Trivia - Thursday, June 9th

True or False: Estelle Getty, who played Bea Arthur's mother on The Golden Girls, was actually the youngest of the four main characters.

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A. Tom's Diner (also made famous by a song by Suzanne Vega)

Pep Rally day at Taisha Chu

Pep Rally day at Taisha Chu - 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

After I went to Kobe, I came home with a renewed sense of purpose. I realized that my time here is short, and while I want to learn Japanese and the piano and travel, etc - my focus should be on my kids. And I have such GREAT students! I don't want to get bogged down in the complaining that so many JETs indulge in - can you believe that many of us complain about having too much free time (that we get paid for). While that's an oversimplification, and I understand the frustration of feeling underused, I realized that all that whinging is not helping my kids learn English. And then just today I got a "video letter" from the awesome Japanese-language students at the high school I used to work at in Encinitas, CA. They went around their high school and talked about their classes and their city - in Japanese! I can't wait to show it to my classes!
So I'm posting four pictures of smiles - smiles on my cool kids who make this job a pure joy at times.

This pic is of three of my 9th graders after the Pep Rally on Monday. Left to Right: Risako, Mai & Nobuko. All three are in my elective English class this semester - my favorite class. All three are really cool and friendly, always taking time to say hi or chat a little.

Taisha Jr High had a very Japanese style Pep Rally, with lots of speeches and organized singing. Not too rowdy by American standards, but fun nevertheless. Then Tuesday and Today were day long sports competitions for most of the sports clubs - we did OK in most events, but not stellar. My kids give it their best - which is most important.

So keep smilin' !!!!!

Kendo Tourney at Taisha Chu

Kendo Tourney at Taisha Chu
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So yesterday Taisha Jr High hosted a city-wide kendo tournament. I spent most of the day in the gym, cheering my team on. They compete in mini-teams of 5 at first then have lunch and then compete individually. My team came in 2nd place in the team competition and one of our boys placed in the top 4 in the individual competition and one of our girls placed in the top 4 as well. Way to go!

Smiling at the camera is my buddy, Hitoshi. All the kendo guys got buzz cuts for the tourney - I didn't join them. :)

The girls Soft Tennis team at the Pep Rally

The girls Soft Tennis team at the Pep Rally
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

These are six of my 9th graders, all on the Soft Tennis team. L to R: Mako, Ruriko, Asuka, Yuuka, Nami, Shiori. Soft tennis is the only kind they play here at school. They play on dirt courts with a special, rubber ball that bounces differently compared to a regular tennis ball. They only play doubles as well. One of the doubles pairs on the boys team did really well and got first place in the competition yesterday. Woo-hoo - go Taisha Chu!

Almost all of these girls are super nice and outgoing - some of my best English students as well. And I like their black and red uniforms way better than the blue and black the boys wear.

Kendo Captain - Tatsuya

Kendo Captain - Testsuya
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is Tatsuya. He's a ninth grader and the kendo team captain for the 2nd year in a row. He's really patient with me when I ask him questions in my broken japanese, even suggesting at times that I ask in English, as he understands English pretty well, but is just a bit shy about speaking.

He has to command respect and instill discipline in the team, but he's very friendly and helpful too - a great kid!

Trivia - Wednesday, June 8th

What was the name of the diner where the Seinfeld gang hung out?

A. Tom's Diner
B. Monk's
C. Harry's Cafe
D. Sammy's

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Sondra

Trivia - Tuesday, June 7th

On The Cosby Show, which kid wasn't around during the first season?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
She left his show to start her own rival talk show on the FOX network.

Batman Begins and Episode III

Here's some news about the new Batman film, Batman Begins, from the IMDB:

The first reviews are emerging for the next blockbuster flick, Batman Begins, and they're likely to bring much cheer to Warner Bros. officials, who are releasing it on June 15. David Edwards in the London Daily Mirror describes it as "a violent and truly scary film and definitely not one for the kids. For grown-ups, though, it could well be the ultimate superhero movie." Mike Goodrich in the British trade publication Screen Daily describes the movie as "a bold new vision of the DC Comics staple and further proof that [director Christopher] Nolan possesses abundant confidence and vision as a mainstream film-maker." And Kirk Honeycutt in the Hollywood Reporter comments that for "Nolan to turn Batman Begins into such a smart, gritty, brooding, visceral experience is astonishing. Truly, Batman does begin again."

I can't tell you how excited I am to see this movie! I'm a huge fan of director Nolan ("Memento") and I think he's cast the film very well. I'm more excited to see this in a way than I am to see the new Star Wars movie.

Speaking of Episode III, here's news about it's great box office performance so far:

Even as it dropped to third place, George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith established another record: fastest movie ever to cross the $300-million mark. It did so on its 17th day of release, one day faster than last year's Shrek 2. Trade reports noted that with $308.8 million Sith has already passed the $307 million taken in by the original Star Wars in 1977. However, using a standard inflation calculator, the original film's take would be worth nearly $1 billion in current dollars. The highest grossing film of the series was The Phantom Menace, which earned $431 million during its run. Sith appeared stronger overseas than in the U.S., earning $38.5 million, a drop of just 37 percent, according to Daily Variety.Its worldwide total now stands at $617 million.

I'm still hoping to go to Korea to see ROTS before it opens in Japan on July 9th, which happens to be my Mom's birthday.

-Jason

Trivia - Monday, June 6th

How did Joan Rivers invoke Johnny Carson's wrath in 1986?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
C. Jennifer Lopez

Trivia - Sat & Sun, June 4th & 5th

Who portrayed the slain Tejano singer Selena in the 1997 film Selena?

A. Penelope Cruz
B. Salma Hayek
C. Jennifer Lopez
D. Ariadna Gil

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Love! Valour! Compassion!

Me and some of the Shimane Crew in Kobe

Kobe - JET recontracting Conference - 6
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

L to R:
Lisa, ever the lady; Dave, trying hard to be hard; and me, oblivious to it all - maybe it was the super-hot mutton curry we were eating at this cool Sri Lanka restaurant we found down one side street in Kobe.

I'll post more photos from the conference and our nights out soon.

Cheers,
Jason

at the Sri Lanka restaurant

Kobe - JET recontracting Conference - 7
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

L to R:
Satoko, who lives in Kobe; Rusty, just happy to be alive; and Emily, whose head is being trampled by the elephant in the mural behind her.

Outside Sannomiya eki in Kobe

Kobe - JET recontracting Conference - 14
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is what many of us think of when we think of Japan - lots of hustle and bustle and neon and crowds, etc.

But now when I think of Japan I'll think of lush green mountains and endless rice paddies and rural scenes. So it was nice to be in a big city again. This was taken just outside Sannomiya station in Kobe.

Trivia - Friday, June 3rd

Jason Alexander starred in which film based on a hit Broadway play about eight gay men spending the summer together in the country?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Talk Soup

Trivia - Thursday, June 2nd

Oscar-nominated actor Greg Kinnear acted as the host of which popular Comedy Central show from 1993 to 1995?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Four: Taxi, Who's the Boss?, Hudson Street, and The Tony Danza Show

Happy Birthday Dad

My pops, John Harris, is celebrating his birthday today. He's turning Bill & Ted's favorite number this year, so next year will be a big bday for all of us in the family and I'd like to be in England for the party, but it may not happen.

