Off to India

So, as I have mentioned in a few past blogs, I will be going to India this Christmas break to build homes for the Dalits in the state of Andhra Pradesh. I thought I would finally fill you in on the details.

I will be traveling with about 10 other wonderful members of the Japan Exchange and Teaching program (JET) who currently work as English teachers and coordinators for international relations all over Japan. The project we are taking part in is called Building Communities, a partnership between the U.S.-based non-profit organization Longitude and the Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV), an Indian human rights organization.

The people we will be working with in India are the Dalits otherwise known as the “Untouchables” caste. The Dalits are the lowest members of the legally abolished but still socially practiced Hindu caste system. They also comprise 90% of the poorest of the poor in India. The reason why their poverty situation is particularly difficult to get out of is that although caste-based discrimination has been abolished since 1947, more than 170 million people are still victims of daily prejudice.

Indians of other castes can climb the social and financial ladder to become prosperous and can improve their situation if they wanted to. However, being born a Dalit means that even if you wanted and worked hard, you are restricted to menial jobs, usually of the lowest salary range. Jobs allotted to Dalits include unclogging sewers, making bricks in scorching heat and working as meagerly paid field hands. In many cases they still have to make sure that they never come into physical contact with higher caste people and may even have to ensure that they do not touch anything which is going to be touched by higher caste people. This means that they cannot go near eating places or water sources to not pollute it with their presence.

Because of their poverty and low social status, Dalits do not have adequate access to food, housing, clothing, education or health care. This creates a vicious circle that prevents many Dalits from getting themselves out of poverty.

Association of Relief Volunteers is working to empower them by providing adequate housing, medical necessities, food and water security and the skills necessary to improve their own means through education. Our work and the funds we raise will go towards building family homes and assisting with education programs that aim to improve health and sanitation, food security and proper nutrition, women’s empowerment, Dalit empowerment and helping children complete their educations so they have better chances for progress and upward mobility in their lives and in the lives of future generations.

The group I am going with is accepting donations so when we get there we can make that much more of a difference. I am fully aware of how often I ask for money for all of these little projects I decide to take on, so please don't fee obligated to donate. As we are gearing up for this winter’s trip, we are working hard to raise as much as possible. Any support you can provide is very much appreciated. Please remember that any amount helps- especially in India where $12 can feed a child a glass of milk and an egg everyday for an entire month and $375 can build an entire family a home.

Despite their situation, the Dalit people of Chevuru Village are always smiling and are very hard working people. If we can help provide them with support and an education, I know they can rise against the social discrimination they face everyday and will be able to thrive and stand on their own.

Donations can be made in two ways. The easiest and fastest way is through credit card payment on our group page JET Winter Work Camp

If you are uncomfortable with making a donation online please send your donations to the following address and be sure to specify that they are for the Winter 2010 volunteer crew. Please include your email address in the check memo to receive your tax receipt via email.

Longitude
21 Crescent St.
Providence, RI 02907

Your donations are 100% tax deductible and you will receive an acknowledgement of your gift for your tax records. Additionally, your name will be listed on our homepage! Feel free to contact me at kathrynbohan@gmail.com if you have any questions. For more information, please visit our group page at:

Longitude Winter Trip 2010

Thank you all for taking the time to read this and for all your love and support in all the endeavors I decide to take on.

Lots of love,
Kate


Be the change you want to see in the world.-Ghandi

A Thursday of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
This year marks my first Thanksgiving, and major holiday for that matter, away from my loving and familiar comfort blanket of family and friends.

My Thanksgiving has been the same for as long as I can remember. Church in the morning, Macy`s Thanksgiving Day parade, followed by assisting my mom with dinner while she drills me every year with, `Now Kate, do you think you could make this meal if I wasn`t here?` The answer is always no, no Mom, no I could not. At which point I receive an exhaled, `Kaaaateeee`. Let`s be real, if Thanksgiving was on me I would most likely pick something up from The Honey Baked Ham store. Then, guests arrive for dinner, Carol, Beth, the Namimoto`s and the Salinas`, all or any combination of the above, and we have a lovely meal! Saying grace, which is mandatory when eating in the dining room, followed by a table poll of what we`re thankful for. Thanksgiving conversations are always fun. Inevitably including a discussion of where we are all going to be in 5 years lead by my mom, and then somehow on to marriage and relationships in general. Tori and I steer that discussion when we say very clearly that we are NOT getting married anytime soon, followed by our mothers` head nod of approved relief.

