I'm back!!!

Weeel ladies and gentlemen. I ha d a fantastic summer travelling with my parents and then alone through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Highlights include...it all!
Since returning to Japan, I have vouched to make the next six months as exciting as possible. September proved to be a blur of birthday, wedding and reunion parties which were at least part of the aforementioned plan! Oh and a bit of work thrown in for good measure. Actually it has been quite hard getting the motivation back to plan and execute decent lessons when there has been a series of national or school holidays preventing any sustained effort from being made. But who's complaining? Since I am trying to save all available cash, I plan to spend a large part of next week's holiday in bed reading...aaaah bliss!

It has turned cool here now and I have changed my wardrobe over to autumn..I hated it to start with but am remembering how much I love Autumn in Japan. It's so beautiful yay!! x

Going Ga Ga

I went shopping today for..a hat, sturdy trainers, a long sleeved linen shirt and a bikini. A couple of stations along the Keiyo line in Minami Finabashi is a large shopping centre called Lalaport. My flatmate and I like to call it lalaland because it really must drive even the hardened shopper doolally. I don't like shopping at the best of times and I always forget how much I dislike this particular place. It has been refurbished as well which made it even more confusing for me to find my way. I have no trouble on a bare mountain deciding which way to go and following a map but inside this place is a maze of corridors, dazzling lights and confusing signs. I looked at the maps helpfully stationed all around the whole complex to get out after frustratingly finding that I was going to have the patience to find very few of the items on my list. I must have gone round in circles. Shop after shop selling the same kinds of goods left me bewildered and even more sure of my conviction that endless shopping for the sake of it brings very little if any long-lasting pleasure. I have plenty of girl friends who would probably disagree but I just can't see the pleasure in consumerism for consumerism's sake. I have still nine days though to at least by the trainers. I hope my patience holds out!

On a brighter note..my neighbour gave me some homemade rhubarb jam and some cherries today.

The Road to Nab End

I have just finished reading "The Road to Nab End" by William Woodruff. It tells the story of the author's childhood growing up in Blackburn, Lancashire during the 1920s and 30s. Blackburn was at the time suffering the decline of the cotton weaving industry and the author's family struggled though years of crippling poverty and injustice. I really enjoyed (if that is the right word for it) the book and it made quite an impression on me. In brighter sections of the story, Woodruff describes his trips into the local scenery outside of the dirty industrial cities. Rolling hills and deserted moorlands particularly reminded me of my own visits as a child to neighboring Yorkshire. It is hard now, for me to imagine how a rare trip to Blackpool pleasure beach could have been a source of intense happiness and wonderment. I do truly take a lot for granted it seems. I have never lived in the north but reading the book made me feel a slightly romantic fondness for the area. It made me consider too how my own great-grandparents fared during these times and I feel ashamed to say that I don't even know what kind of work they did. I have only quizzed my parents on a handful of times about my ancestors but I now feel a strong desire to know more.

Better safe than sorry???

I have been having a series of jabs prior to my summer trip. Yesterday was the final round and on the cards was Hepatitis A, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis. The doctor is very friendly and also likes to speak English and when it comes to medical Japanese, well...er.. I am happy for him to do the talking. I roll up the sleeve of my T-shirt... One down, two more to go. As he is about to stick the second needle in he tells me it is the rabies one.. Out of curiosity I ask what the first was. He looks at the sticker now attached to my vaccination record sheet and his face was a picture. Oh 'Sh.....ugar'. I feared the worst. That was Hep B, the nurse made a mistake when preparing the needles! "And the doctor an even bigger mistake not checking" I muttered to myself. I could take action I suppose if I had the mind to, but it's not my style and besides, there is no harm done. The standard procedure for Hep B vaccinations here is three shots. I am no doctor but I was good at maths once - so does that mean I am a third protected against Hep B?

Mont Blanc

Today, I read a description of Nicholas Crane's mid-winter ascent of Mont Blanc, a mountain I have wanted to climb for a number of years. (Clear Waters Rising - Nicholas Crane). It sounded a thrilling experience. Though his trek all along the mountainous spine of Europe from Cape Finisterre to Istanbul is far from a mere walk in the park too. What must it feel like to stand on the top of this stunning mountain? I will have to get training to be able to find out!

