Fireworks, Festivals, and Tropical Beaches

Hello everyone! I have been very busy the last few weeks, but I finally got a chance to sit down and update.

Things are going very very well. I have been seeing a lot of amazing sights and hanging out with some amazing people. About two weeks ago, we had the Miyazaki Orientation. This involved a lot of workshops and meetings, but it was fun seeing everybody. There was a formal ceremony in which the High School ALTs received formal notices of employment from the superintendent of Miyazaki schools. It was kind of intimidating at first, as I had to go up FIRST and bow correctly and say the right words, but I did ok. The superintendent seemed like a really nice, relaxed guy, so that helped. The night of the second orientation, we had a huge welcome party for all the JETs, with all you can eat/drink and then karaoke. The food was delicious and I tried some Japanese plum wine..yummy! I got pretty drunk and ending up singing "Don't Stop Believin," "Jessie's Girl" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the top of my lungs. Ahhhh karaoke......
During orientation, I also went out with some JETs to the Mexican restaurant in town, and got to see Japanese people doing some salsa dancing. Afterwards we went to a bar, called "The Bar," which is owned by a dude from New Zealand. American music was playing there. That night I definitely did not feel like I was in Japan!

Last weekend, I went to Saito, which is a small town about 2 hours west of the city, for a festival and some karaoke and drinking. On the way there, my friend Nicole and I chatted with some junior high girls on the bus. They seemed very impressed that we were from America (we got some "ooohhhs!") and we also talked about how cute Johnny Depp is. Win! Also on the way to Saito, I went into the music shop and bought a book of clarinet songs! yay!!!
Of course, the party in Saito was awesome, and I got to sing "Africa" by Toto, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet and "Help!" by The Beatles. I didn't drink too much, but some people got pretty trashed and ended up falling down in the middle of a song. The Japanese bartender just stared at them with her mouth hanging open in shock. I'm sure it was enough of a shock having about 25 foreigners in one small bar at one time. Also, there were some "yakuza" or Japanese gangsters there, and they kept trying to hit on the girls. Apparently one girl Jordie told one of the dudes that I was the gang leader of the female foreigners. She didn't mean to tell him exactly that, but it got lost in translation. LOL! I guess I have a new profession now.....
After the karaoke we crashed at Matt and Tristan's place. There were about nine people sleeping on Tristan's floor including myself. It was pretty crazy.
Delicious Pancakes at the festival in Saito

The day after Saito, there was a fireworks festival in Miyazaki, complete with Taiko drumming and dancing, girls and women in beautiful kimonos, food stands with delicious smells wafting from them, and epic fireworks. Seriously, these put fourth of July fireworks to shame. I actually got chills watching them! On the way back home, Nikki started talking with a Japanese mother and daughter, who were apparently so impressed by us that they eventually made us pinky swear to have dinner with them sometime.

Recently I visited Aoshima, which is a small island off the coast. I took the train by myself and somehow managed to find my way. The beach was sooo gorgeous. I kind of waded in the water, which was like warm bath water, and then made my way to the island. To access the island, you cross a bridge. There was a really pretty shrine on the island, as well as a walking path around the island. The day was super hot, so afterwards I bought some shaved ice from two really sweet Japanese ladies, who fawned over me. They sat me in the seat closest to the fan and gave me a plate to put my melting ice on. I watched some Japanese baseball while I cooled off, and while walking back to the station, I bought some pineapple on a stick from a street vendor. Good day!
Aoshima Shrine

On Tuesday, I had an awesome day at school. It was the first official day of the second term, so I had to make a speech in Japanese in front of all of the teachers. This was quite nervewracking, but I managed and even had some teachers come up afterwards and compliment me. Whew! Then there was a huge opening ceremony in the gym for the students. What a difference between assemblies in the states and in Japan. The kids sat in neat rows and you could hear a pin drop when the principal began talking. I mean, A PIN DROP. No coughing, no fidgeting, nothing. Then I had to go up and make my speech to the students, which was still nervewracking but not quite as intense as the one to the teachers...because it was in English. I told them where I was from, a little about myself, and said I was looking forward to working at Omiya High School. After the new teachers finished, the students sang the school song. They were AMAZING. I was so impressed how every single student was singing (and taking it seriously, I might add...this wouldn't happen in the states either), a capella, and they sounded like a professional choir. They sang a song for an upcoming school festival as well...I was just blown away by how good they were. I love the atmosphere and sense of community in my school. :) The rest of that day continued being great. During school cleaning time, we were treated to a John Williams medley and cleaned to "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars." After lunch with Carmen (the Omiya ALT on Tuesdays) at a wonderful Mom and Pop Udon (Japanese noodle) shop across the street, I took Carmen on a tour of the school. We saw a group of girls in choir perform "I Will Follow Him" and a lone boy rock it out on the piano. Afterwards, we asked them if they saw "Sister Act" (this is for you, Erica) and they said they loved it! And, at the end of the day, I got to play my clarinet with the clarinets in brass band. They are very shy, but I think they are warming up to me. :)

