Last Day of Club

Well, the tears have already begun to flow (not really). I had my last day of swim club today because I’m finishing school within just over a week. It was as normal for the first hour so, until the junior high students left.There was a bit of silence while they waited to see who would speak first.

It was the same with the high school students in my club, they gave me individual speeches, one by one as well standing in a circle in the changing rooms.

We moved back into the normal school building (because we’ve been in a prefab due to earthquake upgrades). Moving involved dragging desks, chairs and personal belongings  (including textbooks) across the school and up 3 flights of stairs. At least it wasn’t raining – on that point – the winter in Japan doesn’t really rain at all.

Moving back into the old building brought back heaps of memories of my first two weeks, when everything was still new to me – when it was summer, and then tyhpoon season, and my first day. It is really hard that I have to go back so soon, because I can now understand most of my classes and I have made heaps of friends at school and they don’t want me to go which makes it harder. I have a feeling that leaving Japan is going to be really hard – when I left home I knew I would see everyone again, but the chances of seeing all of my school friends here again is very slim. Tough times ahead…

Soapy, Hairy, Angry

Thankfully, I don’t have any photos for this post. I meant to put this on my blog some time ago in the middle of another post, but never got around to it. I think I mentioned the other week that during New Years while the houses are packed full of people, they often just go to the onsens to solve the problem of everyone using the one bathroom in the houses (it’s very rare that they have two here – I don’t think I’ve seen it yet).

So, I think it was on New Years eve, we went to the one at Aceland. As I explained earlier as well, you shower before getting in the hot pools, except they sit down at the showers here (there are stools). Anyway, I was showering away Japan style on the stool, when in the mirror, I saw behind me someone get up and standing still, looking in my direction. I didn’t really take much notice, until I realized that a couple of seconds later they were still there. I turned around to see a large Japanese man, covered in soap with an icey-cold stare locked on his face.

I was wondering at this moment what I had done, until I realized that I had probably been spraying him over my back since he was immediately opposite me. Because it took me so long to come to this conclusion, I just sat there with a blank face not knowing what was happening. After a really long, silent stare, the man sat down and continued on his business. It was only after this that I realized what I had done, so it was too late to apologize or even go for a slight bow of the head. I’m still in two minds about this. I do feel kind of bad for not realizing quick enough to apologize, but on the other hand, I also don’t think someone should get so worked up about something that can’t really be helped (did he expect to keep dry?)

I forgot about the whole thing pretty much immediately, but the whole episode made me feel like a bit of an ignorant foreigner to be honest, which is why I’ve put it on my blog for other exchange students – take note.  I’ve learnt a lot of funny lessons during my time in Japan, this being one of them.

Miyazaki Zoo

I went to Miyazaki’s zoo which is one of the last things that I had left to do before I go. The cages etc are smaller and somewhat less natural than Auckland Zoo, but it was fun having a good old look around.

Toshi and Me

Feeding the Giraffes

The whole zoo had a feeling like it was a childhood memory, I think it was all of the bright colours and fun everywhere.
You could feel practically all of the animals, and I made sure that I did (anything to get the perfect shot right). I waited in line for about 3 whole minutes to feed the giraffes. By the time it was my turn they were obviously feeling a little bloated, and I stood there smashing my little branch of food against the fence until one of them finally ate it.

We also took the mono-rail tour of the zoo, and you go flying around the top looking at all of the pesants below.

They also have an elephant there that can paint. It was on TV the other week for painting a picture of an elephant holding a rose (I’m serious). It can do kanji as well, it’s pretty impressive. I wish I had some photos to put up, but sadly I don’t.

Good old Classic Fun

There isn’t long left until I get home now. I sent home an 8kg box (since the limit on the planes is 20kg) which cost me about 6000 yen or about NZD $120. I had to go with boat mail since there was no way that I was going to send it for twice the price on airmail. The only downside is that it takes 2-3 months – I’m half expecting it to go missing to be honest. It has my Yukata (like a kimono) in it, so it better not go missing (wooden shoes and everything).

Indoor Fishing

Indoor Fishing - Instructions

One of the many things that you can do in Japan is go indoor fishing. I jumped at the chance, since it is practically shooting fish in a barrel. The place itself was nested amongst the arcade and other indoor sports at Round One.

The room is dimly lit so that it is harder to see the fish, but the pond (can you call it that if it’s indoor) was really full of fish.

