Finals are Finished... and so are the 3rd Years!

Wow, well the third year students finished their last test today and are officially done with classes!

I spent quite some time this morning photocopying all the letters and New Year's cards that the American high school students (from Armstrong and Minnetonka High Schools in Minnesota, USA) sent to my kids, so they could take the memories with them, but it hasn't really kicked in that these students aren't coming back once they go.

I just sat with some of the 3の1 girls in their empty classroom (after they had finished with a massive cleaning spree), eating the cake that one of them made and chatting. These students especially have become a big part of my routine over the last few years and have taught me so many lessons about Japanese culture and the Japanese language (maybe more than I have taught them in ways)... I am going to miss them!

I've got to get going but I just wanted to check-in quickly. I might not be on the net much this weekend, but I am really looking forward to the next few days, especially a movie night after class tonight and hiking tomorrow.

Full report coming on Monday. Until then... Enjoy your weekend :)

Japanese Economic Stimulus Check

Good news for those of you (us...) living in Japan!

CLAIR just confirmed that registered foreign residents can receive Aso's economic stimulus checks! While the checks will reportedly give each recipient between ￥8,000 and ￥12,000 additional yen in their pocket, this is part of a (widely criticized) package that includes credits and loans to support small businesses, a cut in regional highway tolls and the 2 trillion yen in cash benefits (that we are seeing now) to be delivered to households by the end of March.

In true Japanese beaurocratic fashion, however, after waffling on the issue for months, the government is moving forward on this hard and fast. Everyone has to have their current address registered at their local municipal office by FEBRUARY 1ST (essentially this Friday) to receive the money.

Murderer on the Loose

There was apparently a violent stabbing near Hiraoka (east Kakogawa, near my school) around 6am this morning. It sounds like the victim is still alive (maybe at a hospital in Befu?), but the perpetrator got away.

One of my coworkers just gave an announcement to our staff seating section (gakunen) saying that the murderer is on the loose on the area and that we should try to avoid being outside alone this evening. 

Hmm.  Still think I am going to run, but that is slightly concerning...  

Quietdrive coming to Osaka. Oy!

Here's something kind of crazy... look who is coming to play in Osaka! That's right, it's QUIETDRIVE!

Some of you might actually know of this band, which gained some acclaim and attention for their cover of Cindy Lauper's "Time After Time". One of my Japanese high school students had it on her i-Pod this fall and I think the cover was used on the OC (or one of MTVs popular shows).

Anyways, I just thought I would point this out because this is sort of my hometown band. I went to high school with one of the guys (he graduated a year after me and we rode the same bus) and I used to see them play at the Lodge in Minneapolis every Wednesday with my best friend Kristin for about a year after college.... but that was also just before they changed their name to Quietdrive :)

Kristin also went to university with the lead singer (our age), who dated one of her friends and wrote a couple of the band's singles about the relationship, so we have also gone to see the band play around Minneapolis a few times. I think the last time was the spring before I came to Japan... although it was a funny experience with a sea of pre-teen girls fawning over the guys and what felt like a club for underage teens (blacklights and all).

Anyways, I'm proud of the hometown boys for making it this far (I mean, the other bands on that schedule are pretty A-list... from Coldplay and Jason Mraz to Death Cab for Cutie)... now I just wonder if I can get them to add me to the guestlist ;-p

Poor English Due to the Ministries?

An interesting opinion piece about English education in Japan: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090120hn.html

The Weekend Review - Happy Chinese New Year!

Well, good news: I can walk today!

I honestly thought I might not be able to...

So, here we are. Another Monday morning. But for me, this was not just any weekend. This was the weekend of getting into training for the Tokyo Marathon, now less than two months away (hence the fact I thought I would be much more sore than I am).

I spent this weekend mostly around my house (or in the neighborhood) with a long run to Akashi and back (about 30 kilometers r/t) on Saturday afternoon and then finished the Harimacho 10k Roadrace on Sunday morning.

The Roadrace
This was my third time running in the Harimacho 10k, and while it went well, it was a little strange to be there without the expats I came to Japan with and have attended the event with in previous years. Last year, I ran the race with my friend Hong, whom I met in Korea and was visiting from Gifu Prefecture. Tam and Clayton ran it, too, while Kelly, Robyn and Takiko cheered us on and took pictures.

Takiko’s husband was running the race this year, so she did come to say hi and then she and her husband cheered me on at the finish line (because her husband finished the thing in 35 minutes – wow!), but it was just a different vibe.

I finished the race about 45 seconds slower than last year (at an hour and two minutes), but I was honestly just enjoying myself and trying to take it easy during the race. I woke up feeling like someone had taken a hammer to both my knees on Sunday morning (due to Saturday’s run), and while it did get better with stretching, I also didn't think running a 10k was worth ruining my legs for!
Other than running, I did a few things but had a rather relaxed weekend.

Friday & Saturday
On Friday night, I went to Japanese class in Kobe and then came home, took a bath and watched a few episodes of the Daily Show before going to bed. I had to be up on Saturday morning to meet the old ladies, but I did get to sleep in a bit longer than usual and really appreciated the extra hours (probably still needed them from the inauguration night on Tuesday!).

I ended up staying about an hour and a half longer than I planned talking with ladies, which was nice, but I didn’t realize how much longer I stayed and subsequently got started on my long run (the first in a long time) a lot later than I had expected.

Once I had eaten lunch and gotten out on the road, I decided to take the seaside running path to Akashi, which I really enjoy because there are usually a lot of people to watch, it's smooth and I love watching the water. The whole trip took me less time than I expected (even with stopping for an energy drink, bananas & mochi in Akashi) and I now know the landmarks along the path and was really to use them to guage how far I had gone. It had gotten dark by the time I was on my return leg of the trip and nearing home, but I was also surprised the track wasn’t as difficult or dangerous as I might have expected it to be (since it's not really well-lit) and it was a little funny how the manmade island shined like OZ in the distance (felt a bit like Dorothy, actually...).

