Sometimes, I’m Afraid of Making Mistakes June 17, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Japanese GET, Julie Gets Philosophical, Just Bizarre.Tags: Japan, Japanese, jet, lisa douglas, mr. coke, my japanese sister, peaks and valleys, spring term, The Band, the dance troupe
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A sentiment that, I hear tell, is echoed by many of us nervous human-creatures.
Thursday was,another very long day. Things went well at the elementary school; my classes were fun and the students were very enthusiastic and sweet when they came to visit me during recess. I spent some time chatting with Lisa Douglas, and then the Vice Principal (having observed that I was out of sorts) told me to leave work an hour early. Normally that would be a suggestion that I would dismiss, but yesterday I seized it with thankful, trembling hands and more or less flew home so I could take a nap.
The evening found me undecided as to what to do. I still had letters to write, and normally I would have attended to that, but I also had band practice looming ahead of me. I was still having a lot of problems with the end of Girlfriend. A few weeks ago, I spoke with My Japanese Sister about this issue. She’s a really great piano and voice teacher and I asked her for some advice in how to train my voice to hit those last few notes. Her suggestion was to back down and sing them in a more classical style which, although doable, didn’t sound right to me when I tried it during practice.
So, I came to the conclusion that I was going to have to practice the song until I hit those last notes in a non-classical style. So that’s what I dedicated my evening to: singing this ungodly song a seemingly infinite number of times, recording most of my sessions, and trying to figure out what I could do to make myself sound better.
Around eight-fifteen I could feel that I was making progress, but it was as this point that The Other ALT intervened; she sent me a text asking me to stop my vocal exercises. I called her and apologized profusely and my evening’s practice came to a grinding halt. The walls of the apartment building are quite thin, and although I was practicing in my shower with the door shut, it just wasn’t enough. I know she doesn’t like the song, and so I certainly didn’t begrudge her for wanting me to stop singing.
Still, the experience left me somewhat … emotionally … fragile, should we say? I suppose if I’m going to be perfectly honest then I might as well tell you that as soon as I got off the phone with her, I more or less emotionally collapsed under the weight of, oh, the last six months/4 years. Eventually, I dragged myself to the computer and did what I always do whenever the Infinite Spaces of the world Fill Me With Dread. I called my parents.
In this case, since it was my mother’s birthday and I didn’t want to harass her with the angst eruption from Mt. St. Julie, I called my father instead. I’m not exactly sure how he had the patience for my hysteria very rational and thorough account of the day’s grievances. But he did, and I eventually calmed down.
My situation upset me for a variety of reasons, but there are two specific points that caused me a fantastic amount of emotional distress. The first was the thought that my neighbors had been aggrieved by my practice session. I certainly don’t want to bother anyone with what I do in the evenings, and the idea that other people had had to put up with my very poor attempts to sing a rather obnoxious song was upsetting.
The second point of grievance and mortification was that even with the practice session, I still couldn’t sing the song. I began to question ever joining The Band in the first place, and repeatedly lamented that the guys had invited me without knowing what they’d gotten themselves into. I keenly felt the pressure of singing this song and also trying to figure out a dance so that I could make this summer season a success for The Band and The Dance Troupe. I never wanted to be a Pop Idol, and I became thoroughly convinced that the idea was ridiculous.
So, it was with this mentality that I went to band practice.
When I got there, it was obvious that I was upset. The Drummer (I promise I’ll get these bios out soon) asked me if I felt okay enough to practice and still looked concerned when I said that I would be fine.
We started out without the lead singer (hereby known as Mr. Coke, although the explanation for this will have to wait) and ran through JOYFUL a few times. The guys are still trying to get the music down, but it’s starting to come together. Eventually, Mr. Coke arrived and we turned our attentions to Girlfriend. The first time we sang the song, I could tell that something was a little different, but it wasn’t until the third run through that things finally came into focus.
Although it might have cost me the goodwill of all the people living within a square kilometer of my apartment, my evening practice session was not in vain. I was able to sing the song. All of it.
And what’s more, is that we all noticed this change at the same time. As soon we finished the song, the guys were generous with their comments. I can’t even begin to express how much it soothed me. My performance wasn’t perfect, but now we had something to work with and after going through the song a few more times, the whole singing experience had completely changed. For some reason, doing this song is now outrageously fun and ridiculous. We all sensed this new vibe, this new wave of energy, and the feeling brought us together.