Since the poor things are caught and re-released all day long, I wasn’t too keen on actually catching one. Actually, I tell a lie, I just didn’t want to have to get my hand all fishy getting it off the hook. What usually happens is people hook a fish, and stand there not knowing what to do, until eventually the fishes mouth rips free from the hook. It seems that it was a case of when in Rome, because that is exactly what I did. By the time I picked up the net to try and fish it out of the pond, my line came back bearing only a scale (I have no idea where it hooked the fish).

There were a few really big ones that I was trying to catch, but I think they’ve probably smartened up and learnt not to eat food it if comes on a hook.

When you are done, you just put the rod back on the hook and walk over to the sink to wash your hands. Maybe this is how kids of the future will enjoy sports when the oceans are over-fished and polluted.

Japanese New Year

The Japanese New Year is somewhat akin to a western Christmas in terms of significance. It seems to me that the days following New Years are more important than New Years Eve in Japan.

After eating all night from a selection of Japanese platters, my Host Mum decided we should go to the temple and do the real Japanese thing for the countdown. I wasn’t sure if we would get there before the clock ticked over, but she said it was close-by so out we rushed. As we were crossing the road on our way, I looked up and saw the large LCD clock on one of the buildings tick over to straight zeros. At that point, I realized that my New Years was spent standing in the middle of an empty, cold road, but I thought that it would be ok once we got to the temple because there would be lots of people about. When we got there, the temple was all but closed, leaving only a slot open in the window for you to post your coins through and make an offering to the gods. That was the icing on the cake really.

Tree of Power

The next day was a bit scary because people seemed to be getting a bit stressed about things, and I was really not wanting to take a step out of place (there is always etiquite to be followed). They wake up on New Years day and go to temples. One of the one we went to had a tree which everyone was hugging to receive ‘power’ (to do what I thought to myself). Following the temple run, we came back home and they have a kind of drinking ceremony with some Japanese alcohol which they heat up (even the kids are expected to drink a shot or two on New Years here). I was really scared of doing something wrong because it was all reasonably formal / lot of new phrases.

We had huge meals at their kneeling table every meal for the 4 days following New Years. It was a really different experience, but their New Years definitely seems more family oriented.

They also give all of the children toshidama, which are packets of money. I got quite a good haul really, and although I am probably going to spend it, it is really tempting to take it home where it is twice the value.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great New Years without me…

Mount Aso

During our 3 days of travels, we went to see one of Japan’s still active volcanoes. Mount Aso is on Kyushu island, but it was still a really long way to drive.

Mountains...

The weather was really good, and I took heaps of ‘drive-by snaps’ out of the window that all look the same (see left).

Once you actually get to the mountain (don’t worry you can drive the whole way up), you have to pay to get into the carpark (I think it was about 500 yen). We were given a pamphlet which, amongst other things, said “If you feel sock, please notify a staff member”. I explained this to my host family who were killing themselves with laughter.

It was a little overwhelming to see so many foreigners there, and it is kind of shamefull speaking to Japanese people in earshot of them (I don’t know why). There was a few bus loads of Korean tourists around, it was funny hearing people just taking about them like “They don’t understand a thing!“.

Anyway, below is the middle of the volcano itself.

Mt Aso

Takamori Onsen 高森温泉

After visiting Mt Aso, we went on these go-karts, and then went to Takamori Onsen (public bath / hot spring) which I thought was worth mentioning. It has all these different baths, including a “walking bath” which is set up circular so that you can walk around in circles, naked, outside – I didn’t really see the point in that one…

They had a bath with something saying electric, but I didn’t really take much notice of the sign when my host brother is like – “go get in that one…”. Once I got in I felt my hands curl up and I realized that it was giving me electric shocks like those massage pads that the physio uses. It is like a massage and a bath at once, but a little hard to relax, I must say. The electricity flows through the water in pulses, giving you shocks as it does so. It is times like sitting clotheless in an electric bath surrounded by a whole lot of Japanese people when I wonder what everyone is doing at home :-p

Takachiho (高千穂)

We finally got around to going to the Takachiho gorge. Takachiho is where Japanese say that their nation was born out of, and they say that there are a lot of gods around the place.

The gorge is really nice, and you can pay to hire a boat for half an hour to go through yourself. We did just that, and naturally being the old sea dog that I am, I took up the position of rowing.

Takachiho Gorge

The water was full of fish, and it was really blue. Upon exiting I noticed all of the signs saying that people under the influence of alcohol are not permitted to “embark” etc, I guess they have had a bit of funny business about the place.

