Just Another JET Blog

Christmas was really a week long event for me in Japan. On the 19^th I went to my adult class’s Christmas party, which involved supper at a French restaurant, nice wine, and a gift exchange. I got some books to help with my Japanese and maple pies… straight from Canada. The pies are delicious, by the way. On the 20^th was the school’s dorm’s Christmas party, which involved a really nice meal (and an actual chicken leg!!) and a bingo game. I won a lock. The 21^st was my school’s teacher’s year end party (or boun-enkai) up at Hirayu (which was beautiful with all the snow). Many of the teachers got ridiculously drunk, as is to be expected as these things, and some performed on stage nearly naked. There was also a group attempt at trying to do some exercises from Billy’s Boot Camp.

The next day I went down to Takayama and found out that at George’s boun-enkai worse events had taken place. Several of the teachers, after much drinking, decided to start breaking chopsticks… using only their buttocks. This was done by stripping to underwear only, then placing the chopsticks between the underwear and skin and then flexing. George, was (rather unwillingly) brought up onto the stage to participate. He was surprised to find out that when the chopsticks break… they break INTO the buttocks. Anyways, we went down to King (I think it’s called) and shot pool, bowled, played air hockey and ping pong. I ended up driving back to my town at 3 in the morning, or something ridiculous like that.

I returned to Takayama on the 23^rd again, to do some karaoke with some JETs and associates. I spent the night at George’s so that I could help Fiona prepare for the Christmas party on the 24^th. Everyone had to bring some food to the party, and I chose to give up some of my Mac and Cheese… which after initially being mocked by Andrew (another JET) while I was cooking it, was received at the dinner table with shouts of joy. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who missed the stuff. The party went from noon until about ten, and was followed by a watching of “Love Actually”, which is what is the classic Christmas movie for my generation, I suppose.

The next day was Christmas itself and I woke up to a phone call from my family. George, and the rest of the people had already left for work… but I had taken the day off so I wandered Takayama for awhile (and had lunch at the Center 4 Burgers ((AMAZING))) before heading back up to Kamioka. …where I spent Christmas afternoon doing laundry. I went out to my local restaurant for supper and the owner gave me free Christmas cake to eat with a side of free coffee. She also gave me a free sandwich (for lunch today) and two Christmas oranges when I left. I returned home and brought little Christmas presents to the teachers in my apartment building. Then I watched some hockey highlights and “It’s a Wonderful Life”… and so ended my first Christmas in Japan.

How did others spend Christmas Day? Well, a lot of people I know went to work. A Japanese friend of mine happened to have the day off because she has every Tuesday off… and she cleaned all day. This is apparently really popular… like spring cleaning back in Canada. Another just played tennis all day. People in relationships went on dates, …but I didn’t see any of them out and about in my town (not surprisingly).

Thing I miss most about Canada today: Obviously, Christmas with the family.

Thing I love most about Japan today: Center 4 Hamburgers. Sugoi Oishii! Hamburgers that rival the best in Canada. That’s right, the gloves have been thrown down…. Center 4 Hamburgers is comparable to Original George’s!! …although they’re also very different from each other!

Dec. 11, 2007

Well I’m posting notes regularly these days, it seems. Time to talk about another Tokyo/Sagamihara weekend. Though, I think it’s a less interesting trip this time around. Unless you really like Square.

On Friday I managed to get all the way to Sagamihara on my own… although a lady was kind enough to tell me which platform was mine at the train station. Train stations still confuse me endlessly, mostly because they appear to be incredibly simple but they aren’t…

Anyways, Friday I went to moss burger for lunch and then to Yuka’s izakaya with Aya and Shinya for the evening. I also got myself my first hotel room on my own… which was actually really easy. I did, however, end up with an expensive place unfortunately.

On Saturday I discovered just how awesome my hotel was when I found out that there was surround sound in my bathroom… so I cranked up some rock music while showering. Good times. In the afternoon, Aya and I wandered around Tokyo a bit. We went to a big temple named Senso-ji in Asakusa. Took some pics, unfortunately with my phone again. I can’t seem to remember to bring my real camera anywhere! It was definitely the most interesting temple I’ve seen so far. Afterwards we wandered Tokyo some more. Then we went to a TGIF for supper, and I was shocked at the number of American soldiers there. The food was good, and a tip was charged to my bill for the first time in 4 months.

