Noli nothis permittere te terere.

I really just wanted a blog with this title! It's Latin for "Don't let the bastard's get you down" which happens to be one of my Dad's favorite phrases and one that he has countlessly repeated to me when: I worry/bitch/depart for foreign countries/etc. Well, this phrase and "Trust No One" which he conveniently stole from the X-files.
Just a quick update on things here:

1. I quit the charity show. I am afraid it didn't live up to my high school drama club memories and I just wasn't enjoying myself. Maybe I really am a grumpy old fart (._.). Kudos to the cast though - they are all doing a really great job - and it should be an interesting show!
2. As punishment (cause my guilty conscience is HUGE) for breaking my commitment to the charity show, I made myself sign up for Japanese lessons with a private tutor. Now most of you (and most of the ALTs here) don't consider this punishment - but I know my state of mind regarding the learning of Japanese - and it's border line torture. Plus, my friends have 'already' started correcting me - so this should make my life so much more exciting! True be told - yet another startling revelation about me - I don't like being in situations where I am corrected and feel uncomfortable (¬_¬). The tutor seems like a really sweet lady - so maybe she'll increase my comfort level.
3. Time to start thinking about a Japanese drivers licence - but that drama will be a blog onto itself!
4. Dad arrives in exactly ONE week! YEAH!!! Let the fun begin!!!

Statement of Motivation

Well, it's just me and the tea lady (who is vacumning) in the staff room - everyone else has left the building. So to pass the time I am reorganizing my photos by monthe and deleting files. Whilst doing this, I came across my required statement of motivation for my JET application. Wow! It's been almost a year and a half since I wrote this!! Ah the drama of trying to say the right thing to get this job! It worked! So I am going to post it here for posterity!

What motivated me to apply to participate in the JET program? While sitting in class one day, I picked up the university newspaper, noticed the JET program advertisement and was intrigued. That night I researched the program on the internet, and after learning a little more about the program, I thought, "this is a perfect opportunity for me".
Other then this feeling, I am motivated by the chance to immerse myself in Japanese life. I am also motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. More than teaching others English grammar and vocabulary, I want to share my experiences of life in America with them. I have traveled to over 40 states and as a result have many stories about the United States that I can use to make learning English and American culture more engaging.
I am also motivated by the personal benefits this opportunity offers. I am enthralled with the chance to live overseas and become a member of another community. The program is not just a chance to teach others, it is also an opportunity for me to learn. I will have the benefit of learning a second language and experience a new culture by living it every day. I can also learn more about myself through interaction with new people, places and experiences.
Why Japan? I had the opportunity to visit Japan in 2004. During my time there I was fascinated with everything: the people, the rich culture, the history and religion, the landscape and environment. My trip piqued an interest in the diversity and different perspectives that exist between Eastern and Western cultures. Participation in this program will afford me the opportunity to immerse myself into all aspects of this intriguing culture.
I am interested in the ALT position because it would give me a chance to teach in a classroom setting, to test some of my current teaching methods, and to embrace new ones in the process. I have found training that gets a student involved, demonstrates the concept, or provides hands-on experience is the best way to learn. In my current position as a technology specialist with Percepta, I am a certified back-up trainer. My job is split between instructor-led training and designing training. I feel this background more than qualifies me to train English as a second language in Japan. I am outgoing, friendly, genuine, caring, and creative and these personality traits will be an asset to an ALT teaching position. I enjoy working with people, young or old. I like to make people laugh and want them to enjoy learning.
Professionally, I am looking to gain experience in teaching and in working overseas. I anticipate making lasting business contacts that could lead to future opportunities in my desired field. Participating in this program will be a compliment to my continuing education goals in Instructional Technology.
What effect do I hope to have on the Japanese community and the larger international community? As a world traveler, I have experienced so much that makes me love and appreciate my country, I will share that love of America with the people of Japan. I hope to inspire them to find and experience their own adventures. I want to encourage them to take their newly acquired knowledge and teach Japanese in America for a year, visit Michigan for a week, or travel the world. I want to come home and share my Japanese experiences with everyone so that they might be inspired to visit Japan, try sushi, or apply for the JET program.
My motivation for wanting to participate in the JET program is simple: this program is a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself into a foreign culture to gain a new and different insight into that culture. I am flexible, easy going, adventurous and love to travel – so this would be a life-altering experience! I am eager and ready to start sharing my enthusiasm for teaching English and learning Japanese.

