Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!

7 02 2007

Hello Everyone!

 

So its time for another update!  I can hardly believe how quickly the months are passing!  But as they say, time flies when you’re having fun 🙂

 

January has been a good month to me.  As I mentioned last time, I spent a few days with Yui and her family over the New Year basically relaxing and being spoilt.  After that there were only a couple of days left in my New Year vacation, which I spent doing some things at home and shopping for a coat.

 

Going back to work was a little hard.  We were lucky that our first week back was actually only 2 days, of which only one was a teaching day.  The second week back wasn’t as easy, as it was back to normal, and I had to get used to working full time again.  January through to March/April is the busiest time of the year for schools in Japan, because the school year starts in April.  So at the moment we have a lot of prospective students coming in, and we have to give them interviews and model lessons.  That on top of having a day of training on Monday has made the last two weeks very very busy for me.

 

As for my free time in this last month, I’ve spent most of my time hanging out with friends and family.  Early in the month I met up with one of the guys I did training with and we checked out the sights in Yokohama.  Yokohama has one of the largest China Towns in the world, so we spent the morning wandering around there looking through the shops and eating the occasional pork bun.  And from there we went to the Ramen (Chinese Noodles) Museum, which was actually the highlight of the day for me.  It’s a really cool place.  Inside is set up to look like Japan in the 1950’s, and there are around 6 stores that sell ramen from different parts of the country.  Almost every region in Japan has it’s own variation on how to serve ramen.  Hokkaido Miso Ramen remains my favorite.

 

On the weekend of the 13th and 14th some of my cousins from Adelaide were in Tokyo as part of a longer holiday in Japan.  I met up with John and Jacqui on the Sunday to see some Sumo wrestling.  Before going to the stadium we went to the Tokyo Edo Museum, which is one of my favorite museums.  It details the history of Tokyo, so it’s quite interesting.  Then after lunch we headed over to watch the professional sumo matches for the day.  Sumo is always fun to watch, and the atmosphere is quite exciting, even being in the back row….  For dinner we headed over to Shinjuku, and I took them to an Izakaiya, a traditional Japanese bar.  It was a pretty long day by the time we separated, but it was very enjoyable.

 

Apart from that I didn’t get up to much touristy stuff.  I just met up with Christina for lunch a few times, and with Peter for dinner.  And it seems that most Saturday nights after work a few of us go out for dinner and drinks in the local area.  I’m learning that Nerima has a lot of good restaurants.  

  

Oh, and if any one was wondering, the subject line says “Evil out, good luck in”.  Yesterday was Setsubun, when people in Japan toss toasted soybeans out of their house to dispel evil.

 

Keep well!

 

 

 

Michele


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my my my…

30 01 2007

my hands were drying out and cracking due to the cold weather, but I bought some good moisturizer so they are getting better now.

my ramen for dinner last night came with meat!  instant ramen with real meat!  what will they think of next?

ramen

 my neighbor likes to mulch thing from his garden.  everyday.  at around 830am.  nice way to wake up?


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Proud is…

28 01 2007

I don’t know many of the details, but my grandpa got an Australia day award from his local RSL.  Once I find out more about what it’s all about I’ll let you know, but till then, thought I would tell you so that you can be proud with me!


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ugh

28 01 2007

We went out to a bar in Ikebukuro last night.  It was pretty fun, and very out there.  This bar was called “Fantasy Paradise”  and has themed areas.  We ate in the Opera House area (gorgeous and gothic dining, with girls in French maid outfits for waiters), but they also have Under the Sea, Bamboo Grove, and Year of the Pig (at least thats what I think the theme was….).

Pretty interesting in all.  Next time I want to go to the Lock Up, where you have your own little cell with torture items decorating the walls.  Cant say the Japanese aren’t creative.

On the downside however, Im feeling quite seedy today, so I didn’t make it to church, or the shopping that I wanted to do.  Ah well.


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interesting….

24 01 2007

becuase this year has been warmer than usual the snow for the Sapporo Snow Festival has had to have been trucked in to build the giant sculptures.

