Monday, August 31, 2009
♥ Before Fuji- English Camp
(this is being sent from the paaaaaaaaaaassst... okay not really, this was the entry I couldn't post because the internet died. Fuji coming up, no worries... yes... I did survive.)
I have so much to cover, so I am going to do this is the shortest way possible! (yeah right...) Alright soooo... jesus... there were two major "trips" I went on after the earthquake (since that seems to be where I left off...); Kakegawa Orientation (essentially where all of the new ALTS in Shizuoka meet up) and Shizuoka Johoku English Summer Seminar (an English camp for high school students). While both fun, I think, overall, Johoku held the most memories for me.
Basically there were eight ALTs, and we each got five students. For a little bit of background information, Shizuoka Johoku is one of the best schools in the prefecture and it has a concentration on International studies. A lot of the kids are “happa” aka half-Japanese and have lived abroad before, so the level of English was quite high. This was great because not only was I able to speak to some students, I got to work at a school with a level similar to my own (I think Chuo is slightly lower, but it’s still an advanced school). This was my first chance actually being able to teach, so least to say I was completely terrified, haha. As all of us walked in, we were greeted with a gazillion faces and immediately I notice some of the girls pointing at my hair and then at theirs. So it starts. Anywho, we introduce ourselves and we go to our teams. Turns out I have five girls; Kaho, Shiori, Hitomi, Momoko, and Miko. It’s rather easy to tell who the strongest speaker is, and even though I shouldn’t, I sort of relied on her.
I won’t bore you with copious details, but at the beginning I really sucked. I was so nervous I barely spoke and did a lot of blank stares. It may sound cliché, but everything turned around the moment I gave them candy. I brought in some sour patch kids and offered them and immediately everything was so different. They were so happy and so surprised I was giving them something. It was actually rather hysterical. They stood around the desk staring at them until I insisted they eat them, and then they dug in like crazy. Of all people it was the shyest girl who spoke very little English that loved them the most. It made me really happy that something so small made them so happy. Eventually throughout the three days I got into a groove and had a lot of fun with my girls. More spoke English to me and at the very end three of them wrote me emails saying how much they enjoyed our time together. Here they are, just because they are too cute:
“Hello. Thank you for 3days! I enjoyed these days. I am honored I am your first student ;) I want to talk with you more. But I’m not good at English. I will study English more. Thank you crown of prince. I treasure it.” (to clarify, we had to do skits and ours was Rapunzel. I bought her a prince’s crown and said she could keep it.)
“Thanks to you, I could have a very good time! <3 Thank you very much!!”
“Thank you very much for three days!!! Since September, do your best. Good luck *star*” (I assume she’s wishing me good luck about starting school in September)
Apparently I am the only one to get emails or notes form anyone. I don’t know if this is still true, but if it is I feel kinda special. Not only that, the really shy girl gave me a series of post cards about tea ceremony she used in her Show & Tell. They are gorgeous and I was so touched I almost started to cry. I miss them all so much and I’m going to write each of them a letter, if only to give them a boost for the beginning of the new term. Oh they are so cute, I wish I could show you but I can’t publically post pictures of Japanese minors. I have pictures on Facebook but they’re on the highest security setting so you have to be my friend in order to see them, and I don’t name them so it’s alright. So yeah, that was Johoku. It was great, I was so nervous at first and got frustrated a lot, but it was really rewarding and apparently kids like me, whoot! (as long as I give them candy! Haha)
So yeah, after that I went to Atami after a day and a half of feeling exhausted and ill and just sleeping haha. Atami is a beach city and it was fantastic. It wasn’t that hot out and it was cloudy, but I swam and I loved it. It was a firework festival and it was just great. There were like 40+ of us JETs and other ALTs and eikawa people all grouped around, haha, Japanese were taking pictures of us it was such a spectacle. The fireworks were amazing and despite our best attempts, I didn’t make the last train home, so I camped out at Brian’s for the night in Shizuoka City and took the 7:15AM train back to Yaizu and amazingly made it school on time for quarter after eight. Least to say I went to bed at 8PM that night. Haha.
This week has been a lot of relaxing and getting things ready for my introduction. However, this would be so much easier if the internet at school didn’t keep DYING! Aaaagh! It figures, when I NEED the internet it dies. Thanks. I have NO idea when I will get internet at home. It’s looking like another freaking 6 weeks because of stupid stupid things… mainly the Japanese not trusting me and my research. Arrgh. I could get it a lot faster, like 2 weeks, but I need a credit card… and I’m obviously lacking in one. I can apparently use my debit card from home but the money would be pulled from that and that means I’d have to send money home to pay bills here and that is really obnoxious. Uuuugh. I don’t understand why this is so ridiculous.
Yeah, so I climb Mt. Fuji tomorrow. Oy. It’s going to suck, I know it is, but it’ll be an experience, and hell, I could use the exercise. So yeah, I’m still exploring, still trying to get around and settle in. Some days are good, other days are bad, but overall it’s an adventure… though I do miss school terribly. Oh well.
Peace out from the land of sushi .
I have so much to cover, so I am going to do this is the shortest way possible! (yeah right...) Alright soooo... jesus... there were two major "trips" I went on after the earthquake (since that seems to be where I left off...); Kakegawa Orientation (essentially where all of the new ALTS in Shizuoka meet up) and Shizuoka Johoku English Summer Seminar (an English camp for high school students). While both fun, I think, overall, Johoku held the most memories for me.
