Yay, Winter Break!!!

Um, I should really finish packing as it's almost 1am and I have to leave my apt at 10:15am tomorrow morning for my flight to Hong Kong...which leaves at 6:20pm! Ridiculous, right?! Tell me about it. Anyway, I will be taking a break from blogging since I'll be with my relatives, attending my cousin's wedding, hopefully drinking shark fin soup. Wish me luck in my shopping and eating adventures in the land of the loud Cantonese critics! Kay, I will keep you posted when I get back!

Thought of the day:

My 3nensei asked me how to say "fuck" in Japanese today in class. Lil' punk.

Goodbye, Minako!

Quick summary of the past weekend...and more:

On Thursday night, Jeff, Ann and I went to Variee, a French restaurant located somewhere between Ota and Kiryu. The course dinner cost us each $105. I think this may be the most expensive meal I've ever paid for by myself. But, it was well worth it, as the food was delicious. We got to try soo many different things...and they were SO good. We ate everything and felt way too full afterwards. Anyway, it was a good experience indeed, as we weren't too sure about the silverware...outside in, right? What to do when you have like 10 plates coming your way? Hmm.

On Friday night, I trained over to Jeff's for another Veronica Mars' night. First, we went to Nacchan's for dinner. Then, we sat through 4 episodes of VM at his place, and watched most of Hirai Ken's music videos. By the way, we have decided that we're now both engaged to him, as he is hot. I love love love his "Popstar" video...it's soo funny...I don't think it was directed by a Japanese director. Anyway, Hirai Ken totally looks part something...like South American, but apparently, he is full Japanese! WTF?! I think somebody lied to him about his roots. Poor guy. Anyway, his music videos are awesome, and I can watch all of 'em, which is something to be said b/c I usually get tired of music videos very easily.

The next morning, Jeff and I biked to Yabuzuka eki. Yes, I biked this time! I figured out that if I fully extend my legs, I am able to reach the pedals! However, I have to jump off to get off...thank goodness there aren't many stop lights in Yabu. Anyway, we trained and bused to AEON, where we shopped around, then met up with Ann and Helen to watch King Kong. King Kong is a 3-hour movie, but it was good, so time passed by quickly. Yes, King Kong is definitely the best movie I've seen in Japan so far, and Adrian Brody is hot. More of a reason to go. Now if they would only release Brokeback Mountain here...

After the movie, Emily picked us up to go to Tatebayashi for Minako's farewell party. Minako is leaving for San Francisco on the 21st...she is moving there permanently!! That's so crazy. She'll love it there...this I know...but I can't imagine what I'd pack if I were leaving...for good! So yeah, we're all really sad to see her leave, as she always brightens up our days with her laughter and her "Sou da ne!" San Francisco is definitely a great place for her though. Good luck in finding your hot and rich American husband, Minako!! Remember to introduce me to his brother once you're settled...hehe.

After dinner, we all went to karaoke...well, Denny's first to wait for our karaoke room. Yeah, it was fun. Henry blew us away with his voice when he sang a Japanese song! Damn, that boy can sing! By the end of the night, we were all so tired. Emily was SO nice to drive Jeff home and me and Ann to my place. Thank you sooo much for driving, Em!!

The next day, I cooked breakfast for me and Ann. Wow, it's been awhile. I never seem to be home these days to cook anything. Anyway, thanks to Heidi, I now have both Kokology books at my place. Ann and I read thru some of it, and it really does seem to be pretty accurate in its analyses. It's fun!! After that, I let her finish the Gilmore Girls on my laptop. Damn...it's soo good. Now I just need to trek to Sean's to get the remaining episodes! I'm such a t.v. addict...less so here, thank goodness.

Thought of the day:

I had a conversation this weekend about the cars people drive in Japan, and how they don't fit the people here. In America, you can sorta see it. Like, "Yeah, she looks like she'd drive a Beemer." Here, it's different. My JTE, who's like half my size, drives a freakin' huge-as white van. I asked her how many children she has, and she said just one girl. Hmm. Then, I asked "Why do you have such a big van?!" She said, "For my daughter's friends." Um! That's nice of her! Strange to buy a huge van for OTHER people's kids, but nice, I guess. Anyway, since the cars that the Japanese drive don't fit them, I think this is compensated for in the tea cups they use at school. At my jr. high school, every teacher has his/her own cup. I know which cup belongs to which teacher b/c I am the one handing them their lunch w/ their tea cups at lunchtime. Anyway, it's really easy for me to remember which cup belongs to which teacher because it's SO obvious that that's their cup. For example, the music teacher has a very decorative/artsy cup, which suits her. There's this one older lady teacher who has a porcelain cup with different color flowers on it. Reminds me of my piano teacher, Marjorie Williams. The 3nensei social studies teacher has a dark brown coffee cup, that says, "Nice coffee. Nice day." It was totally made for him, as he looks like one that drinks too much coffee anyway. So yeah, I also have my own cup. It's the Chip 'n' Dale cup I purchased at Disneyland. I wonder if that suits me....or should I buy a new cup? Eh, whatevers.