I’ve been having lesson observations at my work becuase I will be doing follow up training on monday.  They are pretty nerve wrecking, however overall I have had really positive comments.  Feels pretty good 🙂


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*ahem* fat men giving each other wedgies and stuff…

22 01 2007

 Last weekend some of my cousins were in town – John and Jackie, so we arranged to meet up.  They wanted to see sumo while they were here, so we went along to the Grand Tournament that they were holding here in Tokyo.  Offically the day starts at around 0830, but really, it doesn’t get all that interesting until mid afternoon.  So in the morning I took them to the Tokyo Edo Museum.  It was my third time going there, but as always I learn something new everytime.  This time around they had a display about the 2nd las Shogun, who was the one that was in charge of the country when the Americans forced their way in.  And they also had a display about mechanical dolls..  I tell you what, they were pretty impressive!

After Lunch we headed over to the Sumo Stadium to watch the professionals.  Sumo is pretty fun, even if you are in the second last row of seats….  Its all about the atmosphere I guess.  I have to admit that I almost fell asleep durning the matches… The night before I didn’t get to sleep until 2am because my neighbors were talking…  grrrr…  But that was the first time I’ve had problems regarding noise here, so that’s been a pretty good run.  Anyway, sumo…  We also wandered around and looked at all the stores.  If there’s one thing Japanese people love, its souvenirs….

After sumo we went to Shinjuku for dinner at an izakaiya.  The meal was okay~  By the end of the day we had spent about 13 hours together, so it was a long day.  Suffice to say, on monday I pretty much just did some house work and chilled out at home.

Work has been kinda hectic recently.  This is the season for new students to sign up, because the school year will be starting again in March.  So we’ve had a lot of interviews to do. And poor Katie was pretty sick and had to take a day off because she lost her voice.  But I can’t complain, the extra money is always welcome.

This weekend I finally got around to going to church (sounds bad hey… finally….).  It was an interesting day.  There are so many new faces at church, and not that many old faces, which is kinda sad.  I guess It’s just not going to be the same as before.  But I’ve already made some new friends, so I guess thats a plus.

Yesterday I was supposed to go with Xina to a doctor’s appointment, but she canceled it, and instead we went to this little malaysian place near Roppongi.  Really yummy food, but its so cheap! 


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Chinatown – home of kisch

8 01 2007

  Today went to Yokohama with Chester from my training group.  Twas a fun day

Yokohama is known for two main things – being a port city, and having one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world.  We naturally headed for Chinatown.  I think this was the 3rd or 4th time I had been there, but its pretty exciting.  Heaps of little stores that sell, ahem, crappy stuff, like panda toys and mugs with hemp leaves printed on them.  But it creates a fun atmosphere.  I also managed to fill my nikku-man craving somewhat (steamed bread dumplings with sweet pork inside).

We also went to the Kan-Tei-Byo temple, which is for the ‘Holy King Guan’ – inspirational source of spirit and emotion for Chinese people.  We lit incense there, which was something I had never done at a temple in Japan before, and with that included access into the temples to look at the idols.  Well, actually to pray, but we didn’t participate in that…  looked kinda complicated….

 

After Chinatown we headed to the district with old western style buildings, and walked our way back to Cosmo World, which is a kinda theme park by the water.  We went on the rollercoster there and then played some games in the arcade.  In particular – the taiko drum game and dance dance revolution….  Both a good workout

From there we went to Shin Yokohama where there is a ‘Ramen Museum’.  It isn’t a Museum as such, more like this little themed, um, indoor place thing.  All decked out to look like Japan in the 1950’s or so.  There’s about 6 different styles of ramen on offer there, and other old fashioned sweets etc.  It was really good, probably the high light of my day since im also craving ramen, heh


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Welcoming the Year of the Boar!

6 01 2007

Hello everyone!

I hope you had a great Christmas and looking forward to an even better
year in 2007!

Its hard to believe that another month has passed!  As always,
December seems to pass by so quickly.  Unfortunately it wasn’t the
best of months for me, with persisting colds and flu, but I seem to be
better now, so I’m looking forward to January!

Being sick however didn’t prevent me from getting out and doing things
🙂  December is the month for Christmas Illuminations in Japan, and
they can be quite pretty, if not as ‘christmassy’ as we are used to.
At the start of the month Peter and I went to Roppongi Hills to check
out their Illumination.  We also went up to the observation deck
there, said to be the tallest in Tokyo I think.  Tokyo is an amazing
city, it just goes on and on!

Work was pretty busy last month as well, but I’m really enjoying it.
This company allows the teachers to socialize with the Japanese staff
and students, so about mid month we had a large end of year party at a
Korean restaurant near work.  It was pretty enjoyable, and everyone
seems to be fun-loving.  With work I also had a training day last
month, and I got to catch up with all the people I did initial
training with.  They all seem to be doing well.  I’m actually on my
last day of holidays now, in total, for New Year we have had 8 days
off.  I wish it was a little longer, but the rest of this week at work
will be only be two days long, and with no regular lessons, so it will
be pretty easy.