We went on to practice our other songs, and now that my voice is coming in clearer we have the opportunity to play with the various arrangements to make things more interesting. Overall, it was a long practice, but it was arguably the best one I’ve had yet. At one point I even felt comfortable enough to tell the guys about what had happened earlier in the evening. They thought that it was hilarious. They also said that I shouldn’t worry about the offense overmuch; being loud is a natural byproduct of being in a rock band.
When I was talking to my father earlier in the evening, he told me that life has its peaks and valleys, and that we can’t be afraid of making mistakes because it limits us no matter where we are in those mountains. On Thursday night, I very quickly climbed to a peak from a rather wretched valley. I’m not sure who or what deserves credit for that ascent, but I’m grateful all the same.
JOY to JOY to JOY to poppna BABY
JOY to JOY to JOY to Happyna PEOPLE
Can I Be Honest? June 16, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Julie Gets Philosophical.Tags: emotional things, homesickness, Japan, jet, spring term
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I’m homesick.
This feeling is not the homesickness that I have been familiar with since the day I arrived in Japan. This is not me feeling frustrated because I can’t get a properly cooked hamburger anywhere within 75 km of my apartment (although that frustration does indeed exist at present). This is also not me lamenting the “oh so fantastically ridiculous hahahaha” Japanese culture that I am saturated with on a daily basis.
No, this feeling is something all together new and ridiculous. It’s a constant buzzing in my mind, a not-so-subtle attempt to avoid cooking any and all Asian food, a perpetual pang of longing whenever I see a TGI Friday’s advertisement. (That last point is particularly significant because I don’t even like TGI Friday’s all that much.) How’s this for a statistic? I spent over twelve hours on Skype last weekend.
I suppose, therefore, the recent changes I’ve made to my schedule are an attempt to keep me focused on Japan in the here and now. I don’t head back to the States until next March, and I don’t want to spend so much time keeping track of (let’s face it – irrelevant) sales at Whole Foods that I’m blind to the opportunities around me.
Recently, the news of my upcoming departure has really started to make the rounds and the reactions that I’ve gotten from most students has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s nice to know that I’m liked so much. On the other hand, children can be vehement and vengeful creatures when wronged. I am employing full use of my sarcastic faculties when I say that I’m looking forward to riding the Rollercoaster of Emotionally Adjusting Students for the next nine and a half months.
On the other hand, this upcoming change has produced a lot of great conversations with the students who are less focused on tearing apart the fabric of my emotions and self-worth. Many have finally asked me why I came to Japan in the first place and why I feel like I need to leave now. In short, what’s changed over the last four (but will eventually be almost five) years?
This is a huge topic, and one that I could explore via numerous posts. The short and simple answer is that I came to Japan to grow and learn and now I feel it’s time to go grow and learn somewhere else. There are still many things that I don’t know about Japan or about myself, but I feel as though another environment is more suited to the things that I’m interested in pursuing. This sentiment is really not so profound; countless people come to this conclusion on a daily basis.
As such, my own knowledge of this motivation (along with my new-found love for informative podcasts, the Daily Show and activities not done purely for the sake of Internationalization) means that my United States-centered separation anxiety is growing by the day. I suspect that summer will help me relax and calm down, but I still have four weeks until that blessed event.
Until then, I suppose I need to hold on to each moment for all that it’s worth, and try to stay patient with myself and others around me. This is not going to be easy because patience is, I’ve found, one of the first things to disappear when humans feel overwhelmed and out of sorts.
Perhaps I’m on my way to becoming a stereotypical rock star.
kimi no koe o kikasete
Sa bouken shiteminai
tanoshii koto hajime yo
asobitai!
Let’s have some ICE CREAM. June 9, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in ice cream, Just Bizarre, Student Moments.Tags: hannah montana, ice cream, Japan, Japanese, jet, Mary Sunshine, school lunch, spring term, The Child, the dance troupe
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Because I’m running behind schedule today and can’t seem to flesh any of my thoughts out into a full post.
