Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Fall Leaf Viewing
Fall leaf viewing is a popular pastime in Japan and Kyoto is known for being a great place to do it! Last week I went to Eikando, a Buddhist Temple, that is famous for the bright red fall leaves on it's Japanese Maples. During November they have night viewings with the trees lit-up.
Flower Viewing in Saitama
In October I went to Tokyo for a 4-day weekend and got to see a bunch of friends, but, of course, didn't take many pictures, I really need to work on that!
One of the highlights that I DID take pictures of was flower viewing in Saitama Prefecture (northwest of Tokyo) with Chiharu and her parents.
This is Chiharu.
We were surrounded by fields that looked like this.
This is what the actual flower looks like.It's called higanbana or cluster amaryllis.
This lonely white higanbana drew a lot of attention.
There were also great cosmos fields.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Let's Do Crazy Stunts...Formally
In September and October, schools all over Japan have Sport's Day. One class from each grade join forces to create a team, represented by a color, which competes against the other team(s) in running races, and a variety of crazy stunts such as jumping rope as a group of 10 or more...on one rope!
You would think the kids would end up running wild, but the whole thing is so ceremonious! There is a school-flag raising and a formal greeting from the principal complete with standing at attention and bowing. In addition to practicing for the events they will compete in, they practice entering the field as a team and getting into the right spot over and over again!
But this was the craziest event, and I have no idea what to call it! First they stand shoulder to shoulder and bend over so their backs are parallel with the ground. Then two kids help with balance as one kid runs from start to finish by stepping on his teammates' backs!
It didn't last too long but it was really hard rain, and was close to flooding the sandy dirt field. But when the dark clouds left, the students came back outside and prepared for the last few races. Instead of turning to mud, there were puddles everywhere. I couldn't believe the students and teachers got big pieces of foam rubber out of a shed and started soaking up the water!! They used huge push brooms to get the water off of the track, dragged flat rake-like things to smooth things out and re-chalked the lanes! Unbelievable!
You would think the kids would end up running wild, but the whole thing is so ceremonious! There is a school-flag raising and a formal greeting from the principal complete with standing at attention and bowing. In addition to practicing for the events they will compete in, they practice entering the field as a team and getting into the right spot over and over again!At Minami Joyo Junior High School they have "centipede races" where they run one in front of the other with their feet tied to a rope so they all have to step with the same foot at the same time.
They have "hurricane relay races" where they run next to each other while holding a length of bamboo
and have to circle around cones.
And of course they do tug of war.
But this was the craziest event, and I have no idea what to call it! First they stand shoulder to shoulder and bend over so their backs are parallel with the ground. Then two kids help with balance as one kid runs from start to finish by stepping on his teammates' backs!The team isn't big enough to cover the length of the race at one time, so once they have been stepped on, they have to run to the other end and get ready to be stepped on again!
It had been a hot sunny day, but after lunch it started pouring!
It didn't last too long but it was really hard rain, and was close to flooding the sandy dirt field. But when the dark clouds left, the students came back outside and prepared for the last few races. Instead of turning to mud, there were puddles everywhere. I couldn't believe the students and teachers got big pieces of foam rubber out of a shed and started soaking up the water!! They used huge push brooms to get the water off of the track, dragged flat rake-like things to smooth things out and re-chalked the lanes! Unbelievable!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Duck, Duck, Goose
Remember how I said I’d be working at 2 Junior High Schools and 5 Elementary Schools? Well, this is how my schedule works. I go to one school for two weeks and then switch to another school for two weeks. For the elementary schools I probably won’t go back. I’ll go to Joyo Junior High School twice for a total of four weeks and I’ll go to Minami (South) Joyo Junior High School 5 times for a total of ten weeks. As an Assistant English Teacher (AET) I don’t have my own classes, I team teach with Home Room Teachers (HRT) in Elementary Schools and Japanese Teachers of English (JTE) in Junior High Schools.
Generally Elementary Schools don’t teach English as a regular subject in Japan (but that might be changing), so there is no national curriculum like there is for most subjects. English is included under something called International Understanding. I don’t know what else they do with International Understanding, but in Joyo it includes 4 English lessons with an AET per school year. A few years ago the AETs here in Joyo together with a JTE created a curriculum for the Elementary School visits. The main purpose of these lessons is really encouraging the students to like English by making them fun. It’s good for them to hear a native English speaker’s pronunciation too, but I don’t think they see us enough for it to make much difference.
Now I am at Fukatani Elementary School. They have two classes in each grade. In two weeks I have two lessons with each class covering things like colors, animals, fruit, sports, “want,” “like,” and “favorite.” Later in the school year a different AET (I’m one of 3) will go to that school for lessons 3 and 4. I think the idea behind having different AETs go to the Elementary Schools is to expose them to more foreigners for International Understanding, and more styles of speech for better English comprehension in the future.