After the run, I stretched for a bit, took a bath and was in bed before 9, apparently along with three other friends at my apartment building. Not the most exciting Saturday night, but again, I think I needed it and the sleep was nice.

Sunday

On Sunday, I had to be in Harimacho, the town next to mine, around 8am to register for the 10k race. I got up on time and made it over, but then I had a few hours before the actual race (which started at 11) so I came home, made breakfast and spent some time installing a new Microsoft Office package on my computer (so I can finally finish those silly applications from home!).

The race went well and then I spent the rest of the day running around: meeting my other old ladies in Okubo, going to a Chinese New Year dumpling-making party that my friend Ann was hosting (but that I could only stay at for about an hour) and then volunteering at an Harimacho IFA Event (group picture to the left).

Kyoto with Heather and Matt

My friend from college, Heather, and her boyfriend, Matt, were recently in Japan visiting another friend that we all went to school with that now lives in Yokohama (just south of Tokyo).

While they were here, Heather and Matt decided to stop in Kyoto for a few days to do some sightseeing and I was luckily able to meet them for some little adventures and dinner.

Here is a little pictorial summary of the trip:

First, I met Heather and Matt at their B&B, where they were waiting with bikes for the three of us. We decided to take a tour around town to see some temples, stopping in a famous area called Gion along the way.
In Gion, we walked the bikes down a narrow road called Pontocho, famous for being an entertainment district and the spot for sighting Geisha (or Geiko, in Kyoto). We saw three Maiko-san (apprentice Geisha) along the way, but didn't take any pictures... poor girls probably get hounded enough!:
After leaving Gion, we took our bikes down to the path along the Kamogawa River where there was much less traffic. The water levels seemed unusually high and Heather and Matt really seemed to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the path:
Our first temple stop (or shrine stop, actually) was Fushimi Inari Taishi, or the Fushimi Fox Shrine in a town just south of Tokyo Central Station. It didn't take us very long to bike to the shrine, which also happens to be one of my favorite and is famous for the thousands of orange tori (gates) that line a path through the forest.
My friend Katie and a friend of hers that she studied in Japan with were also in Kyoto for the day, so we met them at the Shrine. Here is Katie and Amanda:
And the group exploring:
After a while, Heather, Matt and I decided we should go because we wanted to go visit another temple. Katie and Amanda wanted to do the whole forest walk, so we decided to just meet up for dinner later.
After following the orange gates back to where we had parked our bikes, we set off again, this time biking up a huge hill to my favorite temple in Kyoto, Kiyomizudere. I've been 11 times, but I still think it's fantastic:
The large deck on one of Kiyomizu's main temples also afforded us a really pretty view of the city and of the sunset (going down behind the Arashiyama mountain chain):
Heather and Matt had to get back to Yokohama, while I still had a long train-ride home, so we met Katie and Amanda for a nice Japanese dinner (well, I had Korean kimchi, but...) before returning the bikes and parting ways.

This trip was short, but it was nice to see people from home, biking around Kyoto (a first for me!) was awesome and and I generally just had a really lovely time.

Looking for Toothpicks

For those of you that know me personally and are in Japan, I am currently on a hunt for toothpicks and could use your help.  

More specifically, artistic and "creative" looking toothpicks (preferably made out of bamboo) like these:

I know it's random, but my mom saw them on Martha Stewart and has requested that I find them here.  I guess she really wants them, but they're from Japan, and - get this - they are charging $15 - 25 (USD!) a pack for these things at home.  

I guess people pay it... but I also think it's nuts and I'll be able to find them at hyakuen.  

Anyways, I'm looking so if you see them around, please let me know.  If you can also just buy them, let me know and I'll pay you back.  Arigats!

CHANGE

Well, this is interesting.  Obama just changed a foreign abortion-funding policy as one of his first acts of President of the United States.  

You can read the article for yourself, but the rule President Obama struck down essentially prohibited U.S. money from funding international family-planning clinics that promote or provide counseling for abortions.

The article really caught my eye because I remember the rule clearly as Bush's first executive order as President in 2001.  The debate on this subject has been a virtual ping-pong match, with the policy changing with each party change or a shift in political power (Reagan was for the ban, Clinton reversed the stance as one of his first acts as President, Bush changed it, and now Obama changed it again...), but in my opinion, this was a very dangerous rule in the first place and striking it down was a responsible act of global citizenship.  People who want to get an abortion might seek one through dangerous means if there are not safe (ie - funded) options available (say, those who live in a society where a girl is economically disadvantageous), so as a nation with resources, we can actually make a difference here by offering those options.  If we are going to fund a war that kills people or give money to Israel while trying to broker peace in the Middle East, I definitely think we can stand to take such simple, realistic approaches to assisting where there is need.  Whatever your stance on abortion, you have to think realistically about this and that this is a cultural issue.  

Anyways, just a random comment for the day, but I am definitely one of the many who is watching these (highly publicized) first 100 days in office.  And right now, it's refreshing.

Photo of the Day: Futami Sunrise

This is the view from my bed, circa 6:40am.

Birthday Bubbles at Kaiyukan

Here are some pictures that I took at the lovely Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka last week. My camera died before the end of the night, but I really love this place and thought I would share some of the beauty:

My friend Emi and I share a birthday, so four of us went to celebrate :)

Looking Forward to a Lowkey Weekend

Tonight is supposed to be one of the coldest nights of the year.
The rain that we’ve been experiencing for the last couple days is supposed to let up today (which is nice when you are trying to get back into training and run everyday anyways!), but after spending the last two hours in my unheated, currently-at-less-than-40-degrees-classroom, I still think I might just stay inside the whole weekend and hide in the warmth of my little room. If I had a kotatsu (heated floor table), I'd probably be there already.

