Sleeping on the Floor...

Fuji San - Completely deserving of is own blog post

2007-09-08T01:17:00.000+09:00

There's a quote you'll find everywhere when you search online for "climbing Mt. Fuji" - something about you're crazy to try it once a fool to do it twice...

I completely agree.

Its quite the sentence to say in Japan, "I climbed Mt. Fuji" its even crazier to actually make it all the way! I can't believe I did it! I made it all the way in about 6.5 hours.... CRAZY!!!!! We started off at 6pm thinking that I would need 10 hours because I would foam up in the mouth and everyone else would need to drag me the rest of the way up.... Luckily... or unluckily?! we were up there at like 2 am after extensive stops(sitting in some stupid shed buying Cup Noodles for 5 bucks. Eating slowly so we could have an hour, just to sit away from the wind. Too cheap to shell out 32 bucks an hour to sleep on the floor in the shed... sitting on a bench loosing feeling in limbs another hour....) at the 8th station. The walk up was... hard... rock climbing, stairs, and gravel (gravity against you). It wasn't foam of the mouth hard, thank goodness.

Being above the cloud-line was amazing. Billions of stars could be seen and the sea of clouds beneath you... the beautiful arc of the sky above you.... walking at the same level as the moon! How I wish I had some insanely great camera to catch the shots... but I guess thats the reason you climb it... you can't see it unless you do!

Its nothing I'd ever do again.. or anything like it... It was SO COLD at the top and waiting 2ish hours for the stupid sun to rise so we could take stupid pictures was not worth it but we were there and climbing down without the stupid sunrise shot was just even dumber....
Gahh then coming down! 3-4 hours of just... shuffling and sliding through volcanic rock (black feet under the socks thank you very much) was so errrrrrrrrrrrr..........

Least to say, I'm still sore... but now I can say - I climbed Mt. Fuji!!!

5th Station - where you take a bus to.... takes you about 2500 meters...? and you climb to the top... 3776 meters above sea level....
Before... duh... still smiling...

All you see in the dark....

The walking stick you can buy for 10 bucks... and then they burn an engraving on it when you reach certain stations....This is what we waited for........

Proof I was up this stupid thing...

Japanese people taking pictures and phoning people...

A friend telling me I look like puke... in which I agree...this wasn't even on at the bottom yet... this was just realizing I had to climb down the stupid volcanic mountain...

Looking down at what I had left .... and then some...
Looking over at how we came up.... use your imagination and crop the next few pictures together...

Owari (end) ~

Obon - another excuse to go on vacation

2007-08-22T11:57:00.000+09:00

Obon was traditionally something to do with the celebration/respect for the dead... kind of like how chinese people used to respect their dead ancestors or something... but really its just another time to go out for a vacation! Preferably out of the country since its so stinking hot!!!!

NO... it REALLY got hot here in Gifu Prefecture... we won the new title of "hottest place in all of Japan" setting the new record this year... YEAH! (not...) something like 45 degrees and in the inner cities 50? I'm talking Celsius here... add asian 100% humidity and you get - why aren't I a cooked dinner yet?

Anyways... for Obon I did some fun things to keep me sane... Ironically ALL outdoor activities...

I went to Summer Sonic Osaka - where a whole lot of bands get together to play and the featured attractions were American... Despite the fact that I sweat like a guy - like I was crying from my nose?! - it was a lot of fun! I haven't been to many concerts... especially ones like this...There were so many people... gahhhhhh getting back into Osaka station was SO BAD.... I don't know how many people were there with me... but you can get an idea here (Aug 12)

We saw Goo Goo Dolls, Interpol, a few songs of Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, and the Black Eyed Peas... out of all of them I enjoyed Gwen Stefani the most... kinda funny... since I don't really listen to her stuff.. but its just fun at a concert!

Then I went to Gujo Hachiman and attended a matsuri (city festival) where we danced till 5am in the morning... it was crazy!!! The dancers, singers and musicians go the whole night... video of dance - I'm the one on the left... short... pink bow....

Its offically Summer

2007-08-06T00:49:00.000+09:00

With 100% sticky disgusting 35 degrees of fun.... come the bugger insects...

I kind of psyched myself out and... perhaps imagined my own cockroach in my apartment. The garbage is picked up twice a week but I had missed one day. Now in Vancouver, thats not such a big deal because often we have so many place to put our garbage, and it only ever gets picked up once a week anyways. However, in Japan its a totally different story. The garbage will start rotting within 24 hours and it REALLY REALLY smells in the stagnate apartment air. So I shove the garbage into this kind of closet near my entrance door. With no worries I threw the garbage out the next day. Then when I opened it to grab my vacuum cleaner a few days later, I saw a cockroach like shape crawling really quickly up and down the cleaner. My first instinct was to slam the door... then... I called a coworker in a panic - obviously thought I was crazy... but shared in my misery because she has snakes, bats, and cockroaches where she lives... then I called a friend over to kill the thing for me!
Then!!!!!!!! When he finally came over to kill it, he looked inside and found... NOTHING.... I did the stupid thing by spending the evening drinking 3 cups of coffee (refillable at Mr. Donuts) and eating 2 sugar-filled donuts! Least to say, I was running of Fight or Flight and totally hyper...
We never found the cockroach in my apartment... and now I'm crazy and hallucinate... but he did see a fairly big one down the stairs... maybe... maybe it was mine...

I apologize for the short condensed update last time... I wanted to say things but there were too many things I was trying to process... When the two worlds of Vancouver - family and Japan - adventure collided with my family visiting Japan, I was really left wondering... what I was still doing here! I felt I was so done, and that nothing in my job or life challenged or drove me to really REALLY live here... I've become stagnate like the air here... but then I've since done some thinking about how I am leaving soon and there are so many things to actually figure out...

For example the question of what am I to do when I return? I've already fulfilled one of the things I wanted to discover about myself here - what my interests and hobbies are... I mean the productive ones - not Battlefield or Starcraft... or watching way too much TV... I want to go swimming again! I want to pick up ballet again, or pottery again or learn about photography... Keep up my chinese, and japanese lessons....
As for career, I've learned to be more forgiving regarding myself, and while I still don't have a clear idea of what I want to do, I've come out optimistic that God will provide some new experiences for me - even if they aren't going to be the BEST jobs in the world... hopefully I'll work hard in those experiences and it will lead me to finding that best job for me... After all, money is just money and material success is just material success... I lived on my salary here in Japan - and I did just fine able to afford just want I wanted and needed... I've learned to tithe well here...

I miss church SO MUCH.... I haven't fellowshipped since returning to Vancouver in February... sniffles, no bible studies.... and I've barely had any worship except Sundays and especially miss deliberately serving God, and more so serving with my spiritual family... I feel like there is no proper outlet where I can just scream out Jesus in joy...

I'm planning a trip all on my own... going on my own to New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong... I dunno thinking back on things, I don't think I would even attempt something like this before coming to Japan...

I'm happy with my time here and my interactions with the people I've met in Japan... Sure I haven't built too many amazing close relationships, nor have I shared God's word with many Japanese people - or even have many Japanese friends! God has really dedicated the moments I had with people to really learn about myself than others... I'm happy that I can stand firm in what I believe in - even if I sacrificed some opportunities to get to know others.... I feel okay to be me, and though I am unable to attract very cool or interesting people like others can.... I do what I am capable of, and thats okay....

There are so many things I've been thankful for in my time in Japan... I can't even put them all into words yet... So many simple and little things of everyday life... that if I were home - would have been too busy to realize or acknowledge.
I've still got things to figure out... but I'm pretty much at peace with my adventure in Japan and I know God will take care of me and make it enjoyable for the rest of the time I'm here and afterwards as well...

So what did else did I do in July?! Pictures to Come for some things...

We lined up early in the morning to enjoy Sumo Wrestling.

I did the "coolest thing in Gifu" I watched Cormorant Fishing -
Explained in the diagram below. Yes, the birds do the fishing...
Really its just one big drinking party on a boat
Dancers performing.. and that lit-up-ness were the firecrackers we were playing with
Guys guiding our boats

My Japanese tutor Kana!~
The Actual Fishing....

I saw insane Fireworks... Gifu has one of the greater displays of fireworks in Japan... NON-stop for over an hour of fireworks!!! The best part of it? They had rope that went across the river that rained down like a waterfall of fireworks...

I went to one of the largest artificial beaches in Japan...

And on a hot day hung out at the river do a little bit of water splashing and trying terribly to catch fish with people from the Nagoya English Fellowship...

I also survived working 8 days straight.... which is a rare thing in my job hahaha...

Obon - holiday to originally to celebrate the dead is coming soon and I'll be in Osaka at a crazy big outdoor live music venue and dancing all night long at the Gujo Festival - where I plan to avoid cat/dog size insects and attempt at wearing a Yukata...
Then at the end of August I will kill myself climbing Mt. Fuji...

Finally Updates

2007-07-15T11:49:00.000+09:00

Yes.... Here it is! For everyone that still bothers to check this page, I thank you.

June - An eventful month with my family visiting at the end, and me being supportive by going to Kyoto the week before...

