Hindsight

While our new school-visiting schedule started two weeks ago, I felt the madness of it today.

The schedule is strange, having some ALTs visit one of their schools for one week, then their other the following week. It makes planning team teaching a nightmare.

I was at Tahara two weeks ago, Chiyo last and now I am back at Tahara for three. After this rotation, I won’t be at one school for more than two weeks. It’s good for the kids because there’s a constant flow of team teaching and native speaking in the classroom, but I didn’t feel the advantages today.

Yesterday’s call from Morizono-sensei was important. At least I was prepared for my slide show for one of the 3-nensei classes. What I wasn’t prepared for was that I had to come up with some game for the other two classes. Luckily I was back into dealing with spontaneity again and managed to pull something off.

In addition to have three classes today, the third turned out to be a fifth period class where parents could visit. I wasn’t aware of this until 3rd period passed. I just laughed it off with Morizono-sensei and she kept apologizing. I told her that it was part of our job as ALTs to deal with these sudden situations (even though it shouldn’t be, at least for the benefit of the students).

Misato passed by as I was returning from a class. She ran up to me asking if I got her letter in the mail (a translation from Aiko sensei last December). I got a smile out of her as I said I did. Morizono-sensei proceeded to say “Good girl but… school mismatch!”.

Misato knows more about herself than most students will for at least a year or two. I secretly applaud her rebellion.

During lunch I was again surprised – I was to be introduced at the PTA meeting along with the other teachers. It was just a matter of bowing and “yoroshiku onegai shimasu” but for some reason my heart still beat far too fast. Once I was done, I headed over to English Club to find six new 1-nensei joining the club. I was shy myself, and Murakami san seemed to be troubled. Perhaps just because she is, as everyone in the club likes to call her, “boss”. I wanted to help but she told me that everything was fine.

Talked to Mita-kun, the only boy in the English club now, in Japanese. Probably the most comfortable Japanese talk I’ve had in a long time because I wasn’t on the spot or with a large group. Just talking to a student and being funny. Pointing at an eraser and saying “tamago” and then arguing from then on. You’d have to be there.

I told Morizono-sensei that I was going home in August. It took her a moment to understand that when I hinted “I’m sending things home soon,” I meant that I was sending winter clothes back. “Samishii” she said. She is the second teacher (Yoshida sensei the first) who wants me to stay for awhile so that I teach with them. I’m so thankful to hear that, as I’ve always doubted my teaching. We talked about it a little while just for detail’s sake.

I took the bus not home, but further into Kokura Station. The Riverwalk seems to be holding up it’s traffic. Then again it’s only been open for three days – it had better. At the station I went to kaitenzushi for a good fill. The tuna I like, an equivalent of taking something akin to StarKist tuna and wrapping seaweed around it, is called “sea chicken”. How’s that for quirks?

“Sumimasen. Shee-chikin. Onegai shimasu,” I would say. Some of the waitresses recognized me and I was given yet another discount coupon to come back.

Naturally saving me more time than cooking, I may just eat out for a bit and head home a bit later, but with more time to do whatever it is I want to accomplish without having to smoke up the kitchen.

So yes, today was a handful. At least the next three weeks will be clearer, but I’ve had my fair share of nervousness and surprise for now.

Today was seemingly productive. I went to Fukuoka to meet up with a friend and then traversed the Yodobashi Camera by Hakata station, picking up a “refill” of blank CD-Rs – probably the last 50 pack I will need until I return home.

Upon returning to Kokura, I had kaitenzushi and Smiley (we call him that because he is always smiling, unless something has gone terribly wrong at his establishment) gave me a discount coupon for a future visit. I’m pretty sure to return frequently next week, as I’ve become a bit lazy about cooking again and I’m on a sushi fix once again. For under 10 dollars, six or seven plates of sushi (2 pieces each) really isn’t all that bad.

“Tokyo Sora” is on DVD now. I was initially interested because Yoko Kanno did the score for it. I looked at the DVD case while at Riverwalk’s HMV store and noticed that it has English subtitles. Further internet searching revealed an interesting plotline, so I’m looking to rent it when I can.

