Archive for the 'Senmaya' Category

I love Halloween

Published on November 8, 2007 in Culture and Senmaya. 0 Comments

I love Halloween, originally uploaded by jasohill.

I was at the the Murone Steak and Halloween party again this year. If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know I try to get out to this party every year. We started out at Hilltop steak out in Senmaya, and moved on to the community center, located somewhere near the Iwate, Miyagi border.

The kids party was awesome, with well over a hundred kids showing up in some of the most wonderful costumes(most of them not relating to Japanese manga and anime characters.) The after party also a lot of fun. I got the chance to meet some of the new JET programme participants this year. Overall, it was well worth the two hour drive.

A big thanks to Greg Anthony for throwing it. This is his eight time doing it.

Another day, Another Dvorak

Published on November 22, 2006 in Hachimantai, Music and Senmaya. 0 Comments

If you have ever lived in a small Japanese town, you might be familiar with the chimes that go off at 7am, 12pm and 5pm. These go off everyday at the same time to remind farmers about what the current time is. When I lived in Senmaya, there was this catchy little tune that played over the town loud speaker everyday at 5pm. It sounded vaguely familiar, but I could never pin it down. That was the case until today.

After reading a random Internet post from another person in Japan, I discovered that the catchy little tune I heard day after day was actually movement two of Dvorak’s From the New World. You can listen to a free recording of it here. Aside from being a daily fixure in Japan, this tune also seems to have been an inspiration for science fiction sountracks everywhere.
Now all that remains is to hunt down where all those other catchy little jingles that play in Japan come from.

And……you’re done

Published on July 29, 2006 in Senmaya. 0 Comments

We’ll, this is my last blog post from Senmaya. The next time you hear from me, I will be in Northern Iwate. I will raise my glass to Senmaya. Kanpai! Kanpai! Kanpai! Speaking of Kanpai, there is a festival happening right now. I’m off to enjoy it. Take care folks.

Senmaya Eikaiwa……Farewell

Published on July 27, 2006 in Senmaya. 0 Comments

I’m two days away from my move and most of my preparations are nearing completion. I had my last Eikaiwa(English Conversation) class this evening and I was quite moved by it. I think when I decided to teach that class every week, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I’ve met so many wonderful people through my Eikaiwa, and having to say goodbye to them is really hard for me. It’s not really goodbye, but it’s still going to be a long distance. Everyone even had a farewell message for me. I was really touched by their kind words. We all have to move on sometime. I’m glad I got the opportunity to do this. A small note for those of you who are coming to teach in Japan this year(oh yes, I know you’re reading this.) If you get the chance to teach a volunteer Eikaiwa class, take it without hesitation. It will be one of the best things you ever do. So here is a kind shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Honda, Atsuko, Eriko, and Meiko. Thank you for all the great memories. You were my best students.

In the midst of moving

Published on July 24, 2006 in Culture and Senmaya. 0 Comments

I’m sorry for the infrequent updates this week. I’ve been busy going out of my mind with moving preparations. There are many things to sort out when you move from one place to another. I’ve been on the phone with countless companies, and I can safely say that I am now a fully armed and operational person in transit. What is this costing me? Well here is a running total so far.

1. Moving company. Will charge me 31 500yen ($300) to move me from Senmaya to my new digs.

2. Car Inspection. I would have had to do this regardless of moving, but I got it done early so I didn’t have a breakdown on the road. Total cost? 170 000 ($1700) Sound expensive? Oh, it is. That is a mandatory inspection and something that needs to be done every two years. For those of you who are coming to Japan and want to buy a used car, be sure to set aside $2000 for a two year inspection. It’s called 車検(Shaken).

3. Disposal Services. How does one remove the festering crap of 10 years worth of previous JET participants? They use a dump. I haven’t done this yet, but I will let you know when I get the bill.

UPDATE: It just cost me 4620yen to dispose of a really old and crappy clothes washer. Grrrr! Bring it on Japan!

UPDATE: Cost of removing old couches and chairs. 750 yen. This isn’t as bad as some of the others costs. Looking forward to seeing what is next.

Basically, Japan is frickin’ expensive. However, its also incredibly convenient. So no complaints so far.

Nagashi Soumen anyone?

Published on July 16, 2006 in Culture and Senmaya. 3 Comments

I had the most pleasant of surprises when I went downstairs for my Sayonara party on Saturday morning. A Truck appeared with three full shoots of bamboo. My neighbors then began to attack that bamboo with saws and other tools. They cut the shoots in half and constructed a massive water slide with them.

There was a lot of leftover bamboo from this. They use the leftover stuff to make cups and hand made chopsticks(竹橋). I was blown away. I didn’t know bamboo could be this useful. Incredible.

At the point I still had no clue what was going on. Then my next door neighbor told me that when a goodbye party is held, sometimes nagashi soumen(流し素麺） is done as a tradition way to send them off.

The concept behind it is very simple. You take soumen noodles(素麺) and let them run down the bamboo slide. People wait near the slide and pick them off as they come down. Then they dip them in a tasty noodle sauce and eat them up. Or course it take a couple of hours to set up the slide. It’s a ton of fun to participate in, especially with kids present.