~ Recently, I’ve been really disappointed with the caliber of the lunches at my schools. The menus have been bizarre (yesterday’s was white rice, a small piece of fried fish, and a weird sour vegetable salad-esque thing) and the taste not that tasty. Everyone eats the same thing at my schools (all the students and staff), and so we’ve been collectively suffering over the last month or so. Yesterday, The JTE and some other teachers took part in a rant after lunch, which was quite entertaining. I also got to complain, so that was a nice bonding moment.
~ I have an equation for you: Mary Sunshine : last year :: Hannah Montana : this year. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my pop-culture queen, and I’ve discovered that it’s ridiculously fun to tease her during class. To this end, I’ve started using her name in a lot of my games and activities, and I made her a zombie in the Zombie Listening Test from a couple of weeks ago. She responds to my gestures of affection with various forms of physical abuse, but I’m starting to get used to this method of communication.
~ The Child had a very good day, which made up for the massive headache he gave me on Monday. While I was working with him on Wednesday, I was struck by how much he’s grown up over the past four years. I know that he doesn’t think a lot about his future (except to dismiss it as boring and tiresome), but I kind of hope that he rallies and decides to become a teacher. I think that he would be a good one.
~ I finally had a chance to go back to dance practice last night. The Dance Troupe and I have a small festival on Sunday. It should only last about five hours, so I don’t think it’s going to be too taxing. We’re doing the same dances that we worked on last year, although DJ Ozma is hard at work on coming up with a routine for Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend.
~ Looking at the weather forecast for next week depresses me. The Rainy Season is indeed upon us.
Never wanted to know, never wanted to see
I wasted my time until time wasted me
Gym Cohorts June 8, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Gym Adventures.Tags: girl who showed me the ropes, guy i don't like, guy i like, gym, Japan, Japanese, jet, purple pants guy, she wolf, spring term
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So, seeing as Tuesday evening was taken up with Adventures at the Gym, it seems that now is an appropriate time to give you some idea as to the kinds of people I’m spending approximately six to eight hours a week with. It’s become obvious by now that there are a few individuals that I can count on seeing on a regular basis, and they do make the experience more meaningful. (Now that they’ve started to say hello to me, that is.)
So, let’s start out with the staff. First off, we have:
The Girl Who Helped Me Sign Up
I actually don’t have an ongoing relationship with this person. I often see her when I check-in and when I leave, but otherwise that’s about it. I just feel the need to make her a character because every time I see her, I’m reminded how super awkward it was when I signed up for the gym. This reminder fills me with shame and keeps me humble.
The Girl Who Showed Me the Ropes
I see this girl when I go to work out on Sunday mornings. She was the one who taught me how to use the machines and she helped me to build a workout regime that would help me accomplish my personal goals. She still says hello every Sunday and offers me bits of advice.
These conversations with her can sometimes get a little awkward, though, because I’m not exactly sure what kinds of topics that we should be discussing. Should they just be focused on my training? In the past, she has asked me about my plans for the day, so should I reciprocate? In the States, it’s generally assumed that both physical trainer and trainee have the freedom to inquire about each others’ lives. In Japan, though, I’m not sure. On the one hand, I don’t want her to think that I’m totally self absorbed and only focused on my mind-body health. On the other hand, I don’t want to be the proverbial bull in the china shop that steps on the plates and tea cups of etiquette and personal space.
You know, with as neurotic as I can sometimes be about social behavior, it’s a wonder I’ve made it here this long. -_-;;
The Guy I Don’t Like
I don’t like this guy.
I encountered him on my third visit to the gym. I hadn’t been able to finish my official orientation the Sunday before, and so The Girl Who Showed Me the Ropes told me to ask any staff member for help during my next visit. He was the person I approached for said help, and thus began my feelings of animosity.
It’s not that he didn’t help me out. He did in fact tell me what I needed to know and he explained things well. It’s that he performed his role with a rather incredible look of disdain and suffering. I also caught him rolling his eyes at me more than once. I’ve seen him work with other people, and during those times he is both courteous and deferential. I’m not sure why I warranted such disrespect (I suspect my foreign status didn’t help me), but he is now The Guy I Don’t Like.