I'm wearing less clothing today than usual (that's me next to the staff room heater to the left), as most days' outfits have consisted of a turtle neck, two fleeces, tights, pants, wool socks and maybe another pair of socks (or coat!) for work recently, but I really think being forced to spend hours a day in this weather is what's keeping me sick for such long periods of time. My lungs can't handle the transition from hot to freezing over and over :(

All that being said (or whined about...), today has been pretty fun so far. I had totally forgotten that we had another professor coming this morning, this time from Kobe Women’s College, until I showed up 10 minutes before class and had to scramble to help prepare.
The professor we had today talked to our 2nd and 3rd year international studies courses about the field of International Relations and then focused on a case study about the situation and political issues in Rwanda. The lecture was probably geared toward a high school level, but I found the topic interesting (or well-chosen for our kids) and I think the the students were really affected by the information they learned about.
I had talked for a while with one of the 3rd year boys a few days ago about the last lecturer we had come in and I think everyone was a little turned off by the professor himself. I can see how they would think he was a little eccentric (he was very "active"... which I thought worked well with his talk, actually), but I am glad that everyone seemed to at least understand most of the lecture - which was done all in English - and gain something from it.

I'm lucky to have been here when we started the International Studies program at my school. Giving these kids this kind of exposure to both the international community and university culture is so important, but I think I also get to experiment and be more involved as an instructor because of it, too.

Anyways, there's not too much else going on today. I have Japanese class tonight but am pretty drained from all the conference-related shinanigans from last week and late nights this week, so I might tuck in early. Actually, I think the whole weekend is going to be lowkey. I am meeting the old ladies tomorrow morning and was going to try to do a long run tomorrow (and then have the Harimacho 10k roadrace & an IFA event on Sunday), but I also need to spend some time working on post-Japan plans and just relax.

Hope all of you have a beautiful weekend. xo

Another *Last Class* with the 3rd Years... and 3 hours of sleep

Whew, what a day. I think I got less than 4 hours of sleep last night after the inauguration marathon, but I'm glad I stayed up. Tears again. Wtf... how many times is this crying thing going to happen? I swear it's rare, but you wouldn't know it by my reaction to this election.

So today has also been going well - fairly quickly, albeit the cold. I did a few new lessons that went really smoothly, and then taught my second farewell class to my 3rd years this week. It was probably one of the most bizarre classroom experiences I have had, however, as my coworker and I ended up saranading the class when the CD player broke. But also just a lot of fun.

Little did I know that I last weekend that I would find myself singing Strisand's "If We Hold On Together" in front of 20 people in just a few days. So random.

In the same class, the down time also gave me an opportunity to talk with some of my favorite 3rd year girls about life after high school. At one point, I actually gasped out loud (a little too loudly) when I found out one girl, Miyuki/Bamboo, is who is going to work for the Hanshin train line, will be the 8th woman (out of 7,000 employees!!) to do the job. I guess they just allowed women to be conductors on the line in the last 3 or 5 years... but 1 in 1,000? Well, I know she'll do well and at least my kids are going on to hopefully break down some of those ridiculous glass ceilings and boundaries. But that is still a pretty shocking statistic, even for Japan.

I'm going to get offline and try to get some other stuff done. I'm starting to feel a little sick, probably a combo of someone being sick at the conference I worked at last week (they had to be - so many people that attended are just out this week), unnecessary stress and not sleeping anywhere close to enough. Need to take it easy so I don't end up sick for another two months.

Hope all of you enjoyed the inauguration and more soon.

Photo of the Day: Street Patrol

Let's face it, Japan has some quirks. Some things can be amazing. Others, I still struggle to understand.

To give an example of the positive side (the "amazing" one), after living here and being immersed in the culture for over two years, I am often still impressed and surprised by the service in this country. People will go to great lengths to avoid being rude, especially if they are on the job and without motivation like tipping.


Convenience is another thing. I love not having to own a car. I love the efficiency of my tiny little flat (yes, even my weird hot water furnace and teacup bathtub). And I love the fact that I can get a can of tea or coffee in the morning, either hot or cold, no matter where I am (vending machines).

One thing that I must ponder, however, is the level to which things are taken at times.

Since the onset of the current global financial crisis, I have heard the phrase "was made redundant" a few too many times and from people working in places all around the world). But if you do not believe what the exchange rates are saying about a strong yen, this may be proof that the full negative force of the foreign economies has yet to hit Japan.

You know you are doing OK when your job coincides with a traffic light and you are not worried.

I give you... the patrol people:

I'm not trying to be rude here and I definitely understand the need for traffic-control police at times, but seriously... what is the point of having two patrol men when there is nobody around... and there's a traffic light and walkway?

You have to give these guys credit for taking pride in their work, but at the same time, they are merely following the lights themselves and making sure people stay in the crosswalk.

I guess it's just funny to me because I see it a lot (sometimes two or three people manning an empty driveway) and it doesn't seem necessary. It might be just another formality, but this is one of those things that I don't always get...

Obama's Inauguration

It's 1:40am and I am up, eagerly awaiting the LIVE coverage of the US presidential inauguration to begin.  

Ironically, the speech will only be shown in Japanese on my actual television (some televisions have the option to remove the Japanese commentary/translation on programming originally recorded in English), so I am watching both the NHK coverage the BBC coverage I found streaming online.  It's sort of fun as NHK and BBC are playing at the same real time, yet have different camera angles, although I sort of wish I was watching American coverage so I could just watch the event (without all the talking and explanations for foreign citizens).  

