a series of races whereby a team of 6 stands in a vertical line with their ankles ties together with rope. In this lovely contraption, the team run together over 2/300 metres, the first to finish being the winner. This year I was asked to join. Gulp. I was put in the Women's Town Office Team, and to my joy was placed at the front of the line! The first to fall and the face everyone would be looking at! Well, there were no falls (though a few close calls!), and we finished second. A mediocre effort, that thankfully won't have to be repeated!

Another traditional part of my Summer is visits to the local pre-schools. Wow. Those were an intense few days! 40 2-5year olds screaming and crying and jumping on me for an hour at a time has certainly proved a test of my patience! But when I'm greeted with 40 little voices shouting "Hello Samansa!" when I walk in, it kind of makes it all worth it ;-) I've found it to be my most challenging audience so far, keeping my energy up with those kids is an effort that puts me in awe of pre-school teachers! So far we've done colours, numbers, duck duck goose (read: tears, tears and more tears!) and the Hokey-Pokey/Cokey. I've loved every minute of it (even if I need another shower afterwards!) and I'm looking forward to doing it all again in the winter holidays.

At the moment it's school festival time. The school festivals here would roughly translate to an end of year concert in Australian schools. My students are running around doing last minute dress rehearsals of songs, dances and performances and then decorating the school in their free time. I look forward to school festivals every year, plus there's always a teachers party after everything's all over!

Let's see, what else is new? Currently, Toye and I are planning a super trip around Japan for when we leave JET. The plan is to buy a van, take the seats out of the back and lay a frame and mattress down, and then drive the length of Japan, stopping off at everything on our list- (all the way to Okinawa!) that way we'll leave Japan having been everywhere we wanted to. I'm really excited! There's also plans to catch the Trans-Siberian Express from Beijing/Vladivostok and travel through Europe afterwards, which is equally exciting! (subsequently I'll be counting my yen from now on!)

Recently, 12 students from my town went on a 10-day exchange to Port Macquarie, Australia. I took them through a few months worth of orientations, practicing Aussie greetings (G'Day Mate! Don't worry...didn't go that far!), teaching them Aussie customs and preparing them for culture shock. They got back about a week ago and they haven't stopped talking to me about everything they did! Apparently there were some crushes too ;-)

I'm quite excited as my parents are making another trip over in October this year. This will be their third trip! I'm feeling very lucky :-) As soon as I told my schools/friends/students EVERYONE has made plans to see them! There's even been a softball game organised and planned for my Dad to take part in because they know he plays softball! I've got quite a trip round Hokkaido planned for them too, so I hope they don't expect to get any sleep while they're here!

Well, I think I've covered everything in the last couple of months or so. This weekend I'm off to the Hell Festival (I know, right? I'll let you know when I find out!) plus there's a trip to COSTCO planned as well. Can't wait!
Sam

All things Spring!

So the snow has fiiiinally melted and the sunny days are becoming more frequent. Hurrah! I can now safely cycle to work now, a big plus :-) With warmer weather brings spring-time activities. I've already sweated my way through two marathons (don't be fooled by the name, it was only 5km!) We were creative and spelled "Toya" (the name of the town where the "marathon" was held) with our bodies!

Nifty, eh?

Had one school sport's carnival: There are always two teams-red and white. The white team won this year with a special Team Dance danced to a song from High School Musical! And they shouted out the English lyrics that they knew :-) Sweet!

And the other day I was invited out by one of the primary schools to plant rice the old-fashioned way. It was very spur of the moment so I wasn't exactly appropriately attired! The entire school jumped in the rice paddy bare-foot and continued to squelch and scream and plant tiny little seedlings. It was so fun!

I've never heard so many squeals (from myself included!)!

This interesting contraption makes the holes where the seedlings are to go. Interesting stuff!

My lovely attire..

The next big even on my schedule is the Yosakoi-a giant dancing street parade in Sapporo which is endless amounts of fun! Amid the frivolity there's a superhero costume party for a friend of mine, for which, with my newly red tresses, I'll dress as Poison Ivy! Putting my sewing skills to the test :-s I'll keep you posted :-)

-S

Hisashiburi=Long Time, No See!