Conversely, we also have:
The Guy That I Like a Lot
I met him last Friday evening while I was working on strength training. I had a question about how to properly use one of the machines, and (after much internal hemming and hawing) asked him for his advice. He was incredibly gracious and helpful, and then afterwards he showed me how to use another machine that I’d wanted to try.
After we finished with the machines, we got to talking and he further established himself in my good graces by telling me about an upcoming physical exam that the gym was offering. I want to get a better grasp on my physical abilities, and so he was more than willing to assist me in signing up.
The entire experience with him, which took about an hour, was pleasant and interesting. He treated me just like any other patron, and although we certainly discussed my foreign status, we didn’t limit ourselves to that topic. I think we only cross paths on Friday evenings, so Fridays are now hereby decreed as: “The Day I see the Guy That I Like A Lot”.
Of course, the gym isn’t just a place for staff members to gather. There are other people there, working out alongside me to fulfill their fitness goals. I’ve seen a variety of people over the last few weeks, but two individuals stand out.
The first one is The Amazing Purple Pants Guy
I am not joking about the pants. They are, without a doubt, the most sensational pants I have ever seen in my life. In fact, they look a lot like these:
See? Astounding, aren’t they?
This man is also one of the more unusual looking individuals I’ve come across. He’s super tall, easily over 6’4”, and rail thin. He’s slightly balding, he wears Groucho Marx glasses, and has a small mustache. In fact, he kind of looks like an otter.
Still, physical peculiarities aside, he’s passionate about his workout regime and very much a part of the gym environment. Everyone seems to know him and he’s one of the friendlier faces that I see. He didn’t pay much attention to me for the first week or so but starting sometime last week, he started to wave/bow/nod his head at me when I arrived and when I left. If we ever get on speaking terms, I’ll be sure to let you know.
The Lady Who Will Hurt You
I wish I could come up with another name for this woman, but I can’t help it: every time I see her, I think to myself, “That woman could mess a brother up.” Actually, I think a significantly less G-rated version of that phrase, but you get the idea. My impressions are not unfounded – this woman is a bit terrifying.
So, she’s tiny – maybe just over five feet tall. But she definitely makes up for her lack of height. She’s got this long, curly and fire-engine red hair that she never, ever puts up. She always wears camouflage pants and army tags (I think the tags are just jewelry, though) and she is solid muscle.
Her personality appears to be just as intense as her sense of style. Whenever she comes to the gym (which I suspect is every day), she stays for hours. She uses every machine, she talks to everyone, and she often takes several classes in a row. If she isn’t working out, then she’s circling the gym, almost as if she’s a She Wolf checking out her territory. Like The Amazing Purple Pants Guy, she ignored me during my first week at the gym. Last week, however, we had progress when she gave me this slight nod of acknowledgment.
Can you believe that? “A slight nod of acknowledgment” indeed. This is like something out of a comic book.
Well, cheesy or not, last week she offered a small salutation, and on Tuesday she actually said hello. Again, I’m not under the impression that she and I will become BFF, but it’s nice to know that the She Wolf seems to be okay with me working out at, well, her gym.
Hmm. She Wolf- that’s a better name, isn’t it? We’ll go with that instead.
Anyway, that’s who I’ve been interacting with over the last few weeks. It’s definitely a situation I’ve never been in before, but I’m sure that it will prove to be interesting and thought provoking.
He could play a guitar just like a ringin’ a bell.
I think I need to make a few changes. June 7, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Cultural Exchange, Dance Troupe, Student Moments.Tags: Japanese, jet, joyful, recipe, spring term, The Child, updates
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Because right now, my current “Blog Writing Schedule,” although regular (and I use that term liberally), is still a bit infrequent and I’m not getting to talk about the things that I want to talk about. At present, this schedule means that I writemas much as I can between spoonfuls of oatmeal and the process of organizing my iPod for the day’s driving. (On today’s menu: the most recent BBC Broadcast, a feature from WNYC’s Radiolab on Time, and Part 3 of a program about the History of Rome. If there’s time, I also have plenty of BBC documentaries and episodes from HowStuffWorks.Com.)
This is Julie. This is Julie kind of geeking out.
