Coming home in 3 months as of tomorrow (well technically today since it's 1 am here)! Seems like yesterday I was claiming 6 months left! I am getting excited!
Oh yeah, one small detail-climbing Mt. Fuji this weekend. Nothing too big or anything... ;)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
rent-a-dog
I have been really busy lately. One of my coworkers went back to the US last week, so we had a big farewell party for him all night long...and from this week I am much much much busier at work because I took over some of his classes/had new classes added so I'm teaching around 5-7 fifty minute classes a day (and don't forget all the prep time/other things I'm responsible for beyond teaching). Boo. It does make the time go by really fast though. Plus this time around I actually like 98% my students-best so far! Besides the work being busy thing, I have been going out a lot with friends and therefore when I am home and have time to do things like update this blog, or write an email I find myself preferring to lie on the couch and pretend I am brain dead for a bit instead--so don't take offense if it takes a while to hear from me. I'm listening to you though. And I will respond in my own due time. =)
So the purpose of this blog and the title...I am teaching a student last night and he starts telling me...
Student: My family and I rented a dog this weekend and took it to my parent's--
Me: Wait, back up. You rented a dog? What?
Student: Yeah, we rented a dog for 2 days.
Me: Like a DVD?
Student: Yeah. Like that.
Me: You can RENT pets???
Apparently he and his family "rent a pet" here and there because they can't actually keep a pet at their apartment. They rent this dog often because his daughter likes it a lot (just like a man may have a favorite escort).
Although I give high fives to the IDEA and CONCEPT...does anyone else have a slight problem with this? I mean...I think we are all aware how attached dogs/other pets can get...so this poor dog is kept in a cage or something at the pet rental shop, and is "checked out" for two days with a family where it plays in parks and gets scratched by the children, and then it is returned to be put back in a cage...until another family checks him out...etc etc. Talk about confusing the poor thing. Those dogs must be so depressed and anxious. I can't imagine how these animals feel with their environments changing every day. I feel really bad for them!!
I wonder if there is a rent a kid shop... PROBABLY...
So the purpose of this blog and the title...I am teaching a student last night and he starts telling me...
Student: My family and I rented a dog this weekend and took it to my parent's--
Me: Wait, back up. You rented a dog? What?
Student: Yeah, we rented a dog for 2 days.
Me: Like a DVD?
Student: Yeah. Like that.
Me: You can RENT pets???
Apparently he and his family "rent a pet" here and there because they can't actually keep a pet at their apartment. They rent this dog often because his daughter likes it a lot (just like a man may have a favorite escort).
Although I give high fives to the IDEA and CONCEPT...does anyone else have a slight problem with this? I mean...I think we are all aware how attached dogs/other pets can get...so this poor dog is kept in a cage or something at the pet rental shop, and is "checked out" for two days with a family where it plays in parks and gets scratched by the children, and then it is returned to be put back in a cage...until another family checks him out...etc etc. Talk about confusing the poor thing. Those dogs must be so depressed and anxious. I can't imagine how these animals feel with their environments changing every day. I feel really bad for them!!
I wonder if there is a rent a kid shop... PROBABLY...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Miracle Work
Last night as I was wandering aimlessly around my grocery store thinking absolutely nothing sounded good for dinner, I walked by the refrigerated "pizza" area and something caught my eye. So I spun around and found myself staring at it for a good minute thinking I was hallucinating. FLOUR TORTILLAS???? WHAT????? When I finally realized it was reality I snatched 5 packs (I am tempted to go back and get even more, who know how long they'll be there??) and made tacos last night. The whole way I walked home my mind was filled with endless possibilities--burritos, tostadas, quesadillas (although the cheese sucks but hey I've at least got a tortilla!), etc etc. It's a shame I am probably the only person in this area who will appreciate them, as on the cover for the packaging it shows a Japanese style hot dog and lettuce in it. SIGH.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
It's been a while...
1. I am almost at the "4 month" mark...wow!!
2. I am planning on climbing Fuji-san with some of my coworkers the last weekend of July...meaning I should probably start training for it. I asked them where we could go "practice" around here and their response was---like we'd know anything about hiking! Haha should be interesting =)
Besides that this month has just been really busy. Every weekend has been jammed full of different social things, and then of course work itself is kind of busy so that has basically been my month of June! I'm having a lot of fun lately though so it's all good =) The weather is quite nice for late June as well. It should be really humid and rainy but at the moment it is breezy and sunny (knock on wood).
2. I am planning on climbing Fuji-san with some of my coworkers the last weekend of July...meaning I should probably start training for it. I asked them where we could go "practice" around here and their response was---like we'd know anything about hiking! Haha should be interesting =)
Besides that this month has just been really busy. Every weekend has been jammed full of different social things, and then of course work itself is kind of busy so that has basically been my month of June! I'm having a lot of fun lately though so it's all good =) The weather is quite nice for late June as well. It should be really humid and rainy but at the moment it is breezy and sunny (knock on wood).
Sunday, May 24, 2009
5 months
until I am home!!!
Kinda seems like I was counting down 6 not very long ago. Time is flyyyyyying.