My parents, who were both born in England, now live there enjoying their retirement. They live in a small village near the western border with Wales, called Burnham on Sea. It's in Somerset, if you know England. And I promised my Mom that I would go visit them in England for Christmas this year. Last year I stayed in Taisha for Xmas, mostly to be here for the awesome New Year's celebrations that take place from January 1-3. But it was a lonely time, as almost every other JET I know in Shimane went home or on vacation so there was nobody to hang out with. So this year I decided I would go spend a Christmas in England, something I haven't done since I was 7 or 8 years old.

Anyway - Happy Birthday Dad! Hope it's a good one, and I can't wait to see you and Mom later this year.

-Jason

Trivia - Wednesday, June 1st

In how many TV series has Tony Danza played a character named Tony?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Vic Ferrari

Trivia - Tuesday, May 31st

What was the name of Latka's "alter ego" on the TV show Taxi?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
"Is that your Final Answer?"

Trivia - Monday, May 30th

What was Regis Philbin's oft-repeated catch-phrase on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
Michael Jordan

Kobe this week

I'm off to Kobe for three days this week, from Monday the 30th until Wed., June 1st.

All the JETs, like me, who are recontracting and staying in Japan a 2nd year are gathering in Kobe for a 3-day conference. Actually, they split us into two groups depending on where you live - all the JETs from southern Honshu, Kyuushu and Shikoku go to Kobe, while all the JETs lving in northern Honshu and Hokkaido go to Tokyo.

I haven't been to Kobe yet, so it should be a fun two nights of parties and reconecting with old friends I haven't seen in a while. I'm sure I'll have photos, so check back at the end of the week for updates and new pics.

-Jason

Michele, Me & Ie-Chen at Miyajima

Michele, Me & Ie-Chen at Miyajima
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Two of my best friends from America came to Japan for three weeks recently. They traveled all over and managed to see more of Japan in 3 weeks than I have in the 10 months I've been living here. I met Michele and Ie-Chen in Hiroshima and we had a great time seeing the city and Miyajima Island, which is just off the coast of Hiroshima.

I'll blog more photos from the trip soon, but as always you can click on any photo and go to my online photo album at Flickr for all the photos.

Miyajima Island Otorii Gate

Miyajima Island Otorii Gate
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Close up shot of the famous floating gate - altho it was low tide when we visited, so it wasn't as picturesque as it is on the postcards.

Hiroshima Peace Park

Hiroshima Peace Park
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

The memorial for the bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic bomb in August of 1945. You can see the Atomic Dome in the distance and the eternal flame that will stay lit until all nuclear weapons are demolished.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, May 28th & 29th

Which basketball star appeared with the Looney Tunes gang in the 1996 film Space Jam?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
She was a substitute English teacher before becoming a mystery writer.

Trivia - Friday, May 27th

What was Jessica Fletcher's former profession on the TV series Murder, She Wrote?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Andy Serkis

Trivia - Thursday, May 26th

Which versatile actor's body movements and voice served as the basis for the character of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

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

Trivia - Wednesday, May 25th

Which 1980s hunk played Monica's some-what-older boyfriend on Friends?

A. Tom Selleck
B. Don Johnson
C. Patrick Duffy
D. Ted Danson

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Sling Blade

Trivia - Tuesday, May 24th

John Ritter won praise for his role as a gay dollar-store owner in which 1996 indie film?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
My So-Called Life

Trivia - Monday, May 23rd

Which critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series from 1994 served as a career springboard for Clare Danes and Jared Leto?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
Bob Hope

Trivia - Sat & Sun, May 21st & 22nd

This American icon was the first civilian to be named an Honorary Veteran by Congress for his lifetime commitment to entertaining U.S. troops all over the world - but he was actually born in London. Who is he?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
The Phantom Menace, Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala

Trivia - Friday, May 20th

Identify the following in the Star Wars films: the subtitle of 1999's prequel Episode I, the 9 year old boy who is to become Darth Vader, and the elected queen of Naboo who is to become his wife.

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
"Far From Over"

Star Wars Episode III

I'm sure I'd be in line for tickets right now if I was in the States today.

With the exception of Episode IV, which I didn't see until August of 1977, I've seen every other Star Wars movie on opening day.

I remember wanting so bad to see the first Star Wars when I was 7, but my parents were too busy to take me - we were getting ready to move the whole family from my boyhood home of Thousand Oaks, California to Dallas, TX.

I'll always remember the exact day we moved into our new house in Dallas - it was the same day that Elvis Presley died - August 16th, 1977. Later that month my parents finally took me and my older sister to see Star Wars (my brother was only 1 1/2 at the time). There was still a long line to get in, as movies played on way fewer screens back then and multi-plexes were still unusual. In fact, an usher came out and counted the people in line for the 8pm show and my family of four were the very last people to get in. It was so crowded that my sister and I had to sit apart from our parents. But any fears I had were soon replaced my the menace imposed by Darth Vader, and I was transported to another galaxy and into a fantastic world that I fell in love with.

You can read more about my favorite of the Star Wars films at a nifty new Shimane JET website that just launced by clicking Here or you can check out the site in general by going to www.shimanejets.org

This past week was also George Lucas' birthday, so Happy Birthday Mr. Lucas. Say what you will, but the man created THE modern mythology of our time. Got to meet him a few times - decent guy.

May The Force Be With You.
-Jason

Trivia - Thursday, May 19th

Sylvester Stallone's brother Frank scored a hit in 1983 with which song?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
He fell into a fire and burned his hands.

Trivia - Wednesday, May 18th

Why did Survivor: the Australian Outback contestant Michael Skupin have to leave the competition?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
False. They worked together on The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

At first I thought Tuesday's question was flawed, as I was sure that Renee and Matt had worked together in another Linklater film, Dazed and Confused. While Matt had a memorable role in that film, Renee was not in it - it was Joey Lauren Adams I was thinking of. She later went on to star in my favorite Kevin Smith movie, Chasing Amy. And the funny thing is I've watched interviews with Adams where she talks about how often she gets mistaken for Zellweger. Oh well - I can't be perfect ALL the time. :P

Night out with the Lads - Saturday, May 14th

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 12
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

The local gang from Izumo was joined by Shimane JET Dave Ashby for some fun out on the town - Izumo Stlye!

First we hit the local bowling emporium, which also has pool tables and ping pong and video games galore.

Had to figure out how big our feet are in centimeters to order our rental shoes - I'm about a 28. They came in nifty day-glo neon colors and had velcro instead of laces. Maybe I should get a pair to use as my indoor shoes at my Junior High.