There are a lot of things that I’d like to talk about, but current time constraints prevent me from doing them any sort of justice. Still, so you know what’s ahead of us at some point: Introductions and Short Bios of my band mates, growing problems with a student at Friday’s elementary school, an update about last year’s first year students and the current first year students at Thursday’s elementary school, some introductions and bios about people that I often see at the gym, and much, much more!
In the meantime, I offer you three things.
1) An anecdote:
Monday was extremely busy, to say the least. I had five classes and I found myself fully occupied the entire time. The most taxing (yet entertaining) class was with the third years. I spent the whole time begging, bullying, bribing, harassing, flattering, and just flat-out threatening The Child to do the day’s assignments (exercises in the workbook, so definitely not his favorite way to spend his time). He was having one of his “I choose to be difficult and contrary but will eventually do the work” days. These are the days when I truly earn my paycheck, my friends. He is so freakishly quick, and trying to dance around his excuses and arguments (in Japanese!) (with occasional smattering of English when I still feel the need to win even if he can’t understand me) is akin to Chinese acrobatics.
Still, when we finish the lesson with the following exchange, it … well … it doesn’t cure my headache, but it does put it all into some kind of strange perspective.
The Child: Foreigners are such a pain.
Me: What about me???
The Child: No, you’re okay. I love you.
Is there such a thing as a relationship where the student abuses the teacher??
2) A soup recipe!
This was from this past week. My father finally got his wish and we made something cream-based.
Cream of Broccoli Soup (from The Farmer’s Almanac)
- 6 cups water
- 10 ounces fresh or frozen chopped broccoli
- 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cups shredded American cheese
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons white pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup light cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/3 cup all-purpose white flour
In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the broccoli and onion; boil for 10 to 12 minutes. Add the cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts. Add the milk, cream, and butter. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Add the water to the flour and mix until smooth. Add slowly to the hot soup, stirring rapidly. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the soup is the consistency of heavy cream. Serve hot.
I didn’t use the cheese and I added some chopped up mushrooms. Also, instead of using regular water I opted for some homemade chicken stock that I had in my freezer. This is a great soup! Try it, you’ll like it! ^o^
3) A song!
The band wants me to start working on this song, although we’re not clear if I’m translating it into English and singing that version, or just staying with the Japanese. It’s kind of hyperactive, but I’ll give it a shot.
This was the best version that I could find, so please enjoy watching somebody play the guitar. ^o^;
There’s a dance that goes along with it, which you also may be able to find if you really want to search for it. The song is called Joyful (じょいふる) and it’s by a group called Ikimonogakari (いきものがかり).
And that’s the news for the moment.
I hope everyone has a great week!
You can’t make up your mind
Please don’t waste my time
Julie: Good for the earth? June 2, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Julie Gets Philosophical.Tags: awareness, environmental angst, Japan, jet, middle school, podcasts, spring term
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So, given my recent and frequent use of podcasts to get caught up on the world’s affairs, it’s not surprising that I have become more aware of Environmental Issues. I like to think that I’ve always been conscious about these things on some level; since my years in grade school I have recycled without question, carried my own bags into grocery stores whenever possible, and I don’t buy products if I don’t think I can get rid of the waste in an earth-friendly fashion.
Still, with the news of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and a recent news story I heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, I have been more sensitive to subjects related to the health of the planet. Perhaps it’s appropriate then that I spent Wednesday afternoon cleaning up the side of a roadway with some of my first year students.
These kinds of environmental projects happen a couple of times a year, and they’re aimed at beautifying the areas around our school and the town itself. Some students and teachers stayed behind to work on the school’s gardens, but others ventured out to off-campus locations. My group and I went into the mountains and picked up trash and debris alongside a popular road.
Good things about this excursion: goofing off with my first years, who happened to be very chatty, outgoing, and silly students. We rapped in English (with them giving me my backup rhythms) and talked about how their studies and club activities are progressing. Also, there is something satisfying about picking up garbage. It’s unappetizing, and somewhat frustrating work, but at least one feels as though one is doing something good.
Bad things about this excursion: seeing the blatant disregard for the health of the local forests.
I don’t mean to pick on Japan with the following comments. Honestly, I think that what I saw is characteristic of humanity, and so you will most likely find this no matter where you go.
