I'm not sure why I chose this title actually. Nothing bad happened today but at the same time I have the feeling that it's been "one of those days".
I had the day off today because of the sports day yesterday. Which was really good for me because I desperately needed that lie in. Even though I'm still tired now.
So I decided to hang out at the beach today. The weather was gorgeous and because it was really windy, all the windsurfers were out providing me with an afternoon of entertainment! I noticed this girl constantly walking back and forth past me. She looked like she wanted to come over and talk and was trying to build up the courage.
So after about nearly 2 hours she came up and sat next to me and nervously tried to start talking in English. But then gave up when I really couldn't work out what the hell it was she was trying to say. Which was good for me and my Japanese!
It was really interesting actually. She had come all the way from Arita just to watch the windsurfers. And then she asked me if I wanted to hang out sometime. She was blushing furiously so I couldn't help but ask if she was a lesbian. She wasn't. She said it was because she had never done that kind of thing before and was feeling really shy. Quite endearing actually.
Ooohhh and when I was at Sunset Live, I was approached by the Fukuoka Now (a little events magazine) and was asked to pose for a cover models audition. The pics are up online so go ahead and vote for me!! ;-)
http://www.fukuoka-now.com/gallery/show/1982
xx
Monday, 8 September 2008
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Sunset Live
I spent the day yesterday on Keya Beach at the Sunset Live festival.
I went by myself and had an AWESOME time!
There are so many benefits to being a foreigner in Japan. And being a foreigner at a festival alone - well....
I didn't pay FOR A SINGLE THING. People were giving me food and drink left right and centre!! It was a shame I was driving otherwise I would've got wrecked for free! And I posed for a total of 23 pictures. Those people gave me crisps, drinks, chocolate and offered to buy me yakitori or jerk chicken.
it would've been rude to say no ;-)
At the same time, the disadvantage of being on your own is you can't prevent people from constantly coming up to you. And I seemed to attract all the freaks in that place!! Turns out that a couple of these 'freaks' were performers and I'd just told them I didn't want to talk to them (they were SERIOUSLY weird).
I loved this festival. The atmosphere was amazing and I loved the layout - there were 2 big stages and a couple of smaller ones, all offering different styles to account for music tastes. Needless to say the reggae and trance were the most popular. I haven't REALLY listened to trance for a long time. But I got so caught up in the vibe I found myself jumping and wildly waving my hands in the air with everyone else!! I was really impressed with the massive selection of food as well. Although I didn't get to try a lot of different things coz I was stuffed with the yakitori that people kept buying for me!
I think I prefer Sunset Live to Isla de Salsa. I liked the vibe more. Prob because there were hardly any foreigners there so it was more about having fun than trying to pull. Such a great day out.
My legs are suffering today though - I danced so hard!! Oh, and I'm covered in mosquito bites - including one in a place I can't scratch on my back!
I wish I could've stayed for today too. Damn sports days!!
I went by myself and had an AWESOME time!
There are so many benefits to being a foreigner in Japan. And being a foreigner at a festival alone - well....
I didn't pay FOR A SINGLE THING. People were giving me food and drink left right and centre!! It was a shame I was driving otherwise I would've got wrecked for free! And I posed for a total of 23 pictures. Those people gave me crisps, drinks, chocolate and offered to buy me yakitori or jerk chicken.
it would've been rude to say no ;-)
At the same time, the disadvantage of being on your own is you can't prevent people from constantly coming up to you. And I seemed to attract all the freaks in that place!! Turns out that a couple of these 'freaks' were performers and I'd just told them I didn't want to talk to them (they were SERIOUSLY weird).
I loved this festival. The atmosphere was amazing and I loved the layout - there were 2 big stages and a couple of smaller ones, all offering different styles to account for music tastes. Needless to say the reggae and trance were the most popular. I haven't REALLY listened to trance for a long time. But I got so caught up in the vibe I found myself jumping and wildly waving my hands in the air with everyone else!! I was really impressed with the massive selection of food as well. Although I didn't get to try a lot of different things coz I was stuffed with the yakitori that people kept buying for me!
I think I prefer Sunset Live to Isla de Salsa. I liked the vibe more. Prob because there were hardly any foreigners there so it was more about having fun than trying to pull. Such a great day out.
My legs are suffering today though - I danced so hard!! Oh, and I'm covered in mosquito bites - including one in a place I can't scratch on my back!
