Well, Halloween and me and Azu's Hokkaido trip came and went. Halloween was pretty fun, we stayed out all night in Tokyo, dancing at various clubs that were having Halloween parties. Everyone had a decent costume but me really. Azu and her friends were all a sexy version of something normal (girls have it easy on Halloween). Azu was a sexy gangster, her friend was a cheerleader.... I think hers was actually just a normal cheerleading costume, haha. Eric was... something, maybe the phantom of the Opera? Greg was Lupin the 3rd. I was a scientist... Eric borrowed a lab coat from one of the scientists at school and i wore that all night, so it was another half-assed Halloween for me! The morning after Halloween will lead into my next story.
So, Eric lost his phone at one of the clubs, so like the good drunk friends we are, Mike and I vow to recover it at all costs. So the three of us went trekking back out into the blazing morning sun, still drunk and tired as hell. After maybe an hour of being lost (finding things in the day is harder than the night sometimes) we get the phone back, and decide to stay up all day, since we were up anyway. So, we messed around at some University's open campus for abit after some morning McDonalds, and went to Akihabara, because I decided I was buying a Playstation 3. As you all know, I am a cheapass, so i decide to get a used Playstation 3. So, after eric and i carefully consider the options with the used models, we decide on one, and head out. We all bought Fallout 3 and happily began the trip home. I actually took a nap at erics for about 2 hours first, but that isnt important.
Anyway, so I get home, and pull out my new old PS3 and begin setting it up to play. As I take it out, i notice some particles of.... something in there, and sorta figure it was a bit of dust, and carry on. I plug it in and start setting it up, playing, and everything is going fine.... until the smell. I notice a strange odor coming from it- strange, and bad. So I pop off the HD cover plate to look, and there are more of the "particles" from before, all around in there, and as i look closer, i notice there appear to be.... insect body parts. I get closer and take a good whiff, and it smells strong and awful... of something, i dont even know what. So, i unplug it and shake it, and sure enough, some dead insect bodies fall against the screen inside. In other words, my PS3 came with an insect nest inside. Yep.
I was horrified to say the least. The only good thing is that they were all dead, atleast. I am not sure what kind they were, the dead ones inside looked like what could possibly be dead baby roaches, but, i dunno. Some of the girls at school i told the story to speculate that a somehow pregnant baby roach got inside when it was small, raised itself inside, had kids, and they all had a glorious society inside until the previous owner wrapped it up and sold it to the shop (which didnt notice), at which time all the insects died on the shelf due to suffocation and lack of food. Who knows, but i sure as hell took it back. When ya buy used they mention things like scratches, or missing cables, they ought to have mentioned the DAMN BUG NEST too. I told Mike and Eric here about it, to which Mike replies "atleast my Xbox didnt have any bugs". me- "Not REAL ones, no!"
That put me off used electronics, so I went with a new 80 gig model released in Japan this month. Fallout 3 has been taking most of my times since.
I went to Hokkaido with Azu as well. We went to her cousins wedding, it was very nice. They had a nice dinner and alot of cool little performances and sentimental things. After the wedding we did some sight seeing in Sapporo and Otaru, a scenic city by the ocean. The weather was cold and rainy that day, so we didn't enjoy it as much as we could have. Hokkaido has alot more space than the main island, Honshu, so the city seemed pretty American in layout and appearance. I didnt really like walking around Sapporo at night, the roads were too big and dark, and too few people on the street, like in American cities at night. In Tokyo there are people everywhere all the time, and the building density of normal Japanese cities just seems to create a safer feeling atmosphere, I dunno. However, it was easier to walk around and sight see in the day, so that was nice.
Well, thats all for now. Thailand is in December, i'll post again after we go atleast, maybe once more before we head out. Later!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pics a long time in the making
Ok, I've finally made good on my promise to add pictures. I finally bit the bullet and set up some junk at Flickr, so people can view my random photos here in Japan. I'll take more and add them. All of those are taken on my phone (doesnt do too well in the dark), so if they are a bit blurry at times, remember its a phone!
So, as far as updates go, there hasnt been too much going on in the last month, just my birthday really. We had a party at TGI Fridays in Shibuya, drank too much, and stayed out all night, the usual. Im going to Hokkaido with Azu this weekend, so i'll have some pictures and an update about that in the near future. Im also eagerly awaiting the 30th, when i buy myself a PS3. Its my birthday present to me.
Last weekend, me, Eric, Mike and Greg went to the acrade in Shibuya to play some Street Fighter 4 against randos there. Me and Eric got our asses beat for the most part, especially me (havent played street fighter since super nintendo!), but Mike pulled a few victories out. He's kept with the game through most of its history. I almost had a few people, came down to the final match and a centimeter or so of health. Street Fighter 4 is pretty badass. We're gonna get the home versions, and look into getting some arcade style joysticks in order to train and go pwn people in the arcade. Greg watched for the most part, he likes train and bus simulators *snicker*. It should be noted that Zangief is a cheap ass character. Also, Blanka's special does WAY too much damage.
