Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

There's no doubt that Japan is a country rich in traditions, and one of the best times to see these traditions in action is The New Year.  This year, we were lucky to have several of our Japanese friends invite us into their homes to celebrate New Year with their friends and family.

On New Year's Eve, we went to my Japanese teacher's house, where we ate tons of yummy food and watched the New Year's music shows on TV.  Midnight came, we said "Happy New Year!" to each other, but that was as much partying as we saw that night.  We woke up the next morning to meet a friend who had invited us to to the Hatsumoude (the first shrine visit of the new year) with him and his friends.

The Hokkaido Shrine (the largest in Sapporo) was packed with people!  We eventually made our way to the entrance, where we threw a coin at the entrance of the shrine to wish for good luck.  Next, we each bought an omikuji, a small paper fortune, and tied it to special areas in the shrine for them to come true.

My omikuji.  Apparently I have little fortune, I'm going to have success in business this year, and I'm going to find something that I've lost.

Ethan has the most good luck out of us all, and his fortune also said that he'll get a girlfriend this year.  Awwwwww!!!!

Ethan tying his omikuji with the others.

Next, we bought an emi, a small wooden plaque to write our wish on for the new year.

Can you tell which emi is ours?

After our shrine visit, Kazunari's friend was kind enough to invite us to her house to eat lunch with her and her family.

Food eaten during the new year is called Osechi.  We ate lots of sashimi, crab, and other seafood and vegetables.  We spent several hours just talking and eating.  Her family was delightful, and we all managed to have a great time despite my struggling Japanese ability.

Ethan found a friend in the family who played guitar, and they spent most of the afternoon playing various songs.  He even learned some Jimi Hendrix songs.

Later that evening, we were off to meet another family who we'd become friends with and to partake in more eating and drinking.  They had two small boys who found us particularly interesting, until the food came out, then they tore into the chicken and departed to play games.  The grandfather of the house was particularly interesting, and when we started bringing out 800 year old tea cups and old gun replicas, I knew that this was a man that I wanted to get to know.  He took a special interest in Ethan, since Ethan told him he was interested in Japanese history.  That's when all the pictures came out: WWII pics of Japanese zeros, pictures he'd taken in Kyoto, each with a story he loved telling (he'd been taking English classes and was eager to practice his English with us.  By the end of the night, he'd given us a Japanese lithograph that was over 100 years old.  I would've taken pictures of all this, but I'd had so much to eat and drink by then that taking pictures was the last thing on my mind.

One thing we've missed by living in Japan during the holidays is that connection of family you always feel this time of year.  So it was so nice for these families to take into their lives for this brief moment and really make us feel like we were a part of their family.  And I think that's what traditions are all about - not only a way to connect with your family, but a way to connect with other people.   I think all three of us can agree that yesterday was one of the best days we've spent in Japan thus far.  Here's to many more of those days to come in 2012!

Goodbye 2011!

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2011 was our first full year in Sapporo, and what a wonderful year it was.  Family came to see us from the US, Nate got a full-time job as an ALT, and Ethan graduated from elementary school.  We survived our first Sapporo winter and didn't slip too much on the ice.  It's been a year filled with good friends and good times, and I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for us.  Happy New Year everyone!!!

Keihoku Commercial High School

Now that winter holiday is upon us here in Sapporo, I thought it'd be a good time to talk about my current teaching assignment, Keihoku Commercial High School.  Last year, as most know, I went to three junior high schools and several elementary schools.  I was asked last February if I'd be willing to become a high school ALT, and I jumped at the chance.  Teaching at the JHS level was fun, but I wasn't given much responsibility, and found myself with a lot of free time between classes.  This was fine at first, but as the year went on, I was itching to be more than read from a textbook.  I replaced my friend Maggie at Keihoku, and was able to help out a little in the summer with speech contest practice, so that was a nice transition.

Keihoku Commercial High School.  Lookin' the same as every other school in Japan.

With my ALT partner, Nick, we teach all six classes of OC1 (Oral Communication for first grade), and a Cross Cultural Communication Class as an elective for second graders.  I was nervous at first, because since I was coming to the school in August, I was essentially entering during the middle of school.  Nick and I split the OC1 classes in half - each of us teaching 20 students.  What I love most is that I run the class.  My JTE will prepare the lesson plans, but Nick and I implement them, so most of the class is entirely in English, which is really good for the kids, I think.  It's a lot of work, but I've loved having that responsiblity again.  CCCClass is nine second grade girls, and we basically talk about social issues and other important topics, trying to keep their communication only in  English, of course.  It's fun, and the girls are super sweet.

Smells like teen spirit.  On School Sports Day.

We also help out with the English Club, which meets once a week.  This year, it's only girls, but there has been boys in the past in the club.  We mainly help them with English Speech Contest, but we also do English lessons.  And parties!

Some of our English Club girls at a speech contest.

Our Halloween party.

And our Christmas party

I've loved working at this school for the past four months - the longest I've ever been at a school!  The teachers are great, the students are friendly, and I've felt totally welcome there.  I'd forgotten how nice it is to teach high schoolers (I started my teaching career teaching high school theater), and in a way, much of what I do at Keihoku is like teaching theater at Randall High School, but without the costumes!  If they'll have me, I'd love to continue at Keihoku next year!

Happy Merry Christmas

'Twas the day after Christmas
And all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse.

Because we're exhausted.

Nate's taking a nap, Ethan's listening to music (his new pastime), and I'm on the internet (my forever pastime).  We're all recouping from a wonderfully fun and busy Christmas.