I went to Whistle (a chain DVD/CD/GAME store) and looked for it, but to no avail. “Returner” and “Ping Pong” also have English subs, but there were only two copies of each and both were rented out.

Tomorrow I am back at Tahara for three weeks. Morizono-sensei called me up while I was returning from Whistle, asking me about tomorrow’s lessons. I have three with the 3-nensei and I won’t know about the others until I return. I’m pretty sure some self-introductions will ensue with the soon-to-be-surprised 1-nensei.

Last week at Chiyo I said “Hello!” to some 1-nensei during souji, and they just stared at me like I was insane. Once I pointed at myself, smiled and said “…Eigo”, then they proceeded to nod and say “I see” in their own silly ways.

My mood has followed suit with the weather. Seeing new 1-nensei kids is great too, and seeing all the other students doing handsprings once again is a good thing. Spring is here to stay finally.

I started packing “non-necessities” into boxes to ship home. That, for some reason, included the US PS2 I have with me, in addition to a batch of games and more. Winter clothes. Recently-purchased action figures. Bits and pieces.

I’m getting excited, but why should I be? I’m going back to the Extreme Unknown Of It All again. I suppose that I am so used to moving around – each time opens itself up to some new challenge.

I had no classes today but spent my time with my trusty laptop. I also spent after school with the English club, where we didn’t do too much save for talking about my trip to Tokyo.

One thing that made my day was that they bought me some small presents. One was a piece of rope, just used to do interesting tricks. I don’t remember what it was called, but basically it’s stringplay with the hands. I managed to do one of them.. the first, beginner one…

I tried again when I got home a few times. Just to make sure. Smiled each time.

My first day back at Tahara was not what I expected, leaving it bittersweet.

It was good seeing the kids again and they were happy to see me. I literally smiled on my way in the genkan. But I remembered, the new school year means that students move up a grade level. It also means that they do not have the same homeroom and are, therefore, scattered. Homeroom 2-2 is no more, and I have to find out where I might want to eat lunch now. I need to find my place again amongst the kids.

I made that sound like I am the one in school, too.

This was a minor detail when Abe-sensei pointed out that Aiko-sensei, my 2-nensei JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) was transferring to another school. And so was Nakano-sensei, our social studies teacher. There were farewell speeches in the staff room in addition to welcome speeches from new, incoming teachers about an hour later. Ceremonies in the gym followed for the students.

It was only a half day, with kocho-sensei letting me leave at lunch. Morizono-sensei is too nice. “I will negotiate with kocho-sensei for you,” she said on her own will.

I took the train from Shimosone station to Kokura and had some Ichiran ramen. And then went home.

It might be too early, but I’ve been thinking about shipping stuff back home now. More so now. I have roughly four whole months until I leave Japan. It’s short when I think about it. It’s going to fly by. I’ve got to enjoy it as much as I can and prepare for my return.

When Aiko-sensei told me what school she was transferring to, I looked up my schedule and found that it belonged to Alex. I skymailed him and said “You’re really lucky.” He had been running into a lot of JTE’s who weren’t flexible. Now that he will work with her, things will be better.

He keitai mailed me back an hour or so later: “She’s really nice!”

I had yakitori this evening. Tim asked me if I wanted to go today while we were sitting in the meeting room at the BOE (it rained so we didn’t go sakura watching like yesterday). I told him I was broke after Tokyo but he offered to spot me, so I accepted.

The morning (to noon) was spent in room 411 of the Kokurakita ward office, where everyone was doing whatever they intended to do to kill time. I was on my GBA SP once again making progress in Metroid Fusion once again, taking a break prior with my older Game Boy playing against Stacey on classic Mario Bros.

After our time was over, I had ramen at Ichiran with a few others and took the bus home, where I organized pictures for the March edition of Statement. I have yet to put them up. I took so many pictures that I am struggling to choose which ones resonate best. After that I have to add comments to tell my story.

I surfed around and took a nap for about an hour, waking up uncomfortably. I went to Koichi’s from there and talked it up with Tim and a few other people at yakyuu-dori. Remembering my experience the day before yesterday, I drank slowly but attained a nice buzz, of which I am coming down from right now.

