2006-06-28

Rockin' the White Rock Island

So Monday I mentioned that I was away this past weekend. Tagged along on a superb trip organized by the fellow who shares my name. Shiraishi is a small island of the coast of Okayama prefecture, in the Seto Inland Sea. Population of 700, Shiraishi is an island getaway, conveniently located close to big cities. Despite it's appeal, this lovely little island is virtually unknown to other Japanese people. I was telling people at work that I was going to an island in the Inland Sea and everyone asked: "Miyajima?" which is the island in Hiroshima prefecture with the famous floating torii.


Shots from my trip to Hiroshima last year with my brother. I'm posting them now just so that no one gets confused. That is the floating torii, the main gate to Itsukushima-jinja.

ANYHOO... Shiraishi is nowhere near that famous, which suits me just fine. Of the 700 permanent residents of Shiraishi, there just happens to be two foreigners: Amy and Paul. Amy is an American who came to Japan as an English teacher about 13 years ago and never looked back. She is now running "THE" local bar on Shiraishi: The "MOO" bar. It's actually more of a little beach shack than a bar but they serve alcohol so it's all the same really. Amy is also a prolific writer for the Japan Times and to top it all off she's written a guidebook to Japan. And if that wasn't enough for you, she's also a really great person. The island is actually not a secret to everyone. It is a member of the International Villa Group which allows foreigners to experience rural Japan for a pretty cheap price. The International Villa on Shiraishi is located on a hill with a great view of the water. 10 people can stay at a time. Unfortunately, I was not lucky enough to stay at the Villa... (T_T) but much fun was had there nonetheless.
Myself and my four outcast companions were staying in a cheap minshuku called San-Chan's, conveniently located right on the beach.

So my fellow adventurers and I (we were a total of 15) made our way to the island on Friday morning. I left my house at 6:30AM and I arrived on Shiraishi at 10:30AM. Not bad considering that Shimokitayama-mura resident Patrick left his house in the mountains at 2AM. The weather wasn't great on Friday when we left but by the time we got there, the torrential rains had stopped and we were left with a cloudy day. I went exploring in a kayak for 5 hours. Landed on tiny island that I've baptized "Rat Rock Hawk Island", because there were rats rocks and hawks... fancy that. They were BIG rats by the way. Kayaking was quite an experience. I was in a double with G and seeing as I had no idea what I was doing, he ended up doing most of the rowing. Poor guy. I think I almost killed him. However, everything starting working better when I figured out how to use the back rudder.
In the evening we had a lovely BBQ at the MOO Bar on the beach. Too much tequila is bad for the brain. MOOgaritas were the drink of choice that night and it had many people paying in the morning.
The next day, despite the weather reports saying the opposite, we had a GORGEOUS day of sun. I went fishing for the first time in my life and even caught a fish. Four of them in fact, including the first catch of the day! (Granted, it was poisonous and thus unedible, but that doesn't matter, right? First catch is first catch) I spent about 90 minutes fishing in the afternoon sun before giving up due to the sun and the rocking boat. My shoulders hate me now even though I put 50SPF sunscreen on before heading out.
The evening was yet another night at the MOO Bar, watching the sunset over the blueish yellow haze from the industrial town across the way. Good times were had by all, with people staying away from the MOOgaritas this time around.

And that's the end. We had a huge pancake breakfast up at the Villa (my first pancake breakfast since I left Montreal) and then escaped the bad weather. We were supposed to do some hiking on Sunday but that was cancelled due to the torrential rains that returned just in time for our departure. Here are a few pics from Shiraishi.

The Mastermind behind the weekend getaway

The famous (or infamous) Amy Chavez... whose delicious double MOOgaritas caused many a hangover (NOT ME!)

The shy daughters of the minshuku's owner... I really like this picture.

Shiraishi's shrine island. From this angle it kinda looks like a turtle, ne?

James and Heather doing James and Heather-y things

Same background, different caracters.... Heather is still doing math. I love this shot too

Mountain-man Patrick serenading us with a 10-minute song about Laura.

Carlos and James engaged in deep conversation... probably not about soccer.

Another sunset picture. I love beautiful sunsets. They are always the perfect end to a perfect day.

2006-06-26

And then there were none...

So that's it Ladies and Gentlemen. I'm done. I will never teach an OC class ever again. Luckily, my last class was a good one, and I will forever have good memories. 1-7B will be the class that will forever remain in my memory as my last Team Teaching class ever at Kashiba. What will I do at school from now until I leave? Good question, actually. Finish correcting homework, calculate participation scores, study Japanese, make and record the term final, prepare stuff for ESS Club, study Japanese, make sure everything is in order for the Bye-Bye Bash, study Japanese, prepare lessons for elementary school, study Japanese, finish writing my awesome Kashiba Orientation Package for my successor, study Japanese... among other things. Just because I'm done teaching doesn't mean that I will have nothing to do.

Although I may be done at Kashiba, I still have elementary school visits to look forward to. Last week I was at Nohara Shogakkou in Gojo City. My first time visiting the infamous Gojo. I've heard much about it but never actually been there. Gojo is actually closer to Wakayama City than it is to Nara City so it was like a new adventure. It was a good day. I taught the 1st and 5th graders. The 1st graders kept calling me "LUCAS" because apparently I look like a man. One little boy kept grabbing my chest and saying "Big!" I told him to stop. So instead he grabbed my stomach and said "Big!" I don't know which one was worse...
I have another one on Wednesday at Showa. Usually I'd be thrilled about it but this time is a little bit different. I'll be giving an open class and all the Elementary school teachers in the prefecture have been invited... so I may be teaching in front of dozens of experienced teachers... how's that for pressure. I'm a little nervous but I enjoy teaching elementary school so no matter how it goes, I'll have a good time and so will the kids.
The following week, on Wednesday again, I'll be paying a visit to Soni Elementary school. Still don't know what to expect there. Hopefully these kids will be able to keep their grubby little hands away from all my protruding parts.

