Oct 19, 2008 17:05
Recently, it seems that I've been having a lot of energy swings; I'm not sure if it's environmental or hormonal or what. But one day I'll be completely exhausted and the next I'll be genki again. Unless I get an invitation to go to a party like last week, in which case the turnaround took about 15 minutes.
In the two months I have been here, the two other foreigners I have talked to (discounting Orientation weekend, which was before I had ever been here) haven't been as enthusiastic about my island as I have been. Or rather, they've made some comments that have been really irritating. Then again, they were both guys that seemed to exude some city snobbery ("Yeah, the low rent? That's probably the only way they keep us [the teachers] here.").
Which makes me want to rear up and punch them in the face.
Then again, I've been rewatching Hana Yori Dango, so that might be influencing it a bit:
"I'm sorry that MY ISLAND is bimyou. DomyoujiMinami Daito isn't a place that trash like you could ever understand!" **PUNCH**
Now, most of my blathering so far has been about how awesome my adoptive parents bosses are, but what's extraordinary is that it isn't extraordinary; that is, everybody has treated me with kindness, generosity, hospitality, and real warmth. I joke that other teachers at my school and parents of my students have become like aunts and uncles to me, but it's completely true.
One my first day of work, I came in soaked from an unexpected rain shower, and the school librarian quickly drove me home so I could change and grab my umbrella. Another time, I got to the grocery store just it was closing I reached into my purse and realized that I had forgot my wallet - the lady who owns it gave me a free bento. People I've never met greet me with warmth every day.
I don't think I would be able to have this kind of tight-niche welcoming if I had been placed in a city. I mean, it has its drawbacks too - my periods of complete incomprehension, despite the time I've spent studying Japanese, the inability to shop for things/get souvenirs...
Some days it feels kind of like I'm not actually living in Japan, but since Japan's only 250 miles away so I don't really worry about that. Considering that on my last trip to Naha I experienced first-hand how easy it is to blow through money when you just want to buy a cd and some groceries, maybe see a movie (ETA: Wanted was terrible... the main character spent the whole movie whining and wishing he was as cool as Tyler Durden or even Jack. Also the whole time all I could think about how much cooler the movie would be if it was actually Assassin's Creed: The Movie).
Anyway, my point in bringing up Fight Club is that "the things you own, end up owning you". And even though every day I think about how I'd love to hang out with other JETs or hell, other English speakers, I'd drop them in a heartbeat to drink with kyouikuchou again. Or to sing "Amazing Grace" with my JTE at our teacher's nomihoudai/karaoke night again. Or to have another cooking party where everyone shows me how to make delicious delicious curry of deliciousness.
Point is, I need to deal with people talking smack about my placement, even though I think they're shallow and stupid they really have no idea what they're missing. As frustrated as (sometimes) I get, I'm grateful every day to be here.
Now if only I could get that Ponyo song out of my head. AHA!
i love minami daito