Hindsight

First, randomosity:

Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)
Quicktime Trailer (11mb)

“…the more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you…”

This was first spotted by Nej at jeansnow.net

Bill Murray plays a washed up actor doing Japanese CMs (commercials) in Tokyo and meets a soul searcher in the process. The film will be released stateside in September, and I’ll be sure to catch it.

The new Sony CLIE

http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/PEG/PEG-UX50/index.html

Japan is good at making me lose money.

***

The last few days have been mellow yet intense.

Sunday night I went to Koichi’s one last time at around 6pm. I had little to do so I figured some yakitori wouldn’t hurt. Alex came down eventually from his own engagement and we ate and drank. And drank more.

It was about 8 or so when we headed down the small streets to meet up with Stacey, who had joined up with a Taiko group. Drummers were “feeding” others more and more Asahi. Both Alex and I joined in and, believe it or not, I drummed myself some. Alex accomplished this as well. Go beer.

Amber wanted to meet up once before I left, so we shared our recent stories at McDonald’s by the station. About an hour and a half later I said a brief farewell to Tim and Yuki.

Later in the evening I went to Kameyama sensei’s home along with Dion and Livia, where we ate yakiniku, talked about teaching experiences. It got very intense at one point: what will make the system better, what needs to be changed and so on and so forth. I ended up listening quite a bit, but it was arresting throughout.

I got a tie from Kameyama sensei that had repeated imagery of a matsuri. An outline of a taiko drum here, a festival-goer there. It was neat.

Tomorrow I have to cancel my J-Phone service, send in my DSL to terminate my Yahoo BroadBand access and turn in my textbooks to the BOE (in addition to my inkan and other personal documents). It’s all coming to a close.

While I originally wanted to post something about this entire experience, this year of being in a foreign country, the story isn’t really ending per se. It’s just going to continue as I move forward. So I’ll end there, and I’ll weblog again when I get to a net connection either in Osaka or Tokyo.

Until then, I am swimming in thought of moments with kids at junior high, drunken discussions at Yakyuudori and times of revelation.

As I say in e-mails to friends…

More to come.

Sometime a week or two ago, Chris told us about his fifteen-minutes: he was in the papers, and online of course.

In May, www.dylanchords.com, a Web site devoted to Dylan’s chords and lyrics, posted a note from Chris Johnson, a resident of Kitakyushu, located on Japan’s southernmost main island. Saga confirmed that the alleged passages on the site come from his book…

…”Why would I sue? To take something that made people around the world happy and try to exploit it for money

July 18-19. The last day at Tahara was also the day I turned 25. Amber suggested bowling and that’s what we did. We also had some grand shabu-shabu.

Saturday was a gathering at Koichi’s followed by drinking on the streets of Kokura. I didn’t get as nearly as drunk as I thought I was going to be, but all the better. No hangover = no problem.

There’s so much I want to write, but I’m in one of those moments where I will just let the memory stay and (eventually) fade. In other words, I’ll keep most of them for myself this time around.

Apple’s Latest Greatest Offer

Send in your Adobe Premiere setup discs (Mac or Windows accepted) and choose:

1. Final Cut Express for *free*.
2. $500 rebate off of Final Cut Pro 4.0

http://www.apple.com/finalcut/offer/

I think someone’s been reading my latest Mac lust entries…

Two nights ago I broke down and bought some watermelon. That cost me 580 yen (about $5).

Checking out my daily luck on my (now archaic) phone.

Yesterday I went to Ichiran with Alex just before our ALT meeting.

The final ALT meeting seemed more relaxed, even though our reports to everyone were the usual. I was exit-interviewed by Kimura sensei – he was curious to hear about my schools and what problems there were.

I thought about it afterwards and its interesting how I’ve changed. About one year ago I came here, started working and complained about the kids. Now the year is almost up and my problems have generally been with staff. This comes to me as a good thing, and reminds me of how my perspective might have changed.

With the meeting ajourned, Sakamoto sensei handed us leaving ALTs the necessary exit information and reminded us of what we needed to do before leaving Japan. Over the course of the meeting I was smiling less and I realized that this was, in fact, the last ALT meeting I would go to.

When Sakamoto sensei asked if there were any major announcements I said “Yeah. I just wanted to say that it’s been a privilege working with such a great group of people.” It may have seemed out of place, but I wanted to say it. Followed by a short applause, the meeting finally came to a close.

Last night I went to Koichi’s to meet up with Jon who I won’t see this weekend (he’s off to Boston for a few weeks) in addition to Cayce (leaving for home as well). I drank quite a bit: a beer here, a vodka shot with Jon there and then Umeshu.