Ethan had us up at his usual Christmas time: 8:30.  This is really the first Christmas that Ethan didn't receive any type of toy - those have now been replaced with guitar accessories and music stuffs.  As Ethan wore his new headphones and Ramones t-shirt, Nate and I realized that Ethan has entered into his teenager uniform.  And I couldn't be happier about it; the boy loves the music we've introduced him to (ex. Nirvana, Weezer, The White Stripes).  Takuya gave him a Jimi Hendrix album.  And when he's not listening to  music, he's making it on his guitar.  Could this kid get any cooler?

Nate got lots of presents for his new hobby, running.  Let me tell ya, this boy is serious about his running. It inspires me to do something to get in shape (*cough, cough*  maybe in the new year...)

I received some makeup, clothing, chocolate (the holy trinity of presents), but perhaps my favorite present was the ukelele Nathan and Ethan bought for me.  Now I can learn an instrument!

Our Christmas isn't complete without our traditional breakfast of German apple pancakes and bacon and eggs.

Later that evening, we had some friends over for a Christmas party.  It was so great having so many of our friends over - eating and tons of yummy food, and lots of good conversation.  And of course, some guitar hero.  Gotta have that.

Today, it's windy and snowy out; a perfect day for cuddling inside and taking it easy after a long, fun Christmas day.  Even though we couldn't be with our family back home, we feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends here in Japan that have become like our extended family.  If I say that the friendships we've created this year are the greatest presents we've received this Christmas, is that too cheesy?  Ah, whatever, cheesy it is!  Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

一期一会 (once in a lifetime chance)

As an actress, we were always taught to "live in the moment": to fully embody the present.  I mean, that's what actors do, to show something on stage as if it is happening for the first time.  However, this is a little harder for me to do in my personal life.  I'm either thinking about how I should have done something or what I'm going to do, and never truly appreciating what is going on at the present moment.

Case in point: Ethan is almost 13.  I think about this often, about how he is about to become a teenager, and how his voice is changing, and I'm not old enough to have a teenager, etc.  I'm so worried about what he might be, that I'm not appreciating what he is now - an awesome kid who still hugs me and tells me he loves me.

And just to brag a bit, Ethan was in his middle school drama class production of "A Christmas Carol".  He was young Scrooge.

My latest singing endeavors are another way I'm attempting to live in the moment.  For so long, I never thought I was good enough to sing for others, despite being told otherwise.  When I decided to let go of that fear, and do what I loved, it was like being set free!

Takuya and I had our third and (I think) best performance last night.  We sang in a cozy little cafe, with a few of friends, and some other customers.  For most of the time, I forgot about the crowd.  I was singing just to sing, and it was perfect.

I've come to treasure these moments I'm sharing with my family and friends, and not to look over them. And that's where my title comes in, 一期一会 (ichi go ichi e).  I learned this phrase last week from some of my students, and it couldn't have come at a better time.  It means, "once in a lifetime chance".  Isn't that such a perfectly simple little phrase?  We'll never have these moments again, each one is a gift.  I want to take advantage of each and every one.   

Merry and Bright

Decorating for the holidays here in Japan has been a bit of a challenge for me: I'm not crazy about the decorations available here, and most importantly, I don't want to spend a lot of money on holidays decor, since we won't stay here forever.  My solution the last two years has been to make the decorations for our little tree.  Last year, it was origami, but this year I wanted something different.

Is it just me, or is our tree a little lopsided?

With the exception of the silver tinsel on the tree that I bought at the 100 yen store, everything was handmade by me.  I was super excited to learn how to make pom-poms this year, so the tree is covered with blue and white ones.  I enjoyed cutting the snowflakes out for the balcony window as well.  It's simple and modest, and I have to admit, I like it that way.  Although sometimes I do miss my silver tree and vintage ornaments from back home...

What's going on

Wow, I realized I haven't written on here in quite a while.  I've been pretty busy the last couple weeks.  Here's the short and sweet rundown of what's been happening around these parts:

• We had Thanksgiving.

This year, Thanksgiving was eaten at Phred's Bar, a little hole in the wall gaijin bar run by a man that looks a lot like Santa Claus (Phred).  For 2500 yen, we ate all the turkey dinner we could stuff in our bellies, and boy, was I miserably full.  The walls of the bar were covered ceiling to floor with beer cans from every time period you can imagine.  Really interesting place.

• It snowed.

We finally had our first big snow of the year about two weeks ago.  Then it got warm and melted.  Then it snowed again.  I think you see the pattern here.  The scarves, hats, and gloves are all out, and we're preparing outselves for another Sapporo winter.

• I got a haircut

In Sapporo, there are three things that you can find almost anywhere: bars, ramen shops, and hair salons.  I swear, there's two or three around every corner.  But while there's a plethora to choose from, it can be rather scary for a foreigner needing a cut.  Can they speak English?  Do they have experience cutting Western hair?  This is only my third haircut since coming to Japan, and the last two times I went  to a salon called Earth, where a wonderful English-speaking stylist named Rie has done great things.  But it's a little expensive, and I'm always looking for something new.  Friday I went to a place called Lala, and found the stylist, Kengo, to be really amazing.  He also speaks Spanish, has a salon in Mexico, and has been to McAllen, Tx.  Pretty cool.  Lala was about 2000 yen less than Earth, so if anyone is looking for a great place to get their haircut, I highly recommend both places. 

• I took the JLPT

Why did I take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test?  Really for no other reason than I wanted to challenge myself, and see how much I've learned since coming here.  I took the lowest-level test, and I've been studying for months and months.  I think I did pretty well - the vocabulary was pretty easy, but the grammar was a bit challenging in parts, as was the listening portion of the test.  In the end, I think I did ok.  I don't think I failed, at least I hope I didn't.

• We ate okonomiyaki

Ok, so this isn't really news.  But man,  I love okonomiyaki!