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

I have arrived in Japan!

I have arrived in Narita airport in Tokyo. I am feeling much better. The excitement has surfaced and I am soaking in everything I see.

There is so much going on here so I am going to just bullet point the things I saw:

- The flight attendance, counter ladies for ANA are all really beautiful. No, seriously, they are all really gorgeous. Maybe it has to do with their immaculate up-do hair and uniform.

- Japan toilets – the ones that warm and wash your butts are ubiquitous! And they feel really weird for the first if you have not had water spraying into your ass while sitting in the toilet.

- Fukuoka is a very accessible city. Many people speak some English.

- Japanese customer service is excellent. Even though they know you don’t speak Japanese, they still speak to you in Japanese like you do and make sure you are okay.

- Yes, convenient store and vending machines are ubiquitous.

- Though they don’t celebrate x’mas here. X’mas songs are blasting everywhere. Apparently, x’mas is like a couples holiday here.

- Lastly, even though I am Asian, I still stand out like a reindeer.

December 3, 2009

Well, this is it. The day that I have been planning for almost a year has come. How do I feel? Emotional. Maybe there is a small tinker of excitement but I will really have to nurture that to come to surface. I hope that once I have landed, even in Narita airport, I will feel it more. In fact, I need to feel it. I have wanted this to happen for so long…but I can’t help but feel that I left behind so many good things.

For the past month or so, planning for the departure date was kicked into turbo mode. First was the selling of furniture on Craigslist. Then came quitting my job, seeing my SB friends and co-workers one last time, and the preparation of a 2-day garage sale. The last phase was moving back to my mom’s in the bay area and storing what remains of my 31 years in a corner of the garage and some in my so-called room at my mom’s. I also spent time with my sister in San Francisco, had a small gathering with my extended family, went back to Santa Barbara one last time, then Thanksgiving, and finally, doing all the shopping – buying new suits, shoes, Target etc. I knew I would get it all done but I didn’t expect take up so much time so unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a relaxing break before I embark on this journey. Plus time passed by so quickly that it was like my life was rushing through to the end this chapter.

So what is this new chapter? At this point, I know that this definitely is a career move. Someone reminded me that I should make more money in this stage of my life as I have spent my 20s in learning and gaining experiences so it is time for the returned investment. I am also looking to define my profession. You know when you were young, people always asked what do you want to be when you grow up? Well, I still don’t have a defined answer. And since I am not young anymore, I need to figure it out. Personally, I want to get to know myself better. I have never lived alone before so here’s the chance, my friends (especially to those that have nagged me all these years!). As I shrugged to what I am writing here, I think I will mostly just let it ride and see what happens.

Here I am, December 4, 2009 marked as the new chapter of my life. I lived a good life so far and I have only my friends and family to thank for the love and support they have given me. The biggest lesson I have learned from this chapter of my life is the power of friendships and love. I will end today’s blog with this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."