On tasty, doughy, molded delicious

The spring Takayama festival was on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Tuesday night would have been the parade of floats through the old streets, except that the weather was crap. Rain, all day. We had gorgeous weather the week leading up to it, and it cleared up in time for Wednesday too. But Tuesday? Naw. Rain.

So, no floats this year. But they did have the festival stalls, which are conveniently located along a street that has covered walkways ^^ I decided to go, even in the rain, to see old friends and, more importantly, the call of taiyaki was just too strong...

Taiyaki is the most fantastic festival food I have discovered. And there are a LOT of fantastic festival foods. There's this misconception that all Japanese food is healthy, but these events are the proof that this is just not so. Karaage (fried chicken), giant baked potatoes covered in butter, yakisoba, takoyaki (balls of fried dough with bits of octopus inside, quite tasty!), crepes (yes, the Japanese have fully embraced this feature of French culture and taken it WAY beyond anything I ever saw in Paris), chocolate-covered bananas and strawberries, okonomiyaki (sort of a fried mish-mash of noodles and toppings that vaguely resembles a pizza), various kabobs, some delicious pita sandwiches, frozen chocolate-covered fruit, ice cream ... the list goes on. and on. and on. ^^

But, the best is taiyaki. Which is a fish-shaped cake filled with any number of delicious fillings, usually azuki (red bean) paste. (wikipedia link)

This year I found a shop selling miniature tayiaki, that you could buy as sets ranging in size from "little delicious" to "whole-world delicious" (^o^) I got a "little delicious" variety set, filled with tiny surprises of custard, chocolate pudding, green-tea, and of course, azuki. Which is my favorite.


Welcome festival season! My stomach and I look forward to enjoying you ^^

Concert!

eeek! Haven't updated this in almost a month! m(_ _)m sorry sorry! I've got a few interesting stories to share, and no time to share them at the moment... the new school year is going to start.... in about 2 hours. Yeah, we had a nice long week and a half break between school years, ha ha ha ha ha

Anyway, I went to a concert in Nagoya on Saturday, Punkspring 09. Five bands played, three of which I was familiar with - NOFX, Bad Religion, and Rise Against. NOFX and Bad Religion were probably my two most favorite bands when I was in high school and college, there was basically no way I was going to miss this show ^^

It was also my first concert experience in Japan. For the most part, it was the same as at home - mosh pits, pushing, shoving, loud music (ah, the hallmarks of a good punk show), except that between songs the crowd got real quiet. The bands were also a bit less interactive with the audience, vocally wondering onstage if anybody could understand anything they were saying, ha ha ha ha ha

The quiet did work out for me during NOFX's set though, when I shouted "I love you!" to Fat Mike (the lead singer) and he said "that's sweet, but let's try to keep this more of a friendly relationship" ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I love that band.

I didn't take my camera in, but here are a few pics from the show I got with my cellphone

Rise Against

Bad Religion

NOFX


Hooray for spring!!!

Graduation

The junior high schools in Takayama had their graduation ceremonies this past Tuesday, March 10. I was in Miya, same as last year. I've posted about the graduation ceremony before, so this time around I'm going to talk about something different. One of those odd little things that only happens in Japan. Or anywhere that requires a change of footwear at work.

Graduation is a big, big deal here. Students show up in the same thing they wear every day - their school uniforms, but teachers are expected to dress to the nines. As in, suits and white ties. Women wear black. I broke out the pearls even.

This year I went for the Johnny Cash look, after noticing that my white dress shirt isn't so white anymore, heh heh...

I've cropped the picture since I'm not really supposed to show close-up pictures of my students anymore (sorry!)

Now, the fact that I'm wearing a suit isn't that big of a shock... or maybe it is. But what I really find amusing here is the pairing of this quite dressy look with my school shoes. Which happen to be a pair of blue sneakers.

And this, of course, is perfectly acceptable.

Another farewell...

