An Eventful February

It has been a few weeks since I last posted. Life in Japan is going pretty well, for the most part. Earlier in the month, I had a few JETs over for dinner. We made sushi and managed to fit 7 JETs from Kure, Asuka’s friend Aki and Asuka’s cousin, Kazuya-who just moved to Hiroshima to attend high school. Kazuya had a great time mingling with all the JETs and asking them all about their home countries. Really interesting kid and he tried really hard to use the English he knew. So it was nice having him over for the night and it’s good for him that he has some family close by, as he’s living by himself in the city. So we had a good night eating pounds of Sushi and the next day I chilled with Kazuya and watched Episode 3 on DVD. Honestly, no matter how much you dislike the new Star Wars movies, just seeing Anakin become Vader is damn cool, especially when the helmet goes on. (Picture below: Lineups for the free oysyters)

Well the week after that, I went to Kure for the Big Oyster festival. We were a bit late arriving, but there was still plenty of food everywhere and lots of stands were set up. There were giving away free oysters, and we lined up and got a few. Hiroshima, and especially the Kure area is really famous for oysters, so a lot of little towns have festivals like this throughout the year. Festivals in Japan are always fun because there is tons of food to eat. They always have the best skewers and I usually end up eating quite a bit. We sampled various Oyster dishes and had a good time, even though it started to rain. (Picture below: Mel and I eating Oysters!)

Last weekend was definitely the most interesting weekend I’ve had in awhile. Earlier in the week, the teachers from Ato elementary school asked me to go out and eat on Friday. So after work, they picked me up and then we stopped at a convenience store and started to buy liqueur. I thought that was strange- as I had the impression we were going to a restaurant. Then the next thing they asked me was if I had ever been to Kamagari island- where Simon lives. I told them I hadn’t and before I knew it, we were driving across the bridge and going to a teacher’s house for dinner. Hanada sensei’s house is one of the oldest houses on the island. It is over 200 years old. I think her ancestors were from a samurai family in the past, as their house is huge, and one which a samurai would own. Inside, it was sweet, totally a traditional Japanese house. They had 4 samurai swords from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). To get upstairs you have to walk up this antique staircase- that I’ve only seen in museums- and slip panels from the ceiling to enter.

So there I was on this island for dinner. Dinner was great though and we had tons of fresh seafood that Hanada-sensei had flown in from Hokkaido (Northern Japan) We had lots to eat and I also managed to drink a little too much. I’ll spare you all the details, but I tried to play it cool like I wasn’t totally inebriated- which I think didn’t work at all. So time was passing fast and it was already about 2am, when my vision started to blur- and listening to Japanese with my full attention is hard enough, and in the condition I was in, it was virtually impossible. So the next thing I knew, I leaned back and passed out on the floor.

Unknown to me, was that since I was on an island, my cell phone didn’t get reception. So Asuka had no idea where I was and couldn’t contact me. Normally, that would be worrisome but not a huge deal if I didn’t come home during the night. But, by chance- even though 99% of the time I am home with her- trouble happened. So around 11pm that night- someone rang the doorbell. She thought it could be me coming home, so smartly, she called out my name at the door- but there was no answer. She tried to call my phone to see if it would ring outside the door, but my phone had no reception. She then peeped through the eyehole, but our hallway has lights that need to be manually turned on, so she couldn’t really see anyone. Next thing she knows- the door handle starts shaking and someone is trying to get in. She looks though the eyehole again, but the person is obviously hiding in the corner but Asuka manages to see a brief profile of a late 20ish looking man through the eyehole. So Asuka gets her phone and calls the police. She then went around to our patio because there is a fire exit that you can just easily walk up. She proceeds to see the same man trying to walk up the stairs but then he sees her and hides. Asuka, meanwhile is talking to the Police- who tells her that they can’t find our house on the map- all the while Asuka’s telling them- there is a guy RIGHT there.... Thankfully, the guy got nervous and got on his bicycle and rode away (yupe, a bike.). The police arrived a few minutes later and took fingerprints and footprints outside our door. Well, as expected, Asuka didn’t sleep the whole night- scared for her safety and also worried about me at the same time.

