Translation lost in

The title is intentional.

Well, as you can see, I have established how to email to my blog.

Friday was spent washing and taking inventory (and throwing away expired food and rotten eggs.) In the afternoon I went to the library and video store. I got a new book out and three videos. By the end of the day I felt a lot better than I did the night before. By the time I went to bed I had finished all three videos.

Saturday was another day at work. I had 3 normal classes before lunch, and then I had 4 kids classes in a row. I finished with "the angels" which was good.

After work I headed straight into Nagoya to meet my friend (the Japanese girl I had met) for dinner. It was a nice dinner, a selection of various Japanese stuff. For what we had I think it was not a bad deal. Afterwards we walked and found the Australian bar. There happened to be Chiefs vs Cats game on, which I was interested to see. I decided though that I better leave before the finish as I may miss my train home. For you people hanging on for gossip, I established whether or not there was anything there with the Japanese girl, I asked her if she would ever have a Gaijin (foreigner) boyfriend. Answer- No. Sweet as, better to know that now.

As it happened, I did miss my train home. I was rather annoyed. I decided to check out a capsule hotel I had located previously (in case this ever happened). I needed some more money to pay for it, so I asked where an ATM was (which is good, now I know where that is too). Anyhow I found it, and then found I couldnt get inside. I guessed that I should put my ATM card in the slot near the door, but there were no signs to confirm that, and I didnt want to put my card in a random slot as a) I might not get it back, and b) I didnt want to set off any alarms. There was a girl inside who was coming out, so I started to "ask" by indicating should I swipe my card. As it happened she spoke perfect english. She then asked me what was there to do in Nagoya, as she had missed her train back to Gifu. So we ended up hanging together for the night. Sorry mum, not Grandkids prospects there either. She is engaged to an Australian guy. We went to Shooters, the gaijin bar for a while, and then tried to find a karoke room or internet cafe where we could sleep for a while, but they were either closing, too expensive, or the last place seemed a little dodgy, according to my friend. They wanted our details, and to photocopy our IDs etc. It didnt make things better that it started raining badly. So we spent the remainder of the night at Dennys, which I guess is an American family restaurant. I caught the early train home and slept until 11, when I got up for my Japanese lesson. It was still raining, so I used an umbrella (only about the 2nd or 3rd time since I have been h ere) and decided to use my national footwear (the gumboots I had invested in several weeks ago, about 440yen). After my lesson I listened to an American guy talking about America, and Americans perspectives of Japan, and Japans perspectives about America. Quite interesting.

Tomorrow might be for travelling. Today will probably be cleaning and sleeping.

All by myself

Hey ya.

Im at the internet cafe again, my flatmate has been gone all of a day, and already I have had internet withdrawl. I knew I had about 12 emails to read, so I figured I may as well come and sort through them. I got a 3 hour deal, however it hasnt gone as quickly as I thought it would. The good thing is that you can buy cheap meals here too. For about 5ooyen I got a curry and rice.

Last night was quite lonely without my flatmate, despite the fact we werent always there at the same times anyway most of the time. On the positive side, I have inherited his bike, and various food items.

We hadnt had TV reception in our flat since Christmas, as when our cable box was given back, we gave back one to many cables. However the cable for the internet is/was the same as for the tv, so I have TV once more (albeit in Japanese, and most of it silly game shows). However the delayed english voiceovers of the news is quite entertaining - especially the idle chit-chat between presenters between storys.

Tomorrow is my day off. Thankfully. If it wasnt I may have taken it off anyway because my head feels like a brick. I will spend it recovering, cleaning the flat - pre-empting the visit from the cleaning mafia, doing my usual weekend jobs (to free up my weekend for fun stuff) seeing whats in the cupboards (taking inventory of the stuff I have scored) and general stuff that needs to be done but has kept being put off, such as changing my cellphones email address.

Saturday night after work I am going to Nagoya to meet up with the girl I met at the party. We were going to visit Ise on Sunday, but we have decided against it, due to my Japanese lesson.

On Wednesday I met my former Australian workmate for lunch. His contract was not renewed, so his union has told him to turn up for work everyday and ask if they need him (thats how its done here) much to the amusement to the other staff. I guessed he would be in Yokkaichi for that reason so I texted him to come around. He is also famous for witty lines such as, "Hi, Im ######, you may remember me from such lessons as E05 Postcards and Emails, and C35 Pet preferences". May be its just a had-to-be-there thing/in joke, by I crack up every time I think of that.

The end of the first quarter

Well, I've made it - tomorrow I will have been here three months.

My flatmate leaves on Wednesday - after that I'm living solo, until I get new flatmates, hopefully that won't be too quickly.

The rest of the week since Tuesday's entry has basically been a case of the same old stuff.

A positive thing I have noted about Japan, is the sensors that sense when to flush the urinals etc, actually do work, unlike the ones for decoration in NZ.

