Thursday, August 23, 2007
I PASSED THE MCAT!
So holy fucking shit, I passed the MCAT. I think huzzahs and drinks are in order. I can think back 7 and a half months ago, when I began my MCAT prep course (princeton review), only to squander the time as I was too busy with my other college studies to effectively devote time to the MCAT. That lead my to reschedule my test date from May 11th to July 24th. Yet I resolved myself to wiling away my summer days, studying in the various librarys around central PA. After what seemed like a maddening amount of time, I still had not completed my review of the material. And so I contemplated pushing back the test yet again, to an undetermined date in Japan. However, this would mean that I would not be able to apply to medical school this year, instead giving a 2nd year off. This prospect seemed unappealing to me to say the least, and so I decided to push forth and I took the MCAT from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm on a hot day in July. While i was less than confident that I had passed, the results came in today and needless to say, I was pleased. With my score, I can now apply to medical school carefree, and hopefully, come next August, I will be sitting in the entering class of 2012 (fixed for blair) in a school somewhere in the US. （よしょ)
Jessica The Goddess
Over the past few weeks I have been growing more and more fond of my co-worker... what should I do? She has to be the sweetest, smartest, sexiest thing ever. She is petite but curvy, with a fabulous rack and sparkling green eyes, cute clothes, really genki (energetic) and excited to be a teacher, fluent in Japanese, top of her class graduating from college... AND she`s Jewish!
She`s a cross between the pixie-like beauty of Bjork and a Greek Goddess, only in a really hot Ukranian kind of way. *
*Written by Jessica, my hyper ALT coworker. But she's hot anyway.
As you can see, we have alot of time on our hands here at the office. While for us, work started here in Kurume on the 8th, even now, school is on summer vacation. This has lead to long days of sitting at our 3 desks, bored out of our minds, looking for ways to amuse ourselves. Our attempts at making teaching materials quickly passed, devolving into games of 20 questions and 'I spy with my little eye'. Luckily school starts in another week and a half on September 3rd, so our days will grow busy. But for now, i'll just have to spend my hours admiring Jessica from afar.
She`s a cross between the pixie-like beauty of Bjork and a Greek Goddess, only in a really hot Ukranian kind of way. *
*Written by Jessica, my hyper ALT coworker. But she's hot anyway.
As you can see, we have alot of time on our hands here at the office. While for us, work started here in Kurume on the 8th, even now, school is on summer vacation. This has lead to long days of sitting at our 3 desks, bored out of our minds, looking for ways to amuse ourselves. Our attempts at making teaching materials quickly passed, devolving into games of 20 questions and 'I spy with my little eye'. Luckily school starts in another week and a half on September 3rd, so our days will grow busy. But for now, i'll just have to spend my hours admiring Jessica from afar.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Nagasaki
Its been over a week, but last Monday and Tuesday I decided to hell with it, and after booking a hotel, I hit the rails bound for Nagasaki. From Kurume, Nagasaki city in Nagasaki Prefecture is about an hour and 45 minutes. I first had to travel to Tosu, a city 2 stops away in Saga Prefecture. Tosu is a crossroads, and after switching to the rapid train I was on my way to Nagasaki. The countryside was particularly beautiful as I traveled through both Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures; I saw plenty of rice fields and the train eventually traveled along the coast.
When I arrived I immediately boarded a trolley (Roman Densha ロマン電車） and got off at the stop in front of the peace park (Heiwa Koen - 平和公園). Constructed in the 1950's, the peace park now boasts statues of saints donated from various countries. In the center is a statue of a greek-like diety simply known as the peace statue. It seemed both out of place and appropriate at the same time. From there, I took a 5 minute walk to the Urakami Cathedral. Once the biggest church in East Asia, it is said that Urakami Cathedral took 3 decades to construct and 3 seconds to be destroyed by the Atomic Bomb. Continuing on with my tour of depressing landmarks, I traveled to the Atomic Bomb Museum, which housed remnants of buildings melted and twisted by the bomb blast, along with photos, videos, and testamonials from various A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha- 被爆者). Particularly moving if ghastly was the site of a man on a ladder. While the ladder and the man were utterly destroyed by the bomb blast, the intense heat wave generated by the explosion seared the shadows of both onto a wall in a sort of twisted memorial. Determined to see all things related to the horrific event befalling Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945, my final stop was at Hypocenter park. This park is rather plain except for a single statue and a black monolith marking the exact point above which the A-bomb exploded at 11:02 AM.