Today at School

Let me first start w/ lunch. Today, we had the longest and thinnest weiners I've ever seen in my life, milk, bread, yakisoba, liquidy yogurt that tastes like old milk, and fruit punch...as they call it. Fruit punch is actually just canned fruit served IN orange juice. Yep, that's right...IN. Strange indeed.

Today was my second attempt at my English radio program. I thought it went pretty well. I asked the girls if they had any boyfriends...over the PA, that is...and they just quickly said "No, No, and No." Another question I asked was, "What will you do during the winter vacation?" They all had the same answer again, "I will study." Sad! They are 3nensei, so of course they need to study over the break. Damn, that sucks. Anyway, it's funny how all the questions and stuff I had them say was rehearsed beforehand, but when it came time to talk, they were just laughing...you know..that giggly girl laugh...and looked to each other for help. Sometimes I just wanna say, "Why the heck do you need to look to other people for advice in order to answer a question about yourself?!" Um, nevermind. If I said that, they will just give me a blank stare and look to each other for help again. Damn, do I sound very bitter? Well, I'm actually not. It's just amusing, that's all. In fact, I really enjoyed the girls' company today. I guess I played some songs the students actually liked, b/c I had 2 requests to borrow my cd after lunch. I am slowly drawing them in....

I am worried about my 2nensei. A few of them...it's like they've just given up. I don't know how to explain it. Did I talk about this already? Well, anyway, other than those few, the rest of my 2nensei seem to be doing better. I played pictionary with them today. Before the game, my JTE had them fill out a handout on adjectives that describe the people in the picture. Some of the stuff they came up with:

"He looks 'interesting'."
"She looks 'dead'."
"He looks 'stomachache'."

Thought of the day:

Ann had asked me before if I knew that Japanese people had the tradition of eating KFC on Christmas day. I didn't. Well, today in class, I asked my JTE and the students if this is true. "Who eats KFC on Christmas Day?" Over half the class raised their hands. No joke. Then, my JTE asked me if I ate KFC on Christmas day, and I said no. A student then asked, "Why don't you eat KFC on Christmas day?", as if I'M the strange one. Hmm...why don't I eat KFC on Christmas Day? Well, why don't I eat McDonald's or Pizza Hut on Christmas Day? I dunno. Because, I just don't! I know, I'm sure my answer was very impressive to them as well. Anyway, the students were literally SURPRISED that we don't eat KFC on Christmas day in America. Damn, KFC must've done the campaign of all campaigns to have every Japanese person thinking that us foreigners eat KFC on Christmas day. Now, they have the whole freakin' country buying their fried chicken on Christmas day. Seasonal workers up in KFC, indeed! I was also very sorry to break the news to them about us not having Christmas cakes, and that it's purely a Japanese thing. I felt like I told the entire class that there was NO Santa Claus...twice. Sad.

A Critic's Review...

Me being the critic, of course. Last night, I went to AEON with Ann, Jeff, and Minako to see Sayuri (the Japanese movie title for Memoirs of a Geisha). Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my favorite books, so I had really hoped that they would do a good job with this movie. I knew not to expect much, b/c half the cast is Chinese and they speak in English, nonetheless. Um, yeah.

WORD OF CAUTION: IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA AND ACTUALLY INTEND ON SEEING IT, YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO READ ON...

Anyway, so this movie didn't get very good reviews from critics, and a couple of my friends that saw it already didn't seem that impressed as well. I decided to go into the movie w/o any expectations. Good thing, b/c it really wasn't that great at all. Well, it's not a bad movie, but it's just not that good.

First of all, they REALLY should've done it in Japanese with Japanese actors, as the random English accents were a big distraction. I read the book in English, of course, but watching the characters say the dialogue in English was really strange. It somehow didn't fit. At one point, when Pumpkin (played by a Japanese American actress) spoke, I was thinking, "Wow, she sounds like she's from LA!" Sad thing is, she really IS from LA! I will not even get into the Chinglish...