Basically there were eight ALTs, and we each got five students. For a little bit of background information, Shizuoka Johoku is one of the best schools in the prefecture and it has a concentration on International studies. A lot of the kids are “happa” aka half-Japanese and have lived abroad before, so the level of English was quite high. This was great because not only was I able to speak to some students, I got to work at a school with a level similar to my own (I think Chuo is slightly lower, but it’s still an advanced school). This was my first chance actually being able to teach, so least to say I was completely terrified, haha. As all of us walked in, we were greeted with a gazillion faces and immediately I notice some of the girls pointing at my hair and then at theirs. So it starts. Anywho, we introduce ourselves and we go to our teams. Turns out I have five girls; Kaho, Shiori, Hitomi, Momoko, and Miko. It’s rather easy to tell who the strongest speaker is, and even though I shouldn’t, I sort of relied on her.
I won’t bore you with copious details, but at the beginning I really sucked. I was so nervous I barely spoke and did a lot of blank stares. It may sound cliché, but everything turned around the moment I gave them candy. I brought in some sour patch kids and offered them and immediately everything was so different. They were so happy and so surprised I was giving them something. It was actually rather hysterical. They stood around the desk staring at them until I insisted they eat them, and then they dug in like crazy. Of all people it was the shyest girl who spoke very little English that loved them the most. It made me really happy that something so small made them so happy. Eventually throughout the three days I got into a groove and had a lot of fun with my girls. More spoke English to me and at the very end three of them wrote me emails saying how much they enjoyed our time together. Here they are, just because they are too cute:
“Hello. Thank you for 3days! I enjoyed these days. I am honored I am your first student ;) I want to talk with you more. But I’m not good at English. I will study English more. Thank you crown of prince. I treasure it.” (to clarify, we had to do skits and ours was Rapunzel. I bought her a prince’s crown and said she could keep it.)
“Thanks to you, I could have a very good time! <3 Thank you very much!!”
“Thank you very much for three days!!! Since September, do your best. Good luck *star*” (I assume she’s wishing me good luck about starting school in September)
Apparently I am the only one to get emails or notes form anyone. I don’t know if this is still true, but if it is I feel kinda special. Not only that, the really shy girl gave me a series of post cards about tea ceremony she used in her Show & Tell. They are gorgeous and I was so touched I almost started to cry. I miss them all so much and I’m going to write each of them a letter, if only to give them a boost for the beginning of the new term. Oh they are so cute, I wish I could show you but I can’t publically post pictures of Japanese minors. I have pictures on Facebook but they’re on the highest security setting so you have to be my friend in order to see them, and I don’t name them so it’s alright. So yeah, that was Johoku. It was great, I was so nervous at first and got frustrated a lot, but it was really rewarding and apparently kids like me, whoot! (as long as I give them candy! Haha)
So yeah, after that I went to Atami after a day and a half of feeling exhausted and ill and just sleeping haha. Atami is a beach city and it was fantastic. It wasn’t that hot out and it was cloudy, but I swam and I loved it. It was a firework festival and it was just great. There were like 40+ of us JETs and other ALTs and eikawa people all grouped around, haha, Japanese were taking pictures of us it was such a spectacle. The fireworks were amazing and despite our best attempts, I didn’t make the last train home, so I camped out at Brian’s for the night in Shizuoka City and took the 7:15AM train back to Yaizu and amazingly made it school on time for quarter after eight. Least to say I went to bed at 8PM that night. Haha.
This week has been a lot of relaxing and getting things ready for my introduction. However, this would be so much easier if the internet at school didn’t keep DYING! Aaaagh! It figures, when I NEED the internet it dies. Thanks. I have NO idea when I will get internet at home. It’s looking like another freaking 6 weeks because of stupid stupid things… mainly the Japanese not trusting me and my research. Arrgh. I could get it a lot faster, like 2 weeks, but I need a credit card… and I’m obviously lacking in one. I can apparently use my debit card from home but the money would be pulled from that and that means I’d have to send money home to pay bills here and that is really obnoxious. Uuuugh. I don’t understand why this is so ridiculous.
Yeah, so I climb Mt. Fuji tomorrow. Oy. It’s going to suck, I know it is, but it’ll be an experience, and hell, I could use the exercise. So yeah, I’m still exploring, still trying to get around and settle in. Some days are good, other days are bad, but overall it’s an adventure… though I do miss school terribly. Oh well.
Peace out from the land of sushi .
1:01 PM
Friday, August 28, 2009
♥ Skip!
I had an entry all written out, and then the internet at the school died. So I am here at Skip! Internet and Manga Cafe, and it`s rather cool! I think it is only ￥420 an hour and I get free drinks (like water and soda, not drinks...). It`s not a bad deal and I think I may come here more often now that I have a nifty member card. That was fun getting. I know most of the typical form vocab, but there was one I couldn`t get so we just skipped it haha.
Anywho, I climb Mt. Fuji tomorrow... that`ll be an experience for sure. Oh dearie me. I may regret it, or it may be the most definitive moment of my life, who knows. It`ll be an adventure and hopefully I won`t die!
Yeah so I am going to camp out here for another hour methinks and then swing by the grocery store for some schtoof for tomorrow! I`m having a little Munch-A-Thon Breakfast Style before Fuji for nearby JETs who are doing the climb. I thought it`d be fun and a few people are coming, so yay! I need more eggs and bread and cheese and yogurt... I love brekkies.
Ok, I will post the real entry on Monday provided Yaizu Chuo has their act together. Expect Fuji pics and video by then too. :) ja ne!