The lanes in Izumo are cool and were pretty busy as it was Saturday night. Of course, almost all the young guys around us were smoking, which is a drag, but what can you do? We all noticed that as the lanes filled up and the place got busy, no one was asked to bowl right next to us - do they think Gaijin have cooties? :P

Lisa was off in Matsue, as she often is on the weekends, so if was just the lads this night. Had a good time and I even got to play some Bonnie Tyler, Huey Lewis, Paul Young, and Mr. Mister on the video jukebox.

at the lanes

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 11
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is Dave and Mark "The Don" DeFusco at the lanes.

Not sure why we started calling Mark "The Don" but it's stuck and it suits him in an odd way. Something to do with his Italian heritage, but you couldn't find a more British person if you tried.

Dave is from New Zealand, and is recontracting for another year like all of us. Dave is the source of jealousy among us since he has a "personal assistant" in his home town - a Japanese woman who speaks decent English at his beck and call. Lucky devil.

Bowling for Yen

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 7
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

You really have to see the unique bowling stlye of The Don to fully grasp the weirdness of it - but it was entertaining as hell.

In a particularly British colloquialism, The Don declared himself too "cack-handed" and hopeless. But the last time we had bowled he had done reasonably well with his distinctive style.

We bet 500 yen each on who would have the best score after the two games combined. Turns out it was me, besting Mark M. by only about 15 pins. And so far only Dave has paid up! :P

A Night on the Town - Izumo style!

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 6
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Locked out!

Dave lives in southern Shimane, and drove up to go climbing with Rusty. Japan, and Shimane in particular, is very safe, and even more so in Dave's small little rural hamlet. So he never locks his car - he leaves the key in a small cubby near the steering wheel. But The Don was last out of the car and locked it behind him as most people would.

Therefore, when we all had finished bowling, we came out to find Dave's car locked with the key inside. Curses!

Dustin pedaled off on his bike to get some food, and I had my scooter. The others were resigned to walking to a local bar before heading home, with the intent of calling a locksmith in the morning. But we found some wire and headed back to try and jimmie our way in. It was about midnight and the bowling alley was closing, so a few Japanese groups were heading out to their cars and noticed the frustrated gaijin struggling to get into the doors or windows. Lo and Behold, two of the guys came over with "slim jims" to try and help us unlock the doors. After about 5 minutes of trying, one of them was succesful and the car was open.
We offered to buy them drinks, but they politely declined - Dave gave them candy he had bought in Korea. So one expensive phone call to a locksmith was avoided. Thanx mysterious Japanese guys!

No. 1 Pub

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 5
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Love the "Engrish" on this sign.

So after bowling and pool, we headed over to a local bar in Izumo called No. 1

Mark "The Don" never made it, but the rest of us had fun and got to interact with some people our age. Stayed until about 2am, and then most of us staggered home, with the exception of Dustin, who was chatting up a lovely lady at the bar - those years of studying Japanese might have paid off. :)

Rawkin' the Mic

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 4
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So this bar had screens all over the place and wireless microphones, so the gaijin table proceeded to set the place ablaze with our stirring renditions of Guns N Roses "Paradise City," Steve Miller's "The Joker," and David Bowie's "StarMan."
Here I think Dustin is singing "King for a Day" by Green Day, with able accompaniment from Mark.
No one else in the place ever sang, and it wasn't until Dustin showed up and informed us that each song cost 200 yen (about $2) that we figured out why. Oh well - we put on quite the show even if it was out of tune and often marred by too much tambourine.

Mr. Tambourine Man!

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 3
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Dave had a few beers and before you know it his inner hippie came out and he asked for a tambourine. Much to my chagrin, the bar had one, and Dave proceeded to play it FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT!

Ah well - he was happy...

Mark and friend

A Night on the Town - Izumo style! - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

As the night wore on, Dustin and Mark met a few of the locals, and since they both speak Japanese very well, were able to have conversations with them. Of course, the level of discourse when one has been imbibing might not be of the highest level, but they seem interested in what each other was saying.

Mark has stolen the tambourine away from Dave at this point, but still won't give it to me.

I actually had met this guy once before, and he also plays kendo - but I can't remember his name.

Me & Rusty at No. 1 Pub in Izumo

Me & Rusty at No. 1 Pub in Izumo
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Finally, here is Rusty and I enjoying a few libations. Of course, I was actually drinking "ko-ra" (cola), but I borrowed one of Dustin's alcohol drinks for effect. :)
Rusty was barely staying awake at this point, since he and Dave had been off that day climbing Mt. Daisen in Tottori-ken. But a fun time was had by all and it was a good night out with the lads.

Trivia - Tuesday, May 17th

True or False: Renee Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey appeared together in Richard Linklater's seminal indie film Slacker.

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
C. Octopus's Garden - Bonus Answer: Richard Starkey

Trivia - Monday, May 16th

Ringo Starr sings lead vocal on which of these classic Beatles songs?

A. "A Day in the Life"
B. "I am the Walrus"
C. "Octopus's Garden"
D. "Blackbird"

Bonus Point: Can you tell me Ringo's real name?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
She finds a field of full of bee people just like her.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, May 14th & 15th

What happens to the lonely bee girl at the end of Blind Melon's "No Rain" video?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Des'ree

Trivia - Friday, May 13th

Who sang the 1990s empowerment song "You Gotta Be"?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
D. A port at the base of the spinal cord

Trivia - Thursday, May 12th

In David Cronenberg's film eXistenZ, how are the virtual reality game players plugged in?

A. A socket on the back of the neck
B. Special sensory gloves
C. A helmet with blinders
D. A port at the base of the spinal cord

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
A Trip to the Moon

Trivia - Wednesday, May 11th

The groundbreaking Smashing Pumpkins video "Tonight, Tonight" was a stylistic homage to which George Melies film from 1902?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Blue, White & Red, after the colors of the French flag

Trivia - Tuesday, May 10th

Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors Trilogy came out to great critical acclaim in the mid-1990s. What were the three films called?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Statler and Waldorf - bonus points if you can tell me which one was voiced by Jim Henson and which one was Frank Oz. BTW - the calendar I get these questions off of was wrong on this answer - it had their names as "Statler and Heckler."

Arigatoo Gozaimashita!

I love getting mail. Especially here in Japan, where my mailbox is a lonely place, I love getting small packages and letters from friends and family.

Back in the States, I got mail everyday. Sure, some of it was bills, and some of it was flyers or junk, but I used to get something addressd to me everyday. And I think one of the reasons I like Ebay and Amazon so much is how excited I get when I get packages in the mail.

So I'm gonna take a minute here to thank all the people that have sent me stuff since I came to Japan. My friend, Pat, sent me a great Monty Python postcard that still is on my bulletin board. My friend, Michele, sent me a great care package with Kraft Mac n Cheese and other goodies. My Uncle Terry sends me magazines and packages and food - Thanks Terry!

My sister is the defacto custodian of my affairs back in the States, and she forwards me my mail and helps send me other packages from my storage as I think of things I need, like winter clothes back in December or my Halloween costume back in October. Lynda - you're awesome - Thanks so much!

And of course my parents are always sending me things - cards and little gifts and articles that they cut out of the UK newspapers so I can put up pictures of Beckham on my classroom walls. They're always thinking about me, and for that and so much more I'm very grateful.

