Letter # 1 to Eboni Teacher from Misato Watanabe 2nd grade Elementary School student (verbatim): Hello. Mice to meet you, Eboni teacher. My name is Misato Watanabe. When is your birthday? My birthday is September 5th.
Letter # 2 from Fuyumi Teacher, How are you? Me I Happy. How old are you teacher?

These are the first two pieces of paper I was handed in envelopes all taped up with beautiful decorations and stickers as soon as I walked into my first English class today. I had to teach three classes today. The first was 1st and 2nd grade students, then 5th and 6th, then 3rd and 4th. Fuyumi and Misato did such a wonderful job on those letters they wrote. I was so excited and shocked because I figured they would just be filled with pictures. For a 2nd graders who's native language is Japanese and has only had informal training and not very much writing I say that both of those girls did an excellent job! Also because the other students acted like they didn't understand a word I said or could write down anything. I have a feeling I'm really going to like this class. There is only one person in the first grade at this school and only 26 students in the whole school! I had a great time today and they made sure I was well taken care of. During cleaning period one of the students gave me a "mini-potato" that she found in one of the gardens the school has. (Yes, they grow corn--and cook it, and many other vegetables)

I used the same lesson from yesterday with this group of students and it went over just as well. Only today we made cards with our name on them and if you lost at Rock Paper Scissors you had to give up your name card. I made some of mine in advance and some with them but all I did was write my name and stick an American flag sticker on my cards. I made enough so that even if I beat the students at the game they could still get a card from me. I gave them NC pencils that I got while I was still in Carolina. They like those too but it was so funny because they were trying to put them in their pencil cases, but the pencil was too long. One student was telling his Japanese homeroom teacher that it wouldn't fit but they way his voice was going up and down and he was so surprised it didn't fit, I fell out laughing. Shoji (today's school) has chickens and roosters at their school too but not as many as Toyoshige (the one I was at yesterday). The 2nd graders cleaned up the cage and changed the water and food so nicely. I'm a still slightly in awe.

Afterschool today all I wanted to do is come home and lay down but I didn't. I decided I'd do some cleaning and then I realized that I really hate my living room. Well, maybe not hate, but I really don'tlike it. I want a desk. I'm tired of sitting on the floor. I want a cordless phone, I'm tired of being tied down to talking in the living room or stretching the cord as far as it will go to talk and do something at the same time. I decided that when I get paid in September I am making a home improvement list and those two things are right at the top of the list! I went out to the grocery today because I had to buy myself something to drink at lunch. I cannot drink the milk that they drink because it is just tooooo thick. Its like 3.5 or 3.7% which might as well be whole milk to me and its been so long since I've had whole milk that I just can't stand it. There is this drink they have here called Miu which tastes kinda like Gatorade. Its one of the best sports drinks over here to me so I went and bought some of those to drink at lunch. I hope they dont complain, but I just cannot drink that milk.

One of the old JETs from this area invited me to her house for a sleepover this Friday. I'm not sure how it will turn out but I bet it beats being home alone. I hope I don't end up having to eat my words! But the one who invited me is cool and a few of the people I know she invited are okay too, some of them are just a LITTLE too high strung for me. I'm a low key kinda girl and high strung and I don't match. I hope that it doesn't turn out to be a huge affair with a bunch of people because I don't do crowds...
"Who knows what the future holds?"

I've had a really good day today. I had to teach my first lesson at the Elementary School and it was also my first visit there. I don't get to visit them but once a month, sometimes twice so today was a real treat. When I got there, the students were practicing for a school festival that will be held Sept 7th. The principal and I went out to watch their marching band. It was quite good I must say. They have many formations and play all types of instruments including recorder/piano drums, trumpet, trombone, and cymbals. So, they played a song called Fuji-san for me then I did my self-intro and a student responded to me. She said the best thing about her school was #1 that on a fine day (they say fine instead of clear) you can see the mountain from the school and its very big and very beautiful and #2 that the students were very friendly and so were the teachers. She was very right! After the welcome meeting I had class with the 1st-3rd graders. I did a small introduction and said Hi my name is...and then showed them pictures. They really don't understand much English at all and neither do the teachers so I try to be short and use few words which helps. The teachers today were very helpful and they understood most of what I was saying since it was the basic self introduction including-- Hello my name is..what is your name? Response: My name is... Hi, .....Its nice to meet you. Response: Its nice to meet you too. So I took each student one by one in front of the class and we introduced ourselves and everyone clapped. Then I taught them Rock, Paper, Scissors which is the English version of Janken so they already know how to play. It was fun and the whole afternoon, they would run up to me in the hall holding out their hand in a rock wanting me to play. These students are so smart and get attached quickly. I was in the teachers room after our English class and 3 of the 1st grade boys came down the hall yelling "Eboni Senseiiiii" and they wanted to show me their class pets which are two rabbits. They were very cute. Then they took me to a cage where they have a rooster and chicken coup. Then I had lunch with the 2nd grade students and teacher. At Toyoshige, there are only 4 students in the second grade class. So we had a very intimate lunch. It was nice because their teacher understands a little English and they would ask her to ask me questions. How old I am, how tall I am, etc. There was ham in the salad, so I told them I don't eat pork and of course they were surprised but then got over it. After we cleaned up from eating lunch, the 2nd grade students took me back to the cage, but this time they cleaned up the cage. They took out the old straw and and replaced it with fresh grass. The took rocks from the gravel drive way and replaced those that had been either raked out by the chickens or by them when they were cleaning. They replaced the water and fed the birds. I was so impressed with the way they were so attentive and well behaved when they were cleaning. Like not trying to make the birds holler or throwing stuff at them.
When they were done cleaning the chickens had lain some eggs and they gave me one. These birds are very expensive and lay really good eggs. Each egg sold individually in the store is about 300 to 500yen ($2.50-$4.50) so I was very happy to recieve this egg when I realized why they were giving it to me. I had a great morning at Toyoshige and look forward to going back for the Sports Day in September. I was supposed to go to Tokyo that weekend but there is no way I'd miss their day!

The Junior High school is going to be different because most of the children are at "that" stage when they are ackward and hormonal and its much different than the Elementary school. The best thing for me to do is get adjusted to it and try to make them more comfortable with me. They are very nice kids and smile a lot but I want them to try talking to me a little bit more. They did some practicing today for their School Fesitval on Sept 14 , which was my alternate weekend in Tokyo but it doesn't look like that's doable either. The JH 3rd grade is singing "Hallelujah" at the Fesitval. They sound very very good. Beautiful voices only diction of course is off and at this point I just listen. The way to make a good impression is not to come in and critique so I don't. I will do my self introduction for the JH 3rd grade students on Friday so that will be my first day of teaching them. That will be interesting.

Tomorrow I go to Shoji Elementary school, I'll have to modify my lesson some, but that should be fun. I just hope they get the no pork thing down cause I'm not trying to mess with it.

