Nagano!

I know, I know, I suck at writing in this blog.

But, I thought I would go ahead and try a bit more.

Fall has come and gone and winter is in full swing. It scares me to hear all the news reports from home about the intense winter weather you all are having. I also find it surprising since this year has been so mild in Fukui. We hardly have any snow on the ground and most days are sunny. It has been really nice.

However, there are positives and negatives to everything. Less snow, for example, means less snowboarding. A hobby I have really come to enjoy in Japan.

Since Fukui's winter has been a bit lacking in the snow, a bunch of Fukui ALTs decided to go in search of more snow and optimum boarding conditions. In Japan no place is better than Nagano, home of the Winter Olympics 1998. We headed to Hakuba and the Happ'one mountain resort on Mount Karamatsu. This was where they did all the alpine skiing events.

NOTE: Not my photo. This was stolen from the internet. When we were in Nagano there wasn't quite this much snow.

The snow and mountains were amazing. I had a great time boarding with my friends. It was only my 4th time to go boarding and I am still very much a beginner. I'm at the level now where I can successfully make it down the mountain without falling if I don't challenge myself to use more difficult techniques. This is poision for me! I often chicken out of trying more difficult toe edging and carving. If I want to move past the level of a beginner I have to be braver and work on the things that are difficult for me. Luckily, I had a great teacher, Laura, and training partner, Crystal, who refused to let me take the easy way out. As a result I have a few sizable bruises, a cut lip, and super sore knees/butt (from falling on them).

The conditions were near perfect. Soft compact snow and a sunny clear sky. The slopes were a little more difficult and advanced than the slopes of Fukui's mountains, but they were super fun.

Our group outside our little Ryokan/Hotel. Picture stolen from Crystal's instagram. 

Crystal (on the left) and Laura (on the right), my training partner and teacher for the day respectfully.

Malcolm and I at the top of the mountain getting strapped into our boards. Thanks for this picture Crystal.

After a day on the mountain it was heavenly to dip into the onsen at our little family owned ryokan (Japanese hotel), which was literally steps from the lifts. Many people in our group snowboarded straight to the backdoor! After bathing and cleaning up we headed down to dinner. We had home cooked sukiyaki. oishikatta (it was delicious). Sukiyaki is a soup or stew type dish. Its cooked in a hotpot on the table in front of you. Usually it has a combinations of noodles, thinly slice meat, tofu, and veggies. About 4 people will share one pot of sukiyaki. You cook it and eat it dinner together. Its a very communal thing and is super common in winter time. Its really fun and delicious. I prefer Japanese winter foods over Japanese summer food. Sukiyaki or anything cooked in a nabe-pot are some of my favorite dishes here in Japan.

oishi-sou! (looks delicious!)

Then it was a night full of games, drinking, laughter, and complaining over our bodies aches and pains.

The next morning we woke up early and packed our bags to head out to the monkey park. They didn't disappoint. check out the cuteness.

Photo of the monkeys relaxing in the hot spring waters. This is Crystal's photo. Unfortunately just as we arrived my phone and camera battery died. I wasn't able to take any pictures. :(

Me with the snow monkeys in the background. Look at all the photographers. Thanks for the photo Malcolm!

This is Laura's photo!

I can mark that off my bucket list now! Hopefully I will update again soon. See you then!

• 12. Visit the snow monkeys!

Erin

Summer 2013

Summer 2013 has finally come to a close. The opening ceremony for the new term at Kanazu was today. Even though I’m excited to get back into the classroom and improve as a teacher, I will miss the summer time. Summer has always been my favorite season. I love the warm weather and the relaxed atmosphere.

This summer in particular has been amazing. I stayed in Fukui all summer in an attempt to save money for Anna’s trip to Japan (She’s here now and I’m loving it!). I enjoyed a relaxing summer full of sunsets and trips to the beach. I am so lucky to be living near a ton of great beaches and I took full advantage of that. The closest beach is only 10 minutes from my apartment! Living on the west coast has given me ample time to soak up the last few minutes of sun at the oceans edge!

 
Enjoy the photos.

Summer 2013: The Summer of Sunsets.

Sunset at Tojinbo Cliffs 10 minutes from my house.

Sunset in Kyoto from Fushimi Inari

Sunset Beach with Anna.

More Sunset beach.

Sunrise from Fuji.

The Beach Bar 10 minutes from my apartment

More Tojinbo

Tojinbo

Sunset Beach again

After a long day on the beach with a few friends. 

Photo Credit: Christen

One year Anniversary.