A Bad Day

I was all togged up in my wet weather cycling gear this morning and about to step out into the rainy season typhoon when I discovered that my keys were not in any of the usual places I always leave them. Panic. Check again. Panic some more. Check unusual places. Panic. Call flatmate. No answer. Call colleague. Blurt out incomprehensibly the predicament - five lessons to teach, nobody to cover, bike keys and home keys both together, two valuable computers at home blah blah. Panic. Try more unusual places...fridge, washing machine, laundry basket, knickers drawer, shoe cupboard. Get angry. I am an organised person, I don't do this. Turf stuff out of my bag for the umpteenth time. Throw my pencil case on the floor in a strop. Calm down. I let myself into the house last night and didn't subsequently leave so they have to be here somewhere.........finally....in the bin! Of course. Cycle like the wind, arrive flustered and bedraggled just in time for the first lesson.

Coming home strike two. A cyclist came hurtling into me. Crash. No damage but I did yell out from the shock.

Just as I had remembered that bad luck strikes in threes...a car pulled out from a car park to my right causing me to swerve nearly into the road. Cursed.

Jabs, Francais et Mousse au Chocolat..

I feel like a pincushion.

I went to an international travel centre this morning to get myself protected against a number of diseases while I am away this summer. It was a costly, confusing and slightly painful affair. Since I was passing through Idabashi on my way home, I decided to stop off at one of my favourite haunts in Tokyo - L'institut Francais in Kagurazaka. I love the French bookshop there and was secretly hoping that I would talk myself into believing that I could afford a book or an audiobook of something interesting and philosophical. Camus perhaps, Beaudrillard or Lefebvre. I think the shopkeeper saw me coming and as I approached the lights were snapped off and the door quickly locked for a very Mediterranean lunch break. Probably saved me spending money I don't have right now.

Not to be put off, I had something else to be excited about. The cafe in the institut makes the best mousse au chocolat in the whole of Tokyo and for a mere ¥100! The espresso is true French style, as is the ordering and the plaisanteries at the till.

As I sat enjoying these small luxuries, I watched a story on French sky TV about a French journalist's journey to Indonesia. Je pouvais compredre tout ce qu'il disait et J'etais tres contente! Une bonne Journee.

Shopping Trip

I finished early today because of midterm tests. Thought it would be a perfect time to go shopping. On my mental shopping list was a pair of football boots and a mosquito net. Luckily in Kaihin Makuhari there is an outlet shopping centre and its usually a good place to get reductions on clothes and other goods. There is also a big Mont Bell shop which I enjoy wandering around even if I don't plan to buy anything...this can be fatal. I try to convince myself that for my next adventure, a particular gadget or item of clothing is absolutely necessary. I need to plan that adventure first. But since my trip to South East Asia is coming up soon and providing me with a good reason to shop there, I relished today's task. Having forgotten the Japanese for 'mosquito' and not wanting to gesture, I tried to find it alone...which proved fruitless. On the way though, I managed to pick up a camelback which I had admired, picked up, but put back on a previous visit, and a lightweight sleeping bag. I convinced myself that both were necessary. The camelback holds 3 litres of water and has many interesting pockets for which I will find objects of the appropriate size to put in! The red colour scheme was the final deciding factor.

Next up, football boots. Now, I am usually more inclined to buy Nike sportswear than Adidas (there are both outlets within spitting distance of each other). Mens sizes are too big for me, there doesn't seem to be a ladies football selection, so I am forced to go for kids sizes and styles. This I don't mind, but Nike had just two acceptable shoes to offer (the criteria being the soles). Size 23 I couldn't get my feet into and size 24 felt like ducks feet. No size 23.5. hmph. Adidas do a much larger and more helpful range though I still prefer Nike designs. Since I lost my previous football boots, I went for a cheap pair at ¥2990. Bargain. I now only need to worry about how to pay for my jabs before payday comes!

Shameless plugging..

Just thought I would advertise my brother's blogspace...featuring the latest from his crazy adventures in a tuktuk! Oh and you can donate money to a good cause! x
http://raidersofthelastchapati.blogspot.com/

Trickery..

Coming home from my Japanese lesson tonight, I day-dreamt as I watched the buildings and factories fly by along the Keiyo line. There was a pretty but undramatic sunset and the more I looked, the more I imagined an exotic island with a rough sea crashing up against its shores. The only strange thing was the sea, though violent, was not moving as I would expect since is was made from clouds, not sea. I always enjoy the tricks your eyes can play on your mind in these circumstances.

Today there was bird poo on my bike saddle...it's going to be a lucky day!

mmm

Today was a fingerlickin Krispy Kreme doughnut day...too bad Nick!

Narita Taiko Matsuri

Every Spring, Narita temple hosts a large drum festival with groups of Taiko (the Japanese style drums) players coming from all across Japan to play, entertain the crowds and parade through the streets of the town. I got there early to claim a space for the main event inside the temple grounds. I was not disappointed. As you can perhaps tell from the photos, the sound of so many drums playing so close provides such a buzz of excitement. Each year it makes me want to learn how to play and this year I got close to taking up steel drums, but since the group only meets on Saturdays and I have to work I think my career may have to be put on hold for a while longer!

