Cats
Last night at 2 or 3 am I was woken up by CATS. It sounded like there were a dozen howling, screeching, angry, fighting cats outside my window. I have yet to see a cat in the daylight.... but apparently they all come out at night to wake me up!
Today I went to my school to "work" for the first time. My school is really laid back compared to what I've heard from other ALTs. I'm not complaining! I met many of the senseis (teachers) who are my colleagues. I also met the principal (kancho-sensei I believe). He complimented me on my japanese intonation. Yay! At least that's good.... it's the words and entire language that I don't know.
All I did at work today was fumble around my desk, ask questions, set up my computer at the school (it's difficult working with an entire japanese operating system), fill out forms, wander the hallways and talk to some students (in English only!).
I wasn't at the school very long. I ended up going home about 12:15. At 1 pm one of my colleagues took me to his home for a lunch BBQ. It was awesome! His family is super nice and their home was beautiful. I ate noodles (forget which kind), onigiri, japanese cucumbers (can't say I'm fond of those... yet) that were "pickled", yakitori (grilled chicken-kabobs), yakiniku (grilled beef - which i then dipped in the most amazing sauce), cold tofu, ume shouchu (plum liquor - which is so smooth that you wouldn't know it's liquor), ocha (japanese tea) and topped it off with a piece of watermelon (suika).
One thing I forgot to mention in an earlier post is the giant Buddhist statues everywhere. The one I saw in northern Sendai is named Kanno (or Kannon) sama. I tried to find a picture of it online, without success. It towered above everything.... maybe as tall as the statue of liberty? maybe taller? All I know is it's not the biggest in japan by far (my advisor told me it is a small one).
Also, I saw one of those rotating car parking things. It was so strange to see cars spinning around like a giant vending machine.
I learned today that they have two magnetic symbols for cars that are required by law: One is an orange and yellow teardrop shape, and its for drivers over 70. The other one is a yellow and green arrow shape, and it's for new drivers. It's a great system that should be adopted in the US!
Today I went to my school to "work" for the first time. My school is really laid back compared to what I've heard from other ALTs. I'm not complaining! I met many of the senseis (teachers) who are my colleagues. I also met the principal (kancho-sensei I believe). He complimented me on my japanese intonation. Yay! At least that's good.... it's the words and entire language that I don't know.
All I did at work today was fumble around my desk, ask questions, set up my computer at the school (it's difficult working with an entire japanese operating system), fill out forms, wander the hallways and talk to some students (in English only!).
I wasn't at the school very long. I ended up going home about 12:15. At 1 pm one of my colleagues took me to his home for a lunch BBQ. It was awesome! His family is super nice and their home was beautiful. I ate noodles (forget which kind), onigiri, japanese cucumbers (can't say I'm fond of those... yet) that were "pickled", yakitori (grilled chicken-kabobs), yakiniku (grilled beef - which i then dipped in the most amazing sauce), cold tofu, ume shouchu (plum liquor - which is so smooth that you wouldn't know it's liquor), ocha (japanese tea) and topped it off with a piece of watermelon (suika).
One thing I forgot to mention in an earlier post is the giant Buddhist statues everywhere. The one I saw in northern Sendai is named Kanno (or Kannon) sama. I tried to find a picture of it online, without success. It towered above everything.... maybe as tall as the statue of liberty? maybe taller? All I know is it's not the biggest in japan by far (my advisor told me it is a small one).
Also, I saw one of those rotating car parking things. It was so strange to see cars spinning around like a giant vending machine.
I learned today that they have two magnetic symbols for cars that are required by law: One is an orange and yellow teardrop shape, and its for drivers over 70. The other one is a yellow and green arrow shape, and it's for new drivers. It's a great system that should be adopted in the US!