So, you know how I said I would not get invited to the ni-jikai with Kocho-sensei (principal dude cept he commands major respect in japan unlike ones back home) , while I was wrong. Not only did i get invited, but I sat straight across from him and challenged him to a sake drinking contest thing. Hmmmmm. Should have guessed he could drink alot when
1: He is huge. He is a big fat dude. Seriously. Quite imposing looking and had hardly ever said two words to me in Japanese let alone english before this particular night, so would figure he'd be a hard man.
2: None of the other teachers would drink sake with him
3: The other teachers actually, instead of trying to get me to perform monstrous acts of alcoholic indecency (and from time to time other forms of indecency) like other japanese do and they themselves were doing previously, tried to take my interests into consideration and warn me "koori-sensei, kocho sensei is really strong! (at drinking)".
Hmmmmmmm. But, i won, or at least when i left the ni-jikai to catch up with my friends I walked out on my own two feet and at least gave the appearance of having dutifully acquitted myself of any doubts regarding my alcoholic drinking prowess. Not doing the stereotypes any good though, that said. Truth be told, I was ridiculously drunk and this served to entertain my friends for hours after that, with only having a sniff of a drink later on. Strangely though, my teachers would only let me go from the party if i admitted that i was going somewhere to have sex with a girl. When i said to them i was going to meet my friends, I actually meant it. But of course this was intepreted quite differently, especially when they asked "will girls be there" and I reply "of course there is". With the JET community "strangely" being made up of 50% women, and with our strange gaijin proclivity to not do things along strictly gendered lines, then i had no choice but to admit it! But thats Japan for you. So I left the bar to a strange chorus of japanese sex sounds or what i guess are katakana approximations to them. Funny. Obviously no women there.
On a similar matter, a group of us here have a tradition whereby whenever we go into a certain restaurant chain (an Okonomiyaki restaurant train) we must ask at least one asinine question about Japanese language. The reason why we chose this restaurant is because its animal emblem is a Tanuki, which is a racoon dog, and its "animal sound" is "PonPokoPon" which apparently is the sound of it beating itself on the belly. Its beautiful, because when anyone leaves the restaurant, or enters, the cash register guy sings out this phrase thereby prompting every waiter in the restaurant to sing out in unison the same sound, no matter where they are in the restaurant. Its just awesome. Obviously this sort of place is fair game for a bunch of weird gaijin like us. So inevitably, given the theme of this restaurant, and also given the fact the japanese, at least in my area, pride themselves on having specific sounds for most animals and actually a lot of things besides that (even though most i believe are wildly inaccurate, but that is the pitfall of having a syllabic language huh?!) that are transcribed into their language, questions regarding onomatopoeia in general will occur.
Now one of my favourite moments here would have to involve Mike. Mike is a great guy and by far the most proficient out of any us who hang out regularly in Japanese language. He is more or less fluent. However, one day he had an almighty brain explosion, because instead of asking "what is the japanese person's opinion of the animal sound of a... (it was going to be quail)", which he can more than easily do, he instead asked "nihonjin no nakigoe wa nan desu ka" which even for a retard like me can be roughly translated as "what is the animal cry of a japanese person". Yes, he actually asked the Japanese waiter in a crowded restaurant what noise Japanese people-animals make. If it was anyone else it would have been tragic because as expected our Japanese is bullshit. But, Mike, on the other hand............
For the record, most Japanese people do not know the animal sound of a quail, which is "Kurukurukuru"
Incidents of note. A teacher at my school, when I asked when she was going to Australia (I knew this from a previous conversation), came out to me. Yes, i asked her in simple japanese even i can more than easily command when she was going to australia, and the logical response of course was "I am a resubian" and "Homo no hito" ( a "homo" person). Random. To be sure, i have checked for both words and as expected they dont exist in japanese.....so..........What? I guess its lucky it was me that she told, but damnations that was just not expected at all. Now, apparently japanese PE teachers do have a reputation here, but I generally dont buy into that stuff. Nonetheless, good on her, but much more impressively, this women can run the 100m in just a tick over 11 seconds. wicked. Her reason for going to Australia is to compete in an athletics meet, but Im sure she will enjoy Sydney for other reasons too!
