IrishOboe

On my walk back from Courtnay’s (Saturday Feb. 25^th) I stopped in the music shop that I pass every time I walk to the train station. I had planned to pop in and out but after asking about Irish music (it was worth a shot!) she wouldn’t let me refuse coffee (which she ground in front of me in an old-fashioned grinder than had what looked like Dutch blue tiles on the base). Then her husband came and she set him to work finding Irish CDs for me. He managed to find a few, but none by Japanese artists (I know they’re out there!). Of course, the magical thing about the whole two-hour experience was that we were communicating in Japanese! (More)

And a full week it was! I stayed a long time after school every day for some reason or another. It was exhausting! I don’t know how the teachers do that everyday then come in on the weekends sometimes, too.

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I visited brass band after school to rehearse for the Live in Shirane concert I’m doing with them in March. We’re doing to pop tunes (one from a TV show) that are kind of cheesy and I don’t know at all, but we’re also doing a Fanfare by a ninensei student, which is actually quite good. It was fun to be in a rehearsal with them for a few reasons. (More)

February 3-5 I went to Nagano-ken with the YETI group for a weekend of skiing. I had planned on ski on Saturday and recover on Sunday, but I had so much fun I decided to ski another day. Since Kofu hadn’t been getting much snow I couldn’t believe how much snow there was in Nagano. It was piled so high and that wasn’t from the plows! The trees were all weighed down and buildings were completely surrounded. We stayed at an enchanting hostel with lots of personality. It was snowed in and you had to go through a snow tunnel to get into the complex. I love the way the Japanese deal with shoes, but it makes even more sense when you have to wear muddy snow boots. Leave them at the door and the whole place is clean and warm!

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I friend of mine has a glossary in her blog so she doesn’t have to keep defining the same terms over and over in each post. I think it’s a great idea and I’m going to try to implement it here. Let me know if there are words missing. I hope it’s helpful!

ALT, Assistant Language Teacher (my job title)

Futon 布団, flexible mattress laid on the floor that the Japanese sleep on (imagine what we call a futon without the supporting frame)

Gomukyu, the rubber band contraption that people use to practice kyudo

Hai はい, “yes” in the polite form

Ichinensei 一年生 First year student (in high school they’re usual 15-16)

JET, Japanese Exchange and Teaching (the program through which I am in Japan)

JTE, Japanese Teacher of English

Keitai or keitaidenwa 携帯電話, cell phone

Kofu甲府, capital city of Yamanashi-ken which is just East of Ryuo

Kutatsu, a low table with a heating element underneath and a blanket skirt or keeping warm

Kyudo 弓道, Japanese archery

Ninensei 二年生 Second year student

OC I, Oral Communication I (the class I teach to ichinensei)

Ryuo 竜王, the town I live in, which means Dragon King

Sannensei 三年生 Third year student

Seito 生徒, student

Sensei 先生, teacher

Shirane Koko　白根高校, the high school I teach at (koko means high school)

Yamanashi-ken 山梨県, the prefecture I leave in (ken means prefecture)

YETI, Yamanashi English Teacher’s International (social organization mostly made up of JETs)

February 1^st was the funeral for Erika, the second year student in my high school who died suddenly. I went, and it was the first time I felt like a foreigner in a strange land. I didn’t know what to expect, but I sort of expected it to be like a Western funeral. Obviously I wasn’t thinking. But hey, if they have Western weddings, why not Western funerals?  (More)

So, how’s my Japanese? It’s still coming slowly. I listen to Pimsleur tapes on my commute to work so I was very upset when I lost the player at church one day. Danny looked all over for it, but had no success. I’d given it up when just before church the next week Miky found it in their car! I’ll be more careful with it now. . .

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I’ve been to kyudo club four or five times now and I’m enjoying it very much. On my third visit a student (Daiki) asked if I belonged to kyudo club, and I didn’t know how to answer. Can I? What do I have to do? I think we determined that I have to go every so often and then I can say I’m in kyudo club, so I guess, I’m in kyudo!

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Saturday (Feb. 11^th) was the Yamanashi-ken high school recitation and speech contest. Shirane entered one student in the recitation contest and I had the privilege of coaching him. Ray was very good and he improved a great deal. I thought I had a shot at winning, but I didn’t know the competition. I actually enjoyed listening to all the students, and though I thought Ray was still one of the best in terms of expression (he’s a great story teller!), he got a little nervous and didn’t speak as clearly as he could. I think that hurt him since he didn’t get into the top five (one first place, two second places, and three third places – gotta feel the love!). I think the Japanese place too much emphases on competition and winning, but that’s another topic . . .

