Ohisashiburi
That means long time no see in Japanese. I would like to begin by apologizing to those who I have not written back to yet as I just got internet access at work and (drum roll please) a brand new laptop. It's truly amazing. In any case, I will begin by recounting the events of this past week.
This past Tuesday I had a hospital check up. Apparently it is a sort of physical, not like the one in the States, where several men go and have to pass through several stations. It was quite embarassing since I did not know what station I had to go to and what I was to do at each station. I had to give them 3 blood samples, chest x-ray, an ekg, blood pressure, urine and I forget what else. It was all painless although I could have done without the blood tests. This was also election day when we gathered in Laura's house to watch CNN as America voted. (I will keep my comments to myself . . . for now.)
Wednesday was a holiday -- Culture Day. In the morning we went to Aira to perform the tea ceremony that we had practiced the weekend before. It was great being a guest to these 2 Japanese ladies on stage. The only thing that irked me a bit was that they referred to Cristina and the other ALT with us as Sensei and me as I dont know what. After the tea ceremony, we went with Laura and her friends from Miyazaki (Osa and Tata) to Kushima in Miyazaki Prefecture for a culture festival. The highlight of our day there was this one tent that had some old men making hakoniwa (box gardens) for only $5. I found out later on that everything in the garden symbolizes something that is meant to bring good fortune throughout the year. Laura and Cristina got one, I hesitated and was left without one. However, I am persistant about making my own now.
Thursday evening I went to the Superintendent's house for a dinner party for everyone at work. These are parties where everyone drinks tons of beer and shochu (Japanese sweet potato liquor). Needless to say, several of them lose their inhibition and usually will sit by me and begin conversation. The night was pleasant and I would like to hang out with my co-workers again sometime. The only thing I could have lived without were the odd questions like "Do you have a lot of money?" "What color is your pubic hair?" and "Can we trade salaries?" This was also the first night that I tried squid. Unlike octopus, squid is soft and crisp. I like it; however, I still would not order it in a restuarant over salmon or tuna.
Friday night we went to Japanese class which seems to be dragging for me even more than before. Before class, we went to The Bluebird Tea Room for some caffe lattes and after class we went to Cafe Juri for some food. Cafe Juri is a bit pub-like but with an americana flair and Japanese food. It also has these cool bunson burners that they use to boil water in a beaker to create steam used to steam milk that sits in a special cup above it. All very interesting. Also Friday night, we decided to pass by an ice cream place that Cristina's sudents and fellow teachers had told her served rose ice cream -- her favorite ice cream flavor. As we approached the location of this ice cream place, we realized that they had directed us to the rose park. We thought that they had interpreted her statement as she loved roses.
Saturday we went to a rose festival in the park we had passed the night prior. We were surprised to run into another ALT there who we told the story of the ice cream to. He said that the park did indeed serve rose ice cream. To Cristina's excitement, we immediately went and bought some rose ice cream. Here it comes as a soft serve flavor so it is not as strong tasting as the gelato she loved in Italy. However, I prefer it since it does not taste like you are eating perfume. Later that evening we hung out with some other ALTs in Shibushi in a restuarant called Liverpool where Leah's (the Ariake ALT) husband works.
Sunday we went to Myazaki Prefecture again to a city called Miyakonojo. It is the closest city with a movie theater so we wanted to scope it out. We went with Laura and Jill. We found a small mall and a department store. It was fun, but the highlight of our trip was probably finding taco kits that we used to make a taco feast that very night.
At that brings me to today. I have spent most of the day reading Harry Potter until these last 30 minutes when I just got internet access. Have I mentioned how excited I am? I know I probably left a lot of gaps, but feel free to post a question or email me for any further comments or details.
This past Tuesday I had a hospital check up. Apparently it is a sort of physical, not like the one in the States, where several men go and have to pass through several stations. It was quite embarassing since I did not know what station I had to go to and what I was to do at each station. I had to give them 3 blood samples, chest x-ray, an ekg, blood pressure, urine and I forget what else. It was all painless although I could have done without the blood tests. This was also election day when we gathered in Laura's house to watch CNN as America voted. (I will keep my comments to myself . . . for now.)
Wednesday was a holiday -- Culture Day. In the morning we went to Aira to perform the tea ceremony that we had practiced the weekend before. It was great being a guest to these 2 Japanese ladies on stage. The only thing that irked me a bit was that they referred to Cristina and the other ALT with us as Sensei and me as I dont know what. After the tea ceremony, we went with Laura and her friends from Miyazaki (Osa and Tata) to Kushima in Miyazaki Prefecture for a culture festival. The highlight of our day there was this one tent that had some old men making hakoniwa (box gardens) for only $5. I found out later on that everything in the garden symbolizes something that is meant to bring good fortune throughout the year. Laura and Cristina got one, I hesitated and was left without one. However, I am persistant about making my own now.
Thursday evening I went to the Superintendent's house for a dinner party for everyone at work. These are parties where everyone drinks tons of beer and shochu (Japanese sweet potato liquor). Needless to say, several of them lose their inhibition and usually will sit by me and begin conversation. The night was pleasant and I would like to hang out with my co-workers again sometime. The only thing I could have lived without were the odd questions like "Do you have a lot of money?" "What color is your pubic hair?" and "Can we trade salaries?" This was also the first night that I tried squid. Unlike octopus, squid is soft and crisp. I like it; however, I still would not order it in a restuarant over salmon or tuna.
Friday night we went to Japanese class which seems to be dragging for me even more than before. Before class, we went to The Bluebird Tea Room for some caffe lattes and after class we went to Cafe Juri for some food. Cafe Juri is a bit pub-like but with an americana flair and Japanese food. It also has these cool bunson burners that they use to boil water in a beaker to create steam used to steam milk that sits in a special cup above it. All very interesting. Also Friday night, we decided to pass by an ice cream place that Cristina's sudents and fellow teachers had told her served rose ice cream -- her favorite ice cream flavor. As we approached the location of this ice cream place, we realized that they had directed us to the rose park. We thought that they had interpreted her statement as she loved roses.
Saturday we went to a rose festival in the park we had passed the night prior. We were surprised to run into another ALT there who we told the story of the ice cream to. He said that the park did indeed serve rose ice cream. To Cristina's excitement, we immediately went and bought some rose ice cream. Here it comes as a soft serve flavor so it is not as strong tasting as the gelato she loved in Italy. However, I prefer it since it does not taste like you are eating perfume. Later that evening we hung out with some other ALTs in Shibushi in a restuarant called Liverpool where Leah's (the Ariake ALT) husband works.
Sunday we went to Myazaki Prefecture again to a city called Miyakonojo. It is the closest city with a movie theater so we wanted to scope it out. We went with Laura and Jill. We found a small mall and a department store. It was fun, but the highlight of our trip was probably finding taco kits that we used to make a taco feast that very night.
At that brings me to today. I have spent most of the day reading Harry Potter until these last 30 minutes when I just got internet access. Have I mentioned how excited I am? I know I probably left a lot of gaps, but feel free to post a question or email me for any further comments or details.
posted by Jesse Montano at
4:01 PM
1 Comments:
I sent your package today. You and Cris should have it by next Monday, Nov. 15!!!! love ya xoxoxoxo
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Anonymous, at 6:11 AM
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