10 FLOORS OF MY WILDEST ELECTRONIC DESIRES COME TRUE!
I really ought not to be here cause I should soon have to catch a train back and recuperate for tomorrows lessons. Tuesdays first half of classes are the worst of my lot. Terror first graders right out of Kidergartencop. Complete with hiding themselves under the tables, throwing themselves against the wall and climbing on windows. Just today I had one child scratch me, another punch me like a bag and one try to stick his finger where it didnt belong. Sigh. I really need patience and perserverance with this group. Days like this, I wonder if I did the right thing in coming here and doing this.
But this is not to say that I dont enjoy teaching other classes. I like the 8 year olds and upward. Im really honestly all about having fun in the classroom and at that age, they have a little more mental capacity to understand why and how to play games and have fun while learning. And when they do, we sit around playing Jenga, snap, cards, snakes and ladders, listen to some music (All I could find today was some R&B...) and have a little bit of conversation (each turn you have to say "I like...." or " I live in...." or "I play...." you get the idea?) Im currently looking for an Uno set.....
Also, youd be amazed that in such a traditionally asian society, the acceptance and concession for handicapped. Perhaps its a consequence for the war veterans. The blind especially. The walkways are paved with a single strips of bumps (like those for cars and cattles) that work a little like braille for the blind on the road! Just sunday past, I headed into the big smoke Osaka, off to find a church of English-speakers (please!) suddenly I hear loudspeakers putting on some funky tune. As I was trying to stop myself from moving with the groove, it dawned on me that I was right in the middle of a traffic crossroad in Osaka Minami! My face made like one of those japanese manga girls - big eyed at my bewilderment - when i was told that the music was yet another concession for the blind. Imagine that! Music in the middle of the street light crossing.
Osaka, is quite cool. I have been there three times now and have still zero comprehension of my orientation. But, I have heard buskers playing some waayyy cool jap music like u have never heard before (or understood either) on pedestrian crossings, seen original artwork anime on postcards (if you send me something in the mail, Ill send you one too!) and, beat this, I bought a pair of speakers in a 10 floor department store dedicated to electronics. Thats ONE floor dedicted to a different type Television, Audio, Camera, PDAs were all the floors I even managed to see. And this is not even the infamous Osaka Den Den or Tokyo Shinjuku. Electronic heaven hello! And how can I forget the sights! sometimes, I cant help BUT look and stare. ;-) The boys here CAN look quite swish - especially the bloke behind the drums. Not sure about adopting the ladies choices of fashion around here though.
Here in Japan, St. Valentines day (yes. here in Japan, hes attained proper sainthood) is when girls give guys choccies and there is another day, White day (March 14th) where guys give girls presents (not choccies. Bad for the figure.) Bizarre and totally in reverse. What can I say. Either way, I have no valentine. In fact, for all the relationships that I have been involved in, I have managed to no choice of my own to not celebrate it, either because of single-hood or because my partner would be in America, Australia, Singapore.... And this time around, for all the concession I have to give away my undying love and affection, I have none to give to here. YET. I am still hopeful. Even against the language barrier!
With all the coping and settling into I have had to do, V-day came and went without much ado. As for settling and coping, honestly speaking, culture shock has hit me... in fact, possibly run me over. Just last week for five minutes sitting in the station waiting for the train, I just wish I were back in Sydney sipping a coffee in Badde Manors with one of my girls or in Singapore having lunch after church. At that time, its just seemed that the japanese loved to talk talk talk. Couldnt they just shut up for five minutes please!
I miss being back home a lot because of this language problem. A lot of thigns do seem inaccessible, even simple things like taking the train into the city is such a feat considering all the stations in kanji (chinese characters) that I dont understand or even if I did, don:t sound like what they are supposed to... (its differently pronounced here.) In fact most things take patience and perserverance because of this language problem. But, I endeavour to begin my japanese lessons by the start of the new term in april. i made my inquiries last weekend and hopefully i:ll start in four weeks.
Niwaz, I need lots of prayer for patience, perserverance (need plenty of that for everything) and to know Gods plan and purpose for me to be here. Okay, aside from all this, my current contemplation is a mountain bike on which to take rides to and down the mountains which my front door loooks toward.