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I’ve hit the main points of the last few weeks in separate posts, but this is for the random details that don’t fit elsewhere. In general, the past few weeks have been marked by a sharp increase in Japanese language study at work, two or three hours of overtime almost daily, sharp blows to the ego in terms of not being able to remember my students names and what I did with who, and plenty of company.

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It was very sad to say goodbye to my third years Jan. 31^st. As per one of the girl’s requests I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for them (it took me much of Sunday to bake, but I’m getting better with the resources I have). They all wrote notes to me for a memory book, and some were very sweet! They enjoyed the cookies and the last class. It was hard to say goodbye!

In general the weather hasn’t been nearly as cold as it was before. It’s still cold, but nothing has frozen again besides my olive oil. I finished “The God Who is There” and started “Mere Discipleship” by Lee Camp, which I’m borrowing from Courtnay.

I’ve been working many days a week with Ray, who will be doing the recitation contest. He’s a very solid speaker and learns quickly. I also happen to really like his expression. He has a great shot of winning!

Saturday, Jan. 28^th Leslie stayed over after church and we had a good time talking, though as usual there wasn’t enough time.

Jonathan has started talking to me on the phone again and his English ability is amazing! He’s grown so much since I talked to him last, and it’s amazing how much he can tell me. It warms the heart!

2/15 It appears I didn’t post as much as I thought, so this was from two weeks ago. I’ve since finished Mere Discipleship, which was very thought provoking. The weather has also changed quite a bit. February 6^th after Monday night Bible study, it started snowing, which made for a cold ride home. The next morning we had about three inches, which was beautiful, but nothing was plowed so riding my bike was tough. In my neighborhood I could ride in the street, but on the main road that would have been foolish so I started pushing my bike along the sidewalk. Then I saw Japanese people riding in the snow and decided to give it a go. It was a little challenging, but doable, so I managed to get to school on time. When I arrived I saw all the teachers (including principal and vice-principal) out in the parking lot shoveling snow! It was great to see and I joined in on the fun. It was a warm day and most of the snow melted by they time I rode back home. It was beautiful while it lasted, but I’m grateful that it doesn’t snow much here. Interestingly enough a week after that (Feb. 14) it was nearly 70 on my ride home. It was so beautiful I went for a run for the first time since the ski trip (which I’ll write about soon but I have to go to work now). It was great to run in such nice weather. The sun stays out longer, too. It sure made for a great day!

The last time I mentioned Bible study we had decided to get a little deeper into the word. After much prayer and anticipation we had our first new meeting January 23^rd and it wonderful. There are people from all opinions and backgrounds, which made from some interesting discussion. It was a very civil discussion, which thrilled me as well. I understand the topics discussed a little better, even if I don’t know the right answers still. We’ve since had three more meetings, and it’s amazing how prayer makes a difference to how well they go! This group of believers is on fire for the Lord and is anxious to serve the Church and the community. I pray that enthusiasm won’t die and that we will push on to find ways to edify the church and reach out to the community. The immediate difficulty is that we all have different ideas of what the church is supposed to be. It certainly is interesting to be a church with people from so many backgrounds and beliefs. I’m learning and growing a lot from them!

Janet sent word that she is fine after the recent earthquake, in case anyone had heard and was worried.

At the morning meeting January 30^th the principal told us that Erika, a second year girl, had died suddenly the night before. They don’t seem to be very open about the cause of death, but I was told the girl had bipolar disorder and died of “heart failure.” I don’t know what that means, but whatever the case it is tragic. Her funeral was today (Wednesday Feb. 1^st) and I went with the rest of the school to pay my respects. Basically all we did was walk in, bow, and leave, which was quite different from any funeral I’ve been to. I found out later that ashes are often kept in the family home for a while, so the actual burial is a much more private affair that happens much later.

This morning I heard her class (2-6) singing some very haunting melodies. I had thought they were for the funeral, but there was no service during which they could have performed it. I wonder if it’s just their way of grieving. This has reminded me that I am in a foreign place. They may look like us, but their traditions are exotic and unfamiliar. What does one say? What does one do? I decided to participate the way other teachers did with a thought to be “all things to all people.” Giving the family money, bowing to the families and the ashes I can do since I know more of what a bow means here, but clapping four times in prayer, wiping my hands and being sprinkled with salt was a bit more uncomfortable. I didn’t want to appear rude by refusing, and I have no fear of power in those actions themselves, but what does it communicate to the other students and teachers? I don’t think there’s an easy answer. I hope to communicate love and support so when there’s time to proclaim the Good News they know it’s from someone who cares.