New new blog at
miriaminjapan.com
Please continue to follow as you can!
m.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Moving Blogs!
Hello Friends, Family and world!
I am moving my blog to a new site! You can find it a
http://miriaminjapan.wordpress.com
Sorry if this causes any troubles! But I hope you can all find it/follow me here! I really appreciate all you comments/reading ;) So please keep me updated on what you think and how you are by following me there!
Peace.
m.
I am moving my blog to a new site! You can find it a
http://miriaminjapan.wordpress.com
Sorry if this causes any troubles! But I hope you can all find it/follow me here! I really appreciate all you comments/reading ;) So please keep me updated on what you think and how you are by following me there!
Peace.
m.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Japan! The Land of Winter Fun!
I wanted to share a little bit of what I’ve been doing throughout the past month or so!
Japan, while it isn’t as COLD as South Dakota, definitely has it’s own downsides in January and February (like NO CENTRAL HEATING, anywhere). In order to stay on the positive side through it all, as Japan is the land of countless festivals, they do WINTER FESTIVALS Here’s a look at a few I’ve been to recently.
1. YUKIGASSEN
Yukigassen is basically an organized snow ball fight! Our team competed in Muraoka, where the whole community turned up to watch a day of making professional snow balls, then playing to capture the other team’s flag before you get hit. Here are an explanation of the rules.
Making snowballs!
Our Team!
Carrying snowballs!
pictures by Michael Lee
2. YUKI MATSURI (雪祭り)
Snow Festival, Sapporo, Hokkaido
As some of you may know, I have a few friends up in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. I’ve waited to visit until now, but couldn’t pass up the chance to see the famous Snow Festival of Sapporo. Sapporo gets a LOT of snow each year, so they started their very own festival in which the snow is carved into elaborate scultures and buildings. People come from all over the world to participate in the international contest and I was lucky enough to see it! I also met up with a few South Dakotans, drank a lot of famous Sapporo Beer at the beer museum (where the old Sapporo beer factory was), and visited Otaru, a nearby port town with its own small light festival.
SAPPORO
I jumped up and down for the chance to win a prize bag! Unfortunately, I had to answer questions in Japanese to get them! Thankfully, people around me were nice enough to help me out and I won :)
CATCHING UP: I met up with a few old friends from the Mount Rushmore State.
South Dakotans!
picture by Kim Johnson
NISEKO: One day, we headed out to the world-famous Niseko ski resort. Sadly though, our train was delayed and we had a couple hours jut to play in the snow! This is usually how the snowball fights go. I mind my own business and end up getting covered in snow ;)
pictures by Gabe Chase
OTARU: We headed one day to Otaru where we looked at more lights, the harbor, and a smaller snow festival! And ate sushi! It is famous around Japan for having good sushi!
Sapporo Beer Museum
Well, that is all until the next post! Until then, I'll try to stay warm!
Peace.
M.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snowy Japan!
Hello from the New Year!
I have yet to write about my trip over Christmas and New Years (coming soon) to Thailand, but I thought I'd update you quickly on the life in Japan that I returned to after a 3 week semi-tropical country-hoppingtrip ;)
1. Snowboarding!
I live about an hour a a half from Hachikita, the tallest skiing mountain in Hyogo ;) Luckily, this has meant that I've been able to go almost every weekend snowboarding! There are a few things that are different about the snowboarding in Japan as opposed to home;
1. There are no blue/black/greenclassifications. Everything is just "difficult" or "easy."
2. No ski lodge at the bottom ;) You have to ski up to find rather modest lodges with the essential Ramen, Curry Rice, and Ton-Katsu ;) And beer ;)
3. The men at the chair lifts don't hold the chairs for you ;) Which means you have to quickly jump on or..you fall under it ;) I won't say I haven't done it ;)
4. Onsens ;) After a day of skiing, everyone goes to a public onsen and bathes in water that is either inside or outside and is a steamy 41-43 degrees C. Amazing :) AND, you can sit outside, look at the stars, and be surrounded by snow without being cold.
3. Decisions
I had to decide recently (last Monday) whether or not to stay for another year in Japan. This decision was very difficult--trying to decide after 6 months whether to stay another 18 months was a daunting prospect.
In the end, I handed in my paperwork, saying that I will be here another year (come visit!). Here are a few of the reasons for it ;)
a. Travel: Being in Japan gives me much easier access to a lot of countries (Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia)
b. The People: Many of the people in Japan that I've met (coworkers, friends) are wonderful and have been very kind. I decided to stay another year because I've found them really amazing.
c. Students: I really want to see a group of students through a whole school year, which starts in April. Going home in 6 months would mean I would see 2 groups of students for 6 months each.
