Tuesday

A nice full day of work was had. Following work, I returned to my humble domicile and stumbled upon a peculiar piece of paper, delivered from the post office. It looked similar to the one I got on Saturday but still different enough that I couldn’t figure out what it was trying to convey. I return forthwith to the school to call upon my league of friendlies for assistance. Assist me they did and I was told I would have my package redelivered that very night! I went home to wait and, sure enough, the postman arrived at my door with not one but three (big) packages for me from the motherland.

Having signed for them I secreted away to the confines of my living room. These parcels would have to wait to be exhumed, for I had a Japanese lesson to attend. I met up with Paul and we rode to the lesson. At the conclusion of the evening’s session, we rode to a place to park bikes for free when taking the train, then on to a supermarket to buy some vittles, then to another to procure some “Special K” which was on sale, and then back to our respective apartments.
A quick sup of tempura goodies, soup, and nigiri

and it was finally time to feast my eyes on the tangible examples of care, packaged and sent from my family. What a bounty!

I am loved.


Wednesday

I had my split day and I was requested to wear a costume to the elementary school and teach a lesson on Halloween. I was awesome! The lesson went really well and the kids loved my costume.

When I mentioned having to wear the costume at the elementary school to my compatriots at the middle school, of course they requested I wear it for them as well. I only had two classes to teach in the afternoon, but one of the classes was my first solo excursion at the middle school. I already lost my solo-teaching cherry at the elementary school, so this was going to be cake. I donned my outfit and went to class. These kids loved it too! For the first half of class we did normal class stuff. The teacher had been very helpful and left me a lesson plan outlining everything to be done, and approximately how long each task should take. Finishing the required work and finding ourselves with extra time, I gave my Halloween presentation to the class. It was well received so with the extra time I showed them my Alaska trip as well.

I showed the Halloween presentation to the last class of the day and then I was able to finally get out of my costume. When I got home I found a package in my door! Another care package? Wow! What a lucky boy am I!

Inside were some gifts from Sara Shuler!

Thursday

I spent all day at the elementary school. When I got to school it wasn’t raining but it soon started. This would make for a fun ride home. The first three classes were taught just like a regular day, but the fourth period teacher asked me to wear the costume again. I brought it just in case, so I was prepared! Climbing inside the skin of the robotic cat was comforting and helped repel the frigid cold that was pervading the school.

The kids employed to get me for lunch were late, but I was still able to finish my lunch on time. I then had a second lunch back in the teacher’s room since the kid’s portions are so very small.

Fifth and sixth period are a blur of kids and lesson materials. Stand-outs would be the sixth period teacher not allowing me to take a picture with the class. I think she said it wasn’t allowed, which would be believable, if not for the fact that every other teacher has thought it a great idea so far. I took a picture and a video prior to talking with her.

The kids were doing a role play game where half the class were customers and the other half were shopkeepers. I had to take a video to try and capture the wackiness:

Some of the shopkeepers were really playing the part. They were yelling through rolled up papers, saying typical street vendor things.

When I left work it was still raining. What a wonderful ride home I had to look forward too…

I walked my bike home to avoid getting too wet and it worked!

Dinner consisted of rice with hot sauce! Thanks Joanne!

So many goings ons

Friday

I had class at the middle school and it was pretty uneventful. We spent most of the day getting ready for the culture festival on Saturday.

Saturday

Woke up nice and early and took a train to downtown. I walked to the culture festival at the community center near city hall and enjoyed a fine performance by the kids. They had there singing competition and then we all left to go to the school and watch the remaining performance art pieces.

There were some dance groups, a ballet, a violinist, and the results of the mosaic work they had been doing.

After the culture festival, there was a drinking party for the teachers at a swanky restaurant. I forgot to bring my camera, so I have no pictures, but it was really really tasty. I had a lot of fun with all my teachers, even though I don't drink. I got to know some of the people I didn't really know very well, as well as talk to some of teacher friends in the non-work atmosphere. Kyoto-sensei invited me to his house for New Year's Eve. but I had to decline since I won't be in the country. No matter, he invited me and the rest of my ALT friends over at the end of January for a BBQ! I wonder if he will remember this, considering he was 3 sheets by this point...