Makin mashed potatoes...clearly focused

Fam Bam

For our little crew of Thanksgiving guests, no one is really related to each other, aside from the immediate family members they showed up with. So we don`t have any of the ordinary Thanksgiving family drama. It is just a group of people, a man made family if you will, enjoying an amazing meal that we all pulled together to create. Everyone appreciates everyone else and we are all thankful to have each other to share in this pleasant holiday.

So this year, while I am over here in Japan thinking about how everything is going on as usual over in California, I am working on creating my own memorable Thanksgiving.

Last night the other 4 JETs that live in Kamagaya, as well as my apartment complex, had our own Thanksgiving! Dinner consisted of a chicken that was cooked in a crock pot, mashed potatoes, frozen peas and carrots, English muffins and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. It was amazing! We even said grace beforehand and combined any and all of our Thanksgiving traditions. Kim and I are the only 2 Americans in our self named, JET Village, so for some of the other ALTs this was their first Thanksgiving as well. It was so nice to just hangout and chat. Tim, Sinapi`s husband, was also there. He is from Chicago and is in the US Navy, stationed at the base here. The pumpkin pie was courtesy of him and his access to mini America. He had brought over the ads for the Black Friday sales the base was having. And yes, he was set to wake up at 5am to get some shopping done. How very American of him.

Thanksgiving Japan style 2010

Sinapi (from NZ) and I

PUMPKIN PIE!

From my Turkey Day lesson at school...any questions?

This Saturday I went to another part of Chiba to have yet another Thanksgiving dinner, this time with about 40 other Chiba JETs. It was an amazing event and such a good time!

Trey and Mike carving 2 or the 4 turkeys, courtesy of Costco

Nicola and I with our HEAPING plates of food

Arts and crafts time led to some excellent decorations

Kampai!!!

While of course I wish I could share this special day the way I usually do with the people I love, I am still enjoying it all the way over here. Last night after Thanksgiving in JET Village, I went back to my apartment happy and satisfied. With not an ounce of homesickness, no offense anyone, and I started to wonder why. How did I get here? Here, to this place in my life where I am content celebrating a major holiday with people I met 3 months ago.

I was thinking about this last night as I was falling asleep, listening to rain and praying it would stop before my AM bike ride to work. And this is what I came up with. The reason I decided I am not homesick and longing to be back in the States today, is, well…you.

I have such a solid foundation of people supporting me and routing for me to succeed. If you are reading this you obviously know me in some way and thus have shaped my life in one way or another, some more than others. It could be as small as a conversation we had once, to helping me through a rough time, to attending high school or college with me, or as big as, well, raising me.

I want to sincerely thank you all for that. You have contributed to me. Shaping me as I grow, making me who I am. And I have to say, I`m pretty proud of the way I turned out.:) So thanks!

Thanks to my parents whose love and support has never faltered. Cheering for me at my 575,478,957 soccer games, backing me up when I didn`t understand my homework, putting up with my KUMON temper tantrums knowing that it would benefit me in the long run, and of course supporting me financially to my first choice university. Your support behind me being in Japan has been unbelievable. The fact that you understand why I want to be here and back me in my decision to move half way around the world, no matter how hard it is for you, is simply amazing. Love you both so much!

Thank you to my extended family, who I see all to rarely. Thank you for the memories and the support both, financial and otherwise, when I decide to take on such tasks as run a half marathon while raising money for Leukemia or go to Belize to teach. Thank you, thank you! You made those experiences possible for me, experiences that I count as some of the most important in my life.