I wish I could've stayed for today too. Damn sports days!!
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Scared? Try petrified!!
I was about to get into my car when I noticed a spider running across the back seat.
Some people are good with spiders. Some people are scared of spiders. Me? I'm absolutely PETRIFIED of them!
I jumped back, let out a little scream and then called my friend back to get it out my car. I couldn't even get in the car, let alone drive if there's a spider in it.
My friend came back and tried to hit it with his shoe but it ran away and then jumped over the back seat. I made him check every inch of my car and even then I still wasn't satisfied that it had gone. The sight of it alone made me slightly hyperventilate, sweat and I really thought I was going to throw up.
I felt bad because while this was going on, my friend was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. But the alternative was me noticing that spider when I was driving and then I KNOW i would've crashed my car. Even when driving back I was completely paranoid, jumpy and it took a long time for my breathing to calm down.
A few months back there was a spider in my house. I ran outside and physically could not go back in. I ended up driving 20 mins just to pick up a friend to come back to my house to kill it. It was one of the biggest spiders I have ever seen and once past a certain size I can't go anywhere near them. I can't stay in a room if there's a spider in there. And this spider made me cry and I broke out in a such a big sweat I was drenched within minutes. She never found the spider and I couldn't sleep for 3 days. It showed up again when I was on the loo. Thank God I'd already finished peeing otherwise there would've been an accident!! I ended up spraying so much bug spray under the door it set off my gas detector. Even after it was dead and had fallen to the floor, it took me at least half an hour to build up the courage to get rid of it and I was screaming and crying the whole time.
People found it hilarious. I'm very aware that some people think it's pathetic or that I'm over reacting. But what you have to understand is that I'm actually SCARED!! The whole 'it's more scared of you' thing doesn't work with me. I can kill a cockroach - I don't like them either but I can kill them. But spiders are on a whole other level. They scare the shit outta me.
And it's not funny.
Some people are good with spiders. Some people are scared of spiders. Me? I'm absolutely PETRIFIED of them!
I jumped back, let out a little scream and then called my friend back to get it out my car. I couldn't even get in the car, let alone drive if there's a spider in it.
My friend came back and tried to hit it with his shoe but it ran away and then jumped over the back seat. I made him check every inch of my car and even then I still wasn't satisfied that it had gone. The sight of it alone made me slightly hyperventilate, sweat and I really thought I was going to throw up.
I felt bad because while this was going on, my friend was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. But the alternative was me noticing that spider when I was driving and then I KNOW i would've crashed my car. Even when driving back I was completely paranoid, jumpy and it took a long time for my breathing to calm down.
A few months back there was a spider in my house. I ran outside and physically could not go back in. I ended up driving 20 mins just to pick up a friend to come back to my house to kill it. It was one of the biggest spiders I have ever seen and once past a certain size I can't go anywhere near them. I can't stay in a room if there's a spider in there. And this spider made me cry and I broke out in a such a big sweat I was drenched within minutes. She never found the spider and I couldn't sleep for 3 days. It showed up again when I was on the loo. Thank God I'd already finished peeing otherwise there would've been an accident!! I ended up spraying so much bug spray under the door it set off my gas detector. Even after it was dead and had fallen to the floor, it took me at least half an hour to build up the courage to get rid of it and I was screaming and crying the whole time.
People found it hilarious. I'm very aware that some people think it's pathetic or that I'm over reacting. But what you have to understand is that I'm actually SCARED!! The whole 'it's more scared of you' thing doesn't work with me. I can kill a cockroach - I don't like them either but I can kill them. But spiders are on a whole other level. They scare the shit outta me.
And it's not funny.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Pure disorganization
Ufff.....what a morning.
I go into elementary school thinking that I'm gonna be teaching 5th and 6th grade. The teachers do all the prep at this school so I was ready to be lazy. I detest the 6th grade at this particular school. Uncooperative, lazy, moody and to honest, bar literally 3 students, downright DUMB. They are as dumb as you can get.
First I get told that there's been a switch. Instead of 5th grade I would be teaching 1st grade in the first period. All 68 of them. So the teachers come up to me and tell me that I'll be doing my self introduction. I'm just staring at them in disbelief.
Jade: No one told me that the schedule had changed, so I don't have ANYTHING with me.
Teachers: Oh.
Jade: As in literally nothing.
Teachers: It's OK, you can just talk.
