... because I'm coming home.
Oct. 26. I expect to be greeted at the arrival gate with a PBR, Taco Bell, and your smiling faces.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Moving to Takatsuki...
I finished work on Friday, and spent Saturday cleaning and packing. Shipped my things to Takatsuki, then went out for dinner with a few teachers from Myodani school.I'm all moved into Takatsuki, and I'm going shopping for a few things today. I'm also watching a fascinating Japanese show that follows a young guy around as he eats local specialties, and interviews the people who supply the ingredients. I wish I could understand what they were saying though.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sayonara, Mere Chan!
Saturday was my birthday, my farwell party, and the new teacher Chellsea's welcome party! We were very busy. For Saturday students, it was my last class. Some students brought me presents! They are all super nice.
Asuka, me, and Daisuke. They're about 7 years old.
Yuka and Daisuke. Yuka made me a very pretty bracelet.
Me and Saori sensei in the teacher's "room" (it's more like an alcove). You can see the bracelet Yuka made me. It matched my shirt perfectly, I might add.
Me and Kaede, easily my favorite kid student. She's only 6, but she's super smart! She speaks great English.
Noriko
Rie
Miyuki
Masayuki and his daughter, Momoko, who is terrified of me.
Saki, me, Chiaki, and Shoko. They are super giggly high school students. Wonderful young ladies.
I have no idea why Ryosuke has this look on his face. I swear I didn't do anything.
Me, Chitose, and Shizuko. Super friendly, nice women!
Masaki, being ninja, me, Hideaki, and Satoshi. Hideaki showed up a photo he took on the subway of a ninja. Seriously, a ninja on the subway. It was amazing.
Hidekazu, Hiroyuki, and me. The Three Jokers. I will seriously miss these guys. It took me a moment, but I realized they're both bending down quite a bit. They're pretty tall guys.
Megumi, Jun, and me.
Arisa, Yoshimi manager, me, and Erika. Arisa and Erika are cheerleaders at their university.
I'm much more excited thank Ayako.
Naoko and Miki
My Japanese mothers. Makiko, Sumiko, Chiyoko, Kyosuke, and a newer student (sorry, I don't know your name!)
Me and the Odyssey girls. Miki, Naoko, Tomoko, and Aya (who was eating something haha)
Koki
The staff performed a beautiful rendition of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", with alternate lyrics.
"Mere chan, Mere chan,
Chika
Oha chan and Yuchika
Even Kaede danced.
Saori, Chika, Yoshimi, me, Risako, Kaede, Yuchika.
I have no idea what's up with the makeup. It's a Japanese pop culture thing.
The one, the only.... Hiroyuki Suzuki.
Then we went to karaoke!!!! Tomoko and I were feeling pretty great!
Asuka, me, and Daisuke. They're about 7 years old.
Yuka and Daisuke. Yuka made me a very pretty bracelet.
Me and Saori sensei in the teacher's "room" (it's more like an alcove). You can see the bracelet Yuka made me. It matched my shirt perfectly, I might add.
Me and Kaede, easily my favorite kid student. She's only 6, but she's super smart! She speaks great English.
Noriko
Rie
Miyuki
Masayuki and his daughter, Momoko, who is terrified of me.
Saki, me, Chiaki, and Shoko. They are super giggly high school students. Wonderful young ladies.
I have no idea why Ryosuke has this look on his face. I swear I didn't do anything.
Me, Chitose, and Shizuko. Super friendly, nice women!
Masaki, being ninja, me, Hideaki, and Satoshi. Hideaki showed up a photo he took on the subway of a ninja. Seriously, a ninja on the subway. It was amazing.
Hidekazu, Hiroyuki, and me. The Three Jokers. I will seriously miss these guys. It took me a moment, but I realized they're both bending down quite a bit. They're pretty tall guys.
Megumi, Jun, and me.
Arisa, Yoshimi manager, me, and Erika. Arisa and Erika are cheerleaders at their university.
I'm much more excited thank Ayako.
Naoko and Miki
My Japanese mothers. Makiko, Sumiko, Chiyoko, Kyosuke, and a newer student (sorry, I don't know your name!)
Me and the Odyssey girls. Miki, Naoko, Tomoko, and Aya (who was eating something haha)
Koki
The staff performed a beautiful rendition of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", with alternate lyrics.
"Mere chan, Mere chan,I can't hide my crying face.
Mere chan, Mere chan,
We're going to miss your smiling face."
We're going to miss your smiling face."
Chika
Oha chan and Yuchika
Even Kaede danced.
Saori, Chika, Yoshimi, me, Risako, Kaede, Yuchika.
I have no idea what's up with the makeup. It's a Japanese pop culture thing.
The one, the only.... Hiroyuki Suzuki.
Then we went to karaoke!!!! Tomoko and I were feeling pretty great!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Miki Chan
Me and Miki, a high school student, in the lobby at school. Saturday was her last class, as she's taking time off to focus on the ridiculously difficult university entrance exams.Friday, August 27, 2010
A Winner Is You!
Guess who's photo was selected as a Finalist in Lonely Planet's 100 Million Guidebooks Competition? (I'm under Japan)
Mere's Asian Adventure - Chapter 4: China
So, I'm staying in Japan until October 22nd now. The company needed a foreign teacher at a school outside Osaka, and they offered me a two week vacation before teaching for three weeks if I did it.
I need to pay for this trip somehow, right?....
Anyways, the new plan is this: Finish working in Kobe Sept. 17. Fly to China, Couch Surf with Kylie in Shanghai for three days, take the train to Suzhou and stay with John David for a week (hopefully taking an overnight train up to Beijing, and seeing the Expo in Shanghai), then flying back to Osaka. Teach at Takatsuki School for three weeks, then come home.
Right now, my only mystery is what I'm going to do between when I finish work in Kobe, and when I fly to China (a gap of 5 days). I think I might be house sitting for a friend while she's in Okinawa!
Tickets and destinations aside, I do have to do a bit of paperwork and running around to even be allowed into China. As an American, I have to obtain a visa from the Chinese Embassy in Osaka, before I ever depart for China. If you were from any country, except the US, it will cost $30. How much if you're an American, you ask?
$130.
Daaaaaaaaamn. That's quite the increase. For only one country. And since the embassy's in Osaka, I have to go there this Monday, and drop off my passport, then go back next Monday to pick it up. Geez, what a hassle.
I need to pay for this trip somehow, right?....
Anyways, the new plan is this: Finish working in Kobe Sept. 17. Fly to China, Couch Surf with Kylie in Shanghai for three days, take the train to Suzhou and stay with John David for a week (hopefully taking an overnight train up to Beijing, and seeing the Expo in Shanghai), then flying back to Osaka. Teach at Takatsuki School for three weeks, then come home.
Right now, my only mystery is what I'm going to do between when I finish work in Kobe, and when I fly to China (a gap of 5 days). I think I might be house sitting for a friend while she's in Okinawa!
Tickets and destinations aside, I do have to do a bit of paperwork and running around to even be allowed into China. As an American, I have to obtain a visa from the Chinese Embassy in Osaka, before I ever depart for China. If you were from any country, except the US, it will cost $30. How much if you're an American, you ask?
$130.
Daaaaaaaaamn. That's quite the increase. For only one country. And since the embassy's in Osaka, I have to go there this Monday, and drop off my passport, then go back next Monday to pick it up. Geez, what a hassle.
Monday, August 23, 2010
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