Thanksgiving in Japan

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Josh's place. It was really nice to celebrate Thanksgiving. Last year, we didn't really know any other American's, and since it isn't a holiday here, we didn't really even notice that it passed by. Luckily, this year, we had some friends that had their stuff together and invited us over. We started out the evening with a few drinks, and after Josh slaving over his toaster oven all day cooking (since ovens are apparently not allowed in Japan), we had a nice dinner and even went around telling each other what we were thankful for. It was my first time celebrating Thanksgiving with people other than my family, and though it was a bit different, Jeremy and I had a really nice time. From the pictures, you'd think we were a happy family who color coordinated for the occasion. It's like the picture could have gone on a Christmas card or something. After dinner, we continued to drink wine and the night went a little wild and crazy. We missed our families. But, we also enjoyed our stuffed mushrooms and mashed potatoes here in Japan.

Engrish and funny Japanese signs

Sometimes we run into the funniest stuff in the train stations or even on the trains. As part of the culture, being a Japanese salary man has it's weekly requirement of going out drinking with the other salary men. This ends with a fair amount of very intoxicated men on the trains. Sometimes, it involves puking, passing out at the train station or on the train, very loud chatter on the train, and countless other rude behaviors. However, there is a bit of a stigma here that if you're drunk, then you're just drunk. Therefore, it is excused. For example, if I were on the train and my phone rang, no matter how important the call is or isn't doesn't matter. You don't talk on the phone while you're on the train. Of course I have done it when I needed too, but it comes along with dirty looks from the (usually) older ladies on the train. But, if I were trashed, it wouldn't matter. Talk about discrimination!! ;o) Sometimes it's a trip to watch the drunkards on their journey home. Other times, it's annoying.

Anyway, sometimes we come across these posters. Jeremy wanted to savor the humor we found in them with a few photo's. Enjoy!

Just in case you can't read the sign clearly, the one Jeremy is next to says "Please do it at home", and the one that Marta and Cody are next to says, "Please do it at a pub". Funny stuff!

Birthday Shot

Recently, we have made a few new friends. Among them are Lisa and Josh. Lisa is from New York, and Josh is from Illinois. They teach at an English school in Japan also. One of the first times we hung out was on Lisa's Birthday. We were gonna do a little karaoke and I thought I'd surprise her with a round of Tequila shots since she was a tequila fan. So, I snuck out of the karaoke room and went up to the bar and ordered the shots. The bartender realized that he was out of tequila after only one shot was poured so he asked me what else I'd like a shot of. Feeling a bit on the spot, I ordered her the typically girly Birthday shot, a blowjob shot. Well, this bartender was from maybe Scotland, and whether or not that has anything to do with his inability to make a proper blowjob shot, I don't know. However, he did try his best. The thing is, Lisa ended up with a small glass full of baily's and kahlua, with a floater of something strong enough to light on fire. Hesitantly, we went in there with the shots, sang Happy Birthday, and realized how drunk she already was when she blew the fire out and proceeded to put the very hot rim of the shot glass in her mouth. As if I were literally in slow motion, I couldn't stop her fast enough before she burnt herself, but it wasn't so bad. She succeeded in finishing the shot, but then after Jeremy and I left and Josh went to take her home, she puked all over the taxi. I felt so guilty. It was totally my fault. So much for trying to make a good impression on my new friends... Luckily, she didn't hold it against me :o)

Halloween Party

As most of you know, I had a hard time leaving my last company. It was a very hard decision for one reason only, the children that I taught. I loved and adored those babies! I'll back up a bit, just in case you don't know the story.

I was a Nursery English teacher at Little Garden Preschool. I taught the first of 4 English classes at that school. The children in my class were literally 2 and 3 years old. It was tough, but a TON of fun. I was with those babies at some pretty crucial points in their development, toilet training, learning to eat on their own, being separated for the first time from their parents, speaking, motor skill development, and so on. These children are just beginning to learn their native language, mostly Japanese. And, their parents send them to an International School so that they can also learn English. It's a tough position to be in, as a teacher. But, that was all besides the point. The company was awful to work for. Things were just a huge mess. I won't get into it, but I would come home crying sometimes, I would constantly bitch to Jeremy about it, and I was always stressed out and miserable. The only happiness that came out of that job were the children, and that was a lot. However, after many events and lots of thinking, I decided to leave. It was a painful decision that I still sometimes consider.

Anyway, last Halloween, I was invited to a Halloween party by one of the parents of the children in my old class. She said she was going to invite the other children in the class and their parents so I could be reunited with them. Lets just say I was as happy as a clam!

I was so happy to see them, and it appeared that they were just as happy to see me. Even though it had been months since they had seen me, they all ran right up to me. It was a tear jerking moment, and I will cherish it forever.

Their little Halloween costumes were darling, and they were so happy to be together outside of the classroom. They played for hours, ate and ate and ate some more. They had a little candy hunt outside and played games inside. It was just what I needed.

I love those little babies and they will be a part of me forever. They say that a teachers first class is their hardest and most memorable. I agree with this and tenfold because they are little ones. They trust and rely on you so much.

I am so happy that this parent, Karina, thought of me and invited me to continue in their lives.

Disney Sea

Have you ever thought about the fact that Disneyland is actually DISNEY LAND? I never had, until I came to Japan. Tokyo has it's own Disneyland. And, I am guessing because of the popularity of Disney in Japan, they also created their very own, DisneySEA!!! So, basically, the Disneyland is land based, like the Disneyland in Aneheim. And, the Disneysea is water based.