Sunday

I got paid!

I went to Tokyo to meet up with Yuki and Mikey to go shopping! We first went to a shopping mall under the Tokyo Station.

Yuki knew of a statue she wanted to show me so went and got a picture with it.

After the mall, we walked to Akihabara to meet up with Sara and have lunch

I had yummy pasta!

Then mochi that looked like donuts!

After lunch we walked around Akihabara.

I purchased a new Oppai-purin!

Akihabara flavor:

It started raining, so we got on a train and went to Harajuku!

Balloon Clown welcomes you!

Happy to be shopping!

I got a new eco-bag

Buck-fiddy for cuteness!

I bought a sword

Just kidding! It's an umbrella that looks like a sword!
Bonus: Sharks colors!

I found some spicy chips from America. Yummers!

Finally, a spicy snack.

We finished up our shopping trip and went to Okonomiyaki! Mmmmm mmmm mmmm...

Waiting outside for our table

Okonomiyaki! Underneath: ?

Avocado!

Onion Okono!

Regular and Noodley Okono!

Monday

I stayed in Tokyo for the night, so when I got home I walked to the bicycle shop. Guess what I finally got!

Got to take precautions

It's a single speed "Chari" with a basket!

What color did you think I would pick?

It has a sweet bell on it that looks like a bell pepper. Get it? I do! I got it from my sister for Christmas!

Thanks Hannah!

Double locked.

Friction powered light!

I bought a Halloween costume in Shibuya to wear to school on Wednesday

It's Doraemon!
A robot cat from the future.

A big, dumb, robot cat.
From the future.

The Big Mix Up, the Split Day, and The Visit.

Tuesday

I had a three day weekend 2 weeks ago. I have a three day weekend this week. I had a three day weekend last week.

Except I didn’t.

Two weeks ago, there was a National Holiday to be observed on Monday, so I had that third day to myself, along with the rest of the nation. On Saturday, I will be working at the Culture Festival with my fellow junior high teachers, so that school will be closed on Monday to compensate. Last weekend I had a three day weekend on paper but apparently not in actuality.

I was scheduled to have the Monday off to compensate for having to work the following Saturday. This plan was changed and I wasn’t informed, so I didn’t go to work. When I showed up on Tuesday, it went like this:

Teacher: “Hey! How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?”

Keegan: “Yeah, I went blah blah blah”

T: “Oh? How was yesterday (Monday)?”

K: “Great! I was able to get so much done!”

T: “Really? That’s wonderful! We missed you at work yesterday.”

K: “Oh?”

T: “Yeah, you were scheduled and you didn’t show up…”

K: “Oh man, my schedule says I had yesterday off. I’m sorry!”

T: “No, that’s alright. You see, we changed it from yesterday to next Monday. I thought we told you…?”

K: “I don’t recall this information…”

T: “Well, now you get another Monday off! Lucky!”

K: “Heh…heh…”




Wednesday

All the classes in the junior high are shorter this week because every one needs time to practice their parts for the culture festival. Instead of 50 minutes they are all 45; this saves 30 minutes off the day by the end of it. Yesterday it was cold and cloudy. Rather overcast in fact. I don’t know why a country that is so anal about recycling allows garbage burning. I thought burning stuff was bad for the ozone. You know how it is when there is a wildfire in a valley and the smoke smell is always burning in your nostrils? Yesterday is a day like that. People burn their garbage when ever they want, even when there are a ton of clouds, and the smoke just hangs, lingering because it has nowhere to go. I feel like I can’t take a deep, satisfying breath because of all the air pollution. I’m not so sure it’s healthy to breathe smoke all day long, but I’ll let you know how I turn out.