My students and I began our cleanup by walking along just one side of the mountain road. After awhile, we decided to turn back and so we crossed the street and hugged the opposite side. This side of the road, however, was right next to the mountain’s drop off and had a very dense and steep forest beside it. This was where all of the garbage was to be found.
It kind of broke my heart. All of us had been in really great, cheerful moods on our way up the road. We found the occasional coffee can or cigarette pack, but otherwise the street was remarkably clean. Down the hill, though, and beneath the trees (where no one from the road could see), it was a veritable junkyard. We found televisions, mattresses, old vacuum cleaner pipes, and piles of hairspray bottles.
Most of what we found are items that are a bit of a hassle to get rid of in Japan. The recycling/trash pick up program here is notoriously difficult to navigate. I guess that some people in the community have gotten tired of trying to figure it out, and so they’ve chosen to just throw their trash down the mountain in hopes that, I don’t know, the local mountain elves will welcome the taste of plastic and toxins in their mushrooms. Perhaps what particularly ruffled me was the obvious reasoning behind their choice of location: if nobody can SEE the trash, then it doesn’t matter if it exists or not.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to spend a lot of time on those piles of garbage in the forest. Not only was there too much for us to pick up, but the hill was really quite steep and it was too dangerous to let the students go after a lot of what we saw. It was a very somber situation – seeing these piles of waste and having to walk away.
Still, this is certainly an event that is worth remembering (not that I think I could forget). It shows that no place is excluded from the current problems facing our environment. In the meantime, I suppose the only thing that I can do is to try to assume as much responsibility as possible for the garbage that I make, and to help out with community cleanups whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Yes, my friends. We are living in interesting times.
In my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
Let’s talk about how I didn’t intend to do that. May 26, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Just Bizarre.Tags: Japan, Japanese, jet, middle school, spring term, technology is not my friend, The Awesome Vice Principal
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So, this week has not been the best of weeks for my relationship with machines. Computers, copiers, faxes, printers, cell phones, iPods ~ I must be surrounded by some kind of strange wave, because any time I’ve gone near any and all of those objects something Unfortunate has happened. I admit that I’m invoking a bit of the “Murphy’s Law Mentality” at present, but probability has not been in my favor this week. I have a trail of maintenance receipts to prove it.
(Not that I’ve had to pay to resolve these problems [at least at school] mind you, but there is definitely a connection.)
So, imagine my utter delight when the middle school was the proud recipient of a brand new, super-high-tech-and-shiny copier this week. I can’t properly express how overjoyed I was to see the demon and garden gnome harboring hunk of plastic and nightmares wheeled out of the teachers room forever. I had a brief flashback to the scene in Charades when the three antagonists come into the church to confirm that Audrey Hepburn’s husband is really dead. I, too, wanted to make loud noises and poke the copier with sharp objects – just to be sure that it would stay away for good.
That was kind of a disturbing reference, wasn’t it? I apologize – it’s been a long week.
What was even better about the new copier was that the guys installing it were able to deftly navigate my laptop’s grumbly and stubborn nature to configure it so that I could print to it. I haven’t been able to directly print at the middle school in over two years and so I was pleased at the prospect of not always having to email documents to myself and print them from the public staff room computer.
Yesterday, during the morning teacher’s meeting, the Awesome Vice Principal gave us a small speech about the new copier, reiterating some advice/instructions that we’d heard the day before. He also cautioned us to use it as sparingly as possible, because we still in fact have other printers available in the staff room. I felt as though he might have been directing that comment at me, because I did go just a little printer happy on Monday afternoon (instant access will do that to a girl). So, I solemnly swore to follow the laws of moderation (or even temperance!) in all things printer-related.
But remember, there is some kind of battle going on between the countries of Julie and Technology.
I was foiled the first time when, after emailing a document to the public computer, I tried to print a document from the regular printer. Unfortunately, as I soon discovered, the settings on the computer had been changed and so that it automatically printed to the copier.
So much for temperance.
The Awesome Vice Principal arched his eyebrow at me when I went to retrieve my newly printed items.
“I didn’t intend to do that,” I assured him.
“Uh…huh,” he replied.