Anywho, I climb Mt. Fuji tomorrow... that`ll be an experience for sure. Oh dearie me. I may regret it, or it may be the most definitive moment of my life, who knows. It`ll be an adventure and hopefully I won`t die!
Yeah so I am going to camp out here for another hour methinks and then swing by the grocery store for some schtoof for tomorrow! I`m having a little Munch-A-Thon Breakfast Style before Fuji for nearby JETs who are doing the climb. I thought it`d be fun and a few people are coming, so yay! I need more eggs and bread and cheese and yogurt... I love brekkies.
Ok, I will post the real entry on Monday provided Yaizu Chuo has their act together. Expect Fuji pics and video by then too. :) ja ne!
4:59 PM
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
♥ In the interim
Well, I was all ready to write a detailed report of the week's past festivities including orientation and the welcome party in Shizuoka, but you'll have to forgive me. I've been put into an odd sort of mood that isn't all that pleasant... and I only have three hours left to do some things before I am gone for another five days at an English Camp in Shizuoka City.
Orientation was fun as was the party. I'm sorry, I suck but some things can't be helped I suppose...
So here is a video of some of the fireworks I saw on friday in Yaizu.
I'll have a better update on Monday.
Orientation was fun as was the party. I'm sorry, I suck but some things can't be helped I suppose...
So here is a video of some of the fireworks I saw on friday in Yaizu.
I'll have a better update on Monday.
1:07 PM
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
♥ Earthquake
A large and powerful earthquake hit my prefecture today around 5:00AM after enduring a typhoon from China and Taiwan. Its epicenter was in the Suruga Bay where my city is situated, and was only 30miles from Yaizu. The earthquake hit its strongest on the coastline where Yaizu, Omaezaki, and other cities and tows are, and the Izu Penninsula. It there spread over the prefecture and traveled into neighboring prefectures and areas, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto areas. Where I live was where the earthquake was at its strongest, a 6.7 on the Richter Scale. Basically 6.0-6.9 is listed as a Strong earthquake and "can be destructive in areas up to 100 miles across in populated areas." Around 120 of these happen per year and my 6.7 one has the power of 16.2 megatons. For a comparison, it was just shy of the 1980s San Francisco earthquake and the Nagasaki bomb only wielded 32 kilotons... I believe a megtaton is 1000 kilotons. I have never felt so small and insignificant in my life, and now have a scary respect for Mother Nature. She is one nasty bitch.
newspaper article link
I am obviously alright, as I am typing this, just very shaken (no pun intended). I have never experienced an earthquake, so after momentary panic I was able to situate myself in a safe position until it ended. My apartment is still in tact, just the contents inside are a bit displaced. To my knowledge nothing major has been broken, I was able to save my microwave, rice cooker, and toaster oven before they were flung anywhere. I have a good bit of cleaning up to do, but there have bene no major injuries reported and while there has been damage, there is nothing catatrsophic. As all the teachers have been saying, we are all very lucky. This was the strongest earthquake any of them have felt in a very long time, if ever, and they said it was very rare for this to happen. Not the most comforting thought, but I suppose if I can get through a major earthquake in my first two weeks, I'm game for anything. So yes... what happened... here we go;
We had a typhoon starting late last night just after I fell asleep. No big deal, it was a heavy rainstorm and that didn't bother me. However I was getting uncomfortable so I decided to turn on the air conditioning.
Shortly after I heard some thunder, and just as I was about to close my eyes again this horrible clattering noise started and then I was flung to the side as the entire apartment started to violently shake. The sound of the rice paper doors rattling in their frames, the chine cabinet glasses clinking together, and the chilling silence above it all is still stuck in my memory. It took me a moment of being tossed back and forth to realize what was going on and I immediately started to crawl frantically to the low table in my living room, curling up underneath it, my glasses askew on my face, my phone clutched in my hand as I grabbed at the legs and support of the table, trying to keep myself still. I look up and see my bookcase and tv, desperatly trying to move the table in case either falls so I wont be hit. Everything keeps shaking as I keep jostling underneath the table, trying to curl up. The worst of it comes and I hit my head on the top of the table, but I don't move, I just keep making sure my head is covered. At the time all I could hear was the noise of the apartment shaking, wondering if it was going to come crsahing down on my, wondering if this was the horrible earthquake that was supposed to hit Shizuoka any year now. I can't really breath, I'm staring at anything I can because I don't want to close my eyes... I still cannot wrap my mind aroun the fact the earth was moving, that it was carrying me with it. The shaking begins to subside and I let go of the table only to be thrown into it again... the shaking slows down and it seems to stop. It starts up again, though not as powerful. It stops again and I stay underneath the table, staring ahead, teeh clenched, chest taking in little breaths as I try to wrap my mind around what has happened. The shaking begins again very softly, and then it is done.