Definitely an exciting moment, though.  I've heard of people flying in from all over the world for this event... and I am sure there are many of us all around the world waiting to watch it live right now.

OK, the trumpets are sounding, which means the formal start of the inauguration ceremony, so I should go.  

As we welcome President Barack H. Obama as our new leader, I'll leave you withone last little something I  borrowed from Slate Magazine's coverage of the end of Bush's Presidency. Cheers:

Slate V: The Best of Video Bushisms

1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

2. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."—Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000

3. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"—Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

4. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."—Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

5. "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican."—declining to answer reporters' questions at the Summit of the Americas, Quebec City, Canada, April 21, 2001

6. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''—Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001

7. "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."—Washington, D.C., April 18, 2006

8. "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."—Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005

9. "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."—discussing former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as quoted by the Sun newspaper, June 27, 2007

10. "And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."—meeting with Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008

11. "We ought to make the pie higher."—South Carolina Republican debate, Feb. 15, 2000

12. "There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."—Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

13. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."—speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007

14. "We'll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers."—Houston, Sept. 6, 2000

15. "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000

16. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."—U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 3, 2000

17. "People say, 'How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?' You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002

18. "Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."—CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000

19. "I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend."—on the prospect of visiting Denmark, Washington, D.C., June 29, 2005

20. "I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive. The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to—the beauty of playing baseball."—Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2006

21. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."—LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000

22. "You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war president. No president wants to be a war president, but I am one."—Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006

23. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "—Boston, Oct. 3, 2000

24. "They misunderestimated me."—Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

25. "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

The Last Few Weeks & Turning Another Year Older...

I'm sitting at my desk at school right now, in between my four classes, nibbling on the soy sauce flavored Kit Kat that one of my coworkers gave me. We also have a professor visiting today, so I will have to help welcome and host him, but I always have fun with the talks on Human Rights (and today's will be in English!) so I'm sort of looking forward to it.

Back in the Saddle Again
On the whole, though, it feels somewhat funny being back in the saddle, the old daily routine. It feels like ages since I've had a normal class schedule, but I'm easing back into the routine easily enough. One thing that did come as a surprise (although it shouldn't have) was the cold. Classrooms are not heated, even with 40 degree weather outside, and I once again encountered that vaguely familair sensation of not being able to readily move my fingers to count-out worksheets yesterday because I was just too cold. Maybe not having heat "builds the students' character" (hmphf), but I think I personally have become tough enough and these kids could probably concentrate better if they had heat, too.

There are many things I will miss about Japan (including the strong yen), but this no heat crap is not one of them. The larger, kerosine heaters that keep the staff room (and about 60 people that have desks in it) will work for now, but there is a certain beauty in central heating that you really miss once it is gone!

Leaving Japan
So that (missing Japan) brings up another topic. This will not be a surprise to most, but I have also officially declined to recontract for another year in my current position... meaning I will officially be leaving Japan in six months! Well, technically my coworker took the form out of my desk and turned it in early for me while I was gone (because someone asked her for it and she was worried about getting everyone's personal seal on it in time...). But it's official. And I feel comfortable with the decision.

There have been many changes this last year in Japan, some initially sad - such as changes to my social dynamic and community - and others positive, but at some point you have to move on. I think the change will be good and I am looking forward to it. I wrote in one of my last posts about options for the next stage, but we will see where I end up. Wherever I go, though, I think "change" will be the keyword and that this is a bit of a cross-roads. It just comes down to choosing the option that you would regret if you didn't do... so trying to decide what that is.

The Conference and Last Few Weekends
As for what I've been up to while I've not been blogging (been really busy!)... well, I'll try to catch you up a bit.

To be honest, I realized yesterday that I have spent a total of four (yes 4) nights at my house in the last full month. I've been traveling and then had a conference, yes, but - realizing how little I have been home - I think I really just need some personal time. If nothing else, it'd be good to relax or work on what I'm going to do next year.

At work, I am generally pretty busy during the day (or about to be again with classes beginning), which I like because it's my job for now... and I can take pride in that. But outside of work - you just need to take some QT for yourself sometimes and maybe I haven't been doing that enough.

Two Weekends Ago
Let's just start with the last time I wrote, right before Japanese classes started again. So classes started and I have the same teachers and there are a lot of familiar faces in the course, which is good. That first weekend was pretty normal. Hung out with Dave and Chris on Friday night after class, then had a pizza party on Saturday (half price Pizza Hut... I will really miss the bulgogi-flavored pizza...) at Bob and Katie's house on Saturday night. On Sunday, I stuck around Amagasaki and we just sort of went for a walk to the hardware store and such and then I went for a longer run (well, about an hour and a half) before a nabe party at Dave's house, where we made big pots of stew (the "nabe") on the table and everyone eats it). Monday was a holiday, so it wasn't a bad time to have such a dinner, but it was sort of a slow start the next morning. I got up, regardless, however, and met Bob for a run down the Mukogawa River. Afterwards, we spent the day with a big group at first the public bath (Super Sento in Nishinomiya - the steam room where you rub salt on yourself is awesome!), then at an all-you-can-eat crab restaurant in the Hankyu New Hotel (with other food... but wow!), then at Elephant Cafe (for coffee and a chat with a friend visiting from Gifu) and then drinks. We were in Osaka for most of it, but didn't leave until 8:30 or 9:00...

The next week is also just sort of a blur. So Monday night was spent in Osaka. I had my final class with my 3の1 students (my International Studies 3rd years and the students I am the closest with) during the day on Monday, giving a speech and almost crying. I wrote them letters and read an Irish Blessing that my best friend gave me when I left high school (now a tradition...). I didn't cry and thought I at least outwardly seemed like I was keeping it together, but the history teacher that was sitting in on my class told another teacher in confidence (who, of course, told me anyways) that he was really moved by the experience and was holding back tears himself. I'm going to miss those students!

