Trivia - Monday, Feb. 28th

In South Park, who saves the town from a giant marauding Barbra Streisand robot?

A. Issac Hayes
B. Robert Palmer
C. Robert Smith
D. Sally Struthers

Saturday and Sunday's Answer (highlight line below):
Blondie's "Rapture" in 1980

Yokan Sho Go-nen-sei

Yokan Sho Go-nen-sei
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Kamehameha!
The great group of 5th graders at Yokan Elementary.
Instead of always giving the peace sign when we take photos, I try to get the kids to do different stuff. This gesture is a favorite - something I stole from a very popular animated series called "DragonBall Z."

I had a fun day this day teaching the kids how to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" and the kids all got to ask me questions in what the sensei called "Jason's Question Corner." They had to figure out what I said and write my answers down in Japanese on their worksheet. I also got to eat lunch with the 4th graders and play dodgeball with them at recess after lunch. Fun day, but I'm recovering from a cold so it was very tiring and tough on my throat to do all that talking (I had 3 elementary classes and 1 JH class and a teacher meeting after school - issogashii desu nee!)

Yokan Sho English Club

Yokan Sho English Club
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

My small English club at Yokan Shoogakkoo. Four 5th graders and two 6th graders. We'd meet about once a month and just have fun using English. Yokan is the only elementary school of my 5 that has an English club, which is a shame - I wish more of them would try it.
A new club with new kids should be starting up again in April. And the two girls on the left (sensei is behind them) will be at my Junior High, as they are graduating and moving on to 7th grade in late March.
We took this picture and I told them to be "crazy." Guess I was the only one who knew what "crazy" means.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, Feb. 26th & 27th

What was the first song to hit the Top 40 to feature rapping?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A. Berlin

Trivia - Friday, Feb. 25th

Iggy Pop and David Bowie once shared an apartment in what European City?

A. Berlin
B. London
C. Frankfurt
D. Paris


Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Dolly Parton

Trivia - Thursday, Feb. 24th

Whitney Houston had a big hit with the song "I Will Always Love You" in 1992. Who wrote and originally recorded the song?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Laurence Fishburne

Trivia - Wednesday, Feb. 23rd

Which film star appeared on Pee-Wee's Playhouse as Cowboy Curtis?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
B. Bradley Whitford of The West Wing

Trivia - Tuesday, Feb. 22nd

Malcolm in the Middle star Jane Kaczmarek is married to which other TV star?

A. Jeffrey Tambor of Arrested Development
B. Bradley Whitford of The West Wng
C. James Gandolfini of The Sopranos
D. Peter MacNicol of Ally McBeal


Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Maya Angelou

Hinomisaki Sho - 5

Hinomisaki Sho - 5
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This class of 5th graders at Hinomisaki was special in some ways - they were the last class where I had to do my "jikoshokai" (self-introduction). So after teaching for 6 months I have now at least been to every class at least once. They were a fun group - one kid even asked me if they have regional dialects in America like they do in Japan. I told him about the South vs New York vs Southern California, doing my best accent for each region. I think he understood.

Hinomisaki Sho - 3rd & 4th graders

Hinomisaki Sho - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So these next 4 pics are of various Elementary school classes that I help teach. This class is a combined class of 3rd and 4th graders at Hinomisaki Shoogakkoo, a small school with only about 50 kids spread out over all 6 grades.

This day I was teaching this class about Months of the year, and then we played a pictionary type game that they all enjoyed. I let them in on the secret of my first name - how if you take the first letter of the months July thru November it spells Jason. I have to spell my name all the time, cuz the katakana for Jason makes many Japanese think it's spelt Jeison instead of Jason.

6th graders - Taisha Sho

6th graders - Taisha Sho
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

My other class of roku-nen-sei at Taisha Sho. In typical fashion, all the boys are in the front and the girls are all together in the back. Big changes in store for these kids in the coming months as they make the transition to Jr High. I'm really glad I'll get to witness it and possibly help, as I'll be one of the few familiar adult faces for many of them in the halls of the Jr High.

6th grade group

6th grade group
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is one of the two classes of 6th graders I help teach at my closest elementary school, Taisha Shoogakkoo. This roku-nen-sei class will soon graduate and be at my Jr High as ichi-nen-sei in April.

Trivia - Monday, Feb. 21st

Which author read her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's 1993 Inauguration?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
True. It was filmed entirely in Denmark.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, Feb. 19th & 20th

True or False: Danish director Lars von Trier did not set foot inside America to film Dogville, starring Nicole Kidman, which is set in Colorado.