Last night when I was in a convenience storie (how many stories involving gaijin and being in japan have started with that immortal phrase!) I was choosing my milk tea and breakfast for the next morning, and they were having a music countdown. Now Japanese foreign music charts are about 2 years behind at the best of time anyway, but when I heard Ace of Base's "I saw the sign" come in at no.7, then really, god damn. Surely that must be 10-12 years old now?! Im still shaking my head. Right now. Really, I am. I cant help myself.
Also, I will soon be the Prefectural Representative for the Fukushima JET Assocation. Which means I am responsible for fun. Yes, it will be good. No thesis, and no other purpose in life for the next year other than to get given lots of money for nothing, study japanese during the day and have fun and travel whenever else i can. Still, I feel like im missing something.....................
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Sean on the far left is from the states, Steve, middle, needless to say, is from Scotland, and Denise is from Hawaii. I keep on excluding her from being "Amercian" as she really doesnt seem to "be" at all. I think she is actually quite happy about that, not to my surprise.
Oh yes, it was delicious. As you can see heer, this Parfait is actually much bigger than many Japanese buildings. This, Disney snow sculpture on the other hand, really was bigger than many buildings here. This photo doesnt do the detail or the size any justice. It was awesome
Barriers
Finally!
I have been invited to an enkai by one of my schools. Enkai are basically pre-organised (normally work) parties where everyone pays a set amount to eat and drink as need be at a restaurant. Sometimes every teacher goes from school, sometimes just a particular subject teachers, sometimes just one grade, depending on how the parties purpose is defined. So they can be a somewhat exclusive thing. I have been to two previous enkai but one with the BOE (who i actually have little to do with), which was my own and was mandated, and the other one was with one of the other ALT's in my building school. As I am both foreigner and not a teacher who is there often, and also given that most Japanese people really refrain from speaking to people in English or in Japanese (the "unpredictability" of the situation according to one of my trusted Japanese friends creates a sense of "being disturbed" in their character) then to some degree its not surprising that I haven't been invited. Then again, most of my teachers must know that I dont get to interact with Japanese people all that much here, and am keen to make the most of any opportunities. I have told them so on occasions. So finally the teachers from Shimizu decided that it would be fun to have me along for the teachers graduation party, of which I am more than happy to oblige.
Apparently these things can be a one shot deal, especially since it is apparently a bit of a big deal that they invite me in the first place, because if you refuse the first time, often you will not be asked again. Sometimes they are followed by ni-jikai (2nd party) and sanjikai (third party) and so on, although these are not "compulsory" and often half or more teachers leave before going to the next restaurant/bar for the nijikai. Often, especially if an important guest like the principal or head of the BOE is going somewhere, he will invite only people who are in favour with him. So to get invited to that is a big deal, but of course I will not. Actually I didnt get invited to the after party of my own enkai for the BOE, and furthermore neither did our supervisor. Poor bastard. We of course, had somewhere else to be anyway.
Aside from talking about some of these cultural dynamics the reason why I am going on about this, is because its potentially a very good thing. One of the things that will make my life here more tolerable aside from $$$ is integrating myself into the community more, especially as my japanese improves. I can now start to work seriously on both of these things now that my thesis is out of the way. Ill never be seen as "Japanese" no matter how well I speak japanese, use chopsticks and eat a wide variety of Japanese food or associate with colleague and abide by customs. However, one of the reasons why I am supposed to be here in Japan is "Internationalisation", so I should do my best and anyhow, I am personally interested in experiencing as much of the culture as I can.
Now I somehow doubt the utility of the english teaching component, which is the other side of my job description. And many people involved with JET are very cynical about the real motives of the Japanese government when it comes to internationalisation and think that it is basically just a big, extraordinarily expensive show to appease outsiders who think that Japan is too isolationist. And to be fair there is a significant section of the Japanese population who couldnt care less, making this argument somewhat alluring for less optimistic minded people. And to be sure, I do have my good and bad days on this account also.
