JET Christmas Party and Kyoto (again)

On Saturday night we had a JET Christmas party at Lee's house in Ichinomiya. It was just the 8 of us, which was nice, and way less stressful than Thanksgiving. We had egg nog (my first time--not a fan) and a ton of junk food, rice, stir fry. We were going to watch a movie but we ended up just hanging out and listening to Christmas music, talking, and playing charades, which was hilarious. About half the people there had never played before. We also did a sort of a secret santa exchange. The rules were, everyone had to buy a present but the limit was 100 yen (about a dollar). Then at the party we all swapped gifts. Some of them were pretty funny. Caitlin got an entire dried squid. Spencer got a can of Spam. It was a classy night all around. 

JET Christmas Party

On Sunday I went to Kyoto for the day to have lunch with Marcus-sensei, my Japanese professor from last year at Wash U. She's in Japan for about a week, and luckily Kyoto is close enough for a day trip (only not really, and it was a very long day, but I'm so glad I went). It was great to see Marcus-sensei, especially since now that it's been close to half a year that I've been here, I've been starting to feel a little, not homesick, but culture fatigued. We had a nice lunch, and then I spent the afternoon sightseeing. There's so much to see in Kyoto, this was my second time there and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what there is to see. I will definitely be going back again (probably more than once).

I will upload photos ASAP.

Updated Photos

I updated a few of my photo albums. Check them out!

Kobe Luminaria

Nagasaki

Roller Coaster Day

This has been a really up and down day. I was almost in tears this morning after a completely horrific lesson with the first years, who are not usually that bad. There is one boy in class 1B who is incredibly disruptive. He won't sit still or be quiet, and while not quite on a level with R in 2B, he's quite a handful, and he really disrupts the class. I don't mind students being high spirited, as long as the energy is focused towards the work at hand. The third years can get energetic too, but they're doing their work and not being disruptive. 

After class the English teacher told me that this boy, T, comes from a family that "doesn't care about him," in her words. Maybe this is a little lost in translation, but basically there are a lot of kids in the family, and he's not taken care of properly; his clothes don't get washed, he doesn't always brush his teeth; things like that. The acting up makes sense if there are a lot of kids at home, though. He wants attention. But today he and two or three other boys were throwing paper airplanes throughout the entire class, and talking across the room at each other and generally making a nuisance of themselves. I just stood there helplessly and fought the mental battle between wanting to slam my clipboard on the table and take some disciplinary action, and simply forcing myself to remain immune to it and remember that it's not my job to keep order in the class. Despite this, however, I can't help but be frustrated when there is complete anarchy in the classroom; especially because I can't do anything about it. The kids don't even listen to the Japanese teachers, let alone me, who they can't even understand. 

So that was first period, and I was really depressed after. I had to go to the third years 3rd and 4th period to do a Christmas lesson (singing songs, word search, making Christmas cards, that sort of thing), and I really wasn't in the mood. But it turned out to be a lot of fun. We listened to the Chipmunk Christmas Song (I had to sing it a cappella in the chipmunk voice at one point) and Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas. Hearing the kids sing along was really fun, because of course their accents are hilarious. 

I think because it's gotten so cold lately, I've been feeling kind of down. Maybe having a break will be good for me. We have about 2 weeks off over New Years, and I want to take a few extra days off, though I haven't yet and I'm not sure if it's too late. I'm planning on traveling a little around Japan, maybe to Tokyo and a few other places. Not really sure yet. Either way, it will be nice to have some time to myself.

Song of the Day

This song has been stuck in my head, so here's you little bit of Japanese culture for they day: yet another boy band.

KAT-TUN 喜びの歌 (Yorokobi no Uta)

(by the way making no claims about the quality of the music--this is a really fun karaoke song!)

Kobe Luminarie

Saturday night, a bunch of us went to Kobe for the annual Kobe Luminarie. It's a big light display commemorating the Hanshin earthquake of 1995. Thousands of people come to see it, it's on display for about 2 weeks. A network of streets are barricaded off and people are funneled through them like cattle, winding through the center of the city until you finally see, and then pass under, the big lighted arched. Crowds or people ind of swarm towards the lights, but they're pretty good about crowd control.  A lot of cops with bullhorns were standing around reminding people to move slowly and calmly. As you passed under the arches, music was playing, it sounded like hymns, something meant to commemorate the earthquake victims.

It was freezing cold yesterday. We drove to Himeji and then took the train to Kobe, and since the Luminarie is outside, we were all really bundled up. I was wearing my snow boots, leggings under jeans, a mock-turtleneck, long-sleeved shirt, light sweatshirt, wool sweater and winter coat, plus a scarf and earmuffs. 

Apparently this year is the last year they're doing the Luminarie. I guess because it's so expensive, and exists only on donations and, I assume, taxes, they can't afford to do it anymore. Which is too bad, it's a really nice tradition. 

After the Luminarie, we went and got a nice hot dinner to warm ourselves up, then headed home. It was a nice little trip, and it reminds me again of how lucky I am in my placement. We're so close to some great cities. Even though we don't have a real train station in Yamasaki, we're an hour from Himeji, and from there it's an easy train ride to Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto. Even Tokyo is only 3.5 hours from Himeji. 

My camera sucks in the dark, so I'm going to steal other people's pictures when they put them up. In the meantime, here are a few pictures I managed to take.

Kobe Luminarie

Brass Band Party

Saturday morning I went to my school's brass band's party. It was a farewell party for the 3rd years, who will graduate in March. I wasn't really sure what to expect going in, but it was fun, if a little awkward for me being there. We sat at tables on the floor and ate chips and donuts and stuff. A few of the 2nd years acted as MCs (they don't do unorganized parties here--there's always a program with opening and closing remarks and "free time" blocked in between the games and things they have planned). They played bingo, name that song, and shiritori, which is where a team goes to the blackboard, the first person is given a letter, and they have to draw something that starts with that letter, then the next person has to draw something that starts with the last letter of the previous drawing, etc. At the end, the first and second years gave the third years presents. It was a really nice little party.

Photos are private, comment if you'd like to see them. 

Himeji Castle

On Monday I had the day off, so I went to Himeji to do some shopping. While I was there, I finally went to Himeji Castle. I've been to Himeji many times, and you really can't avoid seeing the castle when you're in the city (it's a straight shot from the station down the main street to the castle), but I hadn't actually gone to visit it yet. 

The castle is really impressive. It's one of (if not the) biggest and best preserved castles in Japan. Sadly it is going to be tented next year for renovations, so I really wanted to make sure I saw it before that happened. The castle is huge, it just towers over the city. It's in a big compound, and up a hill (so as to be defensible). It was a perfect fall day and I had a nice time wandering around the compound, strolling up the hill and walking around the castle grounds. I was too lazy to climb all the way to the top of the castle, but it is possible to go all the way up inside.  

Himeji Castle