I have yet to write about my trip over Christmas and New Years (coming soon) to Thailand, but I thought I'd update you quickly on the life in Japan that I returned to after a 3 week semi-tropical country-hoppingtrip ;)
1. Snowboarding!
I live about an hour a a half from Hachikita, the tallest skiing mountain in Hyogo ;) Luckily, this has meant that I've been able to go almost every weekend snowboarding! There are a few things that are different about the snowboarding in Japan as opposed to home;
1. There are no blue/black/greenclassifications. Everything is just "difficult" or "easy."
2. No ski lodge at the bottom ;) You have to ski up to find rather modest lodges with the essential Ramen, Curry Rice, and Ton-Katsu ;) And beer ;)
3. The men at the chair lifts don't hold the chairs for you ;) Which means you have to quickly jump on or..you fall under it ;) I won't say I haven't done it ;)
4. Onsens ;) After a day of skiing, everyone goes to a public onsen and bathes in water that is either inside or outside and is a steamy 41-43 degrees C. Amazing :) AND, you can sit outside, look at the stars, and be surrounded by snow without being cold.
2. Snow!
Again, as I said I've been snowboarding! However, this year has been one of the best for it because the incredible amount of snow we got!
We've even had a snow day! I woke up one morning to 30+ centimeters of snow. Luckily, I worked at the school that is
We've even had a snow day! I woke up one morning to 30+ centimeters of snow. Luckily, I worked at the school that is
only 3 minutes walking from my house, so I trekked over only to find all the teachers shoveling snow! Howe
ver, even though it was a snow day, we teachers st
ill had to be at school all day! A little different (and a little sad for me), but just another example of how dedicated Japanese teachers are to their work.
3. Decisions
I had to decide recently (last Monday) whether or not to stay for another year in Japan. This decision was very difficult--trying to decide after 6 months whether to stay another 18 months was a daunting prospect.
In the end, I handed in my paperwork, saying that I will be here another year (come visit!). Here are a few of the reasons for it ;)
a. Travel: Being in Japan gives me much easier access to a lot of countries (Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia)
b. The People: Many of the people in Japan that I've met (coworkers, friends) are wonderful and have been very kind. I decided to stay another year because I've found them really amazing.
c. Students: I really want to see a group of students through a whole school year, which starts in April. Going home in 6 months would mean I would see 2 groups of students for 6 months each.
d. The Mountains: I live in the mountains here--and they're beautiful ;) I can hike and snowboard. I think I want to be able to do that one more year.
e. ALTS: many of my friends are leaving this year (other ALTs). However, I've met people from all over the world here and can call many of them good friends (hope you guys agree! ;) Just a few nationalities represented? Scottish, English, Australian, Kiwi, and Canadian. Its a little bit more diverse and therefore a little bit more attractive right now than Sioux Falls ;)
f. Pottery, Taiko, Japanese: I've only just started some of these things, which I really enjoy! I wanted to continue them another year to perhaps have some skill in them when I do return home.
I hope to update you all soon with more pictures ;) For now, this is what I have! I hope this gives you a small glimpse into my life recently! Until next time!
m.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Pictures ;)
Just thought I'd post some pictures from recent events in my life ;)
Takeda Ruins in the fall!
Visited the north sea! And bought crabs ;) Which were really sad to see die but Oishi ;)
Takeda Ruins in the fall!
Visited the north sea! And bought crabs ;) Which were really sad to see die but Oishi ;)
AND THE Momiji (Japanese Maple) are changing colors :)
Cheers :)
SAMUI!
The title of this blog has become my new most favorite Japanese word.
寒=さむ=Samui!= cold!
As you may have heard from me already, Japan has no central heating. So, although the temperature here is only a fraction of the temperature that is at home right now--it feels much colder.
Following is the most common uses of this word.
In the morning-- "It can't be time to get up, it's too samui to get out of bed."
After showering-- "My skin only steams this much when it's so freaking samui" or "the tile floor is so samui I think I'll get frostbite," or "it's so samui, I think I'll get dressed without leaving the shower."
When walking to school-- "I wish I had brought another blanket. It's samui today"
Or when leaving the teacher's room as both I and the students huddle in the hallway with open windows-- "I can't believe it's so samui and we leave the windows open!"
Or when coming home--" I'm going to sit on my kitchen floor all night because that's where the heater is. Everywhere else is much too samui"
Although this is probably not the wittiest of posts--you get the picture! Living without central heating--while not the worst thing in the world, get's quite cold.
The Japanese, however, have come up with a number of solutions to the cold which are very different than the ones we use in the US.
1. Kotatsu (also known as the table I never want to leave)
Kotatsus are heating tables. You plug it in, and get under the blanket that lays over it and it keeps your whole body warm. However, the danger is that it's completely impossible to get out from under them.
2. Onsens, or in the mini version, tubs.
Most houses are equipped with mini-tubs that go quite deep and you can sit in for quite awhile. Onsens, hot springs, are big versions of these tubs and are found in almost every Japanese town.
(This is a nicer version than mine).