Nonetheless, even being able to tell and teach my students and teachers the differences between the US, Britain and NZ is significant enough. The differences between them are real enough for them to grasp and when describing NZ to my teachers, I have encountered a fair amount of surprise in regards to many things. Its a very good thing. It is helped by the fact we have a beautiful country that has many things that Japanese people tend to like when travelling. Some television programs about NZ have been on Japanese TV lately and I have had teachers and students come up to me and tell me that they have seen the program and that they really want to go there. And its not mere politeness, because aside from my english teachers, no one will try to speak to me unless it is really necessary. (ie because they have to speak in japanese and mine is still pretty sketchy, and it is considered embarrassing if they cannot communicate with me.... of course I couldnt care less, but cultural differences and all that). So thumbs up for NZ. I cant wait to come back!
Anyhow in the meantime I have been mucking around Japan. Recently I went to Hokkaido, which is the big island at the North of Japan. Its supposed to be rather cold and it was, but the weather was actually much nicer, at least when we were there, than it was back in Fukushima-shi was tells you something about how crap our weather is/was (we had our second biggest snow fall yesterday, in Spring! That is officially "bullshit")
At the time of year i went they had the Snow Festival, which is world famous and indeed, it was quite amazing. Spent a couple of nights in Sapporo which is the main city there, and was indeed a very good time. We went up there by boat and I actually invited a fair few members of the Japanese Army AKA "Self Defence Forces" back to our room to get righteously drunk while on the boat. It was a good time and I havent spoke so much japanese (or strangely, so well.....) since I have been here. I also feel much less secure about the North Korean prospect that is worrying japanese people now after hanging out with these guys, but, I am happy that I live in Fukushima, which is NOT going to be a target for anyone, I can assure you.
Went to one bar in Sapporo that just had an amazing selection of foreign beers. It was awesome. I got to try US beers that come from small micro-breweries and other such things, and they are damn good. Sadly, the only NZ beers they had were Steinlager and Lion Red, which are probably the two worst you could find, but nonetheless, a good time. Bumped into some Kiwi guy who had been working there for a while who tried to get some of us JETs "that way inclined" (hint its not sexual!) hooked up with a little of something special, which was nice of him. Got ridiculously drunk at one of the beer factories there, enjoyed impromptu sleding around and about the city, and ended the night at the hotel bar chatting to the staff (again, for some reason, in japanese). I dont know what it is about alcohol, but it seems to have some strange effect on my fluency, and I do know for sure its not the impaired perception that is making me think that. Also, face planting into the rather cold hokkaido snow (I guess snow does tend to be cold) was also much more fun while drunk. It was a laugh. Ben would have loved it.
Yes, this entry does cofirm everything you have been thinking. I have run out of things to say. Its true that the thesis thing was a bit of an anti-climax, but that said, Im not missing the fucker. No post-thesis depression for me. I guess having a job already and other things to look forward to helps. Like more beer. Some of us will drive up to the next prefecture and go drinking there tonight. Damn its good to have a weekend again where I can do such things. This is the first real free, not completely exhausted weekend I have had since December. I will go enjoy.
Itekimasu!
I have been invited to an enkai by one of my schools. Enkai are basically pre-organised (normally work) parties where everyone pays a set amount to eat and drink as need be at a restaurant. Sometimes every teacher goes from school, sometimes just a particular subject teachers, sometimes just one grade, depending on how the parties purpose is defined. So they can be a somewhat exclusive thing. I have been to two previous enkai but one with the BOE (who i actually have little to do with), which was my own and was mandated, and the other one was with one of the other ALT's in my building school. As I am both foreigner and not a teacher who is there often, and also given that most Japanese people really refrain from speaking to people in English or in Japanese (the "unpredictability" of the situation according to one of my trusted Japanese friends creates a sense of "being disturbed" in their character) then to some degree its not surprising that I haven't been invited. Then again, most of my teachers must know that I dont get to interact with Japanese people all that much here, and am keen to make the most of any opportunities. I have told them so on occasions. So finally the teachers from Shimizu decided that it would be fun to have me along for the teachers graduation party, of which I am more than happy to oblige.
Apparently these things can be a one shot deal, especially since it is apparently a bit of a big deal that they invite me in the first place, because if you refuse the first time, often you will not be asked again. Sometimes they are followed by ni-jikai (2nd party) and sanjikai (third party) and so on, although these are not "compulsory" and often half or more teachers leave before going to the next restaurant/bar for the nijikai. Often, especially if an important guest like the principal or head of the BOE is going somewhere, he will invite only people who are in favour with him. So to get invited to that is a big deal, but of course I will not. Actually I didnt get invited to the after party of my own enkai for the BOE, and furthermore neither did our supervisor. Poor bastard. We of course, had somewhere else to be anyway.
