IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! kind of..almost...

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but things have been a little busy. With my parents coming to visit over winter break and now me just being lazy, there just isn't enough time. I wanted this post to be GIANT and have all the fun activities I have done in the last month, but I decided to share something more important:

MY BIRTHDAY! 

I feel like since I am in Japan and the majority of my friends and family live in America, I get two birthdays. Here in Japan, my birthday is in less than an hour. If I celebrate on America time, I'll get another one 17 hours later. Clever. I think I'll take two.

What's that? You want to know my big plans for turning 26 in a country different from the one I was born in??? Well, I plan to work. Because that's what the Japanese do. They work. I have 7 classes to teach tomorrow, but don't think I haven't been reminding my students for months now when my birthday is. I included it in lessons. I also tested them on it. They can't forget. I'm prepared to be disappointed tomorrow.

I've thought about mentioning this...

Anyway, I'm not as excited as I usually am for my birthday. True, this entire post is about my birthday, but don't be fooled. I am usually WAY more excited. I just plan on having a relaxing weekend in Numazu and the following weekend I am meeting a friend from my training group in Kyoto.

In other recent news, I had my six month evaluation with my manager. I can't believe I've been here for 6 months. It seems like way longer. This also means I still have 6 months left. In my evaluation meeting, my manager and I discussed my improvements from my 3 month evaluation, but she also marked me down on a couple things. She marked me down because she didn't like a sweater I wore one time. I didn't realize her personal fashion sense was taken into account. If we're going to talk outfit preferences, I don't like suits. Just be glad I come to work dressed. That was hard to do in the summer, so, you're welcome. Then she asked me the question I had been anticipating since I started: What do you think about extending your contract??

I just cried.

I don't know why! I have answered this question 100 times in my head. I rehearsed it so I didn't blatantly laugh in her face and walk away. Maybe it was all the nice comments she had given me before asking me to stay. Or maybe I care about this job more than I think I do. No, that can't be it.

I finally was able to gather myself together enough to explain (or lie) to her why I can't stay. She said she understood, but she asked me to reconsider for maybe extending 3 more months. I felt bad for saying no, but I came here for the experience. One year then continue my life in America. Had things been amazing here and I thought I could do this forever, then I would stay at that school. She is great, my coworkers are great and I love (most of) my students. It's been an incredible experience, but I was done with it 3 months ago. We started discussing the job itself and I explained to her that this job is hard. I've never worked harder in my life and I'm sure none of the other NETs have either. It's hard on your body, on your mind, your emotional stability. I can't understand how others have survived for more than a year.

It's not official just yet. I haven't filed any papers saying I have refused the offer, but the word is out now. I just hope it doesn't ruin the relationship I had with my manager. She asked me, "What if the new person isn't like you?" That is so nice. I just told her, "I'll punch them."

I feel relieved and happy, but sad. She cried. That was hard to watch. Japanese people don't cry. Emotions...what are those?? Anyway...

Happy Birthday to ME! You have 6 months left in Japan. Make them count  :-)
Until next time! またね！
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New Vocabulary:
~誕生日  tah-n-joe-be   birthday
~六ヶ月  ro-ka-geh-tsu   6 months
~泣く   nah-ku    to cry

That Didn't Suck...

The title of this blog post happens to be one of Mary's favorite sayings. It was well-used this weekend, which we spent in 東京 (Tokyo). Heather invited a bunch of us out to 本厚木 (Honatsugi) to spend our last weekend before winter vacation. Honastugi is about 40 minutes from Tokyo and about 2 1/2 hours on a local train from me. I met Mary in 沼津 (Numazu) and we met up with Heather at her station, then off to find Mandy at the 新宿 (Shinjuku) station in Tokyo. Poor Mandy. She was coming from  仙台 (Sendai) and has never left the area since she got there in July. If you don't already know, the Tokyo train/subway system is ridiculous. In case anyone else is wondering, Shinjuku is a place, not a train. We all wandered the streets of Shinjuku, impressed by the bright lights and the crowds and looking for a place that would suit everyone's needs for an acceptable dinner. Instead, we took photo stickers and stared at the men that stand around with pretty hair. We eventually found a little smokey "izakaya" (Google says it's a tavern, but I think of it as a step up from a pub. it's more restaurant than bar). We drank lots of sours and ate lots of little fried snacks. Delicious. After dinner, we went to karaoke, drank WAY too much and sang some awful songs. I made friends with the cabby on the way back to Heather's after our little bathroom excursion. It was great. 

Pretty view of Mt. Fuji from the train!