Up until recently, I couldn't really convince Jeremy to go to Disney with me. He had been before when he lived in Japan a long time ago and he wasn't too enthused about making the trip again. Well, somehow I convinced him to go, and we went together with Marta and Cody.

We had a lot of fun. We didn't go until later in the afternoon, but we still had a really good time. The scenery was beautiful. I didn't mention that Disneysea is more targeted for teenagers and adults. It has a mystic romance theme. The area's are much more romantic and beautiful. Like, Aladdin's castle, and the streets of Venice (I think it was Venice, I really don't know). Also, you can drink beer at Disneysea, inside of the restaurants.

The experience was pretty great and I hope that before we go back home for good, we can experience Tokyo Disneyland as well. We'll see how much convincing that will take of Jer Bear.

Ketchup

Well... A lot has happened in the recent couple of months and to be honest, the only thing that kept me from blogging about them, was that I hadn't had a chance to upload pictures, and the best thing about this little site is that it lets me poke in pictures. Well, before Jeremy, Marta, Cody, and I all headed up to Hokkaido for Christmas, I dumped 645 pictures onto my computer... I imagine that now, there are about the same on the camera from our trip.

So, that being said, I have a lot of blogging to do. And, since I have another week of vacation ahead of me, I have plenty of time to do it :o)

Ciao!

A busy week...

It's been a busy week. Last weekend we were able to go back to Kamakura and spend an amazing day checking out a bunch of old temples. The day was gorgeous and that weekend was the last of the popular 'momijigari' season. There were a lot of people out, but it wasn't incredibly crowded. The woman who volunteered to show us around did a great job mapping out our adventure for the day. We went to about 6 different places. I could spend a lot more time there. There was something mystic and real about that place. Maybe it's my image of Japan.

Last Wednesday I held and attended my first Bounenkai. I invited my students and couple of friends to join me in a traditional Japanese style "End of Year Party". The parties happen during December and most Japanese people attend many (some for their companies, and some for their friends and associates). I decided I wanted to say thank you to my students and bring them all together. I tend to talk to my students about my other students, so they all sorta know each other anyway. I wanted to give them an opportunity to meet one another. It went well. We ate at an Izakaya on the 24th floor in Kaihin Makurari called, Doma Doma. The view was amazing, and we had our own room! Ai and Aoi were also their, so I brought them some activity packs to keep them busy. Traditionally, the dinners are a course meal with all you can drink!

Tonight, I am baking and preparing for the Christmas party that Jeremy and I are having at our place tomorrow. We are going to try and make it somewhat traditional to everyone. I am going to have BINGO like we always have at Grandma and Grandpa Cole's on Christmas Day. I even found some little scratch off tickets. I will have to write about the party after it happens. I have been really excited. I have made a Pumpkin Cheesecake and an Apple Crisp so far. I have so much to do. I better get to it.

Couchsurfing

Recently, Jeremy and I joined a website called couchsurfing.com. Basically, you fill out a bunch of information about yourself, put up some pictures, and post your 'profile' online. Then, 100's of thousands of other members from around the world have access to your profile. So, if Jeremy and I wanted to travel to Iceland, we would do a search for profiles of people in Iceland. The profiles are specific as to how many people can stay, what they want to provide, and so on. So, once we choose a 'couch', we submit a request, and wait to see if we are welcome on their couch at that time. The website is free, and it's based on trust. The more people you let stay with you and that you stay with, the higher trust with you is. Because, every time you let people stay with you, you fill out a reference, and so do they. Same as if you stay with other people. All of that information is accessible for the other people on the website. We think it's a great way to meet people from around the world, experience other cultures, and promote the pay it forward slogan.

In November, we had three couchsurfers come to stay with us, Triston from Australia, Georg from Austia, and Chi Kin from Hong Kong. Each one was completely different, and all of the experiences were positive. Triston was here for only two nights and we did what we could to cram in as much of Tokyo into that time as possible. Georg was here to visit his girlfriend and to travel all around Japan, staying with many other couchsurfers, and Chi Kin is still here, and traveling around Japan.

I am so glad that we joined this group. You may say that it's crazy to let people stay with you whom you don't know, but I think it's crazy to just assume that everyone on this planet is bad. It's ignorance to a certain level, but also it's faith. I think it'll be great when Jeremy and I decide to go to Europe and backpack. We can stay on other peoples couches and experience their countries in a more native style. When you stay in hotels, you don't get the true experience. This is kind of like a free homestay program. The only price you pay is in the gifts you choose to bring for the person opening up their home to you. It's priceless.

The start of a new blog

I am sitting here making CD's for my students. I decided to put the iTunes gift cards to good use and load up on some Christmas music. I am going to share the classical songs of my younger days with my students. They are always hearing about my family and my life back home.

We have been doing our best to do some traveling on the weekends. Anything that gets us out of the house is a nice feeling. Last weekend we went to the Imperial Palace in Otemachi, in Tokyo. The weather was gorgeous and it's now the season where the leaves change color. This weekend we are going to go back to Kamakura for a second time this year, to see the leaves again. Last time we went it was very cold and rainy so we are looking forward to a sunny day (fingers crossed).


I have a new part time job. I correct English blogs from Japanese people. One of the students lives in Kamakura and has offered to show Jeremy, Marta, Cody, and I around on Sunday. I am really excited!



My brothers birthday is in a few days. .. Even though I'm not home, I can't wait for it to get here. I have agreed to uphold the family tradition of not decorating for Christmas until after Tony's birthday. I love my little Brother!