To make a long story short, I woke up in bed this morning with my shirt and jeans still on. The hangover was strong, but enough Pocari Sweat did the trick (it’s probably the Japanese equivalent of America’s “Gatorade”) .

Today, Ms. Tsujii’s 2-1 Homeroom class summoned me the last 10 minutes of first period. They gave me a beautiful bundle of folded, paper cranes with messages attached also. Pictured here was the message they wrote for me as I walked into the classroom. I will miss these kids.

The souji (cleaning time) was longer today, since it was to be the last before summer vacation. Windows were cleaned, trash cleared out. Just like any other day, the school was restored.

I had three 1-nensei classes today, a mix of bingo, new words and drawing (“go up 2, go right 3, draw Ms. Matsuo!). It was good fun. At the end of class, Matsuo sensei had the kids do jazz chants for me to say goodbye. Super warm fuzzies, as they say.

The picture taking has ramped up since my time with Tahara is done after tomorrow. Here’s Yurie, the girl who wrote out my name in beautiful kanji a week ago.

I suppose it’s about that time. Time to reflect.

Time for a really, really long post.

Here are my grandest (and not so grand) memories of my year in Japan. What are yours?

Non-School Related

Best Purchase: Apple iPod (2nd Generation Model)
Sometimes, when I get back to my apartment I am still walking around with it. Music is life.

Breakthrough Drink: Umeshu
No single drink has swept my attention like Umeshu, causing more drunken stupors and hangovers in under 12 months then any other time since I first drank a Tequila Sunrise at 20 years old. You didn’t read that.

Worst Time Ever: Winter Food Poisoning Incident
….and getting to and from the hospital by myself. Survival of the fittest. I am still trying to figure out how I survived that ordeal. As they say, if it doesn’t kill you….

Best Restaurant in Kitakyushu: Yakyuudori
This should come as no surprise – I’ve only spent half of my entire stay in Japan at Koichi’s yakitori grill. It’s small and usually populated by salarymen and women stopping before home. But I am so comfortable with this (as well as other ALTs) that it’s become the first eatery where “everyone knows my name”. That sort of feeling, a refuge to relax, is priceless. And the gyuusagari (beef steak?) is to die for.

I’ve taken all of my visiting friends here. Everyone loves the place. Most have also gotten drunk there. Here’s to getting drunk with salarymen.

School Life

Best Class Ever: Homeroom 5-1, Maeda Elementary School
Elementary schoolkids can really be *too* genki, but since I got one chance to teach at an elementary school (as opposed to the junior high schools I teach) I have always remembered it as quite the blast.

Pointless Discovery: Solitaire
When I realized that Tahara JHS had no internet access, Solitaire became part of the day. It became… a way of life. And sadly, I never got good at it. There hasn’t been such a better time killer for me that was a game but was never too showy as to attract the attention of video game eyes at the schools.

Most Likely to Be Sekuhara (sexual harassment) Cases in the U.S.
There are several…

Last year a 3-nensei girl waved “Oh James!”, walked by me and slapped my behind, running off in mad laughter. Welcome to Japan JHS school life.

Ooike-kun constantly trying to prod at my privates. No, he is not homosexual – lots of kids roughhouse and are more touchy than their U.S. counterparts. I’ve seen boys sitting on other boys’ laps and what not. You get used to it, no big deal. The same goes for girls.

Various ALTs tell me they have seen their fellow teachers getting massages from students, later to have the students massaging the ALTs. Complaints ceased shortly thereafter.

Scariest Teacher Ever: Mr. Hayashi
Listen to THIS. Are you not convinced? Imagine being there just twenty feet away.

Best Kids: Chiyo JHS
Good kids and I eventually grew to the staff. Out of three schools I visited (Hanao, Tahara and Chiyo), the kids at Chiyo turned out to be the best. Tahara is right behind in second. Sweetest bunch of kids around. They made me feel important.

Best JTE: Ms. Yoshida
Super genki and receptive to my dark humor, Yoshida sensei will always remember the moment I helped her for her STEP test: an English proficiency test that involves not only reading/writing but speaking. She had to explain a situation based on an illustration. The night before I had drank at Koichi’s quite a bit, so I was tired. Like Hal9000, my mind was going. And while Yoshida sensei was describing the picture to me, she started to notice my eyes “struggling” to stay awake. In mid description she went, “…and in the picture they are – James sensei come back!”. It was the most hilarious moment we shared. Eventually, my mind came back.

When I was leaving Chiyo just two weeks ago, Yoshida sensei ran out saying “James sensei come back!” she continued and told me that I was like a brother to her. I will never, ever forget that.

Last night, before going to bed, some sort of large, flying bug was taking comfort by constantly flying into a ceiling lamp of mine. I thought I had gotten rid of it earlier in the evening, but it was clever. Finally, I caught it by slamming a small plastic trash bin when it was standing still on my floor. I pushed the bin along the ground (big bug contained within) and pushed the guy out the balcony. Soon after he was out of sight.

