I thought it would be interesting to write a little bit about Japanese schools because they are a little different than what those of us in the States are accusomed to. I think the first thing that strikes people with being different is the school uniforms that the students are requied to wear. This starts from Jr. High school and goes up through graduation. I'll try and find some pictures to accompany this post but, in the event that I don't I'll briefly try and describe what they wear. I teach at two schools and both have differnt uniforms but, for the most part, the boys are in navy slacks and white collar shirt at Suisan and charcol-plaid with white collar for Shima. Now that it is cold, the students are required to wear thier jackets which for Shima make them look like the stereotypical ivy-league college student we see in movies with thier slacks, jacket and school insignia on the front. The Suisan jackets are dark navy to match thier pants and looks more like a military uniform than slacks and blazer. The girls at both schools are required to wear a uniform skirt; colors matching the boys' colors. The top being a white collar shirt. I once heard someone describe the Japanese schoolgirl uniform as having been designed by someone with a fetish for little school girls- which is how the uniforms make them look. It is hard to describe these uniforms but, hopefully looking at a picture you'll be able to make sense of these words.
In the States, students have seven periods with lockers to store thier stuff inbetween classes as they go from here-to-there. In Japan, students stay in the class where it is the teacher who changes each period. You still take all your classes with the entire class (there are some students that do go to other classes for some periods my observations show that this is not very common... at least at where I am teaching.) In the states, where it is the students that come to the teachers room, the teacher has a little bit of freedom/motivation to decorate the room to make it warm, comfortable and applicable to the content of the class. Because here, the students are the ones staying... the room has an atmosphere of a prison more than a classroom. Note that this comment is bias because having grown up where decorated rooms is the norm to me that is normal making this seem odd.
Another intersting thing that happens here is at the beginning of class, the class leader will yell out (in Japanese) "Stand" upon which all students stand up. Next he/she yells "Bow" to which all students bow to the teacher and the teacher bows back in return... then class starts.
Back in the day students would go to school on Saturday, with school being the only day off. Back in the day wasn't too long ago either being that I think Ayumi was required to go when she was in school too. School here has six periods as opposed to the seven I grew up with. After lunch or after school, there are about twenty minutes in which the students are required to clean the school. They sweep the halls, haul out garbage, erase the chalkboards, etc. This is done daily at Shima and Suisan I don't ever see. Still figuring it out.
Students here in Japan are not allowed to have color in thier hair nor any piercings while in class. The are forbidden from using hair wax/gel in thier hair. I think makeup is off limits but, I still see students doing it... I don't this this is enforced too strictly.
School starts at 8:45 and goes until around 3:30. Immediatley following school starts clubs which go until around 6:00-6:30 where the kids will either go home or go to a cram school to learn more stuff. Japan is strict and all I can say is I really had it good when I was growing up!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Darn that cosmic force!
It seems like I always have something going on in my life since getting here worth writing about yet... never find the time to do it. Last week I've got a story to bring a tear to your eye. It all takes place last week; last Tuesday to be exact. Normally on Tuesday and Friday mornings I take off here around twenty to eight to head over to the station to catch the train and then the boat to get down to my school. I don't know what it was but, some cosmic force interrupted the flow of my life to the extent that I found myself leaving the house like seven minutes late; and by cosmic force I mean laziness- sleeping in. Anyways, if i miss this train, I miss the ferry and the next one doesn't come for another hour-forty minutes so I dare not be late.