Also, the movie ignores many of the subtleties which make the book what is it. Rob Marshall totally made this an Americanized version of what he thinks Japan to be. Like, there was no way that this movie was directed by a Japanese director. Some of the characters were SO out there...it was ridiculous, ie) Hatsumomo on crack w/ a bad hair stylist. The movie seemed way too Hollywood, trying to make Japan SO Japanese...I dunno how to put it in words, but yeah. I loved the book b/c the characters were smart, articulate, and deep...each with a purpose. In the movie, the characters were dramatic for the sake of being dramatic.

Another thing. It seemed fine in the book that Sayuri met the Chairman when she was only nine, and knew that she loved him from that moment? Anyway, maybe this all should've remained on paper, because watching Sayuri and the Chairman getting together while talking about the first time they met (when she was 9 years old and he was a grown adult), seemed child molester-ish to me. Maybe it's just me, but yeah, I had no problem with it IN the book.

Though I have to give credit to the lady who plays "Mother" b/c I thought she did an excellent job. Also, Zhang Ziyi (who plays Sayuri) was not bad at all. Her English was a lot better than I had expected. I've mainly seen her in action movies prior to this, so it was a nice surprise to see that she can actually act. A Chinese actress that can act....imagine that. Kay, I'm not hating on Chinese actors but you should see some of the so-called "actors" in Hong Kong. Sad, indeed!

Overall, this was not a bad movie, but it certainly did not embody the essence of the book. Anyway, it's pretty at least. So yeah, go judge for yourself. Just don't go in expecting anything great.

Thought of the day:

I know I'm not the only one slowly getting poisoned to death from the freakin' kerosene heaters at school, right? I literally had to open the window for a breath of air while my JTE was teaching today. I don't know how they do it, but I swear some of the kids looked like they were gonna pass out as well.

Lake Haruna

A karaoke machine....or a giant rice cooker?! I'll let you decide...




So this past weekend, Jeff, Ann and I joined 10 other JETs for a Christmas enkai up in Lake Haruna. For $85, we got a ride from Takasaki Eki to the hotel and back (an hour each way), yummy Japanese dinner AND breakfast, nomihodai (all you can drink) for 2 hours, karaoke, a hotel room, and onsen. Talk about cheap! It was such a good deal....and you know I'm all about the deals.

Anyway, I'm glad it was a small group of us b/c I got to talk to some people I haven't really had a chance to talk to before. We definitely rode a ghetto-as bus on the way there...but it's nothing compared to what I've ridden in before in other places. It's all relative. Anyway, the first thing we did when we got there was go to the onsen. It was really cool b/c they had an outdoor onsen and it started snowing a bit as we were outside in the hot hot water. Cool, but I started to feel my head pounding after a while b/c of the change in body temperature? It was still nice and relaxing though.

After onsen-ing, we all wore our yukatas to dinner and karaoke. I love Japanese dinners, as I get to try and taste many different kinds of food in one sitting. I just feel bad for the person who has to do the dishes, since there are literally 10 small plates/bowls for each person there. Jeff made a joke about how Eduardo (his boyfriend in Mexico) could easily find a job here. I thought it was pretty funny, but others...I'm not sure. Jeff said that Eduardo would laugh, so that makes it okay, right? ;-) Anyway, pretty much everyone got drunk off their asses, except for me and Ann of course. It was still fun though, and plus, now we have many incriminating pictures we can blackmail people with. Muahahaha. We also did a secret Santa gift exchange later that night, but I'm still not sure what it was that I ended up getting? Hehe.

The next morning, I went back to the onsen with a few of the girls. Actually, this time I hit the sauna first, then went into the water. It actually worked out a lot better, as the freakin' hot sauna prepared me for the hot hot water outside. Ahh...so relaxing. After that, some of us went to breakfast...not everyone made it though, as some were still recovering from the night before. Sad to miss breakfast yo! Anyway, we got a chance to go outside to take some pictures before we left. Lake Haruna is very beautiful, especially with the snow and all. I think I'd definitely want to go back again.

So yeah, a group of us took the "short bus" back to Takasaki Eki. What does one do after eating a traditional Japanese breakfast at a ryokan? Go to McDonald's of course. Surprisingly, I didn't order anything. What, you don't believe me?! Anyway, Ann, Jeff, Bahia, and I decided to shop around Takasaki for a bit. When I say Takasaki, I mean everything within 100 meters from the eki, b/c that's the only Takasaki we know of...we meaning us people w/o cars. Anyway, I can literally spend hours there, especially at Vivre...ah, shopping. I mostly window shopped though, as payday is near, meaning I am down to my last yen at this point. Thank goodness we get paid the day I leave for Hong Kong. Ah yes, in a little over a week, I will be in Hong Kong. I was not so excited at first, but more and more, I am very excited about this trip. I am definitely ready for a break. Shopping and eating, here I come!