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and with it, graduation. I had my final English classes with the san nen sei (9th graders) at both of my schools this week. Since my schools are very small, I only have one class for each grade - 1A. 2A, and 3A. Both of my schools opted to let me be in charge of the final class (in Kuguno I was allowed free reign in my final 5 classes with them), so in Miya we played a game and in Kuguno we finished the English yearbooks I'd started with them several weeks ago. I also saved some time at the end for my goodbye speech and for handing out the music cd's I decided to make for all of my graduating junior high kids. Talk about something that's easier said than done - that sounded like such a good idea when I came up with it last month, only to turn into a hellish amount of work to get it done in time, lol. But I think they were happy to receive the gifts, complete with a message from me, written in English and directed toward each student individually.

It's customary for the graduating classes to give all of their teachers large square cards with messages from the students. Last year I got them from both my junior high (9th grade) and elementary (6th grade) graduating classes. This year I got the card from the students in Kuguno after their pre-graduation celebratory ceremony, held two weeks ago. This class decided to part with the usual tradition of messages from each student, and instead chose a kanji for each teacher. This is mine

This character, when used in the verb 抱える (kakaeru), means "to hold". They explained to me that they hope I will forever hold the memory our time together when I return to America (T_T)

I missed the part of the ceremony where they gave these out as, torn as I always am between these two schools, I had to go to Miya to participate in part of their san nen sei party. So the kids at Kuguno gave me the plaque the next time I was there, in the lunchroom before the entire school, prior to everyone eating lunch.

In Miya, after handing out the cds, the class had asked for some time to give their farewell to me. Which started by presenting me with my message

which includes a picture of the entire class when they were ichi nen sei (7th graders), 3 years ago. This they followed by singing a song to me.... at which point my self-control went out the window and the tears started flowing, lol (;_;) After that we took a picture

These two classes have by far been my favorites. Since I've had them from when they were ni nen sei (8th graders), I've had more time to get to know them than the kids who graduated last year. Plus, they're just FUN. Many of them are outgoing and playful, and all of them are kind - there's not one kid in either class I don't feel comfortable talking to or teasing. I'm really going to miss them! But I'm excited for them to move on to new challenges and experiences d(^_^)b

Survey!

One of those silly surveys that gets passed around. Decided to post mine here. Also, I found a bunch of old pictures from when I first moved to Japan and I was taking pictures of EVERYthing, so I sprinkled them in randomly. They have nothing to do with the survey answers. Enjoy!

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE:
I got my first name from my Irish grandmother and my middle name is the same as my mom*. Ironically, my Irish grandmother's real name was Jane, but everyone called her Jenny (hence me being Jennifer), and here in Japan everyone seems to think my name is Jane.

*As has been pointed out to me recently, my American grandmother's middle name was Jane, not Ann... not sure why I remembered it wrong. Let's just chalk it up to Jen's crap memory for now
... >>
... << ...
Either way, it still fits in with the Jen/Jane theme ^^

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Tears of joy in a laughing fit last weekend ^^

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It's ok I guess. A little sloppy. And I can never seem to write す properly.



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
uh, turkey?

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope!

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Of course. I'm awesome.



DO YOU USE SARCASM?
No. Never.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
As far as I know, yes.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
I'd like to think I would, but I'd probably get to the top, take one look, and back out :D

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Whatever happened to cracklin' oat bran? man that stuff was good.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends on the shoes, but generally speaking I've gotten quite adept at the Japanese slip-off-method.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Vanilla.



WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
I have an odd habit of looking at hands for some reason...

RED OR PINK?
Red

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm a bit of a procrastinator, so I'll put off answering this one for a little while



WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
fuzzy white and grey striped uniqlo pajama bottoms and no shoes

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The sounds of my apartment

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
emerald green. or some fancy named color that is emerald green. like fern. or mountain meadow.

FAVORITE SMELLS?
I really love the smell of rain, especially on rocks. Also, I miss the smell of the forests in Colorado.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Baseball. BASEBALL!!!!!!