Its been steadily getting cooler here, and i'v had to start wearing sweatshirts here and there, and even a jacket once! I'm guessing in a couple weeks it will be down right nippy in the morning, and ill want to get out of bed even less than i do already. Mornings in winter suck in Japan... imagine seeing your breath as you dash into the shower and strip. Both Eric and Jon moved recently, not far from where they were already, but are in new places. We're still waiting for Jon and Ayumi's welcoming party, so we can put some holes in their new walls. :D
Anyway, i'll write back about Hokkaido soon!
p.s. look at the new pictures link (i hope it works).
So, as far as updates go, there hasnt been too much going on in the last month, just my birthday really. We had a party at TGI Fridays in Shibuya, drank too much, and stayed out all night, the usual. Im going to Hokkaido with Azu this weekend, so i'll have some pictures and an update about that in the near future. Im also eagerly awaiting the 30th, when i buy myself a PS3. Its my birthday present to me.
Last weekend, me, Eric, Mike and Greg went to the acrade in Shibuya to play some Street Fighter 4 against randos there. Me and Eric got our asses beat for the most part, especially me (havent played street fighter since super nintendo!), but Mike pulled a few victories out. He's kept with the game through most of its history. I almost had a few people, came down to the final match and a centimeter or so of health. Street Fighter 4 is pretty badass. We're gonna get the home versions, and look into getting some arcade style joysticks in order to train and go pwn people in the arcade. Greg watched for the most part, he likes train and bus simulators *snicker*. It should be noted that Zangief is a cheap ass character. Also, Blanka's special does WAY too much damage.
Its been steadily getting cooler here, and i'v had to start wearing sweatshirts here and there, and even a jacket once! I'm guessing in a couple weeks it will be down right nippy in the morning, and ill want to get out of bed even less than i do already. Mornings in winter suck in Japan... imagine seeing your breath as you dash into the shower and strip. Both Eric and Jon moved recently, not far from where they were already, but are in new places. We're still waiting for Jon and Ayumi's welcoming party, so we can put some holes in their new walls. :D
Anyway, i'll write back about Hokkaido soon!
p.s. look at the new pictures link (i hope it works).
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
whoaa.... wha...?
Yeah yeah, this is a billion years late, and everyone stopped reading about 6 months ago, i know. I had no internet, bite me!
Anyway... most of you probably know i was back in the states in August. I had a good time, went to Ryan Griswold's wedding, that was a pretty good time. My first wedding actually... heh. I didnt make it to Vegas, unfortunately, so if any of my family/friends living there are reading this, dont think cruised through town and didnt call anyone. Eric and i went to Nagano here when we got back. We stayed in a hotspring for a night, and hiked around the pristine forested mountainous terrain there for 2 days, very pretty area. The pictures im gonna put online dont do it justice. On the way back we decided to take local trains (instead of the express quasi bullet trainish train we took on the way there). It turned out taking a million years, but we got to see alot of the pretty rural areas in central Japan. After doing that, Eric and I came up with a plan to hop on a train the next 3 day weekend we get, and ride as far in one direction as we can. We're hoping we can get to Kyushu (the SW island of Japan).
So, work started after that and it was back to normal. My schools all had their school festivals a few weeks ago. A Japanese High School festival is pretty cool. All the different classes and grades take on random tasks, such as selling food, ice cream, drinks, etc. Other classes provide entertainment by turning their classrooms into haunted houses, or mazes and the such. All of the clubs perform the various routines they've been working on all weekend. The hip-hop dance club was pretty impressive, and so was the marching band at one of the schools. One of my schools had a sorta.... beauty/popularity contest type thing for the festival, sorta like the prom queen or whatever. All of them kept coming up and telling me to vote for them, haha.
Tuesday was a national holiday this week, so monday night Eric, Jon and I went out, since Jon has mon/tues off. We decided to walk the Yamanote line and drink as we walked all night(a train that basically does a circle around Tokyo). We got about... a third of the way around i figure. We started at around 8:30 pm and called it a night(day?) at about 6:00 am. When we were waiting for the train in the morning, all of us fell asleep, haha. I wish I had a picture of the 3 of us passed out on the most uncomfortable bench ever.
We were on track for about.... 4 hours id say. After that we got into unfamiliar territory and i was thrust into the leadership position, with my uncanny tracking and city navigation skills. Some... errors were made.... and well, we ended up in a place we were at 2 hours earlier.... at that point a mutiny was staged, and eric attaked me, BUT... BUT we soldiered on, afterall, to quote Eric (its about the journey, not the destination) *cough* haha.... It probably woulda been fine, but I made the decision to go left instead of right, despite being outvoted 2 to 1 by my crew.