In the mood for something cheerier, after lunch I traveled the opposite direction on the trolleys to Dejima Island. During the closed country ( sakoku-鎖国) period, enacted by the Tokugawa Shogunate (specifically by Tokugawa Iemitsu) through a number of edicts between 1635 and 1641, the country of Japan was technically off limits to foreigners until it was reopened by Commadore Perry reopened the country in 1853 (it remained illegal to leave Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868). However, a loophole was left in this policy through the creation of the artifical island of Dejima. This island, constructed out of sand and reenforced artifically, was the only place in Japan that foreigners (specifically the Dutch) could come and trade for Japanese goods. While the Dutch were basically restricted from leaving the island from the mid 17th century onward, through the trade provided for by the Dutch of Dejima, the Japanese gained knowledge of a variety of subjects and were able to keep apprised of the various developments outside of their country. Today the island is no longer an island at all. Through a variety of land reclamantion acts passed at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the area around Dejima was filled in. Today, the `island' is infact landlocked, surrounded by office buildings and perhaps .15 miles from the shore. However, the Japanese have done a fairly admirable job in restoring the island at least partially, with dutch buildings etc, and it was a very interesting historic sight to see. Finally, at the end of the day, I traveled up inasa mountain via cable car where i took some spectacular pictures of the city at night.
The next day, I went to temple row and checked out Shofuku-ji temple, a buddhist temple obviously influenced by chinese architecture, as well as several other small and large temples. I went no the day of obon, a day on which the Japanese travel to the graves of their ancestors and pay homage to them, so I saw many people praying at the temples. It was fascinating really. However, it started to rain, and so I hopped on a trolley, hit the biggest Shinto shrine in Nagasaki (Suwa shrine) (after climbing up several hundred stairs), and then high-tailed it out of Nagasaki. Anyone visiting Kyushu, make this historical and amazing city a priority for sure.
When I arrived I immediately boarded a trolley (Roman Densha ロマン電車） and got off at the stop in front of the peace park (Heiwa Koen - 平和公園). Constructed in the 1950's, the peace park now boasts statues of saints donated from various countries. In the center is a statue of a greek-like diety simply known as the peace statue. It seemed both out of place and appropriate at the same time. From there, I took a 5 minute walk to the Urakami Cathedral. Once the biggest church in East Asia, it is said that Urakami Cathedral took 3 decades to construct and 3 seconds to be destroyed by the Atomic Bomb. Continuing on with my tour of depressing landmarks, I traveled to the Atomic Bomb Museum, which housed remnants of buildings melted and twisted by the bomb blast, along with photos, videos, and testamonials from various A-bomb survivors (Hibakusha- 被爆者). Particularly moving if ghastly was the site of a man on a ladder. While the ladder and the man were utterly destroyed by the bomb blast, the intense heat wave generated by the explosion seared the shadows of both onto a wall in a sort of twisted memorial. Determined to see all things related to the horrific event befalling Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945, my final stop was at Hypocenter park. This park is rather plain except for a single statue and a black monolith marking the exact point above which the A-bomb exploded at 11:02 AM.
