Idle times...

Am into my second week of nothingness at the schools. Not going too bad actually, though I really need to figure out a way to exercise as I sit on my bum all day in the air conned しょくいんしつ and then go home to my room where I sit in the air con and check my bank account at 5 minute intervals to see if my tax return has been deposited. Should learn to be more patient as standard processing time is 2 weeks and that will be tomorrow night. Very happy if all goes well with the return as it will pay for my flight home in December and help shave off some of my credit card debt.

Kanji practice is coming along nicely. I've estimated I know around 150 kanji by sight and can confidently write around 40. Not too bad. Find it all therapeutic going through stroke order, kind of like meditation- instead of observing my breath I am keeping calm by counting my strokes. Ichi, ni, san, shi and so on.

Have many things to get done by next Friday when mum and dad arrive. Really looking forward to seeing them so can hug and laugh loudly and moan when the fancy takes me without being made to feel like some weaker species for offloading my emotions. Perhaps that is too much to say, but nonetheless looking forward to being with mum.

List making feels very productive so will pop these to-do things down here and check in later to see if I have scratched 'em all off my list:

1. Clean car (empty boot, remove shoes)
2. Cull clothes and bag up for garbage deposit
3. Clean bathroom (must buy cleaner first)
4. Vacuum all areas of my 'zone'
5. Nails (clean and polish)
6. Bleach
7. Organise paper work (phone and car papers)
8. Research international drivers licence (ask Chris/go to Akashi)
9. Re-schedule yoga class (call Miki-chan)
10. Wrap dad's Father's Day present
11. Download photos from けいたい on to computer

That's it for now, am sure some other to-do's will sneak their way in but that's all I need to do. Despite all this free time I really am getting things done. The only other thing I would like to do but have been shying away from is write another article. This one may be an annonymous piece though as a little sensitive. Not sure where to send it yet.

Forgot to mention 100 heaven last week. Found the cutest little red polker dot envelopes for when have miscellaneous messages/cash to hand out to someone. Love how Japanese women do their business in that manner. Also got myself a nice purple zip up folder to hold all me kanji worksheets in. Exciting I know!

This weekend might go to Midori and check out cameras for mum. Also might pop into JUNKUDO and get myself another John Grisham novel. The last one was such a tease- a great plot, awesome climax and then the most useless ending. Is called THE ASSOCIATE. Don't buy- email me and I'll be happy to offload to you:)

Stay tuned...

ぼちぼちやね

Well I'm having one of those days. Probably not the best day to be blogging, but there's not much else to do today. I'm not in a kanji mood though I did try to scribble down a few when I got to work this morning. I know I really only need to be able to identify the kanji to pass the JLPT but I really like being able to write them and think it helps me to remember them more easily. Was bloody shocked though, after only a weekend, how much I have forgotten! Must be this getting old thing hey?

Went to another lithography class on Saturday. My print was a summer inspired うちわ but it didn't turn out as well as my koala. Next class is in September. So have to start thinking autumn themes. Totally devoid of any inspiration...perhaps something 秋祭り related?

Yesterday was a trip to Osaka. Now I'm just not a fan of Osaka. I guess considering my first living experience in Japan was in Tokyo has something to do with it. Anyway got there around lunch time and was greeted with ridiculously hot weather and NO breeze, a million people (literally) and just a short amount of shopping time before we headed off to the big matsuri (forgot the name). Popped into H&M and found a nice flowy top which I'm wearing at work today and a summery striped tank which I probably didn't need. Nonetheless it was fun to poke around. The last H&M I went to was in Dubai where everything was a total mess and not fun at all. Matsuri was just stupid hot and a bit of a non-event because we missed the parade. Highlight was 200yen beers and a big frankfurt dipped in ketchup. Have decided to go easy on matsuri's now. Have been to three this season and to be honest, big or small, night or day, they are all pretty much the same. Did enjoy Aioi's PERON though, because the fireworks was amazing.

Have the potential to fall into a slump today and declare myself to be in a neverending rut, but doing my best to just not think that much. I guess that's my biggest downfall- I think and I think the worst, the most negative and then I spook myself about things that haven't even happened. Well, santa all I want for christmas is to be more positive.

So in the spirit of being positive and productive and rut-free here's a list of the things I'd like to achieve by the time I am 30 (next year!!):

1. Sit and pass the JLPT N4 level
2. Lose 15 kilos
3. Go to New York
4. Own a GUCCI handbag (shallow I know)
5. Find inner peace (world peace can wait til next year)
6. Be engaged

I will fulfill all these goals, all of them very attainable.

Peace out and here's hoping next time I log in I'll have loads of happy thoughts to get out!

