JQ Magazine, a publication by the JET Programme Alumni Association of New York (JETAANY), put out a call for submissions.  One of themes was how former JETs got their "Japan Fix" back home.  I got the idea to write about
metroplexlolitaas the group has given me many opportunities to get my Japan fix.

You can read the article on here: "In Texas, Metroplex Lolitas ( Read more... )

Hisashiburi! Sorry for disappearing again, but I was swamped with events and assignments, one of which is the subject of this post. Last month, I got to help with hosting activities for a group of kids that included my former students. It was a great experience, and I thought I'd write about what Sister Cities and JET have done for me ( Read more... )

Those of you who follow me on my social media accounts have seen my posts, but I want to share this with as many people as possible. It is a beautiful tribute to a friend who lost her life, and it shows the impact Assistant English Teachers have on their students. It also highlights the beauty of cross-cultural bonds and gives hope for world ( Read more... )

It has been a while since I've updated with earthquake and tsunami relief information. The news in America has all but ceased coverage, and life in some areas have returned to normal. However, rebuilding entire towns takes years so this post serves a dual purpose of showing that every little bit does count for something and of keeping you updated ( Read more... )

When kyuuketsuki_ooh decided to go ahead with her plans to move to Japan in March, despite what the U.S. government was telling everyone, I admired her bravery.  It takes an individual with special qualities to become a good ALT.  People often miss that fact when they talk about JET and Interac.  I decided to write a post dedicated to all the ALTs in Japan: ( Read more... )

I wound up not making too many updates on the earthquake. It was just too difficult to keep up with the news while worrying about the well-being of my friends and students. On March 11, I got interviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and here's the article. I'm only posting the link here because some of the information is inaccurate. Most of ( Read more... )

I hadn't planned to do this post (hence the lateness), but I realized that I've never really talked about Valentine's Day in Japan before.  Plus, it's been a long time since I had a JET story up.  I posted it on my Wordpress so you can check it out here: hibarisensei.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/valentines-day-in-japan/

A little trivia about the song I' ( Read more... )

We are well into aki (autumn) now, and I apologize for the delay in posting this.  I was going to talk about the history and traditions of aki matsuri (autumn festivals), but I could not find information that I didn't already know or contradicted another source.  Even though the Autumnal Equinox is a national holiday in Japan, the festivals vary ( Read more... )

I had no idea under which day I should categorize this English-language web series since it starred Jonathan Sherr of recent My Darling is a Foreigner fame and reminded me of my experiences as an assistant language teacher.  Not that the day matters since I'm behind on posting entries.  I stuck it under my miscellaneous "Tokidoki Tuesdays" because ( Read more... )

The Japanese school year ends in March. As sakura begin to emerge in the southern regions, students leave one phase in their schooling to enter another as they walk down the path towards adulthood. This correspondence is perhaps why a lot of many popular graduation songs mention sakura. I suppose it's also because they reflect one's fleeting youth.

( Read more... )