Beginnings

Thursday, April 8, marked the beginning of a new school year here in Uki. It was a day filled with ceremonies and speeches. The newly second and third grade students gathered in the gym and were lectured on the importance of becoming sempais to the incoming first graders (7th graders). The following day, Friday, there was an opening ceremony where the first graders were welcomed to Matsubase Junior High and were given their homeroom assignments. In most cases I am unaware of what is really happening at the ceremonies/assemblies, but on this day I was asked to remain in the teachers room. I was alone. I was a bit confused as to why my Kyoto Sensei (vice principal) who speaks no English, knew enough to say “stay here.” Nonetheless, it was nice to be still without all the hustle and bustle that accompanies and work place in Japan. I am often found sitting and waiting for instruction in this environment, which although easy is sometimes a bit stressful, so given a solid instruction to stay was a new experience. I was able to read an entire book, which helped to prepare me for my upcoming trip to China, one can only organize a desk so much! With the new school year I was told internet was being installed for each desk…I spent time today trying to connect to a network….but nothing. If internet really is installed that could change my work life tremendously. Right now there are three computers for about 100 staff members and because I don’t really need the computer it is very badly received when I check email or read the news, whether anyone else needs the computer or not. I can’t imagine the amount of productive things I could do with internet at my desk, ie BLOG. Ill try again tomorrow.

blog backup

a bit late, but nonetheless...

Happy (late) St. Patrick's Day yall! Don't forget to eat your corned beef and cabbage.

" We don't just have one language and one history. We sleep in German and dream in Irish. We laugh in Irish and we cry in German. We are silent in German and we speak in English. We are the speckled people."

A friend that sticks

Life is made up of many people who come and go. I once had trouble understanding that, but now I take it as one of life's many beauties. With all those people coming and going you get a little lost sometimes and think you're in this life alone. That's when those loved ones come in right where they left and without a word bring the world right back in grasp. For me those friends who stick are my family. It is my family who is my constant. They are there no matter what. The week of March 6-14 I was lucky enough to have my little sister visit. She and a friend were able to join me for three days at school- two days at elementary and a day of junior high graduation. We spent time delving into Japanese culture through puri kura, karaoke, sushi, and an onsen trip, but most of the time spent, unknowingly, was providing me with an overwhelming comfort in my life here. I am learning to be thankful for family at all stages in life.

Laughter

Much has been said about laughter. But reality and laughter here are one in the same. Lucky for me, laughter seems to be one of the few things that truly is universal. In the modern globalized world we may share the same clothes and food, but culture is not easily assimilated. One can blend in (unless you are a southern girl in japan. you wont blend) but one can never lose their culture. We can learn language and speak the words of the people but communication is still not natural. Each country has its differences, but through travel I have found one constant in communication: laughter. Thanks to laughter I can communicate with my students here. True, they could easily be making fun of me and laughing at me...but chances are even if I did understand them I would think it was funny too!

all my arkansas love

sakura!

wow. its been a while. due to my lack of computer suave and an active school life...but I am back now...hello again blogger world! I have written many mock entries during my days at school these past few weeks but then I forgot my password to log in. but regardless, I am back--really!

life in japan is revitalizing itself with spring. the sakura (cherry blossoms) are arriving! I couldnt be happier! this means hanami season has arrived! hanami is what the japanese people live for during the spring. it is a nice picnic under the cherry blossoms. life doesnt get better than that. I brought flat stanley along for a short hanami today. shannon is in the hospital so I went to pick a few cherry blossoms to bring spring fever into the hospital.

all my arkansas love...

Setsubun? or a Birthday? both.

first I would like to wish my wonderful brothers, Hunter and Haynes, a happy happy birthday! I guess even if I were in America I wouldn't be celebrating with them, so just as if I were home...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HUNTER AND HAYNES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! for those of you who know how terrible my singing truly is, just think at how much I have improved through karaoke. scary, I know.

today in japan we are celebrating setsuban. while at shuji this afternoon I learned the story. there was a farmer who was praying for rain (praying- more like asking in japan). he promised to whomever made it rain that they could marry his beautiful daughter. this awful devil fulfilled his wishes for rain and the farmer stood by his word, giving his daughter away. the daughter despised the devil she was wed to (who wouldnt?) and was always on the look out for an opportunity to run. once she escaped, but the devil followed and captured her. After he returned her to "their" home, her mother came to the rescue, as any good mother would. she fought off the devil by throwing "flying beans" at him! this surprising worked...and still works today to ward off evil and bring luck upon a household. way to go super mom!

setsubun is celebrated yearly in coordination with hunter and haynes riley's birthday. february third marks the beginning of spring here, although I have heard weather wise this isn't true. sadly. it is meant to cleanse evil from the previous year and drive away evil for the coming year. the act of throwing beans (roasted soybeans), mamemaki, at a member of the household wearing a devil mask is how the ritual is performed. or in the matsubabies case, we set the mask on the table. you are meant to chant "oni wa soto! fuku wa uchi!" which says, "demons out! luck in!" simple enough. following this you are to eat the number of roasted soybeans for your number of years...and depending on who you talk to maybe an extra to bring luck for the coming year.

last friday, I went to a math demonstration class at school. while there I write...