Anway.... the night got crazier the later it got. There were a few things that would best be described as stupid. Fun, but..... a bit stupid, yar. I wont say everything, but perhaps one of the dumber ones was scaling a 10 foot rock wall in the darkness and stumbling through the spider infested forest/shrubbery of someones gigantic private estate.
Anway, i'll update again soon!
We're going to Hokkaido in November, and Thailand in December! rock.
Anyway... most of you probably know i was back in the states in August. I had a good time, went to Ryan Griswold's wedding, that was a pretty good time. My first wedding actually... heh. I didnt make it to Vegas, unfortunately, so if any of my family/friends living there are reading this, dont think cruised through town and didnt call anyone. Eric and i went to Nagano here when we got back. We stayed in a hotspring for a night, and hiked around the pristine forested mountainous terrain there for 2 days, very pretty area. The pictures im gonna put online dont do it justice. On the way back we decided to take local trains (instead of the express quasi bullet trainish train we took on the way there). It turned out taking a million years, but we got to see alot of the pretty rural areas in central Japan. After doing that, Eric and I came up with a plan to hop on a train the next 3 day weekend we get, and ride as far in one direction as we can. We're hoping we can get to Kyushu (the SW island of Japan).
So, work started after that and it was back to normal. My schools all had their school festivals a few weeks ago. A Japanese High School festival is pretty cool. All the different classes and grades take on random tasks, such as selling food, ice cream, drinks, etc. Other classes provide entertainment by turning their classrooms into haunted houses, or mazes and the such. All of the clubs perform the various routines they've been working on all weekend. The hip-hop dance club was pretty impressive, and so was the marching band at one of the schools. One of my schools had a sorta.... beauty/popularity contest type thing for the festival, sorta like the prom queen or whatever. All of them kept coming up and telling me to vote for them, haha.
Tuesday was a national holiday this week, so monday night Eric, Jon and I went out, since Jon has mon/tues off. We decided to walk the Yamanote line and drink as we walked all night(a train that basically does a circle around Tokyo). We got about... a third of the way around i figure. We started at around 8:30 pm and called it a night(day?) at about 6:00 am. When we were waiting for the train in the morning, all of us fell asleep, haha. I wish I had a picture of the 3 of us passed out on the most uncomfortable bench ever.
We were on track for about.... 4 hours id say. After that we got into unfamiliar territory and i was thrust into the leadership position, with my uncanny tracking and city navigation skills. Some... errors were made.... and well, we ended up in a place we were at 2 hours earlier.... at that point a mutiny was staged, and eric attaked me, BUT... BUT we soldiered on, afterall, to quote Eric (its about the journey, not the destination) *cough* haha.... It probably woulda been fine, but I made the decision to go left instead of right, despite being outvoted 2 to 1 by my crew.
Anway.... the night got crazier the later it got. There were a few things that would best be described as stupid. Fun, but..... a bit stupid, yar. I wont say everything, but perhaps one of the dumber ones was scaling a 10 foot rock wall in the darkness and stumbling through the spider infested forest/shrubbery of someones gigantic private estate.
Anway, i'll update again soon!
We're going to Hokkaido in November, and Thailand in December! rock.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Oww, my bank book
So, its time for an update eh? Jon recently pointed out that i need to either update my blog more or get on Faceook, and since im not yet ready to join the evil world of facebook, ill get my act together. Well, alot has happened.... I took a big trip to Kyoto in March with Azu, her mom, dad, and 3 of her cousins (2 Jr. High schoolers) and one younger one that was 8 years old. The eight year old (Moeka) was probably the cutest, coolest little girl ever. The teenagers were.... well teenage girls, you know how they are. So, we saw more temples than you can shake a stick at, and i'll finally put some pictures up again, i had to buy a new memory card for my DS, and with it came another adaptor, so i can finally get the pictures to my computer again (Azu lost the last one). I started a new school year also. One of my schools changed, one of the ones i liked unfortunately, but fortunately the new school is good also. The downside is i kept the one school i dont like.
My Aunt Carolyn also visited Japan in March! (The first of my family and friends to visit me i might add..... *ahem*) They just so happened to have been to Kyoto earlier also, so we skipped all the temple stuff and i took them to some of the more popular places in Tokyo. We went to the fashion and shopping mecca that is Shibuya 109, saw some crazy people in Harajuku, saw the electric city of Akihabara, and what must be one of the biggest electronic stores on the planet. Picture Best Buy. Now picture 8 Best Buys stacked on top of eachother, and thats Yodobashi Akiba. After all that we had yakiniku (Japanese style Korean BBQ). Kent and I also tried some raw horse for the first time, Aunt Carolyn passed, haha. It wasnt bad actually.