Thursday's Answer (highlight line below):
Pudding

Trivia - Thursday, Feb. 17th

What product does Adam Sandler purchase in great quantities in the film Punch-Drunk Love?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
1929

Chocolate & Swords

Valentine’s Day here in Japan, like many other aspects of life here, is a gender segregated activity. Instead of girls and boys freely exchanging gifts and cards and candy hearts, Valentine's Day in Japan is a holiday for the girls to spoil the boys. All the gift giving is a one-way street, from the girls to the boys. And it’s mostly chocolate - they don’t exchange cards here. So I arrived at my Jr. High on Monday morning armed with three boxes of American-made valentines cards - the kind you give to your classmates in elementary school - and a bunch of Hershey miniatures my sister sent me from America. I planned on teaching a lesson of sorts about the holiday in America and then handing out the chocolate and cards to my elective English class 3rd period. But the female Jr. High students were raring to go Monday morning and shortly after the morning staff meeting at 8:10am, a pack of 9th grade girls invaded the staff room and started handing out little gift bags of chocolates to their favorite male teachers. I was the lucky recipient of a few bags myself, and I was surprised to find that many of the bags contained homemade cookies and brownies - some real effort had gone into the preparation and packaging.

I was curious why only the girls had to go to so much trouble, but I was quickly informed that the boys have to reciprocate in about a month on March 15th - known as “White Day.” On White Day, it’s the boys’ turn to give the girls little gifts, mostly white chocolate, hence the holiday’s name. This is totally what we’d call a “Hallmark Holiday” back home - a holiday invented by the card companies purely to sell more cards, or in this case chocolate. So I guess I’ll be expected to ante up some white chocolate treats in a month, even though I gave my chocolate miniatures to both girls and boys on Monday.

I’ve included a pic of my haul of goodies, altho the pic is missing a few treats I ate as the day went along. Everything was oishi desu nee (very delicious). It seemed that mostly the 9th grade girls participated, but I was accosted by a swarm of ichi-nen-sei (7th grade) girls on the way to Kendo practice. They wanted to give me a chocolate goodie, and I accepted graciously, bowing and saying Arigatoo Gozaimasu. They all giggled and ran off, happy that they had forged the muddy waters of international relations and bridged the culture gap. Or maybe they just had some leftover chocolate they wanted to unload.

Speaking of kendo renshuu (practice), I am nearing my debut in full regalia. I decided to pay for my own kendo clothes - my own special shirt top, called a doge and my own special pants, called hakama. I think it’s gonna run me somewhere around $150-$200 for both, mostly because they have to special order my doge to get a big enough size and they’re gonna embroider my hakama with my name in katakana (the Japanese alphabet used for words of foreign origin) and the kanji for Taisha Chuugakkoo. Pretty cool. I’ve been working out with Hitoshi, the really great ni-nen-sei student who speaks really good English, due to the fact that he lived in Pennsylvania for three years when he was in elementary school. He helps me out all the time, and having him on the kendo team has been essential. I’ll be sure to take a few pics when I have the whole outfit on - all the clothes and my helmet (“man”), chest armor (“doo”), gloves (“kotei”), and sword (“shinai”). I’ll be a fearsome sight, let me tell ya.

But I’m a wimp when I play, mostly because I can’t get used to hitting another human being with a big stick, especially kids who are 20 years younger than me and who I outweigh by at least 60 kgs. Maybe that will change as I start to take part in regular practice and the other team members get to whack me around, but for now I’m still very tentative. The footwork is the hardest part for me right now, with very specific moves required to score points and be in good form. I’m trying, but it’s slow going. I’ve included some pics of my kendo team at practice, but they turned out rather dark - I think I’ll have to wait to a warmer and sunnier day when we have the dojo doors open so I’ll have more light when I take the pictures. Anyway, you can get some idea of what a kendo student looks like all suited up and in action. I’m enjoying my time with the team and practice is physically demanding, so it helps keep me in shape.

-Jason

Valentines candy

Valentines candy
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Most of my haul on Valentines Day 2005. Many baked goods and chocolate from my female students. And intricate, individualized packaging, which is de rigueur in Japan.

Taisha JH - Kendo - 4

Taisha JH - Kendo - 4
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So here are two students getting ready to spar. The kanji (white lettering) situated at their waist is their last name, so you can identify each player since we're all wearing helmets.

Taisha JH - Kendo - 2

Taisha JH - Kendo - 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

You'll notice that you compete barefoot, which can be rather cold in the winter months, but it's necessary for the stomping sound you must make when you strike your opponent. You also have to yell, so that combined with the sound of the bamboo swords makes for very loud practice sessions.