I was away this past weekend and I have lots to write about... However, unfortunately I have no pictures to compliment my adventures at the moment seeing as I'm not using my own computer. Thus, I'll leave that for another day so that Angie doesn't get mad at me for not updating enough.

2006-06-20

Never Again!!!

So today, June 20th, goes down in history as the very last time I had to teach with the WGJTE. I am so sad, I could just collapse in fit of tears... really... I will miss him so much. I'll really miss the classes I teach with him though. They were good kids despite having such a lazy (oops) L-O-V-E-L-Y teacher.
Reality is starting to sink in. It's coming up to my last month in Japan. My empty moving cartons (they finally arrived after 4 days of waiting and irritation) are propped up against the wall in my hallway... looming over my kitchen alcove... reminding me that my time here is almost up. In less than 6 weeks I'll be back in Montreal. 38 days to be precise. In 38 days this chapter of my life is closing. It seems to have flown by. Unbelievable really. Although, Tokyo Orientation and the disastrous time I had seems to be almost a lifetime ago. I have 4 classes left to teach this week and then after that: FINISHED. Well with my Kashiba students. I'm still going to be doing elementary school visits until the very end. I have one tomorrow in Gojo (far), next Wednesday in Koriyama (not as far) and then again the Wednesday after next in Soni (!!!!) (REALLY REALLY FAR). But whatever, as you very well know, I love elementary school visits and I will go to the ends of the Earth to do them.
I'm going away this weekend. Going to party on the beach for 3 days. Looking forward to it except for the fact that it will probably rain. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

2006-06-13

Everything is Back to Normal.... Sort of

Well it's Tuesday and my friends have all left the country... It's kinda sad but then again, I'll be seeing them all again in just a few short weeks. I got to see them on Friday, like I said last week. They paid for my trip to Tokyo... all inclusive too. Well almost. I got meals, trains and museum ticket paid for. It was really nice of them. Thanks ladies!!!
The museum was awesome! I love Miyazaki's animation but being at the museum and seeing where he gets his inspiration and the amount of work that goes into a movie was just incredible. It made me respect the work animators do even more... The museum was packed with kids but I still had a fantastic time... The only thing that made the day kind of lame was the rain. After the museum, Vicky, Kathleen and I went to Harajuku in search of a mythical crafts centre so that Vicky could buy some traditional Japanese items...(we never found it, hence the "mythical" part). Instead, we went shopping. Shopping is always a good plan B in my book.

At school, I've started lesson 4--the final lesson--with the students. I've said my final goodbyes in 3 of my classes so far. By the end of the week, I'll have said farewell to half my students. It's sad actually. Yesterday I did OK but this morning, I got all choked up. Probably because I'm really tired... and anyone who knows me will tell you that I get super emotional if I haven't been getting enough sleep... Like a fountain, I am.

Why am I tired you ask? Because I stayed up late watching the World Cup, of course. I watched Japan get battered by the Australians, then I tried to stay up and watch the US/Czech Republic game but I didn't make it. Woke up at some point long enough to ask the score (2-0 Czech Republic) and then fell asleep again. Still don't know what the final score was. In fact, I shouldn't have even bothered watching the first game. Japan played like garbage. They should have been running circles around the Australians... but between the pansy diving and the all-around crappy playing, they just couldn't put the ball in the net. Both teams were less than stellar, so the whole game kinda sucked. But what can you do. Hopefully tonight's games will be more entertaining.

2006-06-04

AWOL

OK. I lied. I said in my last post that I would post pictures of my Golden Week trip later that week... and it is now a month later and I'm still not posting pictures of my GW. Sorry but I still don't have all of them yet...
This last month has been crazy busy... elementary school visits, lessons and exams at Kashiba, my new placement at the Education Research Institute, preparing training seminars for aforementioned Research Institute, seeing all of Japan in 2 months, booking tickets home,
trying to figure out how to get all my useless stuff home, figuring out how to say goodbye to my life for the past 2 years, saying goodbye to students, teachers and friends...

And to top things off... I just had 5 friends from Montreal invade my tiny little apartment for a week. It was super crowded but FANTASTIC (except in the mornings... I think everyone wanted to kill each other in the morning). Unfortunately I wasn't able to spend too much time with them because I was working but I took last Tuesday off to take them to Kyoto and I'm taking Friday off because I'm going to join them in Tokyo on Friday. As a thank you for letting them squat at my place, they are buying me a ticket on the Shinkansen so that I can spend the day with them... AT THE STUDIO GHIBLI MUSEUM!!! For those of you who are wondering: "WTF?", the Ghibli Museum is a museum devoted entirely to Studio Ghibli movies (Miyazaki's animation--he made Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke). I've wanted to go for a long time but it's super hard for residents to get in because you need to reserve in writing and weekends (which is the only time I would be able to go) are always booked... What sucks is that I only have one day there because I have to be back on Saturday morning for the 4th and final elementary school training seminar I'm giving.

My time in Japan is drawing very quickly to a close. I can't believe that I'll be back in Montreal in less than 2 months. My ticket is booked. I'm coming home July 28th--19:05... and I still don't know how to feel about it. For the most part, I'm trying to enjoy every day and set aside the at times overwhelming feelings of sadness... So for now, I will post a few pics of my friends because that will make me happy.


Inside the gardens at Heian Jingu

Their first Japanese karaoke experience

At the giant torii in Kyoto

Throwing Kathleen overboard

Inside to covered bridge in the gardens (stole this one from Kathleen)

I'll try and post again soon.