Thank you to my family friends. A category that I feel like gets skipped over all too often. I am so lucky to have such an amazing group of adults looking out for me. Thank you to Carol, Beth, the Namimoto`s, the Salinas`, the Dawidziak`s, the Kirk`s and the Storer`s thank you all so much for supporting me as if I was your own. From including me on the email chain when you email your other 3 children, to taking me on trip with you, to treating me to countless meals. And always, always, always cheering for my success. Thank you.

Thank you to my friends. I don`t even know where to begin with this one. I love my friends more than I can say and I have been so lucky to have such a solid group. Thank you to my high school friends, a group of people who are seemingly able to pick up right where we left off 5 years ago at 18. (Oh my god is that right?! 5 years?!) That is the mark of true friendship. Thank you for the visits all over the world, thanks to the travel buddies, the nights we needed a place to crash, the visits to each other`s colleges, while they may not always be 100% memorable ;) those memories are irreplaceable. Love you guys!

I have always loved the quote, `Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.` I believe it wholeheartedly, especially when it comes to my college friends. Thank you all for helping me to create a new home in San Francisco. Thank you to my roommates over the years, which includes about 12 different girls with whom together we created some of the best days of our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you girls for making my college experience what it was.

Finally, thank you to all those I have met in Japan. The reasons I love it so much, the reasons I want to stay. The friends I made at orientation, who I have known all of 3 months but it feels like so much longer. Thanks to the other ALTs in JET Village for supporting me through my move here and not slamming the door in my face when I ask for the 47,839 time, What does this say?, What did he say?, What bill this is?, How do I do such and such? Thank you guys, I am thankful everyday we have each other to lean on if we need.

Thanks to Jessica and Kellyne. The only other friends from home I have in this time zone. Knowing you are just a skype call away and on the same sleep schedule as me is unbelievably comforting.

And thank you to the amazing teachers I work with. I have said it before, but Taka, Namiko and Keima have really made my experience here. To the teachers who cause me to laugh all day long, thank you for making work so fun. Thank you for your patience with me as I learn Japanese, thanks for making sure I know if the schedule is changed, and when to pay my lunch bill, thanks for generally looking out for me. You have made this move to Japan a smoother transition than I ever thought it could be.

Being so far away this year has allowed to be even more thankful, and feel closer to my loved ones than ever before. I am so thankful to have you all in my life.


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and Thank you!
Arigato Gozaimashita!


Gobble, Gobble
Kate

Fall Festivals

Culture Festival and Teacher’s Trip

With fall comes cooler weather and many school festivals. Most recently we had our culture festival, which consisted of each club and grade coming up with a something to sell as a way to raise money. Some clubs sold food or drinks, others sold things they had made. Needless to say I shelled out way more money than I wanted as I was cornered every few seconds and begged to buy either something plastic or something edible. Our culture festival was followed by another enkai, and we all know how much I like those! 

Our Principal in the background looks at this
super cool street performer!
The performer was like that for hours.

This time it was an over night enkai, the idea being that we eat dinner and have a drinking party and sleep where we eat. That way, no one has to take the train or drive afterwards. The drinking and driving laws here are much stricter than in the US. There is absolutely zero tolerance. If you have one drink, you do not drive. No exceptions. That being said, these drinking/sleeping places have come about to fill this niche.

Asakusa in Tokyo

So our little weekend trip consisted of quite the agenda! We meet at the local train station on a Sunday around noon. There was a chartered bus waiting for us, and we drove to a neat little part of Tokyo that I had yet to visit, so I for one was quite excited! Upon arriving we had amazing sushi for lunch, and my ability to use chopsticks was again discussed. My fondness of wasabi was also added to the list of discussion topics that swirl around me. Then we had a few hours to walk around and explore. Saw some temples and amazinggggg shops. Then it was back to the bus and off to see Blue Man Group. I was SO excited! I had wanted to see the show in Vegas, but we didn’t get tickets in time, so I was really excited to see it here! And being that there is such a language barrier, it was the perfect show to me to watch with them.

We got fortunes!
My was the best one possible, hers was the worst.
If you receive one that is not good you tie it to designated area, so as to leave the bad luck behind.

