hey all,
I did another bout of training today. I got to meet two other teachers and they helped me through the lessons I'm going to teach next Saturday. Like the last teacher, they said a lot of the things I was doing were good, but some needed changing. It was actually lots of fun and they seemed like good people, but very tiring.
All that stuff is still swirling around in my head, and I'm not feeling too confident about Saturday's lesson. The deal is that Saturday I'm doing a "monitor" lesson, which is not exactly what I thought it'd be. Basically, I'm doing a lesson for potential students and their parents to try to get them hooked on this company's English classes, thus generating lots of revenue for the company. So, I'm supposed to be selling not only myself as a teacher, but the company's teaching style, our teaching materials, and of course selling the fact that English is fun. The guy who decided to give this duty to me must really have a lot of confidence in me, because this feels like an important duty to give to someone who has just started working there.
Anyway, today was a long day as I had my regular job before doing 3+ hours of training, and tomorrow will be almost as bad. There are only 6 class periods, and I'm teaching all 6 of them, plus an English lesson for the teachers after school. These are especially bad as the teachers almost never say anything, and I'm not sure what exactly they want from it. This is also the school where the 6th graders give me the most attitude, like making fun of the gestures I use to help them understand my instructions. Like their English is so awesome they already understood it, when in fact they can't do any English at all. Some of them are really nice students, but this is the same school where the principal confiscated a shiv from a student.
That's all for now. Cheers,
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
I Hate Rain
hey all,
I've been relaxing and doing as little as possible this weekend. I wanted to head up to Omiya and meet one of my drinking buddies, but he had work so that got canned. I also wanted to check out a park, but literally every time I went outside to walk to the train station, it would start sprinkling on me, so I quit that both today and yesterday. After all, who wants to go to a park to read a book in the rain?
Instead, I've been cooking, paying various bills now that I have money, and playing video games.
For food I've made "mabudofu," which is a spicy Chinese tofu dish. The sauce packet I bought was really cheap and the flavor was really weak. I think next time I'll have to make the sauce from scratch or something. It really tasted nothing like the dishes in restaurants, which has a deep, hearty, hot flavor. I also made that excellent fruit salad again, but this time I used a little too much mayo in the sauce. Oh well, still delicious.
This coming week is really busy. I work Monday-Friday, plus after work on Wednesday I have training for my new job, then on Saturday I actually start my new job. I'm more than a little stressed about it. The teacher training me last time said that I was really lucky to get the type of class I'm getting, since they have people currently working there who are requesting it. So I guess that means they think I'll make a good teacher, but I've never worked at this type of place, so I'm still pretty nervous.
Cheers,
I've been relaxing and doing as little as possible this weekend. I wanted to head up to Omiya and meet one of my drinking buddies, but he had work so that got canned. I also wanted to check out a park, but literally every time I went outside to walk to the train station, it would start sprinkling on me, so I quit that both today and yesterday. After all, who wants to go to a park to read a book in the rain?
Instead, I've been cooking, paying various bills now that I have money, and playing video games.
For food I've made "mabudofu," which is a spicy Chinese tofu dish. The sauce packet I bought was really cheap and the flavor was really weak. I think next time I'll have to make the sauce from scratch or something. It really tasted nothing like the dishes in restaurants, which has a deep, hearty, hot flavor. I also made that excellent fruit salad again, but this time I used a little too much mayo in the sauce. Oh well, still delicious.
This coming week is really busy. I work Monday-Friday, plus after work on Wednesday I have training for my new job, then on Saturday I actually start my new job. I'm more than a little stressed about it. The teacher training me last time said that I was really lucky to get the type of class I'm getting, since they have people currently working there who are requesting it. So I guess that means they think I'll make a good teacher, but I've never worked at this type of place, so I'm still pretty nervous.
Cheers,
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Collection of Random Occurances
hey all,
I have to apologize for slowing down my pace of blogging. Going back to the beginning of last year, I was posting almost every other day, but I've only been doing around 10 per month lately.
Anyway, this is just what the title says: a collection of random things that have happened lately.