So if you want to engender this kind of unabashed affection, please feel free to send me stuff. I always appreciate it!

Just email me and I can send you my Japan address, and if for some reason you don't have my email, leave a comment here and I'll send it to you.

See you!
-Jason

Trivia - Monday, May 9th

What were the names of the two old men who sat in the balcony on The Muppet Show?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
D. Atlanta

Opt out of Yahoo's cookie info-collecting feature

I recently learned, from an article in the Daily Yomiuri, that Yahoo uses something called a "Web beacon" to log all my internet activity and that I had in fact given the company permission to do so.

When I created my account at Yahoo years ago, where I go by the screen name "JasonUCSD" in case you have Yahoo Messenger and you ever want to instant message me, I was asked to click a button that signified that I agreed to Yahoo's terms of service. Everyone clicks these all the time without reading the pages of legalese that follow.

Somwhere within their agreement it says that unless you specifically tell Yahoo not to, it'll track and record all your internet activity, not just that associated with their service. It does this by placing a small application on your hard drive that logs all the links you visit and then sends the data back to Yahoo.
What it does with this data is less clear, but I'm not to keen on the idea that a faceless company like Yahoo is collecting information about my private online activities. So I opted out of the internet browsing data-collection feature.

If you too would like to opt out of this intrusive feature, here's how you do it:

First, you'll need to log into your Yahoo account.
Next, put this URL into your browser's address window: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us/

This will take you to a web page where Yahoo pretty much spells out its policies. Scroll down to the section about cookies, and you'll see a reference to something called "Web beacons." Click on that link, and it will take you to the page that explains how these things work. Scroll down a few paragraphs, and you'll see the words Opt Out highlighted as a link. Click that link and it'll take you off their data-collection list. Note that you have to set the opt-out function on every computer from which you access Yahoo.

Since the above link includes the suffix "us" this may only work for American Yahoo accounts, but I'm sure if you have an account from Canada or the UK, you too should be able to opt out.

Now, I realize that nothing I do online is truly "private," but I would have liked to have known more about "web beacons" when I signed up for Yahoo. I'm not closing my account or anything, but it may make me scrutinize more closely the terms of agreement before I hit the "accept" button in the future.

-Jason

Trivia - Sat & Sun, May 7th & 8th

Andy Griffith played a defense attorney on Matlock from 1986 to 1995. Where was this show set?

A. Denver
B. Washington D.C.
C. Houston
D. Atlanta

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Frenchie Davis

Trivia - Friday, May 6th

Which contestant was booted from American Idol 2 after it was discovered that she'd appeared on a pornographic website?

God help me, I knew the answer to the above question. Maybe it's a good thing that I'll be in Japan for at least two years, and get a bit of a plaette cleansing in regards to American Pop Culture.

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Mini Cooper

Do Japanese women want Foreign husbands?

Here is a link to an interesting article and commentary from a guy that became briefly famous in Japan for battling in court the exclusionary policy of some hotels and spas in Japan that admit Japanese only to their establishments.

The article, which is not as interesting as the two pieces of commentary that follow it, is about the myth that Japanese women want to marry foreign men, specifically Americans and Europeans. After reading thru, you can see that out of all the marriages that took place in Japan in 2003, only 1.1% involved a Japanese woman marrying a foreign man.

Here's the link: http://www.debito.org/christianscimonitor120604.html

His website, if you go back to the home page, also contains some interesting stuff.

-JCH

Sideways

I just watched a great movie called "Sideways."

This is just a test post to see if my blog is updating correctly, but I really did just watch that movie and I really, really liked it.

-JCH

Trivia - Thursday, May 5th

What stylish, compact British car was prominently featured in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Linda Ronstadt

Trivia - Wednesday, May 4th

Which singer helped Barney sing "The Plow King Song" on The Simpsons?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Clueless

Trivia - Tuesday, May 3rd

What Alicia Silverstone hit from 1995 was loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Marilyn Monroe

It's all in my head

OK - I'll warn you up front that this post may ramble a bit - I'm in one of those moods.

And usually when I'm like this I watch a little wacky Japanese TV, have a Kit Kat and it fades - but this time I'm at my computer and blogging about it instead. Wise choice? Only time will tell...

Tomorrow thru Thursday are national holidays here in Japan, collectively known as Golden Week. Many JETs were able to get 10 days off in a row, just by taking two days of paid vacation. The programme allots most of us 20 days each contract year (July to July), but I used most of mine around Xmas and at Spring Break, so I worked today and will work again on Friday.
I'm also really poor right now, with barely enough to tide me over until payday on the 13th. (The 15th - normal payday - is a Sunday, so they bump it up to the preceeding Friday) It's no big secret that almost all JETs make about $2600 a month, give or take a little bit. Many JETs, and certainly all that I know, have few if any bills back home to worry about, thus leaving them with an inordinate amount of disposable income. Most travel or buy fun gadgets, or drink - ALOT - but some, like me, have to send a significant portion of our check home each month to take care of fiscal responsibilities that were in place before we ever set foot in Japan. I have credit card debt, school loans, storage costs, etc that I'm taking care of - and it impacts my ability to spend freely while I'm here. Am I a little jealous of my more free-spending colleagues? Yes. But it's no big deal - and truth be told I'm poor right now cuz my rent status changed on my apartment here and I had to pay double rent this month just this one time and I had to send some extra home to cover my recent trip home to San Diego - so I get to travel too. :)

Anyway - so the next three days will be fairly uneventful - some reading, some DVD watching, maybe some writing if I feel inspired - and hopefully my next piano lesson. I had my first lesson last Friday (which was also a national holiday). It went great! The woman who's agreed to teach me is named Yoko and she's really cool. She wants to continue working on her English, and in exchange she's taken on the daunting challenge of teaching me to play piano from scratch - meaning I've never played before and I can't read music. But by the end of our first lesson I was already plunking away at London Bridges with some confidence. She got me this cool beginner's book - designed for really young Japanese kids - which is perfect cuz it doesn't have hardly any Kanji, so I can read it - and the tunes are really simple - AND many of the songs are very famous Japanese songs - which is perfect because one of the main reasons I wanted to learn is so I can play songs for my Elementary kids to sing along with. While I want them to sing English songs, they'd be pretty impressed if I started knocking out some famous Japanese song as well - so it's all good. I'm grasping the concept of the notes and how they correspond to how you hit the keys and how often, but it remains to be seen if I have rhythm. I'll keep ya posted. :)