HAIR COLOR?
Natural color is a fairly boring shade of dark blond that I find it nearly impossible to cover up in Japan. Also, it's increasingly gray. I'd say right now there's probably about 4 or 5 different shades in my hair, from the old light tips to the brown lowlights, some old highlights, the gray, and the natural color.

EYE COLOR?
kind of a chameleon-ey green that can look blue depending on what I wear.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. the optometrist said I have better than 20/20 vision. nya! :P

FAVORITE FOOD?
mexican. oh god, how I miss mexican. and corned beef.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
generally speaking, happy endings are good. unless they're unrealistically happy, then they suck.



LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
uh, something on the airplane back to Japan

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
red.

SUMMER OR WINTER?
I love winter sports but I don't like the cold. I'd say I'm more of a fall person.

HUGS OR KISSES?
yes please :)

FAVORITE DESSERT?
vanilla ice cream. or butterfingers.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene (I am, after all, a science nerd)

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Didn't watch tv last night



FAVORITE SOUND(S)?
I really miss the sound of the mountains in CO. The wind blowing in the trees just doesn't sound the same here.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Not sure. I'm pretty far now, but maybe, Sydney? or Hong Kong. Probably Sydney is farther.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I've discovered a latent baking ability, now that I live in a country with no ovens.

Yum

In a sign of just how much I've changed since moving to Japan, tonight after taiko practice, while we were all sitting around chatting in Japanese and eating snacks, I ate a chocolate-covered piece of seaweed from Korea. And I liked it. So much, in fact, that I ate two.

My Valentine?

I've never been a big fan of February 14. But in the spirit of giving, I thought I would share with you one of the unique traditions in this country.

In most places around the world, Valentine's Day is all about the ladies. Men famously agonize for weeks over the perfect gift, dinner, night out, whatever, for the object of their affection. Women sit around and wait to be impressed. As it should be.

In Japan, however, things are backwards. Women give men gifts. Usually of chocolate. In fact, there are two types of gifts, giri choco, obligatory chocolates for bosses or co-workers, and honmei choco, for their true love.

Not ones to miss out on a marketing opportunity, in 1978 the National Confectionery Industry Association began to take advantage of the deep feelings of obligation (especially as relates to gifts) in the form of White Day, held one month after V-day, on March 14. This is the day for men to repay the kindness shown to them by their loved one, or their employee, by purchasing any number of White Day gifts. link

I had the fortune of experiencing this particular oddity firsthand last year. It just so happened that my first visit to one of my elementary school's after having returned from the Snow Festival in Hokkaido was on Valentine's Day. When you take a trip in Japan, usually you are expected to bring some kind of omiyage or souvenir for your co-workers. The gift to bring from Sapporo is a white chocolate biscuit called Shiro Koibito, or white lover. So, being the good employee that I am, I brought some white lover back for all of my schools. Because of the fairly rigid hierarchy in Japan, usually I give the gifts to the principal of the school, telling him that it's for everyone. Then they pass it along. Usually they understand this.

About month later, close to White Day, I realized the message on this particular occasion hadn't been clear. I was actually quite confused at first, when my principal came up to me in the staffroom. A bit embarrassed, he looked at me, fumbled for a minute trying to think of what to say in English, decided he couldn't do it, and handed me a small bag with some sweets from Tokyo in it. Surprised, I thanked him and he was on his way.

It took the rest of the day to figure out what had happened - apparently he mistook the Sapporo omiyage for a Valentine's gift, of the giri choco variety I assume, and therefore was reciprocating with a White Day gift. It was so sweet I didn't have the heart to tell him my gift had been omiayge, intended for everyone (*^_^*)

With V-day safely on a Saturday this year, I plan to celebrate (by which I mean completely ignore) the holiday snowboarding in Nagano. So doubtful I'll get any White Day gifts this year... but I guess we'll just have to wait and see ^^