Not sure about plans for this weekend. I'm thinking I might go up to Ageo and visit a friend. Otherwise, I'm probably going to workout by myself, pretend to study Japanese, and actually play video games.
Cheers,
I have to apologize for slowing down my pace of blogging. Going back to the beginning of last year, I was posting almost every other day, but I've only been doing around 10 per month lately.
Anyway, this is just what the title says: a collection of random things that have happened lately.
- I discovered that it is a bad idea to finish cooking half-boiled eggs in the microwave, since they explode.
- " " that our house has cockroaches!
- " " that the fantasy series I've been reading and re-reading has been greenlit by HBO, and they are currently casting for the remaining parts. It is set to be unleashed 2011, so I've only got 6 months or so to wait; which is a relief because fans of the series have been waiting 5 years for the next book.
- " "Red Dead Redemption rocks! Yes, I actually went out and bought a game last week. Landing the part-time job has made me feel a lot more secure financially, although I'm still waking up with a slight head ache and some pain in my jaw, probably from grinding my teeth in my sleep. Not sure exactly why that is, but it does happen whenever I'm feeling a bit stressed.
Not sure about plans for this weekend. I'm thinking I might go up to Ageo and visit a friend. Otherwise, I'm probably going to workout by myself, pretend to study Japanese, and actually play video games.
Cheers,
Sunday, June 20, 2010
1.25 Years, Weekend
hey all,
As of June 16th, I've been here in Japan for 1.25 years straight. I'm not sure if I posted about it before, but I won't be coming to the US this summer. It is too expensive to leave, still pay rent here, not earn any money in the US for several weeks, and then fly back. Period. However great it might be for my spirits. One of my Australian friends thinks of visiting home as recharging one's batteries. Dealing with everyone not in your native language and in an odd, and sometimes amazing and/or infuriating culture wears you down. Maybe once or twice a month, I met with a fellow ALT, Michigander and MSU graduate and we get to speak English, act like Michiganders, and commiserate about Japanese culture and/or girl troubles. I know we both see this as necessary for our sanity.
In other news, tomorrow I visit a kids English school I've been interviewing with to check out their teachers and teaching style. The current plan is to work for them on a short term contract starting in mid-July, and if I like them and the deal seems too sweet, to switch companies.
This weekend was lots of fun. I decided I have enough money to survive until my next paycheck, and Michi and I have been wanting to go rock climbing, so we were going to go on Sunday. But, well, things happen, as they say. Saturday we had dinner with her family and watched the World Cup Japan vs. Holland match. Given my previous experience with living in Holland, I should have been rooting for Japan to trounce them. But I'd have to say that for me the main highlight was getting to see Michi's family. I finally got to meet her youngest brother, who reminds me a lot of Bri for some reason. I've never really cared for watching sports, but watching together with them was pretty fun.
As I said, we were going to go rock climbing to a new spot today, but neither of us slept very well. Michi has been feeling a little sick since last weekend, and I've been waking up at 4:30 or 5:00 because of the heat and light. Yes, at 5 in the morning it is already hot and humid in Tokyo, at least hotter and more humid than it should be at 5AM. So I've taken to wearing an eye mask and exposing as many square inches of my skin to cool air as possible. But still, I didn't sleep too well that night, so we lazed around in the morning, and finally decided to head over to a museum in Roppongi to see a post Impressionist exhibit. Now for me, as a foreigner in Tokyo, I associate Roppongi with sleazy bars and pick-up joints, love hotels, etc, not with museums. But for some reason, one of the national art museums is in Roppongi. We got to see some Monet, Cezanne, one Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh. Can't say as I'm a huge art lover, but it was cool to see some of the real paintings, and also just to compare tastes with Michi.
After that, we went to a national library, where I showed her a bunch of picture books of Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings.