Sunday, I slept in and it was amazing. Aya and I went up to Shinjuku in the afternoon and I found the Square Enix store that I had seen from my bus. I went in, knowing full well how “otaku” I was acting. Everything in there that was really cool was pretty expensive, and I only had a few yen on me unfortunately. I did, however, take some pictures that I hope turned out good. I picked up Nathan a pair of Final Fantasy mystery boxes… which contain small character figurines. I figured if I got two then at least one of them should be an awesome character… right? Now if I could just find the Nintendo building.

This is as a good time to mention as any that I intend to pick up a few souvenirs for those of you that I see often (or saw often) in Canada. So, if there’s something specific from Japan that you want, you should send me an e-mail with it. …though I should warn you that I’m not rich, so don’t shoot for the moon and ask for a samurai sword….

Anyways, I made it back and on Monday I went to basketball practice and nearly froze myself in that horrible frozen wasteland they call a gym. I’m seriously considering not returning to practice until it warms up a little in February.

Oh, and I had my performance interview today, which really was them just asking me if I wanted to stay for a second year. And I do, so I am.

Thing I miss most about Canada today: Heated gyms. No, heated indoors… period.

Thing I love most about Japan today: Surround sound bathrooms. How awesome is that?

ALRIGHT! This will have to be a quick note because I have to teach a class in a bit, but here’s what happened in the last little while in a nutshell.

Friday: I took the day off. Zipped up the mountain to Hirayu (famous for its onsen which I still haven’t gone to!) and took a bus to Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bus ride was surprisingly enjoyable. Upon just entering Shinjuku I got to see the Square-Enix building, and then I got really excited… of course. At the end of the ride an incredible looking Japanese chick spilt her ice Tea all over the bus and almost all over me (and my only pair of jeans for the trip). Anyways, after wandering around shinjuku and having a burger at Wendy’s (oh, so good), I met up with Aya. She showed me some of the bigger Japanese department stores in the area… and then we took a quick train to Sagami-Ono (aka Sagamihara? I think?). There I had supper with her family and then went to meet her brother (Shinya) and some of his friends at a Korean BBQ place. After that, I was shown to my hotel (Japanese style room and group bath! Yay!).

Saturday: I met up with Aya’s dad who showed me how to get Fuji…something. Where I met with Aya and we took a trip to Kamakura. We checked out the Hachiman (God of War) shrine and the tourist street, which had a studio Ghibli store that would make Nathan die with delight. In the evening we went back to Sagamihara for MOS BURGER!! This place is the greatest fast food restaurant ever. I was told it was, but I didn’t believe until now. Wow. After that we went to an izakaiya to meet Yuka and Shinya, and were later joined by Yuka’s boyfriend as well (who’s a really awesome guy!).

Sunday: Checked out of the hotel and met up with Sachie and her sister Junko. We went up to Yokohama, but due to a lack of time, could only see the biggest ferris wheel in the world and the Chinatown (where we had some good Chinese food). I picked up some omiyage for the teachers there as well. On the train back to Shinjuku (Tokyo) a foreigner got really pissed at us for some reason… that I’m still not really sure of. He thought we were making fun of him or something… and yelled at us on the train. I explained that we were just talking in general and he got off the train mumbling and cussing under his breath. This is the image of foreigners that the JET programme is up against… and we’re trying! We got off at our stop and they bought me a few snacks for the bus ride back. Then it was back to Hirayu.

Monday: Hot water in my shower didn’t work. Huh. Had to take off before figuring out what went wrong…

Tuesday: Hot water still didn’t work. Had to shower at school…… where there was ALSO NO HOT WATER!!! I’ve never been so cold in my life. I got the school clerk to call up the gas company to come fix my shower. The guy came, and left with my hot water system… I thought he was coming right back up with a new one…. but… no. On a brighter note, I went to Takayama and shot pool with George and Fiona! Although we weren’t exactly good at it… it is something I’m going to try and do more often. Oh, also went to a homestyle burger place with George, and had the best non-fast food burger I’ve had in Japan. A good week for me and burgers, all told.

Wednesday (Today): Figured out how to make hot water come out of the shower at school. Whew. Also, after school the guy came back and reinstalled my shower… which now works. I was so thankful I gave him a bottle of maple syrup.

Thing I miss most about Canada today: Hot water heaters that heat the water for the whole house!
Thing I love most about Japan today: MOS BURGER’s Teriyaki burger. Sugoi!