Blogs from Ehime, Japan, Asia - page 9

The week was full of activities for me at school, including the debut of the sea turtle skit "Adelita the Loggerhead goes to Japan" that I wrote. Also made the paper puppets for the skit, since Japanese students aren't too big on drama. Don't let anyone talk you into sitting through one of their theater shows. But the kids were great sports about it, anyways. Got to publicize my love of turtles to the kids (and they actually get sea turtles on the beaches in Tokushima, Shikoku, so its more meaningful for them). Also made the lesson into an environmental awareness class about the dangers of sweep-fishing (with nets) or throwing garbage around (a real problem here in Japan...but maybe that's because there are no garbage cans to be found in public areas...hmmmmm). Next event of ... read more

My big red finally has a partner to ride with! Mike (now in Japan until April) bought his own big red and we spent the weekend biking to Imabari to be with friends (and for Mike to meet some new people outside of the old Japanese women he sees everyday in Hojo town). The first day was a bit cloudy and cold, but in all a great weekend. Now we rest our tired bones and load up all these pics.... read more

Well, all feelings of a relaxing, stress-free life have now passed with the winter break. I’m now back to my daily routine of lesson preparation mayhem. It’s been a good couple of weeks being back at school though. Actually, I think all the free time I had during the winter break was starting to drive me crazy. So, the big event of the season, the Yuge Ekiden, happened last weekend. An ekiden is a long-distance relay race. They are held all over Japan throughout the months of December, January, and February. A lot of the more famous ones (like from Tokyo) are broadcasted on TV all the time. The Yuge ekiden is actually quite a large event, since many teams from all over Ehime Prefecture come. And, believe it or not, I ran in it! I ... read more

Happy Holidays everyone!!! No, I did not go back to the U.S. for the holidays. I guess Christmas was a little lonely without my family, but it actually turned out pretty nice. Christmas in Japan is similar to Halloween in Japan in that it is mostly a commercial holiday. Most of the same Christmas merchandise we buy in America can be found here too. Department stores start playing Christmas songs from the beginning of December and sell everything from Christmas chocolates to Christmas lights to Santa Clause costumes. The difference between Halloween in Japan and Christmas in Japan is that people actually know something about Christmas, and some people even celebrate it in their own Japanese way. So, it’s emergence in Japan is not solely for the purpose of commercial advancement (as Halloween seems to be). ... read more

Last weekend started in a blur of jolliness and holly, with the Okudogo Christmas party. JETs from all over Ehime gathered Friday night to celebrate the coming holidays. It didn't matter if you celebrate Christmas at home. We are in Japan now, and I assure each one of us has been asked at least a few times for a Christmas-themed classroom activity or lesson. When I first attempted to explain to one of my teachers that we can't really make Christmas cards in school in the US, she didn't understand why there should be a separation between school and religion. Religion is much of an idea rather than a practice here in Japan. Sure, I know one girls whose father and even her sister are Buddhist monks at the temple near my house. And every morning ... read more