Cheers,
As of June 16th, I've been here in Japan for 1.25 years straight. I'm not sure if I posted about it before, but I won't be coming to the US this summer. It is too expensive to leave, still pay rent here, not earn any money in the US for several weeks, and then fly back. Period. However great it might be for my spirits. One of my Australian friends thinks of visiting home as recharging one's batteries. Dealing with everyone not in your native language and in an odd, and sometimes amazing and/or infuriating culture wears you down. Maybe once or twice a month, I met with a fellow ALT, Michigander and MSU graduate and we get to speak English, act like Michiganders, and commiserate about Japanese culture and/or girl troubles. I know we both see this as necessary for our sanity.
In other news, tomorrow I visit a kids English school I've been interviewing with to check out their teachers and teaching style. The current plan is to work for them on a short term contract starting in mid-July, and if I like them and the deal seems too sweet, to switch companies.
This weekend was lots of fun. I decided I have enough money to survive until my next paycheck, and Michi and I have been wanting to go rock climbing, so we were going to go on Sunday. But, well, things happen, as they say. Saturday we had dinner with her family and watched the World Cup Japan vs. Holland match. Given my previous experience with living in Holland, I should have been rooting for Japan to trounce them. But I'd have to say that for me the main highlight was getting to see Michi's family. I finally got to meet her youngest brother, who reminds me a lot of Bri for some reason. I've never really cared for watching sports, but watching together with them was pretty fun.
As I said, we were going to go rock climbing to a new spot today, but neither of us slept very well. Michi has been feeling a little sick since last weekend, and I've been waking up at 4:30 or 5:00 because of the heat and light. Yes, at 5 in the morning it is already hot and humid in Tokyo, at least hotter and more humid than it should be at 5AM. So I've taken to wearing an eye mask and exposing as many square inches of my skin to cool air as possible. But still, I didn't sleep too well that night, so we lazed around in the morning, and finally decided to head over to a museum in Roppongi to see a post Impressionist exhibit. Now for me, as a foreigner in Tokyo, I associate Roppongi with sleazy bars and pick-up joints, love hotels, etc, not with museums. But for some reason, one of the national art museums is in Roppongi. We got to see some Monet, Cezanne, one Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh. Can't say as I'm a huge art lover, but it was cool to see some of the real paintings, and also just to compare tastes with Michi.
After that, we went to a national library, where I showed her a bunch of picture books of Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings.
Cheers,
Friday, June 18, 2010
Rainy Season
hey all,
The rainy season is upon us here in Japan, and Lord save us. It has been rainy for most of this week, with occasional breaks of sunshine. The temperature remains in the 80's or above during the day, and the humidity makes you feel like you're covered in grease or sugar water, despite being freshly scrubbed from stepping out of the shower.
I've decided to do part time for one of the kids' English companies I've been interviewing with. I start training on Monday, so I'll finally get a chance to see what I'll be doing, and get a chance to talk to some other people in the company. The main person I've been dealing with seems nice and all, but has some issues that I find really annoying.
In other job related news, I get paid next Friday, so only 7 more days on my budget.
The World Cup is all the rage, but for the most part I couldn't care less. I've been watching some of the Japanese news, though, like earlier this week some high schooler stabbed the girl next to her for saying "Shut up." Or the new Prime Minister's comment about the ridiculous nature of Japan's national debt (now running almost 200%, if I remember correctly).
Very late, I know, but here is the fruit salad.
Cheers,
The rainy season is upon us here in Japan, and Lord save us. It has been rainy for most of this week, with occasional breaks of sunshine. The temperature remains in the 80's or above during the day, and the humidity makes you feel like you're covered in grease or sugar water, despite being freshly scrubbed from stepping out of the shower.
I've decided to do part time for one of the kids' English companies I've been interviewing with. I start training on Monday, so I'll finally get a chance to see what I'll be doing, and get a chance to talk to some other people in the company. The main person I've been dealing with seems nice and all, but has some issues that I find really annoying.
In other job related news, I get paid next Friday, so only 7 more days on my budget.
The World Cup is all the rage, but for the most part I couldn't care less. I've been watching some of the Japanese news, though, like earlier this week some high schooler stabbed the girl next to her for saying "Shut up." Or the new Prime Minister's comment about the ridiculous nature of Japan's national debt (now running almost 200%, if I remember correctly).