We then headed to the town temple (or shrine – I really need to remember which). It was pretty similar to most of the other ones that I’ve been to.

Semi-art

And then, we had the encore. The actual place where the god who made Japan is open to the public, after going bush for about 5 minutes you can go and see the cave yourself.

That's my rock (on top)

Leading up to the cave is literally millions of rocks stacked up into towers, with each rock representing someone’s wish. Despite there being hardly any rocks around, I dug one out of somewhere (or maybe it ‘fell off’ someone else’s pile) and made my mark on this national treasure.

My host brother then tried to add one of top of mine, which made the whole thing collapse. The blurry specks you can see in the background are the thousands of piles of rocks.

Anyway, if you come to Japan, Takachiho is a real riot so you should go and check it out (we traveled hours to go).

Koi Don’t Need Water

Nearly there...

Well, I had a really full weekend, but instead of packaging it into a single post, I’m going to drip feed it, starting with this video.

My Host Mum brought me some of the food (just sitting in honesty boxes next to the pond), so I thought I would see how far out of the water I could get the koi. Unfortunately they weren’t the colorful ones, but it was still amusing.

I dumped half the pack of the koi nibbles into the shallows to entice the koi to come closer to the edge and it worked pretty well. Take a look at the video…

You will see the fish flitter off after the video, but what you can’t see is that it is already surrounded by hundreds of other koi, so there is no room in the water. It skittled over the top of the water for about 3m. Definitely worth the 100 yen.

Merry Christmas from Japan

メリークリスマス!

Well, as the sun moves around the globe, children are waking up to Christmas everywhere. In Japan, they wake up to school.

Thankfully, I got the day off today (despite everyone else going to school), but I celebrated Christmas with my Host Family on Saturday. We went out for dinner to Miyazaki Gyu which serves the ‘best steak in Japan’. It was probably the most tender steak I’ve ever eaten, and it was over US sixty a piece.

We did presents after getting home from the resturant. I got a jumper from my Host Grandma, and a PSP from my Host Family! I’m really glad I put in heaps of effort with their gifts – I had a one off photo book printed from California, hardcover and all. I put in the best photos of my time here, and they really liked it. I also got a sheepskin sent courtesy of my real family which they like heaps too. They are too scared to touch it for fear of it becoming less fluffy.

Merry Christmas!

Included in the Christmas festivities was going to see one of the light displays which was pretty full on. They had this massive light up Mt. Fuji there too.

My Christmas Eve was spent at school until about 6pm, with a Christmas concert on. We were meant to be swimming at club yesterday but the teacher didn’t want us getting in as we might have heart attacks (it was freezing). After which I ended up going to this little Christmas shin dig in one of the local churches which I was expecting would be more upbeat.  It was fine nevertheless, and I got home and had some cake with my Host Family.

I woke today at about 7.30am and had breakfast, deciding to open my presents after. I got a box jammed with Calvin Klein goodness from  Mum & Dad, amongst other things (including the pudding in the red container that I requested a few weeks ago).

We are going for dinner to the Auntie’s house tonight, with a huge bucket of KFC in tow. I love it how KFC comes in buckets, it’s like animal feed or something.

Blood Bath

I was riding my bike today through a pool of blood when I realized what an unusual circumstance I was in. My immediate instinct was to lift my feet as to avoid getting blood splattered all over them.

I’m not kidding, a student had been run over today on my way to school, and I did actually ride through the puddle of blood on the pavement. The student was ok as far as I know, the ambulance wasn’t exactly in a rush. On the pavement I saw a smallish white car and a bike just in front of it, the car having a large human sized crater in the windscreen.

There were two students struck down today, so the police were said to be out on patrol making sure that we are stopping correctly at red lights. I have near misses so often here, but I guess that is what Japan gets for making their students leave for school and come home when it is dark.

Today in home economics we were looking at the usual nutrition rubbish, and in the textbook profiling a wide range of foods, ‘whale’ was listed alongside chunks of beef etc, pictures and all. I do actually want to eat whale sometime while I’m here, because I’m pretty sure that in the near future you won’t be able to get it anywhere.  I’ve heard that it doesn’t actually taste that good, but nevertheless it is a once in a lifetime opportunity (both for me and the whale).

Also I received 3 letters yesterday from both sets of grandparents and the Farmers. Thanks heaps it really made my day! (I can’t believe they all came at once)