歌舞伎町--Kabuki-cho

The next day we had another adventure to 秋葉原 (Akihabara), the electronics district in Tokyo. These gorgeous yellow trees lined the streets and even though it was a tad cold, it was a beautiful day! We had lunch at the ガンダム (Gundam) Cafe. I was told once that Gundam are like Japanese transformers ( I also thought that transformers were Japanese, but apparently that is not true either).. They are things that morph into war-fighting robots (I'm sorry Heather if I get this wrong) and they now have their own cafe. Cool. I had lunch with robots with the strangest taste in food. I had a pizza, topped with what appeared to be potato salad and a drizzle of basil pesto. Why do they think they can just throw any picnic side-dish on top of a pizza? (**That reminds me. I had asked one of my students what kind of pizza she liked and she said salami. Now, I know there's pepperoni and Canadian bacon and whatever, but I don't believe I've ever heard of salami. I then told her my favorite is cheese and pineapple and I think she almost threw up in her mouth). 

He's so cute!

                                     

Pretty yellow trees!

 So, I'm not cool enough to give you all the statistics about the ridiculous amounts of anime and electronics that are produced or whatever happens here. Feel free to use my friend Google to find that information out on your own. We made our way to 浅草 (Asakusa) where we went to the 浅草寺 (Sensou-ji temple). The outer gate of the temple is called 雷門 (Kaminari-mon), which translates to "Thunder gate". We had asked someone to take our picture and as we're standing there, waiting for the guy to snap the shot, a bunch of older people with giant cameras squat down and immediately start snapping photos of the four of us. I wasn't aware that any of us are celebrities. I mean, if you're looking for foreigners there are plenty to choose from. All I have to say is, if you're going to put my face on a brochure, you better come find me because I want my cut. This face ain't cheap. I have kids that spend 7,500 yen to talk to this face for an hour. Rude. Anyway, we wandered around the temple grounds and there was a little festival thing happening. We ate some street vendor food and made our way back to the station to part our ways. We did run into a guy selling oranges who has no concept of bartering. He was trying to sell his oranges, 8 for 500 yen. We said that wasn't bad, but we don't need 8 oranges, they're too heavy. He said, "Ok. I give you 10 for 500 yen." Seriously sir? We may just want one. He said, "Ok. 12 for 200 yen." Mary couldn't take it anymore and just bought them. 
It was a fantastic weekend. Just what we all needed before we finish out the six days of work we have left this year. This weekend did not suck, as Mary would say. I cannot wait for this weekend because I can finally see my parents!! I will meet them in 横浜 (Yokohama) on Sunday and they will be here for the next 2 weeks. Well, until next time! またね！

The best fortune!

The regular fortune

A good fortune

a good fortune 

bargain. 

Kaminari-mon

Sensou-ji Temple

I don't know, but it's pretty. And Japanese looking. 

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New Vocabulary:

~迷子になった  my-go-ni-nah-tah   got lost

~寺  teh-rah  temple 

さようなら トラビス！ (Goodbye Travis!)

This week we sadly said goodbye to my co-NET, Travis. While his departure from our company has been sad, it has allowed us to meet Shawna (my new co-NET). She is so spunky and excited about everything. It's nice to see that energy in the office again. I lost that positive energy after my first week when I realized that I had no friends or anyone to hang out with during my first vacation. I hope she doesn't lose it!

I will miss Travis very very much. He was a wealth of information about the company and Japan and I don't know what I'm going to do without him. Since he had been here for 2 years, he was held responsible for pretty much anything that went wrong on behalf of the foreign teachers. I can't have that kind of responsibility. I've barely been here 4 months. It's still early in this game.

Anyway, to celebrate Travis and the new friends that have now joined our school, we all went out to karaoke and had a fabulous time! Here are some pictures from the evening!

I'm gonna miss that goofy face.

That was the office party. Now, let the real festivities begin......

With California Love playing in the background, we taught the Japanese ladies how to be real Cali gangsters
West-side (Really far west). For life. 

Manager sang the cutest song about salad. 

Shit got serious.

 We ended the night at Travis' favorite bar in downtown Shizuoka, Asobi Bar. We played darts and cards and took inappropriate pictures with some of the toys there.

I think she got a bullseye. 

あそび　バー (Asobi Bar)

"Hello...hello...hello. I am glad to see you...I am glad to see you..."

またあそぼうね！(we'll hang again soon!)

What's that? You want to hear some karaoke? You're in luck. I took videos. Ever heard Ricky Martin in Japanese...it doesn't translate well, but enjoy. You're welcome. (still trying to get the video to work. Be patient).

It was a great way to celebrate. Travis, you will be missed greatly. Thanks for everything!! You're an amazing mentor and friend. Good luck and I will see you when I return to California. Until next time! またね！

<3 Allison

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New Vocabulary:

~さようなら　トラビス   sah-yo-nah-rah Toe-rah-bee-sue    Goodbye Travis!

~またあそぼうね  mah-tah-ah-so-bow-neh    We'll hang again soon!