August 26, 2002
Tonight Mizuki and I went to the Yoshida Himatsuri. Which is also called the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival. They carried these huge and heavy shrines down the street to this community center and then put them down there. One was of Fuji and one was supposed to house the goddess who protects the mountain. Then after these men, about a hundred or so to carry two big shrines drop the shrines off at the center the they go up and down the street for about 20 blocks (i'm not exaggerating) and light bonfires on wood piles in the middle of the street. Its fantastic to watch. Up and down the streets are also many many booths with different food vendors from squid and octopus on a stick to beef, pig and chicken. They had candied apples and chocolate covered bananas, cotton candy, and some other stick like candy substance. There was a traditional praying person and some Taiko drumming and women dressed in Yukata and my favorite the little girls dressed in Yukata. I took so random shots of Japanese little girls standing in awe looking cute or whatever. We had a really good time. Mizuki and I had a few Japanese lessons too. I am going to her school tomorrow for my first real lesson. I've been at the Junior High since Friday but I won't have a formal lesson there until this coming Friday. At Toyoshige Elementary (where I'm going tomorrow) they are going to have a Welcome Assembly for me. I really like the atmosphere of the elementary schools so far because the teachers seem to want to talk more than they do at the JH. They are really busy at the JH so they pretty much stick to themselves. I think tomorrow will be fun!

I found a digital camera that I want. Saturday before I bought my guitar I did some looking around for cameras and I found 3 I liked. I wrote them down and came home to check them out on the net. This one Canon has a great zoom and looks like it takes very clear pictures. They even have some samples in the store. So I have to keep my eye on that one. I'm narrowing it down, but with a purchase like that you can't just go out and buy any old thing.

My days are getting so much better and things are getting much clearer for me. I like it here now that I'm finally settling in. A got a box from my mom today. It was a prepacked box but she put a card inside for me. That was a surprise but made me quite happy as well. This box had some more slacks and winter sleep pants and thick socks which I really needed because it is getting colder here at night now.

Like Scarface said, "Today was a good day"

August 24, 2002
I bought a guitar today! I'm very excited about it. I'd been saying since I got here that I was going to start studying but now it is truly a reality. Its a nice one too, its black and red instead of the classic yellow color I love it. Here's a picture.

While I was out shopping Erica called me and told me that she was going to go to Tokyo to party tonight. Another JET friend of ours Monique had been telling us for weeks about clubs up there that she wanted to go to and we really haven't done much except explore our own cities since we've been here so we decided to throw caution to the wind and got to Tokyo. I left home at about 7:55pm and
the journey began from there...I got to the train station and sought out a parking lot. It didn't have any prices posted but it was not right next to the station I still had to walk some so I figured it wouldn't be that outrageous. Once I got to the station and bought my ticket (cost 2210yen for the actual fare and 1210Yen to ride the limited express train which only has 3 stops before Tokyo = 3420Yen), I had just missed the 8:21 train so I had to wait for the 9:07. I finally arrived in Shibuya, Tokyo around 11pm. I'm glad the clubs are pretty lienent about what you wear because if I had worn anything but jeans I would have been very uncomfortable on my trip out there.

I met up with Monique and her friend Rudy. We had plans to meet up with some more of Monique's friends and with Erica so we waited around and watched people. I swear, I have never seen that many people in a city just walking around at 11pm at night before in my life. I have been to Essence Festival in New Orleans. I've also been in Manhatten during New Year's Eve and I promise there were still more people out there last night than anywhere else I've ever been. There were people coming from EVERYWHERE they had vendors in the streets and I'm sure they make a pretty penny. They had Japanese Dreadmen and I even saw these 3 Japanese Dreads, putting wax and rolling someones hair trying to help his hair lock it was wild. I mean one dude had dreads he could sit on and had some of them bunched up in the cap he was wearing. I saw a girl in Starbucks (yes they do have Starbucks all over) who I swear looked like Beyonce! She was darker than me and had bright blond braids in her hair. She had on all this funny eye make-up but I had to double take and make sure some of those girls weren't really black. I need to start making some money braiding hair while ya playin!

Anyway to make an even longer story shorter (too late), we got the whole crew together at about 12:15 and took taxi's to this spot not far from there which was a Regge club. It cost 2500yen to get in but that covered two drinks once you got inside. One of the bartenders had a straight up fro and of course Erica asked him if it was real and if she could touch it. He took off his visor and let her see it was real and let her touch it. I touched it too, and it felt just like wool. I let him feel mine so he could see what a real fro felt like. Once we got to the dance floor I was completely in awe. You had Japanese folks with the long chains and Hip-Hop style baseball caps on, some had the long multicolored skirts on with tanks who were dancing like they were straight off the boat from Jamaica and the one that killed
me was this guy who was dresssed rather Mexicanish with a poncho on and this huge sombrero like hat only it was like the huge ones you might hang on your wall, and he was wearing it in the club. The Japanese are also real heavy on smoking and there isn't a lot of weed here so they just mix different types of tobacco until they get something that simulates weed for them or gives them another type of high. The Japanese Mexican guy had this cigar that was I promise, the length of my forearm. He was just a danger to be around on the dance floor. Either you get knocked around by the hat or burned by the cigar. They played some really old songs and some newer ones too, but only a few hip hop ones thrown in here or there. I think some of the locals were getting a little pissed with Monique, Erica, and I but its all good. If I were them I'd hate me too.(smile)

We left there and went to Roppongi which is another extremely busy club district in Tokyo. We stopped on the way to the next club at this Turkish restaurant and had chicken and rice. There was also a very attractive black man in there who I was trying to give the eye but its hard when youare in a big group. It was actually pretty good and also funny to see Turkish people saying the typical (Irashaimase!) and greeting us in Japanese. We went to this club called 911 which for me doesn't have very many pleasant connotations so I kind wasn't feeling it off jumpbut the bouncers there were Nigerians. And they kept telling is how beautiful it was to be black and how beautiful we were. One guy even assured us that he had been in Japan for 6 years and never had sex with a Japanese woman. Only because he loved Black women so much and because of the butt thing. Japanese women don't have any butt was his claim. I had to break it down that not all Black women have "junk in their trunk" either, but it was all in fun and they were really cool. We went down there and it was wack and they were playing this techno/backstreet boys mess that I know I didn't want to make my head hurt so some of us left and sought out another place to party. We found this club called Wall Street that shocked the crap out of us...I walked in the door and the first thing you see is this scantily clothes Japanese woman dancing on the bar, then you look further down and there are more. The music was like this latin type pace with J-Lo's song "Let's get Loud" if you can call that Latin. The music started to get better, but it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth the shock we experienced upon entry and every time you would look in the direction of the bar. So we left there in search of yet another club. By this time its about 4:30 and the sky is starting to lighten up. E and I just walked up and down and met some military men that didn't want to be label as military men because they are known for starting trouble. But when you walk around in a pack of five and all of you are buff out of this world, we're going to pretty much know what it is that you really do.

The night was winding up and the trains started running again at 5 so shortly thereafter we made our way to the train station. On our way to the station we picked up a stray Turkish guy who would not leave me alone. E and I were talking and saying bye and he was standing there waiting for me. All I wanted was to be left alone, so I kindly cussed him out and English and in Japanese and he was like I don't understand, I was like "Yes you do, yes you do" he started laughing and finally walked away, but we E and I went our separate ways he was standing on the other side of the entry just starring at us. I'm glad he wasn't on my train.

I bought a subway ticket (210Yen) to take me from Roppongi to Shinjuku where I had to catch the train that goes to Yamanashi. The return fare was another 3420Yen and I had to wait from 6am when I arrived at the train stop til 7am when it actually left for home. I couldn't stay awake no matter how hard I tried so I got a good seat on a bench, put my purse in my lap, set the timer on my cell phone and leaned over on my knees and took a nap. I don't know if the beer and Turkish food weren't agreeing with me or if it was just that I knew I still had an hour and a half train ride home that was making me feel sick to my stomach when the I finally arrived. The seats are very roomy and comfortable on those limited express trains so that made things much better. I set the alarm again for a 8:15 and fell asleep! When I finally got to Kofu and to my car of course I had to pay the attendant and it was 2900yen. This was a very expensive night and I love Tokyo and all but there is much to be said for staying around Kamiku and enjoying the simplicities of life.