So, on to the next big piece of news. I'm moving out! As the title indicates, it hasnt been cheap. However, i now have my own apartment, all the papers signed, stamped and filled out (i had to go get a custom stamp made for myself for the paperwork), and i move in next monday. People who visit me now have a rent free place to stay, so you slackers dont have any excuse. I have a good amount of room, its a one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, but there is a loft that is almost as big as a whole other room. The apartment is brand new, just built, and totally rad. its also alot closer to work, it shaves about a half hour off my commute. Anyway, i'm excited to move in, goin it solo for now. Eric and i tossed around the idea of moving in together, but decided to scrap it for now atleast, as it was pretty damn hard to find a central location to both of our jobs (an affordable one anyway). I'll be visiting America this summer it looks, early August, so i hope to see some familiar faces.
Peace!
My Aunt Carolyn also visited Japan in March! (The first of my family and friends to visit me i might add..... *ahem*) They just so happened to have been to Kyoto earlier also, so we skipped all the temple stuff and i took them to some of the more popular places in Tokyo. We went to the fashion and shopping mecca that is Shibuya 109, saw some crazy people in Harajuku, saw the electric city of Akihabara, and what must be one of the biggest electronic stores on the planet. Picture Best Buy. Now picture 8 Best Buys stacked on top of eachother, and thats Yodobashi Akiba. After all that we had yakiniku (Japanese style Korean BBQ). Kent and I also tried some raw horse for the first time, Aunt Carolyn passed, haha. It wasnt bad actually.
So, on to the next big piece of news. I'm moving out! As the title indicates, it hasnt been cheap. However, i now have my own apartment, all the papers signed, stamped and filled out (i had to go get a custom stamp made for myself for the paperwork), and i move in next monday. People who visit me now have a rent free place to stay, so you slackers dont have any excuse. I have a good amount of room, its a one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, but there is a loft that is almost as big as a whole other room. The apartment is brand new, just built, and totally rad. its also alot closer to work, it shaves about a half hour off my commute. Anyway, i'm excited to move in, goin it solo for now. Eric and i tossed around the idea of moving in together, but decided to scrap it for now atleast, as it was pretty damn hard to find a central location to both of our jobs (an affordable one anyway). I'll be visiting America this summer it looks, early August, so i hope to see some familiar faces.
Peace!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Random update
Well, Im actually posting an update within a month, so this is a good start. Things are well, i'v been going to work, Azu quit her job, and is free as a bird these days. She is actually in India right now, she left yesterday. She'll be there for 2 weeks. She decided to go on this voyage alone, without a plan OR a hotel reservation, so we're all hoping she's ok. She was also accepted to a nursing school this month, so she is planning to study at her translator school and nursing school at the same time, hoping to combine the two into a career in the future i think. Eric is actually responsible for this update. We were going to a club to see some girl in a band we met a few weeks ago play again, but Eric apparently caught the plague, and now we cant go anywhere. So, thanks to that the rest of us are all bored.
Azu and I recently went snowboarding in Karuizawa, Nagano. Nagano is where the winter olympic games were held a few years back here in Japan. The mountain was pretty nice, and it was really close to the Shinkansen stop, so we didnt have to travel much. We snowboarded for a day starting in the morning, and spent a night in a hotel there. The Hotel was huge, much to my surprise, and had a buffet dinner and breakfast and a hot spring, so i was happy. The whole trip was a package deal, and it was all pretty affordable. For the first time ever here, i feel like i might have actually ripped someone off instead of the other way around. Last monday we went to Disneyland as well, hah. Azu didnt go actually, her grandfather died (been in the hospital for months) so she went to the funeral in Hokkaido. It wasnt really a surprise to anyone, kind of just a matter of time everyone knew. Anyway, me, eric, kanae, tomomi, sayaka, and her friend who's name i'v forgotten went to Disneyland and had a good time. I had that monday off because i had to put the paperwork in to renew my visa, and everyone else just so happened to have monday off as well.
Oh, and in other news, Nova's bankrupcy finally went through, and i received the backpay for the 2 months i worked for free prior to the closure. It was kind of like when you leave a $20 bill in your pants, and find it 2 weeks later on laundry day. Only this was 2 months of pay, heh.
If you are interested in nature, go read about the winged bringer of death i recently learned exists in Japan. Go to wikipedia.org and look up "Asian giant hornet". Now, i know what you're t hinking "oh, look at Dan and his bug paranoia, hah hah hah" Well, this is not just any ordinary hornet, folks. This hornet, as it turns out, has the most toxic insect venom on the planet (spiders and scorpions arent technically insects i guess). This hornet, can kill a man, no shit, sometimes, in one sting if you have an allergic reaction, which if you are stung more than once in your life, becomes very likely. Not to mention the fact that one of these bastards could sting you multiple times. I found it funny to think of all the fuss people make about killer bees in the states. What I read said killer bees have killed fewer than 20 people ever in the states. these things kill over 50 a YEAR in Japan. They eat bees for breakfast, literally. One of these suckers (when raiding a bee hive) can kill like 40 bees in a minute, a squad of badasses takes down an entire hive in hours. As you read on wikipedia, the horror story just goes on... well, atleast i know to avoid romping around the forest in japan, stepping on hornet hives now.