In other news from school, I am now starting to coach two girls for speech contest. They are both very smart and very sweet. I hope they can do well! I have also been having lunch with the secretaries in the office, and I try to learn Japanese from them and they try to learn English from me. It's a pretty sweet deal, especially since I get delicious bentos (lunch boxes) out of it.

I've also been chatting with the vice principal. I got to have dinner with him and his wife at his house, which was very beautiful and traditional. The food was deeelicious...we had fresh sashimi, chicken namban, and soba noodles. I even got a bit tipsy, as he kept pouring beer for me, and Japanese beer is delightful.

Also, I have been talking with a second year teacher, who asked me to help her teach a couple of her classes. After I taught with her, she said that I had a great teaching presence and did a good job! It felt reaaally good to hear that. :) I also went volunteering with her one day, and we went to a center for people with disabilites and made crafts with them and the students. I got to make my own paper; that was a first!

This past week, I went for conveyor belt sushi with my apartment mates, and afterwards we went to the 7-11 for ice cream and booze and went to Hewadai memorial park, which is a really beautiful monument in a park that overlooks the city. It was a really nice evening and I felt like I got to know everyone better. The night after that, we had a riverside picnic and shot off our own fireworks, which weren't quite as fantastic as the ones at the festival, but still fun. :)

And, yesterday, I had the best day in Miyazaki so far. I went on a road trip with a few fellow Miyazaki-ans to Cape Toi, which is the southernmost point of Miyazaki prefecture. On the way, we stopped a couple of times for sightseeing. There were a few photo op spots where we got out of the car and "oohed" and "aahed." The scenery was breathtaking....I feel my words alone cannot describe what we saw. Since we were driving along the coast, we saw tropical beaches and mountains.


We also stopped at the Udo Shrine, which is a shrine in a cliff side. This was absolutely incredible. To get there we had to climb several flights of stairs in the scorching heat, but it was so worth it. Everything about the shrine was so intricate and impressive. The waves were crashing against the rocks on one side and the shrine stood in all its glory on the other. The water was so blue and the trees so green. The shrine itself was in a cave. I felt like Indiana Jones going in there! When we went, there was some sort of ceremony going on, so we were able to hear some traditional drumming and flute playing as well as watch a priest and a couple inside the shrine.
After the shrine and sightseeing (and some slightly scary driving on narrow, windy roads through the mountains), we made it to Cape Toi. The cape has a very high elevation, so we could see the ocean from a pretty good height in the mountains. There were also wild horses roaming around! Before the fire festival, we walked around the cape and saw the lighthouse and shrine. Just beyond the shrine were some rocks and cliffs. The waves were crashing and the wind was blowing. I really wanted to climb on those rocks to the edge...there was a cool rock jutting out with a really good view. However, I was wearing flip flops so I was somewhat hesitant. But, I decided to be adventurous and do it anyway, and I made it! It was awesome standing on that rock and seeing the waves roaring so many feet below. Definitely one of the best parts of the day.
So, we finally settled down for the festival. At the festival, there was a group of children who danced to some drums and chimes. They were awesome! Then a bunch of guys came out with torches and swung them in the air to try and ignite the top of a large pole. Once someone did, fireworks shot out the top...then people pulled the pole down and even MORE fireworks lit up. They were so close to us they filled up the sky! They were probably the best fireworks I have ever seen.

Finally, we went to a nearby beach to camp out. The ride there was crazy becuase there were so many hairpin turns and it was so dark. And the bugs were SO LOUD! We felt like we were in Jurassic Park. By that point I had heat exhaustion and kind of lay in the car in a comatose state for a bit, then made my way to the beach. I dipped my feet in the moonlit ocean and then crashed in a tent. The glorious sunrise on the beach capped off a most excellent road trip.

Well, I think I have exhausted my stories.....love and miss everyone!