I had a class all to my self yesterday. The teacher who usually taught the class was out sick, so I was on my own. It went rather well! I had done the same lesson in the class just prior, so I knew what to do in order to get the point across without using too much Japanese and using enough English. I taught the kids about stationary and we played a game. At the end of class we played “rock, paper, scissors” a few times and then we called it a day.

Lunch was a tasty croquette filled with curry and topped off with this sauce:

After lunch I wandered over to the junior high and graded some papers, waiting for sixth period and the only class I had to teach at the big kid’s school.

Sixth period went swimmingly. The teacher and I had a little skit we did to introduce the lesson; talking about opinions with “I think…”

I was supposed to be of the opinion that Doraemon is the main character of the show bearing his name, while sensei is adamant about the main character being Nobita, a boy and a friend to Doraemon. Despite having never watched the show, I was still able to give a good argument for my side. After we went back and forth, we asked the kids. Most sided with me, probably because of my skills in logic. The next discussion was about which was more important: money or love? I was on the money side and sensei was pro love. The day before it was reversed and money won out. Yesterday was no different. It seems most kids believe love to be unimportant in life. How tragic…

The last debate was on the cuteness of dogs and cats, with one being more so than the other. I had cats but the students preferred dogs. Easy and fun lesson, t’was.

After school was dance practice for the culture fest. I had resigned myself to practicing the dance the 4th class was doing, but it is too hard to learn in what little time we have until the festival. There are a lot of moves and they come quickly, plus they are matched to music I can’t understand. This may sound like a lot of excuses, but I did try; I just wasn’t able to get it.


I tried some new snacks:

Ramen Chicken flavor

Thursday

Sitting in the teacher’s room, waiting for kids to come get me and bring me to their class. They never came. I wonder, sometimes, what the point of getting my lesson plan is if it isn’t followed. I kept myself busy by ripping music from some new CDs that arrived at the school yesterday. Contained within are a bunch of kid’s songs and stories. Some I haven’t heard before, some are different renditions.

While sitting in the teacher’s room, I reminded myself to figure out if I have a heater in my place; the days grow colder, quickly.

Two kids from the second period class came to get me at the appropriate time, but when I got to class I discovered I would be teaching two classes at once. I also found out I would be teaching a different lesson than was on my lesson plan. Yay for spontaneity! We learned about flags of foreign countries instead of clothes. Big difference! When we asked the kids if they knew what the parts of different flags symbolized, one of the kids knew everything about the flags, even things we teachers didn’t. It was amazing!

My first period class turned into my third period class. We did a lesson on left, right, and straight. We set up the desks into groups, placed big cards with place names on them (school, bank, department store, etc.) on the desks, and the students, in pairs, took turns giving each other directions to the places. The one taking direction had their eyes closed and relied on the other for all bearings. During the first round, things were pretty straight forward. When the second round started, the kids realized they had control over the kids with their eyes closed. Students began to be very convoluted in their directions, having kids walk into walls, desks, and other students. I saw a girl direct a boy in circles over and over again.

Fourth period was kind of nerve wracking. I was observed by the Kouchou-sensei (Principal) and the Kyoto-sense (Vice Principal) for most of the period. When I got back to the teacher’s room, I was told I need to communicate more with the kids. I agree with this assessment. I would like to talk more with the kids but it is hard to do that when you are unsure of what you are teaching. I am sent a schedule each week informing me of what I will be teaching, but so far it has only been accurate once. The week I was sent the correct plan I was totally in charge of my classes, which is what I think Kouchou-sensei and Kyoto-sensei are looking for. I need to contact my company and let them know my situation. I don’t want to look like I don’t know what I’m doing when I teach. It should be easy to teach English at this level since I have been speaking English for twice as long as these kids have been alive…

I think I might try to go to bed earlier than midnight tonight. I am really tired during the day and have a hard time staying awake at my desk. Maybe if I get 8 or more hours of sleep I’ll do alright.

The last two classes of the day went quickly and I definitely had more of a presence. I wish Kouchou-sensei and Kyoto-sensei would have audited those classes…

Right before school ended, Koushou-sensei gave me a present: A bag of crouton looking snacky-thingies. They look rather sweet but I have been assured they are salty.