Today was an OK day at school - I only had two classes, and I skipped going to Kendo practice - wasn't in the mood. I did finish redecorating the Language Lab - kinda my own little classroom - which is used for the optional English class that should start in the next few weeks. And I must say it looks pretty cool. But then just today I found out that the 9th grade teachers at Taisha Chu decided that the 9th graders who choose to take more English by enrolling in the elective class have to be taught GRAMMAR at least half the time, so they'll be better prepared for their high school entrance exams. *SIGH* I understand that the teachers want the students adequately prepared for their tests - but my optional class hardly covers every kid in the 9th grade - so why punish them with a dictated course of grammar lessons, and instead let me make English fun and interesting and conversational, which is why I thought I was here in the first place. Hearing stuff like this today makes me doubtful that I'll decide to recontract for a third year. The bloom is assuredly off the rose by now, and I'm starting to see the faults in the system that so many JETs before me have complained about but until now I was mostly unaffected by.
First they took away my 8th grade optional class alltogether, without any explanation, and now they basically cut in half how often I get to design what happen in the 9th grade class. Another example of my frustration happened recently as well. The Daily Yomiuri, a major newspaper here that offers an English version, is sponsoring a translation contest that can be entered by Jr High students. The top prize is the equivalent of $500 in gift certificates and a trip to Tokyo - not bad for translating some English into Japanese or vice versa. So I made copies of the entry rules and the paragraphs to translate and then posted all the info on my English bulletin board outside the language lab. And I also went around to all four of my JTEs and gave them copies of the info and mentioned that maybe one or two of their students may want to enter. But I bet you dollars to donuts that none of them took the one minute in any of their classes to mention the contest or how to get more info about it. Maybe Moriyama sensei did, cuz she helped me write up a Japanese sign about the contest that I posted on my bulletin board next to the article, but I doubt it. The teachers here have one basic goal - teach the textbook and prepare the kids for their exams. Not unheard of, I know, but it can make for some boring and routine classes, and I want my kids to be excited about English. I'll continue to try and introduce fun and different approaches to the material and hope that they'll stray from the prescribed course from time to time.

Some days of course, it's tough to muster up the energy to be the smiling ambassador of EIGO that I usually am. Today was one of those days. Living here, isolated by the language barrier as I am, can be a very internal existence at times. I'm struggling to find a good analogy for it. I could say it's like being deaf, where I can see all the people around me talking but can't understand what they're saying - but that's not accurate. I am able to decipher much of what's said to me, even though I'm still only getting about every other word - I'm able to discern the meaning most of the time. I just can't respond with anything even approaching grammatically correct full sentences. It's frustrating as hell. And it's all on me - I realize that. I could spend all my time studying Japanese, and part of this problem would disappear, and I am studying a bit, but my progress is slow, despite the immersion.
So I end up inside my own head for most of the day - having little conversations with myself just to be able to speak English to someone, even if that person is myself. Hahahaha.
I end up thinking about all kinds of things with the time I have inside my own thoughts, and that can be good or bad. Too much self-reflection isn't necessarily a good thing. And it doesn't help that I live alone, and am the only non-Japanese person in my whole town. There are other JETs fairly close by, and I can always pick up the phone and call my sister or parents, but that doesn't cure the lonliness of my day-to-day existence at times.
See, I've always been a good talker - a fairly amiable guy who enjoys a good joke or good conversation. And here, I'm stripped of any social tools I had before - I can't really make jokes or witty comments, cuz nobody understands them, and I can't engage anybody I see on a daily basis in anything even remotely approaching a meaningful or insightful conversation - even my English teachers don't have the time or language skills necessary for that. Most of the staff at my Junior High merely tolerate my presence - if I'm there or not, makes little difference to them. And two of my English teachers I think would prefer if I wasn't there - leaving me two people at work who I can talk to. I'm sure there are some staff members who would like to chat if they could speak better English or I could speak better Japanese - but I'll perhaps never really know. That leaves my kids - the students - who are really great overall, but who, by and large, are unable to hold a conversation in English lasting more than 30 seconds. I guess if I had one expectation when I arrived, it would be that my students could speak some English - but for the most part they can't. They may be able to read and write a fair amount, but their ability to speak and converse is servely limited by their own innate shyness and a fear of failure. And hey, I relate to that more than they probably know - cuz learning Japanese is no easy task either.

So am I depressed or unhappy? Surprisingly, no. I actually enjoy living here, but I wish I could get out of my head more often, and interact with people a bit more. And I try - I attended a kendo tournament on Saturday from 7am until 4pm and other than chatting with the coach on the ride to and from the arena, I barely spoke to anyone the entire day. Maybe the kids have tired of trying to chat with me, as many of their questions are met with blank stares of misunderstanding on my part, but in truth the kendo members have never been a chatty bunch.

Anyway - it's 10pm now and ER is on TV - my one dose of English this whole day - so I'll be off.

Hope all is well with you.

-Jason

Trivia - Monday, May 2nd

Which 1950s icon has a small role in the film All About Eve, which was released in 1950?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
Director James Cameron

New Superman in costume

OK - whenever I have time on my hands like I did today, cuz it's Sunday and it's been raining all day and there's nothing on TV in English, I end up catching up on some of my online reading - mostly about movies and comics.

I came across a column at a site I like - used to be called PopCultureShock, now called BuzzScope - that is written by a guy named Sandy Collora. Sandy is a fan-film maker famous among comic nerds for a short film called "Dead End" he made featuring Batman battling the Joker, a Predator and an Alien. Great film!
You can check out Sandy's recent 3 minute fan film depicting Superman and Batman by Clicking Here or you can check out his website and the "Dead End" film by Clicking Here.

Anyway - Sandy is none too pleased with the look of the new Superman costume for next year's film. What - you didn't know that Bryan Singer, the talented director of The Usual Suspects and both X-Men films has jumped ship and decided to make the first new Superman film in many, many years? Well, he has and he cast an unknown actor named Brandon Routh to play Superman/Clark Kent, and the first picture of him in the red and blue costume has been released. I kinda like it, but I understand where Sandy is coming from.

You can see the picture only by Clicking Here.

Or you can read the article and see the pic by Clicking Here.

Reviews seem to indicate that the big-screen version of one of my all-time favorite novels, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is a good time at the cinema. Can't wait until it opens here in Japan.
You can see the trailer for HHGTTG by Clicking Here.

And have you seen the newest trailer for Batman Begins???? It just makes me even more excited for the film, which I'm so looking forward to, I can't even tell you. AND, it's gonna open here in Japan only one week after it opens in the US. Cool!
That's probably due to the fact that Watanabe Ken, the charismatic Japanese actor who was a big part of the success of The Last Samurai here in Japan, plays a villian in the new Batman movie.
Check out the newest trailer Here.

Anyway, I'm off to surf more of the net - hope you're having a good weekend.

-Jason

My favorite weekly website

I think I got this link from my friend, fellow Blogger and fellow ALT Koren...

It's a blog called "Post Secret" and every week they post pictures of Post Cards sent in by real people that divulge some anonymous secret. Many are really interesting and thought provoking. They update the site every Sunday.

You can check it out by clicking Here.

Enjoy....

Trivia - Sat & Sun, April 30th & May 1st

In the 1997 film Titanic, who actually drew the picture of Kate Winslet's character wearing the necklace?

Friday's Answer (highlight line below):
Air

Trivia - Friday, April 29th

Which French duo recorded ethereal sound track music for Sofia Coppola's directorial debut The Virgin Suicides in 1999?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
C. He had bad breath.