Its been a whole year since I began living in Fukui. It has gone by so fast.

I still feel like a novice everyday in Japan. I don't understand about 70% of what is being said around me. I can only read about 200 Kanji (Chinese characters- there are 2000 total in fluent Japanese). I speak like a caveman. I also make countless cultural and etiquette mistakes.

This past month about 30 new ALTs arrived in Fukui and I have been involved in a lot of their new welcome events and gatherings. Working with them has been super nostalgic. I remember asking the same questions and struggling with chopsticks and soup. I remember falling in my first Gaijin trap and other unfortunate occurrences. Even though I still feel like a novice, working with the new ALTs has shown me how much I have grown.

As I start my second year here in Fukui, everything looks familiar. Students are preparing for their culture and sports festivals. I have been here and done this before. This year is different though. Instead of only observing, I’m participating; Laughing with my students, helping them build giant sculptures and paint banners.  Looking back on what I learned in the last year makes me excited for all the things I will learn this year. Here is to another year of adventures, culture, learning, and teaching. 
楽しみにしています！

Volleyball tournament

Last friday I participated in a volleyball tournament. Yes, a volleyball tournament. Most of my friends know of my lack of athletic ability, other than some skill in basketball, and are probably shaking their heads in confusion. Let me explain.

Teachers in Japan work very very very hard. They never have days off, they work until 8pm at the earliest every night and go to work on saturdays and sundays as well. Teachers also play together. There are a lot of work parties and social trips. This Volleyball tournament was a social trip for the high school female teachers. Every high school supplied a team and they played together as a way to relax and enjoy each others company after a long day of work at the office.

When the school nurse came to me and asked if I wanted to play on our school's volleyball team I responded no automatically. They, however, have learned if you push me enough I usually give in. So after a lot of pushing and prodding I begrudgingly agreed to attend after school practices and the tournament. One of their main reasons for wanting me to play was because they said I was tall. In case you don't remember I am a slightly below average 5 foot 6 inches tall, or 167 cm. I constantly corrected them that I in fact was not tall but I would be willing to play.

Our team was full of young, energetic, competitive players. We were missing only one thing, skill. However, that didn't stop us from doing our absolute best. We had trainings and practices after school and the volleyball club even came to a few of them to help us train. My arms would be covered in bruises for days after practices but I enjoyed getting to play with my teachers outside of the staff room and the work environment.

On the day of the tournament we all showed up and knew we were in big trouble when the other team came over and asked if we would like to practice spiking together. Thats because no one on our team could properly spike... To my amusement I did notice that I was in fact the tallest player on both teams. Japanese people are so tiny and I constantly forget about that. Needless to say we went on to loose all 3 of our games. But we gave our best effort and afterward went to dinner at a korean yaki niku restaurant where we shared food, beers, and laughs. I'm really glad they forced me into playing. I enjoyed trying my best and learning a thing or two about volleyball. These super casual outings with teachers from my school always end up being some of my favorite memories from my time here. Its always so fun to see a different side to my teachers and to get to know them better. I'm so lucky to be placed in a school that wants me to be a  part of their community and actively tries to invite me to things. I've learned that saying yes and being open to new experiences might not always be enjoyable but its almost never wrong. I like being involved and am happy to be a part of the small community in Kanazu High School.

Cheers to you Kanazu teacher's volleyball team! Ostukare sama deshita!

Fukui Kar Rally 2013

This past month there was a huge event in Fukui called the Kar Rally. The purpose of the event is to bring everyone to the southern part of the prefecture to explore the many exciting and wonderful things there. Because Fukui is a long thin prefecture on the coast, driving from the north to the south can take multiple hours even on the expressway. The Southern area of Fukui, while full of natural beauty and history, is less populated than the north. Therefore, there are fewer schools and fewer ALTs who live there. The Kar Rally is a photo scavenger hunt game that encourage ALTs from northern Fukui and other areas of Japan to come and explore the rural south of Fukui.

Here are the rules:

1. You must complete the Kar Rally in teams of 3-5 people. You must all travel in the car together.
2. You must wear costumes that fit into the theme of the overall Kar Rally.
3. You must complete the photo challenges on the official list of challenges.
4. You must go to the checkpoints and complete the challenges there.
5. The quicker you complete the Kar Rally the more points you can achieve.
6. You must finish at the campsite in Takahama.
7. Your team must have a mascot (stuffed animal)
8. Your mascot must be in every photo
9. You must use paper maps and written directions only. NO iPHONES.

