The Weekend Review - Getting On The Ball
We had Monday off work due to a National Holiday (Sports & Health Day). I had originally planned to spend the weekend in the southern island of Okinawa with my friend Brianne (from MN/Korea travel buddy). I cancelled the trip, however, to stay home and get some progress made on my grad school applications. Well, the weekend has come and gone and I haven't necessarily done as much as I wanted to, but then again, the point of taking so much time to work on things is so that I can factor in work time, revisions, and breaks... even really long breaks...
So what have I been doing then, you ask? Let's start with Friday...
Let The Best Chef Win!
On Friday night, I went to a dinner party at the Irish couple's house. It was a lot of fun and the cook-off potluck was a great idea! I made my signiture salad (the chop chop with a balsamic vinegarette) and the food was absolutely amazing. I also met a girl who lives close to where I work (and makes an awesome shepard's pie) and played a new card game called Murder.
There were quite a few people at the party and the game was getting louder, so we headed to park around midnight and ended up playing the card game outside for a while. I am not sure what time everyone else headed home, but my aging self couldn't last and I decided to call it an early night.
Halloween Party
Good thing I headed home when I did, because I was alreadypretty tired when I got up on Saturday for the IFA Children's Halloween Party. Every year, the Harimacho International Friendship Association (non-profit group that arranges community events) throws a big Halloween party for about 50 children in the area (around 5-12 years old). The expats volunteer to lead games in English. This was my second year volunteering (and being a witch), but it's crazy how fun and familiar these volunteer events have become now. It probably helps knowing some of the kids better (or that they know me). I had to sneak out early to meet my discussion group, but I got some good ideas for my upcoming ESS (English Society) Halloween event!
Discussion Groups
This fall is that I actually have two adult discussion groups, both consisting of a group of women who have been meeting as a group (along with a native speaker) for 10-15 years to practice their English. I inherited both of groups from friends that had been meeting with them for years but recently left the; they have truly been a blessing. I really missed the routine of having an adult class over last year (similar to my Norwegian classes in Minneapolis), and I feel that it gives me some balance to be able to discuss things on a different level (or from a different perspective) with older women than I would with my high school students. I also think I am learning as much as they are; having older female friends is definately an asset and I found a good fit with both groups. It's interesting, motivating... and the ladies always make or bring the most amazing cakes and sweets!
It goes on: 日本語弁居します！
When the group finished at 1pm, I was still wearing my costume, but there was no time to head home... I had to get to my Japanese class. I biked back to Harimacho like a mad woman, wearing my black dress with a witches hat in hand! I've sat in on this intermediate-level class a few times now and would really like to continue if possible. My regular teacher is the intructor for this class, but it's a little higher-level, which is a good challenge for me. There are 4 others in the class: two Americans who studied here for at least a semester and took Japanese in college, on guy who has been here for almost 3 years and had studied a lot, and a girl from Vietnam who had been here 2 years. Needless to say, I'm at a disadvantage and was worried about holding others back, but so far, I can (miraculously) keep up to an acceptable degree. In addition to the upcoming JLPT (proficiency test), the language is sort of sticking better than it was before and I am gaining more of a thirst to learn.
Class was fun, but I had to leave early, however, to get to my next location: home (finally). It was for very good reasons, though: I GOT A SHOWER! Well, it's probably more accurate to say I have running hot water and a showerhead... but it's a definate step up!
Saturday night was another low-key one. I went for a run (for an hour and 40 minutes!) and stopped by Harimacho (the town over) to pick something up for a friend. Two of my girlfriends there had rented chick flicks, so I stopped to watch a few minutes and ended up staying...until 3am! Good girl time, but I don't think I got to bed until after 4.
Capt Kangaroo: Once My Favorite Show, Now My Favorite Burgers
On Sunday, I met my MN friends Brianne and Shannon (who live in Kobe and Shiga-ken, respectively) in Osaka for dinner. Shannon was in the city to take the GRE (ironically, Osaka is the testing location for all of Japan) so we decided it was a good opportunity to get together. After meeting-up at the usual Yodobashi spot, we decided to head over to Captain Kangaroo, a really great burger joint just south of Osaka Station. I guess a lot of the Kobe folks have been there a bit (big gaijin hangout), but I was really impressed by the food and prices. An entree was about ￥900, but you could get any entree and any drink for ￥1,000 during Happy Hour. It was pretty cheap!
Amnesty International (Chapter # 95)
After dinner, we all went out seperate ways and I walked a few blocks over to Blarney Stone pub for an Amnesty International* event that my friend Adela was helping plan. I ran into a few girls I know on the way there and met some more friends at the concert. The bands were actually pretty good, there was a good turnout for a good cause, and I got info for two of of the bands, who might play at our charity events over this next year. After a night of just enjoying the beer, good music and fun people, my friend and I left to catch the last train home. Unfortunately, we got the last Rapid (not Special Rapid) so I ended up having to walk home from the JR Station and not Sanyo (took me about 20 minutes vs. 5 minutes), but it was a nice night and I slept hard once I made it back.
Fin.
The Akashi Festival was Monday afternoon, but we had scattered storms all day, so I basically stayed in and finally committed some real time to the application process. I went for a run to relax and ran some errands. It was a good ending to a long weekend... and one well-spent (even without Okinawa)!