Taisha JH - Kendo - 1

Taisha JH - Kendo - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Two of my 7th and 8th graders on the Kendo team facing off.

Trivia - Wednesday, Feb. 16th

In what year did the Academy Awards ceremony first take place?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Martie Siedel and Emily Robinson are sisters.

Trivia - Tuesday, Feb. 15th

Which two Dixie Chicks are related?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
C. Mick Jagger

Trivia - Monday, Feb. 14th

Who sings backup on Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"?

A. James Taylor
B. Kenny Rogers
C. Mick Jagger
D. Johnny Cash

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort

Trivia - Sat & Sun, Feb. 12th & 13th

Catherine Deneuve sang and danced in the 2000 film Dancer in the Dark, her first appearance in a musical in some time. Which two classic Jacques Demy musicals did she also star in during the 1960s?


Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Breaking the Waves

9th Grade Opt class - girls

9th Grade Opt class - girls 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here are 4 pics from my san nen sei (9th grade) class at Taisha Junior High. This is the optional class where the kids chose to study English. This class and my other optional class of 8th graders are exchanging emails with a class of students in San Diego at San Dieguito Academy who are studying Japanese.
These students graduate from middle school in late March and are off to various local High Schools in April. They've been a good group and patient with me as I learned the ropes of being an ALT, so I'll miss them when they go.

First name and last initial - L to R: Satoko W, Yui I, Seina M, Ayaka K, Ayaka G, Megumi K, Asami Y.

9th Grade Opt class - 7 boys

9th Grade Opt class - 7 boys 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Taisha JH; Now on to the san nen sei boys.
L to R: Ryosuke I, Jun F, Katsutoshi K, Naoyuki H, Akinori I, Shogo M, Katsutomo K.

9th Grade Opt class - 5 boys

9th Grade Opt class - 5 boys 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Taisha JH;
L to R: Takafumi O, Hisato O, Hiroaki E, Sei I, Kazuma O.

9th Grade Opt class - 6 boys

9th Grade Opt class - 6 boys
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Taisha JH;
L to R: Yasuaki S, Koki K, Akihito K, Yusaku K, Tomohiro T, Tatsuya Y.

Trivia - Friday, Feb. 11th

Actress Emily Watson made her feature film debut in what Cannes Film Festival prizewinner (which is one of my favorite films)?


Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
D. Frogs

Trivia - Thursday, Feb. 10th

In the climatic scene of P.T. Anderson's film Magnolia, what rains from the sky?

A. Bugs
B. Hail
C. Meteorites
D. Frogs

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
His grandfather, Al Hansen

Trivia - Wednesday, Feb. 9th

Beck isn't the only artist in his family. Name the family member who was influential in the Fluxus art movement.

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
She was his aunt.

Trivia - Tuesday, Feb. 8th

How are Rosemary and George Clooney related?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
The NYC subway line (#6) she would take to get to her home in the Bronx.

ONI skit 1 - Usagi Sho

ONI skit 1 - Usagi Sho
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

The two teachers at Usagi Sho particpating in a skit about a Oni (demon) that must be banished by throwing beans at it. That's the school principal in the background dressed up as the demon.

I got to be a demon too later on and the kids threw beans at me as I ran around the gym. Later I followed them around the school and we threw beans out various windows and door and shouted "Oni wa soto" (Oni go outside) and something about asking Happiness to come inside. Then later we were each supposed to eat one bean for each year we've been alive. I couldn't manage 35 beans, but I ate a few.

Awesome kids - Usagi Sho

Awesome kids - Usagi Sho
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

The entire student body at Usagi Elementary (except for one girl who was absent that day). Great kids - I love visiting Usagi Sho.

On Thursday, my Jr High had a holiday, but I agreed to visit Usagi Elementary. It's a great school and the kids love hanging out with me and I enjoy seeing them as well. Only 6 students plus two girls in yochien (kindergarten) in the whole school, so I get lots of one-on-one time and know all the kids' names. There is one 6th grader, who will soon be at Taisha Jr High, and one 5th grader, and they both speak very good English for their age. Good endorsement for keeping class size small (but just two kids in class is a little extreme). Spent most of the day there - ate lunch with them and played soccer at recess. Fun day.

Usagi Sho poster

Usagi Sho poster
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Awesome poster teaching the kids about traffic safety. Hard to see, but on the upper left you see a dummy being plowed into by a car. Talk about "scared straight."

Usagi Sho school seal

Usagi Sho school seal
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

The school crest at Usagi Sho. Looks exactly like the symbol for the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars films. Yes, I'm a geek.