The next issue came later on in the day, when (in a rush to get something finished before my next class) I made the same mistake and this time didn’t specify that I didn’t want to print the document in color. I’d used a lot of pictures and so it was an absolutely gorgeous (aaaaand expensive) document when it finally finished printing. At the copier.
If it is possible for somebody to sneak up to a copier in the middle of a staff room and not be seen then I am not aware of how one would do this. The Awesome Vice Principal certainly saw me.
“I really didn’t mean to do that.”
“Right.”
The third time happened after school. This time, I feel as though the Universe was toying with me. I remembered my earlier transgressions, went into the computer’s options and changed the printer that I wanted to use. I was proud. Pleased with myself, even. This time, technology and I were surely communicating.
Except we weren’t. Because in the time since I’d last used the computer, somebody (probably The Awesome Vice Principal) had changed the automatic settings on the computer back to the original printer. So I’d directed the document to be printed from … the copier. I guess I need to learn the different printer numbers.
I practically crawled to the copier this time, highly aware of and attuned to each line of text in my 12-page (color) document.
“I didn’t-”
“-intend to do that. Yes, Julie. We know.”
Lucky for me, I don’t have just a Vice Principal at the middle school. I have an Awesome Vice Principal. At this point, he also understood that the Universe was not working with me. He was laughing, and the sound of that laughter made my day.
I’ve been funny, I’ve been cool with the lines
Ain’t that the way love’s supposed to be?
Let’s talk about the gym May 25, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Just Bizarre.Tags: celebrity, i am not graceful, spring term, stressful situations, the gym
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At least, very briefly, let’s talk about the gym. Because this is a place that is now a very significant part of my week and has taken up a significant amount of time over the last few days.
When I was in college, I got into the habit of going down to the rustic 1940′s style gym a few times a week. I did a variety of programs there, ranging from power yoga to the “Spartan Workshop,” an early morning regime that tested my strength both mentally and physically. I suspect that I will never work with a physical trainer quite as fantastic as the one who directed the Workshop, but at least his memory lives on.
When I moved to Japan, my four years of college-supported physical activity came to a grinding halt. I went from living in Annapolis, a city where I could (and did) walk everywhere, to my current town – a place so remote that I have no choice but to drive everywhere. Take away my walking and add in hundreds of thousands of hours of lesson planning and you have a classic case for an ulcer and/or heart attack waiting to happen.
I’ve found various solutions to this predicament. One was to join the Dance Troupe and the other was to start running. The Dance Troupe is still a great deal of fun, but we don’t meet very often and when we do it’s only once or twice a week at most. The running is also something that I enjoy, but Japan’s rainy season is upon us and that (in addition to the hours I’ve been working) has made consistent running pretty impossible. So, last Friday I finally bit the bullet and joined a gym in a large town to the north of me.
I’ve been thinking about joining a gym for quite some time, but I’ve hesitated because the cost is rather high (about a hundred dollars per month [that would be about 10,000 yen]) and getting there and back takes about two and a half hours. Also, there’s the language barrier and (I’ll be honest) the prospect of encountering different forms of racism/xenophobia at the gym. Still, the time came when enough was enough, so last Friday I went to my gym of choice (campaign coupon in hand) and signed up.
The process of signing up was a bit taxing and ridiculous. This was my fault – I was utterly exhausted from a long, somewhat frustrating day at Friday’s elementary school. The frustration caused me to be forgetful and my forgetfulness required about seven trips to my car to get things that I’d, well, forgotten. Although I did manage to leave with my new membership card and all the rights and benefits it bestows, I could tell that the whole affair had been stressful for everyone. And this is why stereotypes of forgetful foreigners persist in Japan to this day. -_-;;
Still, after that rather eventful and unfortunate beginning, things seem to have settled down and I’m enjoying the experience of working out there. It’s quite a nice facility, and as far as I can tell the times that I’m able to go aren’t super popular hours, and so I haven’t had any difficulties accessing machines or equipment. The real trick for me is that I have to plan my schedule out ahead of time so that I make the most of all my trips north. This means grouping my shopping or social activities in one lump so that I’m not just wasting gasoline with all of this driving away from my town. I suspect that this kind of organization is good for me, even if I feel a little overwhelmed and confused now.
