Change of Seasons, almost
So fall is almost here. The mornings and evenings are getting decidedly cooler such that I am glad some sweaters were in my latest care package from home - thanks Mom and Dad!
I thought at first that the school would require all students to change their uniforms at the same time on a set date but it seems that students can put on their blazers and sweater vests when they feel like it. This school, and I think Japanese schools in general, are a lot less strict than I was led to believe by my orientations and movies.
The afternoons still belong to summer though. The shrilling of cicadas emerges from every tree and I’m still amazed at the size of those suckers. Three would make a decent meal that is if I ever got that hungry, sorry that was the only decent visual analogy I could think of.
My new apartment is very sweet. I’ve figured that it’s a bit closer to the school than my old place too. My hot water system proved to be slightly more complicated at first. For instance I can program my tub to fill up a certain amount of liters at a certain temperature and then shut off automatically. Which is pretty cool, but I had troubles at first with it trying to fill up while I was taking a shower. :S
Now I’m learning the new kinks and they are much more live-able with. Another really cool thing about my bath and shower room is that I can program the fan to blow hot air so I can use the small room like a clothes dryer - neat eh? It’ll definitely be handy in the winter when I suspect drying clothes outside will be harder. I’ve heard of JETs getting mildew in their clothes because the weather was stubbornly wet and humid while they were doing laundry.
I’ve been experimenting with some new dishes, since I figured out what was wrong with my rice cooker (I was accidentally hitting cancel instead of start) I’ve been enjoying curry again. In my latest batch I’ve added Japanese eggplant and some kind of squash which is absolutely delicious. I’m ashamed to say that it’s taken me this long to start experimenting with more Japanese vegetables. It’s just a bit overwhelming at first eh?
So I’ve had the chance to see two Noh shows of late, which has been awesome. Teaching aside one of the reasons I wanted to come here was to observe and study Japanese theater. It’s a completely different set of conventions and aesthetic tan Western theater and I don’t think anything I’ll ever learn will equate to the grace that a Noh master has as he turns and opens his fan. Ah well, I can dream.
Literally, I find that watching Noh makes me drowsy. I guess that’s because of the slow pace?
I’m currently writing an article on Noh for the Halton Arts Review web-magazine and I’ll post a link to it here when I’m finished it.
Now I should stop killing time and finish a lesson plan for a special needs school.
Will post more another time eh. : )
I thought at first that the school would require all students to change their uniforms at the same time on a set date but it seems that students can put on their blazers and sweater vests when they feel like it. This school, and I think Japanese schools in general, are a lot less strict than I was led to believe by my orientations and movies.
The afternoons still belong to summer though. The shrilling of cicadas emerges from every tree and I’m still amazed at the size of those suckers. Three would make a decent meal that is if I ever got that hungry, sorry that was the only decent visual analogy I could think of.
My new apartment is very sweet. I’ve figured that it’s a bit closer to the school than my old place too. My hot water system proved to be slightly more complicated at first. For instance I can program my tub to fill up a certain amount of liters at a certain temperature and then shut off automatically. Which is pretty cool, but I had troubles at first with it trying to fill up while I was taking a shower. :S
Now I’m learning the new kinks and they are much more live-able with. Another really cool thing about my bath and shower room is that I can program the fan to blow hot air so I can use the small room like a clothes dryer - neat eh? It’ll definitely be handy in the winter when I suspect drying clothes outside will be harder. I’ve heard of JETs getting mildew in their clothes because the weather was stubbornly wet and humid while they were doing laundry.
I’ve been experimenting with some new dishes, since I figured out what was wrong with my rice cooker (I was accidentally hitting cancel instead of start) I’ve been enjoying curry again. In my latest batch I’ve added Japanese eggplant and some kind of squash which is absolutely delicious. I’m ashamed to say that it’s taken me this long to start experimenting with more Japanese vegetables. It’s just a bit overwhelming at first eh?
So I’ve had the chance to see two Noh shows of late, which has been awesome. Teaching aside one of the reasons I wanted to come here was to observe and study Japanese theater. It’s a completely different set of conventions and aesthetic tan Western theater and I don’t think anything I’ll ever learn will equate to the grace that a Noh master has as he turns and opens his fan. Ah well, I can dream.
Literally, I find that watching Noh makes me drowsy. I guess that’s because of the slow pace?
I’m currently writing an article on Noh for the Halton Arts Review web-magazine and I’ll post a link to it here when I’m finished it.
Now I should stop killing time and finish a lesson plan for a special needs school.
Will post more another time eh. : )