I laid there for a good five minutes before moving. I remember reading that you should stay where you are for a few moments after because it may not be done yet. That and getting under a table were the only things I could remember to do. When I'm sure it's done I pick my head up a little to look around. The bookcase is still up, as is the tv. At the time I didn't notice anything else, instead I frantically opened my phone and called Sally. She's lived in Japan before, she was close, she surely knew what to do. All I hear is a Japanese lady babbling at me. I close the phone and try again. Same thing. That's when I decide to call my mother, if only for the reason I needed some comfort. I shakily mistype in the number and have to do it again. I keep shaking and I don't know if its just my body reacting to the earthquake or if I was just that much in shock from it. She answers happily and I immediatly just start to break down, trying to explain what happened. She calms me down as a mother can and as she tries to assess the situation I hear sirens going off, two different kinds. An announcement is made, but its over a loud speaker and in Japanese and I have no idea. The rain started up again and I'm terrified another earthquake is going to happen. I talk with her for awhile and after hanging up I notice I have a missed call from Sally. I get in touch with her and she makes sure I'm okay, telling me to get outside and see if I can ask a neighbor as to what to do as I heard sirens and they haven't gone off anywhere else. I get out from underneath the table and don't even see the books flung everywhere or things toppled over. She tells me to get my passport, person effects to get outside. Survival mode kicks in and I operate very smoothly, very quickly. I go into the kitchen and see the microwave and rice cooker about to topple over. I save it and see so many things splaye dout on the floor, but I don't have the time. I grab my umbrella and shoes and run outside. No one was out there. I'm still shaking and I look wearily to the sky. It's an odd shade of grey, and its then I look down and see my poor bike hurled against the apartment. I don't pick it up, instead run down to the main street, only to see a boy not much younger than me walk out, look around, and walk back inside. The tv is on in his house, so that is what I decide to do. I go back inside and tur on the tv.
Though I cannot understand the Japanese, I see the pictures showing where the earthquake hit and who was most affected. Yaizu is in red and I see how far the earthquake stretched. They show video of Shizuoka City fifteen minutes away being hit and the rattling of the camera and how much it moves makes me feel almost ill. I couldn't believe I had just gone through that. That's when the texts and phone calls start pouring in. Sophie called to check on me, wishing she could come get me, but the trains and roads are closed and none of us know if another earthquake is coming. I fill up my bath tub with water just in case the power goes out and I talk with her a bit, trying to calm down. The next three hours are filled witha ll of us making sure one another is okay. Adam assuring me that the announcements aren't important (more like don't leave your gas on, and such) and that school will go on as normal probably. I keep watching the news, watching the same footage over and over again, trying to decipher what's going on. We had a tsunami warning, but it was only 21inches tall and the walls could more than take care of it. The rain stopped and after checking outside again I turn on the lights to see what damage has been done. Nothing is broken, but things are everywhere. Out of a bit of morbid artistry I take some pictures before cleaning what I could up whilst trying to get in touch with my teachers. Nothing. No one comes to check on me, so I decide to head out, very timid, very humble.
The sky is blue and everything looks so peaceful. It's eerie and I don't like it. As I walk along the road I see people picking up outside, other yards messed up, others just talking in a very gentle manner. Everyone went through this and everyone experienced it in the same awe-struck way I had. Even though it was my first and they knew earthquakes, they knew it was an event that would change their lives little by little. I pass by the barber shop as I do every day and the people there, instead of just a monotone ohayou gozaimasu, they give me one with a smile, bowing their heads a bit more than usual. I gave a small wave before heading on. Outside the school crews are cleaning up and a construction crew quickly rushes to where construction was happening to repair what has been damaged. They've been working hard all day, and very loudly. Every time they use a jackhammer that sounds like the beginning of earthquake I become terrified... but I suppose its just one of those sounds that'll forever stay with you. Once I get in the school everyone in the office looks at me with the same timid expression, though happy to see that I not only made it, but was okay. There was no one but two teachers in the staff room once I got there, and all day there have been less than six teachers at school. A few checked on me (including the deputy principal), even if they spoke no English... Daijobou needs no translation, nor does a hand on the shoulder. I said it was my first one and they sympathized, saying how they thought it was scary too and very powerful, they were very surprised. I talked with mom and sister dear a bit more on Skype and was finally able to calm down come lunch time, if only by placating myself with chocolate.
My supervisor finally showed up and asked me if I was alright, and then asked if I was surprised. Surprised isn't the word I would use, but since I cannot say fucking terrified to him, I simply say scary. He shows me the English teacher's room to get my mind off things, however once we walk in we realize no one has been there to clean after the earthquake. Books are scattered everywhere, practically covered the entire floor. Coming back to the staff room I sit down and talk to a few people, checking up on others. I already love my community here on JET. Even if its a little text message, we care enough about each other to make sure we're all okay. We get an email from the BOE making sure we're all right and giving us a few facts and some emergency numbers if there is anything wrong with our apartment or ourselves. One of the office ladies comes up and through lots of gestures she coerces me downstairs where two large packages are from Mom and Briana.
As Jamie said... "Not snow, nor sleet, nor earthquakes can stop the post office."
It seems true. The train lines are delayed or stopped, the expressway is shut down, but life goes on as normal. The scariest of mornings has turned into a very beautiful day. There is a very nice breeze and the trees have never quite looked so green. Even if Japan gave me a typhoon and earthquake for my birthday, they apologized with two love filled packages from the people I love the most in the world, those who keep me sane; my mother and sister.
