P.S. No, I don't know what they are either.....toothpics? They're not chopsticks 'cause they're shorter than one of my fingers. Either way, they're pretty :)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Beauty in Nuances
I bought a blow-dryer the other day and I got this gift with it (this just goes to show you the little details that make this culture so fascinating and beautiful):
P.S. No, I don't know what they are either.....toothpics? They're not chopsticks 'cause they're shorter than one of my fingers. Either way, they're pretty :)
P.S. No, I don't know what they are either.....toothpics? They're not chopsticks 'cause they're shorter than one of my fingers. Either way, they're pretty :)
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Busy Busy Busy
I haven't blogged in a while 'cause everything has happened all at once for me and almost every moment of every day lately I've spent running errands.
On the job front, I spent most of last week in training at our company's headquarters downtown where we were taught how to "teach English the GABA way." Of course, all that did was stress me out about lesson timing, and doing things according to the book. Saturday I actually got into my "Learning Studio" (Gaba's balogna name for a school) and everything is much more chill there than they made it sound at training. I was told I would have a 2-3 hour in-studio training, but really all it was was a tour and they threw me in head-first to teaching. That poor first student - I did terrible. I taught 4 lessons yesterday and another 6 today, I'm slowly getting the hang of it.
I got home in time to (attempt to) make myself a proper supper tonight! woo hoo!
On the housing front, my roommates are all clean and kind (I'll put up a video tour soon). Apparently there have been a few cockroach sightings in the building but what bothers me more is the CRAZY INVISIBLE MOSQUITOES with the VENOM FROM HELL! check this out:
Yeah. That's a bite on the KNUCKLE of my FOOT. worst. I have to sleep with one sock on just so my sheets won't tickle me awake
Man my feet are ugly
On the job front, I spent most of last week in training at our company's headquarters downtown where we were taught how to "teach English the GABA way." Of course, all that did was stress me out about lesson timing, and doing things according to the book. Saturday I actually got into my "Learning Studio" (Gaba's balogna name for a school) and everything is much more chill there than they made it sound at training. I was told I would have a 2-3 hour in-studio training, but really all it was was a tour and they threw me in head-first to teaching. That poor first student - I did terrible. I taught 4 lessons yesterday and another 6 today, I'm slowly getting the hang of it.
I got home in time to (attempt to) make myself a proper supper tonight! woo hoo!
On the housing front, my roommates are all clean and kind (I'll put up a video tour soon). Apparently there have been a few cockroach sightings in the building but what bothers me more is the CRAZY INVISIBLE MOSQUITOES with the VENOM FROM HELL! check this out:
Yeah. That's a bite on the KNUCKLE of my FOOT. worst. I have to sleep with one sock on just so my sheets won't tickle me awake
Man my feet are ugly
Friday, October 16, 2009
It's Official
I feel like today started my first day of real Japanese life. After finding out I GOT A JOB (!) yesterday afternoon, I started frantically compiling all the paperwork etc. needed to be a valid Canadian in Japan.
I bought a proper suit and a proper pair of reusable chop-sticks 'cause everywhere you go, if you buy food they give you a new set of disposable chop-sticks. worst.
Tomorrow I will spend hunting for an apartment.
Now all I have to do is start wearing heels all the time and I'll fit right in.
Life has begun!
I bought a proper suit and a proper pair of reusable chop-sticks 'cause everywhere you go, if you buy food they give you a new set of disposable chop-sticks. worst.
Tomorrow I will spend hunting for an apartment.
Now all I have to do is start wearing heels all the time and I'll fit right in.
Life has begun!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sundays in Yoyogi Park is where my heart resides
Sundays in Harajuku are a bit insane. The wildest of the wild come out to play but the vibe in Yoyogi Park is particularly fabulous. After walking around for a bit, we discovered a group of people dancing and listening to a guitartist in the park. We stopped to take just one photo and listen for a while but we were soon accosted and told "Come join us!!" in broken English.
As soon as we agreed, we were offered wine, beer, and home-brews, and more food than we could possibly eat. After listening to one musician playing the Shamisen (the three-stringed guitar-type instrument you would often associate with traditional Japanese music) and chatting with him via a translator for a few minutes the jam session began. A couple guitarists started in on a repetoire of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everything in between. We sang, we ate, we danced, we were merry. I couldn't imagine a better Sunday afternoon.
And of course, we ended the evening with a little Karaoke:
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Tokyo Clubbin
I'm watching hilarious Japanese TV right now as my Saturday evening entertainment. I definitely needed a night in tonight as yesterday evening blew my mind! We headed out to Shibuya for a Friday night out with a group of us (a Brit, a couple Americans, and a couple Canadians - myself being one) and it ended up being pretty epic in my books.
After having a couple drinks from the local 7-11 and checking out the insanity that is Shibuya on a Friday evening (with free hugs and all) we headed to a club called "Womb." The club was anything but womb-like. It had the craziest DJ, dance floor, and atmosphere I've ever seen. I cannot possibly explain the intensity of this place in terms that anyone who's only seen Saskatoon's bar-scene would understand. Like....the bar was selling single kiwis for $6!! What?!
I'm not much of a big partier and I thought I would be home pretty early. We ended up getting to bed at 4 am.
So after a very little sleep and a move to a hostel that is a bit less rat-y (I hope), I spent the afternoon at an onsen (a public hot-spring) and I'm heading to bed early.
No photos were allowed in the club, and I didn't take too many last night either but check these out:
"Club the celebrity"
After having a couple drinks from the local 7-11 and checking out the insanity that is Shibuya on a Friday evening (with free hugs and all) we headed to a club called "Womb." The club was anything but womb-like. It had the craziest DJ, dance floor, and atmosphere I've ever seen. I cannot possibly explain the intensity of this place in terms that anyone who's only seen Saskatoon's bar-scene would understand. Like....the bar was selling single kiwis for $6!! What?!