Stay tuned...

夏休み

Schooools.. out.. for.. summer!! Thank you kami sama for this much needed reprieve. Although I have to spend the next 2 weeks coming to school because my holidays don't officially begin until August, I am using my time well. I decided to download all the material I could find on the JLPT N4 test and start studying the kanji, in anticipation of doing the exam next July. Thought December this year might be a bit ambitious, because although I could probably get the kanji together, I think I need to go back to the classroom and start having grammar based lessons. わ　か　で　を　に　etc are the bane of my existence at the moment. Not unlike many other people who study Japanese I guess... Must remember everyday to thank ole kami sama that my native tongue is English- just think of all our complex grammar rules and exception to the grammar rules, not to mention bloody phrasal verbs and idioms that originate from god knows where sometimes.

In other bloody exciting news, have booked my flight home for Christmas. Have managed to fly on days just outside the Japanese holiday season. Poor bloody Japanese, everyone has roughly the same piddly 5 days off, so they all have to fly on the same days and at ridiculously expensive prices. Had I left a day later, and returned a day earlier I would be out a further 40,000yen! Anyway am locked in for 16 days of Australian summer and couldn't be happier. Most important thing is I will be waking up on Christmas day in my house where we do Christmas the way I like it!

Mum and Dad will be here in exactly two weeks today. Can't wait to go shopping in Kobe with mum and just relax. We have one day trip planned for Hiroshima/Miyajima. Hopes it's bloody perfect weather that day and the torii in the water is on it's best behaviour, not skulking while the tide is out.

Need to pop down to 100yen heaven today- haven't been for a while and need some folders to store all my JLPT junk. And who knows what else I might find, eh?

Stay tuned...

p.s cooked ridiculously yummy chicken teriyaki last night. Thank you Nintendo DS game. Secret ingredients in the marinade- ginger + love;)

Just in time

Well it's been a long time between posts, not chuhais, of course. Decided better get something down for the month of June.

Japan's stinkin rainy season/summer has started and I'm already counting down to autumn. Man I hate this season here. Not a minute out of the shower and droplets of sweat are forming on my brow. Poo to you Japanese summer- and Japanese public schools for throwing their budgets away on new computers for staff when really they should be decking out their class rooms with ceiling fans, at the very least. Poor kids, don't know how they can concentrate when their hair is all plastered to their faces and their uniforms soaked in bodily fluid.

Have officially been teaching now for 3 months, although it feels like 3 years. Don't think I am every going to get used to the way things are done in the classroom over here, but as my mum and Taku have said, I don't have to get used to it, just accept it. しょがないね

Clip clopped my way to Himeji's Yukata matsuri the other night with Keiko, and was joined later by Taku and Shinya. Wasn't too thrilled with my yukata- an admittedly beautiful pale green colour with a crab motif, but just not my thing. Wanted to wear my electric blue one which I purchased from UniQlo a few years ago, but was booed by okaasan and Taku. Nonetheless had fun eating festival food and checking out all the lovely yukata's. Played a few games and snagged some tacky prizes- a care bare neck pouch amongst them.

Being quite cultural this month to be honest. Woke up early this morning and made my way down to the local community centre where my school's Japanese teacher, slash art teacher wannabe was holding a lithography class. Sketched a nice little koala sitting snug in a gum tree. Very proud of my efforts. Am headed back in a month for another go- this time with instructions to bring a summer themed sketch along. Considering I hate this bloody season will have to strain brain for some positive inspiration. Empty chuhai can perhaps?

Anyway, have fulfilled my intentions of at least getting in one post per month. Must write more- am just so floored and disillusioned with the world most days after work- so posting has taken a back seat. Will endeavour to get back on the horse, me promises.

Stay tuned...

Oh, almost forgot my thank yous for 100yen heaven. Man did you do me proud yesterday! Silver cleaning cloth, Hello Kitty filing folders, Hello Kitty wet tissues and 3 packets of peanut m&ms. All is well in the world!

May day! May Day!

No cause for alarm. I'm just back on board.

Has been a funny few months, what with starting a new job and the weather doing it's best to penetrate my immune system. But now that I am living in the northern hemisphere I'm embracing the concept of spring cleaning and getting on with it.

Life at the 1 junior high and 4 elemetary schools I have been posted to is not too bad. Let the second graders in JHS get the better of me one day, but after debreifing with a fellow sensei am all good. Elementary school is fantastic, save for the two awkward kyu shoku dates with 6th graders. Although I'm only 1 month into my posting I am certain I know now why despite the fact Japanese people have 6 years of English education, they can't speak a lick of the language. I'm going to do my best to change that, but as Taku told me "Don't do your best too much." I also joked to one of the sensei's at JHS that the only thing I may learn about this job is しょがない and if that is so, then so be it.