On Monday afternoon, I had a meeting at the Board of Education office in Kobe and then an enkai (work/congratulatory party) afterwards. Well, these dinner parties are usually all-you-can-eat - AND DRINK - but somehow I ended up only eating about 5 pieces of shashimi and the alcohal hit me a lot harder than I expected it to. I felt really sick all day the next day and pretty much spent the evening in.

Mid-Year Conference in Motomachi

On Thursday and Friday, I helped at a conference in Kobe, moderatin/leading four workshops and then just doing general things like registration. Everything went alright, though, and I sort of feel like I had the easy job compared to the rest of the teacher participants. The evenings were a bit crazy, as they tend to be, with a group dinner at Sky Buffet on Thursday and then drinks with friends and some dancing at 2nd Chance (a foreigner bar in Sannomiya) on the Friday night.

Birthday in Osaka

Saturday was my birthday, so I spent the afternoon at Kaiyukan, the aquarium in Osaka, with Chris, Emi & Dave. I really love that place and was happy to go again (will post some pics later - my cam died early, but I have a few!), but there was some miscommunication and I unfortunately had to change my dinner plans to drinks and then change the date all-together. ざんえん but also しょがない.

That being said, things shifted around, and we ended up having a really good ethopian dinner with a small group of friends (actually the fun people I spend most of my time with nowadays) and I got to celebrate the day with my friend Emi, who is exactly one year younger :) We were also originally going to go to this Arabian place that's supposed to be a little crazy for birthdays, BUT... it wasn't in Osaka... and I appreciate having spent a third birthday in a row in the city. I won't be able to do again for a while, if ever again, and one could seriously do worse. I've turned 19 and 21 in Oslo, 23 in Shanghai, and 25, 26 & 27 in Osaka. Who knows where I'll be for 28 and birthdays in Osaka seems like a good enough way to remember my mid-20s by (OMG... because they're pretty much gone!)... so overall fun night.

Anyways... that's about it. Sunday was pretty lowkey. Just did bakery breakfast, a small lunch with a few friends and then I helped Dave shop for clothes before having dinner and heading home. If you made it this far... nice job... but at least it's a peek at life in Japan for ya.

The professor is coming soon and I need to prepare for that (can you tell I'm rushing through the end of this post?), but hopefully all of you have had a less hectic schedule than I have (ok, it's been fun... but busy) and a huge THANK YOU to all of you who sent me birthday wishes, as well. I was absolutely floored and honestly really surprised by some of the cards and little packages that arrived at my house (three people sent magazines, which sort of made me chuckle... and one even got me a subscription for when I get home... cute!). Love you all and am definitely very aware of how lucky I am to have such wonderful, caring & supportive people in my life :)

Photo of the Day: Nabe Party

Winter is time for nabe, or Japanese stew. This also makes it a good time for nabe parties!

The stew is usually cooked on a gas stove in the middle of a table, as people sit in a circle around it. When it's time to eat, everyone just serves themselves from the pot.

This is kimuchi nabe (with cocktail weiners). Yum!!

baby it's cold out here

Should I be sending a rescue squad to check-up on my frozen comrads back home in Minnesota? Talk about brutal weather... -40 degrees F!

Not That It Really Matters...

A friend sent this to me, another little glimpse of what is to come post Jan 20th: http://leishacamden.blogspot.com/2008/10/not-that-it-matters.html

Australian brothers killed in glacier adventure

I was just sent this article about two brothers being killed after ice collapsed on top of them at the Fox Glacier in New Zealand yesterday. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/01/09/1231004236713.html

I climbed this glacier on Monday and am feeling a tad stunned. Really does go to show.

Thoughts on the Friday Before a Long Weekend

I'm definitely back in the swing of things in Japan, but am still really tired from the trip. I didn't really sleep on the plane and got home after 20:30 on Wesdnesday night. My next door neighboor, Miwa, stopped by and we went to Ito for a quick bowl of ramen for dinner. I tried, but I just couldn't managed to stay up to wait for Tu, another neighbor, who was coming back from Kobe with a visiting friend from New Zealand that he wanted me to meet. The guys actually got delayed in Akashi after a car ran into a Sanyo train (and the line shut down), but I was I was falling asleep on Miwa long before they would have made it. I think I was out before 10.

Work yesterday was fine, too, but I was also planning on going running when I got home and ended up just going to bed around 9:30, totally burnt-out.

I know I've only been back two days, but things do feel a bit different in some ways. Not so much with Japan itself or work, but I definitely feel like I'm on the downward slope of my time here, for example. The final stretch. I've been thinking and talking a lot about my post-Japan plans with people in the last two days and really need to get on figuring out where the heck I'm going to be in 8 months.

I think a lot of people that I know living here are considering extending their stay for fear of not being able to get a job back in their home country. We do have a secure enough situation (under our current contract) and you can actually save while you're here (while still living a comfortable lifestyle), but it looks like the economic downturn is starting to hit Japan and I think the situation here will paralell what we are now starting to see in the US in the next year or possibly two. For me, it's just time to go and time to do something else. I've had a really excellent run, but I'm ready for new and different challenge and a different adventure. Right now, I believe those adventures lie in the world of academia, although I will admit I don't know where I'll be after that. I also don't know if I should pursue the Masters at BC (where I've deferred) if, heaven forbid, I don't get into the law school. Or wait and see where else I can get money and go to a different school or state? I don't think I've actually said it out loud to anybody, but I've been thinking a bit about moving somewhere else for education. I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to Norway at this time, but that would still be an option. If the Greek citizenship comes through, so would studying or working in the EU. I contemplated NZ a bit during the trip (well, was flippantly playing with the idea), but it's a long way to move from home on a whim (expensive to relocate if I head back to MN after Japan) and I don't think it would be wise to pursue law if I went. The system is very different, so while I could potentially seek out opportunities in other Commonwealth countries, the truth is that I would have a lot of trouble using it to work in America if I ever want to go back. NZ is a beautiful place and there are a lot of other things I would be interested in doing if I ever spent more time there, but I'm just not sure now is the right time for that. Hmm.