I'm not much of a big partier and I thought I would be home pretty early. We ended up getting to bed at 4 am.
So after a very little sleep and a move to a hostel that is a bit less rat-y (I hope), I spent the afternoon at an onsen (a public hot-spring) and I'm heading to bed early.
No photos were allowed in the club, and I didn't take too many last night either but check these out:
"Club the celebrity"
"The Pratinum Spa"
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tsukiji Fish Market
A 4:30 am wake-up well worth it:
Tuna bigger than me
Yeah, that dude is cutting that fish with a sword!
Breakfast afterward
Tuna bigger than me
Yeah, that dude is cutting that fish with a sword!
Breakfast afterward
My Good Fortune
When visiting Senso-ji temple in Asakusa the fortune I received read:
GOOD FORTUNE:
Repent what you've done so far, and you should hope again. Then you will find happiness in future with a help of your seniors, everything will go well you'll be satisfied with better position and wealth
* Your wishes will be realized. * A sick person will recover. *The lost article will be found. *The person you are waiting for will come. *Building a new house and removal are good. *Making a trip is good. *Marriage and employment are both good.
A Japanese woman came up to me and translated some of the Japanese characters of the fortune for me and said "It says that you have good people around you"
JOY IS ABUNDANT!
Repent what you've done so far, and you should hope again. Then you will find happiness in future with a help of your seniors, everything will go well you'll be satisfied with better position and wealth
* Your wishes will be realized. * A sick person will recover. *The lost article will be found. *The person you are waiting for will come. *Building a new house and removal are good. *Making a trip is good. *Marriage and employment are both good.
A Japanese woman came up to me and translated some of the Japanese characters of the fortune for me and said "It says that you have good people around you"
JOY IS ABUNDANT!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Harajuku! Shibuya! Asakusa!
I'm posting a few photos for you to creep on, enjoy!
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa
Prayers and Incense
Washing my hands in holy water? I dunno, everyone else was doing it
Sensoji Temple
The bane of my existence
Shibuya crossing (the Times Square of Tokyo)
RUSH! @ Shibuya
Shibuya Crossing once again
Rockabilly dance troups of Harajuku....such a bizarre phenomenon (check out the video below)
Harajuku girls
Just a casual Sunday stroll through Harajuku
A terrible Japanese take on rock music
Who knew Tommy Lee Jones is big in Japan?
Friday, October 2, 2009
Mushi mushi!
I have arrived in Tokyo and I haven't stopped sweating since I got here. It is SO humid and SO warm that every time I get into my room alone I start stripping. I walked around today in clingy jeans - worst! Everybody here carries around a face-cloth to pat down there upper lips from time to time (it seems gross but I'm getting to the point of contemplating it).
After getting a bit jet-lagged and messed up, I started the day a bit early and headed to the Imperial Palace Gardens (kind of like Tokyo's answer to Central Park - but with more bonzai trees) 'cause they're within walking distance of my hostel. I spent the morning there and realized I NEED AN UMBRELLA! The rain jacket was making me just as wet from my sweat as I would be from rain if I weren't wearing the jacket at all (so attractive, I know).
The food so far has been typical - typical for me that is, not typical Japanese food. I had the traditional cheap hostel breakfast (blech!) of whiter-than-snow bread with sugar-dyed-red-raspberry jam and a cup of weak tea (which some of you will notice, coincidentally was T-daddy's first single). For lunch I discovered a McDonalds (woo hoo!....?), but it was a bit bizzare as it was all in Japanese, the place was styled all retro, and they were playing trippy obscure Beatles tunes (for the Benefit of Mr.Kyte...that whirring/carnival part of the song was too much to handle in the situation).
After taking a couple wrong trains due to an address that is now obsolete, I finally found the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers office - basically, they're supposed to help me with finding a job, finding a proper place to stay, and all that jazz. The woman who helped me out gave me a warning before she even started my registration that jobs are scarce. I looked through their listings for a bit but nothing looked great. I'm going to keep looking and remind myself that I've only been here 2 days.
Japan can be a bit overwhelming - there's so much to look and it's so vast that it feels like my first day at University again. But instead, there's 13 million people in this city.
sayonara for now,
Pola
After getting a bit jet-lagged and messed up, I started the day a bit early and headed to the Imperial Palace Gardens (kind of like Tokyo's answer to Central Park - but with more bonzai trees) 'cause they're within walking distance of my hostel. I spent the morning there and realized I NEED AN UMBRELLA! The rain jacket was making me just as wet from my sweat as I would be from rain if I weren't wearing the jacket at all (so attractive, I know).
The food so far has been typical - typical for me that is, not typical Japanese food. I had the traditional cheap hostel breakfast (blech!) of whiter-than-snow bread with sugar-dyed-red-raspberry jam and a cup of weak tea (which some of you will notice, coincidentally was T-daddy's first single). For lunch I discovered a McDonalds (woo hoo!....?), but it was a bit bizzare as it was all in Japanese, the place was styled all retro, and they were playing trippy obscure Beatles tunes (for the Benefit of Mr.Kyte...that whirring/carnival part of the song was too much to handle in the situation).
After taking a couple wrong trains due to an address that is now obsolete, I finally found the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers office - basically, they're supposed to help me with finding a job, finding a proper place to stay, and all that jazz. The woman who helped me out gave me a warning before she even started my registration that jobs are scarce. I looked through their listings for a bit but nothing looked great. I'm going to keep looking and remind myself that I've only been here 2 days.
Japan can be a bit overwhelming - there's so much to look and it's so vast that it feels like my first day at University again. But instead, there's 13 million people in this city.
sayonara for now,
Pola
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