Well, with that i shall leave you. I may disappear for awhile, i will be going to Kyoto here in a bit when i am on spring vacation, and i will be playing alot of Super Smash Brothers Brawl when it finially hits the import store in a week or so here.
Peace!
Azu and I recently went snowboarding in Karuizawa, Nagano. Nagano is where the winter olympic games were held a few years back here in Japan. The mountain was pretty nice, and it was really close to the Shinkansen stop, so we didnt have to travel much. We snowboarded for a day starting in the morning, and spent a night in a hotel there. The Hotel was huge, much to my surprise, and had a buffet dinner and breakfast and a hot spring, so i was happy. The whole trip was a package deal, and it was all pretty affordable. For the first time ever here, i feel like i might have actually ripped someone off instead of the other way around. Last monday we went to Disneyland as well, hah. Azu didnt go actually, her grandfather died (been in the hospital for months) so she went to the funeral in Hokkaido. It wasnt really a surprise to anyone, kind of just a matter of time everyone knew. Anyway, me, eric, kanae, tomomi, sayaka, and her friend who's name i'v forgotten went to Disneyland and had a good time. I had that monday off because i had to put the paperwork in to renew my visa, and everyone else just so happened to have monday off as well.
Oh, and in other news, Nova's bankrupcy finally went through, and i received the backpay for the 2 months i worked for free prior to the closure. It was kind of like when you leave a $20 bill in your pants, and find it 2 weeks later on laundry day. Only this was 2 months of pay, heh.
If you are interested in nature, go read about the winged bringer of death i recently learned exists in Japan. Go to wikipedia.org and look up "Asian giant hornet". Now, i know what you're t hinking "oh, look at Dan and his bug paranoia, hah hah hah" Well, this is not just any ordinary hornet, folks. This hornet, as it turns out, has the most toxic insect venom on the planet (spiders and scorpions arent technically insects i guess). This hornet, can kill a man, no shit, sometimes, in one sting if you have an allergic reaction, which if you are stung more than once in your life, becomes very likely. Not to mention the fact that one of these bastards could sting you multiple times. I found it funny to think of all the fuss people make about killer bees in the states. What I read said killer bees have killed fewer than 20 people ever in the states. these things kill over 50 a YEAR in Japan. They eat bees for breakfast, literally. One of these suckers (when raiding a bee hive) can kill like 40 bees in a minute, a squad of badasses takes down an entire hive in hours. As you read on wikipedia, the horror story just goes on... well, atleast i know to avoid romping around the forest in japan, stepping on hornet hives now.
Well, with that i shall leave you. I may disappear for awhile, i will be going to Kyoto here in a bit when i am on spring vacation, and i will be playing alot of Super Smash Brothers Brawl when it finially hits the import store in a week or so here.
Peace!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
A new post!
This is so late people probably arent even reading this anymore, haha.
Anyway... things have been a bit more normal again lately. I got a new job as I mentioned before, and that is going well enough. I'll talk more about how different the Japanese school ssystem is at the end of this post for those that wish to read about it. New Years came and went also. We had a good time on the 30th. We (and by that i mean eric, jon, ayumi, azu, a bunch of azus friends, and I) went out for dinner at an all you can drink place, and followed that up with all you can drink karaoke. We had alot of fun, but alas, yours truely drank too much. I think the kicker was when I mistook a class of Shochu for water towards the end of the night. Of course, you have to be pretty wasted to do that anyway, because when you think about it... why would anyone order me a big tall glass of water at all you can drink karaoke? Shochu is basically... weaker vodka. I dont like it at all when im sober, and i only realized what it was after id put most of it down, so the 31st was a painful day. Me and eric were both pretty unhappy that day. Jon shrugged it off like a champ. I was happy to hear that one of Azus friends hurled too when he got home, so i wasnt the only one. The scary thing is, i even hurled the night before about 3 or 4 times, and i was STILL miserable the next day for about 10 hours. Anyway, now that i'v thoroughly worried my mother...
Azus birthday was in January too. We were teasing her, because I guess 24 is the age girls should be married by in Japan, and its all a downhill slide in market value from there, lol. My friend Maiko is also 24, and she isn't married or even dating someone, so she said everyone is worrying and pestering her as well. Recently, Azu, Eric and i went to a party at an American friends house in Zushi. He was a Nova teacher, but he's teaching somewhere else now... anyway, his brother is in the Navy here, and they get to buy all their food on the base. So, the party was pretty cool, we got to eat American food and have an American style party for a change. Eric and i played Rock Band, which it turns out is pretty awesome. The drums are fun, i was doing a few songs on hard by the end of the night, but the foot pedal on hard gets rough....