It is quite a challenge but also a ton of fun. This year’s theme was time travel. I was on team Madonna. Our concept was that we were all Madonna from different eras or decades of her career. Yes, we even had a team member in the cone bra (party hats!). Way to be bold Ashley! I was “Vogue Madonna” and wore a black suit. Our team won best costume and came in fifth place out of eleven teams. It was a blast and I am definitely looking forward to doing this again next year! Thanks to Nigel and Rachel for organizing this epic event. It was a ton of work but a great time for everyone involved. Also, thanks to all the volunteers stationed throughout Fukui to help us complete the scavenger hunt.

Here is a video of the event to help you get an idea of the pictures that people creatively came up with. Be warned it isn’t all PC or appropriate for younger viewers but it is hysterical.

Here are some non Kar rally photos of the south of Fukui courtesy of my instagram. (@erineltawil)

Our campsite in Takahama

More of our campsite

Mihama. Gorgeous porch by a deserted lake.

5 lakes of Mikata and a lavender milkshake. It tasted amazing.

My bags are packed. Leaving for Osaka. I'm coming home.

2 months. neglect.

Sorry y'all. I am very aware that It has been two months since I last posted something and it was a bit of a serious topic... I have been neglectful. sorry.

In the last few months I experienced the long anticipated and hyped season of spring. I must say, It truly was a sight to behold. Literally everywhere you look there are cherry trees in this country. When they all bloomed it was like the whole earth was dusted pink. There were falling petals all over the ground, floating through the breeze, and some still on their trees. In Japan, sakura, or cherry blossoms, are treasured and much appreciated and admired. "Hanami" events are everywhere. Hanami literally means flower (hana) viewing (mi). At hanami events you sit under the sakura with friends and have a picnic to appreciate the season of spring while it lasts. Sakura season is very short. Only about 2 weeks if your lucky and there aren't any rain storms. Maybe thats why the Japanese treat it with such reverence and appreciation...

Usually in the Kansai/Hokuriku region, where I am, sakura are in bloom around mid april. Sadly, my parents were scheduled to come for about a week at the end of March beginning of April. They would be leaving the country right before the most beautiful time in Japan and they weren't going to experience sakura at the height of their beauty. They would probably see lots of buds and a few flowers in bloom at most.

As the weeks grew closer to my parents arrival and the weather grew warmer, almost too warm. Many of my teachers began to talk about how quickly the summer was arriving and how that would affect the blooming of the cherry trees. When one teacher told me that the sakura would be in bloom a few weeks early, I tried not to get my hopes up. But once it was officially all over the internet and I saw my first buds a week and a half before my parents were due to touch down... I knew we had gotten very very very lucky.

My parents landed in Osaka and when I went to pick them up there was laughter and tears. We jetted off to Kyoto by train. As we rode on the train and the sun was setting we were all glued to the windows watching the countless seas of pink trees with amazement. We were lucky. For a few days in Kyoto we marveled at the sight of the old temples and shrines during spring... Then we travelled down to Hiroshima via shinkansen where we reflected on the atomic bomb domb and memorial park. Miyajima was next, where we enjoyed the beautiful ocean and ran away from the aggressive and frightening looking deer. Finally, we arrived in Fukui where my parents got to enjoy the prefecture that has been my home for the last 9 months. Taking them to school and having them meet my teachers and students was the most special experience that I had with my parents in Japan. I am so happy to be living and working here in such a unique country but its truly the people who make it extraordinary.

Enjoy some of the photos.

Maruoka Castle, Fukui Japan

Miyajima Island Sakura, Hiroshima Japan

Fushimi Inari Tori, Kyoto Japan

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto Japan

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Japan

Miyajima Tori, Hiroshima Japan

Katsuyama Dinosaur Museum, Fukui Japan

Maruoka Castle, Fukui Japan

Okonomiyaki and Dad, Hiroshima Japan

Maruyama Park, Kyoto Japan

Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Japan

Airport Tears and Smiles at Arrival Gate, Osaka KIX airport Japan

Shinkansen (bullet train), Osaka to Hiroshima

Sakura from a hill on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Japan

Echizen Coast on a stormy day, Fukui Japan

As I look back on my parents visit I realize how much has changed since I came here. The ability to speak the basics of a new language, eating strange and unusual foods, navigating a foreign culture's etiquette etc... It has all become so normal that I had forgotten what it was like to be new. Teaching my parents the train/bus system, the money, and other everyday things has made me realize how much I've learned and grown. As I look forward to my trip home in 3 weeks I wonder what else I will learn has changed about myself and about Texas.