the woman on my left motions me to sit. I choose a desk along the back, next to the open window--but close to the sun. throughout the hour I struggle to recognize a single word. the students, who I ate lunch with a mere twenty minutes before, have completely transformed. masked and silent they sit. this is the first demonstration class I have attended that I was not an active part of. from what I can gather, the teacher's lesson is on probability, but do realize that this is an educated guess deducted after an hour of a language I can not understand. from what I understand these demonstration are a large part of the japanese education system. I myself have already participated in ten, one of which was solely focused on me. nerve-racking, you would think. the entire staff crowds the room frantically evaluating both the teacher and students. our math class today began with a special announcement of our "sensei" becoming a father this very morning--I found this our from a fellow english teacher who was kind enough to translate. this whole afternoon displays perfectly one of the cultural aspects of japan that I just cannot wrap my mind around...this man's wife had their first son, 10 am this very morning and he is at work? and if I was brave enough to stay late at work I am almost positive he will still be here! I like to think of myself as a hard worker, but being here, in this country, pry the question so prevalent in society-- quality vs quantity. It seems the mindset here is dedication with no wavering. there is no worth in quantity...or at least in my work environment at the junior high. it is all about the face time...and lets face it I can't but in more than 9 hours a day...nor do I want to sit any longer mindless at my desk...maybe I will put the other hours in the day towards changing the world...not changing the way japanese view a work environment. that is grounded firm in hundreds and hundreds of years in the beautiful culture.

" Me, I've seen forty-five years, and I've only figured out one thing. That's this: if a person would just make the effort, there's something to be learned from everything. From even the most ordinary, commonplace things, there's always something you can learn." Haruki Murakami, Pinball, 1973

all my arkansas love...

matsubabies

check out our collaborative blog spot for all things japan...

http://matsubabies.blogspot.com/

first update, january 27 2010--today!

"The water tastes funny when you're far from your home, but it's only the thirsty that hunger to roam." - j. prine

the speckled people

"Maybe your country is only a place you make up in your own mind. Something you dream about and sing about. Maybe it's not a place on the map at all, but just a story full of people you meet and places you visit, full of books and films you've been to. I'm not afraid of being homesick and having no language to live in. I don't have to be like anyone else. I'm walking on the wall and nobody can stop me." -hugo hamilton- -the speckled people-

so much blogging. so little time...

trips in the works:

nagasaki in feb

korea? possibly in march

china in april/may

haynes and i had a wonderful time in cambodia and thailand over the holidays. we were able to see and do a lot. we started in siem riep where we visited angkor wat. this is a spot i highly recommend. it was incredible. we spent a day in a tuk-tuk seeing the many temples. it was a adventure filled day and included haynes extending his clinton global initiative world wide...he picked up trash along the main temple sights- I have photo documentation. we were able to watch the sunset in the distance while sitting among one of the ancient temples. haynes took some great photos--see his flickr. we then made our way to chiang mai. while in chiang mai we visited many temples and of coursed managed to accomplish many listed "weird" activities. these included a "monk chat" and a traditional thai massage at the women's correctional facility. we ate great--khoasoi was one of our favorites. I enjoyed the fresh fruit while haynes favored the smoothies and array of curry. on christmas eve we found ourselves on a "tour" which brought us to many of the hot spots. my favorite being the awful renditions of a local village? they have two or three huts set up where where travelers visit to see indigenous tribe life...hmmmm. tribe life not so much. but we did get to see an elephant show! they danced, they played soccer, and one even painted! we followed this with an elephant ride, an ox and carriage ride, and duh a bamboo -adventure- raft ride. it was a long day. we arrived back at the hostel in time for a gift exchange. caught a christmas service and hang out with a group from the hostel. christmas day was spent with travel from chiang mai to pai. pai might be my favorite spot in thailand. it is a popular spot for locals to vacation. it is small and quaint with a hippie vibe. we were able to relax at our beautiful accommodations, the darling view house. it had a great porch which overlooked the rivers, town and mountains in the distance. haynes and I made sure to catch the sunset each night we were there. we rented a scooter see the terrain around. this included waterfalls, rice fields, elephants, the great land crack, the canyon, hot springs, over looks, and the list goes on. after pai we trekked down to phuket. we met my friends from japan, shannon and matt. we spent one day beach hopping on scooters...and sadly almost ended the amazing day in a tourist trap--sketchy sketch bike rentals--there was a call made to the american embassy and the tourist police. we island hopped, snorkeled, tanned, ate, laughed, and laughed. new years eve was spent with new friends on patong beach where we let lanterns go and saw thousands over the water. our last stop was bangkok. we were lucky to have an incredible guide, aim. we explored more temples, markets, food, avatar 3d/imax, palaces, maybe a little bit of food poisoning, and met up with another of my friends, nicole.

all that just to give a little over view of an incredible three weeks. details details...they have always been hard to write. I apologize for the run down. bottom line- it was great seeing haynes. im thankful for the time I got to spend with him. family, it just doesnt get better.

this week was busy busy at school. today I updated the english board, taught four classes and caught up on paper work for the boe. tomorrow we are celebrating australia day (which is tuesday) with our local aussie, Jessica.

arkansas love yall!

everyone look at your calendar and meet me for an asian adventure!