Jade (mouth dropping open): With no pictures?! To 1st grade?!?!?!?!?
Teachers: Yes
Jade (laughing): I don't think so!! That will never work and that's a really bad idea.
Teachers: HMMMMMMMMMMMM..................
Jade (rolling her eyes at the stupidity of these people): I'm gonna go home and pick up some stuff for the intro and then come back OK?
Teachers: OK.
I can't believe they would even suggest something so stupid. But the class ended up being a roaring success. Amazing what the pic of an afro can do. They were remarkably controlled becaus e in that respect the teachers do their job properly. But not in 6th grade.
2 mins before the 6th grade lesson, the teacher comes up to me and tells me that he has no idea for today's class and asks me if I have an idea. 2 mins BEFORE THE DAMN CLASS?! I had been sitting there for 10 and he asks me now?!?! He said he hasn't had the time. Visibly annoyed and not being able to process all this bullshit, I asked him what about the summer holiday!??!
Lucky for him I can think on my feet for those kind of situations. But what annoys me about the 6th grade is the teachers provide no motivational support and the kids are just too dumb and moody and just the worst type of class for a teacher. I was getting more and more pissed off throughout the class and really struggled to hide it. They can't even follow simple rules and instructions and I ended up saying that I don't understand how 2nd grade can play these games and understand me and you can't - I'm literally playing the game in front of you - what don't you get?!
Even worse? The teacher at no point decided to intervene and translate into Japanese. I'd managed to grab a couple of mins before class to explain what we'd be doing (in Japanese - none of the teachers at this school speak English). I just gave up and finished the class early. I'm sick of wasting my time and energy with this grade. I've brought it up a couple of times and they improve for one class and then it goes back to normal. Might be time to take it further up the chain.....
A stark contrast with 5th - the teacher came up to me and gave me lesson plans for the next 2 weeks - fair enough they're in Japanese but I can work them out. At least he's organised!
My energy has been totally drained. And I still have classes this afternoon. At least the 5th and 6th grade that I'm gonna be teaching are awesome and smart so I know it's gonna be fun.
Now I just have to get genkified again and try and calm down a bit!
Dumb asses
I go into elementary school thinking that I'm gonna be teaching 5th and 6th grade. The teachers do all the prep at this school so I was ready to be lazy. I detest the 6th grade at this particular school. Uncooperative, lazy, moody and to honest, bar literally 3 students, downright DUMB. They are as dumb as you can get.
First I get told that there's been a switch. Instead of 5th grade I would be teaching 1st grade in the first period. All 68 of them. So the teachers come up to me and tell me that I'll be doing my self introduction. I'm just staring at them in disbelief.
Jade: No one told me that the schedule had changed, so I don't have ANYTHING with me.
Teachers: Oh.
Jade: As in literally nothing.
Teachers: It's OK, you can just talk.
Jade (mouth dropping open): With no pictures?! To 1st grade?!?!?!?!?
Teachers: Yes
Jade (laughing): I don't think so!! That will never work and that's a really bad idea.
Teachers: HMMMMMMMMMMMM..................
Jade (rolling her eyes at the stupidity of these people): I'm gonna go home and pick up some stuff for the intro and then come back OK?
Teachers: OK.
I can't believe they would even suggest something so stupid. But the class ended up being a roaring success. Amazing what the pic of an afro can do. They were remarkably controlled becaus e in that respect the teachers do their job properly. But not in 6th grade.
2 mins before the 6th grade lesson, the teacher comes up to me and tells me that he has no idea for today's class and asks me if I have an idea. 2 mins BEFORE THE DAMN CLASS?! I had been sitting there for 10 and he asks me now?!?! He said he hasn't had the time. Visibly annoyed and not being able to process all this bullshit, I asked him what about the summer holiday!??!
Lucky for him I can think on my feet for those kind of situations. But what annoys me about the 6th grade is the teachers provide no motivational support and the kids are just too dumb and moody and just the worst type of class for a teacher. I was getting more and more pissed off throughout the class and really struggled to hide it. They can't even follow simple rules and instructions and I ended up saying that I don't understand how 2nd grade can play these games and understand me and you can't - I'm literally playing the game in front of you - what don't you get?!