Namiko, one of my fave JTEs and I,
at the temple.

Temple in Asakusa

VP on the far left, next to him is
the teacher who was selected to
participate.

During the show I scoped it out, and it was official, I was the only non-Japanese person, which surprised be being that we were right in Tokyo. When the blue men made their way into the audience I saw them do a double take when they got to be. Namiko was next to me, and we both wondered if they were going to play off that fact, but they didn’t. Though they did select one of our teachers to join them on stage, she was perfect for the role. We called her Blue Woman for the rest of the evening. Oh! And we even got take a picture with them at the end!

A Blue Man!

Then it was off to the enkai place where dinner was UNBELIEVEABLE and we continued to drink and laugh into night. I’ve said it before but I really, really love the teachers I work with. It is so fun to have them in this setting where they can just be themselves, and we can enjoy each others company without the stress and traditional rules of the work place. 

Dinner!

The following morning, Monday, we headed back to little Kamagaya and enjoyed a day off. We had off that Monday to compensate for working on the previous Saturday at the culture festival.

Chorus Festival

  

Each class in the school, for a total of 13, have been practicing songs to sing at this years chorus festival. They are competing against each other for one of four trophies, best class per grade and best overall. I have been hearing them practice after school as they have been staying late and coming early to squeeze in extra practice. All the students were very excited about it, so I was eager to hear what they had prepared!

Last Friday we all gathered into the FREEZING cold gym. Evidently Japan does not believe in insulation, so the temp inside mirrors the outside temperatures year round. All the students were seated in their class rows and each class went up to sing two songs. Parents were gathered in the background and teachers were seated along the sides to keep order.

The first class went up and began singing. It was the song I had been hearing throughout the halls. Oh, so this is the class I’ve been hearing, I thought! I bopped along, watching the piano player and conductor, each class had appointed someone for the jobs. The first class then switched to their second song, which was lovely, and finally were off the stage. Time for the next class, which opened with the same song the first class had started with, the one I had been hearing throughout the halls. No. Way. I thought. No way is each class going to sing this same song. That means we would hear it a total of 13 times. You’ve got to be kidding me.

I starred at my program more intensely, looking for patterns with the Kanji and deduced that that was exactly what was going to happened. And indeed it was. I heard that song a total of 15 times that day, as they sang it together as a school twice at the end. Wow. I get the logic behind it, having some type of base line for the judges to judge them off of, but WOW.

Students wait for their turn, parents look on and
we all listen to the same song 15 times.

Just like on sports day in the beginning of the year, there were tears from just about everyone when the winners were announced. Boys, girls, parents and teachers. I was too perplexed to cry. It seemed the kids who won cried harder then those that lost. It was a few minutes before the groups went up to get their trophies and in that time I was trying to gage what type of tears I was looking at.

All in all everyone had a great day! And it was a nice change of pace. The kids loved it, and sounded amazing I must say!!

Guide Dog Assembly

This was in no way a festival but I had to add it in, it was just too cute. Yesterday we had a unique assembly where a blind man and his guide dog, Romeo, came to GoChuu to talk to the kids basically about what his day to day life is like. We watched a short video and he demonstrated how he communicates with Romeo, the yellow lab.

I know how crazy this is going to sound, but when the dog walked in, I felt an odd bond toward him, as we were the only two in about a 10 miles radius, with hair that could be classified as dirty blonde. And as I would soon find out, we both understood English! All Romeos commands were in English as the Japanese words for sit, down and come are about twice as long. A few times I had to chuckle when the man told Romeo to sit, and he just looked at him, or at one point went completely down. I have no idea if anyone else picked up on it, but it made me smile.

The students also got a chance to put on a blind fold and walk, guided by another student in an L shape, just to get a taste of what it is like to be blind. I served as guide for a few students, talking to them mostly in English with a little Japanese, and being that I recently added left and right to my Japanese vocabulary, I was eager to let them know that it was time to turn hidari.

