Back to the 80s (or 'Niigata is going to hate me....')

At the end of May, Monique - a veteran member of the Yamagata ALT community, decided to throw a themed party. Apparently she did this last year, and the theme was Hollywood - this year, the theme was the 80s!

She has a huge house, very conveniently right next to the school that she works at. I think it used to be a cafe, so as such, it has fairly large and open space where people would have sat in and a big space where the kitchen is to.

She, and some of her friends I assume, made a fantastic effort - placing little images of 80s icons on the cups, plastering posters of all-things-80s everywhere. TVs playing 'The Karate Kid' and 'Die Hard' on repeat.

The cafe area become a very decent sized dancefloor playing everything from the 80s from Annie Lennox to % (a poor impression for the symbol of 'The Artist Formerly known as Prince').

Everybody made a lot of effort with regards to costumes. One guy went dressed with as many allussions to 80s paraphenalia as he could fit on him! The Rubiks cube, The Karate Kid, Pacman, Back to the Future etc.

In terms of finding costumes and such, I ran out of inspiration a little bit - so I had to think a little bit out of the box...! My costume was quite a radical idea, but for one night it was quite hilarious. Even more hilarious was walking from Kaitlin's small little town of Kawanishi, catching the train to Yonezawa city, getting a taxi and walking past a police station to get to the party dressed as I was!

Eri, Satomi, and Cyndi Lauper, having some fun in the 80s!

Rebecca and Brigid, loving the license to use extreme colours in their costumes!

The following day, me, Kaitlin, Siobhan and Brigid decided to take a bit of a road trip and get out of Yamagata. Specifically, we wanted to find a beach, and we had heard that Niigata is the place to go for some nice enough beaches. Sadly, we forgot to bring a map with us, and as a consequence we found perhaps the worst beach in Japan - the sea looked dirty, there was rubbish on the beach, concrete everywhere, and the weather was cloudy (there was also a strange couple who seemed to decide on embracing there - not really the place for a romantic rendezvous?!)

After the somewhat disapointing beach trip, we thought Niigata City might be a bit more promising....it wasn't. We found nothing there! The whole place looked a bit dilapitated, outside the train station there was one of those big screen TVs blaring sound and adverts out, that (typically) big cities in Japan like to have - and typically they are a sign that lots of shops surround its area, and that their location is considered a central part of the city (Yamagata City doesn't have a big screen TV...) but around this TV there was nothing! It kind of felt like the city had packed up and moved else where, forgetting to switch their TV and their electricity off!

So we had a little look around, had something to eat and then made our way back home. The highlight of the trip was probably a stop at a Starbucks before we went back into Yamagata, being able to cruise around Oguni town, a very spread out, very very rural town in Yamagata with some amazing scenery...and the craziest statue I think I've possibly seen so far! We were driving back towards Yamagata when all of a sudden Siobhan gave a scream which gave us all a big jump. She was pointing at this GIANT statue of what looked like a monk - standing on top of a building, by its self, surrounded by fields and Japanese countryside! We were certain that we were driving back the same way we came, but we never noticed this huge concrete-looking structure! It was scary because it's eyes looked like they were staring at you, and it look angry, as though any minute it would unfreeze and starting lurching towards you, in an attempt to stamp on you! Anyway, a stop was practically mandatory! Despite nobody else being there, we had a few moments of fun with it!

ARGHHHHH! It's coming to destroy us!

Back to School

After THE BIG SHUFFLE, and after my Tokyo trip with Kieran, we came back up to Nanyo and I had to start work the following week. It was nice to go back to school after a bit of a break, having seen a few long-time-no-seen visitors in the gap. The first school was Nakagawa - it was the school with my favorite bunch of thrid graders, who would no longer be there anymore.

This was one of the things that made me a little bit anxious about going back to school, the big one being the results of the April shuffle. I had been told that all the English teachers were more or less the same, which was one good thing to know, but still, there would be lots of new faces around the schools. Perhaps there were some teachers that never really talked to me that wouldn't be there anymore, perhaps there were some teachers that talked to me lots, and wouldn't be there anymore. I prepared myself a little bit, for the realisation that I would have to get to know each school a little bit better again.

At Nakagawa - the principal had changed, and so I was more nervous about how he would feel about me and what kind of person he would be like. Turns out he used to be an English teacher, and a very nice guy - so he has been added to the list of teachers that talk to me from time to time! Great!