The kids are really cute and energetic! Many of them are excited to learn English and even more are interested in talking to me and playing with me during lunch or after school. They know very little English, so they tell me stories and ask me tons of questions in Japanese.
Most of them are well behaved, but it’s not like most people in the States would expect. Especially in the lower grades the students are encouraged to be energetic and the classroom can get really noisy. So far all of my lessons have included a short self-introduction, and in some of the classes they call out so many questions at once that I can’t hear any of them. They don’t get in trouble for talking too much, it seems like the teachers want to teach them to figure out when they can be noisy, when the should listen, and when they should participate. If they are still talking when it’s time to listen, the teacher generally doesn't single people out, but reminds the whole class to quiet down.
Of course kids are kids. Some are shy and some want lots of attention. Some listen and some don’t. There have been some tears and some scraped knees. One class was really energetic and it was hard to get them to listen or practice the words we were supposed to learn, but they loved playing “duck, duck, goose” with “short, short, tall” and “big, big, small!”
Generally Elementary Schools don’t teach English as a regular subject in Japan (but that might be changing), so there is no national curriculum like there is for most subjects. English is included under something called International Understanding. I don’t know what else they do with International Understanding, but in Joyo it includes 4 English lessons with an AET per school year. A few years ago the AETs here in Joyo together with a JTE created a curriculum for the Elementary School visits. The main purpose of these lessons is really encouraging the students to like English by making them fun. It’s good for them to hear a native English speaker’s pronunciation too, but I don’t think they see us enough for it to make much difference.
Now I am at Fukatani Elementary School. They have two classes in each grade. In two weeks I have two lessons with each class covering things like colors, animals, fruit, sports, “want,” “like,” and “favorite.” Later in the school year a different AET (I’m one of 3) will go to that school for lessons 3 and 4. I think the idea behind having different AETs go to the Elementary Schools is to expose them to more foreigners for International Understanding, and more styles of speech for better English comprehension in the future.
The kids are really cute and energetic! Many of them are excited to learn English and even more are interested in talking to me and playing with me during lunch or after school. They know very little English, so they tell me stories and ask me tons of questions in Japanese.
Most of them are well behaved, but it’s not like most people in the States would expect. Especially in the lower grades the students are encouraged to be energetic and the classroom can get really noisy. So far all of my lessons have included a short self-introduction, and in some of the classes they call out so many questions at once that I can’t hear any of them. They don’t get in trouble for talking too much, it seems like the teachers want to teach them to figure out when they can be noisy, when the should listen, and when they should participate. If they are still talking when it’s time to listen, the teacher generally doesn't single people out, but reminds the whole class to quiet down.
Of course kids are kids. Some are shy and some want lots of attention. Some listen and some don’t. There have been some tears and some scraped knees. One class was really energetic and it was hard to get them to listen or practice the words we were supposed to learn, but they loved playing “duck, duck, goose” with “short, short, tall” and “big, big, small!”
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Let the Self-Introductions Begin!
I have no idea how many times I have introduced myself since I got to Japan. Of course during Tokyo Orientation we all wanted to know where people were from and compare what little we knew about our placements. The Kyoto Prefecture JETs want to know where we work, where it is in relation to Kyoto City and who we’re replacing. During my first two weeks here I had awkward introductory meetings with the Mayor of Joyo, the Superintendent, 5 Junior High School Principals, 10 Elementary School Principals and 2 Kindergarten Administrators. I had to introduce myself in front of everyone who works at the Board of Education Office, and I was the first order of business at a meeting of the actual Board (volunteer positions, I think). On the first day of school after summer vacation I introduced myself in front of the whole school and then again in a teacher’s meeting.
Now I’m at Minami Joyo Junior High School, where I’ll spend most of my time between now and March*. There are four homeroom classes in each of 7th, 8th and 9th grades. In my first two weeks I have one English class with each of them. And in each class the focus of the lesson is (drum roll please)…my self-introduction! I prepared a PowerPoint presentation about Seattle, my interests and my family. After the 20-30 minute presentation (in slow, simple, repetitive English) The Japanese Teacher of English (JTE), who I team-teach with, asks the students to introduce themselves to me on paper.
It’s gone well so far, and I really like being in the classroom and interacting with the students! I still have a lot of time to sit at a desk with no work to do, but hopefully I’ll be able to integrate myself into the school and get some more responsibilities.
*In Japan the school year starts in April and ends in March. My schedule, and even the schools I go to will probably change at that time. The JET program recruits heavily from Universities, so it follows our school year.