And then there's July... ohh july... what do I do with you? I get 5 days off at the end of the month before we get to teach 8 days straight... but I have no where I want to go! - partly because I want to save money to go to New Zealand.... and maybe drop off in Australia....

Kyoto

Hanging out with the family...

And July --- the stupid things I do now that I don't have any motivation to be here...

- drive golf balls into the river...
- take stupid photos...

.... yeah...... this is my life....

ohh the rainy season seems to have ended today with the weak coming of the typhoon...

ohh... I should clean my place... dust bunnies are starting to dance...

Ohhh something cool did happen, a christian vocal group well... 3 japanese guys singing... stopped by the local community center to promote... some the songs you will recognize..

koko, soko, to asoko... (here, there and over there...)

Okinawa!!!!

2007-05-17T10:45:00.000+09:00

Tropical Islands are cool...
This is me sitting on a Go-ya (bitter melon) which is a signiture okinawan vegetable... *DAISUKI!!!*
This is a famous cliff of sorts... what does the shape of it remind you of? The sucky part of this trip was that it rained and was cloudy most of the trip.... but its a great place!!!

hmmmm beach at the resort... and this is why I'm broke....
Oba-chan knows how to make her foods... it was the best food we had the whole time we were there... and the best part, I paid like 7 bucks for it.

An Izakaya that used to be a public bath house.. how omoshiroi....

The largest aquarium tank in the world!!! It houses that cool shark I'm pointing at, check out the symbiosis... fyi the glass is 60 cm thick....

On the rainy day we went to a traditional crafts kind of place to paint these dragons called 'Shisa'....TWO painful small brush strokes hours later....

Finally a sunny day we went outside of course... how can I say I didn't swim here?!
We also went snorkeling... which I found out that I seriously needed a nose plug... but if I had a nose plug maybe I'd be comfortable scuba diving next time too.... it was SO pretty... ocean shots pending...

Worth every penny.... or.... yen....

Also please refer to the left side for more photos of this year - some have asked about if I had more photos.. there they are... too many in fact...

Golden Week!

2007-05-09T12:11:00.000+09:00

Golden Week! The week where the masses of overworked japanese people all get a practically a week off from work to travel. Don't go to big cities during this time... you'll probably sufficate.

I'm going to spend so much money this month... it hurts, but I think its worth it.

The first few days I headed to Osaka kind of a stop over before heading to Hiroshima. I went shopping there, hung out with Raph and learned the C chord on the guitar.

A 5 hour bus ride on May 3 to Hiroshima!
By far my favourite city in Japan thus far.

The following are pictures from Miyajima Shrine, one of the 3 most beautiful sights in all of Japan....

This is a memorial for the children who have died, and have been affected by the radiation - leukemia etc...
The story was that there was a girl that while dying of leukemia she decided not to give up hope by attempting to fold 1000 cranes (in which its said that any wish will be granted if you do...) unfortunately she was unable to reach 1000...

This is a model of Hiroshima before and after the bombing, the red ball represents where the bomb exploded.

There was a festival on the main road of the city

The famous dome representing the destruction of the Hiroshima with the Atomic Bomb.

AHHH the food there was AWESOME... Okonomoyaki!!!!!!!!!!!

More pictures soon? Going to Okinawa this weekend!!!!!!!

Ohhhh and the week before I was in Takayama and got my first taste of the infamous japanese beef... *drools* think beef so tender - like a crispy cream donut is... but... beef.. hahaha

Man, its getting hot here... was 30 degrees today... ahhhhh big bugs.. big bugs...

Calm before the Storm

2007-04-24T11:46:00.000+09:00

Its been a pretty quiet week.. and I think as I head to takayama this week it will be another quiet week... Good before Golden Week Mayham!!!!!! I'm spending SO much money to travel only so far for like 10 days... but I told myself I'm not here to make money... so... here I go!! HAHA To even push myself further I made sure I tithed 10% this week for the money... lots of money actually 10%... AND I'm thinking of buying a Nintendo DS... its so big here... they have so many practical games and programs for adults... like dictionaries and those point and speak books... and more brain games... I'm also looking at childrens games perhaps test my japanese... hehehehe... so that means more money.. but not yet I guess... they're SOLD out still here... crazy eh?... so much stock elsewhere but in japan it sucks when something is popular.. they get it last...I want that light turquise one... ohhhh I want that one.....

Moral?... errr I'm learning to let go of my money?.. you'd think that'd be an easy thing to do eh?...

I think as I'm planning out the upcoming months (family visiting at the end of June!!! Hope I get that week off!!! Surviving insane summer here... It was SO humid the other day too, and I felt sick then... then I remembered that the summer is like that with 30 something degrees....)
I'm already thinking again of what I will be doing when I return.. there's a big fear I have to face of the really NOT knowing what I can do when I get back.. I think as I've taught here... I've learned that I don't think I want to become a teacher... I like teaching and care for children very much... but I'm not happy being the teacher thats only okay at my job and children disliking me because I'm the teacher... heheheh..... If I were a teacher I want to be a better one than that... I don't think I can... be that...
But I'm seriously interested in a job regarding children in some way... perhaps some organization that deals with children - on the administrative side, or some volunteer programs... or community centers?!.. I don't know actually... I just know I'll be starting probably with lower pay than I'm getting here.. but then I will be living at home and not paying ridiculous rent like here.... I wonder how ppl become paper pushers for the Vancouver School Board?! hahahah... A part of me is screaming 'I want to be lazy too' as I know there are aspects of the admin job I'm going to hate... like making phone calls to people... errr... anything beats working for my family... not that I don't like the job - its quite interesting - its just that I HATE working with my family.. there's too much pressure to perform - not from them but for myself.. I don't want to fail my family... and live with them... and work for them... EWWWWWWWW no matter now much they drop the idea of "taking over the family business" I REALLY refuse to do it... especially anytime in the near future... like the next 5 years minimum... tooo stressssfullll also I need to face the real world sometime... see if I can work away from my family... yes...

One thing I've really learned being away from home is that its really nice take a break from being the giver in the family... hahah you know how there are givers and takers in the family... I'm a giver.... and its nice to not have to feel guilty or bad for not giving... heheheh.... just for a while.... I need a break... I'm also learning to be on my own too... or rather relying on God - because only recently have I've been praying for teaching agian... and acutally enjoying it again... before I was getting tired.. felt like I had no impact on the children.. but God gave me peace, energy and persistence.... but my family is getting used to being on their own too hehehe....

oyeeeee... more ramblings for later :D

Ohh my friend lent me a book on japanese culture... how cool is this word? Karoshi! Overwork Death... hahhaha
"Sudden deaths of workers who have been working excessively. This is a result of patience and diligence having a negative effect. This phenomenon became obvious in the 1980s and "karoshi" is now a widely known word outside of Japan."

GO CANUCKS GO!!! ROUND 2!!!!!!!!!!!

Just the Way it goes...

2007-04-14T11:07:00.000+09:00

What can I say, I've had a dramatic week... at work! As noted, japanese companies have insane late rules... well last saturday it was the last day before a 3 day break... I was tired.... I needed a day to myself just to re-coup... however, I should have been concentrating on the time to leave, because what I thought was the weekday train schedule was actually a weekend.... hahaha so I just missed the train.... and the next one I could be late... so stupidly I call the head office to tell them... perhaps I could have gotten away with it, but the students have been so early that whole week monopolizing the english teacher parents left students in my class that weren't supposed to be there, dropping kids off 20 mins early and 20 mins late.... stupid hanami time (cherry blossom picnics) - thus I lose bonus money... I was thinking... ahhh wells, i guess I deserve this...

And then when i came back from Fukui to visit Shan (see below) I was to sub at a school I've never been to before... it turns out I got the old map!!!.... BOO BOO... I was SO late... and could have lost another 2 points... in our contracts we have 4 points, least to say when you get that far down you basically get fired..... God had it taken care of.... my supervisors defended me from the start and it really helped... and later i found out that having the old map wasn't my fault... so that cleared my conscience.... oyee oyeeeee..... I guess I could have been in worse shape.... considering I just set off a self destructive bomb off... anyways...

It was a nice place to be teaching these past two weeks - I taught the same school for two weeks as in Japan the new school year starts in the begining of April, it just so happens that we were introducing new curriculum this year too....

I had an awesome time hanging out in Fukui, just before that Raph fullfilled his promise of visiting us at some point... it was cool having him around :D The week before that I got to go to Nagoya Castle for a walk around...

In Fukui Shan introduced awesome food, and I also had the chance to head up to Kanazawa for a day... unfortunately I didn't get to see the Ninji Temple up there.. it sounded really cools cause it looked like a building about two stories high, but when you get inside its like a maze of 5 floors. This was a tactic used to confuse enemies if they ever made it all the way into the building...
But I did get to see the following....

JR Station:
Big Park:

Didn't get to go inside, but wanted to: Modern Conservatory of Art

Samurai District:

While in Fukui there was stuff happening... and according to Shan, typically nothing happens in Fukui.... We also went to see a huge buddhist temple in the mountains....

I've forgotten what its like to have plans and be a busy person... but I certainly will be for the next two months...