By the sounds of it I'm getting off probation this time. Nice. A victory for the kiwi boy.

Last night the guy I had replaced here (Matt) came back for a reunion party with the other teachers and stuff, so we went to the local cafe/bar. A fun night. He is staying with us for a few days, until my flatmate leaves, and then he will go back to Osaka.

This morning I had to get up early again, to get to the international centre, for a Japanese cooking lesson. That was quite cool, we learnt how to cook tempura, amongst other things (the tempura was the most memorable, since it took the most effort, the thing I was familiar with, and the thing I am most likely to cook again sometime, especially in New Zealand.) I met some fellow Kiwis (from Palmerston North) there - they are with JET (and therefore are probably a lot richer...) when I first met them, I have to be honest, I thought the guy sounded like a Brit or a Scot - probably because that was what I was expecting. However once we established we were all kiwis, he was calling me Bro.

After that I came back, and talked to Matt for about an hour. Following that I decided I would go and see the local sights here in Yokkaichi that I haven't seen yet (considering I've been her 3 months - as you can guess I'm having feelings that I'm not making the most of my weekends.) Anyway, I took the train 2 local stops north, and hopped off and saw the outside of the Yokkaichi dome, the Australian pavilion, and the Port building. However I discovered a cool obstacle course thing inside a tunnel thing, and a slide that has rollers. I'm probably sounding like a big kid, but it was kinda cool, especially the slide. It's probably the only amusement in Japan that you don't need to que for. After that I had the task of finding the nearest train station, which I managed. It was on the other train system to my normal train (which I knew) so I got off at the other station in Yokkaichi. Anyhow, I had a little more of a tiki tour on my way back to the flat.

Got to work tomorrow. Got raked into it. Not impressed, considering it is the second 1 day weekend in a row. At least I have Friday off this week (to make up for last Monday). Hopefully I will be paid overtime rates, but I have a feeling I may not.

Plans for this week? Friday I will try and knock a lot of the annoying jobs off, and then hopefully I can have a fun-fulled (and full) weekend. Hope to look around the Prefecture. The Japanese girl I met is keen to show me the shrines at Ise (about an hour or two south of here).

When your happy & you know it, document it

Hey,
If you think Im happy because I raked in numerous valentines from attractive Japanese girls...
You're wrong. Unfortunately the hints (talking about valentines day) and subliminal marketing I had done to my students (look at this cute picture of my cat, look at these cute lambs on my postcard etc) none of my students gave me chocolates. I did however recieve some chocolates from one of the Japanese staff, and a share of some cookies from my workmate (ie friend gifts). Probably just as well, (NB: in Japan, on Feb 14th women give men chocolate, on March 14,"white day" men return the favour) as it would have led to numerous ethical delimmas such as:
do I send them something?
they are my students, am I allowed to?
how do I not make the other students jealous?
is it something more?
that and the fact the tradition apparently says you have to multiply the gift by 3 in return (maybe that was just something they wanted me to believe).

Anyway, the title relates to the fact that I am kinda happy, so I thought I would write an entry while I still have access to an internet connection, and while Im in a happy state of mind, rather than a jaded one.

Yesterday I had training in a city south of here called Tsu. Afterwards I hung with an Australian guy, and a Canadian girl as we sampled the local fare.

Last night my flatmate had his leaving party, at a Japanese place that had free beer for the first half an hour, then the next half hour they were 100yen each, then 600yen. It was a rather fun night, I feel more at home with the others now. The other good thing is I met the new Australian couple that have moved here. They seem pretty cool, and they were from Adelaide, so I talked to them about my vague recollections of being there (when I was 9). They have Saturday/Sunday off (rare), so we can possibly do stuff together on Sundays. You may recall I was beginning to worry as all the Australians were leaving, and they are the closest things to Kiwis. The kiwi guy who is management, now works at my branch. He seems cool. I often hear him asking the girls stuff I would be too shy/wary to ask such as if they have boyfriends. He's married so I guess its a safer conversation for him. We aren't allowed to socialise with our students, let alone go out with them, which is a great shame.

Not sure what the deal with the Japanese girl I met on Saturday night is. I can't figure out Kiwi girls, let alone girls from a different culture.

I'm doing another "voice topic" tomorrow. I've decided to do "the olympics". Should be interesting. A bit stressful having to prepare it with short notice though.

Anyway, happy Valentines day! despite it now being yesterday here now, and long ago in NZ...

A contribution by one of our readers

Hey,

My mate Ron sent me an email, that I thought was worth sharing with the world, due to its comedic appeal (I hope comedic is a word, if not - it is now, I'm an english teacher, I make the rules!) Ron I hope you don't mind me putting this up without your prior permission - I can always take it off if you want.