Nagasaki March 08

Here are a couple of photos from our trip to Nagasaki! I didn't take many and the quality of what I did take doesn't seem to be very good!

A little unexpected...

Today was mostly a whirl of lessons, student demands and papers flying around my desk, although there was one notable exception. Teaching "I (don't) like ~" to my first year students (12 years old), most of the answers were along the lines of "I like soccer", "I like maths", "I like pizza"... one boy however, hand up straight, serious face and a loud voice; "I like democracy!" He had the congeniality to allow the other students and me to giggle at this unexpected, but fantastic use of language especially for such a new student!

Moments like these have me tittering for hours after!

Well its a wet Saturday afternoon and having been inspired by a colleague to stick to this blog, I can see no better way to pass the time than to scribble down a few of my latest and greatest adventures. Starting with a quick review of 2008 so far. Well, just a few blog entries ago I noticed I had mentioned that I was merely 25, I wonder if my 28th year will bring about any significant changes in my lifesytle or maturity. Here goes...

The return to work in January was anything but smooth for me. Lots and lots of pressures with work extras and hours spent marking essays meant that I didn't enjoy the term as much as expected. I also found the post-Christmas blues quite strong this year. That said, outside of work I learnt to snowboard which was a lot of fun. The feeling of satisfaction when I managed to link together a few hesitant turns on my first morning on the baby slopes was immense although it didn't prepare me well enough for the afternoon's red runs higher up the mountain! I can't say my legs were prepared for the pain I inflicted on them (or my derriere for that matter!). Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed the onsen and beer that evening. Things went a little more smoothly the next day and I am already looking forward to going back next season. Japan has some excellent ski/snowboard areas within easy access of Tokyo - although missing a night's sleep on a night bus is the cheapest way to get there.

I also joined a ladies football team in January. Not expecting to like it or be any good, I was moderately surprised on both accounts. I go most weeks and feel that I am making quite noticeable progress so again, that is satisfying. We don't always have enough women who turn up regularly, so a few men have also joined us although they are very kind to us! We now have a new coach who has been putting us through our paces and making me feel that I need to do more than this weekly runaround. I was very flattered though last week, when he called me 'his enemy'.

Continuing the sporting theme...(I will get to the drinking and abuse of my body in part 2). Climbing is still occupying a large part of my recreational time...I have met someone who has taken me outside to do some rope climbing. I love climbing outside as it always feels more real somehow. And it's more satisfying too when I reach the top and see the beautiful mountain scenery around me. I have recently rediscovered how stunning the countryside is around Tokyo if prepared to travel a while. With a good book or a friend to talk to the two hour journeys are not as troublesome as they seemed before. I recently went walking in some very attractive mountain areas in and around Mitake and Tsukuba and since right now it's a perfect time to be outside, there really were no excuses to be made.

The visit to Japan of my brother, Gaia and Jenna provided me with another perfect opportunity to travel and experience parts of Tokyo that I have been meaning to do since coming here. Our three days in Nagasaki were fantastic and informative in equal measure, though the highlight of the week for me was the Tokyo fish market we went to at the crack of dawn and the party later that evening. The fish market is the biggest in the world and is truly impressive. The sheer variety of sea-life was staggering and added with the danger of getting out of the way of the careering, battered trucks made for a very memorable experience. Tourists have been causing too many problems for this market since it relies on the efficiency of getting the fish delivered to restaurants across the city and beyond in times which ensure fresh sashimi. So I believe it has now closed its doors to the public which meant that our visit was timely indeed. Which brings me to the party in the evening...there is not so much to say about that, only that it goes down in my memory as one of the best since I have been here. I enjoyed getting together with people I have grown close to since being here but who didn't know each other before - friends who I came with, Japanese friends I have made since, colleagues and of course the travellers. It was a very drunken evening for me and the singing in the karaoke box probably got progressively worse as the evening wore on...but thats the point innit?

Since then, I have started my second year at the same junior and senior high school teaching conversational English and also English literature. I feel a lot more relaxed this year having taught many of the same levels last year and feeling pretty comfortable with my new schedule. I realised this morning as I was watching a group of boys walk to school and listening to them teasing each other that I can't imagine not teaching anymore. I will also miss teaching Japanese students as I have really come to appreciate their humour, their hardwork and their respect for teachers and each other. I say that, but one of their favourite pastimes recently is watching my face as they deliberately distort my name into combinations of Tonton, Sonton, and Soooorrrrnton.