Golden week - a week where almost every japanese person is off.... is going to be insane (lots of people)... I'm going to Hiroshima that week! yeah!!
Then when I get back I'm going to Okinawa with Shan.... sure my cost is a little pricey but we're going with someone that can drive and has gone many times... that so beats going on my own...
And then... at the end of June, I just found out my most of my family is coming to visit!! (yeah!!!!) which means another week off for me.... now the question remains.... am I even making money anymore? hahaha ahhh wells...

I do need rest though.. and time, alone... and with God.... thats what I'm seriously lacking lately.. I feel fatigued because of making myself busy somehow.... even though I'm out and doing things... I think its that I really miss serving God... I've been more nostalgic than usual...*huggles I miss everyone...* its bad but I'm thinking of skipping church tomorrow just to spend time here with the God and the bible...... is that wierd?

Swing-Swing

2007-03-26T00:10:00.000+09:00

Finally better...the weather here totally didn't help my efforts... snowing! of all things in march! but finally getting warmer...

The first earthquake while I've been in Japan was felt today... I woke up to a swaying feeling, I felt like my apartment was in a swing... nothing really moved, it wasn't a shaker earthquake...

It wasn't till later that I found out that the earthquake was in Kanazawa... I'm a total self absorbed lazy bum lately I didn't even think of where the origin was... Kanazawa is a city near the north ocean side - Shannon is about an hour's train from Kanazawa... I messaged her and luckily she's perfectly fine... except for having experienced an earthquake ^^..... oyeeee.....

So I've been in my bubble world lately because I was sick for two weeks... then some how things got a bit busy and I just stop talking to everyone... hahaha its a chore and deliberate effort to keep in contact with people or to meet people up...

My own mother called me up today, we haven't spoke since I left for Japan back in Feb! Unless you count her asking for my tax paperwork, and she was in a bit of a panic because she heard about the earthquake.... wahhh sorry mom!!!!

Starting from 2 weekends ago, I got the chance to hang out with some people from the nagoya english fellowship. It was great, I spent a whole day hanging out and mentioning God wasn't a tip-toe subject... Tomomi and Stephen are cool people. Same weekend I went to Osaka while sick but it was a good time to hang out with coThe last weekend I hung out with Stephen and we played ping pong and darts! Ironically a coworker wants me to put a ping pong table in my apartment... hmmmmm...

Just today, I met up with a friend's friend... Remember that small worldness? Jeff (from training) that knows Joan who went to our church a when she was little.... I met up with his friend (and Joan's)... and it just so happens he might even know Neil a coworker in our area... crazy crazy Vancouver tis small... It was fun we did lots of shopping and I got a tee-shirt that is PINK! with white seemingly reindeer-like characters... but the shirt I REALLY wanted to get was a military penguin!!!!! awhhhh I'm willing to hunt that shirt down at another store... ordering it online just doesn't make it worth it (31 bucks for a shirt man...)

Its also been an opportunity to get to know some of my coworkers, like Duc and my supervisor better this past few weeks.... I'm really thankful and I really do hope they find God... they're such wonderful people with many obstacles latched to their lives....

In between the social-ness I was in Takayama this past week and yesterday we had the big meeting in which we had to prepare demos for the new curriculum... I had to wake up at 6am to make a 7:17am train to make it into Gifu at 9:17 (delayed by 5 mins) to make it to the 10am (technically japanese working hours are earlier so more like 9:45am) and we went until 5pm......... I was so tired! Then we went out to an Izakaya to eat and drink... ugghhh all you can drink for 2 hours (but stayed till like 12am).... mahhhhhhhhhhhhh I was so sleepy.....

In the weeks to come I will only get 2 days off in the next 14 days BOO BOO... but if I make it into the following weeks I hope to visit Shannon in Fukui and see Raph! I could really use those extra days off to catch up with things I've just been putting off... heheheh

Resting Week...

2007-03-07T14:40:00.000+09:00

I'm sick... I hate getting sick by myself, sometimes I'm a little afraid if I got really sick no one would ever know because I'm here by myself... someone is going to find me dying on my floor or something.. but God has been good... I get 4 days off this week instead of the usual two... so plenty of time to get better.. and boy do i need it...

On a brighter note, last week was basically the kick off of the festivals!!! There are some strange ones in this area.. the most famed one which I can't make it to is the fertility one where they take it very seriously to have a huge penis paraded around... Anyways I got to see the local nude one instead...

They have a special pick where one guy in the nude runs for it and everyone chases him to throw water on him... I don't know why... and we don't know what happens after he gets caught... we just know its festival... unfortunately I didn't get to see the chase... had to go to work but I did get my nude guy....

Japan doesn't usually have street stalls but they set them up for the festival - see below... These are my coworkers :D (not the guy with the bell or the crowds of japanese or mr. police)

Kinda like Dreams...

2007-02-22T13:37:00.000+09:00

Its was so strange returning to Vancouver for a week... Its like I've put my life in Japan asside and just returned to the way things were before I left. I felt as if I didn't spend 4/5 months living in Japan! The whole time I was there, all I was thinking about was how I was going to spend another 8 agonizing months away from the beautiful place I called home.

It was great to be back in Vancouver... most people treated me as if I never left and we were able to catch up like old times and such. I was really thankful I didn't feel much awkwardness while I was there... but then again I haven't really been gone that long! hahahah.

I got to see everyone I wanted to see!! It was great! I even got to see people that I wouldn't normally see too.... WAHHHHHH

Now that I'm back in Japan... it was like it was a dream that I was even in Vancouver at all... HAHAHAH.... just back into the pattern of things here...

But now I'm striving for more! I think my trip home help renew my drive to do things while in Japan... to personally challenge myself...

Ian gave me a great book -its such an awesome read, I totally recommend it to anyone!!- Blue like Jazz is a book that bridges the gap that I felt between how to make my personal walk as a christian understandable to the people who are so different here that I've had the privilage of getting to know. Also its challenged me in my faith to really work as well as trust in God to really continue to grow as a person... I think its put some things I've made too important back in their places priority wise.... I hope that sticks...

Also, its good to get back in touch with reality... make sure I stay sharp in pushing myself into doing more with my life here, to do as much as I can to aid myself to returning home.... hmmm lots of typing from me... hope its not just typing...

WAHHHH *huggles every one in Vancouver* I love you!!!!!!!!

Home Sweet Home

2007-02-05T21:29:00.000+09:00

Its 'Japan-Intermission time" ... whoa thats so bad jap english.. HOHOHO

Today I had a conversation with the ticket booth guy for the earliest train available cause my domestic flight (or what I tell japanese people inland flight... man.. my english is dying... conversely my chinese may be improving as I've been watching this Taiwanese drama based on this jap comic I used to like.. LOL they're terrible actors!!! hahaha... so funny to watch its so bad I can't stop...the female characters lips twist in ways my arms can't wave... and the guy's eyebrows dance...) is at 7 ish AM in the morning!!!

For those who have an inkling of japanese I said this to the ticket guy:

"Sumimasen. Eto..... nihon-go sukoshi desu... "
*Wierd look given*
"Ummm... Kuko...."
"Centrair?"
"Hai... Eto... Kuko.... ichiban densha nan ji desuka?"
"EH!?..... ICHIBAN?!"
".... err.... hai........? nan ji!?"
"Densha wa.... go-ji 39 pun desu."
"Ahh...... ehhhhhhh... ikura desuka?"
"ichi man sen (something.. I always zone out after the first numbers...)...."
"ima.... ka-te?....kippu.... daijobou?"
"Iie..." *gestures national no sign, making an "x" with the arms*
"ahhhh.... errr... arigatou!"

Translation:
"Excuse me... Japanese... little" (at which upon reflection I should have used the verb - to speak... HAHAHAHAHA)
"Ummm... airport"
"Centrair? (Nagoya international airport)"
"Yes... ummm.... Best/no. 1 train what time?"
*insert look*
".... what time?"
"Train is at 5:39am"
"ahh... how much?"
"~ 1100 yen"
"Now.... may I buy?....... ticket...... okay?"
**BUU BUU** -- thats what I say to my students when they get things wrong... hahahah
"Ahhh... thanks..."

Sighhh... upon actual usage my japanese crumbles... after walking away I realized the many grammatical errors I could have avoided... Oo;;.... oyes......

HAHAHA I actually have jap lessons tomorrow too...

I was so excited to be heading home a week ago... just yesterday I felt the opposite... and unknown fear got to me.... I'm returning to reality.... to all the responsibilities I left behind... To all the people that have moved on with their lives in ways I have no idea....

I'm kind of scared to find how things are now.... this is something I have to go through tho'.... seeing as I'll be doing the same thing about 8 months from now as well....

I think its because its the unknown about people I really care about... coming to japan was a different set of fears... but now that I've faced most of them (with God's help... LOTS of it hahah) I'm starting to feel comfortable... but i guess thats the point.. I can't really feel too comfortable... otherwise I'm in danger of letting God go.... and venturing into things and eventually straying as all us humans do... then learning another painful lesson.... hahaha... fear of comfort.... but I don't know if its the right kind of fear.... hence something to still work through... hmmm hmmm...