When you hand your camera to one of the kids:

Lunch time:

The one on the right is being funny.
He's the amateur photog from earlier.

Cool new bathrooms being built!

What the fashionable wear to work for Fall.

Sorry for the triple day update, I've been busy...

Weekend Round-up!

Thursday night I dreamt I hatched 12 eggs from our chickens and one of them turned out to be a crane. I gave the crane special attention when it was hatching, so it formed a bond with me, and slept on my chest and neck as a cat would. I needed to leave from the location the eggs had hatched, but it was hard to round up 12 little chicks.

Next I dreamt I had been rafting on a river earlier in the day with Max and was now going back to inform him of our departure. It was near the end of the day and I had gone away from the river, while he had stayed and hung out near the banks. As I was walking along the sand, I looked down and saw the corner a $50 bill peeking out of the sand. Upon inspection I found a complete wallet full of money. I kept looking through the wallet and found it to be my own, one I had lost many years earlier.

Friday
There had previously been some confusion about where I would be working. One of my schedules said I would work at the elementary and another said I would be working at the junior high. I got it sorted and had a mostly free day at the junior high. We had two classes in the beginning of the day and the rest was fun time. I was supposed to learn a dance during 4th period, but there were no bells to signify period ends, so I just stayed in the third period class and totally missed dance practice. I was too busy working on a mosaic, apparently. After lunch, I went and watched a short choral practice, then went to the gym to watch a dry run of the choral performance. Each of the 5 third year classes has a song they will sing for the Culture Festival, so I got to hear five different songs. At the conclusion, the teacher in charge asked me how I liked their presentation. Then she told me to give a speech to the kids. I asked her if the speech could be in English but she told me “No”, because no one would understand it. I struggled through a brief critique in Japanese and was applauded upon my conclusion. After school I practiced Break-dancing with the two guys I am learning with.

Saturday
Saturday was Matsuri! I woke up time but I forgot when the train left from the station close to my house, so I missed it and got to run across town to catch the train I needed from the major station. I made it on my train and to the Kawagoe station with no problems. Yuki arrived from yoga and we put our stuff in the last coin locker available. She gave me a present from her trip to Osaka.

"Oppai Pudding"

Hello Miss, What ya got there?

Ya don't say!

Heart Boobs!

We walked around the festival and saw a lot of cool things

As well as many food vendors

Twirly Fried Potatoes

Gachapin and Mokku Snack

Happy Face Potatoes

Patisserie!

And money wasters

Give this guy 300yen and walk away.
Maybe you'll catch a goldfish before you leave.
Not likely.

This guy offers a chance to catch a turtle.
Same probability as the fish guy.

So many turtles
:(

While we were perusing a clothing shop, the proprietor came up to talk to us. He was wearing really cool jeans so we asked him about them. They were hand painted in Japan and cost $1,500! He took us into his shop and showed us all the different styles he had available. They prices varied up to $2,800. Also on display were some really cool t-shirts. Embroidered and designed in a Japanese influence, some were still rather pricey.

Proprietor

The Store front

I found a shirt I liked but it didn’t seem like it was the right size; everything in Japan is smaller than in America. I tried it on and it fit! I snatched it up, since it was the only one of its design he had left.

He saw my shoes and liked them, so he offered to trade me for a pair of Nike Air Jordan V’s. He was selling them for $380, and my shoes only cost me $80, but the Jordans were the wrong size, so I kept my shoes.

I found a shop that had a plethora of edamame with different flavors: chocolate, green tea, caramel. I bought some green tea edamame to bring to work on Monday. They were a big hit!

When nighttime came, the lanterns on the shrines were turned on and all the shrines began to look very old-timey. It was so lively and crowded at the festival, I loved it!


