I started on Monday. The speeches went well in Japanese… funny because I don’t even speak it yet. But the speeches went over well, maybe ‘simply’ is a better way to put it. On Tuesday, I was tossed into an elementary school to teach/ introduce myself in English. I was asked all sorts of questions from my shoe size to my favorite Japanese food. Then I had lunch with my “homeroom” of 5th graders and they tried to break down the recess plans in Japanese… eventually we figured it out. So I played dodgeball, in my wool pants and white shirt and tie outside in the sun. Not a bad costume for 95 degree heat and 100% humidity. I am getting used to it… and I even made some amazing dodges…
The past couple of days, I have been with my “home” school, Myojo Jr. High. It is awesome! An older building, but with lots of character… and you know me, I love that. I have taught a bunch of the first year students so far and will work with the second and third years next week. Lots of self-intros coming up and even more questions. So far I’ve only been asked twice if I am married. I show the family picture and students are astounded that Jake is only seventeen years old…
And the best part is that I introduce UCLA as there place I studied- and I have been teaching the 8-clap to all of the students! More Bruin fans, exactly what the world needs!
I am a cultural ambassador, a live-tape recorder and a reminder to speak English. I get greeted everyday by numerous students with, “Hello,” and then a bashful run-away. I get inquiries about (school) life in America (they don’t call it the United States; here it is “America”). My favorite was when I told how them how many days of summer vacation we have… they told me 40 and then I told them 80. It was the loudest “Suugoi”- wow/awesome- in unison that I had ever heard. And now I recognize the word. I also represent the US to my co-workers: in the board of education office, at my various schools and at the bars. I have to be a good example in all of these places; this leaves me no time to be anything less than fired up always- working and partying hard. (Complicated sentence, huh?) I even got "do you believed in a balanced diet?" when my desk mate saw my lunch of friend chicken and rice. On all the time, even in the down time.
Yesterday and today, I played soccer with the school team. I asked if I could practice with the students. The teachers appreciate my involvement and the students get to practice their English too. And I pick up some Japanese schoolyard language that will certainly be helpful. It gets me in shape and I love it that I have touched a soccer ball three times this week. I am playing in a Sunday night “league.” A bunch of us run around in a short-sided game. And, I also bought my bullet train tickets (long adventurous trip into the Japanese language) to Kobe (like the Bryant)… so that I can play in a JET soccer tourney. I will be playing for the Fukuoka prefecture team. Being back into the junior high, I might as well be playing soccer on multiple teams and play everyday of the week; it is a flash to how the past of what used to be!
I had a moment of frustration when I suggested a new exercise to the soccer coach, I think he shrugged me off, laughed and commented to another coworker. It's hard to be patient always because i am not understood. It is hard to be the one that everyone knows "doesn't get it." It's hard not fitting in and feeling it. Its hard not speaking the language. but this is a stepping stone. It is not easy, nothing is... it takes time and patience... and effort and caring and effort and... yeah... If my life is easy, then I get pissed off. If life is hard then I get really pissed off... but then I work on it and, get better and enjoy life even more... like it's been said, "You have to learn how to crawl before you can walk," or maybe it was "You gotta walk before you can crawl." Either way, it's all about waking up in the morning, giving it my all and learning and teaching.
Living everyday to the fullest. Giving the body a run for its money, but not abusing it. Working the mind and studying without cramming too much and losing information. Bringing peace to the world and finding it for myself too, patiently and one step at a time.
Kiotsu Kette Kudasai (take care),
2007-09-03
So Much to Say
I put on probably one of my favorite all-time albums to write this short (probably long post). Dave's Crash and you know what song plays first, "So Much to Say."
What's better than having one of the most complete and fulfilling days of your life? I got one: Receiving a small note, a tiny postcard, from a great friend who had the thoughtfulness to share some of the beauty he saw in the world in an exact moment... moving along.
Today was the first day of school. Props go out to my upstairs neighbor Praju, from India, who helped me translate my speech into Japanese. I managed to successfully speak it in front of the staff room and then again in front of the school. Lots of people, and it felt good, real good. I'd say "natural," but i read it in English romanji, as opposed to Japanese characters... but that will come soon. Or later.. It will arrive sometime.
I had lunch with two teachers, and dinner with another three. I even got invited to the house of a a random woman that I met at the fruit stand. she wanted to practice her English probably, but I just couldn't make it. However,I did learn more Japanese today than i did in a month kicking it around the office. I was waiting for this... to get thrown into the mix where the majority does NOT speak English. As the Japanese value education, they are into learning and teaching... so my life in Japanese and English revolves around this basic principle of enlightenment. Which brings me to my next point.