To set the scene - I had related the story of my Osaka travels to Ron in an email (that I had ordered mutton skewers, but suspected it was actually pork, as it didn't seem like mutton - and having eaten mutton very regularly for 25 years or more I should know - I think they were telling me porkies! theres one you missed Ron!). In our group of friends (the FLY youth group - respect) we often rattle of some puns if the situation permits it. And this is a great example. Read on...

Sup,
Sorry about the mutton story I guess this is going to sound a bit lamb (1) and maybe I should give these jokes the chop (2) but did you feel a bit sheepish (3) after buying it? I guess they were trying to pull the wool over your eyes (4), it doesn't even sound like they were trying to dress mutton to look like lamb (5), what a dag (6). There's nothing worse than getting fleeced (7) thats for sure. Maybe they've docked (8) the price to make it more attractive, I hope the guys name you bought it off wasnt Shawn (9), you should go back and give them a roasting (10) about it, mind you it's a cutthroat (11) business world these days, and if your not careful you'll end up like a lamb being lead to the slaughter (12). These jokes sound like bad bagpipes (13). I cant stomach (14) much more of these jokes so ill dip (15) out.

Another efficient use of time

Hey, how u doin'?

This week has been OK I guess. Not much to report about. On Saturday's I now have a kids (kindergarten age) class, and I have this tiny kid, who must only just be old enough (or we have made an exception because the customer is always right...) and he is just so cute. He doesn't really know what is going on. At the start of the lesson he carries on saying Hello, hello, hello for about 3 minutes. He knows how to high five though. Its kind of funny how over here it is ok for guys to say things like that (ie the kids are so cute). It was also funny seeing my flatmate in action with his kids class last week, as it was a light I hadn't seen him in - usually I see him in drinking mode or on his computer - he is really good with them. Anyhow, My last class of the day was 2 girls, who must be about 12. They are cool - they have no teen angst or anything. They are a pleasure to teach. They even asked me how I was at the start of the class, and at the end they hold the door open for me!

On Wednesday I did what we call a "Topic voice" voice is basically a "talk about anything" class (except culturally sensitive topics of course) and a Topic voice is where you prepare a theme, and have games relating to it. I chose Valentine's day. It was interesting to see the history behind it. See this link for further information. The quick summary is that Claudius II the Roman emperor made engagement and marriage illegal in about the 3rd Century AD because people were less keen to join in the Roman wars, his logic being that it was so because people didn't want to leave their loved ones. Anyhow Valentine was a priest (I gathered he was a Christian priest) who then secretly married couples. He was then matyred for doing so on Feb 14th. Something interesting here in Japan is that on Feb 14th only women give men chocolate, and then on March 14th, men return the favour.

This week my Australian workmate finished up. A shame as he was cool. Now we have the kiwi guy who is in "management" working with us. So far he seems cool enough - I have dropped some of my initial reservations about him. I'll probably be able to relate to him better, being a kiwi, compared to my Canadian boss. Maybe its a self fufilling prophecy, but kiwis are more reserved and quiet than North Americans, and I am "quiet" for a kiwi... so the "energy" they want from me is a bit of a leap outside the comfort zone (also considering I'm already out of it). The cultural difference can be funny sometimes though, I chuckled when I noticed this example with my American friend:-

Saying goodbye
American friend: Well take good care of yourself, and I will see you again...
JT: Yeah

Note I'm not "being tough", its just the reserved kiwi doesn't say much, other than a few grunts.
Last night was cool (the efficient use of time) - After work I rushed to get some cash (it is surprising how fast I spend it), and then went home, quickly changed, and jumped on the train to Nagoya. I had to put up with a crazy man on the way there, who knew a bit of english, but got annoying fast. Anyhow I had gone into Nagoya for a party for international people. It cost about 1500yen, but was all you can drink from 6:30 - 9. As it was, I got there at 8, but it was still worth it I guess, considering a drink is usually 400/500yen. Anyhow about 10 minutes after I got there, they had a prize draw, and I won a huge block of chocolate (it was valentines day-themed). So I was quite stoked. Not only that, I also got talking to a Japanese girl, and afterwards we went to this party that my Australian workmate (as above) had told me about, being held in the "Gaijin ghetto" (where the foreigners live) near the Nagoya station. That party was OK too, but I had to get home, lucky for me I caught the last train back to Yokkaichi.

Anyway, today - I had my Japanese lesson, and then walked to the library via the supermarket, and also signing up at the video shop. Tomorrow (Monday) I have follow-up training, so I don't have the day off. Instead I get Friday off on the 24th. It isn't as good as it sounds - I still have to work Saturday the 25th (ie not a 3 day weekend).

You will notice I have finally managed to put up the photos of the castle. Also I rearranged the photos from New Plymouth (July 2005) so they looked better.