Things are still going great! I am loving it here, and cannot believe how fast these three and a half months have gone by. It’s unbelievable! I get really sad when I think about my time here being over, leading me to believe that I will most likely be here at least 2 years. We don’t re-contract until the spring, so I have until then to make my final decision.

This past weekend, I went to Tokyo to meet up with some other JETs who were town just for the weekend and captured this lovely photo while at a random zoo. I also have to add that this zoo had squirrels and guinea pigs in captivity, what rare creatures! Just wanted to share. 

I love fall.

Up Next:

A trip to India for Christmas! I am officially going! I will be building houses in a small town for a about a week and traveling for a few days after. I have my flight and my visa such a relief.  I am getting excited!! More details to come!

Trip to the North

This past Monday we didn’t have school or work as it was, Health and Sports Day...God I love this country. I have not a clue what that means but I used my free Monday as an opportunity to go and visit my good friend Jessica up in the northern part of Japan, in Aomori Prefecture. 

While Japan is not that large of a country, especially compared to the US, travel within Japan can be quite expensive and require all kinds of vehicles. My trip to Jessica consisted of an hour train ride to get to Tokyo where I purchased my Shinkansen, bullet train, ticket. Once I got to the stop in Jessica’s town it was another 40 minute drive to Jessica’s apartment.

The Shinkansen alone was about $300. To add to the fun, there were no seats left and it was standing room only. So I bought myself a bento box, which I ate in the designated waiting zone, then headed to find my assigned train car and wait in the designated paint area until the train arrived. Everything in Japan is `designated` so really there should be no question as to where you need to be at any given moment.  

When I got on the train it was very clear where the standing room area was. I settled up against the far wall, plopped by bag down, then plopped down on top of it and opened my book. There was no way I was standing for the 3 hr ride. I really wanted nothing more than to sit for the next three hours and read, Eat.Pray.Love. But, no. There was a lady who was also in the standing room only section who kept smiling at me. I was exhausted and still don’t speak Japanese well enough to have a conversation, so every conversation I do have is exhausting in itself. Then at the next stop a young guy, about my age, came in the back area to join the awkward silence. He smiled when he saw me and asked in Japanese if it was okay that he sat next to me. I, shockingly, understood and said sure. I knew as soon as I answered that was a mistake. He then started talking to me in Japanese and I went to my next go to phrase, which is, ‘I don’t understand.’ He then reverted to perfect English. He cracked open a beer and told me he was from Nepal, but his parents lived in Sendai, which was his stop on this train. I explained my story a bit and then we turned to get the other lady involved. She spoke only Japanese and some English she learned in school. I found out she was 60, though she didn’t look it, and had just come from visiting her grandkids in Tokyo. She was sweet and so excited to talk to us. Meanwhile, I was still exhausted and finding it hard to be my usual `genki` self. I asked when the little food cart was to come around as I wanted, needed, a coffee. They both told me soon.

A lovely fall morning

We’re now about 45min into the ride and it dawns on me that this lady is still standing, while I and my other same aged friend have made ourselves quite comfortable on our bags. The conductor came up to her and told her that there now is in fact an available seat if she would like it, she must have asked when she got on. She politely said no, and looked at us so sweetly and said that she was having fun. Awwwww:) A few minutes later the coffee thing came around and she bought us all coffee. So sweet! Then she too plopped on the ground, smiling while she did it. This may have been one of the more rebellious things she’s done in her life. I can envision her going back to her friends and saying, `They were just sitting on the floor! So I bought them coffee and joined them.` Both my new friends got off at Sendai, two hours in to my 3 hr ride, and I had a seat for the remaining hour, which was lovely indeed.

I arrived in Jessica’s town with her waiting for me in the car with one of her lovely co-workers. Jessica lives in a small town about 40min from the train station. She also doesn’t have a car, so any time she has visitors or she herself wants to go anywhere, she needs to arrange a ride to and from the station. Her co-workers were so sweet and more than happy to take us. When we finally arrived at Jessica’s apartment, we caught up for a bit and then passed out, we were both so tired. God we’re old.