Hanami and Sakura

Tis the season of cherry blossoms in Japan! So that means we’ve got another reason to party!! As the cherry blossom (sakura) season is relatively short – the blooms last about two weeks or until a good strong wind comes along and blows them all away – it’s a compact time for making merry. The “thing” to do is get a big group of people together and have a picnic (hanami) under the blossoms to admire their beauty. Or to be honest, to eat and drink and just have fun.
Here is a brief list of all the fun I had:
Hanami #1 – Joetsu, Niigata
Went to this park because it apparently has one of the top 3 places to view sakura at night. Unfortunately, the sakura were not quite open yet – so it wasn’t as beautiful as it would be the next week. We were ill prepared for a hanami – trash bags to sit on and no food or beverages. But as things happen in Japan, we were overrun – or assimilated if you will – into the hanami party of a large group of old, Japanese drinking buddies. They tossed their huge blue tarp over tiffany, stole one of our garbage bags for their shoes, and then offered us their hospitality! We ate their food, drank their sake and made a sad attempt at communication. They got T to play her guitar and I sang along for an impromptu concert – all in all, probably my most memorial and interesting hanami!
Hanami #2 – Toyama, Toyama
T and I headed into the city to view the blossoms along the river in Toyama. They were not disappointing! We took a gondola ride down the river to get a different perspective of the blooms. There was a party atmosphere with festival food and vendors all over the park! We met up with some other ALTs, got our favorite festival foods and ate under the trees.
Hanami #3 – Toyama, Toyama
I returned to Toyama later in the week for another hanami. This one was along the river, but it was dark and a bit cold! Thankfully, I brought something to keep my hinny warm! Festival vendors where still there, so I got a potato swimming in butter to keep my insides warm!
Hanami #4 – Osawano, Toyama
The last one of the season I’m afraid – the weather was extremely windy and most of the trees along the river looked as if they’d been shaken naked! Got to meet one of my former JTE’s American husband and his American university buddies. It was a different crowd from what I am used to and I had a nice time.

Truth be told, I think I’ve seen all the cherry blossoms I can handle for now! Took lots of photos and I’ve updated them on my Picasa page (click the top link to view them). Not to worry though, the blossoms might be gone, but the Japanese are never without some reason to party!

Dragon Tails

Yet another reason to love this place: Today while eating my lunch of egg curry, fish and rice, I heard noises coming from outside. Lo and behold, it was a troupe of performers – 5 kawaii kids in traditional costume, 2 guys in a dragon costume and a mess of men (from young to old) playing flute and a drum. Apparently, and this should come as no surprise by now, today is a festival heralding the arrival of spring. The kids danced – they were so cute – and I was kicking myself for not having my camera on my person at all times! At the end they thanked the school for the gift of money and some sake. The guy doing the talking was spitting a lot and at one point it looked like the veins in his forehead might pop – I kept an appropriate distance. The best part was that the cart that was pulling the drum was also full of cases of beer. So once these guys finished they lit up a smoke, grabbed a cold one and headed to the next performance!

YEAH - Tiffany had her camera and snapped a photo when the stopped at her school.

It does the body good

They say 4 to 5 servings of green tea a day keeps you nice and healthy! Since I have some teachers who are in their 4os but look like they graduated from high school/university yesterday - I think they might be right!

I've decided the easiest way is to get all the servings out of the way at one time!!!

Magic Muffins

Whoo Hooo! English muffins have magically appeared at my grocery store again! I am convinced they are magic and only appear at Orange Mart when someone drops them down a hole thru the center of the earth from a grocery store in Michigan. I am eating one of these magic muffins right now - delish!

Life is cruising here in the land of the rising sun! Spring has sprung, the cherry blossoms are blooming and the Japanese are out in full force with there Nikons and tripods! I too am going to join the "cherry blossom" mania. The "thing" to do is grab yourself a bento, some booze and a spot under a cherry tree! I am sure there will be a blog in there somewhere.

In other news, T is making me go to the gym (v_v). It's painful - but necessary. I seem to be exercising both my body and mind as I continue to make disturbing and enlightening discoveries about my psyche. I can only hope that all this exercise will do it's magic (^-^)b. If not, at least there will be funny stories!