I hate to say it, but from now on the posts may be few are far between, and less likely to have photos, as my flatmate leaves in about a week, and so does his computer. I tried the internet at the International centre, but it looks like they block the blogger site. And when I do manage to get to post - recently it has been tempermental about letting me put photos up - hence the delay.

This also means I will be checking my yahoo email address less often, (probably once a week) however I will email you my email address for my cellphone (once I have changed it's address - at the moment it is random letters and numbers). However still keep emailing me!

Anyway, thats about it. I was going to go to Nagoya, but it would be a waste of time now. Apparently tonight is a birthday party at a Izakaya (restaurant thing) for one of the Japanese staff. Should be Ok.

Cheers to all of you who have recently emailed me - especially those who I didn't email first. Its good to hear from home. I intend writing another group email, but have put it off until I have established a better email address for my phone (so I can tell everyone what it is).

This was going to be a short one, because I was heading to Nagoya - however it has turned into an epic, and Nagoya has been forsaken. But as I said, it may be a while, so savour this long posting. Now I will probably cook me some eggs (for tea) or rancid meat. I defrosted some meat the other day, and used half of it, and now the rest doesn't look so great.

Kia Kaha.

Trapped in an alternate reality

Another week down...

What is there to report this week? Not a great deal.

I think things this week have been relatively the same. However on Friday, I taught at a different school (in a different town), where my flatmate ("room mate" - so American - I don't share a room with him!) So that was interesting. Their students seemed so onto-it. I had started early, so I finished early. That was good, but I ended up using that time to check out the shops in the plaza where the school was. I ended up buying stuff, such as some gumboots (approximately $4/5NZD) as I thought I should be prepared for if and when I go to the snow, and there was a 100yen superstore there (ie like a $2 shop). We have several 100yen shops here, but not as big as that one. Anyway, I bought a grater, as it was the first place I had seen a Western-style grater - everywhere else I had just seen ones that rip the vegetables. I wonder if my flatmate thinks I'm weird buying utensils and stuff (previously I had bought a fish slice, and a pasta spoon thing) however I see he used it (the grater) last night.

On Saturday I worked, as per usual. I got a call from my Japanese teacher, to tell me he couldn't make it to the lesson on Sunday as his mother-in-law had died. So I decided I should have some fun on Saturday night. I was going to have a beer with my Australian workmate, but he decided against it, as he is finishing up, and is short on cash. So I went to the local, and chatted to the waitress, and some other Japanese people. That was quite fun. I then went to Nagoya. Not my best move, as it was a bit of a waste of time, and it meant I had to stay there until the morning. While I was in Nagoya it started snowing. So it wasn't the most pleasant night. So in the end I only really achieved being tired and not feeling great. The pursuit of fun is hard here, even harder than NZ. Especially clean fun.

Sunday, once I work up, I checked the emails, and went back to Nagoya to go to church. After that I checked out the shopping centre at the train station (Kintetsu Passe) - over here, some shopping centres actually own train lines, for example Kintetsu, which is the train line I use to go to Nagoya (and Osaka). So above the train station is a shopping centre (also there is one in Yokkaichi). I had heard there was a shop with english magazines, which there was, although they were boring American ones, and you know what. Anyhow it was an interesting experience, exploring the centre, as it was 9 floors, which most of which were womens fashion. The Japanese girls here are really into their clothes, and dress quite individually, yet look classy (ie not skanky).

Anyway, came back to Yokkaichi, and decided to go to the Italian buffet for tea. Not because I was hungry, more because I didn't want to cook. I managed not to gurge myself this time. So that was good. I came home, tried to go to bed early, but sleep didn't want to visit, so I got up and clocked Delta Force: Land Warrior, one of the games I had brought over here. (Note the difference bought = buy, brought = brung, at least I think thats how it works, Im supposed to be an english teacher... today I have been paranoid to get that right).

I guess this week has been quite productive, as I have clocked that game, finished reading my book on Japan (now instead on only wanting to see a few places that I knew about, now I want to see further afield - which will be difficult, eg Hokkaido, the northern island), and I also have read the little book I have on doing an OE in the UK, that I have had since 2004. However there is always more to achieve...

Today, I might go to Tsu, a town about half-an-hour away, to find out where the place Im training at in a weeks time is. And after coming home on the semi-express (an express train, which I usually take doesn't stop at many stops, a limited express only stops at major stations, and a semi-express stops at most stops, a local train would stop at every stop) on Sunday morning, I managed to see were some of the Yokkaichi sights were, so I may check them out. Not sure when to do the chores though.

Happy Waitangi day!

A small message to one of our readers...

Today I feel I should share something with you. Something dear and special to my heart.

It is about someone I love very much, who I can't be with right now, due to my circumstances.

I would just like to say:

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY MUM!!!

Happy Birthday Mum. Sorry I can't be there to share it with you. I hope you have a good one.
Love
J