Hearing many wedding bells

In just within a month, I've heard news of four friends/acquaintances getting married. And that wasn't the first time it happened to me. News like that seems to like to attack you all at the same time. What happened to the social phenomenon of women delaying marriage? It's definitely not happening in my circle of friends! It's so weird to hear your friends getting married especially when you're still not sure where you're going to settle or where the hell is the right person. It makes you reassess where you are in life now and if you're at the stage that you're in now by choice. I wonder if I'm the one that is weird...

Soon, I might be hearing news of friends getting pregnant and then hearing their kids call me aunty. Argh..."aunty"!

Smile returned

If I were someone else and saw myself today, I would probably go up and say, "You know, I hadn't seen you smile like that in class for a long while." And I would think about it and say, "Yeah, you're probably right." Truth is because it wasn't my usual class at the junior high schools, but an elementary school visit in the afternoon. As usual the energy and liveliness of the little children didn't fail to cheer me up.

We were there (Jennifer & I) to promote international understanding with 2 other foreigners (originally from Peru & China) among the kids. It was a much bigger class of fifth graders than last year with 127 students. It was pretty nerve wrecking to do my introduction in front of such a huge class at first. But I enjoyed myself so much that I soon forgot my nervousness. During the break time, when the kids rushed to our side to look at the stuff we brought for our introduction, I felt really warm with happiness. They were so eager and curious.

I wish I can smile like that in my usual classes, but I just can't. Not anymore...

Feel safe in a pair

Today was my second time attending the cuban salsa class at Urawa. I got to know about this class from someone I met at the class I go to at Omiya. I thought I would go to Urawa whenever I can (which hasn't been much yet) to get more practice. I tried the later intermediate class today as the the beginner class I attended before was too easy. There were only 4 people left at the intermediate class (not including the instructor & me) and we practiced rueda. It was really fun as one person shouts out different commands and you switch partners by going round in a circle. It also happened to be the rehearsal for the other four students as they have a show next week at Tokyo. While they were practicing their solo performances, I watched until I joined them in the pair work. As I was watching, I couldn't help but wish I could perform too. But thinking back to my days in the dance club at university, I thought I'd better not have that thought again.

It was the most stressful time for me when I had my rehearsals and finally the performance nights a few years ago. I had to dance hip hop in front of many people. Till today, I still amaze myself when I tell people that I performed hip hop in uni. Although I like it (like most kinds of dance except for disco dancing), it was seriously hard for me because my coordination is poor so I have to learn by doing enough till my body is used to the steps. Hip hop is just too fast for me to catch up. The only reason why I joined the performing dance club was because they didn't have salsa at uni.

Though what they did today wasn't hip hop, any individual work is difficult for me. I can't cope with too fast steps!! I still prefer pair work and love dancing with a partner. Although there are really fast moves in pair work too, I feel assured that I have a partner leading me. Hmm...I wonder what it says about me?!

It's the weekend!

It's always good to hang out with my friends from JET. It takes me away from the dull routine of work and the loneliness of being the only foreigner in my work environment. Today, we attended the bunkasai (cultural festival) at the high school that Michael teaches at. Many a times, I've wished that we can have 2 AETs in each school so that at least we can keep each other company. Though some of the staff at school are nice and chat with me once in a while, it feels different and can never go very deep because of language difficulties. I can't speak Japanese perfectly and they can hardly speak English. I've come to learn the real meaning of isolation now that I've finally experienced being the odd one out. Well, I'm not saying I'm the only one because most AETs have the same work situation. So it's fun to let loose when I'm hanging out with my friends. We're all foreigners and experience a similar work environment. I'm a little crazy (not wild :p) when I'm with them since I've the privilege of being a "gaijin" (slang for foreigner). Can't do that when I'm with the Japanese since I tend to be more Japanese around them.

Early autumn or false alarm??

The heat has passed. Really? I can't say for sure because the weather in Japan is strange. Same time last year, it could still get quite hot on certain days. But this week, the temperature has dropped to the low twenties and even 18/19 degrees at night because of constant raining. It's bloody irritating to cycle with the rain lashing at your face and get to school totally drenched & unglamorous with your students looking at you. And I had to do that every single day!! Which is unsurprising that I can feel a cold coming. Apparently the incessant raining is caused by typhoons around Okinawa. Fortunately, we're getting a break these 2 days from the rain before it continues again from this weekend...bleah... I guess it really gets to me because I have to cycle to work. Won't complain if I have a car. Though I would need a chauffeur to accompany the car!!

Musing...

The 2 movies that I rented this week, "A very long engagement" aka Un long dimanche de fiançailles (a great movie which has been added to my list of favorites) and "Gladiator", happen to contain the theme of war. I can never look squarely at horrible scenes of war and always wonder why humans have to kill each other for power. When a man is killed, the hearts of many who have loved that person die with him. Every enemy means something to someone. People celebrate victories. What does victory really mean but the defeat of another? Why do we have to win all the time?

The cool & the nerdy

I don't know what I did or what happened to have changed a student's attitude towards me in one of the schools. As usual, we're being rotated. Though now with only 3 AETs, the rotation is getting more frequent, meaning I stay for a shorter time (2 weeks to a month) at each school. I can't be bothered bonding with the students anymore because it's just impossible when you stay for only a few weeks, disappear for more than half a year and then return. The students forget you or they're not close to you anymore. It's true and it kind of hurts a little at first. But if I don't care about bonding with them anymore, it won't hurt. It's just a job to me now...go to a school, do my work, and move to the next school.

Anyway, back to the boy. He's kind of "cool" because he never smiles nor talks in English class. It's not the real cool to me as he doesn't fit my image of a cool guy. I would say he has an attitude problem..hah! He had never once looked at or greeted me (I think) in class when I was at his school a few months ago. To my surprise, he smiled at the beginning of class when he saw that I have returned. Just the other day, the 3 nensei went out picking pears around the neighbourhood. Yeah, this school has quite a few fun events for the students! And the boy came to the staff room to give me a pear, though he didn't say anything but just looked at me when he offered me the pear. It's really strange why he's suddenly so nice to me!

And there is Ikeda-kun..............I didn't really want to say it at first, but he's so nerdy!! He came asking for my reply to his love letter again (twice in a row!!) when he saw me and right in front of the other staff! I really hope he would grow out of this stupid crush. It just makes me want to avoid him like the plague. If only his "feelings" for me have changed like the "cool" boy's attitude towards me...........

Just like home & here

Taipei was a tad disappointing. It feels just like Singapore and Japan. It feels so familiar that there wasn't much feeling of excitement or wonder as I went around the city. The MRT, night market and underground shopping malls feel so much like home. And Taipei looks like a replica of Tokyo as it copies the Japanese pop culture so blatently! Japanese tourists, Japanese sign boards, Japanese restaurants, Japanese stores (even Family Mart - a convenience store) and Japanese products were everywhere in their original form! Although I was a little taken aback when I went into McDonald's and had to read the menu in traditional Chinese! I don't know what I was thinking but I just didn't expect it not to be in English. It was the same when I first walked into McDonald's in Japan & thought "Oh no....all katakana!!".

The weather was HORRIBLE. I don't think I've ever experienced such bad humidity...though my friend said I must have forgotten how hot & humid Singapore can get too. But I don't regret going since I did enjoy the shopping and some of the food. Taiwanese sales assistants have such sweet tongues that it's hard to reject them! Overall, it was still quite a decent vacation. But now I'm having second thoughts about going to Hong Kong, Shanghai or Seoul (places that I was keen to visit) as Asian cities are mostly all the same anyway.