Japanese school posters are unmatched:
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Routine
I heard a story on NPR's This American Life yesterday about a mid-thirties guy who looked back on the diary he kept as a teenager. He read some passages and expanded on what he was thinking when writing them, like that he would be the next Prime Minister of Israel and those writings would someday be needed by biographers and historians. One of his teenage themes was how sorry he felt for his parents, who were leading such trite, purposeless lives. The show's host pointed out the oxymoronic nature of this journal reading: the subject looking back and laughing at what he'd written as a teenager about how unfortunate it would be to grow into an adult such as who he is today.
I can't say that I ever looked at my parents and said 'I want or don't want that.' And while my dad has always done a great job of leaving work at work, I know he's had struggles and that he gets through them by looking forward to what he loves, hunting and fishing. So I taught myself to just try and pursue the things I love and skip over that 'being unhappy and needing something to look forward to' business. I've had some pretty interesting jobs, but I've also left out American Dream ideas like starting a family or planning for retirement.
The most stability I've had since college was Peace Corps, which was arguably a pretty exotic form of it. A word I have chosen to differentiate my life against the more traditional path is 'routine'. With the exception of where I am right now - knowing I'll be here for another 1.5 years - I often haven't known where I'd be just three months into the future (in fact the longest job I've had since 2004 has been just 3.5 months long). That's a sexy 'life resume' point to throw out in selling yourself as an adventurer, but there are also limits to it.
Now, I have routine. I know what time I want to be showering when teaching on Aka. Volleyball is on Sunday and Thursday nights. I need to have my yeast growing no later than 5pm if I want my bread out before 9pm.
Some of this is depressing. I've spent a lot of time reveling in the excitement of my short-term lifestyle, promising never to work at one job more than a year or two. I also even went so far as to expect never to have a high-paying job, because Real Jobs with Real Pay bring expectations and responsibility which will extract my soul.
But here I am, with a job that brings Real Pay. I won't go so far as to classify this in the Real Job category since I'm in a foreign country and don't have to write progress reports or get job ratings or deal with any managerial red tape. But I have routine. And for years I have promised myself certain things if I ended up with routine. One would to be to combat monotony. That's still easy here. Another would be to excel athleticly, since having a daily schedule with time to myself lends well to training. I spent all winter running and it culminated three weeks ago in a result I am really proud of.
Now, as SW Japan turns to spring and my morning routine is all confused, I think about the turn Japan has thrown into life as I know it. I ponder, 'Could I live in one place for a long time?' I think maybe. If I have a fulfilling job, natural beauty, sporting activities (fishing), the schedule to stay in good shape, and a personal or intellectual challenge (like learning a foreign language), I don't see any reason to give it up.
I can't say that I ever looked at my parents and said 'I want or don't want that.' And while my dad has always done a great job of leaving work at work, I know he's had struggles and that he gets through them by looking forward to what he loves, hunting and fishing. So I taught myself to just try and pursue the things I love and skip over that 'being unhappy and needing something to look forward to' business. I've had some pretty interesting jobs, but I've also left out American Dream ideas like starting a family or planning for retirement.
The most stability I've had since college was Peace Corps, which was arguably a pretty exotic form of it. A word I have chosen to differentiate my life against the more traditional path is 'routine'. With the exception of where I am right now - knowing I'll be here for another 1.5 years - I often haven't known where I'd be just three months into the future (in fact the longest job I've had since 2004 has been just 3.5 months long). That's a sexy 'life resume' point to throw out in selling yourself as an adventurer, but there are also limits to it.
Now, I have routine. I know what time I want to be showering when teaching on Aka. Volleyball is on Sunday and Thursday nights. I need to have my yeast growing no later than 5pm if I want my bread out before 9pm.
Some of this is depressing. I've spent a lot of time reveling in the excitement of my short-term lifestyle, promising never to work at one job more than a year or two. I also even went so far as to expect never to have a high-paying job, because Real Jobs with Real Pay bring expectations and responsibility which will extract my soul.