The Izumo Gang

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 14
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So these 5 people are my best friends in Japan - my compadres and fellow teachers who can sympathize with my struggles and don't compliment me on how well I use chopsticks or speak Japanese. And even tho these people ended up being my friends out of simple geographic happenstance - they're the only other westerners around - I got lucky and they're all really cool people and I enjoy hanging out with them. So it was great fun to have all six of us teaching together.

Left to right they are: Lisa, Mark D., Mark M., Rusty and Dustin. I'll introduce them each individually in the photos below.

One of my great Elementary school teachers, Nagami-sensei, asked me if i could invite some of my friends to Taisha Sho to help his students prepare to interview foreigners at the peace park in Hiroshima on their upcoming school trip. I said I'd ask and to my delight, all 5 agreed to come.

So all 6 of us descended on Taisha Sho on Monday, April 18th and joint taught two combined classes of roku nen sei (6th graders). First, everyone introduced themselves. Some of the ALTs spoke really s-l-o-w-l-y, and I had to mention that these were sixth graders with limited English, not the mentally handicapped. Then, we sang a really fun song involving the days of the week. Then it was on to a group reading of a favorite children's story - "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
We each took turns reading one page of the book, which had been replicated on big cards for the kids to easily see. Dustin started us off well, doing voices and making animal sounds, and we're all laughing in the picture above as Rusty asks Mark if that's how an Irish duck sounds. We had a good time just laughing at each other - I'm sure the kids wondered if all foreigners were this weird.

We then split up into groups and the kids asked us practiced questions, like "What is your name?" and "Where are you from" and "Do you like Japan?"
We then asked them easy questions, like "How old are you?" and "What's your favorite school subject?"
They did great and I hope they got plenty of chances in Hiroshima to speak with non-Japanese people.

After we left the elem school, we walked back over to my junior high, where I showed them all around. The next day, one of my JH students came up and asked me if they were my family. Hahahaha :)
But thanks guys - you made it a great day and I really appreciate you helping me out.

Rapt attention from the 6th graders

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 12
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is our audience and pupils that day - the two classes of 6th graders at Taisha Elementary. They were all used to me by now, as I'd taught them thru most of their 5th grade year, so I had to bring in the "Dream Team" of JETs to show em how it's done.

They're great kids and I'll see them become 7th graders and join me at Taisha JH next April - but boy am I getting ahead of myself.

Mark - the quiet Beatle

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 10
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So now I'll introduce you individually to each of the five JETs who came to Taisha this day and helped out with the 6th graders.

First up is Mark McEvoy. Now this Mark (there are two of them - pay attention) is from Ireland, which is some little island close to England I think. They talk funny there, but I try not to let that bother me when Mark is letting me watch his Cable TV feed of the English Premiere League.

Mark is the only one of us there that day who is not an ALT. He's a CIR - which stands for Coordinator of International Relations. Which basically means he actually works for his salary, as compared to us ALTs who sing songs and write the alphabet on the board and speak our native tongue to the astonishment or bemusement of those around us.
Mark works at the City Hall in Izumo and has actually met the Mayor - and I'm not talking about Mayor McCheese - who's Irish I think. He translates stuff and interprets and mentally crushes all those in his path with his sardonic wit.

Mark rarely gets to schools at all, so this was a fun day for him too. This picture shows Mark having fun - no really, he's having a grand old time - can't you tell?

Mark is recontracting for a third and final year on the programme - so the Friendship House will stay intact and the nonstop party will never have to end - well, at least not until July of 2006.

Mark is a great guy and he speaks really good Japanese, which you'd know if you could ever get him to say anything. But just insult Arsenal football club, and he'll start talking.... :)

Rusty - he's "dishy"

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

This is Rusty Kelty, the most Californian Non-Californian I've ever known. He surfs (in Japan) and likes the outdoors, thus combining the Southern Calif and Northern Calif ethos.

Rusty keeps the parties happening at the aptly named Friendship House in Izumo, the apartment building that houses Mark M., Lisa, and Rusty. Always up for a good time, as long as cookies are involved, Rusty will probably see much more of Japan than I ever will - perhaps because he actually leaves his apartment at times and has already found a Japanese girlfriend he fooled into thinking he's actually from California and thus much cooler than he really is.

Rusty actually hails from Vermont, which is famous for nothing apparently, because he tells people he's from Colorado, which at least has a good football team and a decent film festival.

Rusty teaches at 3 of the Junior Highs in Izumo. Lisa teaches at the other three. Neither of them regularly go to elem schools, so this was a fun day for them, mostly becuase we all sang the "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday..." song, which involves a great deal of jumping around.

Rusty's a good guy, and I'm glad he's recontracting as well. He also has an Apple iBook - so I know he's got taste as well as the dashing looks. :P

Lisa - the lone woman

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 9
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is Lisa getting up close and personal with her group of 6th graders. Lisa is a Jr High ALT who hails from Ohio in the USA. We try not to hold that against her. Anybody that comes from someplace that begins and ends in the same vowel is usually trouble. Of course most of us come from America.... errr.....

Even tho Lisa is a woman, or so I've been told, we still let her play in all our reindeer games. Lisa keeps us all on our toes with her random observations, her salty language, and her "adventurous" driving. But don't let that biscuit-like flakiness fool you - she has laser focus at times, especially when playing air hockey at the local Sega arcade, where she routinely beats all us he-men with her "tiger-crane" style.

Lisa lived in Shimane before as an exchange student and also speaks pretty good Japanese, or so it seems to me, but how would I know anyway.

Lisa is also re-contracting, simply to keep her crown as Air Hockey Queen. We're all happy cuz she's the only one of us with a car. :)

Mark - charming the lads and ladies

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 7
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is Mark DeFusco, or as we call him in Izumo, "The Don."

Mark hails from London, England and speaks with a funny accent, just like my parents.

Mark teaches at only one school normally - the top academic High School in Izumo. So this day was a treat for him, as he had never been to an elem school before.

Always up for just about anything, especially if it involves a trip to the local McDonald's in Izumo, Mark is a good guy to have around - just don't ask him about his favorite movies. :)

Mark is recontracting and will be around next year as well, which is good for all of us, cuz karaoke just wouldn't be the same without the unique song stylings of "The Don."

Dustin signing his life away

Interview practice with Taisha Sho 6th graders - 5
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is Dustin Kidd, and he hails from Oregon in the USA. This is his FIFTH year as a JET and his third year in Izumo. After three years, you can only stay on the JET programme if you take on the assignment of teaching solely at Elementary schools, which is what Dustin does. He teaches 1st thru 6th graders at FOURTEEN local elem schools. And even tho this is his last year as a JET, he's staying in Japan. He got a job with a private high school up in Hokkaido, so he's moving in July. He'll have to prepare for harsh winters, as Hokkaido gets more snow than any other part of Japan.

So this day at Taisha Sho was almost routine for Dustin, and he had some good advice for the kids. He can also speak flawless Japanese, which means he was able to communicate with the teachers better than I ever could. :)

The Education System in Japan

This is an article that ran in a recent edition of www.japantoday.com

I'm still formulating my thoughts on what it says - so I throw it out to you, my good readers, to leave comments or see what you think....