So I suppose if we’re looking at “memories” to hold on to, I can pull up three of them. The first would be the process of signing up (I don’t know if one can forget that level of embarrassment and sheepishness). The second would be going through my orientation at the gym, and having my trainers be very respectful and sympathetic of my goals and my current abilities. I wasn’t expecting them to be quite so kind, and they gave me some great ideas for ways to alternate my workouts.
And the third?
The third happened when I was running on the treadmill last night. At one point I looked up, and saw all of these little groups of people around the room watching me. And talking. And watching me some more.
My friends, it’s happened once again.
The Celebrity.
She’s back.*
It’s nice to know I’ll have an audience as I work out over the next ten months.
*Perhaps she never left.
Where’s the mini skirt made of snake skin?
And who’s the other guy who’s singing in Van Halen?
Let’s go back to Thursday… May 24, 2010
Posted by Earthdragonette in Cultural Exchange, Dance Troupe, Japanese GET.Tags: Dance Troupe, late nights, singing, spring term, The Band
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So, about me having joined a rock band.
I met this band last year via the Dance Troupe. The guys in the band are often in charge of the sound system setups at the smaller festivals that we go to and they often play the music that we dance to. We all bonded a lot during the end of the year party last December.
Awhile back, DJ Ozma approached me and asked if I would be interested in singing some sets with the band. Specifically, they want me to sing Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne (although we’re talking about some other possibilities as well). I agreed, we all shook hands, and I went to my first practice two Thursdays ago.
Last week saw me at my second practice. Although I’ve enjoyed both of the practices that I’ve gone to, last Thursday’s was definitely more relaxed and productive. I’m beginning to feel comfortable with the role of “guest lead singer” and I’m learning what to listen for. At the very least, I think that my performance is improving. In addition, the guys are getting used to having me around and they’re feeling less shy about asking me personal questions. We had a lot of random Q and A sessions last week where they inquired about everything from American football to whether or not some Americans actually wear shoes to bed (as they’ve seen in movies).
I was charmed to find out that one of the members (the bass player) loves American football and is a huge Colts fan. Unfortunately, he is SO well acquainted with the sport that even he’d heard of the latest Pittsburgh Steelers scandal. Who knew that I’d joined a band only to have somebody make fun of my favorite football team? Anyway, another pleasant surprise is that the guy on lead guitar tends to be aware of most of the cultural references that I make. In addition, I caused uniform and substantial shock and awe when I told them that my favorite music is power metal. This prompted a comment from DJ Ozma, who told the band that you can always tell when I’m arriving somewhere because there is often thunderous, blazing music radiating from my car.
That is an observation that pleases me more than you can imagine.*
My favorite moment from Thursday’s practice happened rather spontaneously. I’ve never been in a rock band before, so the notion of “jamming” is kind of foreign to me. I’ve always been in orchestras or marching bands; there is very little room for improvisation here (at least at the level that I played at). Also, my musical knowledge is far less than the other guys’ and they’ve been playing together for 10 years. Thus, I don’t feel as though it’s my place to jump in and get super creative with the music. If I can make it through the song without breaking it, then I’ve pretty much done all I need to do to feel like an accomplished musician.
Still, we were in the middle of a break and I was working on part of the song that was (and still is) difficult for me to sing. I worked on the section (it’s at the end of the song) for a bit and then jumped up to the beginning and started from there. As I was singing (not loudly and not with the intention of having the guys pay attention to it), the other band members slowly started to join in. It kind of made me nervous, since I wasn’t exactly expecting that kind of attention. But, join they did, and slowly the song came together on its own. It was interesting to hear the different points at which each member chose to start playing. Also, because we were all feeling more laid back and comfortable with the music, everyone was trying something different. The guitar players did different chords or rhythms, and the backup singer and I did some different harmonies. It wasn’t the most sophisticated jam session in the history of music, but I think we did well for ourselves.
I guess it was the first time I felt as though I had a proper and useful place in the band. It was after we finished that set that the band leader turned to DJ Ozma and said, “It’s no problem. We can totally debut in the beginning of July.”
Who knew that this place (in a small shack in the middle of the Japanese countryside at eleven o’clock on a Thursday night) is where I intended to be?
Comin’ down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
*Although my mother has threatened me with dire consequences if this is in fact true.