I know this may not be my last earthquake, but I hope it is the worst one I go through. Japan has been about many new experiences, and this is no exception. Some experiences we enjoy, others make us feel like the smallest person in the world, but they are experiences that are necessary to drive us forward into a new day. I leave for Kakegawa tomorrow for Shizuoka Orientation, and while our earthquake safety seminar will be a day too late, I look forward to spending time with those who went through the same thing as I did. I hope they had beautiful days, and I hope they understand the power of nature as I now do.
newspaper article link
I am obviously alright, as I am typing this, just very shaken (no pun intended). I have never experienced an earthquake, so after momentary panic I was able to situate myself in a safe position until it ended. My apartment is still in tact, just the contents inside are a bit displaced. To my knowledge nothing major has been broken, I was able to save my microwave, rice cooker, and toaster oven before they were flung anywhere. I have a good bit of cleaning up to do, but there have bene no major injuries reported and while there has been damage, there is nothing catatrsophic. As all the teachers have been saying, we are all very lucky. This was the strongest earthquake any of them have felt in a very long time, if ever, and they said it was very rare for this to happen. Not the most comforting thought, but I suppose if I can get through a major earthquake in my first two weeks, I'm game for anything. So yes... what happened... here we go;
We had a typhoon starting late last night just after I fell asleep. No big deal, it was a heavy rainstorm and that didn't bother me. However I was getting uncomfortable so I decided to turn on the air conditioning.
Shortly after I heard some thunder, and just as I was about to close my eyes again this horrible clattering noise started and then I was flung to the side as the entire apartment started to violently shake. The sound of the rice paper doors rattling in their frames, the chine cabinet glasses clinking together, and the chilling silence above it all is still stuck in my memory. It took me a moment of being tossed back and forth to realize what was going on and I immediately started to crawl frantically to the low table in my living room, curling up underneath it, my glasses askew on my face, my phone clutched in my hand as I grabbed at the legs and support of the table, trying to keep myself still. I look up and see my bookcase and tv, desperatly trying to move the table in case either falls so I wont be hit. Everything keeps shaking as I keep jostling underneath the table, trying to curl up. The worst of it comes and I hit my head on the top of the table, but I don't move, I just keep making sure my head is covered. At the time all I could hear was the noise of the apartment shaking, wondering if it was going to come crsahing down on my, wondering if this was the horrible earthquake that was supposed to hit Shizuoka any year now. I can't really breath, I'm staring at anything I can because I don't want to close my eyes... I still cannot wrap my mind aroun the fact the earth was moving, that it was carrying me with it. The shaking begins to subside and I let go of the table only to be thrown into it again... the shaking slows down and it seems to stop. It starts up again, though not as powerful. It stops again and I stay underneath the table, staring ahead, teeh clenched, chest taking in little breaths as I try to wrap my mind around what has happened. The shaking begins again very softly, and then it is done.
I laid there for a good five minutes before moving. I remember reading that you should stay where you are for a few moments after because it may not be done yet. That and getting under a table were the only things I could remember to do. When I'm sure it's done I pick my head up a little to look around. The bookcase is still up, as is the tv. At the time I didn't notice anything else, instead I frantically opened my phone and called Sally. She's lived in Japan before, she was close, she surely knew what to do. All I hear is a Japanese lady babbling at me. I close the phone and try again. Same thing. That's when I decide to call my mother, if only for the reason I needed some comfort. I shakily mistype in the number and have to do it again. I keep shaking and I don't know if its just my body reacting to the earthquake or if I was just that much in shock from it. She answers happily and I immediatly just start to break down, trying to explain what happened. She calms me down as a mother can and as she tries to assess the situation I hear sirens going off, two different kinds. An announcement is made, but its over a loud speaker and in Japanese and I have no idea. The rain started up again and I'm terrified another earthquake is going to happen. I talk with her for awhile and after hanging up I notice I have a missed call from Sally. I get in touch with her and she makes sure I'm okay, telling me to get outside and see if I can ask a neighbor as to what to do as I heard sirens and they haven't gone off anywhere else. I get out from underneath the table and don't even see the books flung everywhere or things toppled over. She tells me to get my passport, person effects to get outside. Survival mode kicks in and I operate very smoothly, very quickly. I go into the kitchen and see the microwave and rice cooker about to topple over. I save it and see so many things splaye dout on the floor, but I don't have the time. I grab my umbrella and shoes and run outside. No one was out there. I'm still shaking and I look wearily to the sky. It's an odd shade of grey, and its then I look down and see my poor bike hurled against the apartment. I don't pick it up, instead run down to the main street, only to see a boy not much younger than me walk out, look around, and walk back inside. The tv is on in his house, so that is what I decide to do. I go back inside and tur on the tv.
Though I cannot understand the Japanese, I see the pictures showing where the earthquake hit and who was most affected. Yaizu is in red and I see how far the earthquake stretched. They show video of Shizuoka City fifteen minutes away being hit and the rattling of the camera and how much it moves makes me feel almost ill. I couldn't believe I had just gone through that. That's when the texts and phone calls start pouring in. Sophie called to check on me, wishing she could come get me, but the trains and roads are closed and none of us know if another earthquake is coming. I fill up my bath tub with water just in case the power goes out and I talk with her a bit, trying to calm down. The next three hours are filled witha ll of us making sure one another is okay. Adam assuring me that the announcements aren't important (more like don't leave your gas on, and such) and that school will go on as normal probably. I keep watching the news, watching the same footage over and over again, trying to decipher what's going on. We had a tsunami warning, but it was only 21inches tall and the walls could more than take care of it. The rain stopped and after checking outside again I turn on the lights to see what damage has been done. Nothing is broken, but things are everywhere. Out of a bit of morbid artistry I take some pictures before cleaning what I could up whilst trying to get in touch with my teachers. Nothing. No one comes to check on me, so I decide to head out, very timid, very humble.