It was great to go back and see the kids again in their new grades. They all look a lot older, especially the 1st graders who when I first arrived looked very innocent and young, now they're more like full blown teenagers! There English has also improved too! You can definately tell - its a great and positive thing to notice, to think back to the time when the first years could hardly say anything, and now they (read: most!) can have a nice conversation with me in English, if they try hard enough!

Another positive thing of the second year, is that the students are all far more familiar with me by now. They seem to trust me a lot more, know me a lot more, are more chatty, and, perhaps because I'm more familiar with how to go about speaking with them, and helping them to speak, they seem to be a bit more confident around me! Great! Last week I played kickball with the 2nd graders at Ringo JHS - Ringo was initially, probably the quietest, shyest bunch of kids in Nanyo - but they seem to have come out of their shells! I wish they'd invite me to more things - I really do enjoy hanging out with them, its just a little hard to work out what they're doing sometimes - kind of like trying to crack a code or puzzle!

Here's to the second year then!

THE BIG SHUFFLE

The new school year starts in April in Japan. The arrival of Spring and the blossoming of the Cherry trees are rather poetic allusions to new and beautiful beginnings, coinciding with a fresh year for the students.

Strangely enough, since my visitors came over, I had little to no money left, and felt there was nothing much going on to tell you about, and nothing significant enough to tell you - no trips, events etc happening.

Now, all of sudden, I discover there is/has been loads to tell you about! So let me begin. First, before my grandparents and Kieran even visited Japan - there was 'The Big Shuffle' (as I would like it to be enigmatically named in English). I can't even begin to remember what it would be called in Japanese.

Basically, all the schools (EVERYWHERE in Japan), and all the civil workers for the cities have a big shuffle. On average people can stay in the same department, or school, or position etc for about 3-4 years. But some people can move after only 1 year, and some can stay in the same place for up to 8-10 years. Virtually every employee is considered in the change, but nobody has a clue when and where they will move.

The whole process seems to be a bit of a lottery, and I haven't quite worked out who exactly decides where people move to, or whether a person is moved based on acheivements, skills, qualities etc.)

Essentially its a time for promotions and bigger responsibilities, but from observation, you have to earn these through perseveration of smaller roles and dedication to your job.

I was sat in the office mid April - when the announcement was made. A paper booklet was passed around with each department and the changes made into it. It was quite an emotional time. Everybody sat around the head of the departments desk and the changes were announced. Before hand, people had been speculating with me as to who might move, but I don't think anybody expected who actually did. My supervisor, Mr Itagaki is originally an Elementary School teacher, and was moved to the position of Teaching Inspector and Advisor for the city five years ago. I get the impression he is quite keen to move back to school and teach again, but this year he did not move (which means he stays as my supervisor for my next year which is great because he's a very nice guy!). Once he does moves (which I get the impression is inevitable) the role he plays now, will set him up for the position of Vice-principal, and eventually Principal.

The dietician for the schools of Nanyo City was moved after 8 years in the Board of Education, as was a nice guy involved in the administration of the school. He spoke a bit of English too, and it was sad to see both of them go. The guy has moved to the Department of Agriculture (Rice fields!!!) and the Dietician has moved to the local general hospital.

On that same day, all the teacher would have found out whether they would stay or go, and where they would be going to next.

A few days later, we had this big ceremony to welcome new teachers from other towns and cities to Nanyo, and also to officially promote any principals and vice-principals that had been changed. (This ceremony I knew nothing about, except for that I had to arrive at the office half an hour earlier - and for which it sounded like it would be a good thing to dress in my best smart suit - a good choice in the end)

What with all the Kochos and Kyotos (Principals and Vice-principals respectively) arriving, and all the bowing and fancy language being used, and the fact that I would be formally introduced to all the new teachers along with all the other members of the Board of Education (Retrospectively, it was nice to feel included and considered as part of the Nanyo Board of Education staff, which is what I am after all!) - I was WELL nervous, and completely exhausted after the whole affair which finished at something like 10am!

Perhaps next year I will be a little more prepared for this crazy annual "end-of-days" occurance!

A Saturday Morning in Japan

There's nothing like being woken up at 8:50am on a Saturday morning to a pretty big earthquake shaking your whole house! The epicenter was in the prefecture above Yamagata. It was a pretty big one too - exciting and scary stuff!

