Disembarkation

We have dreaded writing this post because it means our time in Japan has come to an end. It is difficult to leave friends, family and a job that pays you to be awesome at English.          

Quick English Lesson:

Watashi wa eigo no kyoushi desu.

(I am an English teacher.)

or as I like to say...

Watashi wa eigo desu.

(I am English.)

 Japanese culture is something we will never fully understand, but it has earned our appreciation and respect. You would be hard-pressed to find people so kind and helpful.

On Saturday, we gave up our car before becoming incredibly lost after we boarded the wrong bus. And yet, this memory will fade away. We will remember the good times...

AET Welcome Party

School lunches

South Korea

Kyoto

Fuji

Halloween

Disney Sea!

Our time with the Kajiyamas

We will see you on the other side (of the Pacific)!

Evolution of Janken

One of the most popular games in Japan is janken. You might know it better as rock-paper-scissors. 

In Japan, students use it to decide the player order in a game, determine who gets an extra food item at lunch or just play it as a game. The results of janken are final and thought to be fate so it is a great way to make a decision. 

At lunch last week I played a game of janken I will not soon forget...

Daniel & Student:  Rock, paper, scissors, go!

The student threw scissors while I threw this...

Immediately, they let out a gasp and put their hands up. One student even said “Don't shoot!”  


After that the items followed a strange evolution...

two guns
a bomb
a cat
a rabid dog

a kangaroo

poop

a butt

Doraemon

a fire

And for the last one, perhaps my favorite, the student faked a heart attack and pretended to die before he could finish the game.


Rock, paper and scissors work fine, but if you would like to mix things up a little you can use these signs...

Inverview with a Foreigner

Today I had lunch with a 4th grade class. It was a very western meal of hamburger, broccoli and tomato soup with vegetables...

During lunch I had a very interesting conversation with a group of students. I will now attempt to recreate that conversation...

Daniel:  Hello

Student:  Hello

(awkward silence)

Student:  How old are you? (in English)

Daniel:  I'm 25 years old. (in Japanese)

The students discussed this for several minutes. How could I be 25 when I had previously told them I was 24? Eventually, they realized that foreigners must also have birthdays, but students still have many misconceptions about teachers...

1. Teachers don't age.

2. Teachers both live and work at school.

3. Teachers never leave the school.

4.  Teachers know the answer to everything.

Back to the conversation...

Student: Do you have a girlfriend?

Daniel: No I don't.

Student: Oh...ok. Do you have a boyfriend?

Daniel: No I don't

My kids are very accepting. So proud!

Student: How many times do you shave each day?

Daniel:  One.

Student: When?

Daniel: In the morning.

Miso Hungry

 Miso ramen (pronounced mee-so) with udon noodles that you add yourself. A very fluffy bun filled with meat and mizuna (water greens) with tuna.

Soboro

It has been far too long since we've had a lunch post.

The white rice greatly complements the seashore fish sausage, which tastes better than it sounds and/or looks. There is also boiled soboro and ginger-flavored veggies. 

Summer Training

This last week we had AET summer training. I did not take many pictures because most of our time was spent inside a lecture room doing various activities.

 

On Tuesday we visited a community center to participate in various cultural activities. These included...

making pottery...

chopping wood (for the fire to cook our lunch)...

cooking yakisoba for lunch...

 I can cook yakisoba! Yum...

and enjoying a good meal.

During the afternoon we learned some new Kanji, practiced calligraphy, and carved potatoes with wood chisels.

Look how studious I am...

But my favorite part of summer training was Aaron teaching us a dance that is currently very popular in Japan. Enjoy!