In the mood for something cheerier, after lunch I traveled the opposite direction on the trolleys to Dejima Island. During the closed country ( sakoku-鎖国) period, enacted by the Tokugawa Shogunate (specifically by Tokugawa Iemitsu) through a number of edicts between 1635 and 1641, the country of Japan was technically off limits to foreigners until it was reopened by Commadore Perry reopened the country in 1853 (it remained illegal to leave Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868). However, a loophole was left in this policy through the creation of the artifical island of Dejima. This island, constructed out of sand and reenforced artifically, was the only place in Japan that foreigners (specifically the Dutch) could come and trade for Japanese goods. While the Dutch were basically restricted from leaving the island from the mid 17th century onward, through the trade provided for by the Dutch of Dejima, the Japanese gained knowledge of a variety of subjects and were able to keep apprised of the various developments outside of their country. Today the island is no longer an island at all. Through a variety of land reclamantion acts passed at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the area around Dejima was filled in. Today, the `island' is infact landlocked, surrounded by office buildings and perhaps .15 miles from the shore. However, the Japanese have done a fairly admirable job in restoring the island at least partially, with dutch buildings etc, and it was a very interesting historic sight to see. Finally, at the end of the day, I traveled up inasa mountain via cable car where i took some spectacular pictures of the city at night.
The next day, I went to temple row and checked out Shofuku-ji temple, a buddhist temple obviously influenced by chinese architecture, as well as several other small and large temples. I went no the day of obon, a day on which the Japanese travel to the graves of their ancestors and pay homage to them, so I saw many people praying at the temples. It was fascinating really. However, it started to rain, and so I hopped on a trolley, hit the biggest Shinto shrine in Nagasaki (Suwa shrine) (after climbing up several hundred stairs), and then high-tailed it out of Nagasaki. Anyone visiting Kyushu, make this historical and amazing city a priority for sure.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Travel, bugs, power rangers, and more
A lot has happened in these past few weeks. This past weekend I decided it was time to travel, even though I had only been in Kurume for less than 3 days, and so on saturday I went on a shopping excursion with my fellow JETs, Jessica and Alexis, to Youme town (pronounced you - me (as in MAY)), the new immense shopping mall in town. It was daunting. we were the only western faces in a sea of several thousand Japanese, all headed to the mall to do their weekend shopping. While there I saw several random things which can only be attributed to Japan, the first of which being the rhinocerous beetle (カブト虫) . This hideous beetle (also called the hercules beetle as it can lift up to 750 times its own weight - 65 tons or so if it was the size of a human) is about the size of one's palm and looks like something out of the movie creep show or some other horror movie, but is in fact a children's pet in Asia. Apparently it's a plant eater, clean, easy to maintain and only lives during the summer and so it's a good for children, but I know that if I saw one on the street I wouldn't hesitate and crushing it. I did however see several mammoth examples of the beetle at both a pet store and in Toys R' us of all places, lending credence to their popularity.
Also, after buying a couch (which im currently sitting on) and some cushions, I stumbled upon a gathering of children and their parents, who were all sitting on several blue tarps staring at a stage in the middle of the mall. I expected a clown or something of that sort to appear, but was surprised (but not totally so) when two guys in power rangers costumes came running onto the stage and then proceded to battle each other. It was hilarious and the kids loved it, with each character posing with the children for photos after the 'show'. What a wacky country but i suppose we have the same sort of stuff.
On Sunday, while it was sweltering outside, with temperatures in the high 90's and humid as hell, I felt I should explore, and so I took a trip to Dazaifu. In the 1800's, Daizaifu was the Fukuoka prefectural capital. However, at the beginning of the Meiji restoration, the capital was moved to Fukuoka city and so the town is now known for its temples (although one can see the ruins of the government buildings- I did not, it was too hot). I did, however, go to the biggest temple in the area, Tengu-ji. Dedicated to the scholar god, Tengu-ji was established after a famous academic was exiled from fukuoka city to Dazaifu city, where he died in exile. Promptly realizing their mistake, the Japanese decided to dedicate a shrine to him and now students go there to pray for good luck. After viewing the shrine, I looked on the local map and saw that there were some smaller temples, one with the oldest bell in Japan (dating from 746 ad), nearby so i decided to walk the mile or so and check them out. Well the heat was blistering and i probably got sunburn but I made it. The temple was basically deserted in the middle of a rice field. Next to it, there was a monastery as well as a temple hall that housed some gigantic buddhas from the 10th-13th century or so. Photos to come. I also checked out an even smaller temple that was in the middle of a neighborhood but it was more for praying and less for show. Good stuff.