So it was a pretty brutal weekend. We have large windows in our kitchen, and we think some guy probably saw her through the window. So we brought some drapes and now have its covered. The police also recommended that the landlord install automatic lights in the hallways. The next day the lights were up- the landlord is really nice and thoughtful. They showed up that night and have checked up on us a few times already. Well this incident just shows that there are disturbed people everywhere, even in Japan which really is one of the safest places you can be. We’re going to be a bit more careful now and I’ll walk her home from the station for awhile at least. It’s a crummy feeling when something you feel is safe, is essentially shaken. But I don’t think we’ll let this ruin or change anything. I think and hope that it’s an isolated incident and I’ll almost always be home, so I don’t think he’ll come back again.

Well this upcoming weekend I have a trip with all my teachers to the island of Shikoku. It should be interesting getting to know everyone better. Just to be safe Asuka’s going to sleepover at her friends place in Hiroshima when I’m gone. Overall, everything else has been great, I played hockey last week for the first time this year and it was a lot of fun getting out there for a strong skate. Next month there is also a hockey tournament in Okayama-ken and I look forward to playing some more competitive games. (Picture below: Valentine's day dinner)

School has also been good, as the year is finishing up nicely. Had fun with my kids during Valentines Day as I had them create Valentine’s Day cards and it was so cute seeing the little kids make them then give them to their friends. Some of the girls were so shy and giggling. There were 3 girls who gave their card to the same boy in class and I had to urge them on as they were blushing. Some kids even gave their cards to me, which was really sweet of them. On to Japanese factoid #16: Valentine’s in Japan is a bit different then it is in Canada. It’s definitely an imported holiday, but here the girls do all the work. In Japan the girls give chocolates to guys at school or at their workplace. Only the girls have to do anything. Guys just accept the chocolate and eat it. Pretty sweet huh? Well unfortunately on White Day on March 14^th, everyone that gave you chocolates on Valentines day, you are suppose to return the favor and get them something white. Either white chocolate or white clothing- which can get quite pricey. Asuka got me some gourmet chocolate and munched on that for a few days. Not sure what white stuff I’ll give her next month though. (Picture below: My gourmet Chocolate)

That wraps up my happenings for most of this month. Well as I mentioned I have the trip to Shikoku this weekend, which should be fun. Also, my friend Cyrus from Vancouver is also staying over for a few days, as he’s about to backpack across Southeast Asia and then settle in China. I will write more about his stay and my trip next week sometime, hopefully. Been watching the Olympics on TV, as the time difference isn’t as big over here as it is back in Vancouver. Canada seems to be doing pretty well, even though the Hockey team lost. Japan still has no medals, and might end up getting shut out. It's going to be fun in 2010 in Vancouver.

One more year in Japan

I've heard that it’s been raining like no tomorrow in Vancouver. It doesn't actually rain too often here in Japan and its going to be interesting getting use to the rain again when I come back. Well February is decision month for all JETs, as they have to decide if they are going to re-contract for another year or return to their home countries. After the first few months, I was pretty certain about re-contracting and staying another year in Japan. There are pros and cons, as sometimes certain situations in class have me thinking..omg, I have to do this for another 1.5 years- like when I get Kancho! or my elementary teacher as no clue what I’m saying. But after much thought, I have decided to re-contract and stay another year. A year is just to short of a time, and I think 2 years will give me ample time to visit all the places I want to see and give me a better grasp of the language. It’s actually surprising how many JET’s, even in their 3^rd years can’t speak a lick of Japanese- hopefully I can improve. So I’ll be here in Japan until the summer of 2007. JET’s are allowed to re-contract for up to 3 years- and even more bearing special circumstances. But two will be more enough for me. Amazingly, out of the 17 JET’s in Kure, only 4 are staying next year- Masato, Mel, Me and this other Jet named Brian. So it's going to be interesting next year.