From Kieran

Kieran wrote me a little piece about his experience in Japan:


Konnichiwa!
It’s Kieran here, fresh back from an amazing couple of weeks in ye ol’ Nippon! I had an absolutely incredible time – both in Tokyo and Nanyo, which although a tiny little place is full of characters and nice little quirks. Special mention should go to Satomi, Miyako, Eri and Marie, who are all fantastic and genuinely the nicest, most welcoming Japanese people you could ever hope to meet (even if you meet them over Pizza and not something a little more Japanese!)
I learnt a bit of Japanese, but mostly managed to get by with nervous bows and a smile – that’s all you really need. Saw some amazing sights too – Nikko outside of Tokyo was outstanding, as was Yamadera mountain temple and Zao Onsen (the awe-factor of a Japanese attraction is seemingly related to its altitude!)
Got some great memories, some great photos, and put together a cool film of my trip. It was really great spending time with Chris, and meeting his fantastic friends. I cannot recommend Japan highly enough. Even a short visit will, I’m sure, leave you completely enamoured with this beautiful country and its wonderful people. I would fly back in an instant!
KC
May 2008

Another visitor!

Last month was a little busy! Because...I had another visitor! Kieran came for about two weeks and great time was had by all! We stayed in Tokyo for one week, during 'Golden Week' (the name given to a group of national holidays all squashed together, making one long holiday! Unfortunately this year was a bit rubbish because the holidays fell 0n a weekend!) One week was a pretty long time, but it meant that we could check out lots of places at a leisurely pace! One particularly nice place was 'Yanaka' - sort of in the centre of Tokyo, and yet an older more traditional place with a quiter atmosphere, more traditional looking houses and a peaceful and tranquil graveyard, one of the largest I think I've seen in Japan so far.

On one of the days I was lucky enough to find out about a piano Masterclass that was going on in a neighborhood just a bit away from Shibuya. Somebody had informed me about it by email. One of the piano professors from the Royal Academy of Music had come over for a few concerts in Tokyo and was asked by a Japanese friend who graduated at the college to give a masterclass. There were about 20 or so Japanese people, me and some old German academic woman who wasn't particularly friendly. Anyway, it was a really lucky opportunity for me, as I got to have a one-to-one chat with him over a cup of coffee (he was a really nice guy), and then I was actually able to understand first-hand his discussions and explanations during the masterclass, rather than rely on the translator who I think sometimes had a bit of difficulty really interpreting what professor Andrew West was trying to say.

On one day we went to Yokohama, to the very impressive and vibrant Chinatown. It had some really colourful and interesting temples and shrines, and on another day, we visited Nikko - a place North of Tokyo with some amazing landmarks and temples.

Me and KC outside one of the colorful temples in Chinatown, Yokohama.

After the week was over, Kieran joined me back up in Nanyo to get a taste of the real Japan. I made my first visit to Yamadera, one of the celebrated landmarks of Yamagata (meaning Mountain Temple, which is literally up a mountain!) and there were SO MANY STEPS to climb up! However, the views were beautiful - and we went on a nice day with low lying fluffy clouds skimming the mighty mountains.

We also sampled some of Japan's more crazier and modern spectacles like Puri-Kura and Karaoke, which Kieran (I do believe) enjoyed very much!

For the second week, I (finally) started making school visits again, and so Kieran had to entertain himself. Readers, you must give him a round of applause though, because he managed to work out the train system by himself, visit a few places around Yamagata and also get a bus up to explore Mt Zao (not easy things to do when you don't know much Japanese!)

Enjoying the view of Okitama (Southern Yamagata) up on the site of Nanyo's Skypark, used for para-gliding and hang-gliding.

I think Kieran was so impressed with Japan that he would like to come back again! I don't think Japan was a country he really wanted to see in the first place, but seen as I was here it was a good idea to check it out while he had a good opportunity to. Now, I think his attitude has changed, just like my grandparents did! Maybe he's seen all there is to see of Yamagata(!), but coming back to Japan in Autumn is a completely different picture, plus Kieran has yet to explore the southern side of Japan, the 'Kansai' area of Kyoto, Osaka and Nara - all beautiful and interesting places!

Kieran took most of the pictures with his fancy camera (mine was still broken :( ) so I only have two that he sent me!