This is another example of a Japanese tradition I knew nothing about. Unfortunately, if you ever want to be part of this, you’ll be using it to send someone off. That someone could very well be you. So enjoy it while it lasts. Love live the noodle!

The Long Hard Goodbye

Published on July 13, 2006 in Administation and Senmaya. 0 Comments

This is my last week as an ALT in Senmaya. Here is the breakdown of what has happened so far. I have now been the host of 3 farewell ceremonies, received 2 bouquets of flowers and have made 3 farewell speeches. Well over 700 students have wished me goodbye. I have also received around 40 farewell cards and have had 2 students burst into tears while talking to me. I have also received 1 certificate of appreciation from the prefecture. At the start of this week I was feeling fine, but I think it’s all starting to hit me now. Things are changing again, and those changes are all happening now. My three years in Senmaya are coming to an end, and that end is coming fast. Only thirteen days remain until I begin my move to northern Iwate. I can’t help but be overcome by it all.

If that weren’t enough, this is the week the temperature decided to soar into the 30s and the humidity rocketed up to 70%. I have basically been a mass of walking sweat and goo all week. It would unwise to touch me. Unwise, indeed.

The only thing that keeps me in a positive frame of mind is that I will soon be settled in at my new location and getting a little free time to relax and orchestrate my first move in Japan. After that, I’m sure I will be partaking in a number of welcome parties and festivals. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. My liver won’t survive this.

Other than all of that, I need to consider what I want to do for the rest of my life and I need to do it soon. I really think I could be a photographer. I think I need to start taking steps to ensure that is what I will do. I’ll work it out somehow. My motivation is strong and my desire to success has never been so high. My only advice those who might try and stop me is, “Get out of my way! You won’t like me when I’m motivated.” Have a good weekend everyone.

NOTE: Following this month, my blog is going to start going through some changes. I will still be talking about my personal life sometimes, but I’m changing the main focus on living in Iwate and Japan more than anything else. I want to dedicate this blog to those who have decided to make Japan their way of life as well. If you think Japan is all about Shinjuku, Pokemon and the Bullet Train, you obviously haven’t been reading this blog.

I want to thank everyone who has read up until this point. I hope my time here has been as enjoyable for you as it has for me. If you are ever seriously thinking of coming out to Japan, please send an email my way. I would love to know more about you and why you’ve made your choice.

House of Vines

Published on July 2, 2006 in Photography and Senmaya. 0 Comments

House of Vines
Originally uploaded by jasohill.

Sometimes I wonder just what I got myself into when I came to Japan. Even though I live in the northern part of the country, the vegetation seems to grow unbridled. Take this house for example. During the winter, it looked like a normal house. You could see where the vines were the previous summer, but there was nothing crazy going on. Now it looks like a Chia Pet run amok.

It’s not only the vegetation freaks me out. I have seen things here that would make you pee you pants. I’m talking fist sized spiders, three centimeter long bees and beetles that will rip your eyes out. I’ve also seen a moth the size a kangaroo. It stared me down in my own bedroom(while I was half naked.) I’m sure it could have also drunk me under the table if I had given it the chance. I am only glad there wasn’t any whiskey around.

If you are coming to Japan for any reason at all, be prepared for this. It’s a very real part of living in Japan. Trust me though. You’ll never be scared of domestic insects again.

Game Over

Published on June 21, 2006 in Senmaya and Sports. 0 Comments

I think this comic sums up what happened the other night. It’s hard to explain to my coworkers that the reason I’m bummed out is because of the result of a hockey game. It doesn’t show when I teach my classes, but I can’t hide it at my desk. It will pass in time, I hope.

In other news, I have only six weeks remaining on the JET program. I am preparing my immigration paperwork and I am getting ready for my move. I will fill you all in on what it takes to transfer from one job to another in Japan. Stay tuned!

Herd me in, Check me out

Published on June 5, 2006 in Culture and Senmaya. 0 Comments

In addition to the stress of spoiling the game results for myself, I also had a medical check up this morning. In Japan, most workers have a company physical and dental check done at least once a year. This is in contrast to the cultures of the west where most of that is left to you(Unless you are a sports professional or a cop.) This check up is usually done at your place of work. They bring out a couple of medical party wagons to handle the various tests.

So at 8:30am I show up at the site of my former work place and am promptly processed, akin to a chicken on its way to becoming a nugget. First they check me in and I hand them the sheet that proves that I am goverment employee. The guy at the desk looks me up and down, then holds my documentation sideways. After some humming and hawing I am given a urine cup and promptly told to evacuate some urine. This was easier said than done as I has just peed myself silly waiting for this to begin. After I convince my pee to make itself known once more, I am then moved to the blood pressure, blood test, and eye test sections. There they take three wonderful vials of my precious blood.

Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there. After a doctor gives me the feel up of a lifetime, I am told to head over to the “party van”, where I am given a lung X-ray, hearing test and an electrocardiogram. Yes, they are very thorough with their check ups. After the “wham bam thank you ma’am”, treatment, I am left on my own feeling violated and cold. I shake myself off and head to school and try to show the kids that everything is okay. I think of disneyland.

If you are coming to Japan, prepare for the dreaded medical party van.