Ok, just a little about me....

It has suddenly turned to winter and has become a little chilly.  The teachers now all cry "sumui, sumui" (cold, cold).  We had some sleet today and even a few snowflakes.    Last week I was a little cold so I bought a jacket on my way home, just in time it would seem.  

School has been going well.  I was finding I was getting bored during the day when teachers weren't taking me to their classes, but I have discovered that if I start reading my book someone always asks me to do something - even other teachers who don't speak English!  (The PE teacher invited me to watch the year 9 students' dancing performances).   So this week has been very busy.  I have also been doing more things in class and creating worksheets.  I guess it just took some time for the teachers to trust me.  The teachers seem happy with the worksheets I create (especially if there are pictures on them) and what I've been doing independently in class.  

It has been interesting marking student's work and identifying problem areas.  So many students don't leave any spaces between words.  There are no rules about leaving spaces, using full stops or capital letters in Japanese writing, so while I understand why these problems keep cropping up I still find it frustrating.  The teachers have really enforced using capital letters and full stops, but even they don't seem to recognise the importance of spaces between words.  When I briefly talked about the importance of spaces between words the teacher was surprised that I recommended they should leave a little finger's width between words.  I also tried to explain that if you write the words "to me" without leaving a space you get a completely different word.  I think a few students understood, but it's still a work in progress.  Soon I will start marking things wrong if there are no spaces between words.....

At home we're beginning to remember which days which rubbish goes out and remembering to take it out.  We're becoming more competent at using our electrical appliances and learning how to do to really tricky things like using the timer on the kettle and rice cooker so it's ready when I wake up in the morning.  Other people's noise is still frustrating at times, but we're probably not the quietest neighbours to live with either.  I haven't played the saxophone much, I really don't want to give the neighbours a good reason to complain about me, but I have discovered that I can play on the weekends without disturbing others.  At least, everyone else is really noisy on the weekends, so I figured that I can be too!  

I really miss you all, and I miss Australia, especially the space and clean air.  I'm sure that when I return I will have a new appreciation for those things which I've taken for granted.             

Enjoying the local spectator sport

If cricket is like a banquet, sumo wrestling is like a Japanese formal meal - lots of little bits with lots of tradition, ceremony and talking.  

Today we spent the day at a sumo tournament.  (1-6pm)

It was interesting, fun and I would even consider going again.  But next time we might go for one of those seats which are cushions on the floor.  I don't think the seats were designed for gaijin.  

The event was made up of lots of bouts.  The two sumos would be announced, get onto the platform, do some squatting exercises and a side kick in the air (they're surprisingly flexible and agile), glare at each other, prepare to start, then walk away.  The would wipe their face, throw some salt onto the floor and prepare again.  They could go through these steps a few times before they actually started wrestling.  (Apparently there is now a four minute restriction, but before that they could significantly delay the match).   The match begins when both opponents touch their knuckles to the floor.  The it's fast!  Often within a few seconds the game would be over.  A few times it ended spectacularly with one opponent being hurled out of the ring, other times, it was just a foot over.  But every match was fast and powerful.  

If you ever get the chance to see a game, take it!   Just remember to take your own snacks... we were a bit hungry by the end of the day.  

Bush Walk... Err, Mountain Climb?? (Sunday)

Hope you all had a good weekend.   I think I've been fighting a cold, so last week and the first half of the weekend I spent a lot of time sleeping.  To make up for taking it easy yesterday we went bushwalking.  Actually they called it "mountain climbing" and although not what I would normally call mountain climbing, I guess it wasn't far from the truth.  

Daniel and I went with the English teachers from one of my schools.  We started out early (despite not being able to find our house key and missing the train, we didn't miss the meeting time), caught a train to meet the others.  We then had to drive for about 2 hours to 

get there.  

I guess the most interesting thing about the hike, apart from discovering that I was fitter than I thought, was seeing the differences between Japan and Australia.   Sometimes the little things like black lady birds 

with red dots, or bigger things like autumn leaves in a forrest.  (Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the bush in Australia seems to be native fauna and not change colour, right?).  I have to say that I was also amazed about the number of crabs in the bush/forrest - while there was a lot of water and

 water falls, I didn't expect to see crabs...  

In contrast to most of the bush walking I've done in Australia (walking to go somewhere with both up and down hills) we walked (climbed?) up for 2 hours, got to the top and had a cup of coffee (in zero

 degree temperature, wearing a short sleeve shirt.  I guess I didn't really take the suggestions of a jumper seriously, it was a little cold) then walked down the exact same route.  If not for all the waterfalls and beautiful autumn leaves I would've been disappointed to take the same path.  

My knees are a little sore today - I don't think they're used to walking the one direction for so long.  Down was especially difficult.  I only slipped a few times..  

After our mountain climbing it was time for lunch.  Daniel was very brave sampling all the food.  

We then had a wander around the small town at the foot of the mountain.  It's known as "small Kyoto" because of the old buildings and the atmosphere of the town.   We went to the museum on the site of the old castle (which had been burnt down years before).  