Another big change since coming back has been a sudden desire to really put some effort and dedication to getting back into shape and preparing for the marathon in March. I'm running a 10k in two weeks, which I'm not really worried about, but I am feeling some unwanted changes in my body and sort of miss the rush that comes with thsoe longer runs. While I'm not a big fan of dieting (who is?), eating more healthy is also becoming a bigger priority. We're having pizza on Saturday night (half price Pizza Hut - yay!), for example, and I caught myself thinking what healthy options I could bring with me so I didn't binge on the kimchi pizza. I also got up early and went for a run before work today, something I think I need to start just making time for... morning person (and pain!) or not. I know I've always sort of been running and there was the foot injury last spring, then the humidity and farewell parties last summer, but I really feel like I haven't been serious about my routine for a long time and I'm finally ready to get back into it.

I should get going. A friend (of the school) from Perth is coming to visit today with his daughter, who has been living near Himeji since August. I've actually met his daughter a few times and I am sure we will have a nice lunch, but my desk is covered with postcards (erm, didn't quit get to sending the ones from the trip yet), books and paper. Monday is a national Holiday (Coming of Age Day), so we get a long weekend, but I think I'm going to keep it low-key and lighter on the budget if I can. More next week (and pictures/updates from the trip coming soon)!

Got my Gaijin Card Back

Well, it's been a few weeks and still no word on the wallet. I was still holding on to some hope, but wasn't surprised when I heard nothing had come back and I am now accepting the fact the it probably won't, either.

I went down to the Akashi City Hall yesterday after work and picked up my new Alien Registration card (aka my "gaijin card"). The picture on this one is a litte more forgiving than the last, which I suppose is good, and I have now at least sorted out most of what went missing.

I am still on the fence about whether or not to get a new license. I was going to get my Japanese license (which involves taking the full written and practice tests) and have already paid for an official translation of my American license to do so. I am pretty sure, however, that they will still require the actual card before they'll hand over my Japanese menkyo or let me sit the test. I've spoken with the DMV in Minnesota, and getting a form for a new one isn't difficult, but the key issue is that I need to get my signiture notarized before I fax the form back. This involves going to the consulate in Osaka on a weekday. I'm just not sure it's worth all the time, money and hassle for one or two little roadtrips in Japan. I did get to practice driving on the left (on a manual, of all things) for a very short amount of time in New Zealand, but I think to think for a bit before I make a decision.

Recounting the Past - An Exciting Invitation

Something kind of cool just happened. A coworker approached me at my desk to show me a copy of a hardcopy book that our school publishes each year. I had never seen it before, but the book is a review of the best student essays from the past year, as well as reflections and student journals from school trips, events and several faculty-written essays for the graduating class. The reason I was shown the book is that I have been invited to write in it! I have until tomorrow to submit my essay in English, and then a colleague will translate it to Japanese.

I think I am going to spend a little time this afternoon thinking about what message I want to send or what to write. I'm definitely very flattered, though;, as this first time a foreigner has ever been asked to contribute and teacher submissions are by invitation.

Updates on the Franken Recount... Looks like a Possible Win

Here's the latest email update from the Al Franken Senate campaign in Minnesota. Things are looking positive for the democratic candidate, although it's still think it's too early to be blowing up balloons:

Dear Friend,
Yesterday, Al himself told you the good news: the state canvassing board approved the final allocation of ballots in the Senate race, and we've got a 50-vote lead over Norm Coleman!

Many of you have written to ask what happens now, and how you can help.
As Al said yesterday, there are still some votes that have not been counted - absentee ballots that were improperly rejected. We've been fighting for these ballots to be included in the count since Day One, and we're continuing that fight. When they've all been counted, we're confident that Al Franken will end up on top.

HELP US ENSURE THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED - CLICK HERE!

Once those ballots are dealt with, the state canvassing board will certify a winner. But the Coleman campaign has already made it clear that they just won't accept losing. In fact, they've already promised to go to court to try to overturn any Franken victory.

We won't let them steal what we've earned. But while Al goes to Washington to get to work for the people of Minnesota, we'll need to work together to protect our victory. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, or more will help our recount team defeat any effort by Norm Coleman to overturn the result of the election.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TODAY TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO OUR RECOUNT FUND!

Folks, we've come a long way, and now we're so close to the finish line. As Al said yesterday, with a margin this close, it's no exaggeration to say that not one bit of effort was wasted.
Thank you for everything you've done so far - and thanks in advance for whatever you can do to help secure this victory.

Yours truly,
Stephanie Schriock
Campaign Manager
Al Franken for Senate

Best Memories from 2008

I have been asked (several times...) what my favorite parts of 2008 were. This was quite the year, but while I didn't have time to sit down and write a Christmas/New Year's Letter before the holidays or finish this list before then (sorry, Mom), putting a list together is sort of a good chance to reminisce over the last year.