Well, it's been quite a while, an embarassing long time in fact, since I updated my blog! I'll pin it down to having too much fun in Japan ;-) I could spend paragraphs backtracking and updating what I've been up to since *gulp* April 13, 2009...but I'm lazy and can't be bothered ha. Besides, Facebook can tell you all of that! Instead I'll tell you what I'm up to today. And that's counting down the hours before I head to Northern Honshu, (Tohoku) for a week of roadtripping, onsen-ing and cherry blossoms. I'm ridiculously excited and as soon as 4.15 rolls around I'm racing out that door!
Our (that would be Toye and I) plans include: a 7 hour ferry trip from Hokkaido to Aomori prefecture where we'll see the largest outdoor golden Buddha (Seriously, who could pass that up?), and a 4 hour hike and a soak in a lovely milky hot spring (just like a postcard!). After Aomori we're headed to Iwate prefecture...where limestone caves, a rock-splitting cherry tree and...the infamous Wanko Soba. Giggles aside it's basically a small dish of soba noodles and soup, it's served in a tiny little bowl and the idea is to eat as many of those little bowls as you can. One of my friends in Yuni managed to stomach 52. So that's what I'm aiming for! Wish me luck!
Next is Akita prefecture. First up a trip to the deepest lake in Japan (I wonder if we can swim in it?), several 'castle towns' and another hot spring dip! Last stop is Miyagi prefecture where we'll see the Akiu waterfalls, eat cow tongue and yet another hot spring before a ferry ride back home.
The ferry leaves at 12 tonight. Bring it on.

Busy, busy, busy!

I met my eager little 1st graders today (Australian equivalent of year 7). Twelve shy little faces looked up at me when I entered the classroom. I saw some familiar faces; those who I had taught in primary school were now entering their next stage in the rigorous Japanese school system. A game of fruit basket later and I’d already picked out the drama queens and troublemakers. And all that shyness went out the window!

This week is a fairly busy one for me. Tonight I have the final taiko practice before the big performance on Wednesday in front of what looks to be like the whole town (hell yes I’m nervous!). With only three lessons under my belt, it looks to be a promising show!

On Wednesday, little Yuni town is welcoming an orchestra from Australia. I’ve been assigned as the tour guide, translator and MC for the day-long orientation and welcome party.

All of this before flying to Tokyo the next morning!

Old and New

So as I sit here on exam day, my new colleagues busily rushing around me, I get the blog rush. This time of year is filled with old teachers leaving, new teachers coming (and parties for each), 3rd graders leaving and new 1st graders arriving! It’s a very busy time of year, and there are many new names and faces that must now be committed to memory.

Last night I went to a welcome party for the new teachers at one of my schools. Amidst passed plates of sushi and cups of sake, each of the new teachers was given over to scrutinisation by the old teachers-‘Question time’ they dubbed it. Keep in mind this was fairly late into the evening, when many a beer had been consumed, and many a Japanese face had turned that familiar shade of pink. Apart from asking the usual getting-to-know you questions, I was introduced to my new co-workers as well. “Samantha, the witch” they’d said. Now that never gets old does it? I was asked a dozen times how old I was and was also requested to ask the new teachers some questions in English (I love being the party-trick). I asked one teacher how many beers he can drink (it's a popular male braggin point you see), to which he replied “I am Beer Monster! I am drunkard. A little bit.” I was charmed, naturally.
I then asked the new Japanese teacher what his favourite English phrase was, kindly reminding him that if he said “Yes we can!” I would turn him into a toad…well; he certainly trumped that with an enthusiastic “Love and Peace!” to which everyone raised their glasses in merriment. Gah, I felt like I was questioning Miss America contestants.

Two hours later and it’s all over for a small (*cough* ridiculously overpriced *cough*) fee. The next day is so quiet you’d never know they were gallivanting drunkenly the night before.

And…I’m set to do it all again tonight.

WINTER UPDATE!

As the snowy season draws to a close, I thought it time to review the highlights of the 6-month winter that is home to Hokkaido. First the lows, then the highs:


LOWS:

• Paying though the nose for archaic kerosene heating.

• Brushing with death every time I sit behind the wheel…that ice I tell you!

• Not being able to feel my extremities for a considerably percentage of the day

• No sun at 4pm

• Shutting off half of the rooms in my apartment because it’s too damn cold…and then walking into those rooms when I
realise I need something from them.

• My favourite places closing for the winter (Yuni Garden, the Bakery and Ice-Creamery)

• A less-than-satisfying New Years, and a BBQ-less Christmas Day

HIGHS:

• Learning and semi-conquering the snowboard. And doing it every weekend.






• The fluffy white blanket of snow that covers the mountains and falls from the sky like marshmallow stardust

• Snow-ball fights

• Snow-sled races (yes, I took part in one!)