So tentitive plans....

Feb 9 - Japan
wake up 4:45 am, get to meitetsu trains by 5:20 am.... pass out on the train - arrive at 6:40 am.
6:50am - pick up tickets
7:50am - flight should take off for Tokyo.
8:55am - arrive in Tokyo
Somehow make it into Roppongi by 11:30 am for lunch with Asumi (dad's friend's daughter who is about the same age as me.... my plan is to treat her, depending on where we go oO;;...)
Maybe shop a bit in the area and head back at 3pm for my 7pm flight to Canada (it'll take at least 1.5 hours to get back.....)
7pm - Vancouver here I come... Sometime during this flight I'll probably get hungry... stupid Air Canada and cheaping out on a meal...
Arrive Feb 9 - 10:55 am Vancouver....

YEAH!!!!

Another Week...

2007-01-24T20:30:00.000+09:00

I guess things are starting to flow again at work... We have a big meeting coming up where we have to demo new curriculum, while teaching during a time where parents can observe.... WHILE teaching during a time where we get to do extra trial lessons... I'm not complaining about the extra work... its more like I just kinda wish it was a little more spread out...

This week I've gotten the chance to get to know more the the japanese teachers at some of the schools. Also I've been pushed as a teacher to try and do a little more as well (nothing to do with the fact that I have an evaluation coming up :P)

As a result I really didn't get very much time off... just the sunday... Chris, my coworker yeah a christian coworker!!, and I went to church and window shopped. We also dropped by an arcade... Here are some strange things you may find coming to vancouver... Who knows! hahaha..

You can dress up for your sticker pics!!! The most popular choice of costume - Stitch (Disney)

The popularity of card games.. its a bigger field here.. you have to collect the right cards to kick your opponent's ass.

There was a line up for this.. and If I had any experience and were any good I'd line up to play too... GUNDAM!!! You're in a bubble and the screen is like everywhere but your back.... its like you're sitting in the actual driver seat of a gundam...

Also in Takayama this week... not much going on but I'm starting to day dream about visiting home and seeing people again.. I'm excited!!!! Only one more week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: Crappy quality of pics because it was taking with my cell.

VCBCers Hang Out

2007-01-15T20:08:00.000+09:00

Jan 13-15

All we were missing was Wynne from the chinese side and we would have the VCBCers of Japan in one place... KOBE!!!! I wanted to use the rest of my seishun18 kippu (youthful18 train tickets) and it just so happens that I got a saturday (well really they kinda didn't fill the holes of my schedule, luckily my supervisor is a nice guy and let me work another day...) Shan had that day off tooo and well Raph is just a lucky guy that lives in Osaka which is the heartland of the Kansai region - Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Osaka... need I say more?

So early in the morning Shan and I get on the trains to meet in Osaka then Kobe. Good fun there, we start off with... COFFEE... then we go hunting for this building that supposed to be created by a famous architect that did the 'Church of Light' which Shan via Alicia (her architect in the making sister) says is really cool cause the building is concrete and the only light is a cross shape window... anyways when we go back thats our next stop... suppose to be in Osaka too...

So its was the Kobe Art Museum...

Then in about the same area is the Kobe Earthquake Museum - They had chronicled over hundreds of accounts, plus videos, recreation sets and science world-like displays... It was so sad!!!!! Least to say, we're all going to die in Vancouver when the big one hits ^^''...

Just outside of it we ran into a High School mascot -
Also there was a live duo guitar group playing... maybe I'll link a clip later... they're pretty good... Doki Doki

Then we headed off to the UCC Coffee Museum... I think my enthusiasm speaks for itself...

Then we wandered into the Chinatown, after going to a Cake decoration exhibition which we weren't allowed cameras, while we waited to meet up with Raph for dinner.

Day Two - After a very cold night at Raphs, in which both of us didn't get sleep - Raph because he was sleeping in a chair/on boxes, and me cause of the cold... hahaha Shan was smart cause she had her super blanket from Vancouver... We head off to a Sake Plant to see their musuem...and tasting of course

Then we headed to the Fashion Musuem cause we wanted to see cool clothes... but no cameras allowed :(

Then we headed to the...

Where Raph climbed more things... Behind me is the Kobe Tower and Maritime Museum...

Kobe Memorial - They preserved a wrecked part of the port from the 1995 earthquake in rememberance of all the people that suffered.... over 6000 people had died.

I used my last ticket (5 tickets in total, 2 to/from Tokyo, 2 to/from Kobe, 1 - Toyota)

Jan 15 - I spent my day with my coworker to hunt down the Toyota Kaikan...
It was quite sucky to get there without a car....
But cool!!!

They had a robot that played the trumpet and we got to see some wierd gadgets... not too much stuff there but enough to stasify the geography nerd in me... *ahhhh* Just-in-Time Production...

Then of course I had to get coffee... Muu Muu Coffee? Flavoured... it was pretty good....

Interlude: Snow!!!

2007-01-07T23:29:00.000+09:00

And so, comes winter in Japan.

Just yesterday it was a terribly rainy day in Gifu city. It was moist but not really that cold, yet that night the howls of the wind could be heard and then.... I woke up, to this:

WHOAS! Crazy.... so much snow!!! Then as the freak late person I am - trying to make it for the train to service - I decide to ride my bike in the snow!!! HAHAHAH...

My tips on riding the bike through the snow:
- like cars, please use previous tread marks, prevents getting too much snow stuck in your tires...
- don't break when going for turns - you'll wipeout
- actually don't break at all, you'll wobble your way to a stop
- most importantly, its actually not a good idea to ride your bike...

The high winds and heavy snowfall caused me to look like a frosty by the time I made it to the station... really only shaving 4 mins than 7 mins off my walk resulting in me missing my train anyways... boo hoo.

Least to say, it was quite the experience...

Speaking of experience... I've had some people mention that they really don't know what’s going on in my life, thus, when we try to talk they really have nothing to say to me... I don't know, is that true? Do you feel this way?

How can I tell you more about my experiences? Everyday in Japan is a new experience for me. The two things I find constant are that either I really have nothing happening that day, or I have too much!

There are days I'm completely saturated with new experiences that my body just kinda shutdown and goes on automatic mode... It’s a defense mechanism...

I find that the best way for me to bring up anything I really learned through this time... just talk to me... about anything... I'll drag my experience into the conversation. After all, I'm not good at talking about silly things for too long... well maybe that’s a lie... hahah I've been told I'm no good at flirting either (although that was in high school... but since I haven't 'practiced' this spoken form I doubt there's been any improvement...) I talk about facts, I talk seriously, I talk in incoherent broken-ness... I love talking about God. That is why, I love home - I love the people at home because I can just let my mouth move and talk about facts, seriously, broken and about God... and silly things too.. hahah....

It’s so difficult to speak here in Japan for me... It’s not just the language barrier it’s the people I'm among... However, God has blessed me with the chance to meet so many people to broaden my horizons about the types of people in this world. As a result I've become much more open minded, yet standing strong in my own faith. While I'm at a standstill now at serving God, I hope that all these experiences will lead me to serve him better.

My current spiritual struggle - Not being afraid to listen to what God has planned for me...
Maybe some of you know, I've developed a healthy, and perhaps unhealthy fear of God for the past year or so. It was a powerful moment when God allowed my cousin to pass away. Suddenly all the passages in the bible I've ever heard or read about fearing the Lord and his awesome power... I've reached a new level of understanding that. Part of the reason why I chose to come here was not only to see what God has planned for me but also to push myself into my fears - Living away from home for the first time, facing any failures and learning to except them without reassurance from others, knowing I can do absolutely nothing in my power but pray for the ones I love, going to a place I've never been, living on my own, loosing time with the ones I love, facing people from a totally different spectrum, safety fears like natural disasters and being female... - just some of the things that either have crossed my mind when deciding to be here in Japan, or have developed along the way... Bottom line... learning to trust in Him in all ways... I really believe when I can trust Him and fear Him properly I will be able to make a decision for when I return to Vancouver, I guess my next step in life.

Well, thanks for joining me in Crystal's stream of consciousness, till next time perhaps? :)

Man always able to rant, never able to write a decent paper.... darn.

Actually Happy to return to sleeping on the Floor...

2007-01-03T14:33:00.001+09:00

Hmmm The month of December!!!

Well the best news of this month! I got my internet!!!

The first week I was in Takayama... I had okonomoyaki with my japanese counterpart and then we went to a cafe where the owners are in love with cats... so cool....

The second week I enjoyed 6 new classes!!!! I wasn't too happy about getting 6 more hours of work at one school (5 more at another) without a pay increase... but I guess what else would I do with my time?
I think the most rewarding part was that the children seemed to warm up to me. I mean the first time they see someone and this person doesn't speak their language... A little boy in one of my younger classes he looked around the room a little shocked at the new surroundings... but he trusted me enough to grab my finger for comfort and stability in the new environment... AWHHH he was so cute.... I feel really blessed that kids trust me like that.. even if they don't know what I'm talking about....
It was sometime this week that I realize while washing the dishes - wow I'm living on my own cleaning, cooking, etc... in JAPAN!! wierd... hahahah I can actually doing this.... being an adult... hahaha

my last week of 2006 in nagoya at the nagoya english fellowship... I hung out with Mariko afterwards for lunch... she showed me nagoya style stuff....