Azu also just got back from Shanghai yesterday. She and her mother took a trip there for a few days. I had to work, so i didnt go. Azu's dad was in Hokkaido as well, so it was just me and her brother at home. We did a whole lot of nothing (cleaning included). Azu's mom was worried i was going to burn the house down if i cooked, lol, so i didnt use the stove in accordance with her wishes. I guess when you can communicate at about a 5th grade level, it registers as being able to operate the stove at a 5th grade level, haha.
Well, i am going to go play some Wii shortly, after the final blurb about schools here. I have to polish off my games before Smash Brothers comes out and i spend every waking moment honing my skills to crush Eric and Jon.
Peace!
About Schools:
So, Japanese High schools couldn't possibly be more different. For starters, the High Tech image of Japan that is mostly accurate in all of the big cities, is totally thrown out the window in a public High School. Walking into a high school is like walking back in time 20 or 30 years. They are all old, drafty, unheated, bland buildings. There is no central heating of any kind. In Winter, they burn oil in stoves, and let the heat just.... radiate. The hallways and bathrooms have no heating at all, and sitting on a toilet seat in winter is like putting your bare ass on a bench outside... not fun (actually think i prefer the squatters in the HS in winter). Classrooms also have gas oil stoves.
Next, the biggest difference, and the difference that probably changes the entire dynamic of social relationships in a High School is the class structure. At the start of the year, the students are put into a class, and a classroom, in which they will be all year. Its like elementary school, only you dont have the same teacher. The teachers move around and change rooms in a Japanese High School. As such, there is a big Teachers Room office type thing in every school, and the teachers have a meeting every morning. So when the bell rings the teacher goes out, and the next one comes in. This system (which i dont like) creates this feeling that the classroom is bascially, student territory. Not that American students are respectful, but we have an understanding that we are in the teacher's room, not the teacher a guest in the student's room. This sorta turns the tables in the student's favor for screwing around in class. Also, because they all see the same single classroom full of people for an entire year, they all know eachother way too well, and talk way too much. It can take 5 minutes just to get kids to shut up and unwillingly put away their lunches as they are forced to abide another intruder coming into their domain. Also, as a result, social groups are mostly a product of each classroom. There is little, if any interaction between grades (except at clubs) and much less interaction within each grade of students than in America.
Next, as anyone know knows anything about Japan will know, the Entrance exams to High Schools determine which level of High School kids will go to. Given the rest of the system, i have come to think the entrance exam system is actually a good thing. The reason is, that this is the way Japan separates students with different outlooks on life, basically. For a studious student trying to get into a prestigious University, it would be hell to be stuck in the same classroom of screw-off retards all year. So... basically the studious kids all go to academic High Schools, and the less studious types all go to lower level High Schools. My main High School just so happens to be one of these schools. My Thursday school is more Academic, and the difference is HUGE. Classrooom management needs alot of work in Japan. Kids are often semi out of control, and teachers cant throw them out of class like in America, so to be a kid who wants to learn, in a bad class, means you are not going to learn anything, and there is almost nothing you can do about it. So, you best study your ass off in Jr. High if you dont want that.
Lastly: clubs. Clubs are huge here, almost everyone is in one, and only the renegade type kids proudly proclaim they are in "go home club" when asked what club they are in. Sports clubs operate the same as any other club, anyone can join. Which means everyone who wants to play soccer, can. This is alot more inclusive than America, which I think is a good thing. The Schools with serious sports teams still perform quite well with this in place, so there isnt alot of argument that the kids who wouldnt have been picked in America are dragging everyone down. Now, those kids may not play alot of games against other schools, but i think alot of them would be the first to bow out, given social attitudes in Japanese society. However, it does seem that they do all get some playing time. There are clubs for Tea ceremony, Kyudo (japanese archery), Karate, Judo, Kendo(wooden sword fighting), Gardening, Movie club, Pop music club, and all the sports, basically... you name it. There is an english club also, which I sorta... i guess oversee. Anyway, thats all i am gonna write for now, if anyone has any questions, email me, or comment! peace!
(i dont feel like editing any spelling or grammar mistakes.... so there!)