Trivia - Monday, Feb. 7th

What does J. Lo's album title On The 6 refer to?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Ben Kingsley

Trivia - Sat & Sun, Feb. 5th & 6th

Which British actor went from his Oscar-winning performance as Gandhi in 1983 to playing a ruthless gangster in the 2000 film Sexy Beast?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
It's short for Bono Vox, which means "good voice" in Latin, but was adapted from a brand of hearing aid called "Bonavox." On a related note, my friend, Rusty, recently told me that Axl Rose (lead singer for Guns n Roses) is an anagram for "oral sex." Oh the things we learn...

Trivia - Friday, Feb. 4th

How did Bono get his nickname?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Whiskey

Trivia - Thursday, Feb. 3rd

What product was Bill Murray's character hawking in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A. Colin Firth

Some interesting facts about Shimane

So these are some stats I received in a weekly email I get from my JET advisors.

You should know that Shimane (my home) is one of the least populated prefectures in Japan - of the 47 kens (prefectures) in Japan, Shimane is ranked 45th or 46th in total population. Japan as a whole has about 127 million people, but Shimane has only about 800,000. That makes it one of the least densely populated kens with only about 112 people per square kilometer. The following stats spell out how many of that 800,000 are foreigners:

As of the 31st December 2004 there were 5797 foreigners registered as residents of Shimane. The greatest proportion of these were from China (2145), The Philippines (1146), Korea (988) and Brazil (723). Some other countries' totals include: US: 105, UK: 54, Canada: 38, Thailand: 31, Russia: 22, Australia: 16, New Zealand: 14, Ireland:7, Finland: 3,  Singapore: 2, and South Africa: 1.  Statistics submitted by Tim Mansfield.

The Brazil stat always takes me by surprise a bit - but I met a Brazilian woman trying to get her driver's license at the same time I got mine.
The overwhelming majority of American, British, Irish, Australian, Kiwi and Canadian people above are ALTs like myself. I know one of the Finnish people and one of the Singapore natives mentioned above as well as the solitary South African.

The other revelaing thing about these stats is you can see just how much our students trying to learn English get to practice speaking the language outside the classroom. They get almost zero opportunity to speak with any native speakers outside of school. No different than an American living in say, Minnesota, who's learning Japanese, but the homogeneity of Japan is still astonishing at times. It also explains why we as JETs often get stared at by people at the grocery store, etc.

Shimane has 122 JETs and Japan as a whole has about 6,000.

More info about Shimane can be found Here.

-JCH

Feb 1st thermometer

Feb 1st thermometer
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

If you click on the photo, you can maybe see that it reads 3°C!!!! (about 39°F) That's how cold it is in the hallways and other parts of my school that they don't bother to heat. We use big kerosene heaters (like the one shown Here in my friend Emily's blog) to heat the staff room and selected classrooms.
I read an interesting article recently on the quality of Japanese education and ways to improve it. One person pointed out that students' basic comfort should be more of a concern, since shivering from the cold isn't necessarily conducive to learning.

Speaking of shivering, one reason I haven't been posting more is my house isn't much warmer than the school hallways. I got home yesterday and it was 2°C in my house! My fingers will literally go numb with cold from exposure after typing on my laptop for more than 30 minutes.

So just be thankful for whatever nuggets I throw at ya... :)

-JCH
Not "too cool for school" but "too cold in school"

Ni nen sei - huddling around heater

Ni nen sei - huddling around heater
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

It's been damn cold, so when the optional (elective) 8th grade English class congregates in the underused Language Lab, all the kids huddle around the heater for warmth until I make them take their seats.
"Ahhh, the smell of Kerosene in the afternoon; smells like Victory." (Apocalypse Ima)

TJH quadrangle

TJH quadrangle
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

It snowed pretty heavy on the 1st and it lasted until the next day, which made riding my scooter to and from school an adventure. This is the quad in the middle of the main building at my chuugakkoo (Jr. High). Not tons of snow, I know, but seems like a lot to this California boy. I had to walk over to my BoE to drop off my rent money and a literal blizzard came to life as I walked back to school. Only a five minute walk, but I was a popsicle by the time I made it back to the relatively warm environs of the staff room.

Trivia - Wednesday, Feb. 2nd

This actor, who was alluded to as the object of Bridget Jones's affection in Helen Fielding's book, actually took a role in the screen adaptation of Bridget Jones's Diary:

A. Colin Firth
B. Jeremy Northam
C. Hugh Grant
D. Alan Rickman

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A Polaroid picture

Trivia - Tuesday, Feb. 1st

In OutKast's hit single "Hey Ya!" we are instructed to "shake it" like what?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay. They named their first child, a daughter, Apple.