Classes finish

Today was the last day of classes at Asahi. I had to give a goodbye speech, which I was very nervous for. After the speech, a student presented me with a bouquet of flowers. The bouquet is really big and bulky; I’m not sure what to do with it. Then I went back to the staff room. The teachers started moving the desks around. My desk, along with several others has inexplicably been moved to another room. All the rearranging made me very nervous, I’m not sure why.

The habataki (mentally challenged) kids presented me with bags of tomatoes and potatoes.

This morning when I arrived at school, I went to the locker room to change as usual. But when I pulled back the curtain, there was Fujiwara sensei, right in the middle of changing. It was awkward. And all the lockers were gone. So far, I have been unable to locate them. And I really need to because all my stuff is in there.

Now I don’t know what to do. Everyone is busily doing something, but I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I don’t even have a desk anymore…

The countdown begins

I finally found out when I'm going home! Yes, the plane ticket is booked and I'm leaving August 4th. My heart leaped for joy when I first held the itinerary in my hands. I wanted to prance happily around the room, spinning and twirling, and thanking God that Japan was letting me leave. It may seem odd to say, but Japan has a way of keeping people here, whether they like it or not. I've been here two years but it feels like so much longer. But now that I know I'm definitely leaving, I will try to appreciate my remaining days and soak up everything. For instance, on my bike ride to work, I looked again at the passing scenery and noted the beauty once more. Fields of rice framed by the mountains. And since it's rainy season, the rice farmers are out, tending to their crop. It makes a beautiful, very Japan sight. I still worry what I'll do when I get back to Toronto, but I'm sure I'll find something. So I just have to finish off this last month and a half. I hope it goes quickly!

Golden Week in Tokyo

I spent Golden Week with my brother and sister in Tokyo. We got along surprisingly well, it was a nice trip. On the last day, we went our separate ways at the train station. My dinner came courtesy of the vending machine: a box of Calorie Mate and a bottle of Pocari Sweat. By the time I got back to my apartment, I was absolutely exhausted. I checked the mailbox and found nothing but a porn flyer. This I threw into Nick's mailbox and then went to bed. The next day was work. I was still so tired, couldn't even think clearly. I left work early, came home, and slept another 4 hours. Now I feel back to normal.

Every time I meet up with family, I feel homesick. I'm so ready to go home. I'm dying to go home. It feels like I've been here a lifetime.

And this is somewhat unrelated, but a 2 nensei student was hit by a car on her way to school and died during Golden Week. Today I taught a lesson in her class. Her desk sits vacant except for a vase of flowers on top. So sad...

China

Well I just got back from a trip to China. I went with my mother for a week. Overall, it was a good trip, although there were some rough patches. We visited three cities: Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai.

Beijing was not a nice city. It was a noisy, dirty, urban landscape devoid of trees and green space. Beijing is a city that serves its functional purpose as the capital of China. There is no attempt to make it a pleasant living area. I can only imagine the chaos come Olympics time. One thing I liked about Beijing was a certain vegetarian restaurant. It was called "Green Tianshi Vegetarian Restaurant." The food was superb, some of the best vegetarian dishes I've ever tasted.

We took an overnight train from Beijing to Xian. I liked Xian a little more than Beijing. The city landscape was nicer, especially when viewed from up on the city wall. However, the Terracotta Warriors were a big let-down. I was expecting an army of terracotta warriors, fully excavated. This is not the case. Only a small portion of the statues have been excavated, and most of them are in pieces. A few figures have been reconstructed but most remain as fragments in the dirt.

Next we took another overnight train from Xian to Shanghai. This is a LONG train ride (about 15 hours) and not recommended. A flight is much easier. Shanghai was the only city I truly liked or would consider living in. It is ultra-modern, with spectacular skyscrapers and breathtaking views. More importantly, this is a clean city with plenty of parks and trees. There are also some great shopping opportunities.

What I liked most about China was the history and culture. What I liked least was the spitting. For some reason, many of the men would spit freely on the street. It was so gross. Everywhere we went, there were men spitting. Even inside the airport, I saw a Chinese man spit on the floor. It was relief to return to Japan after the China trip. I love Japan. The more countries I visit, the more I realize how great Japan really is.

Pimsleur Japanese Level 2 Notes

I started taking notes on Unit 13.