Anyway... things have been a bit more normal again lately. I got a new job as I mentioned before, and that is going well enough. I'll talk more about how different the Japanese school ssystem is at the end of this post for those that wish to read about it. New Years came and went also. We had a good time on the 30th. We (and by that i mean eric, jon, ayumi, azu, a bunch of azus friends, and I) went out for dinner at an all you can drink place, and followed that up with all you can drink karaoke. We had alot of fun, but alas, yours truely drank too much. I think the kicker was when I mistook a class of Shochu for water towards the end of the night. Of course, you have to be pretty wasted to do that anyway, because when you think about it... why would anyone order me a big tall glass of water at all you can drink karaoke? Shochu is basically... weaker vodka. I dont like it at all when im sober, and i only realized what it was after id put most of it down, so the 31st was a painful day. Me and eric were both pretty unhappy that day. Jon shrugged it off like a champ. I was happy to hear that one of Azus friends hurled too when he got home, so i wasnt the only one. The scary thing is, i even hurled the night before about 3 or 4 times, and i was STILL miserable the next day for about 10 hours. Anyway, now that i'v thoroughly worried my mother...
Azus birthday was in January too. We were teasing her, because I guess 24 is the age girls should be married by in Japan, and its all a downhill slide in market value from there, lol. My friend Maiko is also 24, and she isn't married or even dating someone, so she said everyone is worrying and pestering her as well. Recently, Azu, Eric and i went to a party at an American friends house in Zushi. He was a Nova teacher, but he's teaching somewhere else now... anyway, his brother is in the Navy here, and they get to buy all their food on the base. So, the party was pretty cool, we got to eat American food and have an American style party for a change. Eric and i played Rock Band, which it turns out is pretty awesome. The drums are fun, i was doing a few songs on hard by the end of the night, but the foot pedal on hard gets rough....
Azu also just got back from Shanghai yesterday. She and her mother took a trip there for a few days. I had to work, so i didnt go. Azu's dad was in Hokkaido as well, so it was just me and her brother at home. We did a whole lot of nothing (cleaning included). Azu's mom was worried i was going to burn the house down if i cooked, lol, so i didnt use the stove in accordance with her wishes. I guess when you can communicate at about a 5th grade level, it registers as being able to operate the stove at a 5th grade level, haha.
Well, i am going to go play some Wii shortly, after the final blurb about schools here. I have to polish off my games before Smash Brothers comes out and i spend every waking moment honing my skills to crush Eric and Jon.
Peace!
About Schools:
So, Japanese High schools couldn't possibly be more different. For starters, the High Tech image of Japan that is mostly accurate in all of the big cities, is totally thrown out the window in a public High School. Walking into a high school is like walking back in time 20 or 30 years. They are all old, drafty, unheated, bland buildings. There is no central heating of any kind. In Winter, they burn oil in stoves, and let the heat just.... radiate. The hallways and bathrooms have no heating at all, and sitting on a toilet seat in winter is like putting your bare ass on a bench outside... not fun (actually think i prefer the squatters in the HS in winter). Classrooms also have gas oil stoves.
Next, the biggest difference, and the difference that probably changes the entire dynamic of social relationships in a High School is the class structure. At the start of the year, the students are put into a class, and a classroom, in which they will be all year. Its like elementary school, only you dont have the same teacher. The teachers move around and change rooms in a Japanese High School. As such, there is a big Teachers Room office type thing in every school, and the teachers have a meeting every morning. So when the bell rings the teacher goes out, and the next one comes in. This system (which i dont like) creates this feeling that the classroom is bascially, student territory. Not that American students are respectful, but we have an understanding that we are in the teacher's room, not the teacher a guest in the student's room. This sorta turns the tables in the student's favor for screwing around in class. Also, because they all see the same single classroom full of people for an entire year, they all know eachother way too well, and talk way too much. It can take 5 minutes just to get kids to shut up and unwillingly put away their lunches as they are forced to abide another intruder coming into their domain. Also, as a result, social groups are mostly a product of each classroom. There is little, if any interaction between grades (except at clubs) and much less interaction within each grade of students than in America.
Next, as anyone know knows anything about Japan will know, the Entrance exams to High Schools determine which level of High School kids will go to. Given the rest of the system, i have come to think the entrance exam system is actually a good thing. The reason is, that this is the way Japan separates students with different outlooks on life, basically. For a studious student trying to get into a prestigious University, it would be hell to be stuck in the same classroom of screw-off retards all year. So... basically the studious kids all go to academic High Schools, and the less studious types all go to lower level High Schools. My main High School just so happens to be one of these schools. My Thursday school is more Academic, and the difference is HUGE. Classrooom management needs alot of work in Japan. Kids are often semi out of control, and teachers cant throw them out of class like in America, so to be a kid who wants to learn, in a bad class, means you are not going to learn anything, and there is almost nothing you can do about it. So, you best study your ass off in Jr. High if you dont want that.
