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Published: July 12th 2008
Happy in the wind by the sea...
...but totally unaware that my shoulders and chest were getting burnt...During my homestay I took a 3 day trip to Japan's coast and went to stay with my friend Kohei in Tottori. He is at University there, so I was really lucky and able to be a japanese student for a few days...and a teacher!
(read about my time with Kohei last year -
A beautiful place with an horrific tale... AND
Officially solo...).
I helped teach a few of the English classes with a lady from Zimbabwe. One lesson was on the difference between American English and English English (the correct English). We looked at pronounciation, spelling and what different words there are but for the same thing. Most Japanese have learnt American English and find it really difficult to pronounce how I say glass, bath, task. Was quite funny hearing them all repeating the words, trying to achieve the correct pronounciation.
Everyone thought that I would make a really good English teacher, which is a great thing to hear as I do hope to do that after University...maybe in 2010...but we will see!
Kohei also held me a little welcome party on my first night at his apartment, with delicious food, drinks and fantastic friends who were Greek, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. Was so
Japanese classroom...
Teaching, listening, studying, typing, sleeping... much fun, especially when there were language misunderstandings...
My second day involved Kohei skipping his lessons so we could visit Tottori's only attraction, but a great one at that....sand dunes! Sakyu sand dunes, we had to get a bus and a train to get there. Of course we took off our shoes, to really enjoy the soft sand between our toes...but for some reason we were the only ones there who did that. Everyone else were wearing these wellies...man they were missing out...
It was a beautiful moment, finally seeing Japanese ocean. The next country after the ocean is Korea, so I waved to my friend Goo from University who has gone back there...not sure if he saw me...
At the University I also attended one of Kohei's lectures, however it was in Japanese, so between us we shared a piece of paper to use for translating things and if I had any questions.
It was shocking how many people in the lecture hall were asleep...I must have counted at least 30 people! This is not just dozing either...this is full on, mouth open, head on desk asleep...even people sitting in the front rows! Apparantly this
Boys with baskets...
Even the guys over here have baskets on their bikes... is common in Japan and the teachers just ignore it.
Even in highschool people sleep, or girls will start applying their make-up half way through the lesson...there is no way that would pass in England...
It was also rather interesting attending Kohei's Spanish class but taught in Japanese and a little bit of English. I was so envious of the teacher...fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese...beautiful...
I am so lucky to have had this opportunity of being a Japanese University student and teacher! Every day I feel I am little by little, turning Japanese! What I eat, what I wear, what I say...and sitting on the back parcel part of Kohei's bike to be cycled home...I was scared (he cycles like a nutter) but felt so Japanese...I am happy...
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Unc Alan
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Oh yes beat the nige, oh yes beat the nige! Reading the blog now :)