A snowy day in Fukuoka

Well, it finally snowed properly in Fukuoka today and the whole of Kyushu. I think we caught the cold front from China. Feeling kinda cold when I woke up, I opened up the drapes to my balcony and saw snow. For a second, it was like Christmas! and then it quickly daunted on me that I had a 15-minute walk to the train station. When I was ready to head out the door, it was snowing heavily. After a block, my umbrella was broken and I was covered in snow. No doubt I would've turned into a snowman if I had continued walking to the train station so I waved a taxi down. 1200yen later in a warm car, I felt much better and was ready to work! This is all new to me! How I miss sunny So.Cal!

The photo I took when I woke up.

Some heavy snowing 10 minutes before I headed out the door.

The bush outside my work's building. So pretty!

One the way home from the train station, it was not snowing so I was able to walk home but a layer of snow is still sitting on the staircase.

My co-worker, Wasim took this photo at the station where he lives in Kurume, which is further south from Fukuoka. There were a lot more snow and and it was snowing. The poor guy was covered white when he got home!

A month deep in Japan

Sorry for the long delay, folks. I guess I am having a pretty good time here that I have not been able to find time to write. However, I did take a lot of photos. For now, here are a selected few (well, 132 from my 500 photos) with captions. I will write more soon. I promise. Enjoy!

By the way, あけましておめでとう akemashite omedetou/Happy New Year!

A month deep in Japan

iPhone & and Ghengis Khan Party

Yay! It's the weekend after a very long week. I absorbed so much this week which is making me feel like I have been here at least for a month but it has only been over 2 weeks.

So, it was a great day today. Kelly, the outgoing teacher, who is fluent in Japanese, was super awesome enough to help me get my cell phone set up. Getting a phone, especially an expensive phone like the iPhone 3GS is a long long long process in Japan. In the past, foreigners were able to easily buy cell phones but many of them left the country without making their payments so now, not only I had to bring my official documentations (another long process at the city hall) which show my new address and registration as a resident in the city. I also had to bring my gas and electricity set up paperwork, bank info (again, another long process to get it set up), and health insurance card (which I don't have yet because guess what, it takes a friggin long time for to process) to prove that I am here to stay for a while. Then, you are not automatically approved so it basically becomes a minimum of a 2-hour tedious, almost nerve wrecking process just to get a cell phone. Needless to say, I was pretty happy when I got approved and also quite relieved that it was done.

Earlier in the day, I met Kelly at her host family's house. Chan, the host mother, invited me to her Genghis Khan (what the Japanese called lamb) aka Mongolian BBQ dinner party that night so after the cell phone, Kelly and I went to Daimaru department store to the Hokkaido Fair to sample some food and also get her an omiyage (gift). I bought her this amazing, melt-in-your mouth cheesecake called Snaffle from Hokkaido. I am not a big sweets fan but it was to die for. Then we returned to Chan's house which is big enough for a party of 9-10 people. There were sake, beers, wine, champagne. Then there were tofu appetizers, endless pieces of grilled Genghis Khan, mushrooms, onions, cabbages. And there were more - grilled mackerel, cheese, onigiris (rice balls, which was really good grilled with soy sauce and butter), rice crackers, tsukemono (pickles), some really really good Hokkaido (where Chan is from) ikura (salmon fish eggs)...with rice if you wish. Last but not least, coffee with my omiyage - buttery Snaffles. I am sure I missed something because the food and drinks just kept coming and I could hardly keep up. During dinner, Chan wanted to give me an extra futon pad for my apartment. Not only this was the best meals I had since I arrived (and I had a lot of really good food for the past 2 weeks), I was so touched to receive such kindness from a stranger who just met me. Though I didn't know the host or any of the Japanese guests at the party and all of them spoke very little English (Chan doesn't speak any), all of them engaged with me and made me feel welcomed in the most natural way. And I got invited to another party next week!

Looking back, I had only imagined an experience like this. It was a little surreal to experience it and I came away feeling extremely blessed. Below are some photos from today. おかげさまデ! (Okage-sama de)

Chan - the host mother.


The dinner party


The Food

Wow! I am living in Japan!

A lot has happened since my last post. I have finally finished my 10-day training and have been awarded the "you-are-now-an-official-teacher-pin" by my district director (honbucho) to put on my suit jacket. Most of everything here have some form of ceremony or formality.

My work started yesterday and I have already taught a class today. It went well but I still need more practice but I think the students were happy. I actually started at a good time of the year because it's like dead week next week so I get to teach a few special lessons. There is this one called "Hello Tiffani" where the students will present some information on Japan and I get my plan my lesson around it. There is also a karaoke Christmas songs class but luckily, no one has signed up. Otherwise, I would have to learn all the Christmas songs and practice my singing in the shower. After next week, we get 1 week off for the winter holiday so I will start anew with my students in January.