>>>>>>>>

Tokyo Gakugei University Professor Masahiro Yamada says that the educational system no longer provides students with hope.

Addressing the issue of declining academic performance, Yamada claims that even if school education is insufficient, children can still raise their academic ability by studying at home or at a cram school.

What is taking place, he says, is a polarization between students who study and those who almost never do. In the postwar period, through the years of rapid economic growth up until around 1990, a setup existed guaranteeing students that their study and effort would be rewarded, he asserts, and school was a symbol of hope.

According to Yamada's analysis, the system had the following characteristics: (1) School fulfilled the function of shuttling students into employment commensurate with their ability, providing them with future prospects and peace of mind; (2) it served to quell unrealistic hopes; and (3) it gave students the expectation that study would allow them to attend better schools and thus lead to a better life later on.

But the penetration of the new economy brought on by globalization has made the working world unstable, Yamada argues, giving rise to a situation in which the "certainty associated with academic effort" has vanished. In this way, the polarization in expectations has led to a similar gap in motivation, he states, noting that the end result is a polarization in academic ability.

Yamada says that as this is a problem emerging in the "seam" between the domains of school and work, the decline in academic performance will not be rectified only by improving educational content or devising new methods of teaching. (Foreign Press Center)

April 25, 2005

Trivia - Thursday, April 28th

On the set of Gone With the Wind, Vivien Leigh was reportedly reluctant to kiss Clark Gable because:

A. She was married
B. She didn't like his moustache
C. He had bad breath
D. They hated each other in real life

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

Trivia - Wednesday, April 27th

Who appeared as a dancer in the B-52's video for "Love Shack"?

A. RuPaul
B. Jennifer Tilly
C. Winona Ryder
D. Lenny Kravitz


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

Trivia - Tuesday, April 26th

Warren Beatty's sister is also an actor. Who is she?

A. Candace Bergen
B. Diane Lane
C. Meryl Streep
D. Shirley MacLaine

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
He dyed his hair to play a stand-in for Richie Cunningham in the Weezer video "Buddy Holly."

Kada-sensei and Yamane-kun and Kendo captain, Tatsuya

Kada-sensei and Yamane-kun and Kendo captain, Tatsuya
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So my new desk position, as descibed below, now faces the main courtyard of the school, shown here. This photo was shot at the end of the last school year, and shows Kada-sensei, one of my favorite JTEs, and two of my students and fellow kendo teammates - Hitoshi and Tatsuya.

Japanese teachers, especially the younger ones, get moved around alot, so we had nine new teachers at Taisha Chu after spring break, and i had a new kendo coach, and two new JTEs (Japanese Teachers of English). Which means that other teachers left, including Kada-sensei. But we'll stay in touch via email and he lives close by, so we hope to watch the upcoming Japanese national soccer team matches for qualifying for the World Cup next year together.

You'll notice in this pic that the name of the school is written in English in large letters above the genkan entrance. I wonder how many of my students could write "Taisha Junior High School" if I asked them too, even tho they pass under it everyday. :P

New desk position @ TJH

New desk position @ TJH
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

So they moved my desk while I was in America over Spring Break. I now sit with the ichi nen sei teachers and instead of facing the main door into the teachers' staff room, I now face the window. Hard not to daydream a little at times... :)

REMINDER: if you want to see any of the pictures on my blog in a slightly larger format, just click on the photo itself and it will take you to my photo album on flickr.com

Trivia - Monday, April 25th

Why did director Spike Jonze become a redhead in 1994?

Weekend's Answer (highlight line below):
Sally Field

First Day for new Ichinensei at Taisha Chu

First Day for new Ichinensei at Taisha Chu - 12
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is the board in one of the 7th grade homerooms, decorated by the 8th and 9th graders, welcoming the new 7th graders to Taisha Junior High.

The board says "yookoso" next to Ampanman, which means "Welcome." It also says "Omedetoo" across the top, which means "congratulations," and "we love Taisha Chu."

The opening ceremony for the new 7th graders was a formal assembly in the gym with their parents and local dignitaries in attendance. Each students' name was read off and then a few of the students made short speeches after Kocho sensei (the principal) made his welcome address.

We have 4 classes of 7th graders this year, as opposed to the 5 we had last year. So a slighly smaller incoming class in total, altho each homeroom has 37 or 38 kids in it, so they're very full classes.

Ichinensei homeroom at Taisha Chu

First Day for new Ichinensei at Taisha Chu - 14
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is one of the 7th grade homerooms on the first day of classes. They decorated the rooms a bit and even the halls, and had these massive stacks of materials and texts waiting for each student as they came into their new classroom. Their parents also came up to the room with them and listened to a short speech by each homeroom teacher.

Not sure who pays for all these supplies. In addition to all the books, the new 7th graders have to buy a new backpack that says Taisha JH, a new tracksuit for gym clothes, new indoor sneakers and sandals, a new school uniform and other incidentals. I've heard that some of these items can be very expensive.

I sit this year with the ichi nen sei teachers, so I'm suspecting that I'll be involved with 7th grade activities much more than last year, when I sat with the 9th grade teachers.
Of course this year, all the 7th graders know me already from me teaching them as 6th graders at one of the 5 elementary schools I visit. Other than the upperclassmen who are their friends from their elementary days, I'm the only other familiar face at first, so that's kinda cool. I was greeted with shouts of "Jason sensei" by many of the 7th graders as I made the rounds that first week.

close up of stack of texts

First Day for new Ichinensei at Taisha Chu - 13
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is the huge stack of BRAND NEW textbooks that EACH 7th grader had waiting on his/her desk as they entered their new homerooms after the opening ceremony.

They don't have hand-me-down text books here, like we did in America. They use their books much more here, writing in many of them, and they are all soft covers, which decreases durability but also makes them less heavy in their backpacks.
You can see the one slim volume for English tucked in the middle of this stack. It's not a bad textbook, and I don't mind teaching it, I just wish we could go "off-book" in our classes more and not adhere so strictly to making sure the kids memorize every detail of the book.

Taisha Sho Graduation

Taisha Sho Graduation - 9
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here is the new gym at Taisha Elementary during the 6th grade graduation ceremony.

It was an emotional ceremony for many in attendance since most of these kids have been students at Taisha Sho for 6 years, so they'll miss their younger friends and the staff and teachers as they're now with me at Taisha JH as 7th graders.

At one point, each 6th grader (there were about 50-60 of them) gave a "shout out" to his parents or friends or teachers for taking care of them during their school days and helping them to graduate. Some of the girls could barely get the words out thru their sobs and tears. This pic shows the 6th graders filing out after the end of the ceremony, after they'd gotten their diplomas, while the rest of the student body sung a song on their way out. Glad I went - interesting counterpoint to the much more staid and formal 9th grade graduation I'd attended earlier that week.

After the ceremony in the gym was finished, the two classes assembled in their respective homerooms and each teacher greeted their parents and said something nice about each student and they all received small gifts and then gave a small gift to their parent(s).
After that, all the 6th graders walked out of the school while all the other students lined the halls and cheered and clapped as they filed past.
It was really a cool send off - I'm glad I got to be part of it.