"Oh, what a night...doodoo..doodoo"

August 23, 2002
Today was my first day of school. I got to the Junior High at about 8:15, 15minutes prior to the time I was expected to arrive. Its very rude to be late in Japanese business places so I try to be on time eventhough it is not something I'm used to doing when it comes to work. But I had prepared for the first day of school for a long time so I didn't mind being ontime at all. I said my welcome speech that I used at the village office a few weeks ago with the staff and with the students when they got to school.

Before the actual opening ceremony the students arrive in the front hall, change shoes and we teachers stand in the front and greet them as they come in. Its actually very intimate and personal. I like it. So then we have the ceremony and the Principal makes a few speechs and the Vice Principal and a few of the students and myself. After I give my speech one of the students comes up and does a response to my speech. He is so cute and nervous that I tried to calm him down but he just kept taking these huge deep breaths in the microphone and the whole gym was laughing. He did a great job though but he just would not stop heaving!

After the ceremony they have clean-up period for about an hour where the whole school students and staff all pitch in to clean up the school and grounds. Its a great thing, working together and they play this really loud Japan Pop music over the loud speaker while they are cleaning! It was big fun, although they won't let me help them much. Since it was only a opening ceremony day the students left at 12pm and the teachers stayed until about 3:30. I didn't really feel like I was under much pressure because I've done my speech before so that wasn't such a big thing. I am supposed to be teaching classes next week so that is when I think the nervous is going to come in. The staff a Kamiku JH is very nice, but they are quiet to me because I don't speak Japanese just like I'm sure they think I'm quiet too because I don't say much around them. Its only because they can't understand me for the most part anyway.

School is going to be fine. I just need to get the students acustomed to me and how I do things.

August 20, 2002
I'm cramming three days into one journal entry so here goes:

Tuesday was the first day of our Yamanashi orientation. It was great. We met the Superintendant of the Board of Education and the Tresurer of the prefecture. I had lunch with a lovely and genki (energetic) Japanese man who told me over lunch about his adventures in the Midwestern United States. How he loved driving because of the open roads and wide highways and about a conversation about religion he had with some folks that kept talking about Bubbles. He later found out they were saying Bibles with a country accent. We had a hilarious engagement about that topic and he assured me that my student would love to hear me immitate a southerner in class one time.

After lunch we went to Shodo lessons. Shodo is Japanese caligraphy. It was fun, but I'm not very good a balancing the characters...which is something that carries over my regular life and issues with balance but that's a different topic all together. Our sensei (teacher) showed me how to write my name in Kanji. I wrote some other things too, and over all made a mess on some of the sheets but had some good work to take home with me (including the one he wrote with my name which is beautiful). That night we had a welcome dinner party and after that the group split up and some of us went out to different bars and such. It was cool because it was actually the first time that I've been here and been able to drink. really didn't think I'd make many friends at the orientation because I tend to be kinda stuck up, meaning I don't really want to hang out with any and everyone, and my personality is that that people aggravate me easily if we don't click...so I just would rather wait until I actually could kick with folks I can tolerate and that can tolerate me. I'm glad I found those people!!! I'm always driving but this time we were walking so thank goodness for that! I learned to play darts, had an interesting conversation about the zodiac, and an even more interesting convo about the squatting pee toilets where each one at my table (8 of us) got up to go pee (at different times of course) so that we could share how each of us actually did the squat thing. It was the funniest thing I've seen in a while! We had quite a bonding experience and I actually got drunk in Japan for the first time!

Wednesday was field trip day. First thing in the morning we got up and ate a piece of toasted bread. A two year old's bowl of corn flakes and a slice of watermelon. So of course we all sought out the nearest by convience store! Too bad for those who got up late and thought we were going to get a repeat of the Tokyo orientation food. We got on a bus and went to Rokugo where we had a Hanko making lesson. Hanko is like a signature in Japan. There are different types of hanko but on offical documents you need a hanko and
not a signature. The sensei picks out a Kanji that contains syllables in your last name and designates it for you. Then you carve out what he has drawn on this marble like stick and then you can use it as a stamp. Its quite difficult and like everything else in Japan there is a specific method for doing it which if you mess up you ruin your hanko. So needless to say, the sensei did most of mine for me! Its cute though and my Hanko character is "Su" which this particular kanji means Bird's nest.

After Hanko we went to lunch at a restaurant where me and 2 other ALTs were the last to eat because we were eating vegetarian. Everyone else had some pork dish, and they had ordered 3 meals without pork which ended up having us wait until all 40 other people had eaten. By the time the food got there, everyone at my table was done, but it was a pretty filling lunch. From lunch we went to Minobu-san or Mt. Minobu. Which is the mountain where Nichiren Buddism was born. Nichiren Buddism is the same one that the neighbors behind my house are and Tina Turner and Jackie. We climbed 287, 1foot high stairs. That means each step was a foot and we did 287 of them and I had on sandals and a jean skirt! Talk about a tired Black woman! Anyway, so once we did that there was this fountain at the top where you were only supposed to wash your mouth out and spit out the water. They don't tell the thirsty/tired gaijin (foreigners) anything until after we are drinking down water. Oh well...so then, we went on a tour of the temples on the mountain. It was so beautiful and very peaceful up there. I am trying to figure out how far it is from where I live because it is a nice area to spend an afternoon. Not in the temples or praying to Buddah or anything, they have many trees and benches where you sit and enjoy the serenity of the mountain. They have these two fish ponds that have huge eel looking fish that are multicolored. I was nervous about taking pictures inside the temples so I only have pictures of the outsides but those came out good as well.

By the time we got back to the hotel I was so beat from the climb that I took a nap. Then a few new friends and I went to an Indian restaurant. I ordered something that looked familiar which ended up being Chicken Tikka--tikka in whatever language Indians speak--means hot. I like a jerk, didn't ask or know I just ordered something and had to eat bread, cucumbers, and yogurt with my meal to calm my tongue down. Everyone felt sorry for me, but that's what I get. It was very good, but just a little too hot. From dinner we went to Karaoke. Karaoke is a Japanese FAVORITE! There are more Karaoke bars here than there are liquor stores in Black/Latino neighborhoods at home and you know that's a lot! The room we went in was very big and old JETs and new as well as some other gaijin who live in Yamanashi all came it. It was 3000 yen for Nomimonohodai (all you can drink) and 3 hours of singing. I only got up there once to sing "Dove's Cry" with Kai and Kris which was funny. A good time was had by all. Oh..and I almost had to knock some sense into this Japanese dude who touched me in my face. I thought he was just being drunk and friendly like cause he was talking close and then he crossed the line when he put his hand in my face. I had to walk away and he was coming my direction still! I think his friends had to tell him to move along and I'm glad they did cause that's not how I want folks to see me, but there is a line between ignorance and borderline "you bout to get your @$$ kicked!" The night ended well and I went back to the hotel to sleep off some of the nomimono.

