Here is a friendly sumo wrestler I happened upon in Haneda Airport. On Sunday, our group of 158 teachers went their separate ways to their host cities. I'm now doing my city stay in Takeo City which is in the Saga Prefecture in southern Japan with 14 other American teachers. I'm currently enjoying 80 degree weather AND the many sights, sounds & tastes of Japan. Life is good!
Before leaving Tokyo last weekend, we were actually given an ENTIRE day to roam the city and its environs. After much debate, I settled on a small side trip to the city of Kamakura. This city is known for its many temples and shrines, as well as the main attraction; the Daibutsu. Roughly translated, it means the great Buddha who is pictured above. HUGE! My group jumped off of the train and made our way around the city by visiting several temples and shrines. I purchased what I'm calling my shrine book, which is essentially a blank book similar to a journal. At each temple & shrine that you visit, you may have calligraphy and a stamp with the appropriate seal/symbol written in the shrine book for a mere 300 yen. (Roughly, $3.) I love watching the guys do the character writing...thus the picture below.
This free day was one of my favorite days. We got to take a train, which I love, even though it wasn't a shinkansen i.e. bullet train. I have yet to experience one of those, unfortunately. While riding the train, there was a little girl dressed in full kimono regalia. So adorable!
Here are some of my random Japanese observations: - Flashlights & sometimes even helmets are located in all hotel rooms due to the high frequency of earthquakes here.
- The normal workday for a Japanese school teacher is 8am-7pm. That's time AT school, just to be clear. Some teachers are known to work until 10-11pm. I'd fit right in. :)
- There is a high rate of suicide in Japan and common methods are to throw oneself under a train or to hang oneself from a tree near Mt. Fuji. Gruesome.
- Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita which sell beer, sake & cigarettes in addition to the tamer offerings of coca cola and water.
- Rock, paper, scissors is the most popular game to play. Especially if you're in elementary school or at a village festival. You can play it one on one or with hundreds of people.
- Manga is literally everywhere. I see large collections at restaurants and even in my hotel's laundry room.
- Pink is popular-I've seen pink pay phones, pink metronomes, pink toilets...
- There is a strict dedication to recycling EVERYTHING! Which is wonderful. We need to take note!
Until next time...peace.
9 comments:
ive also heard there are vending machines that sell used panties.
Whenever I use rock paper scissors for something i say jan ken pan
(rock, paper scissors in english, but you probably knew that)
does i.e. mean "in english"
ive never understood what that meant until now, haha.
The suicide thing amazes me. Busser would never kill himself with so many comic books lying around for the taking. The vending I get. The whole society works those same teacher hours. You have to grab a snack somewhere. I am too lazy to be Japanese. I am going to apply for Dutch.
Miss Groah!
Japan sounds INCREDIBLE! We all miss you so much and are so looking forward to having you in class again. The subs are pretty fantastic though. You'll have to ask Audrey about the random kid from Westlake at the Perry Show Choir Festival giving her the eye. HILARIOUS.
So, after the PSHF (abbreviating now. ha), about 18 of us piled into Big T's RV and went to the Haunted Forest on Bates Road. SUCH a fun time! On the way back, we did TWO Chinese Fire Drills! All 18 of us running around a 34-foot long RV by Dominos AND on the rt. 20 intersection!
You're so proud, I know. :] So many stories to tell when we get back.
Be sure to ask Patrick and Clare about being traumatized in "Pandora's Box."
Ciao!
By the way....here are the videos of BOTH Chinese Fire Drills, recorded by Big T
:]
Hope you get a laugh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs0tSASUXA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj9ZXqAakVc
What's up with the Giant Buddhas? I thought these people were known for making everything smaller and better. I know of a much smaller Buddha...Sorry, scratch that. It's only DePompei.
Nicki,
Have you visited any pachinko parlors
yet? They are really something else.
Very colorful and VERY noisy.
Hey Ms. Groah I'm glad you're having a great time in Japan. It sounds like you're having fun. We all miss you here in boring Madison. Bring lots of pics back! till friday, sayonara! ^-^
MY GOODNESS! YOU BUSY BEAVER!
I just read all of the blogs (I was really behind) and I bet you are having the time of your life!!
PINK TOILETS?! WHAT!!!
I hope when you get back to the states and finally have some down time, you will be able to put up all your pictures on some sort of online album so we can all see them! :)
-Mikey :)
I finally had the chance to check out these blogs. It's nice to hear you're enjoying yourself. Embrace the warm weather, because we had our first snowfall just yesterday! But no worries, it should warm up by the time you come home. Of course, I'm looking forward to your return and can't wait to see all the amazing pictures. We've all been behaving ourselves (to some extent), so nothing to worry about! Enjoy your last few days.
Jessica H.
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