As is typically the case, I wrote way too much, but at least I kept the number to 10. So, without further adieu, thought it might be interesting to share:

My New Year's Top 10 (from 2008)

This year brought with it a lot of travel and experiences I am very grateful for, but, in many ways, I also had a really low-key year. My favorite things from 2008... just off the top of my head:

- INDIA and NEPAL. What a way to start the year. Deprived but happy, determined people (literally a land of contradictions) everywhere. Vibrant environment; stimulating all the senses. Adventure and excitement. Love firsts. Highlights include seeing the Himalayas for the first time, chartered flight around Everest, elephant safari through the Chitwan National Park, visiting the Taj Mahal in our saris, a camel safari (only a day) in Rajasthan, a hectic New Year's Eve that led to unexpected friendships, beautiful Jaiphur, the FOOD & the Ganges.

- THE 2nd SASAYAMA MARATHON. I was crushed when we didn't finish, but it taught me a big lesson about being more realistic and responsible (especially maybe looking out for myself in life). The training in itself (5 hour runs for a string of Fridays last winter) was a lot of fun and I felt in shape. I am also so grateful for all of the people that contributed to my fundraising efforts. It was surprising to see all of these people come forward and support me (and/or the cause) in something like this and it was more meaningful to know that that support was going towards real change for people that really need it.

- PEPY Trip to THAILAND, CAMBODIA & LAOS. I always wish I had more time. It was really fun to be at the Pepy School and help out, but I also really enjoyed visiting the NPOs and learning about Cambodia's past. I felt humbled and saddened learning about and visiting some of the more tragic aspects of Cambodia's recent history. PEPY was an amazing program and I believe in it's mission and goals, but this trip made me realize that I'm in a better place just exploring on my own and maybe volunteering (working for) these organizations rather than being part of a short-term organized tour. I'd do the trip again, recommend PEPY to anyone and had a lot of fun, but I would prefer to go under the condition that I was on one of the bike tourism trips. While this wasn't my first time in a developing nation, it was my first real introduction to the world of bike tourism and the trip also inspired me to have a bigger focus on responsible tourism (combining or utilizing travel for helping less fortunate parties) going forward. Spending my last full day in Cambodia alone in Siem Riep (Angkor Wat), with the companionship of the Khmer people I met and time to just wander around the wonders of the legacies left by Angkor Kingdoms, was also probably one of the highlights of all my travels. It definitely rivaled or could be best compared to Petra, Jordan.

- WORK. I know that seems silly, but this last year in Japan has really brought me closer to my coworkers and students, especially my 3rd International Studies (IS) class. I basically started at the same time as these students and helped a coworker establish an IS program at our school (which I got to name and help design). I used to see this class of 40 kids about 4 or 5 times a week and have done everything from your general Oral Communication classes and reading to an exchange project, notebooks and test prep with them, often individually. They often include me in their class (because I don't have my own "homeroom") for school events and it's been amazing watching them grow (academically and as people). We've also gotten closer as my Japanese skills have improved and we can both contribute to joint communication. I am *really* going to miss these students when they graduate in March.
After over two years, just doing the same types of activities and lesson plans can start do feel a little dull and repetitive, but I feel very fortunate with the opportunities that my situations has afforded me to travel, explore and and learn over the last few years. In my normal, routine, Japanese day-to-day life, I've had fun with the flexibility I'm given to be creative in my job (possibly more than others and key in battling that boredom) and will especially remember the events, festivals and (ESS) parties held over the last year. Making a full-scale totem pole and tepee for our school cultural festival is one example. I mean, c'mon, who just decides to make a totem pole and gets funding to do it? Getting to attend and help with other schools' English Camps, the National Orientation in Tokyo, our Prefectural Orientation in Hyogo and visit other schools were also new and welcomed opportunities this year.

- GOLDEN WEEK AND YAKUSHIMA. Being a little sneaky, I got ahold of a train pass that allowed me affordable, unlimited use of the Shinkansen bullet train system for a full week. On this pass, I traveled the entire length of the southern island of Kyushu. I saw the famous Kumamoto Castle, the coastal city of Kagoshima (including Sakurajima volcano), went hiking among the giant cedars on Yakushima Island (one of my favorites from Japan!), stopped by (but didn't really see) the active Aso volcano and soaked in 7 different types of hot springs (and finally dared to try blowfish) in Beppu. Fabulous little sojourn... and, better yet, I didn't even have to use vacation time for it.

- THE LAST FEW WEEKS before the friends that I came with left. This summer was so busy, it is almost a blur. But I know we had fun. This summer was the end of my time with my midwestern trio (Shannon and Brianne) and saw the last of the bi-weekly dinners (or "meat nights") with my group of girlfriends. Heather had her bachelorette party and I would sometimes meet Lena at random places, like at a Sanyo Railway station between our houses, to just sit on the curb and talk (sometimes over a beer from the vending machine). My trini friend Kelly and I resumed a long tradition of going to this hidden little park in Harimacho to just catch up (while we sat on the swings). There was one weeknight where a few girls came over for dinner and we ended up just hanging out and talking on my balcony until maybe 2 or 3 in the morning, laughing and doing silly stuff like trying to get the hookah a friend left me to work. I think that period marked the end of an era for me in Japan. It was the end of being on a program and the beginning of me just living here, in a way.

- RIB and TACO NIGHTS at SHAG's PLACE. I had a friend, Sagur ("Shag" for short) from Chicago, that worked for a big marketing/PR firm in Osaka that would host these AMAZING dinners at his posh flat in Kobe. The ribs were some of the best I've had and it's nice to get real tacos here. Shag is also hilarious and a great host. There was one dinner last spring that ended with four of us girls deciding to get a drink, hotdogs and then go on a hectic shopping adventure in Donkeyhote that I will never forget. I still laugh out loud thinking about my friend Robyn getting to the counter, finishing her hotdog, licking her fingers and then throwing down the money for her purchase. Maybe you had to be there, but the old man behind the counter looked horrified (note: Robyn is normally a very classy lady, which makes it all the better!).