Aside from talking about some of these cultural dynamics the reason why I am going on about this, is because its potentially a very good thing. One of the things that will make my life here more tolerable aside from $$$ is integrating myself into the community more, especially as my japanese improves. I can now start to work seriously on both of these things now that my thesis is out of the way. Ill never be seen as "Japanese" no matter how well I speak japanese, use chopsticks and eat a wide variety of Japanese food or associate with colleague and abide by customs. However, one of the reasons why I am supposed to be here in Japan is "Internationalisation", so I should do my best and anyhow, I am personally interested in experiencing as much of the culture as I can.
Now I somehow doubt the utility of the english teaching component, which is the other side of my job description. And many people involved with JET are very cynical about the real motives of the Japanese government when it comes to internationalisation and think that it is basically just a big, extraordinarily expensive show to appease outsiders who think that Japan is too isolationist. And to be fair there is a significant section of the Japanese population who couldnt care less, making this argument somewhat alluring for less optimistic minded people. And to be sure, I do have my good and bad days on this account also.
Nonetheless, even being able to tell and teach my students and teachers the differences between the US, Britain and NZ is significant enough. The differences between them are real enough for them to grasp and when describing NZ to my teachers, I have encountered a fair amount of surprise in regards to many things. Its a very good thing. It is helped by the fact we have a beautiful country that has many things that Japanese people tend to like when travelling. Some television programs about NZ have been on Japanese TV lately and I have had teachers and students come up to me and tell me that they have seen the program and that they really want to go there. And its not mere politeness, because aside from my english teachers, no one will try to speak to me unless it is really necessary. (ie because they have to speak in japanese and mine is still pretty sketchy, and it is considered embarrassing if they cannot communicate with me.... of course I couldnt care less, but cultural differences and all that). So thumbs up for NZ. I cant wait to come back!
Anyhow in the meantime I have been mucking around Japan. Recently I went to Hokkaido, which is the big island at the North of Japan. Its supposed to be rather cold and it was, but the weather was actually much nicer, at least when we were there, than it was back in Fukushima-shi was tells you something about how crap our weather is/was (we had our second biggest snow fall yesterday, in Spring! That is officially "bullshit")
At the time of year i went they had the Snow Festival, which is world famous and indeed, it was quite amazing. Spent a couple of nights in Sapporo which is the main city there, and was indeed a very good time. We went up there by boat and I actually invited a fair few members of the Japanese Army AKA "Self Defence Forces" back to our room to get righteously drunk while on the boat. It was a good time and I havent spoke so much japanese (or strangely, so well.....) since I have been here. I also feel much less secure about the North Korean prospect that is worrying japanese people now after hanging out with these guys, but, I am happy that I live in Fukushima, which is NOT going to be a target for anyone, I can assure you.
Went to one bar in Sapporo that just had an amazing selection of foreign beers. It was awesome. I got to try US beers that come from small micro-breweries and other such things, and they are damn good. Sadly, the only NZ beers they had were Steinlager and Lion Red, which are probably the two worst you could find, but nonetheless, a good time. Bumped into some Kiwi guy who had been working there for a while who tried to get some of us JETs "that way inclined" (hint its not sexual!) hooked up with a little of something special, which was nice of him. Got ridiculously drunk at one of the beer factories there, enjoyed impromptu sleding around and about the city, and ended the night at the hotel bar chatting to the staff (again, for some reason, in japanese). I dont know what it is about alcohol, but it seems to have some strange effect on my fluency, and I do know for sure its not the impaired perception that is making me think that. Also, face planting into the rather cold hokkaido snow (I guess snow does tend to be cold) was also much more fun while drunk. It was a laugh. Ben would have loved it.
Yes, this entry does cofirm everything you have been thinking. I have run out of things to say. Its true that the thesis thing was a bit of an anti-climax, but that said, Im not missing the fucker. No post-thesis depression for me. I guess having a job already and other things to look forward to helps. Like more beer. Some of us will drive up to the next prefecture and go drinking there tonight. Damn its good to have a weekend again where I can do such things. This is the first real free, not completely exhausted weekend I have had since December. I will go enjoy.
Itekimasu!
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