Thought of the day:

Is it sad that my favorite household chore right now is washing the dishes...just so that I can stay warm from the hot water!! Ugh...I am not liking this cold winter thingy. What the heck are seasons, anyway?! (This comment being made by a Southern Californian.) ;-)

Chichibu Yomatsuri and More...

It is currently 4AM on a weeknight and I am sitting with my legs under my kotatsu to stay warm. Ah, life in Japan. Then again, I am sometimes awake at this time, no matter where I am, just minus the kotatsu. Kay, like I said before, I've been a bad blogger so this post is just to catch you up on last weekend's festivities and this week's "potluck" dinner. This is supposed to be short; wish me luck...

Last Friday night, I trained to Chichibu City to spend the weekend at Lynnette's since it was the weekend of the famous Chichibu Yomatsuri (night festival), ranked as the 3rd biggest in Japan. AND it's in Chichibu? Random! Anyway, I got to Chichibu, met up with Lynnette's friends, then we all went back to Lynnette's apt for the night. Lynnette was right...I got to see her and all the Chichibu girls in all their glory....AND Lynnette wasn't even drunk! Hehe. Let me just say...Chichibu girls ARE wild! Kay, I won't go into further details. ;-)

The next day, Lynnette and her friends cooked breakfast, which was oishiiyo! Oh, by the way, Lynnette makes the BEST okonomiyaki! Soo good! Anyway, we all got split up and went to the matsuri at different times. This was definitely the biggest matsuri I had ever been to, as the streets were lined with stalls with enough food to feed an army. I decided I would try everything. You know me. ;-) Anyway, everyone got pissed drunk by 6pm. Everyone sort of just wandered around. Lynnette and I tried to walk back to Elena's apt but we were literally stuck at an intersection for an hour b/c of the crowds of people surrounding us and the police decided to block every way out b/c of the shrines and stuff. We finally made it to Elena's and hung out there for awhile, then a few of us made our way back to Lynnette's for the night.

The next day, we cooked breakfast again. I really haven't cooked that much food since forever, so it was pretty cool. Later that afternoon, we headed to Shimamura, where Lynnette and I had shopped the last time I went to visit her. Anyway, every time I go there, it's like a mini trip to Tokyo b/c I end up spending so much $! But no complaints here, as this store has the best deals EVER! It's not even that big, but we spent so much time there...just deals left and right! Man, I miss shopping. We also stopped by Fujiya and I got me some good-as tarts! Mmm...definitely need to visit the one in Ota now! Thanks again, Lynnette, for hosting me! I'm glad I got to visit beautiful Chichibu again! Now you need to come to not-so-beautiful Ota for a visit! It's okay....we have AEON...that's reason enough to come! Hehe.

Hmm...what else. Oh yes, on Tuesday night, 17 of us went to Ann's uncle's sushi restaurant in Ota (Sushi Waka) for some good-as sushi. Yea, 17 of us fit into one room. It was cool that everything worked out. Anyway, it was nice to see everyone and be the loud gaijin we are. It was also Tim's birthday and of course there was some cake to be had, from Fujiya no less! Mmm mmm! Happy Birthday, Tim! Hehe. And a BIG thanks to Ann, for planning everything and getting everyone together. This was definitely your "potluck"!

Thoughts of the day:

Why does dessert cost just as much as a meal in Japan? Dammit...I can't resist either.

Why do Japanese people only know of English songs prior to the 70s?

Why am I the only one at school wearing a big-as jacket when I'm in class? Aren't the other teachers cold??? They say they are, but it sure doesn't look that way!

Why don't Japanese people react to anything? The teachers AND the students did not have any sort of reaction to my radio program...not that they need to, but it was strange that it was just as if it didn't happen. My JTEs talked to me afterwards, but that's different. Anyway, I am tempted to start a fire at school just to see if they will react to SOMETHING.

Updates at School

So yeah, I have been a bad blogger lately b/c I haven't really been at home. Anyway, I know you all are anxiously awaiting my posts, right? Of course you are! So yeah, here are a few updates with school stuff...