Dan:  And once again our net access is down - trying to organise for our wireless modem to be picked up and repaired in the next few days ..   Another Aussie here, Cheng, has been very very kind in helping us with our computer problems (lending us another lappy for a while, equipment for me to test with, etc) and making the phone calls/visits to the Internet Provider..  Thanks Cheng!!!  So good to have a friend close by that can speak decent Japanese - it's really inspiring me to learn more!!!  (Or import JB for times when Cheng can't help!)    Anyway - we're not in email/skype range much over the next week or so ..  well, even skype phone has been mucking up a lot - try catching us there if you like - but no guarantees!  Hopefully all sorted...  soon...

Dan:  PS:  Nomes will probably post photos soon - just a bit hard to today..   In the mean time - if you haven't checked the gallery (link on the left) in a while there may be some newish photos there to give you a laugh :)

Hmmm, hot chips...!

Daniel has been asking me for a while now if I've found hot chips.  so, like a good little wifey I found -what I thought was- hot potato wedges (chips), they were even sprinkled with salt!  

Unfortunately I almost inadvertently poisoned Daniel - what I thought was salt was actually sugar and they weren't made from potato. 

Ok, I'll admit, I began to have some suspicions soon after I bought them, "Hmm, that was strange, was that sugar?!" but I kept them to myself (they were only suspicions after all) and let Daniel make his own discovery.

Needless to say that we wont be trying those again.  We might just have to wait until we get back to Aussie land!   

Festivals and Ferries

Still having problems with internet - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  

I went to school today (yes - it's Sunday!) and tomorrow - (a public holiday) because the students are having a cultural festival at school.  This seems to entail a lot of singing, but more about that tomorrow.  After the festival all the teachers are going out for a party.  To compensate for working today and tomorrow I'll be having Tuesday and Friday off work, so if anyone wants to ring, that will be a good time.  

Due to it being a Sunday, the buses weren't running very regularly, so I caught the first bus that came past my bus stop this afternoon, which took me to the ferry terminal, so I caught the ferry home.  The ferry cost 100 yen ($1) but it only took 2 mins to cross!  Still it was fun and took less time than waiting for my bus!  

This bridge reminds me of San Francisco.. It apparently doesn't remind people from San Francisco of it though...  Daniel's keen to go exploring and see if he can find Starfleet Academy however..  Wish him luck.

A coffee break (Saturday)

Well it's been three months now.  It has been such an interesting experience - seeing how other people live.  While I have adapted to the garbage disposal system and getting used to always taking my shoes off, I don't think I'll ever get used to people sniffling or not being able to eat while I walk.  

I am becoming more familiar with the public transport system and getting to know my way around.  

Last week there was quite a large fire near our house.  Curiosity lead me to snooping around this morning and I found where the fire had been.  It really hit me when I saw it - the houses in that area were built so closely together I was amazed that the damage wasn't worse.  As it was one house was completely burnt down and the one next to it was gutted.  I have a new respect for the fire department and firefighters in Japan; they did a very good job at containing it.  

I'm sitting in a cafe and last time I was here the refilled my coffee, but no-one has today :(  I would ask, but I don't know if they normally do - perhaps they were just being nice last time!  

Ok,"Slurpy Noodles" has just sat down next to me - stuff the coffee - definitely time to leave!  

I haven't really forgotten you!!

Wednesday

I bet you all thought now that Daniel is in Japan with me I've forgotten all about you! You're wrong. Mostly wrong anyway. It has been great having Daniel around and I did put off writing because it was great spending time with him and showing him around. Unfortunately I put it off for too long - within a few days of Daniel's arrival, neither of our computers were working! Occasionally one will work for a few days, but never quite long enough for me to write.

So, I'm writing this up now - while I'm at school and will type it up the next time I find a computer. (Sunday: Currently one of our computers is working and we've also borrowed a friends).

One of my teachers was absent today (found out 5 minutes after my class with her was supposed to start), so I spent a bit of time practising my address. Interesting order: postcode, city, area (like state), street block, apartment number. Practising the kanji is more difficult, but at least I understand it a little better now.

(Incidently my teacher had a headache, but only had half a day off! She still wasn't well when she arrived at 12:30, but felt that she didn't have a choice. They don't call in relief teachers and the students just have individual study time.)

The weather is really nice at the moment - sunny days, but not hot (according to Naomi, very humid according to Daniel) and cooling off during the evening.

School has been going well - I'm getting to know the teachers and what they want me to do. Some of the highlights have been the special education classes. They are very enthusiastic and the classes have been lots of fun. I have been able to give a lot of suggestions for the classes and ususally run most of it. The kids are also getting to know me (I have lunch with them on Fridays) although some of them still speak fast Japanese to me and are surprised when I don't understand. At least now I know what words they know and can use them in conversation.

I've also had some fun with the year 9 classes. In their textbook was a story about cross-cultural incidents and my teacher asked to me share one of my own with the class. So, I told the story of wearing my outside shoes inside at a school. Although it was rather challenging for them a few of them understood it well.

The year 8 classes on the other hand, tend to be a little more frustrating - I think year 8 kids are the same in every country! But the textbook really doesn't help - the dialogue we were working on this week went something like this:

A: Did you watch Harahara Times last night?
B: Yes, I did. Did you?
A: Yes. It was so exciting!
B: Really? It was boring to me.

They then had to practise this with each other, although could change the TV show and the adjectives.