Even worse? The teacher at no point decided to intervene and translate into Japanese. I'd managed to grab a couple of mins before class to explain what we'd be doing (in Japanese - none of the teachers at this school speak English). I just gave up and finished the class early. I'm sick of wasting my time and energy with this grade. I've brought it up a couple of times and they improve for one class and then it goes back to normal. Might be time to take it further up the chain.....
A stark contrast with 5th - the teacher came up to me and gave me lesson plans for the next 2 weeks - fair enough they're in Japanese but I can work them out. At least he's organised!
My energy has been totally drained. And I still have classes this afternoon. At least the 5th and 6th grade that I'm gonna be teaching are awesome and smart so I know it's gonna be fun.
Now I just have to get genkified again and try and calm down a bit!
Dumb asses
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
People are so....ARGH!
I think I've given up actually believing that there are truly honest people out there.
I'm not stupid - everyone lies. But then you see people who tell other people that they really ARE their friend - that they're there for them when they're going through a hard time...
...and then you see that person go and slag them off to someone else!!
Why do you bother in the first place?! You don't have to be liked by everybody. And you're NOT liked by everybody. So why do you try to be? I don't understand.
I went to an all girls school between the ages of 12-18. When you go to a single sex school, especially an all girls school, you see bitchiness beyond belief. And that's when I grew tired of 2-faced people.
But I hate seeing people offer all this emotional support to others, only to turn around later and slate that person for being the way that they are. You should be taking your hat off to people who refuse to change the way that they are so that they are liked by everyone.
Of course, people ADJUST their behaviour according to who they're with. But there's a line. You don't pretend to be a party animal to hang out with a certain crowd and then later turn to other people and bitch that the party animal 'crew' are too hardcore and that you would prefer to chill. Likewise, you don't hang with the 'chill crew' and then tell the 'party crew' that they're boring. You don't pretend that you're upbringing was the same as someone else's and then turn around to someone else and complain how different upbringings are so you can never really get along with someone.
I've recently watched this exchange between 2 people. Who are supposedly good friends. It's not my place to intervene and speak to this person even though they express one of my most hated characteristics in another person. This is my way of venting.
Slagging someone off is normal. It happens all the time and everyone does it. BUT I can't bear seeing someone kiss someone's ass and then say horrible things about them later. There's no need for that. If you're gonna slate someone then you only have to be civil to them - you don't have to pretend to be their friend.
*sigh*
I'm not stupid - everyone lies. But then you see people who tell other people that they really ARE their friend - that they're there for them when they're going through a hard time...
...and then you see that person go and slag them off to someone else!!
Why do you bother in the first place?! You don't have to be liked by everybody. And you're NOT liked by everybody. So why do you try to be? I don't understand.
I went to an all girls school between the ages of 12-18. When you go to a single sex school, especially an all girls school, you see bitchiness beyond belief. And that's when I grew tired of 2-faced people.
But I hate seeing people offer all this emotional support to others, only to turn around later and slate that person for being the way that they are. You should be taking your hat off to people who refuse to change the way that they are so that they are liked by everyone.
Of course, people ADJUST their behaviour according to who they're with. But there's a line. You don't pretend to be a party animal to hang out with a certain crowd and then later turn to other people and bitch that the party animal 'crew' are too hardcore and that you would prefer to chill. Likewise, you don't hang with the 'chill crew' and then tell the 'party crew' that they're boring. You don't pretend that you're upbringing was the same as someone else's and then turn around to someone else and complain how different upbringings are so you can never really get along with someone.
I've recently watched this exchange between 2 people. Who are supposedly good friends. It's not my place to intervene and speak to this person even though they express one of my most hated characteristics in another person. This is my way of venting.
Slagging someone off is normal. It happens all the time and everyone does it. BUT I can't bear seeing someone kiss someone's ass and then say horrible things about them later. There's no need for that. If you're gonna slate someone then you only have to be civil to them - you don't have to pretend to be their friend.
*sigh*
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Benefits
You know, people used to say to me 'I would hate to have to go to 2 schools in one day'.
But it beats staying at one all day.
You know why?
Because when schools are practicing for sports day, lunch is at 12.05. And then I don't have to be at my second school until 2pm. Well, I probably should go in earlier but I don't! That's nearly a 2 hour lunch break!!
Even when they're not practicing, I still get at least 1hr 20mins.
Which means I get to come back home and either get in a decent nap or watch an episode of HOUSE.
Think the latter takes my fancy today!!
But it beats staying at one all day.
You know why?