I have also moved into my apartment yesterday. It's definitely a shoe box but it's a really cute, modern place. It has a balcony and a tiny loft where my futon is so I need to climb up to my bed. I get home really late each night so I haven't really unpacked. Once I have settled in and decorated a little bit, I will post a grand tour here. I will also post some new photos soon, probably during the holiday. My apartment is about a-10 minute train ride from downtown and it still has lots of traditional Japanese neighborhoods and homes in the area.

Walking home from the train station tonight, it daunted on me that "wow, I am really living in Japan!" Though I am not studying much, I can understand more Japanese than last week. Once in a while, I would surprise myself that I actually understand that the cashier is asking if I have one of those club cards or if I want chopsticks. Speaking of chopsticks,I am eating Japanese food everyday, grabbing bento boxes for lunch and dinner at convenient stores or supermarkets at different department stores. Oh...and I even take off my shoes when I enter my apartment. I find my gradual adjustment and transformation fascinating. It's like my brain and mind have decided to magnify my life.

Before I end the blog today, I want to pay homage to someone that has changed my life. Susan Cortez, my old boss, and the best boss I ever had passed away suddenly last Saturday. I still can't believe she is gone. Since I heard the news, I have been wondering if I would be here in Japan without her. I still remember the interview she gave me with Marine (my other supervisor and friend) at Fielding. She was so easy to talk to, so warm and kind. Then in 2005, she suggested that I apply for the Events Coordinator position and in 2007, she encouraged me to run for the staff representative position at the Fielding Council. It was her trust in me and her mentorship that I was able to build a successful career at Fielding. Other than work, she was also just a wonderful human being. I loved talking to her about gardening, figure drawing, and the love of cooking. I will miss her and I hope she finds peace wherever she is.


Wendy Susan Cortez
August 31, 1944 - December 12, 2009

#7 七 (nana): Grace in Small Things - People

I am most thankful for the people here in my life:

1. My best friend and lover, Nathan. He's been the rock of my life and my biggest fan, supporter of everything that I do.
2. My friends, especially the ones that are close to me (you know who you are) that have given me so much love and support and everything. I feel very blessed.
3. My family - mom, dad, my sister, my cousins, aunt Ivy and everyone. They gave me so much love and was right there to help me whenever I needed it.
4. My friends from my old work, my Fielding's ELC peeps. Dedicated educators and the source of my inspiration.
5. My two friends in Japan - Tom and Osamu. Even though they are in Tokyo, far from me, I'd be totally lost without their help!

A successful semi-Japanese conversation

Day 3 - it was a long day at the work training today. My new job is going to be very demanding. There is a lot of pressure to not only do good as a teacher but also as a charming person that lures your student to come back. I am not complaining and I fully understand that it is a business. I just really hope I can do well. I want to be really good at this.

Anyway, I had a day off yesterday so the other girl from Canada in training with me and I went to roam around Fukuoka. We decided to take the "green" bus which tours around the city. As we approached the bus stop, we noticed a sign taped to the time schedule. We both can read a bit of Chinese so we took a guess what the notice was all about but it made no sense. Then I saw this woman, maybe in her mid-40s (but who knows because it's so hard to guess the real age of Asians) and I asked:

Me: Sumimasen, eego o hanashimasu ka? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
Woman: (shook her head but followed me to the bus stop anyway.)
Me: Wakarimasen (I don't understand - pointing to the sign)
Woman: she read and then slowly, she said, "today is marathon". Then she gestured something but I couldn't make any sense of it.
Me: Is bus coming?
Woman: What time?
Me: 12:30pm.
Woman: Ahhh, dayoobi desu. (it's okay)
Me:ahhh, arigato goizaiimasu. Bow several times.

A successful conversation with a Japanese person with my limited Japanese on Day 2. Yay!

Here's some pics from the day. Enjoy!

First day off in Fukuoka

Day 1 in Fukuoka

Started with training today. Got to see what the head office looks like. I dressed in a my suit to work. Looked very professional. Wished I took a picture of myself. Training went well. It went from 10-4pm....which is supposed to be a half day. People here are workaholics!! But they also have extremely high work ethics, even down to the convenience store clerk.

Anyway, I was thinking...how did I get so lucky to be here! This is just an amazing place. Here are the pics I took today (click on the photo for all pics). I'll try to take some better ones tomorrow.

じゃまた! (Ja mata - see you later!)

Tiff

Fukuoka Day 1