There was also a haunted house

One of the lantern guys

This is a restaurant

Sunday
I woke early enough for a Sunday and met up with Paul. We were going to do errands! All I wanted to do was get my haircut but the day would unfold in a different way for me. Saturday turned out to be the worst day I’ve had yet. Everywhere we went, I had trouble communicating. First, the haircut place was closed and I couldn’t read the posted hours to find out when I could come back. Then I had some trouble understanding the hairstylist I was able to find open. It seemed like I needed an appointment and I should call first the next time, but things were never really made clear. We went to Mos Burger and had lunch, then walked to a bakery and looked around. Paul wanted to go to this particular bakery because they give you tea and a confection just for walking in. We enjoyed our sweet potato bar thing and some really hot black soy bean tea. I realized I needed some passport photos for the next day and started to worry about were I could get them. I tried to do stuff on the internet with websites that offered photo cropping services to make sure everything is in the right dimensions, but ultimately I made them myself in Photoshop. Then I had to figure out how to print them at 7-11. I walked to the shop and a guy helped me out, but my picture was in the wrong format. I returned home and reformatted the picture, then ventured out to try again. This attempt was met with success!

Working on Diplomatic Relations

Cool looking Bar

Interesting facade on this apartment building

Monday
Monday went almost 100%!

I had a lot to do today, but I got it done.

Mostly.

I went questing.

I had the day off because I have to work next Saturday for the Culture Festival, so I finally went to the bank and exchanged to last of the Traveler’s Cheques I had. Japan is not a check friendly place, so I don’t recommend using Traveler’s Cheques if you visit.

I fought the Green Dragon of the Cave of gold. Vanquished, he gifted me with 50000yen in exchange for five scrolls of writ and law

Flush with cash, I walked to the City Hall to get my Alien Registration Card and Health Insurance. I was able to complete these tasks with relative ease.

Then I ventured to the Castle of Lord Chiku. He welcomed in with a wicked grin and I was thrust directly into battle with two massive ogres. I defeated both with ease and for my valor and bravery, a maiden gave me a certificate of nobility and a mystic parchment of health.

I walked over to the haircut place that was closed the day prior and was able to get a haircut! I drew some pictures to show the stylist and she was able to cut my hair perfectly! I had no problems communicating today!

My locks were in dire need of maintenance, so I found a hairsmith and she was a comely lass indeed. She sheered my hair with great skill and only asked a tuppence in return.

Before

After

After the haircut, I had lunch at Mos Burger then caught a train to Omiya, a city about an hour away.

Verily I hungered. So I made haste to the closest tavern, Mos. After satiating my gullet, I rode upon a willo' the wisp to a far away land.

In Omiya, there is a bank which is, once you get your account set up, rather convenient to do business with. One can withdraw money from any 7-11 ATM, free of charge; this is a big bonus because cash is king here.

I had heard there was a king with a great coffer, willing to allow access for any and all.

I was unable to open an account on this day, because I do not yet have my Alien Registration Card. I have an official document that I paid $4 for, declaring I am in the process of getting my card, expressly for situations where I need my card. I was told this piece of paper would be sufficient, for that is its purpose, yet I was turned away.

The king didn't make known the rules and that is were tragedy befell our hero. I was turned away and told to come back when my good name is more well known throughout these parts.

I could use the paper to get a cell phone, but I want to have a bank account before I get my cell phone, so by that time the paper will be useless. I wandered around Omiya for awhile, looking at the shops, until I found a book store. I wanted to buy a magazine, but instead I found the manga floor. I was surrounded by comics and they were pretty inexpensive. I perused the aisles and found something that looked interesting, so I bought it.

On the way back to the train, I sat down to eat and was approached by a drunkard wanting conversation. Even though I pretended not to speak Japanese, he spoke some English, so I wasn’t off the hook. He talked with me for a while and then a friend of his walked up. I began to get nervous, so I took my leave of them. I rode the train home without incident and walked home from the station. It is getting colder at night so I’m going to need to start bringing a light jacket. I will also be getting a bicycle on Sunday. I’m looking forward to expanding my radius of exploration!