The past few weeks have been pretty mundane. Nothing overly exciting has been happening. I did invite my favorite English teacher, Ms. Murayama and her husband and son over for dinner. We had a traditional winter meal called nabe (hotpot) and I had a good time chatting with them and playing with her cute son, Sougo. He loves Thomas trains, so I picked him up this Thomas traveling pack and he had fun playing with that. He’s a great kid, with a mischievous streak- and he kept on pulling his pants down- and cracking us up, as he said it was a “service” to us. How the thinks of that I have no idea, but it was a fun night and I look forward to visiting Ms.Murayama when she gives birth. Hopefully to a baby girl, as that’s what they want. (Picture below: Murayama sensei, her husband Shinji and her son, Sougo)

School is going pretty fast as it's the 3rd years graduate next month- I’m sure that half my teachers have party hats on, just waiting for them to leave. But, lately when I’ve taught them they have been pretty good and have completed the lessons. Even though some kids are little shits in class, outside of class they are still pretty sweet kids. Though once in awhile I wouldn’t mind throwing a few of them out the window. I also had this one lesson where I have to write my age on the board before hand, I even ask the students what they think my age is, and they screamed out “34, 32, 28”. When I wrote 23, they all yelled “USO” –it’s a lie, no way. I was definitely crushed, do I really look that old? I’ve convinced myself that they just assume that teachers are old, and it has no bearing on how I look, yes…that’s what I believe and I’m sticking to that.

Last week, we had the annual mid-year conference with the Hiroshima JETs and it was full of workshops and presentations. Some were quite useful, and as usual some were not. All in all it wasn’t too bad, and it ended with an amazing Taiko performance by a local group. They were great to listen too and they even allowed some of the JET’s to jump up on stage and practice with their drums. The rest of this past week was spent eating dinner in Kure, with Pete and some other JET’s, as Pete’s girlfriend is visiting from Taiwan. It was also Asuka’s birthday on the 31^st, and we had just had dinner at home. She turned 24 and she is older then me- even though she likes to point out that with her youthful looks and my more “mature” looking face when divided by 2- then we look our age. (Picture below: Masato and I eating fresh oysters)

I haven’t been traveling much lately, though there is an oyster festival and a ski trip this month that I look forward to going. This week is also the Sapporo Ice festival, which is something I’m dying to go see- since I won’t do it this year, it’s definitely on my to do this next year. March will be a fun month, as the school year ends and Joel will be coming to visit me in Japan. By chance there is going to be a sumo tournament in Osaka and we’ll also get to see a Samurai parade in Miyajima too. I’ll finally get to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and the Ninja village of Iga too, which is something I’m looking forward to. (Picture below: Okonomiyaki- Hiroshima's most famous dish)

Japanese factoid# 15, Well it’s flu season in Japan- as it is in Vancouver too. I was sick for a few days last week, but luckily fought it off quickly. But a lot of my students are absent, as one kid gets sick and it spreads pretty quickly to neighboring students. The interesting thing is the Japanese called the flu, “Influenza.” Not being well versed in medical terms, when the word Influenza kept on popping up when teachers announce to the horror of fellow colleagues, that another 5 students have come down with “INFLUENZA” and then rushed to the front of the board to write their name on this Big white board of absent students…sort of like a death list, I was scared it was like the avian flu or SARS. Seriously, it’s like Harry Potter and Lord Voldermort’s name and when said, all teachers nod and share their apprehension of the disease and their current luck of avoiding it. When I asked Asuka, if it actually was just the flu- she adamantly said that it’s not the common flu, and it was something more sinister and lethal. After weeks of arguing with her how “I think it really is the common flu” and wondering what the hell influenza really is, I finally went on wikipedia and typed in Influenza, defined as “commonly known, the flu or the grippe.” So now I know I won’t be dying of some weird foreign disease, but I’ve also never heard of grippe. Actually, just at this moment typing this, I realize that the word flu is actually in influenza, huh..go figure. I wonder how many more common illness have sinister names, like if you tell someone you have an intestinal infection, its sounds a lot worse then just saying the stomach flu.

Well I hope you all aren’t flooding to death in Vancouver and hopefully the Canucks pull some trades soon. It should also be an interesting Super Bowl too, my dad actually saw the NFC final in Seattle and he said it was crazy. I like the Steelers, but I got to cheer for the Hawks- even if Mike-san doesn’t agree. So go Seahawks!