Thursday we checked out of the hotel and went to our last morning of orientation which was an absolute waste of time. I told them so on the evaluation form too. Not one thing they talked about in that 4 hours was something I didn't already learn at one of the million other orientations we had. I basically played with my phone and talked..kinda rude but hell, I got the job now. When the conference was over my supervisor picked me up and took me to lunch. We had a breakthru I think. We talked in both broken English and broken Japanese but we talked. We went to a Italian restaurant and the food was good there. I'm determined not to let this communication thing get to me, and he seem to want to talk to me too so that was good. After lunch I went and picked up my salary and then to the Junior High where my English Teacher told me what to expect for Opening Ceremony tomorrow and what they wanted me to say.

Action packed 3 days and now the summer vacation is officially over. Tomorrow I open a new door to being an actual teacher.
Welcome to Junior High, huh?

Two things about Japanese culture that I WILL NOT get used to:

#1. Slurping! They slurp tea, coffee or anything else hot that they drink. And they slurp noodles. It kills me. I really want to leave the room when people are eating like that. I guess it was such a big pet peeve of my mother's and now it had rubbed off on me.

#2. Whining on the phone. This lady sat in the office and whinned for what I know was a good 45 minutes. Its like the roach thing in people's houses. I'm looking around the teacher's office like "Doesn't anyone else hear this?" And everyone is busy and working like nothing is wrong. All I can hear is "hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm" It was killing me I swear. I was praying for someone to strike up a conversation and say something just so I didn't have to hear "hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm...hmmm" There were no words just "hmmm".

My salary situation is worked out. I get paid this Thursday. I knew it wasn't going to be a big deal. Watanabe-san and I just were not understanding each other well. I'm glad my JTE is back though so we won't have to worry about these kinds of breakdowns anymore.

I go to Yamanashi-prefectural orientation in Kofu tomorrow and I'll be there until Thursday afternoon. This is where I'll be able to find out about things going on around this area non-school related. I want to really learn tradional Japanese dance and some type of instrument. I'm really into music and my supervisor knows that so I've got him on the lookout for some type of lessons. Even if I have to take them with the students. I also want to enroll in a Japanese Conversation class. This should prove interesting but I am looking forward to improving my communication and language skills.

I was actually on my way to bed but I HAD to come talk about this!!

So, I'm getting ready for bed and I went back in the bathroom to brush my teeth and I hear this singing...it was weird because its like 10pm here and it was kinda loud. So I go back in the livingroom and turn my music down and the light off in the kitchen so i can both hear and see better. I know I'm nosy! So anyway, I look out and the singing is actually chanting. There is a house directly behind our apartments and in that house I see these folks rocking back and forth. Then bell chimes every now and then and I hear "Nam yo ho renge kyo". I've never met the people that live in the house behind me, but I guess they are Buddists. I feel like dork for being like "wow, buddists" but I guess that's how I feel.."wow, buddists" not Tina Turner and Jackie from What's Love Got to Do With It.

I was slightly disappointed today when I woke up around 9 and the sun was shining. That meant the Typhoon didn't hit early morning and I could have gone up to Fuji. The thing is I'd rather be safe than sorry so I'm not as disappointed. Since the storm didn't come I decided to go to the grocery store. That's always a day trip in itself. Traffic is always terrible on Sunday afternoon so I'm definitely going to have to find another time to do my shopping. I decided to park some where farther away and walk but I really regretted my decision when I came out of the store and it was pouring...Anyway, I found Salad dressing and lettuce this time so I was excited about that

Tonight's Movie: Jason's Lyric. I only brought a few movies with me so I'm trying to space out how often I watch a movie. I'm glad I watched this one tonight. I hadn't seen it in a while and its is a great movie if the terrible southern accents don't distract you from the message and them of the movie. It such a sweet and real love story to me. As well as two of the greatest love scenes i've ever experienced in a movie. Makes me kinda nostalgic of having a love of my own but that's another blog for another day...

We are at such a high elevation that when it rains I am actually walking through clouds. I don't think I've ever been this high before. I know the neighbors thought I was crazy standing in the rain taking pictures of the clouds and the river in front of our house, but hey, I felt like capturing the moment. If you walk outside in front of my apt building there is a major roadway Rte 358 and directly on the otherside of the road is the Ashigawa River. On the other side of the river is a mountain that seems to go straight up about 15 stories or so. Its amazing. Behind the apt is the same thing, there are maybe two houses behind mine and then straight up mountains. Its beautiful I swear. I can't wait for the winter to see how wonderful it will look. They said it gets pretty cold here so maybe I can wait for winter.

"when love calls, you betta answer cause it might slip away and love may not ever come again"

Courtesy of Ms. Badu:

The Warriors Reminder

I am awake
My mind is free
I am Creative
I love myself
My will power is strong
I am Brave
I practice patience
I dont judge folks
I give not to receive
I dont expect
I accept
I listen more than I talk
I know Ill change
I know youll change
Ill hold on more day
I start over when necessary
I create my own situations
I am cosmic
I dont have the answers
I desire to learn
I am the plan
I am strong
I am weak
I want to grow
I know I will
I take on responsibility
I hide myself from no one
Im on my path
Warriors walk alone
I wont let my focus change
Taking out the demons in my range

I needed that...

I got my cellie! I got it from AU which stands for"Always Unique". I got this phone that has Global Passport on it so that if I go away on holiday (vacation) or come to the US for a while I can still use my phone and people in Japan can still call at regular rates for them too. This is My New Phone I got the pink one. Since I had to go pick up my phone today I had to go back down that winding trap they call Rte 38. I don't see how they do it and people really fly down these roads. Today on the way home from Showa-cho I passed (meaning pulled over and let them pass) at least 3 cross country type trucks. If you could see what these roads look like you wouldn't believe it cause I know I don't.

No Fuji-san for me tonight...there is a typhoon coming first thing tomorrow morning and my friend Rob who went last year (when it ended up raining) told me that going up there when they are expecting rain is not even what you want. There is one more weekend left in the Fuji Climbing season so I'm going to try to go up there then.

Today's been kinda boring but Zane makes the dullness a little better. Until tomorrow...

Another day in Kamiku.
There have been new developments with the Mt. Fuji experience. Originally we were supposed to walk the mountain during the first part of the day 8-4pm but a friend of mine told me that its too hot to do all that during the day, so I should go with the group that has planned to go at night. At this point, I plan to spend the night on the mountain. We are supposed to meet at the fifth station and hike to the top from there. Spend the night at the top and watch the SUNRISE!! Gosh doesn't it sound like something out of the movies. I have to take 2L of water, some snacks, fruit, warm clothing (layers, hat and scarf--which I have none of) and of course my camera. I plan to bring my Zane book "Heat Seekers" which by the way is excellent and some stationary to write a few letters atop the mountain. I'm excited about it and I'm sure I will have a million things to say on Sunday after I rest from not getting any sleep.

I wasn't able to by my digital camera today because I didn't get paid. I went to Watanabe-san to ask him about my pay and he said I won't be paid until the 16th of next month. We couldn't have a very in depth conversation because of course he doesn't understand English. So I had to wait until I saw Mizuki to tell her about it and see if she could explain/ask him what was up with that. I came home and found a letter that my predecesor had written making sure I didn't have the wrong date in mind and this is what it says verbatim "You will receive your first salary on August 16, and from then on you will be paid on the 16th of every month. You receive your salary as an envelope of cash that is handed directly to you at the village office." I have a copy of this to take to the Yakuba when I go in on Monday...I actually was wondering if anyone is there tomorrow because I will go to the accountants office and see if the money is there myself. I'm good for now, but I know I can't last another month with bills etc. on the money that I do have. No worries though, cause Watanabe-san will straighten it out I'm sure.