Unit 13 おちゃはまだつめたいですか　　 木ようびの朝　　　　　　　　　 はやくたちます はい,　おります あいにく いつやすみをとりますか しごとがたくさんあります りょこうをします きれいな いきたい わるい ちょっとさむいです てんきはよくありません さむくありません あつくありません まちます ひま ひまがありません りょこうをしたいです ワシントンはまだみていません おもしろい すること つめたい　 することがたくさんあります Unit 14 ざんねんですね　　　　　　　　 またなければならないです 英語のしんぶん　　　　　　　　 いらっしゃい　ますか これをわたしてくださいませんか ワシントンへりょこうしたいです ええ、ぜひ どうりょうももうひとりいきます おんなのこがふたりいます かかります おかねがかかります たかくありませんでした Unit 15 やまださんはむすめがふたりいます　　　　 することがたくさんあります たぶん六月ごろまでまちます ほんとうですね どうもごちそうさまでした はたらいていました もっていました Unit 16 そのまえはなごやにすんでいました　　 かぞくといっしょにきょうとにすんでいます とうきょうのかいしゃではたらいていました むすこさんはなんさいですか まだちいさいです おおきくなりました ひとりはぎんこうではたらいています もひとり ひとりはおおさかではたらいています りょうほうと でんわちょう でんわちょうがいりますか でんわばんごうをしっています でんわばんごうがわかりません ありました わたしはコーヒはあまりのみません 　 コーヒをよくのみますか まいにちなにをのみますか わたしもにっさんをもっていました しゅうちょうしました でんわをかけたいんですが Unit 17 ながいあいだ　　　　　　　　　　　　 三年前から まいにちコーヒーをのみます こどもさんはいますか べんきょうしています けいざい どこの大学ですか ゆうびんきょくをさがしているんですが 五十メートルぐらい 六時ごろ 七メートルぐらいまっすぐいってください Unit 18 すると 右に すると左に銀行があります そのかど　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 まがってください そのかどを右にまがってください さがしているんです かきます かないはよくてがみをかきます あまり時間がありません いいえ、あまりかきません ぜんぜんかきません りょうほうともアメリカにいます アメリカのどこですか かいしゃではたらいています よびたい タクシーをよびたいんですが しょうしょうおまちください タクシーがきましたよ ぐあいがわるいんです Unit 19 どこの大学ですか　　　　　　　　　　　　　 なにをべんきょうしていますか やまださんもむすこさんがいますね 電話をかけます 電話ははやいですからね ゆうびんきょくをさがしているんですが ここからとおいですか このみちをまっすぐ四メートルいってください するとみぎにぎんこうがあります そのかどをみぎにまがってください あるいていけません しゅじんはぐあいわるいんですが タクシーがきましたよ やっきょくはひだりにあります 電話をかけたいんですが ぜんぶでいくらですか Unit 20 ちかい やっきょく あまりちかくありません うちをかいたいんです それはいけませんね あそこにびょういんがありますね そのかどをひだりにまがってください 新聞はありません おつり 四百円のおつりです でもよく電話をかけます 電話はてがみよりはやいです おおさかまでください 一まいください おおさかゆき おおさかゆきはなんばんせんですか 三ばんせんです おおさかまでどのぐらいですか きゅうこう とっきゅう Unit 21 バスはくるまよりおそいです　　 ここでまっています いっしょにいきましょう もしよければ くるまがうごかないんです じゅうぶんあります きって ゆうびんきょくはしまっています みなしまっています でもデパートはあいています すみません、きってはありません どこでかいますか ともだちにでんわをかけます Unit 22 えきのキヨスクで　　　　　　　　　　　　　 えきでかいます 車で五分ぐらいです すぐ行きますか すぐ行きたいんです ちかてつ バスでは行きたくありません バスはおそいです 車でいけません しんじゅくへいかなければならないんです でもあしたはお店は八時まであいています テニスができますか　　　　　　　　　　　　 つごうがわるいんです 何時ごろ Unit 23 しっています　　　　　　　　　　　　　 しりません しりあい メアリさんとよくテニスをします メアリさんのごしゅじんもテニスができますか はい、りょうほうともテニスをします テニスがじょうずです かなり いっしょにテニスをしますか こうえん ちかてつのえきまであるいていきます 今日の新聞はありますか Unit 24 かなりおそいです　　　　　　　　　　　 コンサートはなんじにはじまりますか まだじかんがありますね きっさてん よくしっていますか しています テニスをしています 十五年も 木曜日はつごうがいいです あしたはやすみですけど かまいません いいですよ もちろんかまいません かいぎがあります ずいぶん ずいぶんいそがしいんですね Unit 25 おくさんはテニスをじゅうねんもしています ええ、でもテニスのほうがすきです おさけのほうがいいです 水曜日は休みですけど わたしはかまいません それとも土曜日のほうがいいですか お金はどこでかえられますか ぎんこうへいってきます すぐもどっていきます Unit 26 来週の水曜日にテニスをしませんか どのぐらいテニスをしていますか いいきっさてんをしっています チョコレートケーキのほうがいいです へやへいってきます よ お金をかえたいんです ドルを円にかえたいんです おかねをかえに ちかくに みつびしぎんこうのほうがちかいです アメリカのほうがおおきいです ちかくにぎんこうがありますか　　 ゆうびんきょくへもいきます ひるにかいぎがあります ぎんこうへはすぐいきますか いますぐ Unit 27 そのまえにおかねをかえにぎんこうへいきます　 いますぐぎんこうへいかなければならないんです いっしょにいってもいいですか しこくへいくんですね こんしゅうのすいようびにたちます きゅうしゅうへもいきます しこくにはどのぐらいいますか きゅうしゅうにはいっしゅうかんいます きゅうしゅうではすることがたくさんあります 私はしこくにはニ三日しかいません ドルしかもっていません わたしはきゅうしゅうにしかいきません いつもどってきますか あしたは日曜日ですから でんしゃはじかんがかかります Unit 28 きゅうしゅうでかいぎがあります　 にさんにちしかいません オレンジジュースもありますけど ボストンはどんなところですか まち 日本人の大学生もたくさんいます かぞくにあいます かぞくにあいにボストンへいきます 友だちにあいにきっさてんへいきます いつか いつかアメリカへいきたいです Unit 29 わたしも　 えきのまえにぎんこうがありますね そこでかえられますか ちずをかきます ちずをかきましょうか もちろんかまいませんよ このしゅうまつ むすこにあいにいきます いっしゅうかんしかいません おそくなってすみません Unit 30 いつかぜひいきたいです　　 もしよければ どうぞおはいりください ほんとにそうですね ゆきがふります ふゆ あめがふりますか にほんではあめがたくさんふります たぶんにさんにちしかふりません なつはときどきふりますよ