The next morning Jessica and I enjoyed our convenient store coffee, which was starbucks thank you very much, as we watched the only high school in town perform a traditional Japanese dance all the way down 

Main Street

. Apparently learning this dance is a part of their graduation requirement. They danced for about 2 hours and then were headed back to the high school to set up for a festival the next day, which Jessica and I would be attending.

High Schoolers Dancin

Jessica is working in Takko-Machi as both an English teacher and a liaison between this little Japanese town and her home town of Gilroy, CA. Gilroy and Takko are sister cities and garlic capitals of there respective countries. Fun fact: The two towns are located on the same latitude, the latitude where garlic grows best. Learned that little tid bit at the Gilroy Garlic Festival pretty cool huh?! Takko too holds a garlic festival in the Fall.  

Being that she is here as a liaison, foreign, and the only blonde in a 10 mile radius, Jessica is also a celebrity/diplomat. She is invited to just about every event in town and given prime seating. Then makes her rounds and has some chit chat with the officials. She too is all smiles all the time, saying hello to just about every single person that crosses her path.

Over the course of that weekend we were invited to the high school festival and parade along with the elementary school pageant. As for the rest of the weekend we simply ate our way through it, hung out in sweats, watched TV online and caught up. I, having no internet, was more than eager to get in touch with my American side, aka my American shows and movies that I have been missing out on. We had pancakes for breakfast, ate at the Garlic Center for lunch, and had a lovely dinner at Ikeda Farms which had the best beef I think I have ever had. It was SO good and went down so easy.

It was at that dinner that someone exclaimed, “Kate! You’re a real person!!” Indeed I am! Both Jessica and I are famous in each others towns as we constantly mention that we have another friend living in Japan. So when I arrived I think they were surprised to see that I was real!

All in all it was a great weekend! Getting to see a new part of this country and catching up with her was great!

Also, I have officially been accepted to go to India this Christmas! I will be going for a week, Dec 25-Jan 1 and can’t wait! I will be volunteering and building houses. It will be an experience like no other. I’m now off to fill out my visa info and work on Halloween lesson plans!

Until next time…mata ne!

Kate

California Does Kyoto

For those of you who haven’t heard, I had a few visitors this past weekend!!! Renee, my friend and former roommate from college, and A.J. came to Japan to play! They came only for a week, and spent the first portion up in northern Japan with Jessica, my other good friend living here. AJ actually surprised Jessica, and I soooooo with we had video of that! The 3 of them then came to me for a night, before the 4 of us headed off to Kyoto. Still with me?

Jessica & AJ and his latest discovery,
vending machine coffee!!

Renee & I waiting for the ChooChoo     

  

Outside the Ryokan

Kyoto is about 4 hours away from me. It took us about an hour to get to Tokyo Main Station where we boarded the Shinkansen, bullet train, which was from there a 3 hour ride to Kyoto. My lovely guests brought Jess and I American magazines. While everyone else was sick of trains, I on the other hand was eager to read about how to “Win Anyone Over in 3 Minutes or Less”. Wise words Cosmo. Needless to say, I was stoked for the ride and my high quality reading material. It was my first Shinkansen, though I’m sure not my last, and I have to say it was pretty freakin awesome! It goes so fast, quite the SHOCKER since it is called a bullet train. By the way, in case you hadn’t heard, I believe that the bullet train is what just brought our lovely California governor over here a few weeks ago. Why Mr. Schwarzenegger couldn’t just have called and inquired about how Japan does bullet trains is beyond me, but who wouldn't turn down a reason to get out of the office?


We arrived at Kyoto main station and thanks to our lovely self appointed travel agent, Jessica, she pretty much steered us the rest of the trip. We hopped in a cab to take us to our ryokan. We wanted to make sure Renee and AJ got the most authentic Japanese experience possible while they were here. This ryokan was partly western, though that level varied between rooms. Jessica and I shared a room that was dubbed ‘half-western’ simply because it had a couch. We gave the traditional Japanese, aka couchless room, to our western visitors. This ryokan also provided hairdryers and free wi-fi, both of which I’m sure you could find at any ryokan in the early 1900s.


