India: Village

These our from our time working in the village. I can't say enough about these few days. The people and their village were beautiful and welcoming.

The village was certainly the highlight of the trip, none of us can argue that fact. I'll never be able to put India into words, and even trying to, would be a disservice to the place, and what I experienced.

I can't say enough about our time in the village. The kids are something I don't think I'll ever forget.

We went to a school

Maya, Asuka, Alex, Melissa
Aoe, Nigel, me, Lee, Matt

On our way out; we had to leave early

ps: I can't take credit for taking a single one of these pictures

FAMOUS

Full text

Shelter for all: A team of teachers from Japan involved in construction of houses at Periyasemmettupatti near Usilampatti.

MADURAI: Teachers from Japan turned construction workers when they were involved in construction of houses for the poor at Periyasemmettupatti near Usilampatti in Madurai district last week.

A team of nine teachers from various countries, but working in Japan as teachers, came down to the village with the aim of extending a helping hand to make pucca houses with the support of people who would make them into homes.

The team — Nigel Dixon, Mathew O’ Hair, Timothy O’ Brien, Richard Coats, Melissa Hazelwood, Alexander Ferguson, Asuka Kataoka, Maya Tatsuno and Aoe Miyarzawa — were volunteers with Japan Exchange Teachers’ Programme at Sendai in Japan. They lent a helping hand as part of a ‘global volunteer build’ programme to build houses for the poor.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/09/stories/2008050959430200.htm

EAT DRINK SCOOTER

I changed the comments so that you can comment anonymously. I wasn't aware that previously you had to be registered to comment, sorry about that.



Pondicherry, India, is a former French colony in the south of India on the Bay of Bengal. wiki


I guess I'll work my way backwards, since to me, this was the best part of the trip, since I'm such a glutton. So yeh, Maya and I stayed at Hotel de l'Orient in Pondi. We had to leave the work site early since we did not have enough vacation time to spend the rest of the time with the group.

Instead, we spent two nights in the most beautiful hotel either of us has ever seen; for only $60 a night. I'll upload a series about the hotel later, but this is about eating, drinking, and so I can scare my mother, renting a scooter.

WARNING: Narcissist post ahead.

Lunch #1

Please make note; I've lived in Japan for the past 9 or so months. Japan is not known for its culinary adventures. Japanese food... not so great, not so exciting. But French food... Imagine eating these kinds of things after 9 months of bland.

Thus, the faces .

steak with garlic and butter, I think
and.. some sort of cream sauce, maya's filet
banana split

Lunch #2

Dinner #2

(dinner #2)
Meal #4, steak #3

I think this next one was a steak with mustard sauce and mashed potatoes.

and give me a break about the pants; it was literally about 105 degrees.

I did some research. It turns out you can't look cool on a scooter. Its impossible.

Kyoto in 5 pictures

After flying back into Osaka from India, I spent the next afternoon in Kyoto. Famous temples blahblahblah. Honestly, maybe I need someone to show me the best spots, but I wasn't that impressed.



Kinkakuji, the Golden pavilion, which is definitely the #1 draw of Kyoto, was a major letdown. I've been to a lot of temples and shrines in Japan, and this temple, although beautiful, lacks overall.

The best part about the temples in Japan are the grounds. They're beautiful, and its so nice and peaceful to just be able to walk and enjoy them.

Kin was nothing like that. It was a moving assembly line of people. You basically pay $4 to take pictures of the temple. Beyond the picture, its not a good place to visit. You could just steal someone else's picture and pretend you were there--no one will know since everyone takes the EXACT same picture.

Beautiful, no doubt.

kin=gold
gin=silver

Ginkakuji, although under renovation, which sucks, is definitely more of a temple like you would want to experience. The grounds and area surrounding Gin is MUCH more of what Kin should be. Kin is all roped off with paths, and is very tiny. While Gin offers you a bit more breathing room and more room to walk. And certainly less crowded.

To me, this is real Japan as it stands now. No matter how far you go, no matter where you are, this is quintessential to me. Bicycles, scooters, manholes, small roads, poles, and sign posts.

tonight

I had to go to the video store by my JHS to return some DVDs.

After I handed them back, I took a lap around to see what was new. One of my students was there with her father.

I smiled and nodded
Her: Hello :)
Me: Hello
Father: stare... looks at daughter
H: sensei
F: turns back to me *BOW* "AH! Sensei desu!"
Me: konbanwa :)
F: konbanwa!

Being a teacher in this country is great. I feel like you could get away with murder.


reminder to myself to write about うちの生徒はいつもうちの生徒です。

Enkai last night. Finally didn't get trapped into talking to that 2年生 teacher who always grills me.

My
3rd years graduated yesterday. Its really funny to me to see
them wandering around the town since they're off for the next 3 weeks
or so.  I kinda want to spend more time in that area now just
to run into them.

Graduation day

My 3rd years graduated from JHS today.

And you will never, ever see me do this pose again.

I love my students enough to do that pose.

Elementary school, pt 2.

Another two days at elementary. I love these kids. And for whatever unknown reason, they LOVE me. I think its as I stated before, I'm a big teddy bear to them.

3rd graders are awesome. It was a lot of just hanging out and just bs'ing. And then we played dodgeball. It was a lot like 4th grade, but even more energetic and more fun. They ask for you autograph haha LOVE IT.

Elementary school, pt 1.

So, I finished up my first week at elementary schools. Two schools. 3 days. 2 grades. 9 Classes. Today was 4 classes. I'm dead. I played with 10 year olds from 9:40 - 2:40 basically non stop.

They're so adorable and have WAY too much energy. Not to think highly of myself, but I never thought I'd do as well as I did. It helps that I'm like a giant play thing to them. At lunch we played dodge-ball. It hasn't been outlawed in Japan yet, thank God.

My teaching style? Organized chaos.

Trying to find NEW YORK on a map. Cute.

Ready for action. Shes stretching for her rock, paper, scissors match.

Kanoko's rock beats scissors every time. As does her top side pony tail.

Yeh yeh, I'm joining the, "posting pictures of me with legions of cute Japanese kids" club.

20 pics from the last 3 months

I haven't touched this in forever, sorry. I've been really lax and just trying to relax after coming back to Sendai. I finally bought a couch and actually had people over.

I had my first visits to an elementary school this week. It was so much fun. I have another tomorrow. I feel like I hardly teach there and simply play games... but teaching 12 year olds about prepositions isn't really the point.

The first three pictures are from a trail in Sendai on Akiu; back in late November.

Surprise party at the Sapporo Beer Garden outside Sendai.


My man Fukuda san. The janitor. Hes talked to me since day 1, and is such a nice dude.

Mountain view from the school. I really like being able to see mountains in the distance.

Assembly

Students

Taxis outside Nagamachi station

Shibuya, TOKYO

I've always liked Shibuya. It always seemed a bit seedy to me.

Only in Japan. Santa's on motorcycles.

This is after I left New York. On the plane ride back to Japan. Sayonara, New York.

Over ALASKA

Coming of Age Day. Every person on the train besides me was either a girl dressed like this, or a guy in a suit. Every year they have a ceremony for everyone who turns 20, celebrating their coming of age into adulthood. In Japan, before 20, you're still considered a minor.

Sendai's Donto-sai festival. Kind of a goodbye to the previous year. People burn things to purify their lives for the upcoming year. Really, I just think its a way to get rid of your trash.

I can't tell you how cold it was that day.

First real snow in my area of Sendai.

The entrance to the East Nagamachi Elementary school. I laughed about immediately being told to go to the Principal's office.
The Japanese says, "Welcome to East Nagamachi elem."

The sixth graders I taught will become my students in April.