Slowly but surely...

I am happy to say that I am finally starting to feel "normal" here. It definitely took some time, but I am farily certain (and hoping) that the worst of my culture shock/homesickness is over. I think this is mostly due to the friendliness and generosity of everyone I have met in Japan. The teachers at my high school have done so much for me, whether taking me shopping and and insisting on looking until I had absolutely everything I needed, taking me out to lunch, giving me little presents on my desk, helping me with paperwork/bills/apartment set up, or just having a good chat to make the work day more fun (I won't officially start teaching until September 13th, so I am kind of sitting around pretending to look busy). One thing that makes me really happy is how many teachers I have found who listen to awesome music: The Carpenters, Simon and Garfunkel, John Denver, and Nat King Cole are all huge in Japan. So is the Sound of Music!!! :) One teacher and I are getting to be very close, and we talked yesterday for three hours. It is perfect because I want to improve my Japanese and she wants to improve her English. And the students are great too! They are eager to talk to me and ask me tonnnns of questions. Today I MET THE CLARINETS IN THE BRASS BAND. As you can imagine, this made me super happy. I listened to them play a bit (they were playing a Disney medley) and then left after about 15 minutes, becuase they seemed very shy while I was there. But they were awesome!!! I really really hope I can help with the band in some way. I also listened to the choir practicing--they are very good as well.

My apartment is finally starting to feel like home. I finally have air conditioning (an absolute necessity in this climate), a washing machine, a refigerator, nice dishes in a cupboard, REAL FOOD (and I found peanut butter!!!!!), some cute decorations, and comfy pillows--little things that make me comfortable. :) I will have my internet one week from today, so that will be great as well. I am also starting to get more comfortable with getting around. I rode my bike around the neighborhood the other day, which was interesting...since the area is so hilly, it is nearly impossible to pedal up a hill but super fun to go down one. Today I am taking off work early and going to the beach...I am very excited about that!!!!

The other ALTs in my building--Cheryl, Nikki, and Nicole--have been awesome. We are all getting to be good friends. I feel so fortunate to be so near to other foreigners--especially since my Japanese skills are so limited. We went to a lantern festival together last weekend--it was absolutely gorgeous.

My birthday was AWESOME!!!!! I went to work and received a number of presents from my colleagues, including a bottle of Italian wine, a variety of sweets, vegetables grown in the school garden, and a cute little cactus plant. I had lunch with the office staff and learned some Japanese, and then I chatted with my new teacher friend who I mentioned above. After school, Cheryl, Nikki, and Nicole came over to celebrate. We had a delicious dinner, with the exception of the rice I made (I cooked it in a rice cooker and managed to burn it, so the rice had this nasty smoky flavor) and drank some wine and beer. They even bought me a cake covered in fruit and with a placard reading "Happy Birthday Sandy!" So, I got to blow out candles on my birthday in Japan. Afterwards, we just sat around and talked. It was sooooo nice.

This morning, I realized that I officially turned 22 (because of the time difference), and at the exact time of my birth I looked out from my balcony, whilst listening to John Denver on my Ipod, and saw a rainbow over the mountains. I'd say that's a good start to my 22nd year. :)

Pictures will come as soon as I get internet in my apartment.

love and miss you all
Sandy

Hanging in There

Well, it has been one hell of a week. I don't think I have ever experienced so many emotions in such a short time, and I feel like I have been in Miyazaki City for months, not just seven days.

I am adjusting as best as I can. I have definitely had my ups and downs. It seems that when I am with other JETs or talking to friendly teachers and students at school, I feel great and the time flies. However, it is the moments when I am alone in my apartment, or feeling lost, or overwhelmed and culture shocked and homesick that really get to me. This was especially true when my predecessor, Paul, left for Tokyo. I didn't realize how much I depended on having another foreigner to talk to and to get help from. Yesterday at school, I went into full-on panic mode and started sobbing uncontrollably. I have never, ever felt more scared or lost in my life. I am praying that I will never feel that way again-while I realize that I will not become completely adjusted overnight, I hope the worst of it is over. Another thing that is getting me down is the lack of internet in my apartment--I won't get it for two weeks--and although there is internet at school, I cannot use Skype. I also do not have a phone yet, but I am hopefully, hopefully getting my IPhone with internet today. I signed up for the contract yesterday but there was some problem with the computer system they had to fix first. So, I feel very cut off from home. I think that once that barrier is broken, things will improve immensely. Finally, I do not have air conditioning, a fridge, or a washing machine in my apartment yet. Since there is no AC and it is HOT AS HELL and humid here, I have had no motivation to unpack everything. So, my apartment doesn't really feel like home yet. But I know it soon will...I just have to be patient.