Cheers,
Friday, June 11, 2010
Living In a Seinfeld Episode
hey all,
Does anyone remember the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is dating a deaf woman? At one point he's trying to suggest a meeting time, and he says "You up for six? Six is good." She instantly slaps him, mistakenly reading his lips as sex, not six.
The point of the story is that teaching in a Japanese school is like living this moment an infinite number of times. You say six, and your students all start giggling. I've started counting from 1 all the way to six, each time I say it, so they get what I'm talking about, but they still giggle. Everybody knows the stupid jokes about Japanese people not being able to hear R vs. L, which are all true of course. But they also can't hear B vs. V, or G vs. Z. And of course Japanese has about 8 vowels, if you include diphthongs like [ai], [εi], etc. English has about 12 vowels. Because of that, especially young Japanese can't hear the difference between [I] and [ε].
Anyway, I have one more day of work this week, and then I get Sunday and Monday off before heading back to the frontlines.
Cheers,
Does anyone remember the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is dating a deaf woman? At one point he's trying to suggest a meeting time, and he says "You up for six? Six is good." She instantly slaps him, mistakenly reading his lips as sex, not six.
The point of the story is that teaching in a Japanese school is like living this moment an infinite number of times. You say six, and your students all start giggling. I've started counting from 1 all the way to six, each time I say it, so they get what I'm talking about, but they still giggle. Everybody knows the stupid jokes about Japanese people not being able to hear R vs. L, which are all true of course. But they also can't hear B vs. V, or G vs. Z. And of course Japanese has about 8 vowels, if you include diphthongs like [ai], [εi], etc. English has about 12 vowels. Because of that, especially young Japanese can't hear the difference between [I] and [ε].
Anyway, I have one more day of work this week, and then I get Sunday and Monday off before heading back to the frontlines.
Cheers,
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Youth Violence?!
hey all,
So earlier this week, I finally got the 6th graders at one of my problematic schools to snap into line, and they actually started enjoying the classes as well.
It turns out about 5 years ago, this school area was famous for boys gangs. The principal showed me a hand-made shiv, like basically a 3 inch long exacto blade with one end wrapped up (as a handle). He said one of the students was showing it to people and saying he'd cut them open and pull their guts out. Which I guess is better than actually doing it, but still. The 6th graders are 11 or 12 years old. Are boys this age this messed up in Chicago, New York, Detroit, and LA back home?
From some of my friends back in Saitama, I have stories like the ALTs actually know the police by first name, because that's how often the police have to come to their school. But that is junior high, and I know I sure raised some hell and then some in junior high.
Despite my reservations about this week, it has actually gone OK so far. I put in a whopping 10 job applications a few days ago, and on Monday I've got yet another meeting with a kids eikaiwa. This will be my third meeting with them, and it looks like they want to hire, but I've told them that I'm not quitting my current job until I can sit down with them and get everything straight in my head about working conditions, etc.
I have to say that this has been one of the harder times I've had in Japan. For the last two weeks I've been finding myself going into stores and gazing longingly at the food/snacks/games/whatever that I'd like but can't afford to buy. Don't get me wrong: as the fruit salad recipe shows (umm, succulent), I'm still eating well. But I can't go out and splurge once a week like I did last year. And I can't go rock climbing almost every weekend, I can't do my yoga classes, I can't take the trips I want to take, etc. Just going grocery shopping has become a major pain in the butt: figuring out what I can afford to make, and what is too expensive.
As I wrote several months ago: doing this part time job actually entails doing more work for less pay. That's one of the things I want to avoid for my next job: this eikaiwa seems nice and all, but when you get down to it, they're only offering me a full time version of what I have now. The pay rate is almost identical, if not slightly lower, but I'd be doing a bunch of work. Granted, I'd be working full time, and so I'd be making more money (than now) overall. But I'm a much better teacher than last year. Surely I deserve better pay. So if I can't talk them into a slightly higher wage, then I'll stick it out until I find a company that wants to pay me what I'm worth.
