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Karaoke Fun
Marita, Melissa, Noriko and Akiko The first week back after Golden Week has certainly been a busy one. After enjoying an entire week off with the freedom to explore as much as I wanted each day I had to mental psyche myself up to return to work on Saturday.
Thankfully, my Saturday 'Mini Kids' class, full of 1.5 year olds and their moms is a really good. I have to admit one of the hardest things for me about teaching in Japan is the fact that you often see your students being hit or slapped by their parents and you are simply expected to ignore because it is an accepeted parenting practice here. Eventhough I included a 'no hitting' rule for all of my classes back in April in the little kids class which the mom's attend students are often given a slap for being too exuberant or for not knowing the correct answer because this is seen as bring shame or embarassment on the mother. Not surprisingly the littlest ones often cry a lot after being hit, this is really difficult for me because as the teacher I am simply expected to carry on with the lesson.
Anyway, I consider it a sucessful
Osaka Aquarium
Me and the whale shark. The Japanese families were lining up to pose, so I couldn´t resist lesson if none of my students are slapped and that's just what happened last Saturday, so I was feeling pretty good as I strolled home after work when one of the strangest things that has happened to me yet in Japan occurred. I was stopped at a fairly major intersection in Kobe waiting to cross the street. There was a lot of traffic, a woman infront of me on a bike, a guy beside me on a bike and several salarymen, standing behind me sharing a laugh over something. I looked down to my side just in time to see the guy on the bike reach into the woman's pocket infront of me and grab her wallet, just like in the movies it felt like it was happening in slow motion. So, seeing this and not really thinking, I grabbed him, by the bookback on his back, turns out Japanese guys are about a strong as they look and with one tug he was off the bike, I just started yelling, in English of course " Hey buddy, what are you doing?" Sensing something was up the salarymen kindly stepped in to give me a hand, they too grabbed onto
the guy and yelled, only in Japanese. Then the guy turns to me and mutters, no,no friends..hhahah..joke,joke as he hands the wallet back to the woman . She in turn, looks at me very shyly, and never in the eye as is the habit of Japanese women and says 'yes,yes friends', . Frustrated by the entire situation and just glad that she had her wallet back I said, still yelling in English, "no, not haha, not funny!!!" and promptly crossed the street, leaving some very confused salarymen still wondering what was going on. After describing the situation to many Japanese people they tell me it could have indeed been a joke but its more likely that both people were just trying to hide their own shame. His at being caught stealing and her's at having her wallet snatched. Shame is a major thing here, to be shamed in anyway is seen as a horrible failure on ones part.
Regardless after that odd experience my week got significantly better. Sunday it was off to my friend Noriko's house. Noriko, her sister Akiko and their mom kindly welcomed me into their home and prepared a lovely Japanese lunch for me. The
food was delicious, complete with lots of Japanese sweets and green tea and Noriko's mom does Japanese shodo (calligraphy) and she has kindly offered to teach me a little. Marita (another ECC teacher who's from Austraila) and I met up with Noriko, Akiko and their cousin for some Karaoke last saturday night and it was a blast. Karaoke is a staple of Japanese life I am learning, many of my students go to karaoke until 5 am or between school/work and English lessons. The Karaoke parlor we went to was nothing like the places I 've been to in Canada, the Japanese really do it up. This place and theme rooms, and each group get their own sound proof room, complete with leather couches, so it's just like being in someone's living room. The girls picked the North Pole room for us, I think they hoped it would remind me of Canada!!! We spent several hours singing such classics as YMCA, Liv'in on A Pray, and several Britney Spears hits! There were lots of flashing lights and the screen even told you how many calories you burned singing each song!
Sunday I was off to the Osaka Aquarium. Agreat place, it is home to the world's largest fish tank and a gigantic whale shark that didn't look pleased with all the attention it was getting. With 5 floors of marine life there was a lot to see here and about 3,000 new Japanese friends to see it with...it was super crowded. A ride on the world's largest ferris wheel was just what I needed after the aquarium and covently it was located right next door. A 15 minute ride, which gives you an idea of exactly how big the ferris wheel is, provided great views of Osaka and Kobe.
I am also happy to report that I've added squid to my sushi repetoire!
Anyway, I hope you are well, I miss you!
love, Melissa
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Maggie
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Working the Beat in Kobe
Hi Melissa, Wow! What an incredible tale ! Congrats for taking action, fighting crime in a foreign land ---- certainly something to add to your resume. Be safe, or at least limit your crime busting to the petty division. xo, maggie p.s great geisha photos :-)