Well, so here I am at seven forty-seven with four minutes to catch the train. I sprint to the train station darting up the stairs where I meet a student I teach at Shima high school. He tries to talk to me and I tell him I am sorry and must run to catch the train. I purchase my ticket and can hear the sound of my train arriving at the platform, meaning I have only a few seconds before it leaves. Little did I know these next few seconds would be some very short life altering seconds. Well, I grab my ticked and head down the stairs. I don't know what it was but, guessing it was that same cosmic force which held me in bed long past my due time. I could feel the wind blowing through my recently cut hair when suddenly I feel my feet go out from under me. Thankfully I was alone on the stairs and, as far as I am aware the only witness to this blunder. Well, I suddenly found myself flying forward and instinctively rolled into that fetal position my mother had trained me to use so many years ago. Well, I don't know much of what happened but, somehow in the course of about four or five stairs I had somersaulted and landed back on my feet. I'm not aware that I had made any noise during the scuffle but, apparently did because at the bottom of the stairs were two of my students who said they had heard something but didn't know what. I decided to keep my cool and act like nothing had happened. I checked my clothes for holes and jumped onto the train (amazingly I made it!)
I sat on the train processing the happenings of the last few moments when I saw the old lady across from me was staring at my hands. It was at this time that I realized that all the knuckles on my right hand and a few of my left were bleeding. I am sure not knowing that I had just taken a spill down the stairs she probably thought this weird foreigner had just pummeled somebody before jumping on the train. Well, I reached into my bag and the only thing I could find was my face wipes I carry so, wiping away my wounds I had the nice stinging burn thanks to the alcohol. I pulled out my phone to check the time only to find that apparently it was the phone that had broken my fall because it was bent in half and the screen was completely shattered. I could see nothing on the screen but, somehow could still dial Ayumi with my speed dial. Anyways, broke my phone. This was no ordinary phone, I could watch television on my phone, I could listen to MP3's on my phone, I could surf the net and download streaming... this phone was nothing short of a miracle. The good news is that the phone was insured so, I took it to the store and in about two weeks I should get a new one... being that it was my fault (or some unknown cosmic force) I am responsible to pay some money but, that is what happened last week.
Well, so here I am at seven forty-seven with four minutes to catch the train. I sprint to the train station darting up the stairs where I meet a student I teach at Shima high school. He tries to talk to me and I tell him I am sorry and must run to catch the train. I purchase my ticket and can hear the sound of my train arriving at the platform, meaning I have only a few seconds before it leaves. Little did I know these next few seconds would be some very short life altering seconds. Well, I grab my ticked and head down the stairs. I don't know what it was but, guessing it was that same cosmic force which held me in bed long past my due time. I could feel the wind blowing through my recently cut hair when suddenly I feel my feet go out from under me. Thankfully I was alone on the stairs and, as far as I am aware the only witness to this blunder. Well, I suddenly found myself flying forward and instinctively rolled into that fetal position my mother had trained me to use so many years ago. Well, I don't know much of what happened but, somehow in the course of about four or five stairs I had somersaulted and landed back on my feet. I'm not aware that I had made any noise during the scuffle but, apparently did because at the bottom of the stairs were two of my students who said they had heard something but didn't know what. I decided to keep my cool and act like nothing had happened. I checked my clothes for holes and jumped onto the train (amazingly I made it!)
I sat on the train processing the happenings of the last few moments when I saw the old lady across from me was staring at my hands. It was at this time that I realized that all the knuckles on my right hand and a few of my left were bleeding. I am sure not knowing that I had just taken a spill down the stairs she probably thought this weird foreigner had just pummeled somebody before jumping on the train. Well, I reached into my bag and the only thing I could find was my face wipes I carry so, wiping away my wounds I had the nice stinging burn thanks to the alcohol. I pulled out my phone to check the time only to find that apparently it was the phone that had broken my fall because it was bent in half and the screen was completely shattered. I could see nothing on the screen but, somehow could still dial Ayumi with my speed dial. Anyways, broke my phone. This was no ordinary phone, I could watch television on my phone, I could listen to MP3's on my phone, I could surf the net and download streaming... this phone was nothing short of a miracle. The good news is that the phone was insured so, I took it to the store and in about two weeks I should get a new one... being that it was my fault (or some unknown cosmic force) I am responsible to pay some money but, that is what happened last week.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Bonus Photos
Ok, so the other night we had a party with the English Conversation students I teach one a month. Here are some of those photos as well as an exclusive shot of out bedroom (with no beds, we keep the futons in the closet when we clean up) and lovable ol' Hershey. Enjoy
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Something wrong with my computer
So this week at the schools in Japan is what I figure to be the equivalant of mid-terms. As a result the teachers are busy making tests and as a precaution, no student is allowed to set foot inside the teachers office. Another nice side-effect of this is that other than two classes which I taught this morning, I am off the hook as far as teaching goes this week. Tomorrow at Suisan, I need to lend my voice to a tape recorder so they can record some listening comprehension questions for the tests but, other than that nothing. Now, if I am a good boy I will spend all this free time at school studying Japanese for a big language comprehension test coming up in December. I have been busy today with preparations for tomorrow nights adult English conversation class that Shelley and I teach but, having that done, an no desire to study, I thought I would seize this oppourtunity and fill in my blog.