Kinda seems like I was counting down 6 not very long ago. Time is flyyyyyying.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I want to go back here:
If any of you ever find yourself in Japan, PROMISE ME you will go to Yakushima. It is difficult to travel to as a foreigner without Japanese help, and kind of out of the way...but trust me, it is soooo worth it. Truly one of the best and most special places I have EVER visited...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Random but moving
Yesterday, my coworker and I were invited to a bbq party by one of our former students. This student is a really sweet lady who always gave me various gifts ranging from fresh basil from her garden to random magazine cutouts. I even have a drawer at work I nicknamed after her because of all the pointless stuff she would give me that I would then put in the drawer to be forgotten about for months. ANYWAY we went to her house and she had her daughter and some friends over. Nobody's English was too great, and she seemed to forget any of the English that I taught her haha, and my coworker speaks Japanese fluently, so at times I think my eyes might have glazed over a tad. =)
Anyway, long story short but I wound up having to spend the night at her house. At first I was really annoyed and almost angry that I was stranded there, just because I felt kind of uncomfortable imposing on someone I didn't know very well. But of course she was the hostess to end all hostessing and gave me an entire shopping bag full of random gifts (just like old times), which I probably will never keep or use, however I was a little excited she gave me a potted plant of mint. I have been wanting a plant for some reason. She made me breakfast (eggs and salad...don't ask sometimes Japanese breakfast's can be strange) as well as bout 4 different kinds of tea/coffee, found the one random old English movie she had saved on her DVR for me to watch, drove me back to the station and insisted on buying my ticket home. Very sweet woman.
However the whole point of my post was when I was about to leave her house and she was standing behind me. Like I said, her English isn't very good, so I was surprised when I heard her say, "I respect you." I turned around kind of surprised and confused by what she meant. Then she went on to say, "I respect you for coming to a foreign country and choosing to live here. I can travel but I could never do what you are doing. I could never build a life in a foreign country. It is too difficult. I really respect you." It was almost in perfect English, and to be honest, I was kind of lost for words on how to respond. For that, it was worth the inconvenience of being stranded at her house for the night.
I just found her statement so touching and it really hit home to me. Recently it has been feeling a bit difficult again to be over here. I think mainly because of the fact my "year" ended late April with me realizing I could have been home by now had I not extended. But even though I can't wait to go home, deep down in my heart I know extending for the extra 6 months was the right thing to do. The reason for that is still unknown to me, but it just feels right. But to be told that I am respected for choosing to live here and deal with the difficulties it brings was just what I needed to feel like this is the right thing for sure. I assume living anywhere but "home" is difficult, but to do it in an opposite country is beyond difficult. But, I think going through this is making me the person I want to be. I have already learned so much about myself and what I want and who I want to be this year. I know I am going to carry this experience I made for myself with me for the rest of my life.
OK, perhaps that was a little sappy, but hey it's been a while =)
Oh and in case you're wondering I only have 5 and a half months left in this mysterious, beautiful, confusing, frustrating country =) Something tells me the time is going to continue to fly...
Anyway, long story short but I wound up having to spend the night at her house. At first I was really annoyed and almost angry that I was stranded there, just because I felt kind of uncomfortable imposing on someone I didn't know very well. But of course she was the hostess to end all hostessing and gave me an entire shopping bag full of random gifts (just like old times), which I probably will never keep or use, however I was a little excited she gave me a potted plant of mint. I have been wanting a plant for some reason. She made me breakfast (eggs and salad...don't ask sometimes Japanese breakfast's can be strange) as well as bout 4 different kinds of tea/coffee, found the one random old English movie she had saved on her DVR for me to watch, drove me back to the station and insisted on buying my ticket home. Very sweet woman.
However the whole point of my post was when I was about to leave her house and she was standing behind me. Like I said, her English isn't very good, so I was surprised when I heard her say, "I respect you." I turned around kind of surprised and confused by what she meant. Then she went on to say, "I respect you for coming to a foreign country and choosing to live here. I can travel but I could never do what you are doing. I could never build a life in a foreign country. It is too difficult. I really respect you." It was almost in perfect English, and to be honest, I was kind of lost for words on how to respond. For that, it was worth the inconvenience of being stranded at her house for the night.
I just found her statement so touching and it really hit home to me. Recently it has been feeling a bit difficult again to be over here. I think mainly because of the fact my "year" ended late April with me realizing I could have been home by now had I not extended. But even though I can't wait to go home, deep down in my heart I know extending for the extra 6 months was the right thing to do. The reason for that is still unknown to me, but it just feels right. But to be told that I am respected for choosing to live here and deal with the difficulties it brings was just what I needed to feel like this is the right thing for sure. I assume living anywhere but "home" is difficult, but to do it in an opposite country is beyond difficult. But, I think going through this is making me the person I want to be. I have already learned so much about myself and what I want and who I want to be this year. I know I am going to carry this experience I made for myself with me for the rest of my life.
OK, perhaps that was a little sappy, but hey it's been a while =)
Oh and in case you're wondering I only have 5 and a half months left in this mysterious, beautiful, confusing, frustrating country =) Something tells me the time is going to continue to fly...
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