Week 3 - this is the crazy week.... I had to travel to Tokai South schools for office days - which are min. 2 hour trips away.... and the sucky part was I just got my internet and I really wanted to talk to everyone at home but with leaving earlier for work and the time zones I could only talk so much... sniffles... but I have a vancouver phone number so if you ever want to call me, - msg me.

Dec. 21 - I head out at 7:30 am in the morning for my VERY scenic 6.5 hour train ride... It wasn't too bad.. I managed to hem my pants and read a book - 5 People you meet in heaven... its not bad, but I'd have to agree with Leo - from what I know of Tuesdays with Morrie, that was the better book.

I arrive at 2pm to find Shannon and her friends totally tired and wired at the same time... they were cool people. We hopped on another train to get to narita airport to get on a 3 hour flight to Seoul Korea... so what is that? 6.5 + 1 + 3 hours of travel...wows...

Some pics I got on the train while travelling.. I missed the best ocean shots!!!!!!
(do you see the shadow of my head?.. hahahah)

Dec 21-26 - and... Welcome to Korea!!!!

Think Hong Kong pre SARS cleanup measures and multi level starbucks.... I probably spent all my money there....

It was great watching shan eat korean food - "everything tastes like burning"

Castles in the middle of high rise Seoul...

And then... Lotte World!! Korea's largest indoor theme park!!... its great for kids tho.. so cute... my first time on roller coasters... that went upside down.... its wasn't so bad actually ^^''

My personal favorite - Starcraft marathons on tv they really do battle it out like a sport...
Christmas wasn't celebrated... kinda glad it wasn't... it wouldn't have been the same as celebrating the birth of Christ without the ones that actually celebrate it like it is the birth of Christ and about giving hope and life to us.... I think I had a sub sandwich... it was turkey at least :P

Dec 26-2 - And on to Tokyo!

I think I saw almost every major location in the guidebook, but not what I wanted to see! The Ghibli Museum and the Imperial Palace grounds... both somehow eluded me... boo boo

Fish Market, largest in the world aparently... hmmm tuna

Oh!! But I met my first online friend that I met years ago in High School I met her when I first started getting into all the anime in Vancouver... Sailormoon!!! Ohhh yeahhhh... okay... anyways Shan and I met up with her at one of the biggest Comicbook cons in the world... Comiket.

Wait... this last few aren't from the comiket... its actually from Harajuku...

New year's eve! - On the streets of Shibuya - but really it was dead all over Tokyo... In Japan people treat it like we treat Christmas... Everyone goes back to their hometowns to celebrate and most people are not originally from Tokyo city...

I did a non-touristy thing - stayed up to watch the sun rise over the Rainbow bridge....
I wanted my ball of sun!!!!!.... I waited a while.. and kinda missed it.. hahaha

And met my dad's friend and his daughter Asumi for lunch before going back to Gifu on my scenic ride of 6.5 hours.

Now back in my cozy apartment.... well not really its freezing!!!!

There is no such thing as Routine...

2006-11-19T17:02:00.000+09:00

This week Ive learned there is no such thing as routine.... least to say Ive gain some good... but mostly a reminder how to stay away from some experiences again....

mostly just watching lots of greys anatomy, firefly and csi.... playing some sims/starcraft.... very unproductive....

Nov 11 - reached home late the night before, actually felt a sense of home getting back to the apartment. I went to church and spent the day in my apartment... I think I went to Apita a housing/supermarket store to hang out...

Nov 12 - I jump right into teaching after one day off.... I didnt really feel tired till near the end of the week.... to be honest I dont remember much this week except the kids were really active... hahahah good though...

Nov 13 - I team taught with another teacher in my area, so easy day and got a free bike ride home... I think... or was that another night? hahaha...

Nov 14 - taught at school again... just glad I made it through... getting sick of this halloween curriculum... what am I teaching these kids? black cat? hahahah... pumpkin... which should be jack-o-lantern....

Nov 15/16 - my first team teach with my supervisor... he had cool tricks to share with me I need to develop more of a personality to really reach some of these kids... but he said I had a good comfort level with the kids... all those years at vcbc makes one good with kids eh? hahahah...
Today I also met some guy walking his dog, he spoke some english and told me he taught people how to fold origami butterflies.... he folded me one and I let me take a picture of me with his dog...

It was sometime this week to that I saw a korean woman I met at a japanese lesson on the train... at first I wasn:t going to say hi, but then I figured what did I have to lose.. Turns out she is here with her korean husband who is a missionary!!!! They are church planters in japan!! How crazy is that? I told her I would pray for her, they were married this past year and just came this past year to church plant... They would have to be so strong to do that... I was humbled.

Nov 17 - Meeting today, my coworker knowing I was prone to lateness told me a time, and of course.. I missed them but was stupid enough not to bring a map along with me!!!!! Least to say, I made it on time - because he was smart enough to know if I missed that train I would catch the next one... thank goodness!! I could have lost my 1000 dollar year bonus right there!
Least to say, I guess if I learn anything here its how to be on time..... japanese have crazy late policies..... We went out to lunch and got a ride back to gifu from the meeting place and got to ride in a car elevator.... yes.... an elevator for cars... maybe the rotating ones are cooler... I dunno hahaha.... Had Mos burger for the first time.. my first burger here... supposed to be a higher end than mcdonalds... but here all american things are higher end... supposably....

Nov 18 - Hung out with 2 coworkers in nagoya today and bumped into other coworkers from another area while we were in nagoya... aghhhh.... now I really know my drinking limit... 2 big beers and a bit of some heavy stuff and I:ll puke... aghh never again... never again... I was never a fan of drinking and never will be I think... not fun to clean and not fun to be doing. It was good fun to hang out with them that day I got a table today with the glass piece in the middle so that you can see objects underneath... very small and low of course but yeah.. on my way to decorating my place.. making it more my own..

Nov 19 - Managed to wake up in time for service kind of... hahah it was at 11am in nagoya... by the time I took the local subway it was about 45 mins away and 1450 yen (14.50 cad) round trip....but worth it... it was good to sing praises and listen to fellow christians talk... I really got to know one girl from CA/WA USA she was here teaching at an international school, with a masters degree... whoas crazy hhaha... degrees mount up everywhere!... anyways.. we went to sakae the shopping area of nagoya and went to the international book store and food market.. then she had to go home... I signed up for my internet and went to the daiso to buy stuff.... I frequent many daisos.. they actually have different things...

Nov 20 - ohhhh right this was a three day weekend.. very sweet...only remember starting my trend of sleeping in till 11am

Nov 21 to 25 - teaching teaching teaching... this is my office week so I teach for a week at classroom that is not my own... commute wasn:t fun 1 hr one way and 25 min walk.. but it was during those train rides that I learned my katakana alphabet... hahhahah....also there were good kids also the teacher that used to teach here had just left the company and he stopped by on the sat. to say goodbye to the kids... awhhh... it was nice cause I had an extra hour between classes so I got the chance to get to know him and he told me about cool stuff to see in his 3 years in japan :D

Nov 26 - early early today I went off to Kyoto with my friend Duc and her language exchange friend (older woman that taught ppl to make paper japanese dolls.. pretty cool... I want to make one before I go... but so far.... mino ota... 40 mins away....) We were on the train towards kyoto (2 hrs local train for 1890 yen 1 way so sweet) and I had put my metal bible into my bag but I didn:t want to carry it the whole day. So I take it out of my bag and both of them ask, what is it? what a God given opportunity is that? I told them it was my bible... the japanese woman was very interested she enjoys reading the bible actually (but more of a philosophical reason than anything...) so I kinda go into how cool the bible is and its historical meaning for a bit... while they both compared to to buddhism... I was just happy she was reading it at all and encouraged her to continue to do so.... I can:t change her will, but I can try to plant more seeds... afterall I just met this woman.. what else can I do? ahhaha...

I was SO mad though!! it was autumn leaves and I forgot my camera!!!! SO many temples/sites and I didn:t have it.. sniffles... but heres a pic from my phone... boo hoo...

I tried to meet up with some friends too but trying to do too much in one go... and it was pouring rain... but we had to be out the whole day to see the temples light up (lights on the temples and gardens.. cool effect... I think raph has pics.)

I met up with raph too and crashed at his place - thanks raph!!! (rest assured.. your place is not as dirty as it could be... :P)

Nov 27 - We went to see a crazy buddhism temple place. One of the only places with all like 11 gods in one place with like 100 buddas everywhere... Duc was trying to scare me (while it was freaky anyways... come on they use marble in the eyes so they appear to be looking at you!!!!) and then the floor creaked and she screamed! lol good fun...

I really got to know her better over dinner, we just started sharing things about our past, high school, old bfs.... it was nice. I:m glad I got the opportunity to hang out with her...

I think I got home at like 12:30 am ish.... man so tired

Nov 28 to Dec 2 - Now not only am I lying in bed till 11am... I actually sleep till 11am now.. hahahah.. crazy crazy... a nice week at work... didn:t do much I think... I met the Japanese teacher again here and she always gives me candy.. so good hahahah..