Tomorrow the family is off to Tottori's desert, per my request for a Golden Week mini break, and I couldn't be happier. Have re-bonded with Eri recently and am feeling changes in my self that have been far too long coming. Taku and I also celebrated our ４年きねんび　last weekend with a date at Harbour Land in Kobe. Feasted at a Brasilian restaurant overlooking the water, shopped for clothes and posed for プリクラ. All in all it was a nice day.

I will no longer be afraid to be positive and believe the best in everyone and I will say my thank you's every morning. Life is good!

Stay tuned...

p.s 100 yen heaven has totally taken on a new meaning in my life these days what with being a sensei and all, so my first thank you goes to you dear　百えん.

An yo ha se yo!

Cooked a Korean dish tonight. Japanese name is ぶたとたまごのKANKOKUふいため。Well that's how I wrote it down the other night at colleague's house. It was a great night with Wii Supermario Brothers. Keiko, Namura's wife, has a nifty little cook book by some girl called Shiori who, when not writing cute books, spends her time turning tables. Some people are just too cool. Wish I could read the bloody books though- so many yummy looking dishes to whip up.

Nonetheless, with Keiko's help I jotted down aforementioned dish and was quite pleased with the results:



Recipe is as follows...

ぶたバラにく　５００ｇ
たまご　ｘ４
ニラ
しおとこしょう
サラダあぶら　大さじｘ２
さけ　大さじｘ２
さとう　だいさじｘ３
すりおろし　ニンニク
コチュジャン　大さじｘ２
トウバンジャン　大さじｘ２

First scramble the egg and move to a bowl.
Cut up the chives (ニラ).
Dice the garlic and crush up.
Make sauce with all yummy ingredients mentioned above.
Cook pork.
Add sauce.
Add egg.
Add chives.

Voila!

Tres easy and tres yum yum. Serve with rice and a smile:)

Also managed to finish TOKYO VICE yesterday. Damn good read. Even found Jake Adelstein on twitter and popped him a few questions which he responded to. Got real goosebumps flicking through the pages. Japan is a totally different place for me now.
Kept thinking while was reading, that was actually living in Tokyo/Saitama during some events. Even had a friend working as a hostess around the time Jake would have been investigating his was around Kabukicho and Roppongi. You could become disillusioned with Japan post-read, but as I learnt when I first came here in 2003 no two people will ever have the same experiences of Japan for it is a wonderland of extremes and fluctuating degrees of warmth and coldness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense.

I still love you Tokes.

In other news, grabbed some lovely earthy coloured bath towels form MUUJI the other day. Love that I'll be towelling myself down in plushness tonight.

Stay tuned...

まんぞく！！

It's been a while but but we all marched down to the local yakinikuya tonight and man am I a satisfied little meat fiend. Even popped a few horumon in to round off the treat. Personally me fancies a nice lemon sorbet post meat attack but had to do with the complimentary stick on gum and now some パイの実. Swishing it all down with a TOP VALUE chu hai- on sale at the mo so SLUT has taken a day off.

Blogging with my man in the room, a nice treat. After this am going to curl up with one of two books I ordered off AMAZON. Truly chuffed with AMAZON. Joined up to the Japanese AMAZON website which has an English option, and two days later with the choice of cash on delivery have myself L.A Candy and Tokyo Vice. Like a pig in mud I am.

Also popped into JUNKUDO in Himeji the other day and grabbed a book called The Japanese Mind. Tis a collection of essays which looks at different aspects of the Japanese mind. Very good reading, in the comfort of a Mister Donut. Finished the first essay on あいまい or ambiguity. Has answered a lot of my questions, that chapter alone. Can't believe bloody Japanese consider it a virtue. Fancy the writer though, who said Japanese people should look to forgoing this supposed virtue in this increasingly international world if they want to avoid being considered, in short, pains in the asses(?).

Baking me a cheesecake tomorrow. Off to a colleagues new pad tomorrow night. Very excited. Hope half Philly cream cheese and half TOP VALUE's version will play nicely in the mix. Was too lazy to go hunting for another Philly after forgot to buy two. Also, if all goes planned, will be popping into マリンピア tomorrow and hopefully making use of a discount card I was given.

Gonna buy a spray bottle from 100yen heaven tomorrow. Decided to be all posh with my flora and swan about room spraying delicately from cute little bottle, perhaps all the while doing curtseys in new apron I picked up the other day too! Ha!

Stay tuned...