Also, after buying a couch (which im currently sitting on) and some cushions, I stumbled upon a gathering of children and their parents, who were all sitting on several blue tarps staring at a stage in the middle of the mall. I expected a clown or something of that sort to appear, but was surprised (but not totally so) when two guys in power rangers costumes came running onto the stage and then proceded to battle each other. It was hilarious and the kids loved it, with each character posing with the children for photos after the 'show'. What a wacky country but i suppose we have the same sort of stuff.
On Sunday, while it was sweltering outside, with temperatures in the high 90's and humid as hell, I felt I should explore, and so I took a trip to Dazaifu. In the 1800's, Daizaifu was the Fukuoka prefectural capital. However, at the beginning of the Meiji restoration, the capital was moved to Fukuoka city and so the town is now known for its temples (although one can see the ruins of the government buildings- I did not, it was too hot). I did, however, go to the biggest temple in the area, Tengu-ji. Dedicated to the scholar god, Tengu-ji was established after a famous academic was exiled from fukuoka city to Dazaifu city, where he died in exile. Promptly realizing their mistake, the Japanese decided to dedicate a shrine to him and now students go there to pray for good luck. After viewing the shrine, I looked on the local map and saw that there were some smaller temples, one with the oldest bell in Japan (dating from 746 ad), nearby so i decided to walk the mile or so and check them out. Well the heat was blistering and i probably got sunburn but I made it. The temple was basically deserted in the middle of a rice field. Next to it, there was a monastery as well as a temple hall that housed some gigantic buddhas from the 10th-13th century or so. Photos to come. I also checked out an even smaller temple that was in the middle of a neighborhood but it was more for praying and less for show. Good stuff.
Harmony
The Japanese office is a peculiar creature. Unlike American offices, which cubiclize everything and coordine off most everybody while still promoting the guise of unity by leaving one side of a cube open to the rest of the world, Japanese offices function without barriers. You see, in order to maintain the harmony (調和 - chiyoowa) of society even in office settings, the Japanese have effectively set up rows of desks with the most senior of people at the head of the office closest to the windows, while us lowely English teachers are farthest from the bosses. The only one with a private office is the superintendant of the school district, who is too much of a head honcho to be among us lowly mid level administrators. Even now, as I sit here typing this, I can see all of my colleagues and they can see me, which discourages me from going online but I do it anyway as I have nothing to do.
Coming to that topic, we, as Assistant Teachers of Language (ALTs), are required to come into the office every day from 8:30 to 4:15, Monday through Friday until school starts. We are supposed to work on lesson plans and teaching materials but as we still have more than 2 weeks until school starts, we sit here through mind-numbing bordom, listening to the same cheesy song that plays when one is to cross the street outside of our office, which can drive one to madness. So in addition to lesson planning, I have been checking my email and posting here in order to relive the endless hours of nothingness. But everyone here is amazingly nice, more so than in America. All this lends to the harmony of the office. If somone were to act out, being grumpy or whatnot, it would lead to discord and result in concern for that individual. But people here are generally laid back and agreeable. I made sure to bring in presents ( おみやげ- omiyage) from both America (I gave hershey's kisses to my immediate superiors - Mr. Higuchi and Mrs. Kobukata who both can speak english - only kobukata uses english with us, Higuchi majored in English literature but speaks japanese which is good for practicing), and from nagasaki (a cake called Castella cake which was portugese in origin - it speaks to the diversity of nagasaki and its rich history with the outside world) which i gave to the entire office in order to feel more accepted by my colleages. Everything goes back to harmony in this society and we're trying our best to fit in.頑張りましょう！ (I shall try my best).
