Clubbing in Osaka, Australia Day and stressed students

Kushimoto rocks
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Sara: “Good afternoon students!” Students: “Good afternoon students!”

Hello everyone,

I thought it was time to share some more observations/happenings from the world of Japan with you all. I am STILL teaching “My trip to China and Thailand” and am getting bored of the photos and souvenirs I brought back and the activites I prepared for the kids. However, with 8 schools it looks as if it will be March by the time I finish talking about it!

The temperature is rising and the sakura (cherry blossoms) are starting to emerge for which I am very grateful as the schools refuse to heat their schools in order to “toughen up” the kids. Other bizarre customs at Japanese schools include::

Osaka by night
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- gargling with green tea every break to “fight against the cold” - practicing how many beans you can pick up with chopsticks in one minute and put into a cup - throwing beans at break time to ward off evil spirits

This weekend was “Setsubun”, marking the changing of the seasons. In Japanese folk lore Spring Setsubun was though of as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so used to accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This ritual is called mamemaki (bean scattering) Apparently, you have to eat your age in soya beans plus one for good luck for the forthcoming year. Beans are also thrown at someone wearing an oni (devil) mask to ward off evil spirits. I wore one in my elementary schools but some kids got scared and cried..oops.

The miracle hangover cure
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The kids in Junior High are being worked really hard with high school entrance exams and in April 6th (11 yrs) and 9th (15yrs) grade will graduate and move to a new school. Maybe it`s a sign that I`ve been here for a while but my youngest kids are starting to look a lot older.

The other day I was aked to teach the following song to a class of FIVE boys: “I like coffee I like tea I like the boys And the boys like me” I tried really hard not to laugh but am sure that I must have smirked at some point! Speaking of songs….in Japan I`ll arrive at a school and the teachers throw a sheet of paper with a random song on it and expect me to know the tune and lyrics it off by heart and are shocked when you don`t!

On the dancefloor
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I`ve recently been going out with my colleagues more and more which is nice. Their English is really good and it`s “interesting” (yet another favourite word amongst the Japanese) to listen to their perspective on Japanese/English traditions, current events etc. I only just discovered how much Japanese women hate Abe who is apparently a “sexist pig”).My teachers` English is good but the expressions they use are sometimes a little strange. For example Japanese people love to say “let`s…..” or “you had better not” and “see you”. I don’t have the heart to tell them that no one ever says that!

The girls
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A few weekends ago I paid another visit to Osaka, to try out the clubs. Went to Club PURE where you pay a fiver and it`s all you can drink. I guess this ploy works in Japan as it only takes Japanese a couple of beers to get wasted.! All the girls wore exactly the same and the guys obviously had spent more time on their hair than the women and all seem to be into skinny jeans…effeminate to say the least.

I have also decided not to recontract, although a lot of the people in my prefecture have decided to stay for another year. I can see how it is tempting: good salary, good hours and not that much to do but I`m getting itchy feet again and want to do some more traveling. .

Other JETs
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What else has been happening?A few weekends ago, one of the Australian JETs had a party to celebrate Australia Day so we went bearing gifts of boomerangs, booze etc. Even had time to fit in some limboing before the police were called! This was followed by another party in the North of the prefecture. There`s something going on at the weekend for JETs to do which is nice. WAJET (JETs in Wakayama) usually organizes trips away, parties etc. Next week they have even organized a ski trip in the mountains in Gifu. It will be my first time skiing so I guess I`ll be spending 90% of my time on my back but looking forward to it nevertheless!

Australia Day!
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Right…time to go…hope you are all well. Thanks for the emails/phone calls!

Take care and SEE YOU!

Sara Xxxx

PS I am SO excited about the new Harry Potter book coming out….have already pre-ordered it so it should be waiting for me by the time I get back to England!