Now I’m at Minami Joyo Junior High School, where I’ll spend most of my time between now and March*. There are four homeroom classes in each of 7th, 8th and 9th grades. In my first two weeks I have one English class with each of them. And in each class the focus of the lesson is (drum roll please)…my self-introduction! I prepared a PowerPoint presentation about Seattle, my interests and my family. After the 20-30 minute presentation (in slow, simple, repetitive English) The Japanese Teacher of English (JTE), who I team-teach with, asks the students to introduce themselves to me on paper.
It’s gone well so far, and I really like being in the classroom and interacting with the students! I still have a lot of time to sit at a desk with no work to do, but hopefully I’ll be able to integrate myself into the school and get some more responsibilities.
*In Japan the school year starts in April and ends in March. My schedule, and even the schools I go to will probably change at that time. The JET program recruits heavily from Universities, so it follows our school year.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Summertime
Summer in Kyoto starts and ends with rain. Between is the blaringly bright, swelteringly hot, stiflingly humid period in which I arrived. There is no relief from shade, from a breeze or even at night. I wouldn't survive without my air conditioner! This year we were really lucky in Joyo. It got up to 40°C (104°F), which is hotter than it has been in over 70 years! Now it has started raining. It’s not the cold constant drizzle of Seattle, but warm heavy downpours with thunder and lightning that could end (or start) at any moment. My primary mode of transportation is bicycle and the school I start working at next week is 30 minutes away. I've been advised to get a poncho.
Summer’s redeeming quality is that it is full of festivals. Soon after I arrived one of the other AETs and I went to a small children’s festival in our neighborhood. Most of the kids knew him from school and were excited to see him. We talked with the children, looked around at the food and activity booths and had some kakigori (shaved ice).
In the middle of August many people celebrate Obon, a Japanese Buddhist holiday honoring their ancestors. Some go to their hometowns to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves. There are also fireworks shows and lantern festivals. I went to Nara Tokae, a festival in which tens of thousands of candles are lit throughout Nara Park. It was beautiful! (Hmm...the flash kinda ruins it, sorry.)
Last week I went to a Jizo Festival with Makiko, who works at the Joyo International Exchange Association, and her parents. Jizo are small stone statues that “live” in little shrines all over the place and protect the neighborhood children. In preparation the families in the area offer food to the Jizo. The gifts are displayed with the Jizo, a donation box, a couple candles and a container of sand. There were about 15 of these in the area. Children go around to each one, put some change in the box, light a stick of incense and stand it up in the sand, and pray. Then they get a treat, it’s like Halloween without costumes!
Today was my last work day before school starts. I’m excited to have something to do and start working with students, but I’m also nervous. Wish me luck!
Summer’s redeeming quality is that it is full of festivals. Soon after I arrived one of the other AETs and I went to a small children’s festival in our neighborhood. Most of the kids knew him from school and were excited to see him. We talked with the children, looked around at the food and activity booths and had some kakigori (shaved ice).
In the middle of August many people celebrate Obon, a Japanese Buddhist holiday honoring their ancestors. Some go to their hometowns to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves. There are also fireworks shows and lantern festivals. I went to Nara Tokae, a festival in which tens of thousands of candles are lit throughout Nara Park. It was beautiful! (Hmm...the flash kinda ruins it, sorry.) 
Last week I went to a Jizo Festival with Makiko, who works at the Joyo International Exchange Association, and her parents. Jizo are small stone statues that “live” in little shrines all over the place and protect the neighborhood children. In preparation the families in the area offer food to the Jizo. The gifts are displayed with the Jizo, a donation box, a couple candles and a container of sand. There were about 15 of these in the area. Children go around to each one, put some change in the box, light a stick of incense and stand it up in the sand, and pray. Then they get a treat, it’s like Halloween without costumes!Today was my last work day before school starts. I’m excited to have something to do and start working with students, but I’m also nervous. Wish me luck!
Old Friends
Not all of my time has been as boring as I described in my last post, the best thing has been seeing old friends.
When I first got to Japan I stayed in Tokyo for 3 days with 1200 other new JETs from the US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Australia and the UK. We had 2 long full days of orientation that will hopefully prove useful for teaching and living in Japan. I skipped out on the evening events to meet up with friends.
On the first evening I met 5 people I've known since 1996 when they came to Eugene for a short homestay. That was the last year of a program in which the City of Kiyose in Tokyo Prefecture sent about 14 middle school students to Oregon for English study and cultural exchange. My family hosted all five years that the program was in existence and I have stayed in contact with several of the students. We found a macrobiotic restaurant near my hotel, which is vegan except for clearly labeled fish dishes. They even have vegan desserts! We reminisced about the times that we have seen each other over the years and how long we've know each other and talked about how old we are getting. As always it was fun to see them, and natural, like we hang out all the time.