We walked around the town for a bit, hit up some temples and a convince store. The convince stores, here known as ‘convienees’ have EVERYTHING and are an experience in themselves. They are actually where I pay all my bills as well, no joke. Then it was off to Gion, or the Geisha district. We watched a Geisha show which included some other Japanese art demonstrations like flower arranging and tea pouring. Not exactly an action packed show but still beautiful. We saw some Geisha, or Maiko the step before Geishahood, walkin around, and yes they were real. Though for 100 or so dollars you too can become a Geisha! When we saw the actual accompanied ones, Jessica did exactly what you’re not supposed to do…took a picture right in her face. Though I have to admit that now that we’re home, I am pretty excited we have it. Well done J Brew :) 

Geishas, mid dance

We went to dinner that night and talked about this magical Geisha land. I am fascinated by them, just as I am the Amish. I don’t really think of myself as someone who is all about girl-power, but man I wouldn’t last a day as a Geisha. We joked that they would tell me to pour the tea and I would simply say, “no”. I do realize there is much more to it than that, trust me, I was Google-ing Geisha’s every spare chance I got, and I understand the art behind it all…promise.

After dinner and some Geisha talk it was karaoke time! In Japan you generally get your own private room, usually with some sort of drink deal involved, so it’s a flat rate making payment much easier on everyone.

Beautiful Renee, I look mad at the words.

Yes, people on the
street could see them...

Check it out!

Funny Story: So, during karoke, on the TV as the lyrics are rolling there are always these super cheesy videos playing in the background. During one romantic beachy one, a Hermosa Beach sign came up followed by a Redondo Beach sign! There were a few pictures of the pier and our little area, I was sooooo excited to see home! Pretty random, huh?

Wanna take a guess...

Sunday was our one and only full day in Kyoto and man did we make the most of it! Again, following guidance from our travel agent, Jessica Brewka, we took the local bus to see the golden pavilion, which is exactly what it sounds like, a gold pavilion. 

At the rock garden, it appears the
usual route is our only option, good
thing there was a sign. 

Then we traveled a little further south to see the land of 1,000 Torii Gates. Torii gates, pronounced like the name, Tori, are at the entrance
to every temple. Though usually there is only one, this time there were, I think, over 1,000 and they were all bright orange. If you saw the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, there are few scenes filmed here where the little girl runs through them. Which is exactly what I wanted to do. We walked and walked, and only went a fraction of the way into the path that is miles long, which, in case you are curious does actually lead to a temple, tucked inside the mountain. It was AMAZING and my favorite place in Kyoto by far.

For dinner we found an Irish bar, and I had pizza and beer. Needen’t worry, that American side of me is very much alive and well.

The next morning we took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo where we parted ways with Jessica, our friend and travel agent. She was headed to board another 3 hour Shinkansen back home and I was staying with Renee and AJ, playing with them for the afternoon in Tokyo. Renee works at the Four Seasons hotel in northern CA and gets a few comped nights at other Four Seasons, ergo, for their last two nights our round eyed visitors would be sleeping in luxury. I was just there to take advantage of some MTV, the hotel onsen, a fabulous shower and lovely dinner before I headed back home and off to work the following day.  

View from the room, very Thomas
the Train Engine isn't it?

Love those robes!

It was a great trip and soooo good to see them! I forgot how much fun it is to travel with a little group of friends. You end up with pictures that are WAY more fun and more memories than just the buildings you saw!

Love you guys so much! Miss you already!

Mata ne!

Japanese Class

I have signed up for a Japanese class once a week through an organization called KIFA. It’s an acronym of some kind and I know the K stands for Kamagaya, my town, but that’s about all I know.