The sky is blue and everything looks so peaceful. It's eerie and I don't like it. As I walk along the road I see people picking up outside, other yards messed up, others just talking in a very gentle manner. Everyone went through this and everyone experienced it in the same awe-struck way I had. Even though it was my first and they knew earthquakes, they knew it was an event that would change their lives little by little. I pass by the barber shop as I do every day and the people there, instead of just a monotone ohayou gozaimasu, they give me one with a smile, bowing their heads a bit more than usual. I gave a small wave before heading on. Outside the school crews are cleaning up and a construction crew quickly rushes to where construction was happening to repair what has been damaged. They've been working hard all day, and very loudly. Every time they use a jackhammer that sounds like the beginning of earthquake I become terrified... but I suppose its just one of those sounds that'll forever stay with you. Once I get in the school everyone in the office looks at me with the same timid expression, though happy to see that I not only made it, but was okay. There was no one but two teachers in the staff room once I got there, and all day there have been less than six teachers at school. A few checked on me (including the deputy principal), even if they spoke no English... Daijobou needs no translation, nor does a hand on the shoulder. I said it was my first one and they sympathized, saying how they thought it was scary too and very powerful, they were very surprised. I talked with mom and sister dear a bit more on Skype and was finally able to calm down come lunch time, if only by placating myself with chocolate.
My supervisor finally showed up and asked me if I was alright, and then asked if I was surprised. Surprised isn't the word I would use, but since I cannot say fucking terrified to him, I simply say scary. He shows me the English teacher's room to get my mind off things, however once we walk in we realize no one has been there to clean after the earthquake. Books are scattered everywhere, practically covered the entire floor. Coming back to the staff room I sit down and talk to a few people, checking up on others. I already love my community here on JET. Even if its a little text message, we care enough about each other to make sure we're all okay. We get an email from the BOE making sure we're all right and giving us a few facts and some emergency numbers if there is anything wrong with our apartment or ourselves. One of the office ladies comes up and through lots of gestures she coerces me downstairs where two large packages are from Mom and Briana.
As Jamie said... "Not snow, nor sleet, nor earthquakes can stop the post office."
It seems true. The train lines are delayed or stopped, the expressway is shut down, but life goes on as normal. The scariest of mornings has turned into a very beautiful day. There is a very nice breeze and the trees have never quite looked so green. Even if Japan gave me a typhoon and earthquake for my birthday, they apologized with two love filled packages from the people I love the most in the world, those who keep me sane; my mother and sister.
I know this may not be my last earthquake, but I hope it is the worst one I go through. Japan has been about many new experiences, and this is no exception. Some experiences we enjoy, others make us feel like the smallest person in the world, but they are experiences that are necessary to drive us forward into a new day. I leave for Kakegawa tomorrow for Shizuoka Orientation, and while our earthquake safety seminar will be a day too late, I look forward to spending time with those who went through the same thing as I did. I hope they had beautiful days, and I hope they understand the power of nature as I now do.
Labels: earthquake, musings, yaizu
2:09 PM
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
♥ Pictures of Tokyo and Yaizu
My main album in on facebook, but if you're not on facebook, you can still see the pictures through this public link, so take a look! I don't have the resources to edit pictures here at school, but once I have internet at my home I will be able to actually incorporate images into blog posts.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022697&id=67100995&l=bab19ef65e
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022697&id=67100995&l=bab19ef65e
1:10 PM
Monday, August 3, 2009
♥ In which Kristina gets lost for 6 hours and defeats a spider
So this weekend I decided I wanted to explore Yaizu, which is all good and well and needed to be done. I decided I'd finally get on that damn bicycle after 12 years of not riding one, however, I ran into a snag. I couldn't get the kick stand up. This really makes no sense as it seems like it would be a very simple process, however I am special. I kicked it, I pushed it, I laid the bike down and grabbed at it. A half hour later I got the ingenious idea to push in this tab like thing... and lo and behold... the kickstand went up and I was left staring at it like it was laughing at me. I bet it was. Stupid bike. So after my debacle with the bike I successfully made it to the 100 Yen store where I got an assortment of towels, folders, and little bags for omiyage. Tomorrow I have to introduce myself in front of all the teachers, so I thought this was the best time to bring omiyage as everyone will be in the office. Otherwise I'd have to wait until the first day of school in september... the day I have to make a 5-10minute speech in Japanese to all the students. Errr... at least I get a paper I can read off of? Aaagh. Smiley-Sensei says I can use English too, but I would like to try and do as much of it in Japanese as possible. Speaking of students... DO THEY NEVER LEAVE?! It is the summer holidays and there's still a ton of students here taking extra lessons and doing activites. Yesterday as I was walking to the supermarket, all the archery kids (in their awesome Japanese outfits) were piled onto the sidewalks, there had to be around 30 of them. I mean, I know its what they're used to, but to never get a break... that has to blow. I suppose thats why teachers are seen as those who raise children, not the parents... they just see them more often. Err tangeant, my apologies.
Yes! Bike of doom. Okay. So I got out of the 100 Yen store and thought I'd try and find the train station! Success! There is a beautiful little place (which I will upload pictures of tomorrow) I found and made friends with around... 50 carp, haha. They were very interested in my melon bread as I sat on the bridge. I also made friends with a very brave, but stupid pigeon. I swear he would have been devoured by the carp had he actually chased after the bread like he was preparing to. So after exploring the station I wanted to see what was more to the south... and I think that's where I went wrong. I wandered around a bit, but after trying to retrace my steps I got a bit confused. You see... I've developed a taste for raddish salads. They are delicious. However, I wanted one so badly that I decided to stake out a combini that wasn't my own to see if there were some other types. Coco... you suck... FamilyMart... a bit better. I got one there and thought I'd find my way home in time for lunch.