So today my big deal was going to be to get a keitai right...well I'm so glad that I went with Mizuki. The phone I wanted that has global passport (I can use it in the US) and is cute and has email etc...well it was 9800yen in the AU store I found in Kofu...Mizuki took me to another store some where near Totomi-choa nd got the same phone with a fairly reasonable plan for 5800yen!!! Woo-hooo! I'm excited! She helped me fill out all the paperwork and wrote my address in Kanji for me so I was extremely greatful. The didn't have the phone in stock but I will go back and get it tomorrow afternoon. She even took me out to eat after we left the keitai-shop.

I met Mizuki at the Ashigawa (train) station which is actually in the Mitama-cho. You can get to Mitama-cho on Rte 38 which you get as you are leaving Kamiku and go off to the right so you are driving actually right next to the Ashigawa river (which is in front of my house). Well anyway, needless to say the side roads of Japan are extremely narrow, but when I say narrow, I mean like a Ford Explorer would be from white line to white line on this road and they are TWO-way streets. The scariest part is that people drive fast on these little roads but I woman like me will give them the right of way everytime! I just pull my little car to the side and let them have it. Its so funny because there are parts where you have your own side then they dip down to a one lane (two lane) street that goes right through what looks like someones front yard, literally. Now I've driven in the country, on dirt roads, on rocky roads, but there is nothing quite like this I promise. I had to leave her at 6pm because I wanted to get home before the sunset. The river is quite beautiful from the road and I bet its even better from down on the rocks. I'm going to see if some of my Junior High students will take me fishing. I know my dad would flip..I know me fishing right, but hey you only live once and you know my motto :

"When in Rome...do as the Romans do"

Gas stations in Japan: NUMBER ONE: Don't get out of your car. Its self service. NUMBER TWO: Pop the gas tank, NOT THE TRUNK! (stupid!) NUMBER THREE: Bring large bills. It cost me 4600yen ($40) to fill up a 1991 Toyota Corona..Imagine what an SUV might cost!!! NUMBER FOUR: Wait for the attendant to STOP traffic for you before you pull out into the street.I swear there are rules to doing everything around here and I seem to violate them all. But hey, how do we learn if not through trial and error when you can't understand a THING they are saying to you.Ya know, just when I think I'm getting the hang of things...I go to the gas station and I'm back to feeling like a foreigner. That's okay, because I AM a foreigner. I'm an immigrant as mom would say.

I went to McDonalds tonight for dinner and the manager knows my face now. I'm probably going to eat there at least twice a week. I'm still new to the cooking thing. I don't think I can do it everynight. I told a friend of mine today that I'm going to be "wife material" when I get home, but the more I think about it...no one has TASTED the food but me! Shoot...I like anything as long as I can eat. When other folks are eating your cooking there is a big difference between good cooking and edible!

My boy Reg, turned me on to this website where I can order CDs and they don't charge any shipping and handling. They are some really good mixed CDs-Soulman's World of Beats. I'm going to get a few of them. One I already heard before and this DJ has every song that was ever sampled its great! I hope that the other two I want are as good as this first one.

Times are tough when the only English speaking program on TV is some interview with Francis Ford Coppala. I'd almost rather be listening to Japanese people talk about stuff I can't understand or watch those cutesy cartoons. I think I might tape some to bring home with me. I've been watching the "Sesame Street/Barney" type shows that speak in simple Japanese. I can understand a lot of the dialogue and I'm learning new stuff with the kids. I actually sat and watched some little Christian cartoon where this white guy was singing "Michael row your boat a shore" I was cracking up as I was watching it. Christians are so funny, I mean I am a Christian too but I swear some Missionaries will try to sell a shoe to a shoe salesman ya know? A country full of buddists (that's a generalization) and totally in tune with nature and spirituality and you want to convert the converted...its wild. I guess I just haven't come to grips with the whole foreign missionary thing..but I have totally digressed. Michael was rowing his boat...yeah, and I was laughing and trying to keep myself from changing the channel. (like I had some options) If I see Big Bird on TV here I'm calling PBS!

"Who are the people in your neighborhood...they're people that you meet each day."

This week has gone but much better than last. I guess its because I finally got my internet in my apartment so I can catch people everynow and then and I've been able to email people so that is making me feel much better. Maybe it also has something to do with this new attitude that Erica helped me realize...who knows I'm just glad that things are going better.

I got my alien registration card today so now I can go get my keitai (cell phone). Mizuki is going to take me tomorrow afternoon. They have this company called AU that I'm going to get with. I saw a phone I liked when E and I were in Tokyo. They have the same one at the store down here so I'm going to see what that is all about. Mizuki has a j-phone with a digital camera on it! I was totally shocked when I saw it but she has pictures of her dog and some owl that her friend has (yes i did say owl...don't ask)! The pictures were so clear and she can download them to her computer too! I don't need anything like that though just the basics...cute ringers, cute color, email and I-mode. Its like a two way. No one really talks on their phones they use them mostly for two-waying back and forth. The best thing about this company is that they have a bilingual hotline for customer service and its a bilingual phone so I'll be able to understand the commands and stuff. This is going to be a real experience trying to explain to them what I want. I'm glad Mizuki can go with me.

My hair is officially off the chain. I've been wearing my hair nets but no one here seems to care. They are cool with it. I don't know if soon I'm going to start seeing my students with nets on! My hair is getting longer and thicker. I know its only been about two weeks since I got it cut but its really growing. My predecesor told me about this Japanese guy in Kofu who does hair at a shop near the Eki (train station) who spent like 10 years in London and speaks perfect English. She said he even has a little British accent if you can believe that. I don't want to real cut, just a trim and if he can rollerset it for me I'll see how that works out. I don't know though, I have to give my self a little time before I subject myself to the Japanese hair dresser experience. I want to be here for at least a month before I have to beat someone down for tearing my hair up, ya know?

I watch the Kangs (Kings of Comedy) everyday! I'd already memorized it before I got here now I sit in my Tatami room (just a name for a room in the house that has tatami mats instead of rugs) and act the mess out! Its just too much. But it helps me laugh which is something I really need now that I've separated from the other musketeers. Ced has got to be my fav though. Someone told me that he is coming out with his own show this fall and I am SOOOOO SAD that I won't be there to see it. I was excited about Bernie's show but he is much better at stand-up than he is at primetime. I mean..Ced this is why he is just my fav:

"That boy made all that money and his curl NEVER (pause) never...quite...it never quite curled all the way over."

"This ain't Chinese, This ain't Tai-quanese, this just straight up Nigga Please!"

Tonight I went to this town "Udon" festival. Its a three day long thing and tonight was the actual homecoming. Its a festival where people take three days off and go to where ever they are from (kinda like Homecoming in the southern church). It was nice I saw some of the students that I had met this and last week. They are so funny "E-bow-ni sensei"! they are so cute. So I donated some money to the little tag sales they had and danced a little bit with some of the town folks. I was met the couple that lives upstairs from me. They are so cute! We walked over to the festival together. The minute I get there the Vice-superintendent hands me some meat on a stick and a beer. He doesn't speak English either but is like, "Biru o nomimasuka?" (Do you drink beer?) So you KNOW my response..."Hai, Hai" (yes, yes) Its rude to turn them down so I've realized that I'm just going to have to eat whatever and drink whatever unless it starts to make me deathly sick.