Teachers are underpaid. They are public workers... servants if you will. And the majority of people earn money privately and don't want to give publicly (ie: pay taxes). Thus, teachers' salaries will always be too high as far as the public is concerned. And teachers always feel that they work too many hours off the books (ie: grading papers, doing after-school stuff) for the pay they are getting. this battle will go on in all modern societies and hopefully one day the average person will feel that giving is better than receiving and teachers will earn the money they deserve. and the taxpayers will get their money's worth out of the system. Eventually it will work. This leads me to the next two points:
1) from an earlier thought, I am stoked to jump into the deep end of the Japanese world. Bring it. Like my friend Vinnie wrote on his blog, I too have been pulled between partying and getting involved in my new living-culture... and I am choosing the latter. fortunately for me, Vinne figures this out these important ideas a day or two before me and the I can just copy his example! Keep blazing trails baby!
2) I will be one of the poor teachers who feels that he should be earning more for the amount of work he does. At this rate, I am not concerned about money or time. In fact, this description is inaccurate... Suffice to say, what I mean is, I am a teacher, I feel it, it seems right and I'm just suited to do it. I value education and peace; money is just a by-product of doing something that I would do for free. Any money I do acquire can just keep my travel habit going... and remind me to live a modest life. The coolest part about being a teacher is being a student too... i receive a free education everyday... in life, language and love. I am blessed to be able to ride my bike to work everyday. What else do I need? (Besides good weather- as that will make riding a bit more difficult... and with typhoon season coming up....)
OHH and the whole reason for this blog was a statistic that came to mind as I share a bit of my life with a Japanese teacher, Shibata-sensei, with whom I will be closely working. she asked if I cook for myself and I said that I did, when I had access to a kitchen... and that has been... hmm, how often?... long story short, I have slept outside thirteen of the past 36 months. Since graduating college, I have slept under the stars or in a tent, on the ground, exposed to the elements in both hemispheres- a third of the time. I had a hard time accepting it... and then I laughed and it made me realize why sleeping on a thin futon on my tatami mat floor feels so goddamn good.
I bought and arranged the some flowers on Friday. One of the lilies is beginning to wilt, but another one opened today... and it seems that this will occur again tomorrow. Flowers are beautiful... and such good reminds of the peace and amazingness in the world... and a reminder of death and life in the same being:
Mata-nei,
What's better than having one of the most complete and fulfilling days of your life? I got one: Receiving a small note, a tiny postcard, from a great friend who had the thoughtfulness to share some of the beauty he saw in the world in an exact moment... moving along.
Today was the first day of school. Props go out to my upstairs neighbor Praju, from India, who helped me translate my speech into Japanese. I managed to successfully speak it in front of the staff room and then again in front of the school. Lots of people, and it felt good, real good. I'd say "natural," but i read it in English romanji, as opposed to Japanese characters... but that will come soon. Or later.. It will arrive sometime.
I had lunch with two teachers, and dinner with another three. I even got invited to the house of a a random woman that I met at the fruit stand. she wanted to practice her English probably, but I just couldn't make it. However,I did learn more Japanese today than i did in a month kicking it around the office. I was waiting for this... to get thrown into the mix where the majority does NOT speak English. As the Japanese value education, they are into learning and teaching... so my life in Japanese and English revolves around this basic principle of enlightenment. Which brings me to my next point.
Teachers are underpaid. They are public workers... servants if you will. And the majority of people earn money privately and don't want to give publicly (ie: pay taxes). Thus, teachers' salaries will always be too high as far as the public is concerned. And teachers always feel that they work too many hours off the books (ie: grading papers, doing after-school stuff) for the pay they are getting. this battle will go on in all modern societies and hopefully one day the average person will feel that giving is better than receiving and teachers will earn the money they deserve. and the taxpayers will get their money's worth out of the system. Eventually it will work. This leads me to the next two points:
1) from an earlier thought, I am stoked to jump into the deep end of the Japanese world. Bring it. Like my friend Vinnie wrote on his blog, I too have been pulled between partying and getting involved in my new living-culture... and I am choosing the latter. fortunately for me, Vinne figures this out these important ideas a day or two before me and the I can just copy his example! Keep blazing trails baby!