The raddish salad doomed me.
I don't know how it happened... but I wound up around 8miles from my apartment before I got the gumption to ask for help. There were these three ladies chatting in a neighborhood when I approcahed them in my horrible Japanese. "Sumimasen?"... "Haiiiiiii?".... "Eto... Yaizu Chuo koko?" (basically Yaizu Chuo HIgh School?) and they were like... AAHHH??!? And pointed in the general direction of which I came and made a motion that it was very far away. After failing at Japanese, they told me to just speak in slow English at which point we started to work on a map while one of the ladies ran and got the elementary school English teacher who clarified some directions. He said I had to go a long way, but that I would find it. So following his directions I wound up at Yaizu Station... still quite a ways from where I live (considering Nishi Yaizu Station is a 3min crazy fast train ride away from Yaizu Station.) That's when I decide instead to just follow the train tracks, which eventually led me back to Nishi Yaizu and then to my apartment. Oh... did I mention it was raining? I also got sunburned.
All for a raddish salad... which was destroyed by the heat and rain.
Fucking raddish salad, why are you so good?
So yeah, I got back around 4:30 after leaving around 10. I'm in a foul mood and I need to meet another ALT at 5:30. So I turn on the tv and what is on? Pokemon. Suddenly it is all okay. I get ready and head out for an amusing idnner filled with... babies? Yeah, I don't know what they were, baby somthings... we think they were either eel fetsues or fish fetuses or something, but they had eyes and Adam (the other ALT and I) just... couldn't do it .He ate more than me and lamented it the rest of the night. Haha. We then went to a bar in Fujieda called the Peaceful Dog (with a very ANGRY looking bull terrier on the sign) where I ordered "something pretty", haha. I got some sort of blue fizzy lime drink that was rather nice. Met up with another ALT and then Adam had to go back for a prior "engagement". I hung out with the other ALT for a bit and we headed to his (Scottish) friend's birthday party. Adam had warned me about too much at once and I quickly experienced that. It was fun for the most part, don't get me wrong, I had just had such a long day, I was so tired, i was sunburned, and I wanted to go home... but I'm too nice a person to say as much so I just went into the bathroom and cried, haha. I felt bad because then the last train was leaving and BIrthday Boy took me to the train and I just kept crying. He understood though and he very nicely and drunkenly held my hand and bought my train ticket to send me on my way. He wanted to give me his number but i had nothing to write with and i have no number yet so I will just have to get it from some others. So I arrived to Nishi Yaizu Station safely... only to go down the wrong staircase and promptly get lost for another half hour... cry some more, and then realized my mistake and finally made it home and went to bed.
So Saturday was... eventful.
I decided Sunday would be a rest day and slept until 11 (WHOOHOO!). However... Fate was not yet done with me and I was met with my deepest, darkest, enemy. The huntsman spider (DO NOT GOOGLE IT IF YOU NO LIKEY SPIDERS!). I opened my bathroom door to see it on the far wall. My heart stops, the gasp reaches unheard of octaves and I stared... before slowly inching it to look in the mirror... and then slowly inch out to shut the door. I panic... what do I do? How do I get rid of it? WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE ME?! I run to the pantry and grab roach spray and a tuberware to trap it in. I open the door.. AND IT MOVED... like two inches to the right... but it moved and that was enough to make me flail. As I get closer and decide how I'm going to do this, I remember our PA saying to not spray the spiders because they just freak out and run at you. So I walk back out and flick the lights a few times... but it doesn't move. Okay. SO I go back to the pantry and abandon my tuberware for a mop with a very long handle. I spray the mop with the spray and walk back in... it moved again. Fucker. Its too far away so I turn on the water and spray it... this was... a veyr bad idea. It starts scurring around and I scream bloody murder, running back, flialing with the water, making it keep moving. I stop the water and catch my breath, readying my mop. I lean forward.. it moves... I scream. This repeated two more times before I just scream andlaunch myself, smacking it. It falls into the tub and I look down very carefully... it starts moving again. It's not dead! I scream once more and just start flailing with the mop. I keep missing until finally I land on top of it, and in good horror movie spirit, I press down and grind that sucker into the tub... and then slowly move it over to the drain. Holding my breath I slowly lift up the mop to see it shrivel up and die... only then moving it with the mop to the drain and drowning it, making it leave my apartment forever.
The rest of the day I very slowly opened that door, but as of yet no spiders have come back. Yay. I didn't do a whole lot the rest of the day, took a brief trip to the supermarket to get food... since I had none, and picked up some ketchup for my chicken nuggets! I cooked last night... green beans, french fries, and chicekn nuggets (I was feeling nostalgic) and I have decided that Japan doesn't actually know what a chicken nugget is, and what they do know of it they know from McDonalds. They weren't the tastiest thing, but it was dinner and it was good. I watched Memoirs of a Geisha to try and get myself in a more positive Japan mood, and then promptly went ot bed... only to not sleep until like 2 because I kept worrying about that damn spider.
But today is a new day! Going to try and get my bank account again and maybe a cell phone is the bank account thing works. Here's hoping!