As I wrote last week, Ayumi and I have caught some nasty colds. On the scale of judging colds from good to bad I am not quite sure where nasty lies but, from the way we have been feeling, its near the top. It all started a week ago last Saturday; Ayumi and I had gone to Suisan's school festival. We went, had a great time and some good food. Upon getting home we both crashed on the futons and unintentionally took a two hour nap. Waking up I felt a little queasy. You know before you get sick you can feel it coming one? That is how I felt. By night, my body was warm and nose starting to run. Sunday spent the whole day in bed. Monday and Tuesday were days off too... spent bundled up with a red nose and a box of tissues. Ayumi had the same symptoms but followed a day behind me. Well, now here we are a week and a half later. Better but, still sick. I'm still need to blow my nose quite often, and every time I cough (which is now only once an hour or so) I am coughing up the junk in my lungs. This cold has been going around. I've watched it skip from one teacher to the other, anticipating my turn. The only good thing that can come out of this is knowing, whatever is going around, I've already caught it and don't need to worry about getting it again.
Lately I have started reading Japanese comic books to help improve my language. I am currently reading a series called Dragon Ball which is pretty popular and has been consistantly written since the late eighties. The comic book is intended for elementary level where I gauge my reading ability (at the very bottom of that list). So far, I am on issue 17. If you google Dragon Ball, you can see some pictures. Altough not very popular in the states, they are fairly familiar.
In the neighboring city is an English man who runs with his Japanese wife an English conversation class. They have given Ayumi a phamplet which needs to be transulated from Japanese into English so, that is what Ayumi has been doing lately. With the seaons changing, I would like to get out and do some running. The other week, at the school sports festival I barley ran at all and pulled muscles in both of my calves. Afraid to do it again... I am afraid to run. I guess that is what stretching is for.
As I mentioned in the title, something has been wrong with my computer lately. Nothing serious but, I have a lot of picutres I have taken over the past little while I would like to post on the blog however, when I try and make a slideshow on picasa, there is some error where it loops me through the password entry screen again and again and again...
I think it is my browswer I am using but, too lazy to check it out. That will be my goal between now and the next entry.
Amyways, thanks for all those who read my blog.
As I wrote last week, Ayumi and I have caught some nasty colds. On the scale of judging colds from good to bad I am not quite sure where nasty lies but, from the way we have been feeling, its near the top. It all started a week ago last Saturday; Ayumi and I had gone to Suisan's school festival. We went, had a great time and some good food. Upon getting home we both crashed on the futons and unintentionally took a two hour nap. Waking up I felt a little queasy. You know before you get sick you can feel it coming one? That is how I felt. By night, my body was warm and nose starting to run. Sunday spent the whole day in bed. Monday and Tuesday were days off too... spent bundled up with a red nose and a box of tissues. Ayumi had the same symptoms but followed a day behind me. Well, now here we are a week and a half later. Better but, still sick. I'm still need to blow my nose quite often, and every time I cough (which is now only once an hour or so) I am coughing up the junk in my lungs. This cold has been going around. I've watched it skip from one teacher to the other, anticipating my turn. The only good thing that can come out of this is knowing, whatever is going around, I've already caught it and don't need to worry about getting it again.