Because when schools are practicing for sports day, lunch is at 12.05. And then I don't have to be at my second school until 2pm. Well, I probably should go in earlier but I don't! That's nearly a 2 hour lunch break!!
Even when they're not practicing, I still get at least 1hr 20mins.
Which means I get to come back home and either get in a decent nap or watch an episode of HOUSE.
Think the latter takes my fancy today!!
Monday, 1 September 2008
Food
I haven't had food in my house for weeks!!
Just the staple - rice/pasta and all the seasonings. Oh yeh and some prawns.
Recently I've been so broke I haven't had the money to do a decent food shop. I still don't really but I have been lent some so there's no excuse now.
Maybe I'll go tomorrow. After all, I have an oven now so the cooking possibilites are endless!
If I could get all the ingredients I needed that is!
I'm really looking forward to baking again more than anything. The thought of being able to satisfy my sweet tooth whenever I like is irresistable to me!! I love it after I've done a 2man food shop and have my fridge, freezer and shelves fully stacked with deliciousness!!
I need to make a trip to costco. To get baking goodies more than anything else. I realised the last time I went there that is isn't actually that cheap. But you pay the insane amount of money to buy things that you can't get in regular supermarkets. The annoying thing about Costco is you have to buy in bulk. It's annoying because sometimes you only want a BIT of something - not 1000g!! And then it just ends up getting wasted - food seems to spoil here pretty fast. Shit refrigeration is the cause!!
I really don't have the money for a Costco shop. But I think I'm gonna go anyway!
:-)
Just the staple - rice/pasta and all the seasonings. Oh yeh and some prawns.
Recently I've been so broke I haven't had the money to do a decent food shop. I still don't really but I have been lent some so there's no excuse now.
Maybe I'll go tomorrow. After all, I have an oven now so the cooking possibilites are endless!
If I could get all the ingredients I needed that is!
I'm really looking forward to baking again more than anything. The thought of being able to satisfy my sweet tooth whenever I like is irresistable to me!! I love it after I've done a 2man food shop and have my fridge, freezer and shelves fully stacked with deliciousness!!
I need to make a trip to costco. To get baking goodies more than anything else. I realised the last time I went there that is isn't actually that cheap. But you pay the insane amount of money to buy things that you can't get in regular supermarkets. The annoying thing about Costco is you have to buy in bulk. It's annoying because sometimes you only want a BIT of something - not 1000g!! And then it just ends up getting wasted - food seems to spoil here pretty fast. Shit refrigeration is the cause!!
I really don't have the money for a Costco shop. But I think I'm gonna go anyway!
:-)
What a Waste of Time
I really wasn't looking forward to going back to school.
I was hoping that when I saw my middle school kids I'd be pleased to see them.
But I wasn't!! LOL!!!
To be honest I have been bored shitless all day. The kids had tests and were practicing for sports day so I spent the whole day in the staff room reading a book.
I just felt annoyed and tired. But then I was debating whether it's better to be paid to sit there all day or be at home and not get paid.....
Sitting at school all day means you can just read, study or do lesson prep. Staying at home means that I'd end up sleeping in till late and then spend all day online watching House.
It's just so damn boring. Even one of my JTE's thinks it's ridiculous that I have to go in when there are no classes being taught all week. She said it would be better for me to just go to the BOE.
I couldn't agree more - at least then I could bugger off at 12 and 'study' at home.
I bet I'm gonna wish I was at my middle school when it gets to tomorrow afternoon - they might not have any scheduled classes but all my elementary schools do!!
DOH!!!!
I was hoping that when I saw my middle school kids I'd be pleased to see them.
But I wasn't!! LOL!!!
To be honest I have been bored shitless all day. The kids had tests and were practicing for sports day so I spent the whole day in the staff room reading a book.
I just felt annoyed and tired. But then I was debating whether it's better to be paid to sit there all day or be at home and not get paid.....
Sitting at school all day means you can just read, study or do lesson prep. Staying at home means that I'd end up sleeping in till late and then spend all day online watching House.
It's just so damn boring. Even one of my JTE's thinks it's ridiculous that I have to go in when there are no classes being taught all week. She said it would be better for me to just go to the BOE.
I couldn't agree more - at least then I could bugger off at 12 and 'study' at home.
I bet I'm gonna wish I was at my middle school when it gets to tomorrow afternoon - they might not have any scheduled classes but all my elementary schools do!!
DOH!!!!
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