3. Heating pads, kerosene heater, and hot water bottles.
You can get heating pads that go on your body or in your pockets. You can hold them to keep your hands arm. Hot water bottles you can fill up and put in your bed at night ;) Wondeful wonderful things ;)
<
Other than that. It's a cold cold place ;)
寒=さむ=Samui!= cold!
As you may have heard from me already, Japan has no central heating. So, although the temperature here is only a fraction of the temperature that is at home right now--it feels much colder.
Following is the most common uses of this word.
In the morning-- "It can't be time to get up, it's too samui to get out of bed."
After showering-- "My skin only steams this much when it's so freaking samui" or "the tile floor is so samui I think I'll get frostbite," or "it's so samui, I think I'll get dressed without leaving the shower."
When walking to school-- "I wish I had brought another blanket. It's samui today"
Or when leaving the teacher's room as both I and the students huddle in the hallway with open windows-- "I can't believe it's so samui and we leave the windows open!"
Or when coming home--" I'm going to sit on my kitchen floor all night because that's where the heater is. Everywhere else is much too samui"
Although this is probably not the wittiest of posts--you get the picture! Living without central heating--while not the worst thing in the world, get's quite cold.
The Japanese, however, have come up with a number of solutions to the cold which are very different than the ones we use in the US.
1. Kotatsu (also known as the table I never want to leave)
Kotatsus are heating tables. You plug it in, and get under the blanket that lays over it and it keeps your whole body warm. However, the danger is that it's completely impossible to get out from under them.
2. Onsens, or in the mini version, tubs.
Most houses are equipped with mini-tubs that go quite deep and you can sit in for quite awhile. Onsens, hot springs, are big versions of these tubs and are found in almost every Japanese town.
(This is a nicer version than mine).
3. Heating pads, kerosene heater, and hot water bottles.
You can get heating pads that go on your body or in your pockets. You can hold them to keep your hands arm. Hot water bottles you can fill up and put in your bed at night ;) Wondeful wonderful things ;)
<Other than that. It's a cold cold place ;)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sinking into the Ordinary
Things have been quite busy in Japan!
In other news, nothing too much has changed in Ikuno! However, there are a few interesting changes before I leave you.
In the past month since my last post I've been diligently working away as a teacher, taking 3 day weekends due to national holidays, eating Thanksgiving dinners, baking like a madwoman for Halloween lessons, studying Japanese, and eating bowls of ramen.
Things, although quick, are also starting to become more routine and home is finally seeming to be my little town here ;)
For starters though--
I took part in a festival in my town. Known as the Acki Matsuri (Fall Festival) it's a harvest festival where people carry around huge shrines all day, collect money, and hoist it above their heads ;) Lucky for me, I was fortunateto be included by the wonderful people of a nearby neighborhood, and took part in a full days worth of carrying the shrine, lifting it up when donations were made, and dancing a little back and forth with it on my shoulder. All I can say is, sweet, but "ouch." Although the first day was quite neat, I passed on the second day of strenuous carrying and opted to watch the finale in the Elementary School playing field.
While this was simply really impressive to watch (everyone cheers and the men yell "Yasai!" to attract attention as they hoist this megaheavy shrine above their heads,) it was also really cool to get my whole town together in one area, to do one thing. Reminded me of being home in SD a bit!
However as it's festival season, I also got to a couple of other bigger festivals in the area. For instance, Himeji does a similar fall festival to ours. However, in this festival (the Nada Fighting Festival) men crash the shrines into each other. One of the most dangerous festivals in Japan (one man died last year) it's quite a sight. Lucky for me, when I went, a group of us were invited to sit in the private booth ofthe Kobe Shinbun (Newspaper) andwatch from a very close spot on the field! I got a couple of videos of this as well!
The next day I was off to a MASSIVE Canadian thanksgiving dinner with others from Canada, the US, Australia, Scotland, and New Zealand. The dinner turned into a potluck, with equally matching international dishes. Although when I came, I thought I would be meeting Japanese people, and probably other Americans, I never guessed that I would alsobe meeting people from so many countries! Anyways, my first Canadian thanksgiving experience was great!
For traveling, I've done a bit this month, but not two much! I did however, make two trips to Osaka (one for shopping, one for a concert recently) which introduced me to the big-city life of Japan. Osaka, the second biggest city in Japan, is a bit crazier than my town of Ikuno. Although only two hours away, it's a completely different world. The big city not only has a ton of people, but also has things like live music, major shopping districts, and a few too many Starbucks and McDonalds. I made one trek down to see John Butler Trio play a concert in a small venue.
It's gotten cold! Last week it was down to 6 degrees celsius which makes it freezing in the classroom.
There are bears about. The summer was so hot that many bears are coming down from the mountains surrounding my house. One man was attacked a few weeks ago (eek). Buying a bear bell.
Happy reading ;)
Miriam
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