But here I am, with a job that brings Real Pay. I won't go so far as to classify this in the Real Job category since I'm in a foreign country and don't have to write progress reports or get job ratings or deal with any managerial red tape. But I have routine. And for years I have promised myself certain things if I ended up with routine. One would to be to combat monotony. That's still easy here. Another would be to excel athleticly, since having a daily schedule with time to myself lends well to training. I spent all winter running and it culminated three weeks ago in a result I am really proud of.
Now, as SW Japan turns to spring and my morning routine is all confused, I think about the turn Japan has thrown into life as I know it. I ponder, 'Could I live in one place for a long time?' I think maybe. If I have a fulfilling job, natural beauty, sporting activities (fishing), the schedule to stay in good shape, and a personal or intellectual challenge (like learning a foreign language), I don't see any reason to give it up.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Yo-Chien Graduation
It's actually spelled (when spelled with roman characters) You, but pronounced more like "Yo" with a hint of a long 'u' at the end. You-chien is pre-school and kindergarten. Three-year-olds to six-year-olds. Graduation is only for the students moving on to first grade.
On Aka, this means just one girl, Natsumi. She will join the three current first-graders (all boys) into a combined first/second-grade class next year. I am praying she will add some 'chill' chemistry to the group.
Natsumi received a diploma, two big wrapped gifts, and tulips from each of the seven other yo-chien students. At the end we got to throw tons of homemade confetti at her. Inspired by the immaturity of four-year-olds, I kept picking up more confetti off the ground and throwing it on fellow teachers and students.
Zamami had about twelve graduates and Geruma had one.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I Shall Receive
Some of it is due to my giving, but mostly it's just nice people with excess sharing their fruits (or, vegetables). Winter is crop season in Okinawa and February and March are harvesting times. I haven't ordered potatoes from my food catalog in over a month. I've cut back on my lettuce and skipped a couple carrot orders. The rate at which I receive gift vegetables nearly exceeds the rate at which I can eat them, even if potatoes are included in both my home-cooked daily meals. It makes me really happy that so much of my food is now really local.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Graduation
The Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March, so graduations are happening nationwide right now. Being a teacher on three different islands means a lot of graduation day obligations and careful promising. Nick (my predecessor) and I went to Zamami until just before the ceremony started. Then we hurried to the boat and went to Geruma for the first hour of their graduation before leaving for the last hour of Aka's. The actual graduations were boring, but the significance of the event to the community was overpowering.
The classes on these islands are unusually tight and many of the members won't see much of each other come April. By now most have been accepted into different high schools in Naha (in much the same way as American colleges - with entrance testing and schools that offer different specialties) and will be on their way in the next week.
In the evening Nick and I were invited to a san-nensei (graduating class) student/parent/teacher party at the community center. There were zillions of speeches, lots of good food, a little crying, and a happy atmosphere. One of the most emotional hours I have had in years came when Nick and I went home at 11pm and watched the slideshow (shown during Zamami's graduation, which we missed). The music was sad and the birth-to-graduate following of all 13 students almost made me cry. Nick and I stayed up a few hours longer doing something that only he and I could: talk in English about current Zamami life. We discussed the futures of the students (5 of them are living alone in Naha to attend high school, so their futures are worthy of discussion), the next teacher class and the ensuing climate of each school, and what an amazing placement Zamami is for a JET. As Nick said, how many JETs were getting the email addresses of their junior high students after graduation?
Nick told me an interesting story about the girl in the above photo. She was having peeer trouble in her school in Osaka when she vacationed to Zamami in fifth grade. She declared to her mother that she wanted to move to Zamami to go to school. Her mom couldn't leave Osaka, so Emiri and her grandmother moved to Zamami and they have been here for the last five years. Zamami has turned out to be a godsend for Emiri, who is one of the top students in her class. She left today for high school in Osaka, taking her grandmother back home.