Dec 3 - went to church today, and got to know a japanese girl that went to the english fellowship she became christian in LA during her graduation trip... that was so cool... and she loves to dance too hiphop/jazz... I thought that was very cools...

Today going to a farewell dinner at Outback steakhouse... my phone died but then I met up with someone going on the subway... talking with her and she asked what I did in the morning... I told her I went to service (which is advent too steph!! but not as cool as the story you emailed me... it was nice though the pastor really spoke of how sometimes we only praise God when something good happens.. Like we just WAIT for that moment... but why not at all times? Also he noted that because we:re always looking for that good thing, we can only worry about the bad, asking God to fix it... He lets things happen for a reason, he will work with our failures and bad moments in our lives... that is a good reminder...) and it turns out that she is christian too and was thinking about going back to church again... I:m glad I was able to discuss that with her, and I hope she does go back...

Interestingly enough, she also said when we were talking about professions and stuff that I seemed like the type to do a masters in business... How happy would my dad be to hear that? hahaha I asked her why she would think that and she said that I just seemed like the type that could do it... hmmmm school... well she reminded me even if I went off to work for a while and came back to do it... I would still be only late 20s when I would be finished... it made me think perhaps I don:t have to worry about setting my future that much... I still have choices and opportunities if I want.

Also, while near Nagoya station bargain hunting for airplane tickets (hahah not really.. more like getting prices) There were ppl handing out postcards they're a volunteer group with a christian base asking for donations... I gave some I didn't really get to know them but apparently you can find them at www.angels-watching.com The guy said that he teaches at an orphange english to the children... but they're all the way in Toyota city... boo boo.. so far... yes.. there is a city named after a car company... and yes... it really is the city that is the home of the Toyota car company.. hahaha...

Going to Takayama again soon, so hopefully I can add pictures and more details.... hahah yes more writing from me!! bwhahahah..
Oh I offically get internet Dec 18!!!

Takayama and then some...

2006-11-10T22:53:00.000+09:00

November 4 - Shan and I walked to the city hall to see if I could get my alien registration card to find out it was closed! WOW... the ever diligent japanese actually gave themselves a 3 day weekend..... We went to nagoya and did a bit of shopping.... shoes here are cheaper, well the ones everyone likes.. like Puma shoes are like 60 bucks.... I ended up getting a pair of Puma look-a-like Adidas shoes.... hmmmm suade.... I really like them.... I'ved caved... I was always just a runners person... but cheaper shoes can do that to a person... no wonder Raph has like 6 pairs of new shoes....

OHHHH OHH!!! OH my goodness!!! I'm so excited to share about this I had to retype this 3 times because my happiness was faster than I could type!!! OHHH!!! SO EXCITING!!!! Shan and I kinda looking around the shopping district when we stopped at a cafe to get a drink... I really wanted coffee I hadn't had good coffee in a while... and IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!! We get a menu and see a picture of the decorated coffees... and we're like sure we'll get one of those.. it was 4 dollars for the drink... SO GOOOOOOOOOOD look at the designs!!! Aren't they wonderful!!!! *drools* I will go back... I WILL....

Later in the evening we met up with Shan's buddies from her training group as well as my performance supervisor and his girlfriend - all wonderful people...
But going to Izakayas are expensive.. stupid sitting/drinking charges and expensive food.. what the heck everything is expensive in Japan if you don't eat at home... hahahah...

Nov 5 - Oh Sunday!!!! Shan and I didn't get a chance to really find out about the nagoya english fellowship and decided to go to the local church I've been attending... Of course, God figured it out for us! It happened every beginning of the month other than communion (they use cubes of bread and grape juice) a US missionary pastor visits. It happens that his wife attends the Nagoya english fellowship. Also after the service we got yes... free food again... curry this time. The real exciting thing was that he leads a english/japanese bible study for the 2 youth at the church... AHHH the first time in what felt like a very long time we praise God with songs we could sing - As the Deer and He is Exalted, and we discussed a bible passage.... like a bible study!!! OHHH SO EXCITING!!!! Pastor Andy got our numbers and passed it on to the nagoya english fellowship - which called both of us that very night! God does some crazy things

Nov 6 - Boo time to say good bye to Shannon as she heads back to Fukui. I think I spent that day in my apartment mostly on my computer and cooking..... good rest before I go off again soon.

Nov 7 - I taught with another teacher in my area today, actually the only other girl in my area - Duc... she's a vietnamese from Australia... cool eh? Afterward she invited me over to her place for dinner, and it was nice we watched an old classic movie - To catch a thief and just chatted... She loves Dan Brown novels... but I felt it was too early to go into the whole da vinci code discussion, especially if I haven't even seen/read the thing yet.... but one day perhaps.... right now its not about sharing my faith in that way... I have to get to know these ppl first and establish a relationship that proves that I really care before trying to save their souls... I really felt that and kind of was reaffirmed with Steph's email -about a story that a pastor (Bill) shared about working at Union Gospel Mission.

Nov 8 - Off to my school in Takayama - an limited express 2 hour ride... OUCH this was just one of those bad days... trying to cut it too close to my reserved seat train, I ended up missing it!!!... but it was okay, I could make the next one without being late. Then while I was pulling out my material in the classroom I realized I left my profile (to show the kids and parents things about me) at the school I taught the day before (which I will probably never go back to any time soon). GAHHH...
I was SO tired too... but I made it through my lessons, but as if they could sense it my games were over used (repeat lesson for practically every class for this halloween stuff) , the students didn't have as much fun as I had hoped.

I check into the hotel it is nice!! Bathhouse, expresso coffee for free.. ahh and the best part... FREE INTERNET!!! BWHHAHAHAHA.... but still eating here is a nightmare....

I was stupid enough not to bring a phrase book with me thinking it was a tourist stop there would be more english - yeah ha, not really.... So I'm out on the street at like 9pm looking for food... and I get into this one place that looked like a restraunt (there were lots of Izakayas - bar/food places but I didn't want that) Poor ppl only spoke japanese, and I couldn't do a thing with the menu. They were nice enough to lead me to another branch where there was english... but then I got lost in the dark looking for it... and ALL the signs started to look the same... I even asked some guys which have been obviously drinking... bad move, they kind of scared me, I think earlier another guy tried to hit on me but I answered quickly and walked fast.... drunk/obviously had a drink older men are scary... Luckily I managed to say to the right guy (the more sober of the bunch) that i didn't speak japanese... and he physically held his friends back from trying to lead me to the restraunt... they just gave me instructions... I think he knew I was scared... i was very thankful for that....

I STILL couldnt' find this place, giving up I headed back to the hotel to ask, but of course their english speaking staff could only say a few words of english.... finally some delivery guy with good english helps us out.... and he redirects me back to the restaurant I was trying to get to....
I head out again.. this time telling myself to match the characters and find the place! Total relief.... It was still an Izakaya it turns out.. but yeah food was pretty good... skewers... and rice balls... 15 dollars! Lesson is... eat only from the convienant store.

Nov 9 - ahhh enjoying the internet... I enjoy a nice cup of free expresso coffee and head out for some sightseeing - note below...

This was the first time I was working with 2 classes with students with special needs... Twin girls that only mouthed words, and a boy that was slower perhaps retarded because he was older than the other kids.

I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly the classes went... For the girls I had to learn to read their mouths... and the other students tried to help.... They were sweet girls but maybe being twins in Japan?!.... I really wonder why the mouthing words only and it wasn't just english! Apparently they only whisper to each other...

For the older kid, I noticed sadly - while I couldn't understand I knew - that other students teased him terribly all the time. He was very straight forward - quickly recognizing an unfamilar teacher he asked me what my name was and introduced himself... he was much smarter than I expected knowing much english vocabulary.... he only got distracted a little and randomly yelled stuff out... maybe he was just really good this week, because I've read up on him (there are notes left by previous teachers) and they felt he was problematic to the point they had to stop the lesson....

I pulled out a new game today - mixed relays with vocab words.... they LOVED this game!!! I even had students with a bit of attitude at the beginning of class at the end of class give me a thumbs up telling me it was a good game and fun.... AHHH so good....

Nov 10 - ahhh today.... I basically stayed in the hotel till i had to go - enjoying the internet and watched the canuck... GAHHH loose SO BADLY..... sighhh... if I'm able to see a game it would be nice if they could actually win eh?!... arhhhh its true everything that Brian Burke touches turns to gold....

In my Jr High class today, only one student showed up.. but man, one on one really is great... He was an awesome student! He tried to spell words and thing of answers by himself, I was able to have an extensive conversation with him.. and we shared a few laughs too! I was coughing and I told him how I got sick ... I was coughing a bit much and he asked me "are you okay?" Seriously some of these classes don't know ANY phrases of english... but he was just right on the ball... I had also asked him what he does after he goes home and he told me he watches tv then we laughed when he said he did only a little bit of studying... then I asked what time do you sleep? He said 1 am! I was like whoa that must be lots of tv.... INSANE this kid gets up at 6am to do homework!... He averages 5 hours of sleep... he's only 12!!!!!!!... Alas, this is very normal in Japan.... He was so a kid and enjoying himself... but next year when he starts exams for high schools he'll become one of those zombie japanese kids... sigh sigh....