Unit 13 Is the tea still cold? Thursday morning leaving early Yes, he’s in. Unfortunately When will you take a vacation? a lot of work travel beautiful want to go bad it’s a little cold the weather is not all right not cold not hot wait free time no free time want to travel haven’t seen Washington yet interesting things to do cold a lot of things to do Unit 14 that’s too bad, isn’t it? have to wait English newspaper in Please hand this in. I want to take a trip to Washington Yes, with pleasure another colleague is going there are two girls costs costs money was not expensive Unit 15 Mr. Yamada has 2 daughters 　　　 There are a lot of things to do. Maybe I’ll wait until about June. That’s true, isn’t it? It was a feast. was working had Unit 16 Before that, I lived in Nagoya. I live with my family in Kyoto I was working in a company in Tokyo How old is your son? They are still small. They’re grown up One person is working at a bank. One more person. One person is working in Osaka. Both of them. phone book Do you need a phone book? I know the phone number. I don’t know the phone number. Here it is. I don’t drink coffee very much Do you drink coffee often? What do you drink everyday? I also had a Nissan. went on a business trip. I want to make a telephone call. Unit 17 long time from three years ago I drink coffee everyday Do you have children? is studying economics Which university is it? I’m looking for the post office. about 50 meters about six o’clock Go forward about seven meters. Unit 18 Then/when you do that On the right Then there is a bank on the left. That corner Please turn. Please turn right at that corner. looking for to write my wife writes letters often/ I don’t have much time. No, I don’t write often. I never write. Both are in America. Where in America? He’s working in a company. call I would like to call a taxi. Please wait. The taxi has come. not feeling well [condition is bad] Unit 19 which university is it? what is he studying? Mr. Yamada also has a son, right? to make a phone call because the telephone is quick I’m looking for the post office. Is it far from here? go straight down this road 4 meters. Then there is a bank on the right Turn right at that corner I can’t go by foot. my husband isn’t feeling well the taxi has come the pharmacy is on the left I want to make a telephone call How much is it total? Unit 20 close pharmacy not very close I want to buy a house I’m sorry to hear that the hospital is over there turn left at that corner there are no newspapers change (money) 400 yen change But we often call on the telephone the telephone is faster than letters To Osaka please One ticket please Osaka bound What track for Osaka? Its track 3 How long to Osaka? express train super express train Unit 21 the bus is slower than the car I’ll be waiting here Let’s go together If it’s all right with you the car doesn’t work there’s enough stamps the post office is closed everything is closed but the department store is open sorry, there are no stamps where can I buy them? I’m going to call my friend Unit 22 at the station kiosk you buy it at the station by car, its about 5 minutes are you going right away? I would like to go right away subway I don’t want to go by bus The bus is slow I can’t go by car I have to go to Shinjuku but tomorrow the stores are open until 8 can you play tennis? Its not convenient about what time? Unit 23 I know I don’t know at all acquaintance I often play tennis with Mary Can Mary’s husband also play tennis? Yes, they both play tennis. They are good at tennis fairly/considerably Do you want to play tennis together? park I’ll go to the subway station by foot Is there a newspaper today? Unit 24 Its fairly slower When does the concert start? There’s still time, isn’t there? coffee shop do you know him well? have been I have been playing tennis as many as 15 years Thursday is convenient Tomorrow is a holiday though That doesn’t matter That’s good for sure Of course it doesn’t matter I have a meeting awfully you’re awfully busy, aren’t you? Unit 25 his wife has been playing tennis for as many as 10 years yes, but I like tennis better I prefer rice wine Wednesday is a holiday though As for me, it doesn’t matter Or do you prefer Saturday? Where can I change money? I’m going to the bank I’m coming back right away Unit 26 Wed. of next week, won’t you play tennis? how long have you been playing tennis? I know a good coffee shop Chocolate cake is better I’ll go to the room and come back For sure I want to change money I want to change dollars into yen to change money close by Mitsubishi bank is closer America is bigger Is there a bank near by? I’m also going to the post office I have a meeting at noon Are you going to the bank right away? immediately Unit 27 before that, I’ll go the bank to change money I have to go to the bank immediately Can we go together? You’re going to Shikoku, aren’t you? I’m leaving Wednesday of this week I’m going to Kyushyu too How long will you stay in Shikoku? I’ll stay in Kyushu for one week There are lots of things to do in Kyushyu I’ll stay only a few days in Shikoku I only have dollars I’ll only go to Kyushyu When will you return? because tomorrow is Sunday the train takes time Unit 28 There’s a meeting in Kyushyu I’ll stay only a few days There’s orange juice also though What kind of place is Boston? town There are many Japanese university students I’ll see my family In order to see the family, I’m going to Boston I’m going to a coffee shop to see my friends someday/sometime Someday, I want to go to America Unit 29 me too there’s a bank in front of the station, right? Can I change money at that place? I’ll draw a map Shall I draw a map? Of course. I don’t mind. For sure. this weekend We’re going to see our son. only one week I’m sorry I’m late Unit 30 Someday, by all means I would like to go if its all right with you please come in truly its so, isn’t it? it snows winter does it rain? In Japan, it rains a lot maybe it snows for only a few days sometimes it rains in the summer