The next night I met 5 other friends. They are from Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture but now live in or near Tokyo for various reasons. My high school and their high school have an exchange program in which every year a group of students from each goes to the other for 3 or 4 weeks and stays with host families. My family hosted students from Ishigaki for two years and my first trip to Japan was with that program in 1998. I couldn't resist going to that delicious macrobiotic restaurant again, not to mention I already knew it was safe. We updated each other on mutual friends and my host brother offered to have his mom send me pineapple from Ishigaki. For those of you who have not heard me mention this pineapple, let me just tell you that it is the best pineapple anywhere. It is so sweet! So that got me excited.
Although I studied in Kyoto for a semester, I don’t really have any friends here, but another friend from Ishigaki lives in Osaka, which is about an hour away on the train. He is very busy with work, but I've been able to see him twice. It’s so nice to see an old friend in the midst of this new life.
When I first got to Japan I stayed in Tokyo for 3 days with 1200 other new JETs from the US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Australia and the UK. We had 2 long full days of orientation that will hopefully prove useful for teaching and living in Japan. I skipped out on the evening events to meet up with friends.
On the first evening I met 5 people I've known since 1996 when they came to Eugene for a short homestay. That was the last year of a program in which the City of Kiyose in Tokyo Prefecture sent about 14 middle school students to Oregon for English study and cultural exchange. My family hosted all five years that the program was in existence and I have stayed in contact with several of the students. We found a macrobiotic restaurant near my hotel, which is vegan except for clearly labeled fish dishes. They even have vegan desserts! We reminisced about the times that we have seen each other over the years and how long we've know each other and talked about how old we are getting. As always it was fun to see them, and natural, like we hang out all the time.
The next night I met 5 other friends. They are from Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture but now live in or near Tokyo for various reasons. My high school and their high school have an exchange program in which every year a group of students from each goes to the other for 3 or 4 weeks and stays with host families. My family hosted students from Ishigaki for two years and my first trip to Japan was with that program in 1998. I couldn't resist going to that delicious macrobiotic restaurant again, not to mention I already knew it was safe. We updated each other on mutual friends and my host brother offered to have his mom send me pineapple from Ishigaki. For those of you who have not heard me mention this pineapple, let me just tell you that it is the best pineapple anywhere. It is so sweet! So that got me excited.
Although I studied in Kyoto for a semester, I don’t really have any friends here, but another friend from Ishigaki lives in Osaka, which is about an hour away on the train. He is very busy with work, but I've been able to see him twice. It’s so nice to see an old friend in the midst of this new life.
Hello from Japan!
I’ve come to Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, which is run by the Japanese government. JET sent me to Joyo City in Kyoto Prefecture. It is halfway between Kyoto and Nara Cities, which are both ancient capitals. Kyoto is known as the cultural center of Japan and is said to have thousands of temples and shrines.
I’m an Assistant English Teacher (AET) and as soon as school starts I’ll be working in 2 middle schools and 5 elementary schools. I’ll have to tell you more about that later because it’s summer vacation and so far my main responsibility has been to sit…at a desk…in the city board of education office…and do…nothing. Of course if I can find something productive to do, that is encouraged, but there is literally NO work for me to do. I wouldn’t even be of help to any of the busy civil servants in my office since I’m not fluent in Japanese. Fortunately there are two other AETs who share my position so we keep each other company. I try to busy myself with reading, doing research about vegan food in Japan, playing sudoku and studying Japanese, but I always get bored and sleepy.
My life outside of work has been just as exciting. I watch a lot of Japanese TV and in two and a half weeks I’ve already finished 4 novels (besides the one I read at work). I have had a series of welcoming events including a tofu taco party hosted by a guy who came here with JET in 1994 and has pretty much stayed. He has his own English language school for people of all ages.
I finally got internet service at home today, so let the blogging begin!
I’m an Assistant English Teacher (AET) and as soon as school starts I’ll be working in 2 middle schools and 5 elementary schools. I’ll have to tell you more about that later because it’s summer vacation and so far my main responsibility has been to sit…at a desk…in the city board of education office…and do…nothing. Of course if I can find something productive to do, that is encouraged, but there is literally NO work for me to do. I wouldn’t even be of help to any of the busy civil servants in my office since I’m not fluent in Japanese. Fortunately there are two other AETs who share my position so we keep each other company. I try to busy myself with reading, doing research about vegan food in Japan, playing sudoku and studying Japanese, but I always get bored and sleepy.
My life outside of work has been just as exciting. I watch a lot of Japanese TV and in two and a half weeks I’ve already finished 4 novels (besides the one I read at work). I have had a series of welcoming events including a tofu taco party hosted by a guy who came here with JET in 1994 and has pretty much stayed. He has his own English language school for people of all ages.
I finally got internet service at home today, so let the blogging begin!
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