Japanese has a lot of line type dances that they do in a circle. They are really repetitive and easy to learn. I'm excited because I think the principal is going hook me up with someone so that I can take traditional Japanese dance lessons. That would make me really happy. I met a few more of my students tonight and I met this guy Yamazaki. I am not sure if he was just being friendly or trying to holla. He barely knows English, but he came with the age old line "I can teach you Japanese, You can teach me English" It was so funny. They had a small fire works display after the festival ended. I felt like I had to go home early because #1 I had four beers and was feeling giddy and #2 It was 9:30 and I had been there for a while. I took some pictures of the traditional drummer and the folks dancing and some very cute pictures of my elementary students in their summer traditional dress. Its like Kimono but not as heavy and its called Yukata I hope they come out well.

Getting out of the house is very good for me and good for them to see me around. Since I'm in the countryside many of the folks look my complexion. I don't look Japanese but they don't think I'm black either. One of the older ladies in the village came up to me at the Udon and asked me where I was from (in Japanese of course)...she thought that I was partially Japanese. Most of the people are very nice and they remember me already. I've been to the post office a few times and the Postal worker I usually deal with wanted me to come over and play the game he was running. I am having a hard time remembering names which I hate, but they speak so fast.....! Well things are looking up. Thanks Erica for making me think again about my attitude and adjusting it. I have a little more than a week before school starts and I'm going to try to utilize every minute of it to make my lesson better and Japanese stronger.

I've been watching tapes of Steinfeld that my predecessor left in the apt. I never thought I'd be so happy to see commercials. Its great! I just like looking at TV that I don't have to try to translate...if anyone out there wants to send me a few hours of English TV feel free!!! Just let me know and I'll send you my address...

"The sun, has gone to bed and so must I.."

I forgot to post this the other day so here goes:

August 10, 2002

What an adventure I had today. I didn't leave home until around 2pm. I intended to go to the shopping center in Kofu to go to the Hyaku-en shop (its like the $1 store in US). Well I call myself following the map that my predecesor left for me and ended up on a side street that was barely big enough for my car and it was a TWO WAY STREET. I couldn't believe it. I'd heard of these streets before, but never been on one. With the smaller Japanese cars, its not quite as bad as it was for me, but the car I'm driving is about the size of a 92' Honda Accord. Its actually a Toyota Corona (yes you lushes, like the drink). Then after finding my way off that tiny street I traced my steps (so to speak) and went back the way I came. The next time I find myself on a highway, little do I know I'm going the right way this time and drive right past the shopping center! URGGH! But eventually I arrived at Gran Park and did my shopping. They have this store here called Uni Qlou that is very much like the GAP only...its not. They had a GREAT sale, but I resisted and just bought what I'd come there for: Groceries and stuff from the Hyaku-en shop. I bought lots a cute stationary today, some more postcards, a few clocks for the apt,
and a broom that doesn't make me hurt my back while cleaning the apt. I really like the Hyaku-en shop. Its much better than the store we have at home... cheap stuff that doesn't really look as cheap.

When I got home tonight after putting away my things, I decided to COOK. Yes that's right. I, Eboni Staton, have become a cook. Well let me tell the story first then you decide. I have a rice cooker so I put a cup of water in there and a cup of rice...that cooked itself and whistled when it was ready. Then for the main entree': Chicken! I had cubed pieces of chicken that I seasoned with garlic, pepper, salt, and a little bit of kikkoman soy sauce. After taking twenty minutes to light the stove, and calling a friend and asking a neighbor (I really couldn't figure the thing out!) I cooked my chicken and added it to the rice. Tah-Dah! My first home cooked meal. Of course I had more meat and rice than I needed so I'll save the chicken until tomorrow and throw out the extra rice.

Its pretty lonely here. I guess I've been saying that for the past few days. And all people can say is "You are having an experience of a lifetime". And its not like I dont know that or that I'm complaining, I'm just telling of how I feel. School hasn't started yet and there is no one
around really. When you are a person like me who is used to being around people all the time, or having someone to call and speak with regularly its hard when that isn't the case anymore. I love that I'm here. The countryside is beautiful, the air is clean, and the people are friendly. But I'm very far away from home and those same emotions I was feeling anticipating this move are okay to feel now that I'm here. Especially being that now I'm totally alone. I just have to get adjusted...I will be just fine.

"I'm lonely, I'm Mister Lonely...I have no-body to call my own"

I fried CHICKEN tonight! I'm getting good at this cooking thing. I'm only working on the meats right now so I had a simple chicken noodle soup to go with it. I know that doesn't sound like it goes together but it was actually kinda good. I'm surprising myself on how much I know how to fix from just watching. My mom would be totally amazed. I came home at lunch and took out some chicken wings. When I got home after work I made a little flour batter with salt, pepper, and some garlic (which tastes great believe it or not) and mixed that in. Then I washed off the chicken and salt and peppered it and put it in the flour stuff. Then I fried them up. It was very good! I haven't decided what to make tonight, but I do want rice. Thank goodness for the rice maker. That in itself was a blessing sent from above!!! If I had to figure out how to make RICE...wow, could my mom tell some stories about me boiling water!!!

Communication problems and all, today my Superintendant gave me two large pears (nashi)! They are like large grapefruit size and kinda hard but I cut one of them up for dessert tonight and it was quite good. I think the other one will be better once it softens up a bit. My supervisor Watanabe-san was not at the office today. The other three guys, The superintendant, vice superintendant, and some other guy I don't know his position were the only ones there. I got a lot of work done.

I've been cleaning out some old Jet stuff and throwing anything away that doesn' t have a match or that is worn out looking. There is a lot of mess that looks like it has been in there for a long time and I can't take all that. I know more about North Carolina now than I ever did. I have this one book that basically says, North Carolina was originally Carolina (latin for Charles--some explorer) then they split that up into North and South Carolina and Georgia. And that NC was the 12th of the 13 original colonies to sign. I was very surprised. I guess growing up in CT we didn't get this basic stuff about other colonies, just our own. Its wild what I'm learning so I can teach these students.

I've been staying up late to call home and its good for me. I miss talking to my folks everyday and still can't some how reach my best friend but I'm sure she is okay. I talked to Tracey's son Brandon today. He was at work with her. "Hi Bibi" That's what he calls me, can't say Eboni. Gosh, I'm not going to get sad, but I do miss everyone.

Wednesday night they have a "fire-flower" display (fireworks) at the Elementary school up the road. I'm going to go and try to take pictures but I don't think I'm going to be doing the developing thing much longer. Its just too expensive, and plus if I get a digital camera it will be much easier to show pictures to everyone. So Friday is a half day for me and I think I'll go out looking then. I'm supposed to be climbing Mt. Fuji with a group of people from my prefecture Saturday and would love to take good pictures of that so...we'll see.

"Jah, Matta! (see you later)"

I'm back in business!!! Thank you GOD!!! The internet man came today and I officially have access in my home!!! YES!!! Okay can you tell I'm excited! Alright already enough with the exclaimation points.