a lost friendship

Its been a long time since I've written, but this time I'm determined to write regularly. Another birthday has passed and I'm now 25 years old. Damn, that's getting old! And this was the best birthday ever. Why? Because no one knew it was my birthday, so I was free from all social obligations and unwanted attention. I was still depressed, as I always am on this day, but at least it wasn't stressful.

In other news, a promising friendship is no more. Robyn, I'm sure you'll never read this, but I'm going to explain it here regardless. We met two years ago, upon our arrival in Japan. At first, it was a friendship of convenience. We were both new, both uncertain of our environment, both in need of support. Admittedly, we had very different personalities, but that didn't seem to matter. We became good friends, hanging out, traveling, working through the Japan experience together. And then, over time, I noticed changes. Basically, we grew apart. And then you invited me out to dinner to meet your mother, who was visiting. As we walked to the restaurant, we chatted and everything was okay. But when we arrived, there was Amy waiting for us. As you may have realized, I don't like Amy. Her personality sucks and she acts mentally unbalanced on occasion. I'm sure Amy feels the same way about me, so it was no surprise that she acted so coldly towards me. But it was a surprise that you did. Why did you invite me in the first place? Robyn, I have no room in my life for fake friendships. And that is clearly what ours is. Life is just too short. And so here on this blog that you will never read, I'm saying goodbye. You'll probably not even notice any change, since we see each other so rarely now. But you will no longer be part of my life. This saddens me, because I liked you and considered you a good friend. At one time we were. But this is the end for us.

Where to begin?

So much has happened... where do I start? In April, Mom, Dad, and Evan came to visit. It was nice to see them and at the same time somewhat stressful. All the ALTs got into a big fight with the Board of Education over summer holidays. I was very close to quitting but in the end decided it wasn't worth it. Not to mention the fact that all the ALTs were pussies and too afraid to make a stand. And then there was the recontracting conference in Kobe. It would have been okay, had I not drank so much. I'm lucky to be alive. I was throwing up pure alcohol. I passed out at the bar, was sent back to the hotel in a taxi. Then some strangers carried me up to my room while I threw up everywhere. I'm so ashamed. What else... I went to Himiji with Robyn and Lauren, that was okay. I went to a party in Osaka that turned out to be the coolest party ever. It was at the foot of Osaka castle in a forest. There were hookah pipes and drums. I was in heaven. I've started meditating and continue with my Master's course. I went to a picnic in Osaka hosted by a Mongolian girl. It was the most multi-cultural gathering ever, half Mongolians, a few Japanese, the rest were gaijins. On Saturday, I was sick with this bizarre illness that left me weak and tired. I could barely get out of bed. But the next day I was fine.

One thing to note, I keep ending up in Osaka. All the new people I'm meeting live there. It takes me over 2 hours to get there!