Looking back.

Now that it's been over a year since I've been in Japan I think it's time I reflect on my experiences there. While I can say I've missed Japan, I feel like I can leave it be for a long time before I return. The length I spent there was too long for one thing; I would have been happy with 6 months. It was more of a psychological issue... thinking that I would be there for so long without my girlfriend and family really ate me up inside. I don't mean to be depressing! It's just what I felt... even though I met so many cool people and had so many unbelievable experiences, between the dinners and karaoke and trips. After I left Japan, I went to Italy to study Italian and teach English, living with my girlfriend. I met a lot of Japanese people at the school too, but I felt that I was a little "tired." I'm not like a lot of teachers who go to Japan. I was geared up about the international experience, travel and adventure. Other than some anime knowledge, I knew next to nothing about Japan before I arrived. It was a decision based on living expenses and income, not culture. I do think I made the right decision though, and I'll never forget how gracious, honorable, and respectful the Japanese people are. I hope to return sometime in the future!

Food

Hi there. I'd like to show you a bit about the food here in Japan. There are many varieties, not just Sushi and Ramen. Many foods can be found on the street. I recently stopped by an area called Osu, and checked out the many restaurants and food stands. There's a snack called Tonmusu that is basically rice wrapped in pork strips that were cooked in soy sauce. You can order them with cheese and other toppings. It is delicious, but very greasy. I can tell you it's better than anything I get at McDonald's, though. I also took a movie of people making Takoyaki, which is basically octopus with a crispy fried shell, shaped into a ball, and Taiyaki, which is a pancake-like batter shaped into a fish (don't know why) with a sweet bean paste filling. These last two foods are served everywhere in Japan, especially at festivals.

Last, but not least, I just went to a restaurant that served Matsusaka beef, which is on the same tier as the Kobe variety. It is very flavorful, due to its high content of fat and smooth texture. Unfortunately, you can't buy Japanese beef in the States because the Gov't banned it due to a Mad Cow outbreak 10 years ago, so you will have to travel in order to experience it. There are many more foods That Japan offers, of course, but I hope this piques your interest.

Wrapping up the year

So I have just a couple weeks left, and I have mixed emotions. Things have changed here a lot since the big earthquake last week. The families of teachers like me are getting more and more scared to have us stay here. I had to plead a lot to stay here and not get a flight back this upcoming week... Although I understand the concern, right now there is no danger in my area. I live roughly 400 miles away from the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Even so, I think it would be better for everyone if I just left. My official contract finally ends March 31st, and April 2nd I will leave. Until then, I'm trying to do everything I can in the area.

I went to Inuyama last Friday with another teacher which was a lot of fun. I tried to fit in seeing the castle and the monkey park (a sort of zoo with all monkeys) but we were on foot the whole time and it closed before we could get in the place. The castle was beautiful though. We had a great view of the whole area.

The next day I had just a basic shift at a major school here downtown. Just a lot of talking and placement testing. After that I went to another going away party (there are many). It was a house party with a karaoke trip afterwards. Fun fun! Karaoke is becoming part of the usual weekend activities.

Today I just came back from a Van Gogh Exhibit at the Nagoya City Art Museum, and tomorrow I plan on going with the same teacher to Kobe. We're gonna take a cool bus called "Willer" that is cheap and has TV screens on the back of every seat. It should be a good time.

Next week I'm going to a baseball game and for my last day trip, to Nara, the original Japanese capital. It will take a lot to stop me from seeing as much of Japan as I can before I have to go!

back to Japan for the last time

So I just came back from the States where I spent the holidays. I felt like if it was possible it had to happen. There was no way that I would stay in Japan even though the friends I've made are great and all. It's just not the same without people you love. After I came back, I felt really jetlagged. I still haven't gotten over it. Yesterday I acted the trooper and went out to a bar in downtown Nagoya to celebrate my room mate's time here in Japan and to give him one last goodbye. He decided to leave a few months ago and I wish I was him in a way. However, I feel I need the sense of accomplishment and want to finish the next couple months strong. After his party, we went to a karaoke place and instantly were swarmed by drunken Japanese guys. Maybe they came from a wedding who knows. One guy displayed his hindquarters to my room mate who swiftly gave him a little thrust which knocked this guy on the ground. It was hilarious. Unfortunately, it happened too quickly to get it on video. Here's one I took right after it happened:

Christmas In Japan

Well, the Christmas season has arrived in Japan, finally. The "illumination" displays are up, the themed event lessons are quickly filling up, everyone's shopping. The spirit of Christmas is in the air, in a predominately Buddhist country. It's pretty surreal. In two and a half weeks, I'll be back in the States curling up next to the fire with my girlfriend and family. It'll be a great ending to a challenging and rewarding experience working in Japan.

Reflections on culture

I'm still working on updating more often! Sorry about that! I just wanted to address some things I noticed about Japan that I like and some things that I don't. First off, I think it's great that people here have a great amount of patience (which is great for me because I'm pretty slow). They are also kind (at least they appear that way) and show a lot of respect towards others. However, they tend to be a little too focused on order and have views on honor that seem a little scary being a Westerner. For example, the service is great wherever you go, but they are unwilling to adjust to changes that happen which are contrary to protocols.

The way companies work are quite different from what I'm used to because they are very formal. Whenever someone needs to tell you something, it goes through all the positions of the company. You can't just give a form to someone to give to someone else. You have to give it to that person, and if you don't they will tell you to. Even if they are sitting right next to that person in the office. Also, say something happened to a English teacher's family overseas (like a family death). The director will ask staff personnel to personally ask the teacher leaving to stay for the duration of the contract. In other words, it is more honorable to work than grieve the death of a family member.

I have also noticed parents acting what we would call brutal to their children. Smacking them on the head and yelling at them is common. Unfortunately, this extends to parents correcting their children for not being able to learn a new language as quickly as they would wish. It is pretty disturbing to me, and hard to accept.

I don't mean to complain or make it sound like I am. I only mean to address a different culture and how it made me think about my own. Living here and seeing what I've seen made me think about what I like and dislike about mine. Thus, it makes my stay here seem more valuable.

The year is flying by so quickly

If I remember correctly, it was the last week I was in my old apt. that I wrote last. Well, a lot has happened since then. I have moved into a new apt. with a roommate from my original training group, and have been there thriving. I have also gone many places within Japan and have even gone to Italy and back to the USA. I think those particular trips really helped me to heal somewhat. For the first few months I had been awfully homesick. It was good to be back where everything was English and people were so casual.

I know I had promised myself to update this often when I originally started the blog, but I have been updating Facebook a lot too. Whenever I want to talk about something interesting and share tidbits and such, this will be the first place I'll go to. Until then, take care and thanks to everyone for reading!