This morning, Morizono-sensei asked me if I could come up with something for her 3-nensei selection class. Even though I had a two-period advance notice, I didn’t play nice this time – I couldn’t think of anything. It was a standard exchange of apologies – I apologized that I couldn’t think of anything and Morizono sensei told me she was sorry for asking me with what little planning time to spare.

No fast ones this week, even if its my last. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No surprises. Radiohead reference slightly intended.

I had one 1-nensei class today, but Matsuo sensei told me that students would summon me from my desk at the last ten minutes of class.

“You don’t have to worry about today’s schedule.” she said.

When the kids came to get me I walked in. For their selective class, groups of several students drew pictures for one calendar month and presented to me. They were so sweet. So now I have a September 2003 – August 2004 Tahara 1-nensei calendar to bring home with me. Omoide (memories).

Murakami san quickly asked me to step out of the staff room to give me an MD copy of the “8 Mile” soundtrack. I’m honored. Problem is, I don’t own an MD player…. yet.

I’ve received two new Friendster invites this week. Like people say with intense conviction, “I’ll have to check it out sometime”.

The weekend was good at first. Friday was a nice deal at Koichi’s, followed by a sleep-in on Ssturday. Jon moved his things in. Dion came by in the evening and we talked about life, the universe and everything. Literally. Not the Douglas Adams book (which was funny, of course). Life after JET, the universe (religion versus evolution) and all other bits of our lives.

Dion and I were to hit ramen down in Uomachi on Sunday but the rain kept him from heading this way to Kokura. So I as home all day. I know, it doesn’t help the situation. I’m sure I will be all handsprings tomorrow after sleep. Still..

Eminem is big here. “8 Mile” came out just a few weeks ago and kids have picked up the soundtrack a bit. Even Murakami san picked it up. One of the wittier 3-nensei boys in my class loves Mr. Mathers. That’s his notebook. I had to take a picture of it.

Wednesday night I joined Ros and Amber at Koichi’s, where I drank (once again) a bit much. Thursday was an exhaustive day but only because I drank the night before. Good food, good times as always.

This is the second time in the year that I’ve been lucky enough to have the “bento from heaven”. It was fish and karaage chicken. The sides were all something I was familiar with, and the entire thing was excellent.

It’s rare for such a thing to occur.

Tsujii sensei is quite the vocal English teacher. And I mean that in a good way. Her energy rubs off on her students quite well. She stands out, wearing loud outfits and such. But that’s what makes her great. Friday’s lesson was my last with 2-1 and it wasn’t anything special: street directions.

“Excuse me, could you tell me how the way to the Post Office?”
“Sure. Go down this street and turn right at the second traffic light. You’ll see it on your left.”
“Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome.”

The period consisted of diaogue practices. Later I’d ask volunteers to see if they could tell me how to get to certain places on the textbook’s map…

It was surprising, the number of hands that went up. Almost all of them. It was a good lift for this week’s end. They asked me to come back next Thursday. We won’t have a class but Tsujii sensei told me that they had a present for me.

***

Most of my boxes have reached home this week. Midnight Blue is in the hands of a friend (who claimed he would have to retreat to Mexico if he opened the box, afraid of the temptations).

This weekend will be a quiet one. Next week is my concluding week at Tahara JHS. My last week as an ALT for the city.

I had a chat with Rajiv this evening about my recent worries. That is, my perceptions and how I might be different when I go home.

James: Today I didn’t want to think about school or teaching. I just dabbled on my laptop and juggled a hackey sack around my hands.
James: Oh yes, its horrible.
James: I just dont want to revert to what I was, per se.
Rajiv Patel: you’re not the same person as when you left
Rajiv Patel: and it’s hard for the people you left behind to readjust
James: Definitely not, but I don’t want to ease back to that.
Rajiv Patel: which makes it hard for _you_ to adjust
James: Yes EXACTLY
James: See you know.
Rajiv Patel: yeah
James: Like I emailed my friend saying, what if I dont want to be the same? If I want to do something different, not to hangout so much. I thought about that recently.
Rajiv Patel: most of my friends drifted apart over the course of my two stays in california
Rajiv Patel: it sucked, but i found that (in one or two cases) i just didn’t like who they were any more
Rajiv Patel: they hadn’t changed at all in 5 years, while i was a totally different person
James: Yeah. I’m really glad to have gone through this.I wouldn’t have it any other way. That is, I’m happy with who I am right now.
Rajiv Patel: that’s cool
Rajiv Patel: it’s nice to be at peace with yourself
Rajiv Patel: i have days like that
James: Yeah.