Peter and I also went to Disneyland to see their Christmas lights and
parades.  As always, I love that place, but unfortunately my favourite
ride – Space Mountain – was closed for the day.  However, as a special
holiday ‘event’, the Haunted Mansion was themed with Nightmare Before
Christmas characters, so that was pretty special.

On the 23rd we had a public holiday for the Emperor’s Birthday.
Apparently you can see the Imperial Family on this day at the Palace,
so I went along for a look.  I didn’t see them myself (I probably
arrived too late in the day), but I did walk around the outside of the
palace (its a huge place, it took over an hour) and the east gardens.
It was very picturesque, however I think I’ll have to go back in
spring when the flowers are out.  I’ve attached some pictures for you
to look at.


For Christmas day we didn’t make any plans, but Christina pulled
through and we went to the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi for a buffet lunch.
 Believe me, the food was really really good!  And it was really great
to spend the day with friends, even if the lunch wasn’t so much of a
traditional Christmas spread.

Over the New Year, my friend Yui invited me to her house for a few
days.  It was really great time.  She lives near a place called
Hakone, which is famous for its hot springs and views of Mt Fuji.  And
on New Years day we took a bus tour to Tochigi Prefecture.  The bus
tour included a visit to a shrine, a flower park, a shopping outlet,
and a strawberry farm.  Now, I’m not a big fan of strawberries, but
they were really really sweet and tasty!  So those few days with Yui
were spent relaxing, enjoying hot springs and eating really good food
(her mum’s a great cook too!).


Well, that’s about all for December!  Hope you are all looking forward
to the new year as much as I am!  I would love to hear from you too!

Take care!



Michele

 


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i rock

6 01 2007

i sooooo rock!  through a combination of reading and listening my japanese is pretty okay.

its good to rock!

i ordered some books from amazon.co.jp and as always, they were trying to deliver them whilst I was at work…  so I was left with this little calling slip that has directions on how to get it delivered.  so i figured out I could just call up this free number, and enter in some codes, and I could specify what time and day I want them delivered!  all at 1150 at night!

rock on!

 

 

this is one of those Im proud of my japanese skills moments


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Long weekends

25 12 2006

  God Bless long weekends! 

This weekend was a long weekend for me because on Saturday, it was the Emperor’s Birthday!  So not only did I get Christmas day off, but the weekend before it!~  I won’t be as lucky next year

So, Saturday being the Emperor’s Birthday, you are supposed to be able to see the Royal family at the Imperial Palace…  I really don’t know if that happens, because I decided to go, and I don’t think I saw anything that isn’t open at any other time of the year.  They have the East garden which is open all year around, and Im sure it would be quite beautiful in spring.  I also walked around the whole palace, which took over an hour.  Its a huge place.

There’s a lot of moats, old stone walls, guard houses and gates.  It’s pretty impressive, however, the sad thing is that most of the built structures aren’t originals.. But you would find that true with a lot of Japanese historical sites.  Still, they are usually faithful replicas, and they can really transfer you back in time~

The gardens are really beautiful and well kept, and Im sure when there’s a bit more green and flowers out it would be a sight to behold.  Its kinda like an oasis in the middle of Tokyo (well, technically its not the middle…  and it used to be on Tokyo Bay… but with land reclamation you certainly cant see the sea anymore….)

Certainly worth the visit (esp since the garden is free!)

Sunday, unfortunately I was feeling pretty sick once more… Hopefully I’ll be able to get over my colds over the holidays and my immune system will get back up to speed.. touch wood.

Today was Christmas, of course!  I didn’t plan to do much apart from call my family and eat KFC for lunch (its traditional christmas food in japan?!?).  However, Xina, being the wonderful person she is, decided that was no good, and we, being Xina, Jason, Peter and myself, all went to the Grand Hyatt for lunch. 

They have this great restaurant called French Kitchen, where you can get brunches, lunches, and dinner.  We went for lunch, and that included all you can eat entrees, choice of main, all you can eat desserts, a glass of champagne, tea or coffee, and cheeses…  It was a bit expensive, but it was really worth it…  And I ended up drinking Xina and Peters’ glasses of champagne… so I was a bit happy.

Ended up being a better christmas than I expected


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