Coming to that topic, we, as Assistant Teachers of Language (ALTs), are required to come into the office every day from 8:30 to 4:15, Monday through Friday until school starts. We are supposed to work on lesson plans and teaching materials but as we still have more than 2 weeks until school starts, we sit here through mind-numbing bordom, listening to the same cheesy song that plays when one is to cross the street outside of our office, which can drive one to madness. So in addition to lesson planning, I have been checking my email and posting here in order to relive the endless hours of nothingness. But everyone here is amazingly nice, more so than in America. All this lends to the harmony of the office. If somone were to act out, being grumpy or whatnot, it would lead to discord and result in concern for that individual. But people here are generally laid back and agreeable. I made sure to bring in presents ( おみやげ- omiyage) from both America (I gave hershey's kisses to my immediate superiors - Mr. Higuchi and Mrs. Kobukata who both can speak english - only kobukata uses english with us, Higuchi majored in English literature but speaks japanese which is good for practicing), and from nagasaki (a cake called Castella cake which was portugese in origin - it speaks to the diversity of nagasaki and its rich history with the outside world) which i gave to the entire office in order to feel more accepted by my colleages. Everything goes back to harmony in this society and we're trying our best to fit in.頑張りましょう！ (I shall try my best).
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Tokyo orientation
Upon my arrival in Japan on August 5th, I along with 1000 other native speakers of English were deposited via bus at the Keio Plaza Hotel in the heart of Tokyo, 2 blocks from shinjuku station. There, we were subjected to long boring speeches from government officials, as well many workshops that were pretty useless. However, some were beneficial to those like me who have no prior teaching experience, and I suffered through all of them to find the good ones. My advice? Go to any workshop on teaching that you can so that you have some idea of what to do come September. The nights were pretty standard Tokyo-fare. Going out, getting drunk, and making your way back to the hotel to sleep it off. My nights were pretty tame as I was still tired as hell from the plane ride over, but make the most of it if you can. Orientation lasted from the 5th, a sunday, to wednesday the 8th when we were all herded off to our respective prefectures (the fukuoka-ken JETs went by plane to Fukuoka airport). I was surprised to see that we took a 747 jumbo jet (capacity 400 ppl) from Tokyo to Fukuoka, a 1 hour 20 minute flight, but I guess in a country as condensed as Japan (population about 133 million), jumbo jets are necessary.
After meeting my supervisors, a very nice woman fluent in english named Kobukata-sensei, who studied at ball state for a year, and a man named higuchi-sensei who only speaks to us in Japanese but understands English well, we drove to Kurume city, where I am currently posted. Instead of taking us to our home, we were brought to the board of education, our workplace for the next month, and introduced to all of the teachers and administrators currently working there. We also met the superintendant, who, unlike in America, sits in a plush office, sort of like the prime minister. We were all ushered into his office (me and 4 other JETS), and given a formal introduction; the superintendant even gave us a letter of appointment, all part of the show. I also performed my best, lowest bow, since he is of much higher rank than me, the lowely english teacher. Then I was taken to my home, a 2, 6 tatami room apartment, with a kitchen and bathroom, about 5 minutes from the Board of Education by bike. Kurume is a very bikeable city; in fact a bike is almost mandatory. Well, I havent been here for even a week yet, but i am definately liking Kurume. Pictures to come.
After meeting my supervisors, a very nice woman fluent in english named Kobukata-sensei, who studied at ball state for a year, and a man named higuchi-sensei who only speaks to us in Japanese but understands English well, we drove to Kurume city, where I am currently posted. Instead of taking us to our home, we were brought to the board of education, our workplace for the next month, and introduced to all of the teachers and administrators currently working there. We also met the superintendant, who, unlike in America, sits in a plush office, sort of like the prime minister. We were all ushered into his office (me and 4 other JETS), and given a formal introduction; the superintendant even gave us a letter of appointment, all part of the show. I also performed my best, lowest bow, since he is of much higher rank than me, the lowely english teacher. Then I was taken to my home, a 2, 6 tatami room apartment, with a kitchen and bathroom, about 5 minutes from the Board of Education by bike. Kurume is a very bikeable city; in fact a bike is almost mandatory. Well, I havent been here for even a week yet, but i am definately liking Kurume. Pictures to come.
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