Decided to walk home from Koichi’s, observing others this Friday evening. Drunken salarymen running past crosswalks, an office lady hand in hand with another man spouting off garbled nihongo. I can only imagine this amplified in the Ginza district of Tokyo or anywhere else in urban centers. People running trying to make the last train. Others giving up and trying to find a place to rest until the 5am line runs again.

Urban life is always fascinating to me. Especially out here.

Instead of staying in the cafeteria of the Kokurakita ward office, all of us and Sakamoto san (our advisor/supervisor) spent our day outside, in front of Kokura Castle.

The sakura have bloomed and the sun was out. Yesterday’s clouds and drizzle gave way to some very nice weather today. Viva brought some tarp where we could sit down and everyone just chilled out. Some played badminton, others played soccer or bumped the volleyball around with other sakura-watchers, little kids and the like.

It was something out of a perfect, Sunday scene. In the morning we were one of the first there but soon after the castle grounds were filled with people enjoying food, drinks and chat around the cherry trees. I was listening to track 9 of Yoko Kanno’s latest soundtrack work for “Wolf’s Rain”. It was ultimately relaxing.

I spent my time taking a few pictures here and there and making much progress on Metroid Fusion on my Game Boy Advance SP, which I picked up in Osaka (right before going to Tokyo). I couldn’t ask for a better chance, or place, to relax.

Metroid Fusion is a great game, even though it seems pretty short. I do believe I’m closing in the end and I’ve only had a game time of about four hours.

BOE time was technically from 9-12, but a lot of us stuck around the grounds well into 3pm or so. A few people took nice naps on the tarp, Chris and Brian took some time to read their books. I took some time out to actually watch people and not think about anything. Sometimes I was fixed on my game, and sometimes I just sat there with my iPod and didn’t think at all.

We’re doing it again tomorrow.

After the relaxation I had kaitenzushi with Tim in Amu Plaza (at Kokura Station), picked up a pouch/carrying case for my SP and went home. Did my routine backup of important files on CD-RW, cooked some chicken for dinner.

I arrived, back from Tokyo, on the afternoon of the 31st.

It’s an interesting place. I mean, I can take the entire Yamanote-sen (Yamanote Line) in under an hour, yet each district in Tokyo has its own perks. Ginza is the shopping district, Akihabara is the place I want to live, Shimbashi (sp?) links to a monorail system that goes to Odaiba (another favorite of mine now) and the Harajuku station exit looks straight through Takeshima Street, chock full of fascinatingly-dressed individuals.

I spent a long time in Akihabara. One whole day and several hours on other days. It’s overkill for most but it’s as if I found a part of myself there. I was unusually comfortable roaming the stores and just exploring.

Shibuya was madness, and I only spent brief moments there. I met Mike from Hunkabutta there for kaitenzushi (rotating sushi restaurant) and later a beer at a pub. Another evening I had coffee with Nanae at the 2nd floor of Starbucks, which overlooked the crossing. Hectic. Amazing.

Odaiba. If I lived in Tokyo I would go to Odaiba on weekends to relax and look out the waters. Sometimes it’s a bit hazy but it’s quiet. I spent an entire day there as well, walking through the island mall, taking a tour of the Fuji TV studio and then sitting at a bench just thinking about all sorts of things. A few days later I visited again with kimd as you’ve read.

There’s a lot of energy in that city that I don’t have here in Kitakyushu, which is why I absorbed a lot of it. It burned me out in the end just a little, but I would like to return to Tokyo before I go home come August. A part of me wants to live there, and Lori even asked me to try to work at a non-JET, eikaiwa school there. But as much as I love that city, I would rather find non English-teaching work. And that isn’t going to be easy, unless you could contact me and prove me otherwise.

ONE WEEK IN TOKYO:

Districts visited, briefly or otherwise:
Akihabara
Ginza
Shibuya
Shinjuku
Harajuku
Roppongi

Districts remaining:
Ebisu
Asakusa

Pictures taken with digital camera:
850 files (images and video clips)

I am in love with that city. There is far too much to write unless I write about each day and backdate the entries. Perhaps I will do that later this week if I feel up to it, or maybe I’ll just keep it my own. In any case, I had a great trip out there. Just so much I felt/experienced in a week. A lot of it was spent by myself just walking around and taking pictures. It was pretty awesome.