* Meeting Mario and Luigi



* Pounding Rice Cakes


* Finding a Drive-Thru Starbucks


* Getting an iPhone. Yes, geek.


* Seeing the impossible being carved from Ice at the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival)


* Making friends with the local ski hill owners and getting a free season pass!

• Way too many ski tours to keep track of







• A trip to Tokyo with grandma to see Mr Fuji himself!



• Scoring a fat 100% on the JET Japanese correspondence course

• Meeting a ton of new Japanese friends (including some my own age at last!)

• An invitation to start Adult English Conversation classes

• Reaching the 6th level of Japanese calligraphy (I started at the 9th level) and receiving a Bronze mention.

• Experiencing a KFC Christmas party

*Hip-hop partying through Hokkaido


* And finding a nice boy to bring home to the parents!


Luckily the highs outweigh the lows, hey?!

Songs, Sleighs and Santa hats!

So this week is my last week of school, and the last week before Christmas. AS the big day draws near, more and more festive activities are happening! My 3rd grade elective English class today made Christmas cards, wrote letters to Santa, and had 'Santa photos':


The closing weeks of school mark the final choral contest. The singing ability of Japanese school students is remarkable! Check them out:

So proud! I'm gunna miss these kids over winter break!

書道Shodo-the art of Japanese Calligraphy.

Recently I joined the Japanese calligraphy club in the next town. Every Wednesday I go to a little old lady’s place hidden in an alleyway and take lessons in a big old musty room, filled with ink stains. For an hour and a half I sit with my legs folded under me, my brush poised just so, and my back as straight as the scroll-clad walls behind me. My Shodo Sensei guides me in the correct swishes, hooks and strokes, and before long I’ve written my first: 永久 ‘Forever’ (I think this will be the hint for how long it will take me to perfect calligraphy!) I leave with a new calligraphy kit in hand, and a zest to spend the rest of the night with my brushes and ink. The kind of calligraphy I’ve enrolled in is graded. Every month I submit a certain number of calligraphy to get marked, and if I pass then I move to the next rank. At the moment I’m 新 (new). There are about 25 ranks and the highest are held by most of the elderly population. I’ll most likely be an “obaachan” (old lady) before I get anywhere near there!
So, word had gotten around that I had joined the calligraphy class. (As long as they don’t look at my attempts thus far I’m fine!) My supervisor’s calligraphy teacher, who was taught by the grand master of calligraphy, also had heard. She wanted to give me private lessons but has retired due to poor eyesight. Instead she wanted to give me her personal Shodo tools. I was beside myself when I heard this. My supervisor took me to her house and at once I was overwhelmed with beautiful hanging scrolls and perfectly written calligraphy from wall to wall. This woman got the highest possible rank. She handed me her shodo set, a soft brown leather case with well-worn brushes lain inside. I felt like I had a little part of this woman’s history, and felt so priviledged that she chose to give it to me. As she handed it to me she said the equivalent of “The importance of practice is the success of Shodo.” Those words rang in my ears for hours afterwards..
Since retiring from Shodo she has taken up Japanese classical singing, and she treated both my supervisor and I to a personal concert. It was so incredibly beautiful.
I hope that in my years in studying Shodo I can come even as close as a 5th to what this woman has become.

New Kitty!!

On Sunday of last week, I acquired my very own kitten! She is the baby of a friend’s cat, whose owner wasn’t too keen on having more kitties to take care of. So Sunday afternoon I get picked up and taken to this friend’s place where I was able to choose a kitten! There were three to choose from, and I picked the shy-est and gentlest one of the three (the other two were a little too…shall I say…genki?! Well, I wouldn’t want to be getting them unless they came with a mute button put it that way! Plus no-one ever picks the shy kitty!). I picked her up and she snuggled into the small of my neck and stayed there! I knew it at once.  For this reason, I’ve decided to call her “Shizuka” 静花, which means ‘gentle blossom’. I picked out the characters to mean this specifically. (She told me that she’d like to be called ‘Shizu’, or perhaps ‘Zuzu’ by her close friends though hehe)
So far she has explored my little house and has a fondness for sprawling herself across the back of my neck…like a nice fur scarf….except not…\so much so that I may consider re-naming her parrot! She’s also serving to be a good investment (hmm…even though she was free!), as she heats my cold, wintery bed at night! Sometimes I think I’ve dropped some cotton wool on the floor only to find it’s her huddled in a ball…everyone now “awwwwwwwwwwwwww!”
The cutest, cuddliest thing you’ve ever seen!