Cheers,
So earlier this week, I finally got the 6th graders at one of my problematic schools to snap into line, and they actually started enjoying the classes as well.
It turns out about 5 years ago, this school area was famous for boys gangs. The principal showed me a hand-made shiv, like basically a 3 inch long exacto blade with one end wrapped up (as a handle). He said one of the students was showing it to people and saying he'd cut them open and pull their guts out. Which I guess is better than actually doing it, but still. The 6th graders are 11 or 12 years old. Are boys this age this messed up in Chicago, New York, Detroit, and LA back home?
From some of my friends back in Saitama, I have stories like the ALTs actually know the police by first name, because that's how often the police have to come to their school. But that is junior high, and I know I sure raised some hell and then some in junior high.
Despite my reservations about this week, it has actually gone OK so far. I put in a whopping 10 job applications a few days ago, and on Monday I've got yet another meeting with a kids eikaiwa. This will be my third meeting with them, and it looks like they want to hire, but I've told them that I'm not quitting my current job until I can sit down with them and get everything straight in my head about working conditions, etc.
I have to say that this has been one of the harder times I've had in Japan. For the last two weeks I've been finding myself going into stores and gazing longingly at the food/snacks/games/whatever that I'd like but can't afford to buy. Don't get me wrong: as the fruit salad recipe shows (umm, succulent), I'm still eating well. But I can't go out and splurge once a week like I did last year. And I can't go rock climbing almost every weekend, I can't do my yoga classes, I can't take the trips I want to take, etc. Just going grocery shopping has become a major pain in the butt: figuring out what I can afford to make, and what is too expensive.
As I wrote several months ago: doing this part time job actually entails doing more work for less pay. That's one of the things I want to avoid for my next job: this eikaiwa seems nice and all, but when you get down to it, they're only offering me a full time version of what I have now. The pay rate is almost identical, if not slightly lower, but I'd be doing a bunch of work. Granted, I'd be working full time, and so I'd be making more money (than now) overall. But I'm a much better teacher than last year. Surely I deserve better pay. So if I can't talk them into a slightly higher wage, then I'll stick it out until I find a company that wants to pay me what I'm worth.
Cheers,
Monday, June 07, 2010
On the Menu: Fruit Salad
hey all,
So it is hotter than Satan's butt over here. Despite that, I'm still cooking curry pretty often. Actually, although curry itself is served hot, and it really heats up the kitchen while cooking it, because I make it spicy, I sweat when I eat it, and it cools me down.
Last Friday night, Michi and I met up and made pasta and fruit salad. Now, I've been rather lustily eyeing this recipe for at least 2 or 3 months, so I was really excited to make it. What's more is that because of the heat, this fruit salad is really good.
1 apple
12 strawberries
12 cherries
1 banana
1 kiwi
.5 cups walnuts
yogurt
mayonaise
lemon juice
vanilla extract
salt and pepper
Basically, you chop/slice the fruit, and toast then chop the walnuts. The salad dressing is made by simply mixing about .5 cups yogurt, .25 cups mayo, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together and eat. It rocks.
In the Japanese news lately has been the fall of Japan's latest prime minister: Hatoyama Yukio. He was immensely popular, as he achieved a landslide victory about 9 months ago. His victory, and most of the Diet as well, heralded the end of almost 50 years of continuous rule by the Democratic party. However, he promised to get rid of the American base in Okinawa, and he failed to deliver that. And the press also focused on his poor choice of wardrobe, and several financial scandals of his fellow party members. So last week he resigned, the modern political equivalent of Japan's feudal ritual suicide.
All in all, it doesn't change much. Many Japanese prime ministers resign after 1 year or less, despite having a term of 4 years. If everyone served for 4 years, Japan should be on its 16th prime minister (counting from 1947). Instead, it is nearing its 30th. In Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomican, one of the Japanese characters marvels at how the Americans radically changed the way they fought war to deal with Japanese tactics and technology. Nobody resigned, or committed suicide, they just said: OK, that didn't work, let's analyze the situation and do better next time. That kind of thinking is still foreign, as I think Japan's political situation illustrates.