*If you're not familiar with Amnesty, it's an amazing organization that won the Novel Peace Prize in 1977 and who's primary approach to working towards peaceful resolutions is letter-writing campaigns (we were supporting group #95).
So what have I been doing then, you ask? Let's start with Friday...
Let The Best Chef Win!
On Friday night, I went to a dinner party at the Irish couple's house. It was a lot of fun and the cook-off potluck was a great idea! I made my signiture salad (the chop chop with a balsamic vinegarette) and the food was absolutely amazing. I also met a girl who lives close to where I work (and makes an awesome shepard's pie) and played a new card game called Murder.
There were quite a few people at the party and the game was getting louder, so we headed to park around midnight and ended up playing the card game outside for a while. I am not sure what time everyone else headed home, but my aging self couldn't last and I decided to call it an early night.
Halloween Party
Good thing I headed home when I did, because I was alreadypretty tired when I got up on Saturday for the IFA Children's Halloween Party. Every year, the Harimacho International Friendship Association (non-profit group that arranges community events) throws a big Halloween party for about 50 children in the area (around 5-12 years old). The expats volunteer to lead games in English. This was my second year volunteering (and being a witch), but it's crazy how fun and familiar these volunteer events have become now. It probably helps knowing some of the kids better (or that they know me). I had to sneak out early to meet my discussion group, but I got some good ideas for my upcoming ESS (English Society) Halloween event!
Discussion Groups
This fall is that I actually have two adult discussion groups, both consisting of a group of women who have been meeting as a group (along with a native speaker) for 10-15 years to practice their English. I inherited both of groups from friends that had been meeting with them for years but recently left the; they have truly been a blessing. I really missed the routine of having an adult class over last year (similar to my Norwegian classes in Minneapolis), and I feel that it gives me some balance to be able to discuss things on a different level (or from a different perspective) with older women than I would with my high school students. I also think I am learning as much as they are; having older female friends is definately an asset and I found a good fit with both groups. It's interesting, motivating... and the ladies always make or bring the most amazing cakes and sweets!
It goes on: 日本語弁居します！
When the group finished at 1pm, I was still wearing my costume, but there was no time to head home... I had to get to my Japanese class. I biked back to Harimacho like a mad woman, wearing my black dress with a witches hat in hand! I've sat in on this intermediate-level class a few times now and would really like to continue if possible. My regular teacher is the intructor for this class, but it's a little higher-level, which is a good challenge for me. There are 4 others in the class: two Americans who studied here for at least a semester and took Japanese in college, on guy who has been here for almost 3 years and had studied a lot, and a girl from Vietnam who had been here 2 years. Needless to say, I'm at a disadvantage and was worried about holding others back, but so far, I can (miraculously) keep up to an acceptable degree. In addition to the upcoming JLPT (proficiency test), the language is sort of sticking better than it was before and I am gaining more of a thirst to learn.
Class was fun, but I had to leave early, however, to get to my next location: home (finally). It was for very good reasons, though: I GOT A SHOWER! Well, it's probably more accurate to say I have running hot water and a showerhead... but it's a definate step up!
Saturday night was another low-key one. I went for a run (for an hour and 40 minutes!) and stopped by Harimacho (the town over) to pick something up for a friend. Two of my girlfriends there had rented chick flicks, so I stopped to watch a few minutes and ended up staying...until 3am! Good girl time, but I don't think I got to bed until after 4.
Capt Kangaroo: Once My Favorite Show, Now My Favorite Burgers
On Sunday, I met my MN friends Brianne and Shannon (who live in Kobe and Shiga-ken, respectively) in Osaka for dinner. Shannon was in the city to take the GRE (ironically, Osaka is the testing location for all of Japan) so we decided it was a good opportunity to get together. After meeting-up at the usual Yodobashi spot, we decided to head over to Captain Kangaroo, a really great burger joint just south of Osaka Station. I guess a lot of the Kobe folks have been there a bit (big gaijin hangout), but I was really impressed by the food and prices. An entree was about ￥900, but you could get any entree and any drink for ￥1,000 during Happy Hour. It was pretty cheap!
Amnesty International (Chapter # 95)
After dinner, we all went out seperate ways and I walked a few blocks over to Blarney Stone pub for an Amnesty International* event that my friend Adela was helping plan. I ran into a few girls I know on the way there and met some more friends at the concert. The bands were actually pretty good, there was a good turnout for a good cause, and I got info for two of of the bands, who might play at our charity events over this next year. After a night of just enjoying the beer, good music and fun people, my friend and I left to catch the last train home. Unfortunately, we got the last Rapid (not Special Rapid) so I ended up having to walk home from the JR Station and not Sanyo (took me about 20 minutes vs. 5 minutes), but it was a nice night and I slept hard once I made it back.
Fin.
The Akashi Festival was Monday afternoon, but we had scattered storms all day, so I basically stayed in and finally committed some real time to the application process. I went for a run to relax and ran some errands. It was a good ending to a long weekend... and one well-spent (even without Okinawa)!
*If you're not familiar with Amnesty, it's an amazing organization that won the Novel Peace Prize in 1977 and who's primary approach to working towards peaceful resolutions is letter-writing campaigns (we were supporting group #95).
posted by Brenda Ann Elizabeth McKinney @ 5:52 PM
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