So, I gave my speech today and I am beginning to realize that I worry for nothing! The people here could give a crap whether I said "Saltwater taffy is my favorite meal" They clap anyway, and sit back down to do their work. I didn't even get the opportunity to do it in English, which was fine with me because the 2 seconds I stood up there was long enough for me. Its so funny because I've never been in a place where I can't understand people and then sometimes they look in your direction or point your way and laugh. Its not a comfortable thing. So what I drove on the wrong side of the road....twice....today....or that I forgot to turn on the blinker when I was making a left into the school yard, or that I drove past lake Shoji instead of making a right (the first damn time I went there by myself) I don't find it humorous at all. (arms folded)
I'm glad I never picked on people when I was growing up because I would feel bad for them right now. I don't think they do it to intentionally make fun of me, but they as well as I am not used to something so different. The people of Kamiku and I are taking some time getting adjusted to each other and although I am virtually the only English speaker in town (the JTE is away on vacation for a week) I am determined to communicate with my boss and with my co-workers! I told my girl E today that I've been going about it with the wrong attitude...the new Eboni says:
"I'm feeling good from my head to my shoes, Know where I'm going and I know what to do, I've tidied up my point of view I'VE GOT A NEW ATTITUDE!"

August 9, 2002

Tonight I went to an informal welcome party that the prefecture was throwing. We met at this place called Michael's American Pub. It was nice to be around an American store owner. Made me feel a little proud. Michael was very funny, and a really nice guy. His (Japanese) wife made us pasta salad, buffalo chicken wings and lasanga. They even brought out popcorn which made me laugh at first but I was excited to be eating it. Like I am starting to realize more and more, I'm NOT a group person. There were some new ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) and some old ones. Well the older ones had these Japanese friends that they hang out with regularly I guess and they were soooooooo loud! I guess it also bothered me because I was driving and wasn't drinking like everyone else in the pub. In Japan they have a ZERO blood alchohol level and especially in the area where I live I'm glad that they do. The roads are so winding and curving that it could be very easy to lose your control if you are not at 100%. So anyway, the screaming girls saying "KAMPAI" -which means cheer- and holding it out for like 13 minutes was just getting to be a bit much for me. I am sure that the white folks think I complain a lot, but I'm just not used to hanging out like that. My friends and I go drinking and dancing. We don't ever sit and just drink at a bar and get obnoxious. Well...There is the El...but we eat there and then go home, so its not the same. Even when we do go to a bar, its not the same as the way these folks party. I can't wait until my folks get settled so we can have some communication again. Figure out when we are going to Tokyo to party!!!

I bought a suit tonight at the train station in Fujiyoshida. They have some really nice shops there. It was a little department store kinda thing. Its BAD too. Three pieces and black. The salesman gave me a great price on it. I have been looking for one for a long time even in the states that was reasonable price because school begins the week after next and I didn't have one. My supervisor told me that I needed to try to find one. So, I finally did. I figured out with the help of the salesman that I am a size 11 or 12 in Japanese sizes. Which is like a 4 or 6 in America! Go figure.

I wrote my welcome speech today. I have to say it in Japanese and in English Monday morning to everyone at the Village Office. Wanna hear it...here goes: Good morning everyone. It is nice to meet you. My name is Eboni Staton. Please call me Eboni. I come from North Carolina in America. North Carolina is in the Southeast of America. I came to Japan on August 4th. I'm so excited to be here since this is my first time to visit Japan. I studied Japanese in America but I am still poor at it. My hobby is listening to all types of music and I am also interested in improving my Japanese while here in Japan. I am proud to be working with you and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can. I will try to do my best. I hope our relationship will be a happy one.
For those of you who understand Japanese, here is the other version:
Minasan, hajimemashite. Watashi wa Eboni Suteiton to moushimasu. Eboni to yonde kudasai. Watashi wa Amerika no Nosu Karoraina kara kimashita. Nosu Karoraina wa Amerika no nansei no hou desu. Watashi wa hachi gatsu yokka ni Nihon ni kimashita. Nihon wa hajimetedesunode totemo tanoshiminishiteimasu. Amerika de nihongo o benkyoushimashita ga mada heta desu. Watashi no shumi way ongaku o kikukoto desu ga Nihon no nihongo o benkyou ni kyoumi ga arimasu. Mina sama to issho ni oshigoto ga dekiru koto o kouei ni omoimasu. Ouku no katagata to oshiriai ni nareru koto o tanoshiminishite orimasu. Ganbaritai to omoimasu. Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
What do you think?

August 8, 2002

Today I spent the entire day inside because I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE. My JTE (Japanese Teacher of English) took me out on the road yesterday to practice
driving on the left side and it is not hard but I don't like it! I think I'll go out tomorrow but not today.

The internet service people came today to get my information so they could set up my internet. He said it won't be ready until Monday afternoon. The cell phone representitive from Do Co Mo (a big company out here) came too. Their cell phone service is MAD! You pay whatever price for the phone you want 5800 yen (about $55), then you pay for a plan (3600 yen), which doesn't include minutes. I just includes service. Then you have to subscribe to the I-mode service (300 yen)which is being able to check your email from your phone, which also takes up minutes I'm assuming, and you get 50 minutes free for the month. That's it. There is no contract though, which is a good thing. I wanted to shop around a little more but my teacher has this service and she basically told them I wanted it. I couldn't get it though because I don't have my alien registration card yet. You really can't do much without that card. So in the meantime, I'm going to ask my gaijin friends and see what kind of service they have. I'd like to have a phone, but I don't plan on paying more than I paid in the states to maintain it. I had a $50 a month plan and I am not going over that. I told them I would try the Do Co Mo service but I am intending on canceling if I am not satisfied after that month.

"What's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander"

August 8, 2002

Well its the morning of my last day in Tokyo. My roomates and I have been up since about 4am. We couldn't sleep and I was worried that I'd sleep too late to pack so I guess I kinda woke everyone else up. (Sumimasen!)

Yesterday was a good day. I woke up about 5, I'm not really having trouble sleeping or anything its just that when I am ready to wake up I just do so I guess. I hope this keeps up even when I finally arrive at my apt because that would make the transition to going to school first thing in the morning much easier. Another thing is the Japanese expect so much of you as far as promptness is concerned so I'm really going to have to make sure I don't disappoint them in that.

So, I found out that I'm going to have to get a Japanese license. Like take the test, driving and written. The thing is that the laws about driving in Japan with an international driving permit have changed. Beginning June 1, 2002 you can only use your driving permit from the dates that you wanted it to be valid. Well I didn't know when to validate it so I just said immediately and that was back in June. So next June my permit expires and for the month of July I won't be allowed to drive (which is rediculous and impossible) and that is not an option because I need to drive for my job. So in order to safeguard my self and my BOE I have to take the driving test in Japan and obtain a Japanese driving license, which I heard is an insanely difficult test. So I'm not looking forward to that!!!

Yesterday we also went to Harajuku which is like a shopping district and they have Gap, J Crew, Body Shop, and my FAVORITE--the PUMA store! I was excited, but the stuff in there was of course toooo expensive. I still have to live off the 80,000 yen I have for the next two weeks so I have to chill and not buy things that I don't need. I did however buy some film for my camera which was cheap. Its hard to find a good deal on APS film so I bought like 10 roles for about 2,500 yen. I also bought a shirt at the Gap (I had too! and kept the reciept).