Taisha Sho Graduation - 3 girls

Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Here are three of the sweet 6th grade girls at Taisha Elementary. They are all now at Taisha Junior High with me everyday as 7th graders.

Taisha Sho Graduation - 2 boys

Taisha Sho Graduation - 5
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

These are two of the cool 6th graders from Taisha Elementary after their graduation ceremony. They are both with me now at Taisha JH as 7th graders.

Me and the two 6th grade teachers

Taisha Sho Graduation - 1 copy
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is me and the two homeroom teachers (Okamura-sensei & Itoh-sensei) for the roku nen sei last year at Taisha Elementary. This was snapped after the graduation ceremony for the 6th graders.

Trivia - Sat & Sun, April 23rd & 24th

In Punchline, she plays Tom Hanks's lover. In Forrest Gump a mere six years later, she plays his mother. Who is she?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Wil Wheaton

Trivia - Friday, April 22nd

Which star of Stand By Me went on to appear as the much-ridiculed Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, the best of the Star Trek series?

There were multiple choice options to this one on the page-a-day but I'm leaving them off, since it's pretty easy. And the "Best of the Star Trek series" is my own editorial comment. :)

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
"Pac-Man Fever"

Welcome the new teachers enkai

Welcome the new teachers enkai
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

This is a pretty typical drinking and dinner party you would have with co-workers in Japan, normally called an "enkai." This particular enkai was held to celebrate the start of the new school year and welcome the new teachers to Taisha Junior High.

You'll notice we're sitting on the floor and I'm sitting cross-legged while my two co-workers on my left are sitting in "seiza" (sitting with your legs tucked under you). I can sit in seiza for about 10 minutes at a time before all the blood starts to leave my lower body and go numb. :)

Welcome the new teachers enkai - Taisha JH - 2

Welcome the new teachers enkai - Taisha JH - 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Since I don't eat fish, and almost every course that night involved seafood, I decided to take a picture of my tray at the end of the night with almost every course we were served. It's a lot of food spread out over about 2 hours. I had some Pepsi and ice cream that night. I've been to other parties like this one where my hosts, knowing that I don't eat fish, have ordered me a special meal with some beef or noodles. You'd think that my Junior High co-workers, who I spend more time with than anybody else I associate with, could do the same. Hmmmm - this may be the last enkai I go to with my JH staff. We'll see....

Shame too, cuz even though I can barely communicate with most of them, it's fun to see my coworkers in a more relaxed and convivial atmosphere. At least they had Pepsi for me that night, instead of having to drink beer and sake and pretending to like it.

Bullet Train at Shin-Osaka Eki - 1

Bullet Train at Shin-Osaka Eki - 1
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

As part of the 5 hours or so it took me to get from Izumo to Osaka and the Kansai Airport to go home to San Diego for spring break, I got to ride on one of the famous Japanese Shinkansen (Bullet Trains). It was really cool - kinda like being on an airplane - very smooth and you're just flying along - things whipping by the window at incredible speeds. Expensive, but worth it.

Bullet Train at Shin-Osaka Eki - 2

Bullet Train at Shin-Osaka Eki - 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Another angle on the "shinkansen" (bullet train).

I rode for only about an hour, between Okayama and Shin-Osaka station, where i transfered to a normal train that was supposed to take me directly to Kansai Airport. But that train stopped about mid journey at a station. I was wearing my headphones and listening to music, a bit oblivious to my surroundings, when I noticed that I was the only person left on the train. I removed my headphones, but of course all the announcements were in Japanese. Still, I got off the one train and walked across the platform to a waiting train, and saw other gaijin(pronounced guy-gin) with luggage, so I figured I must be on the right train. Not sure what happened to the first train I was on, but I did make it to the airport, and only about 15 minutes later than I was supposed to.
I also bumped into another Shimane ALT, named Melanie, at the airport. Turns out she was heading home to California as well on the same Thai Airways flight. What are the odds?? Anyway, it was nice seeing her and catching up a bit. She's got a fun blog/live journal of her own Here.

Octopus for dinner

Octopus for dinner
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Dustin, Emily, Mark D. and I went out to dinner at a local "Italian" restaurant in Izumo a while back. Food was OK, and the salad was really good, but they made some basic mistakes, like putting mayonaise on a pizza. The Horror! :)

Anyway, Mark D. ordered these octopus things for an appetizer and he tucked in and enjoyed the lot. You couldn't pay me to eat one of those, but having finished, Mark said, "Oishii desu ne." (Delicious!)

Trivia - Thursday, April 21st

What song by Buckner and Garcia - about the joys of a certain videogame - reached the Top 10 in 1982?

Yesterday's Answer (highlight line below):
Loretta Lynn

Me in my Kendo gear

Me in my Kendo gear 2
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Me looking all serious, as befits a warrior of my stature, in my kendo attire. Hahahaha...

Me with my shinai and full kendo armor

Me with my shinai and full kendo armor
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Yes, that's me under the helmet. Doing my best Obi-Wan Kenobi impression at night time kendo practice last Thursday night.

My debut in the full attire. I mostly sparred against Hitoshi, cuz he speaks English well enough to tell me what to do, but I worked out with the team as well. I was EXHAUSTED when I got home - all that stuff is heavy!

A "shinai" is the sword; the stomach protector is called a "do" (pronounced dough); the pants are called hakame; the special shirt is called a doge; the helmet/face protector is called "man"; and the gloves are called "kotei."

This week i got all the different procedures down, so now i can dress and undress myself - lots of knots and even an order that everything goes on and comes off.

2 of my Sho kids at kendo

2 of my Sho kids at kendo
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Two of my super-cool Elementary students from Taisha Sho at Thursday night kendo practice, which allows the local elementary kids who are into Kendo to practice against the more experienced Junior High team members.

Many of the students who join the Kendo team in 7th grade have already been playing kendo for many years at elementary school. So you can see why I'm having difficulty getting the hang of it, considering I'd never even heard of kendo 9 months ago.

Mustang Minds

Mustang Minds
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

Me with Huachen and Kevin, members of the Mustang Minds team and current coach, Coram. MM is an academic trivia challenge - I was the Varsity coach last year at a local high school (San Dieguito Academy) in Encinitas, CA.
I also coached the Academic Decathlon team at SDA, which Kevin and Huachen were also members of. We did well in both events, but this year the Varsity MM team beat every other school in San Diego and became the city Champs. Way to go guys! Omedetoo Gozaimasu!

Dinner at Indigo Joe's

Dinner at Indigo Joe's
Originally uploaded by Jason In Japan.

My niece, Brittany, and I at my last meal with a knife and fork before returning to Japan after spring break.

Funny thing about that night was that I wanted to just have some "American" food, so we went to a local sports bar that has good burgers, fries, steaks, etc. Turns out that we arrived as the last game in the NCAA College BasketBal Final Four was being played, so the place was wall-to-wall people all screaming with each shot. Made for a fun, if somewhat overwhleming, atmosphere.