2) I will be one of the poor teachers who feels that he should be earning more for the amount of work he does. At this rate, I am not concerned about money or time. In fact, this description is inaccurate... Suffice to say, what I mean is, I am a teacher, I feel it, it seems right and I'm just suited to do it. I value education and peace; money is just a by-product of doing something that I would do for free. Any money I do acquire can just keep my travel habit going... and remind me to live a modest life. The coolest part about being a teacher is being a student too... i receive a free education everyday... in life, language and love. I am blessed to be able to ride my bike to work everyday. What else do I need? (Besides good weather- as that will make riding a bit more difficult... and with typhoon season coming up....)
OHH and the whole reason for this blog was a statistic that came to mind as I share a bit of my life with a Japanese teacher, Shibata-sensei, with whom I will be closely working. she asked if I cook for myself and I said that I did, when I had access to a kitchen... and that has been... hmm, how often?... long story short, I have slept outside thirteen of the past 36 months. Since graduating college, I have slept under the stars or in a tent, on the ground, exposed to the elements in both hemispheres- a third of the time. I had a hard time accepting it... and then I laughed and it made me realize why sleeping on a thin futon on my tatami mat floor feels so goddamn good.
I bought and arranged the some flowers on Friday. One of the lilies is beginning to wilt, but another one opened today... and it seems that this will occur again tomorrow. Flowers are beautiful... and such good reminds of the peace and amazingness in the world... and a reminder of death and life in the same being:
Mata-nei,
2007-09-01
Deciding to Live
I am exhausted. I haven’t slept in a week and I was going to do it early tonight so I could get some rest... not gonna happen because I want to get this out:
I woke up this morning and decided to live. I was tired, slightly hung-over and already sweating from the humidity. Actually I was woken up by a phone call to go to the beach (thanks Wendy!). I was out late and hung up and said I was going to stay home. After ten seconds, I realized that I had to wake up. I had to go to the beach (yes, again, I love it there!)... I woke up and ran with it… and all day. And sometimes it was slower, others faster, some were stressed moments and others relaxing vacation-style ones.
I am putting this on my blog because it is a reminder. We all wake up hung-over (sometimes). We all wake up irritated at an alarm (sometimes). We even get phone calls to arouse us from slumber. Sometimes an obligation. Sometimes a fun activity to do. Another popular excuse is “for work.”
What if you woke up one day and smiled and shot out of bed because you were so excited to be alive? Because you were excited to go to your job, to do your best, to learn something new, to face mundane frustrations, drive through the daily rat race, enjoy the sunlight on your face as you sipped on a morning java at the local coffee shop because you left yourself a couple more minutes? (Ramble, ramble, ramble)
What if you woke up to wake up? And then work was just another thing to check off of the list along with a morning run and picking up the dry cleaning? An interesting way of looking at it, and a way to separate oneself from energy-draining drama too…
Like I wrote, I woke up this morning and decided to live. To be awake, aware and to react to what was presented to me. I accepted the goods for goods and bads for bads and then let them pass through me as I passed through the world. What if you wake up tomorrow and decide to live? What if everyone decided to live when they woke up?
Happy September. It is nearly the start of the next Jewish year. It is a time to start anew, even for non-Jews. It is a reminder to live. Schools are starting (I begin teaching on Monday!) and students are beginning a new life. It is the time for living, for waking up and for being excited. In fact, every second is like this. Are you living? If not, there is only one thing stopping you.
You have to wake up and decide to live. Are you ready?
I woke up this morning and decided to live. I was tired, slightly hung-over and already sweating from the humidity. Actually I was woken up by a phone call to go to the beach (thanks Wendy!). I was out late and hung up and said I was going to stay home. After ten seconds, I realized that I had to wake up. I had to go to the beach (yes, again, I love it there!)... I woke up and ran with it… and all day. And sometimes it was slower, others faster, some were stressed moments and others relaxing vacation-style ones.
I am putting this on my blog because it is a reminder. We all wake up hung-over (sometimes). We all wake up irritated at an alarm (sometimes). We even get phone calls to arouse us from slumber. Sometimes an obligation. Sometimes a fun activity to do. Another popular excuse is “for work.”
What if you woke up one day and smiled and shot out of bed because you were so excited to be alive? Because you were excited to go to your job, to do your best, to learn something new, to face mundane frustrations, drive through the daily rat race, enjoy the sunlight on your face as you sipped on a morning java at the local coffee shop because you left yourself a couple more minutes? (Ramble, ramble, ramble)
What if you woke up to wake up? And then work was just another thing to check off of the list along with a morning run and picking up the dry cleaning? An interesting way of looking at it, and a way to separate oneself from energy-draining drama too…
Like I wrote, I woke up this morning and decided to live. To be awake, aware and to react to what was presented to me. I accepted the goods for goods and bads for bads and then let them pass through me as I passed through the world. What if you wake up tomorrow and decide to live? What if everyone decided to live when they woke up?