Every Wednesday I go for two hours and ask and answer questions in Japanese with two other ladies. The class is taught only in Japanese, as not all of us are fluent English speakers. One lady is from China and one is from Russia. I’m endlessly jealous of the Chinese lady as she can read most of the Kanji, or Chinese symbols, making her two hour class significantly easier than mine. The other lady is from Russia and is married to a Japanese man. She has told me she doesn’t work which was apparent as she was quite eager to make friends. When I walked in for the first time, she excitedly asked me if I was also there because I too was married to a Japanese man…ummm no. I was so taken aback, I chuckled right out loud. Though did my best to stifle it so I wouldn’t laugh right in her face. Being married is just so far from where I am in my life right now I couldn’t help but laugh. Then we took a group picture and she ran over and stood next to me and linked my arm, she asked me how her make up looked and I could smell the alcohol on her breath. Again I tried to hide the laughter behind my smile for the photo. Later she asked for my cell phone number which I was non existent at the time...bummer. Should be interesting! 

I have been to three classes so far and am really enjoying it. I really needed some sort of consistent class to keep me focused. What kills me is when the teacher spits out a whole paragraph of information that ends with a question, and I understand and know the answer to the question, but she would like me to answer in a complete sentence. I HATE those complete sentence answers. Though, what is especially cool is watching the three of us take notes in our native languages. As cheesy as it is I want to try and get a picture of our notebooks all lined up with English, Mandarin and Russian as an explanation to this code known as Japanese that we’re all trying to crack.

Story for ya: So during one of my classes, I think it may have been the first one actually, I was trying to answer a question about ‘whose bag was over there’ which was taking all of my concentration, but to my left I could hear people talking about me. They weren’t speaking English but they didn’t need to be, and despite how polite the Japanese people are, they fail when it comes to being discrete about talking about others in the room. This has happened a few times before and it makes me smile every time. I want to tell them, “Guys! If you would just talk normally, I would have NO idea what you would be saying, but the whispering and glancing over is really giving you away.” Finally, a lady came up to me and asked if she could talk to me after class, I said of course. For a split second, I thought I was in trouble, and then I was like, Kate you’ve been in this class 20 min what could you have possibly done, and Kate you’re 23 does that even happen anymore?

After class I dutifully stayed after to talk to a lady I had never met. Long story short they were asking if I would be a guest speaker at a KIFA English event. This organization has many older members who are decent at English and have joined KIFA to help keep up their English. I was asked to write a 5 minute max speech on anything, preferably USA related. I told them that would be no problem, and they were SOOOOOO excited that for a split second I wondered what I had just agreed to. I went over it with them one more time, the lady who I was originally talking to had now turned in to a crowd of 5 ladies, all talking simultaneously. I managed to also learn that I was getting paid 60 bucks! Not to shabby. Though, all their excitement made me kind of nervous and I was eager to get home and call Ian to have him further explain what I had just signed up for.

Ian aka Big Bro

Ian, from the UK, is going on his 5^th year in the JET program, and I have nicknamed him Big Bro. He is my go to guy for clarifications all things Kamagaya, JET and Japan related. Ian where is the post office? Ian my bike tire popped how/where do I fix it? Ian how do I pay for school lunch? Ian what did we just eat for lunch? Ian where do I get my haircut? Ian what is this bill for? Ian how do I pay rent? Ian why are these ladies so flippin excited?! He explained to me that he thinks they just have trouble getting people to agree to speak and they were excited that I had. That was probably the best answer I could have gotten. 

Since that class, I am reminded every class that I am to give a speech on Oct 17, yup got it ladies, I’ll be there at 1 pm don’t you worry. I met with one of the ladies last Tuesday night who took me to dinner, and was so excited that I was “so easy to talk to”, that she invited me to her house to cook and gave me pretty much everything in her purse. I left with origami, chocolate, skittles, Toblerone bars, a map of Hokkido, and these feet warmer things. She took them out to show me how cheep she bought them for and I simply said, “Oh, wow!” and the next thing I know she was forcing them into my hand. I also had already written my short speech, entitled “The Move” where I discuss my move to Japan and how impossible it is to find a job in education in California. I handed her a copy and she was so very impressed, which I think also added fuel to the gift giving.

She actually just emailed me earlier to tell me that the speech was great and she was eager to hear me say it.

I will most definitely let you know how it goes!

Mata ne!