However, don't think that I am completely miserable! I have had some really fun and exciting days here too. My supervisor has been immensely helpful to me. Yesterday, while I was having my sob fest, she took me to a separate room where I could be alone, and when she came in later to see how I was doing, she was crying too--she said it was because she did not like to see me so sad. That day, she took me to an art museum nearby where student art from all over Japan was displayed. There is a national high school festival taking place right now, and each year a different prefecture hosts it--and this happens to be the year for Miyazaki prefecture! You would not BELIEVE how talented these kids are. I wanted to buy half of the paintings and sculptures and put them in my apartment, lol. The other teachers in the office have been very friendly too--they come by and talk to me, and I know it takes a lot for them to do that since their English isn't like mine. The vice principal, who is one of the nicest guys here, even came by and told me if I ever needed anything, I could ask him. I think word got around that I wasn't feeling my best, and it is great to have so much support. On Monday, I took a walk around the school and met some of the students. This REALLY lifted my spirits and reminded me why I was here. The students are SO friendly and happy, and this school has a wonderful atmosphere. A group of female students who I had never met ran after me outside, calling my name, and talked to me for a good 15 minutes. They, too, seemed to have heard through the grapevine about how I was feeling. AND, a teacher who I chatted with this morning said that kids in her class were asking about me and concerned about me. :) I cannot wait to start teaching. Right now, the kids and teachers are on summer vacation, so I am kind of hanging out at the school for a week and a half. (Hence why I have time to write this blog at school). I am sure the boredom does not help matters; I want to be busy! I hope to help with the school band and set up a pen pal exchange with American students. I will also be helping with debate, speech team, and an English camp, in addition to planning lessons. I know the time will fly.

I have also been hanging out with other JETs. I have met the other people in my complex, and everyone seems so nice and willing to help me. Two girls in the apartments are also new, and we have been kind of turning to each other for comfort and venting about the strange bathrooms and lack of air conditioning. Another girl who has been here for two years and is starting her third year took me to an Indian restaurant with two of her friends the same day she met me. Paul took me to a BEAUTIFUL shrine right next to my high school and showed me how to wash my hands with water and dippers and then pray at the shrine. Hopefully I will be going to the beach soon as well with Paul and his girlfriend. On August 16th the Miyazaki orientation starts, and then all of the JETs in the prefecture will finally be here (we come in three groups) so I can meet more people.

And of course, in addition to talking to other JETs and getting support at school, just chilling out and watching movies like "Adventures in Babysitting" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" always helps.　:D

Oh! Yesterday I had a genuine adventure. :D I decided to ride my bike home from school. Paul left me a very good and detailed map, so I figured I would be fine. I got about halfway home, no problems, and I was feeling good. Then, I was riding along, and all of a sudden, things just did not feel right. I was heading into what seemed like a forest, with a large expressway on my right. I turned around and just figured I'd retrace my path. I somehow wound up in a rural village complete with rice paddies and traditional Japanese homes. I saw an older Japanese woman with two adorable children and said "Sumimasen!" which means "excuse me". I then attempted in broken Japanese to ask the way to my apartment. She looked utterly confused, and my heart began to sank.　However, there was a Japanese man across the street who owned a motorbike repair shop, and he was kind of listening to our conversation. He walked over to us and asked to see my map. I tried to explain to HIM what was going on, and eventually he said, "Issho ni ikimasen" which I know means, "Let's go together." So this man I had never met before stopped working in his shop, lifted my bike for me and put it in the back of his van, and then drove me home. Now, before any of you freak out about me getting into a van with a stranger (wow that does sound sketchy) this is a testament to the safety of Japan and the kindness of the Japanese people. I knew that I could trust this guy the moment he started helping me. It was definitely one of the best moments of the week.

One more thing....in the front hallway of the school, there is a poster that says, "Welcome Sandy!" that all of the kids signed. I look at the poster whenever I have doubts and remember why I am here.

It won't be long before I can start communicating with everyone properly...I can't wait! I know I promised pictures, but I cannot put those up until I have the internet set up in my place. But they will be there soon--I assure you! And I am working on getting postcards too...they will come eventually, I promise.

I love and miss you all. :)

Sandy