Ohhhhhh tonight i ate street food.... well kind of... its still a shop..... 3.50 CAD for 12 takoyakis!!!!

Look forward to heading back to Gifu tomorrow... Only get 1 day off though! But hopefully it'll be a good one, I'm going to try and go to that Nagoya English fellowship - hope they remember to contact me about the details...

As things start to go back to a routine, I'm hoping that my devos will get back on track too...

Wow, what a week...err.. almost a week.

2006-11-03T19:05:00.000+09:00

October 31 - yeah!! my dad is here!! like the typical chinese dad, he shares his love and concern by smuggling chinese foods through the japanese border... what? you mean your dad wouldn:t do that?

He bought some seriously nice stuff, I got premade abalone, sharkfin soup, chinese sausage, chinese candies, spring rolls, dried duck meat... hmmmmmmm... better than eating at home? It was really nice getting used to waking up and having someone else cooking for me.... sniffles...

aghhh poor dad, he:s unused to sleeping on the floor and is scared at how empty my fridge is (I had just cleared it of food because I realized I wouldn:t be home much this week..) and I kept us both up the night before coughing and coughing.... he even woke up to boil me congee as I didn:t really have a kettle to boil water....

Needless to say, in his fear he pulled out his wallet and was like `we need to get you a kettle, micowave mugs, and rice cooker (as cooking with one burner is difficult enough)...` I:m so happy, he really bought me stuff to make it easier and more home-like... He quickly pooled his experience of living away from home into action (he had gone to boarding school in Northern Ontario for high school and went to school in Halifax, Hawaii, Vancouver and France, plus he:s a veteran traveller did you know hes gone to Israel before too? I didn:t.. crazy) hahahah... he was finally being full on dad and teaching me things... something I had little of growing up while he was on many long business trips and owning his own business working very late hours.

I had a short meeting today, met more people in my region... this is a really relaxing meeting.. man... I did more at church I think.. hahah sweet...

I went home and my dad cooked and shopped for LOTS of food, and we watched Hitch on my computer... which finally I have my power adaptor...
It was like `yeah dad`s here!! OHHHH my power adaptor!!!!! `snuggles power adaptor``

November 1 - First day of the Autumn training seminar... a total of 4 areas getting together about like 60 people getting together in office attire for lectures about understanding children and living in japan put on by our peers. Some I was :fishing: in and others were fun with cool games... there were lots of demoing lessons too... Afterwards about 40 something of us went to an all you can eat/drink thing and I invited my dad as well.. here I got to work to get to know other people ... well at least i got ppl:s numbers.... While we were invited to stay in the company dorms that night because we were all meeting in nagoya, I went with my dad to stay in the hotel he got to stay closer to me. He ended up splurging for a night at the Nagoya Hilton... too bad I didn:t get to go swimming.. it was nice though.. to have some quiet from all the drunken coworkers... it was good to meet people but very overwhelming... and the impressions I got from people were well... difficult to gauge as most were quite high off the alcohol.
November 2 - more training seminar today, and walking in I could tell some people had some wild nights... hahaha.... I think after meeting all the people the night before... it really make me feel more relaxed about knowing that while its great to meet people I don:t need to feel pressured to find lifelong friends here... I mean I know, in the awesome emails I get from home and with my dad visiting, that my true family and life long friends are all in Vancouver (or... Canada I should say???)... Although this won:t stop me from meeting more people, but it doesn:t make me feel bad for not being able to connect with people or when I didn:t get some of the people.... what can I say, people that come to Japan are very wierd.... some are okie, but yeah often as warned by the osaka trainer previously, that most are just rejects from their origin... what can I say... people are nice, but not.... not... home. *hugs ppl at home*
Met up with my dad and felt so tired, we went back to Gifu and he cooked dinner again... Of course he taught me a few things too to make my food actually taste like food...

We also had time to talk and just enjoy having some time together... we also went to the 99 yen store to buy some things... Im such a freak here... I get so excited buying things that make my apartment cleaner... I saw this air freshener that was actually for water. On contact of water it releases a pleasant smell... I was so excited when I saw it I looked at my dad and was like I have to get this (for my strange smelling shower drainage)!!!!! it was all good...

November 3 - Today is a national holiday we got off from work, Shannon came to stay with me and I met her at the station at 11am... my dad wanted to cook her and I a meal before he left today... I miss my daddy....

Today we did something crazy... we tried to do the sightseeing thing in Gifu, and went to see the castle which is on top of a mountain... we were asking some other japanese and they got the impression that we wanted to walk up to see it instead of ride the cable car up.... we looked up and thought, oh it can:t be that bad and we would save the money of not riding the cable car... Man!! Did it bring me back to the days of climbing the Chief... aghhh we were dying and all these old men and women were like power climbing it... the elderly live a long time in japan for a reason! I think we walked (desperately climbed grabbing rocks and roots of trees at some points) up for like an hour and half at least.... we were so sweaty and gross, and Shannon even lost her vest! Least to say we were happy to pay the 6 bucks to get back down... hahahah well it was good for us I guess I haven:t exercised in so long...

Now we:re just hanging out in the cafe again.. hmmm so many foriegners here tonight... must be because its a holiday today...

Its been good talking to Shannon about her experiences as I havent seen here since we arrived together at the Nagoya airport... Some of here experiences with people really make me think perhaps I need to be trying harding to meet people or something.. at the same time, I wonder if its just our differences in our abilities to do things? I:m not good with meeting many people and just picking it up and having lots of fun... perhaps I need to learn that too...

Whats next?　~~
I get a nice 4 day weekend then after a day of teaching locally I go on my business trip school to Takayama - some say its like a mini Kyoto... very touristy... I also heard the japanese teacher here is very nice too hopefully i get to meet her too... Many people have told me its a great school to teach at plus All living and travel costs are covered with a food allowance.

Picking up my alien registration card so that I can sign up for internet!!!! I can`t wait to get internet so I can catch up with ppl at home more.

Finally... sleep

2006-10-30T16:25:00.000+09:00

Hmmm, well this cafe is my new internet home... I entertain myself by *shudders* studying among other things - cleaning, sleeping, cooking, cleaning.... hahaha did I mention cleaning?

Oct 24 - I wished desperately that I was well enough to teach - but still with my voice half gone and hacking everywhere.... This week I was going to one of the main schools I would be rotating in. I happen to meet the other japanese teacher there today, she seemed very nice... boy does she like halloween! It looked like a store front! she went all out... I couldnt resist and took a picture...
(Students walking past from a nearby elementary school all I could hear from inside the class room was, "Sugoi!!!")

Oct 25 - Still sick... and not sleeping, just keep coughing up every night... I think a coworker visited to see if I was sane... I think he decided I wasn`t... really though the cats here sound like crying babies desperately hungry, and the dogs really do go wan-wan here than woof woof.... serious!!!....

Oct 26 - I subbed at a school closer to nagoya in another district today... I:m just glad I was got there and was able to teach! I was so sick of coughing and not sleeping... why won`t the coughing stop? Interestingly, Gods strength indeed, I dont feel homesick or really crappy about myself.. just physically dead.... errr....

Oct 27 - My goodness this is the best class Ive ever taught... awh I love these kids...

Oct 28 - ahhhh final teaching before meeting week... just need to make it through..... another sleepless night... I even left my phone at home and stumbled to the bus stop barely making it on time... I got to see a movie at a coworkers place.. ahhh english movie... Then we chatted till like 2am about stuff... and he asked me about being christian with questions like - dinosaurs how do they fit in, or how are jws different, or other things... that was cool...

Oct 29 - Sunday!!!! yeah, another sleepless night, really feeling it now.... I coughed my way to the church for service... thinking I was late again, but actually it starts at 10:30 not 10 am... so good... awhhh... Yoshida the woman the speaks english sees me... in my seat dying of stupid cough and goes out to buy me cough medicine! I get food - bread and fruit, juice and cough medicine! An older member ran home to grab me mints for my throat too.... God bless these ppl... so good... they took care of me... I think they thought it was strange that even though I looked so crappy I was still trying to make it to a service that I couldnt understand... The pastor`s wife lent me her english/jap bible again and we covered the service, Lords Prayer (Luke 11) and they had a confession which they read a passage, Westministers something er other... and Doxology! Yes that song we used to sing at the end, they do it here too!! How cool is that.... I wrote her the lyrics for the song, and she taught me some words like waga sui yo = Oh my Lord, Sui meaning God, waga meaning my... I was excited. Then I went home and finally was able to sleep.... I was out till mid-afternoon and then actually studied some japanese excited about learning cool christian words....

Oct 30 - Today, I woke up to find feeling so much better wow... sleep.. so good.... I find out that Yoshida spent 20 bucks for those cough pills for me!! ACK I feel so bad... but at the same time Ive never physically felt better... finally.. getting better.... Just in time too, because my dad is coming in tonight, I hope he gets here safely, I told him the wrong directions to get out of the station!!! Today I walked to my coworkers place to use his iron to iron my work shirts - needing them for the meetings. I spent some time there checking out his euro trip pics, and then first time riding on the back of someones bike... I felt like I was in China!... hahaha

I:m so greatful God got me through this week.. keeping me calm despite feeling like crap

I:m thinking about ppl at home... Sandy how are you doing dear?
Missing and appreciating you all...