Yes! Bike of doom. Okay. So I got out of the 100 Yen store and thought I'd try and find the train station! Success! There is a beautiful little place (which I will upload pictures of tomorrow) I found and made friends with around... 50 carp, haha. They were very interested in my melon bread as I sat on the bridge. I also made friends with a very brave, but stupid pigeon. I swear he would have been devoured by the carp had he actually chased after the bread like he was preparing to. So after exploring the station I wanted to see what was more to the south... and I think that's where I went wrong. I wandered around a bit, but after trying to retrace my steps I got a bit confused. You see... I've developed a taste for raddish salads. They are delicious. However, I wanted one so badly that I decided to stake out a combini that wasn't my own to see if there were some other types. Coco... you suck... FamilyMart... a bit better. I got one there and thought I'd find my way home in time for lunch.
The raddish salad doomed me.
I don't know how it happened... but I wound up around 8miles from my apartment before I got the gumption to ask for help. There were these three ladies chatting in a neighborhood when I approcahed them in my horrible Japanese. "Sumimasen?"... "Haiiiiiii?".... "Eto... Yaizu Chuo koko?" (basically Yaizu Chuo HIgh School?) and they were like... AAHHH??!? And pointed in the general direction of which I came and made a motion that it was very far away. After failing at Japanese, they told me to just speak in slow English at which point we started to work on a map while one of the ladies ran and got the elementary school English teacher who clarified some directions. He said I had to go a long way, but that I would find it. So following his directions I wound up at Yaizu Station... still quite a ways from where I live (considering Nishi Yaizu Station is a 3min crazy fast train ride away from Yaizu Station.) That's when I decide instead to just follow the train tracks, which eventually led me back to Nishi Yaizu and then to my apartment. Oh... did I mention it was raining? I also got sunburned.
All for a raddish salad... which was destroyed by the heat and rain.
Fucking raddish salad, why are you so good?
So yeah, I got back around 4:30 after leaving around 10. I'm in a foul mood and I need to meet another ALT at 5:30. So I turn on the tv and what is on? Pokemon. Suddenly it is all okay. I get ready and head out for an amusing idnner filled with... babies? Yeah, I don't know what they were, baby somthings... we think they were either eel fetsues or fish fetuses or something, but they had eyes and Adam (the other ALT and I) just... couldn't do it .He ate more than me and lamented it the rest of the night. Haha. We then went to a bar in Fujieda called the Peaceful Dog (with a very ANGRY looking bull terrier on the sign) where I ordered "something pretty", haha. I got some sort of blue fizzy lime drink that was rather nice. Met up with another ALT and then Adam had to go back for a prior "engagement". I hung out with the other ALT for a bit and we headed to his (Scottish) friend's birthday party. Adam had warned me about too much at once and I quickly experienced that. It was fun for the most part, don't get me wrong, I had just had such a long day, I was so tired, i was sunburned, and I wanted to go home... but I'm too nice a person to say as much so I just went into the bathroom and cried, haha. I felt bad because then the last train was leaving and BIrthday Boy took me to the train and I just kept crying. He understood though and he very nicely and drunkenly held my hand and bought my train ticket to send me on my way. He wanted to give me his number but i had nothing to write with and i have no number yet so I will just have to get it from some others. So I arrived to Nishi Yaizu Station safely... only to go down the wrong staircase and promptly get lost for another half hour... cry some more, and then realized my mistake and finally made it home and went to bed.
So Saturday was... eventful.
I decided Sunday would be a rest day and slept until 11 (WHOOHOO!). However... Fate was not yet done with me and I was met with my deepest, darkest, enemy. The huntsman spider (DO NOT GOOGLE IT IF YOU NO LIKEY SPIDERS!). I opened my bathroom door to see it on the far wall. My heart stops, the gasp reaches unheard of octaves and I stared... before slowly inching it to look in the mirror... and then slowly inch out to shut the door. I panic... what do I do? How do I get rid of it? WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE ME?! I run to the pantry and grab roach spray and a tuberware to trap it in. I open the door.. AND IT MOVED... like two inches to the right... but it moved and that was enough to make me flail. As I get closer and decide how I'm going to do this, I remember our PA saying to not spray the spiders because they just freak out and run at you. So I walk back out and flick the lights a few times... but it doesn't move. Okay. SO I go back to the pantry and abandon my tuberware for a mop with a very long handle. I spray the mop with the spray and walk back in... it moved again. Fucker. Its too far away so I turn on the water and spray it... this was... a veyr bad idea. It starts scurring around and I scream bloody murder, running back, flialing with the water, making it keep moving. I stop the water and catch my breath, readying my mop. I lean forward.. it moves... I scream. This repeated two more times before I just scream andlaunch myself, smacking it. It falls into the tub and I look down very carefully... it starts moving again. It's not dead! I scream once more and just start flailing with the mop. I keep missing until finally I land on top of it, and in good horror movie spirit, I press down and grind that sucker into the tub... and then slowly move it over to the drain. Holding my breath I slowly lift up the mop to see it shrivel up and die... only then moving it with the mop to the drain and drowning it, making it leave my apartment forever.
The rest of the day I very slowly opened that door, but as of yet no spiders have come back. Yay. I didn't do a whole lot the rest of the day, took a brief trip to the supermarket to get food... since I had none, and picked up some ketchup for my chicken nuggets! I cooked last night... green beans, french fries, and chicekn nuggets (I was feeling nostalgic) and I have decided that Japan doesn't actually know what a chicken nugget is, and what they do know of it they know from McDonalds. They weren't the tastiest thing, but it was dinner and it was good. I watched Memoirs of a Geisha to try and get myself in a more positive Japan mood, and then promptly went ot bed... only to not sleep until like 2 because I kept worrying about that damn spider.
But today is a new day! Going to try and get my bank account again and maybe a cell phone is the bank account thing works. Here's hoping!
10:48 AM
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