Lastly: clubs. Clubs are huge here, almost everyone is in one, and only the renegade type kids proudly proclaim they are in "go home club" when asked what club they are in. Sports clubs operate the same as any other club, anyone can join. Which means everyone who wants to play soccer, can. This is alot more inclusive than America, which I think is a good thing. The Schools with serious sports teams still perform quite well with this in place, so there isnt alot of argument that the kids who wouldnt have been picked in America are dragging everyone down. Now, those kids may not play alot of games against other schools, but i think alot of them would be the first to bow out, given social attitudes in Japanese society. However, it does seem that they do all get some playing time. There are clubs for Tea ceremony, Kyudo (japanese archery), Karate, Judo, Kendo(wooden sword fighting), Gardening, Movie club, Pop music club, and all the sports, basically... you name it. There is an english club also, which I sorta... i guess oversee. Anyway, thats all i am gonna write for now, if anyone has any questions, email me, or comment! peace!
(i dont feel like editing any spelling or grammar mistakes.... so there!)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Back to school!
Well, as the title indicates, im going back to school! Not in the sense you are thinking, probably. So, since i wrote last, some developments have been made with Nova. Eric and Jon are working agian, which is good... perhaps working isnt the best pay to put it. They're going to work, anyway. Lessons havent started yet, so they just sorta hang around, greet students, and try to look busy. Only a few schools have reopened, so many teachers are still waiting on standby for decisions from Nova, or the new company that took over a part of Nova, anyway. I was in that category.
Anyway, i had a few job interviews, and i just happened to get lucky, and was offered an ALT position. ALT stands for Assistant Language Teacher. So, i am going to be teaching English in 3 different Japanese public highschools, hence the title. As my job title indicates, i will be working together with the normal Japanese English teacher. My duties apparently can range from teaching lessons by myself, to just doing what the teacher says, it sorta all depends on the teacher i guess. This also means that i have to wake up at the ass-crack of dawn, as im sure you all will remember you used to have to do for High school. Its even worse because i have to commute sorta far. Basically i am gonna be getting up at 6 a.m. or earlier everyday now. That aside.... i get sweet vacation time! Summer vacation is 6 weeks here, and i get 60% pay and dont work a single day! I get all the national holidays, spring break, fall break, golden week... its gonna be glorious. I also get 5 vacation days of my choice per year in addition to all the other stuff. (Nova gave 10 for the whole year and didnt give any other holidays...) I'v heard the job is pretty fun, and it will require more Japanese out of me, so i think that will be good too. I have my first day of training tomorrow, and i will start working on December 7th. I am a bit nervous about dealing with whole classrooms of kids, though. Anway... new job acquired, my chapter at Nova has come to a close it would seem. The new company seems to be getting things under way, though.
I'v been teaching a good amount of private lessons in my free time for cash and for something to do. At first i thought i would have too much free time on my hands, and i would go insane, but i feel that i have almost been.... sorta busy actually, between interviews, lessons, and Nova meetings and what not. I visited Eric and Jon last night, and we crashed at Jons house, as it was their day off. They had to work this afternoon, so they made it to work allright. Next week will be my last weekdays off, so i am planning to visit again on their days off. After that its school working hours for me with weekends off!
Well, time to sleep, training comes early tomorrow, Peace! (p.s. Azu lost my card adaptor for the moment, so i can post pictures or videos, but i will find it.)
Anyway, i had a few job interviews, and i just happened to get lucky, and was offered an ALT position. ALT stands for Assistant Language Teacher. So, i am going to be teaching English in 3 different Japanese public highschools, hence the title. As my job title indicates, i will be working together with the normal Japanese English teacher. My duties apparently can range from teaching lessons by myself, to just doing what the teacher says, it sorta all depends on the teacher i guess. This also means that i have to wake up at the ass-crack of dawn, as im sure you all will remember you used to have to do for High school. Its even worse because i have to commute sorta far. Basically i am gonna be getting up at 6 a.m. or earlier everyday now. That aside.... i get sweet vacation time! Summer vacation is 6 weeks here, and i get 60% pay and dont work a single day! I get all the national holidays, spring break, fall break, golden week... its gonna be glorious. I also get 5 vacation days of my choice per year in addition to all the other stuff. (Nova gave 10 for the whole year and didnt give any other holidays...) I'v heard the job is pretty fun, and it will require more Japanese out of me, so i think that will be good too. I have my first day of training tomorrow, and i will start working on December 7th. I am a bit nervous about dealing with whole classrooms of kids, though. Anway... new job acquired, my chapter at Nova has come to a close it would seem. The new company seems to be getting things under way, though.
I'v been teaching a good amount of private lessons in my free time for cash and for something to do. At first i thought i would have too much free time on my hands, and i would go insane, but i feel that i have almost been.... sorta busy actually, between interviews, lessons, and Nova meetings and what not. I visited Eric and Jon last night, and we crashed at Jons house, as it was their day off. They had to work this afternoon, so they made it to work allright. Next week will be my last weekdays off, so i am planning to visit again on their days off. After that its school working hours for me with weekends off!
Well, time to sleep, training comes early tomorrow, Peace! (p.s. Azu lost my card adaptor for the moment, so i can post pictures or videos, but i will find it.)
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