Lately I have started reading Japanese comic books to help improve my language. I am currently reading a series called Dragon Ball which is pretty popular and has been consistantly written since the late eighties. The comic book is intended for elementary level where I gauge my reading ability (at the very bottom of that list). So far, I am on issue 17. If you google Dragon Ball, you can see some pictures. Altough not very popular in the states, they are fairly familiar.
In the neighboring city is an English man who runs with his Japanese wife an English conversation class. They have given Ayumi a phamplet which needs to be transulated from Japanese into English so, that is what Ayumi has been doing lately. With the seaons changing, I would like to get out and do some running. The other week, at the school sports festival I barley ran at all and pulled muscles in both of my calves. Afraid to do it again... I am afraid to run. I guess that is what stretching is for.
As I mentioned in the title, something has been wrong with my computer lately. Nothing serious but, I have a lot of picutres I have taken over the past little while I would like to post on the blog however, when I try and make a slideshow on picasa, there is some error where it loops me through the password entry screen again and again and again...
I think it is my browswer I am using but, too lazy to check it out. That will be my goal between now and the next entry.
Amyways, thanks for all those who read my blog.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A much anticipated entry
Well folks, I am sick. All this running around going to festivals and eating delicious food has finally caught up with me. Last Saturday Ayumi and I took a trip down to Suisan High School to experience their school festival which apparently wiped us both out. Upon getting home, we crashed and took a two-hour, unintentional nap. Those are always the worse. I am not much of a fan of napping. Not that I have a lot to do during the day but, when I nap I feel like I have lost two hours. Well, I guess this nap gave me an excuse to get some extra snuggle time with Ayumi but, when I woke up I could feel sick was coming upon me. I had a few days off of work (great timing to get sick) so I spent Saturday, Sunday, Monday and most of Tuesday home sick in bed. Ayumi wasn't so bad but, come last night she started to get worse. Just when I was getting better she got sick. I had runny nose, cough, that all-around I feel like garbage feeling and a bit of a sore throat. Today Ayumi has the same symptoms but, we can add a fever to the list of things haunting her. I got online to view conference (being that we are a day early) but, online transcripts aren't released until this Thursday so, if everyone has started heading for Missouri... we're going to be late.
I have lots of pictures from the festivals as well as an intent to write about them but, sick and no energy to do it now so... please wait a little bit longer.
I have lots of pictures from the festivals as well as an intent to write about them but, sick and no energy to do it now so... please wait a little bit longer.
Friday, October 5, 2007
So, guess who finally got a haircut?
Me baby, me! Yes, this ol' miser finally let common sense get to him and went out and got a haircut. As you'll see in some of the pictures later in this post, I was getting a bit shaggy. It's not that shaggy hair is bad or anything but, I suffer from UHGS (Uncontrollable Hair Growth Syndrome) which means the hair on my head grows at different speeds depending on the zones of my head. The sides and back grow really fast while, the hair on the top likes to take it's time and is in absolutely no rush to come out and present itself. As a result, I start to get this really cute mullet in the back, mad scientist hair on the sides and the world famous AJ up-doo in the front. So, I'm thinking of growing out my hair a bit but, realizing there is a stylish way to do so, opted to go get it cut and see what happens. Well, as you can see in the picture... I probably look like I did when you last all saw me. True but, now I've got this sportin' cool haircut which is like a faux-hawk extreme. If there is such a thing as a stylish mullet... I am on that path. Well, it looks cool but, I think its more Japanese than American. Well, I'm split right down the middle so I'll wear this for a while as I keep growing out the top. It's hard for me to go anywhere here without making a big deal out of it so, for the enjoyment of those reading my blog, I snapped a few shots in the parlour so you can see mine and Ayumi's new cuts.
This week we had some festivals at the schools but, I've got to run now and catch another so... I'll post later with some pictures of that. In the meantime... enjoy my new haircut!
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