We had such and adventure on the subway. We went to Shinjuku station armed with nothing but a Japanese Phrase Book on a mission to Harajuku. We were just looking for anyone who LOOKED like they spoke English. These Black British men ended up stopping us (while look looking at my girl Erica's butt) and directing us the way to the Green line. Once we got over there we couldn't figure out how to purchase the tickets. So, Shirly (another US JET) goes to a younger looking Japanese woman and begins trying to ask her for help...She helps us out,
takes our money and buys the tickets for us. Then she walks us up to the platform and sits with us on the train. So I'm being a smart ass and reading things out of my phrase book like "When is the next train to Harajuku", "When is the first train to Harajuku", "Does this train
stop at Harajuku" and a few Japanese guys in front of us start laughing and one guy says in English "You sound so natural!" Then Erica Shirly and I burst out laughing and we are like "So, you speak English!" He's like yeah, I understand every word you are saying! It was so funny!!

Then while we are walking down the street once we get to Harajuku we see this group of Japanese teen agers who are sooo tanned wearing chloe'(like) glasses and sun visors (at night) and these glittery t-shirts that say, Area Codes and I love New York, and LA and one girl looks and me and goes "Kawaii" which means cute and they start giggling, I say "Thanks" and they keep walking. Its so amazing to me how much the mimic Hip-Hop culture over here but its flattering in a way. I know that its not going to be like this in Kamikuishiki but I know that Tokyo is only a train
ride away.

Is this really my life? Wow! I'm so blessed!!!!

August 5, 2002

Today was very eventful. Aside from the fact that I'm writing this entry in safemode because my computer is acting crazy! I had a great breakfast of fresh fruit hashbrowns, rolls and eggs. The orange juice glasses are so smallthat someone said we were drinking shots of fruit juice...these JETs are so funny.

The seminars were very interesting this morning. The first one I attended was one on vegans and vegetarians in japan. They were giving us tips on what to look out for and what kanji means msg or pork or meat product. The also told me that being a non-pork eater I should stay away from ramen because it often has a pork stock base...all those years of not eating pork and eating ramen just cancelled all of that out. Also they told us if there is anything that you do not eat, don't just say NO! tell they you are allergic and they will be much more sensitive, so that is what I plan to do about beef and pork.

I went to another session after that one on being a rural JET. Most of the information was some that I'd heard already but I did get some information about some rural JETs who have been here at least a year. That works for me so I can contact them about different things that I might come up against.

We were supposed to go to a welcome reception this evening but my roomates and I came back here and fell asleep so that didn't work very well. The girl who is sleeping next to the alarm turned it off and we all went back to sleep! Oh well! So then we got up about 8pm and went to dinner at this restaurant called Heaven and Hell. Its like a theme restaurant. It was actually really nice, and the bathrooms are sooo funny. There is this one toilet that is in a mirrored stall with a big statue built into the wall in front of the toilet. So when you start to use it the statue comes alive starts laughing and singing and moving close to you. Its actually very alarming if you aren't warned in advance. In the men's room there is one that is a urinal that swings back and forth moving while the guys are using the toilet and then the head switches around and a woman's face appears and she begins to sing. Then all of a sudden a flash snaps from no where! Its so funny!! I took pictures of it all, I'll have to develop them later so they can be seen. Then we were on our way back from the restaurant we taught this Japanese guy with dreads how to give a "Black" hand-shake and danced in the street to the Backstreet Boys! It was so fun. I can't believe I'm in freakin' Tokyo! Its wild...

Oh, I decided something tonight...I, Eboni Staton, am NOT a group person!!! Gosh I don't know how many times I will have to say that but I don't like doing the group thing. It just gets to be too much when you have to try to wait on 10 people to do dinner then wait on 10 folk to finish and walk back with 10 people. Or to pick up 5 from another hotel and hope that they are all there and waiting, its too much for me. I don't want to seem anti-social but I'd rather kick it with a few folks I know I'll have a good time with and leave it at that. It works out though because on a few occasions I've met some cool people doing the group thing but tomorrow night, if we go out, I think that we are just going to try to get directions for everyone so we don't have to make all those pick-up drop-off stops.

"If I hear Ashanti one more TIME in Tokyo, I'm going to scream"

One more night left here, I have to make the most of it. Okay...Usher is on the radio now.. I did say no more Ashanti right..so I guess he's alright..wow..the US influence on this country and Hip Hop in particular is very interesting. I'm going to have to look further into that. Jah, Matta.

Aug 4, 2002

Just a few short hours ago, I arrived in Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan.
My morning began with a short ride to Dulles International at 9:30. We left
there at 12:50 and set out for Japan. The inflight attendants were wonderful
they were so attentive and helpful. We ate 2 full meals and many snacks and drinks
in between. The plan was huge, so big in fact that first class went from row 1-23!
Then my area started from 24-32 was a business class, and from 33-62 was the coach
seating. We flew All Nippon Airlines, and I was very satisfied. There were five major
inflight movies: Ice Age, Lord of the Rings, Monsters Inc., High Crimes and some movie
with that guy from Home Improvement. On top of that, you could control which movie you
wanted to watch because we all had tvs in the headrests in front of us. I slept a little
and talked to some of the other JETs but basically just had a pleasant flight.

Once we arrived we had to present our immigrant cards and have our passports stamped.
The line for foreigners was extremely long and it was a little frustrating, but I think what
made me more frustrated than the line was the complaining. I told a few people that they really
didn't have anywhere to go so I'm not sure why they were acting up and complaining. The way
I look at is, cry over some milk you can either clean up or prevent from spilling. Once the
shit has spilt or you dont have control over what happens, just chill and move on.
Anyway, so then I went and got a push cart, got my bags and proceed to customs. Customs was
actually quite simple to go through. I thought they were going to go through all my bags
or something but they didn't...so then I started in the JET processional. There were about 200
of us that arrived at Narita at the same time (on different flights but at the same time)
and the CLAIRE folks were ready for us. They had people guiding us all the way. We got in lines
to have the large bags shipped ahead and then rode a 2hr bus to the hotel where we are staying.
I'm in the Hilton Tokyo with Monica and Sylvana. Yes there are three of us to a room. Its
cool though because we wont be here long and neither of them keep up a bunch of mess so far.
I actually met both of them before today so that is good too. We had Kimono robes in here and
slippers to wear as well.

I went to dinner with another group of folks and then walked around Shinjuku, Tokyo a little.
I went to the am/pm store, its a convience store and i LOVE these little Koala Bear snacks they
have here so I bought some of those and some film. I got a calling card when I got back here so
I could call Ryan and tell him I was here safe and to call my mom too! I told ma that I called her and
Ryan and she was like "oooooh you called HIM first huh?" She's so funny, she didn't mean it in a bad
way because she knows what that guy means to me. Anyway, I told him to order a passport because I
want to see him out here.

From my bed, I can see out the window that it has been raining and its very humid outside.
You can see other very tall buildings and city lights that remind you of Time Square in NY.
I am also listening to Ashanti's "Foolish" on the radio station here. Its too funny because
this is probably the 3rd time I've heard it and I may have listened to about an hour of radio!
I'm happy because I probably wont hear any of this in Kamiku so I better enjoy it while I can.

Tomorrow I am going to be more sociable and talk with many more people than the folks I already know.
I am going to branch out and make some new ALT/JET friends so I won't be quite so lonely when I
finally do get where I'm going. I really wish to keep up with my journal because it is actually probably
the only verbal outlet I'll have.

Thanks for listening-

Truly International-E

Its been a long time since I blogged, but the next few entries I will be playing catch up from the days I was able to type, but not get online.
Please bear with me...