[high school freshmen (sniff, sniff)]
The classes on these islands are unusually tight and many of the members won't see much of each other come April. By now most have been accepted into different high schools in Naha (in much the same way as American colleges - with entrance testing and schools that offer different specialties) and will be on their way in the next week.
In the evening Nick and I were invited to a san-nensei (graduating class) student/parent/teacher party at the community center. There were zillions of speeches, lots of good food, a little crying, and a happy atmosphere. One of the most emotional hours I have had in years came when Nick and I went home at 11pm and watched the slideshow (shown during Zamami's graduation, which we missed). The music was sad and the birth-to-graduate following of all 13 students almost made me cry. Nick and I stayed up a few hours longer doing something that only he and I could: talk in English about current Zamami life. We discussed the futures of the students (5 of them are living alone in Naha to attend high school, so their futures are worthy of discussion), the next teacher class and the ensuing climate of each school, and what an amazing placement Zamami is for a JET. As Nick said, how many JETs were getting the email addresses of their junior high students after graduation?
Nick told me an interesting story about the girl in the above photo. She was having peeer trouble in her school in Osaka when she vacationed to Zamami in fifth grade. She declared to her mother that she wanted to move to Zamami to go to school. Her mom couldn't leave Osaka, so Emiri and her grandmother moved to Zamami and they have been here for the last five years. Zamami has turned out to be a godsend for Emiri, who is one of the top students in her class. She left today for high school in Osaka, taking her grandmother back home.
[high school freshmen (sniff, sniff)
Friday, March 7, 2008
I Have a Visitor!
My predecessor, Nick, is staying with me for a week visit. The Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March, so he is here for graduation (junior high and sixth grade, which are celebrated here much more than in the U.S.). It's been really wonderful to talk extensively in English to somebody who understands my life. Last night we stayed up until well past midnight just laughing and telling stories.
Our time has been filled to the brim with activities, including a visit to Zamami's black pearl farm (who knew THAT existed?), an eisa (drumming) practice, and a whale watching trip under dream conditions. In about two hours I took 575 pictures, which is the fastest rate I've ever photographed. Here are some shots from the sunset voyage:
Our time has been filled to the brim with activities, including a visit to Zamami's black pearl farm (who knew THAT existed?), an eisa (drumming) practice, and a whale watching trip under dream conditions. In about two hours I took 575 pictures, which is the fastest rate I've ever photographed. Here are some shots from the sunset voyage:
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday Church
There isn't really church in Japan, but I often find myself in happy places on Sundays. Today I woke up at 5am and launched my kayak onto the rocks of low tide in the river in front of my house. I had to wade and drag the kayak for 50 meters before I could start paddling. At 6:30 I caught my first fish of 2008, but I'm not sure what it is. It will provide two hefty dinners.
It was a clear and calm day, perfect for everything. Except sailing, maybe. I fished for a few hours before going aboard land for my requisite beach-combing. I scored three plastic 'crates' to use as garden planters and a brand new "Staff" hat of a large cruise ship that anchored in the Keramas this week.
In the afternoon three Naha friends came out for a whale watching trip. I went along because I need to. I live in a whale watching mecca and I need to capitalize.
When I really get clicking with my camera I'll take 150+ pictures of an event. My usual hope is for one good shot in 100, which is already optimistic. But today I shot 288 pictures and wasn't happy any. That's a rarity, but I make up for it elsewhere. Here is one of the best and another that I thought was kinda cool:
It was a clear and calm day, perfect for everything. Except sailing, maybe. I fished for a few hours before going aboard land for my requisite beach-combing. I scored three plastic 'crates' to use as garden planters and a brand new "Staff" hat of a large cruise ship that anchored in the Keramas this week.
In the afternoon three Naha friends came out for a whale watching trip. I went along because I need to. I live in a whale watching mecca and I need to capitalize.
When I really get clicking with my camera I'll take 150+ pictures of an event. My usual hope is for one good shot in 100, which is already optimistic. But today I shot 288 pictures and wasn't happy any. That's a rarity, but I make up for it elsewhere. Here is one of the best and another that I thought was kinda cool:
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