Moving In...

2006-10-23T13:26:00.000+09:00

I have pics on my camera... I`ll add them later when I get internet in my apartment.
[EDIT: don't have internet yet but cool business trips with hotels and free internet.. BWHAHAH - pictures added]

Oct 8 - I went to Kyoto with Michelle... we only saw the rock garden but went nuts seeing nature in a very building oriented country...
We got a chance to talk more about spirituality,　and she was asking me about how I pray... I thought that was really cool...

Also I saw one of the campuses to the sister school of UBC - Ritsumeikan (sp??) university.

Oct 9 to 10 - continued training... will add more when I remember

Oct 11 to 12 - more placements to schools - taught an awesome 7 year, 11 old class.... so genki

Oct 13 - we learn the curriculum for this month - Halloween! Which actually got me on the spot when the trainer brought up how some people religiously refuse to teach it... `why is that?' and 'why are you okay with it?' which made me think... should I be okay with it...

Oct 14 - Office/test day... long long test but easy, we could double check with our peers - got 102%

Oct 15 - We went to Osaka to a club for the night missing the trains... this is probably where I accumulated the most brown phlegm ever... which i will discover later...
I had fun though... good night of dancing, which I would never do....
arghhh some of the guys got this horrible picture of me... and they use it as their desktops... the reign of teasing crystal continues... HAHAH.... `everyone blinks crystal` they would say... then laugh.... one of them calls me little pink baby because I get so red after 1 drink... I`m glad to be getting along with them...

Oct 16 - Moving day - Said my goodbyes and felt a bit sad because I was building bonds... or what I think as bonds with some of the other trainees... I didn`t get to meet my supervisor but his girlfriend met me and showed me to my apartment after some coworkers showed me around a bit... good guys, they were very nice.... and still are nice
I had to buy some things to eat and when I was heading back it was dark and of course I got lost.... tried to ask someone where to go and luckily!! I was just behind it!!! I was then God blessed me to meet my landlord and his wife!... very nice ppl... told me why I wouldn`t have hot water yet (well tried... as they spoke mainly japanese only) and gave me some food and a light bulb to replace one that was out.... I was told it was good to meet them soon too... I was thinking maybe 2 weeks in... but yeah... very good I met them earlier...
My place is huge, Julian says its bigger than his place.. hahaha...
but very old and dusty... I`d be brushing my teeth and tilt my head and be like is that mold???

Oct 17 - My day off. I didnt get anything done - bank, cell phone... but I managed to get toliet paper the day before... so I did everything this day... luckily... or God working... one of my coworkers had jap lessons cancelled and was able to show me around and help me get everything.. I managed to buy lots of stuff at this place called Seria - 100 yen shop
(not as pretty as everyone elses, or as heavy but it has my needs met...)
Oct 18 - My first day teaching.... it was pretty good actually... not too bad... the children were energy full but learning... this halloween curriculum is so easy.. hahah 20 mins out of 60 is for the craft... bwahahha... Coworker showed me to a kind of community center where I can get japanese lessons for 2 dollars!!! sweet...

Oct 19 - more teaching... not too eventful... I think my coworkers stopped by at night... my place is big enough for many visitors...I`m glad someone to talk to that can understand me...

Oct 20 - my first incident with the children... they were supposed to be older - like the older classes (which are usually quiet, tired, and studious) but they were acting like they were 7 years old (supposed to be 10-12). Kicking, hitting, pulling limbs, private areas and calling each other names in japanese like baka... very bad.. and they wouldn`t listen to me when I said stop.... I just force played/played lots of games to distract them and so happy to bring out the craft....
One of the kids ran into my head too... head to head... I had a headache.. but later I realized it was because I was getting sick and loosing my voice!!!

Oct 21 - Teaching with another teacher today... more laxed day... hmmmm but woke up early to spit out.. yum brown phlegm...... and then.. more phlegm later.... gahhhhh I`m sick already!!! croaking voice and everything.... errr...

Oct 22 - My first day off.... slept in till 11am... needed the sleep.. more phlegm.... cleaning... aghh realized that the smoking I was smelling wasn`t because I left my balcony open but it was coming through the walls!!! Went to the library and read a book (managed to only burn 2.5 hours... I read slowly too).... shopped at the 99 yen.... felt kinda lonely.... then went home to cook... then remembered passing a church down the block from me (of course getting slightly lost again from the supermarket) and stopped by at 6:45 during a service.... sat in... wierd.. all in japanese but very nice! I tried to recognize some hymns and the pastor`s wife had a english/jap bible she let me use to kind of know what the pastor was talking about... Solomon and the building of the temple. I could recognize which passages he was refering to, unfortunately I couldn`t figure out his message.
I hope to go next week again for the morning service... the pastor told me about 200 ppl go there on sundays with 2 services... that is very exciting.....

Oct 23 - there`s a cafe that if I buy a drink I can sit here for a long time to use the internet... but I have my cell phone too now so that people can email me if they like... hopefully I`ll have something to do tonight...

In my head..
- strangely calm and at peace... God willing...
- sick... want to have my voice tm for the children!!
- want to meet more ppl to have something to do around here..
- need to make my apartment more home-ish... so I can actually sleep better, I keep waking up at night....
- really thankful for all the emails keeping me alive through the week from home...
- I really do miss everyone... my eyes are tearing up just thinking about everyone... I really miss the fellowship... doing things by myself, no matter how cool/new it is simply isn`t as fun as doing it with ppl...

Things to note...
- Happy birthday to everyone in October!!! (Steph, Van, Wyns, Sarah.... whoa is there anyone else? hehehe...)
- I will not get internet till about mid nov... after I recieve my ID card.. boo boo.....
- My dad is visiting Oct 30... sweet.

Eating from a Kettle.

2006-10-08T01:10:00.000+09:00

Currently I'm not sleeping on a floor, I'm in a hotel in the Osaka region of Japan. As it has been exactly (and only?!) 1 week since I left and since I get free internet here, I will share my week with you. Really, I'm super bored and don't want to think about home.

Warning - My english has degraded terribly since leaving Vancouver for Japan (believe it or not it can actually get worse)... Struggling between 2-3 languages its difficult not to sound foreign in all 3... my cantonese.. sniffles.. you will suffer this year...

Observation - Why don't people die younger here? MSG galore and processed foods. Pollution and constant smoking. Drinking beyond excess...

Sept 30 - Arriving in Nagoya city and finding out that I've forgotten my AC charger for my laptop. Tired, overwhelmed and wondering why I decided to go to Japan...

Oct 1 - Spent the day on a all day pass for the trains to Nagoya from the suburbs where our company training apartments are with Shan. We got our inkans and made curry from the 99 yen store. Still both of us tired etc... and didn't have anything to do so to try and forget we took a nap. --

Oct 2 - Training begins. Humidity is gross here... all sweaty in business attire, accustomed to breathing in cigarette smoke all day (ohhh there will be more of that... 5/6 coworkers in Osaka smoke heavily...) and endless paper work, proceedures from the company.
:( Seperated from Shan for training (she stays in Nagoya, I go to Osaka) and some of us take the shikansen to Kyoto and a JR Train to Takatsuki. Didn't go out that night with the others (drinking/smoking) and felt homesick. - ARRRRR too much time to think!!!!

Oct 3 - More training and then off to places to classrooms for a full afternoon of observations. I when to a suburb in Osaka called Tada. I got to know my co-worker Greening better. It was cool because she asked if I was religious - I answered and asked why she thought that - she said she couldn't explain exactly but that I was sincere, similar to christian friends back home... It was cool to know God is shining through me no matter what or how I was/am doing.

Oct 4/5 - Training with curriculum. We get to go along with the trainer's demo lesson and act as children then teach our own demo. It was fun acting like kids and trying make each other's demo miserable.... HAHAHAH.... Got super lost on the second day and was a whole hour late... We can now say we are the first ppl to ever get lost at this location ...

Oct 6 - AHHH First lessons day in Kosei (east of Kyoto)... I was almost late!!! (they have a super strict late policy) Stupid train that only comes every hour...I forgot to do some major steps in procedure during the lesson- but I made it through my two classes (8 yr olds and 11 yr olds). The observing teacher was very nice and let me know anything that i could improve on. To wind down we all when out to karaoke -

Oct 7 - I got to see Raph! We hung out in the shopping district of Osaka. His internal GPS needs some work... but he's certainly using/learning more japanese than me!

and then hung out in co-workers room... Got to talk to Michelle a bit about spirituality and chrstianity....

Full thoughts -
My head still feels like lead....
I'm hoping Shan is okies....
I need to work on my devos/learning japanese

Good hearings -
Placement is a biggest apartment in the area? Apparently some other people there already are vying for it?
Business trips to natural mountianous areas in Gifu Prefecture...?
Nice Supervisor?