Last Friday, I visited Ikushina Shougakkou (Pete's elementary school) as a "Guest Lecturer." What does guest lecturing entail? Heck if I knew. I had actually met up with Pete and his teachers before all of this, but Pete and I just thought we'd sort of wing it on the day of. How hard can it be to entertain 140 4th graders, right? Anyway, the whole point of the presentation was to introduce American and British culture to the students. It was really funny b/c when Pete and I walked into the auditorium with 140 kids clappping to welcome us onto the stage area, we almost busted out laughing. It was really cool b/c they had set up one side that had the American flag and right below it, it said, "Cindy from America." On the other side was the British flag and below that, "Pete from England." We also had our own table with the American, British, and Japanese flags. Like Pete said, I felt like we were at a UN meeting. Anyway, we talked about England and America, showed some pictures, played some games, and that was the end of that. It all went really well and we had a good time. The most important thing was that we think the kids really enjoyed it as well.

Oh yeah, so my little sister, Heidi, is taking Portugese at UC Santa Cruz right now. Remember the Portugese kid, Alan, who can't speak Japanese? Anyway, I've talked to the teachers and set something up so that they can be pen pals. Heidi will write to Alan in Portugese and Alan will write back in English. This should be good practice for both of them. Yaay!

Hmm...let's see. Oh yeah, I showed a movie for the first time in my English Room on Monday. I showed "The Nightmare Before Christmas." It went well! Mr. Watanabe helped me connect the laptop to a projector so it was actually LIKE watching a movie! Ten kids showed up which was better than I had expected. Anyway, the kids really enjoyed the movie, though some of them had to leave early b/c Japanese kids are SUPER busy, with juku (school AFTER school...I know...sucks, right?), club activities, entrance exams to study for, etc, etc. Anyway, next week I will show "Home Alone." Apparently, they love that movie in this country. So yeah, Movie Mondays are working out, yo. A few students have requested some English music as well, so I have downloaded some songs off the Internet (legally, of course!). Hope they show up next week.

Oh yeah, I started my lunchtime radio program yesterday!! It was really cool! Apparently, my predecessor, Robbie, had done it when he was around, but no one bothered to tell me until recently. So yeah, I get to DJ for 25 minutes during lunchtime on Wednesdays. For the first show, I didn't have a name for the program b/c I'm horrible with thinking about these things. (Thus, when I was put on the spot to think of an engraving for my iPod nano, I could only think of "Cindy Ng"....omg...can I GET MORE boring than that?! Anyway, thank goodness I changed it in time. By the way, EVERYONE should get a nano...it's the best thing to happen to me since...since...my indoor boyfriend, Kouji! Okay, so my nano is now my outdoor boyfriend. It REALLY helps when I bike and take the train. I love my nano. And NO, Apple did not pay me to plug it. Hehe.) Anyway, I had a couple of students in the announcement room with me. They announced the weather and the lunch menu in English. Then, I introduced the Phrase of the Week, which is, "A Piece of Cake"...thanks, Jenny! After that, I interviewed the students in English, simple English of course. After all the talking, I get to play whatever music I want yo! Well, not this week, as I had to play, "Hey, Jude", "Country Road, Take Me Home", and "Happy Christmas" because those are the songs that the music teacher, Ooguri sensei, is teaching the kids to sing. I am no longer taking requests. I am playing whatever the heck I want until I get a complaint. Hehe.

Oh yeah, I have noticed a BIG change in my 2nensei lately. They are actually pretty good?? I had them play a game and they actually participated and stuff! Wow...I am so confused. Jeff says he's noticed a big change in his 2nensei as well. You don't understand...2nensei are usually the WORST to teach, b/c the teacher is WAY too nice and she has no control over the classes, so they just walk all over her. Anyway, yesterday they were surprisingly GOOD?! I think they are slowly making the change...to become good-as 3nensei perhaps? I mean...the 3nensei are super good b/c they have to prepare for entrance exams to high school and stuff...meaning they actually care. Hm...this is interesting indeed!

Thought of the day:

I have come to realize that my school is SUPER laid back, so I can do as much as I want, or don't want. I had been feeling very under-utilized at my school for awhile (as this is VERY common amongst us JETs), so I am doing stuff outside of class to get to know the students better. I just needed to do SOMETHING with all my free my time here. It also makes school more enjoyable and time pass by quicker. Anyway, I am VERY lucky b/c it seems like I can just throw any idea out there and my teachers are totally supportive...or more like, they just don't care? Haha. So yeah, it's pretty cool.

My principal just came up to me to let me know that he was laughing to himself yesterday during my radio program. Apparently, I introduced my 3nensei as "Yuki", not "Yuuki". And since Yuki is a girl's name and Yuuki is a boy's name, he was confused as to why "Yuki" sounded like a boy! Okay, this whole language thing is too confusing! Hehe.