I like to think that I'm a good example of this kind of thinking, but I know sometimes I'm not. Still, I have to say that my skills (as a teacher at least) are improving.
Anyway, this week is not all to my liking. I had to work on Sunday, and if I only worked at that one school, I'd have gotten Monday off. But I work at 3 schools, so I had to work today, and I'll have to work tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, and next Saturday as well. I get Wednesday off, but I really want 5 days of work, and 2 days of rest, like most other people enjoy.
The job search continues. Not much else new.
Cheers,
So it is hotter than Satan's butt over here. Despite that, I'm still cooking curry pretty often. Actually, although curry itself is served hot, and it really heats up the kitchen while cooking it, because I make it spicy, I sweat when I eat it, and it cools me down.
Last Friday night, Michi and I met up and made pasta and fruit salad. Now, I've been rather lustily eyeing this recipe for at least 2 or 3 months, so I was really excited to make it. What's more is that because of the heat, this fruit salad is really good.
1 apple
12 strawberries
12 cherries
1 banana
1 kiwi
.5 cups walnuts
yogurt
mayonaise
lemon juice
vanilla extract
salt and pepper
Basically, you chop/slice the fruit, and toast then chop the walnuts. The salad dressing is made by simply mixing about .5 cups yogurt, .25 cups mayo, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything together and eat. It rocks.
In the Japanese news lately has been the fall of Japan's latest prime minister: Hatoyama Yukio. He was immensely popular, as he achieved a landslide victory about 9 months ago. His victory, and most of the Diet as well, heralded the end of almost 50 years of continuous rule by the Democratic party. However, he promised to get rid of the American base in Okinawa, and he failed to deliver that. And the press also focused on his poor choice of wardrobe, and several financial scandals of his fellow party members. So last week he resigned, the modern political equivalent of Japan's feudal ritual suicide.
All in all, it doesn't change much. Many Japanese prime ministers resign after 1 year or less, despite having a term of 4 years. If everyone served for 4 years, Japan should be on its 16th prime minister (counting from 1947). Instead, it is nearing its 30th. In Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomican, one of the Japanese characters marvels at how the Americans radically changed the way they fought war to deal with Japanese tactics and technology. Nobody resigned, or committed suicide, they just said: OK, that didn't work, let's analyze the situation and do better next time. That kind of thinking is still foreign, as I think Japan's political situation illustrates.
I like to think that I'm a good example of this kind of thinking, but I know sometimes I'm not. Still, I have to say that my skills (as a teacher at least) are improving.
Anyway, this week is not all to my liking. I had to work on Sunday, and if I only worked at that one school, I'd have gotten Monday off. But I work at 3 schools, so I had to work today, and I'll have to work tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, and next Saturday as well. I get Wednesday off, but I really want 5 days of work, and 2 days of rest, like most other people enjoy.
The job search continues. Not much else new.
Cheers,
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Passage of Time
hey all,
I noticed something about my bag that I use for work a few weeks ago: it is getting old. I must have bought it around my second year of college, which makes it about 6-7 years old. What made me think about that? The shoulder strap is attached to the bag with heavy steel clips, and they are halfway worn through: the repetitive swaying, and grinding of everyday walking for about 7 years has eroded half the metal.
Another busy day today, another one tomorrow, and then my day off on Thursday. I was hoping to plop an interview in sometime on that day, but resting might be better. This month will be busy enough.
Cheers,
I noticed something about my bag that I use for work a few weeks ago: it is getting old. I must have bought it around my second year of college, which makes it about 6-7 years old. What made me think about that? The shoulder strap is attached to the bag with heavy steel clips, and they are halfway worn through: the repetitive swaying, and grinding of everyday walking for about 7 years has eroded half the metal.
Another busy day today, another one tomorrow, and then my day off on Thursday. I was hoping to plop an interview in sometime on that day, but resting might be better. This month will be busy enough.
Cheers,
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