Happy September. It is nearly the start of the next Jewish year. It is a time to start anew, even for non-Jews. It is a reminder to live. Schools are starting (I begin teaching on Monday!) and students are beginning a new life. It is the time for living, for waking up and for being excited. In fact, every second is like this. Are you living? If not, there is only one thing stopping you.
You have to wake up and decide to live. Are you ready?
2007-08-30
Planning ahead? who, me? WINTER BREAK
Yeah, that's right... planning vacations and maximizing life.... of course there will be some random trips in the upcoming months... but here is an idea for winter break. I post it now (though it will change, of course- dates, places, times, etc... IT'S JUST AN IDEA) in order to share with those of you who might find yourself interested.
(Gorgeous Tahoe Day)
DATES:
Dec 22-Jan 6th
(Dad on the X-country sticks at Lake Mary, Mammoth)
Hokkaidou snowboarding/skiing in:
-Niseko, "one of Japan's prime ski resorts" at Annupuri Ski Resort (western Hokkaidou)
-Rusutu, northern Hokkaidou
-Tomamu, eastern Hokkaidou
Train a bit further south to Yamagata prefecture (northern Honshu [main] Island):
Mt. Zaou- another awesome ski area
(what are you waiting for? Get in that pow pow!)
And, unfortunately, all of these slopes have local onsen to go with them... thermal hot baths...
Typical schedule looks like:
8:29am- wake up
8:30- hit slopes
16:30- stop riding
17:00- after-ski (drinks, duh!)
19:00- onsen to relax tight muscles
21:00- go to bars
before Dec 22, after Jan 6: Sleep
(Me looking like a girl with long hair as I hang on Eze's shoulder in Aspen-Snowmass!)
ideas for New Years: uhh, downtown Tokyo, in Shibuya. Or, at the Dewa Sanzan, on the peak of a mountain near Yamagata, spiritual retreat area. Seemingly opposites, no? What else do you expect from me?
Yeah, I am thinking about it and saving money, its gonna be a pricey one. There will be crowds- lots of people- but I think it will be bearable. I am thinking about it, alright. I am thinking. And i am acting soon.
(Me on Super Bowl Sunday 2006 in Mammoth! Yeah Kordell!)
You in? d.strich@gmail.com
[ps: missing pix of Whistler and Banff, Canada and Chamonix, France- I only real ones, no digi ones]
(Gorgeous Tahoe Day)DATES:
Dec 22-Jan 6th
PLAN:
Fly into Sapporo (like the beer!), Hokkaidou- far northern island of Japan. Perhaps I can get a discount for my domestic Japanese flight and up to three other friends on a possible JAL birthday discount... if its not in the blackout period.
(Dad on the X-country sticks at Lake Mary, Mammoth)Hokkaidou snowboarding/skiing in:
-Niseko, "one of Japan's prime ski resorts" at Annupuri Ski Resort (western Hokkaidou)
-Rusutu, northern Hokkaidou
-Tomamu, eastern Hokkaidou
Train a bit further south to Yamagata prefecture (northern Honshu [main] Island):
Mt. Zaou- another awesome ski area
(all powder and no trees, makes for great Andes slopes, right, Doctor?!)
Nagano is another idea (home of the 1998 olympics)
-Happo-o-ne Ski resort
-Shiga-kogen
(what are you waiting for? Get in that pow pow!)And, unfortunately, all of these slopes have local onsen to go with them... thermal hot baths...
Typical schedule looks like:
8:29am- wake up
8:30- hit slopes
16:30- stop riding
17:00- after-ski (drinks, duh!)
19:00- onsen to relax tight muscles
21:00- go to bars
before Dec 22, after Jan 6: Sleep
(Me looking like a girl with long hair as I hang on Eze's shoulder in Aspen-Snowmass!)ideas for New Years: uhh, downtown Tokyo, in Shibuya. Or, at the Dewa Sanzan, on the peak of a mountain near Yamagata, spiritual retreat area. Seemingly opposites, no? What else do you expect from me?
Yeah, I am thinking about it and saving money, its gonna be a pricey one. There will be crowds- lots of people- but I think it will be bearable. I am thinking about it, alright. I am thinking. And i am acting soon.
(Me on Super Bowl Sunday 2006 in Mammoth! Yeah Kordell!)You in? d.strich@gmail.com
[ps: missing pix of Whistler and Banff, Canada and Chamonix, France- I only real ones, no digi ones]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