I really should go. But days do go by when I dont even have a single decent conversation .... honestly.
Love you all lots and missing each one of you dearly, The Chilibuddy.
But this is not to say that I dont enjoy teaching other classes. I like the 8 year olds and upward. Im really honestly all about having fun in the classroom and at that age, they have a little more mental capacity to understand why and how to play games and have fun while learning. And when they do, we sit around playing Jenga, snap, cards, snakes and ladders, listen to some music (All I could find today was some R&B...) and have a little bit of conversation (each turn you have to say "I like...." or " I live in...." or "I play...." you get the idea?) Im currently looking for an Uno set.....
Also, youd be amazed that in such a traditionally asian society, the acceptance and concession for handicapped. Perhaps its a consequence for the war veterans. The blind especially. The walkways are paved with a single strips of bumps (like those for cars and cattles) that work a little like braille for the blind on the road! Just sunday past, I headed into the big smoke Osaka, off to find a church of English-speakers (please!) suddenly I hear loudspeakers putting on some funky tune. As I was trying to stop myself from moving with the groove, it dawned on me that I was right in the middle of a traffic crossroad in Osaka Minami! My face made like one of those japanese manga girls - big eyed at my bewilderment - when i was told that the music was yet another concession for the blind. Imagine that! Music in the middle of the street light crossing.
Osaka, is quite cool. I have been there three times now and have still zero comprehension of my orientation. But, I have heard buskers playing some waayyy cool jap music like u have never heard before (or understood either) on pedestrian crossings, seen original artwork anime on postcards (if you send me something in the mail, Ill send you one too!) and, beat this, I bought a pair of speakers in a 10 floor department store dedicated to electronics. Thats ONE floor dedicted to a different type Television, Audio, Camera, PDAs were all the floors I even managed to see. And this is not even the infamous Osaka Den Den or Tokyo Shinjuku. Electronic heaven hello! And how can I forget the sights! sometimes, I cant help BUT look and stare. ;-) The boys here CAN look quite swish - especially the bloke behind the drums. Not sure about adopting the ladies choices of fashion around here though.
Here in Japan, St. Valentines day (yes. here in Japan, hes attained proper sainthood) is when girls give guys choccies and there is another day, White day (March 14th) where guys give girls presents (not choccies. Bad for the figure.) Bizarre and totally in reverse. What can I say. Either way, I have no valentine. In fact, for all the relationships that I have been involved in, I have managed to no choice of my own to not celebrate it, either because of single-hood or because my partner would be in America, Australia, Singapore.... And this time around, for all the concession I have to give away my undying love and affection, I have none to give to here. YET. I am still hopeful. Even against the language barrier!
With all the coping and settling into I have had to do, V-day came and went without much ado. As for settling and coping, honestly speaking, culture shock has hit me... in fact, possibly run me over. Just last week for five minutes sitting in the station waiting for the train, I just wish I were back in Sydney sipping a coffee in Badde Manors with one of my girls or in Singapore having lunch after church. At that time, its just seemed that the japanese loved to talk talk talk. Couldnt they just shut up for five minutes please!
I miss being back home a lot because of this language problem. A lot of thigns do seem inaccessible, even simple things like taking the train into the city is such a feat considering all the stations in kanji (chinese characters) that I dont understand or even if I did, don:t sound like what they are supposed to... (its differently pronounced here.) In fact most things take patience and perserverance because of this language problem. But, I endeavour to begin my japanese lessons by the start of the new term in april. i made my inquiries last weekend and hopefully i:ll start in four weeks.
Niwaz, I need lots of prayer for patience, perserverance (need plenty of that for everything) and to know Gods plan and purpose for me to be here. Okay, aside from all this, my current contemplation is a mountain bike on which to take rides to and down the mountains which my front door loooks toward.
I really should go. But days do go by when I dont even have a single decent conversation .... honestly.
Love you all lots and missing each one of you dearly, The Chilibuddy.
posted by The Chilibuddy @ 9:36 pm ::
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