- BIKING AROUND AWAJI ISLAND. It was raining all the way home and I did it solo, but just this short little trip (maybe 150k over 2 days) around the mountainous island near my house was so refreshing. I like traveling with others, but the solitude was nice, and the trip was a welcomed reminder of how romantic the Japanese landscape can be. The coastal tour could realistically have been the inspiration for a Miyazaki animation. This trip again fueled my interest in bike tourism, as well, while giving me the confidence that I - not being a very avid biker - could actually make it through a longer trip. Maybe I'll realize some sort of trip in 2009. You never know...

- MY BEST FRIEND's WEDDING. I was home for less than a week (three days for fun, three for the wedding and about 23 hours of travel time on both ends!), but I really appreciated getting to see some of my friends and was so flattered to be the Maid of Honor in my best friend, Kristin's, wedding. We've been friends for 20 years, but I guess we really are growing up!

- AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. Three weeks at the end of '08! Let me just blog about this. There's too much to tell, but what a wondrous adventure on this first trip to the southern hemisphere. I basically just got a little taste of Australia (a little cruel, really - it's a long way to travel and now I must go back) and NZ was definitely my favorite of the two. Strangely enough, it reminded me a lot of... Minnesota. This is especially weird considering the British influence in Christchurch and in general. It was summer when I arrived and spending the holidays with Dave and especially at a house and with a family again was so, so nice. The natural beauty of the place is stunning and possibly unparalleled. Highlights included the beaches around Sydney, a tour of the famed Sydney Opera House, skydiving, kayaking at Abel Tasman National Park (we saw wild penguins and seal pups), hiking the Fox Glacier (which is surrounded by rainforest), NYE and several days at a friend's country house in Hawarden and our whirlwind roadtrip around the northern South Island during the final week. I had an excellent time.

Wow.... and that's already 10! I'm keeping this pretty broad and basic, but there's so many other things I could add. Namely other small trips around Japan, dinners, wacky experiences, time with certain people I care a lot about (which comes before work... but maybe that goes into the "moments" category?) and a million other stories that I could add. Summer BBQs, snowboarding, random parties, trips to the International Villas in Okayama & hikes in the Rokko Mountain chain (ending with a soak in the Arima hotsprings) are just a few of the many. The list goes on.

Funny how such a simple/easy list can be so long or so hard to sort out.

Back in Japan

Hello from Japan! I arrived safely back at Kansai Airport last night and am currently on my first day back at work today. It feels like a stretch to call it being back at "work", as we only have an opening ceremony today (lasted 15 minutes and there are no classes), but being back in my normal environment makes it already feels as if the whole trip to Australia and New Zealand was a dream!

So... I have a bit of catching up to do...

I’ve honestly been online a total of about 2 hours over the last 3 weeks (including booking hostels, checking the weather & emailing my fam in America to tell them I'm alive), so I haven’t been able to do much blogging. At the same time, that’s also a good thing because I was using the time to see and explore the countries I was in and now have a lot to share! Things definitely changed a lot after the first day in Sydney, which was a rushed message and really the last time I wrote, but I promise not to bombard you guys with too much detail on why ;)

So, yes, AUSTRALIA. The great land down under. I'm going to start by being brutally honest about this one: I thought I would love, love, love Sydney, but in the end... it was still really just OK. I do like Australia and badly want to go back (Wet Sundays, Wet Sundays, Wet Sundays!!), but I think I am better suited to places like Melbourne than central Sydney if - no, when - I do return to this vast nation. I love the city atmosphere, but the more artistic, coffee shop, laid-back vibe of a still bigger town like Melbourne seems like it would be a better fit.

I will blog seperately about what I got up to while I was there, but my initial observations of Australia, a totally new place for me, laid along the lines of Sydney being extremely fashion-forward (armies of Haviana and Gladiator sandal-wearing, boutiquey sundress clad women) and having a rather large Asian population. It wasn’t until days after I arrived, however, that I realized that I was staying right on the edge of Chinatown (hence the Asian population...haha) and that it might not be that so many other advanced countries are that fashion forward, but that America is just generally not. Yes, people are fashionable at home, but the way we approach it is sometimes different (read: laid-back) and there's too much of a pattern with non-US countries to make me think it's an Australian (or European, or Japanese) trait. I’m sure gladiator sandals and fringe purses/boots will make an appearance in Minneapolis in the next few years, but they were already the "big thing" over 6 months ago in Japan and it’ll take more than that before people at home feel comfortable wearing them out. Tulip dresses were out two years ago here. If you know what that means, you know what I mean.

Anyways, I found a lot of ways to spend my brief 5 days in Sydney, including jaunts to famous sites such as the Aquarium, the Sydney Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the old Coat Hanger, the Rocks, Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Paddington Markets, the Blue Mountains and Three Sisters Rocks, staying with a friend from uni... generally a really good time!

Next, New Zealand, where I spent the last two weeks of my trip, I absolutely fell in lurve with. As with pretty much any trip I have taken, there just was not enough time in the end, even though we covered an amazing amount of sightseeing. During the stay, we managed to include into the agenda: a roadtrip around the northern coast of the south island (and back - through Aurther's Pass), a trip to a friend's summer house (what we Americans might call a "cabin trip" - even though it was a house) and the holidays with family. The roadtrip was a bit of a whirlwind and we got sort of tired halfway through, but NZ (yes, with a "zed") is literally one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and I had a fabulous, fabulous time.

I still have three weeks worth of emails to sort through - yikes! - so I need to go, but I'm trying to jot down notes, thoughts and memories from the last couple weeks so I'll make sure to throw them up here soon. Until then...