a random assortment

Already getting nervous about the reverse culture shock I will inevitably experience when I leave Fukuoka (whenever that may be). But optimistically, that just signifies me loving life here so happy days!

On another note, the other day, I went to a bookstore with a pretty good selection of books written in English. Heaven. In addition to actual literature (esp. by Japanese authors), I am lusting over several cooking/baking (Harumi's everyday cooking, etcetc), street art (Banksy), and street style-related books. Must.Resist.


--and speaking of street art:: saw this a while ago but never posted it. guerilla art!!
http://nylonmag.com/nylonblogs/blog/2010/05/19/bad-idea-or-good-idea-guerilla-art-project/

http://www.wonderhowto.com/wonderment/cyclists-art-attack-streets-berlin-guerilla-style-0115861/


also into this blog for street art (this is possibly the first of many posts to come in which i share with you glimpses of the billions [ok, exaggeration] of blogs i frequent)::
http://woostercollective.com/


Ps- amazing cooking adventure wiht h: bruschetta, crispy toasty baguette, thyme/garlic/salt/pepper steak, oregano/garlic/olive oil baked potato slices, salad, tea/milk. Consumed while watching the footy (ie world cup). Best. Night. Ever.

Also: this blog is hilarious...Engrish: it never gets old::: http://brog.engrish.com/

limonade & fromage

The other day, H and I wanted to drink some lemonade with our wine for din (pesto/cheese/chicken/spinach/tomato/lettuce on a baguette...nom!). I don't really drink a lot of lemonade in the states so I haven't realized until now that lemonade basically doesn't exist in this country. I think it's interesting that something can be so commonplace in one country and virtually non-existent in another (not even in import/international food stores!...this is also true for really good cheeses and whole grain bread). Perhaps this is a sign that I should be making my own...

On that note, it is also umeshu making season right now. Umeshu is SO delicious (a japanese liquer made from unripe/green ume [ie japanese plum], sugar, and shochu). The majority of families here have their own umeshu recipes and let their homemade alcohol steep and turn into fantasticalness in the dark recesses of their cupboards. Then by Christmas-time, it's ready to be busted out for holiday merriment and debauchery. mmm. Will keep you posted on this experiment. :)

my dad is so fob

my father is so fobtastic (fresh off the boat). today i thought it was father's day so i sent him an email. this is his reply:
(*side note- he frequently does business trips to japan...i love seeing how his command of english gets progressively worse as he spends more time in the motherland)

Hey Tasia,
Father's day is 20th. Next sunday....But arigato!!

We had dinner with your taiko people twice last week, 10th and yesterday. Papa and mama are very nice and other members are also good people.

When we met with them, they said I look just like you...uggg....

When daddy goes to Fukuoka or Kokura, I want to see them, again. And Brissa got the stuff from Kazumi san.

Hey, she is very funny lady. And Taka is also a nice person.

Love you,
Daddy (yes, I still call my father 'daddy'. And what?)


On another note, a couple of weeks ago my dad decided that he wanted to apply for a new job and asked me to help him with his resume/cover letter (at 2pm Japan time). When did he want to turn it in? The freaking next morning. Result: a very stressed-out Tasia.

So I'm editing his resume/cover letter and asking questions to clarify previous work experience, etc. My dad is technologically un-inclined so my sister had to be the liaison-- excerpts from our gchat exchange:

"too many questions! tell tasia, just create...whatever the fantastic will be!"

"no fun, your sister no fun. why she not coming with taiko people. your sister no fun. come homeeee!"

brissa: "he says NO NEED NO NEED NO NEED be vague NO NEED. this is what he is shouting now" (apparently because I was asking too many questions)

"if you don't understand (anything on the resume) just delete"

bahahahha. i heart my daddy!

I GIVE MY FIRST LOVE TO YOU!

So I worked with my san nen sei (third grade ie seniors) today. We went over key expressions: "How do you like...?", "What do you think about...?", "Why...?", and "Can you...?". These are some of the amusing responses I received. (Oh, at the end of class, we also had them write questions to me- hence the...oh, you'll see....)

A: How do you like fishing?
B: My dream is to become a professional fisher.
A: Don't be unreasonable.
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Same kid (original questions and his partner's answers):
Can you fly? Yes I can, I'm a bird, "Batman"
Can you help me? Of course!
Can you speak Japanese? Let's see...No! No! No!
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(This same kid misunderstood the "asking Tasia questions" activity and decided to write about me instead...I did not mention anything about fishing or flying.)
Ms. Tasia is from Hawaii. She is old twenty two. She likes fish, specially is a mackerel. But she can't fly.
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Why were you born?
I was born to protect people of all over the world.
Oh! It is wonderful!
Do somebody protect the earth? I do it!

Same kid's question to me---- Do you think the problem of environmental pollution? (Yay! I love this child!)
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Why are you let yours hair grow? (why don't you let your hair grow out?)
I think troublesome tie in my hair. (i think it is troublesome to tie my hair back)
Oh, I see. Let's growing. (Oh, I see. Let's grow our hair out)
Detest!!
---same kid: Question: Can you lend me you note this weekend?; Answer: Detest!!!
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What do you think about Koda Kumi? (popular singer)
I think its sexy.
Yes, I think so too.
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How do you like turtle culb (club)?
I don't like it. (says the president of the sea turtle club)
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NOOO lady gaga is international!:

How do you like Lady GaGa?
She is love her dance, boice.
Yes, I think so too.
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Can you eat a warm (worm)? No, I can't but I can eat bird.
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The many glorious questions for me...

How many boyfriend do you have?
Have you ever had boyfriends?
If you make a boyfriend who will you decide to choose in our class?
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How long have you known your Boyfriend?
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Do you like sports?
Have you ever kissed?
How long have you stayed in Japan?
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Can you answer current Japanese Prime Minister?
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Are you married? (NO!)
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What lungage do you speak the other?
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Can you take (ride) a bike?
What do you think about your boyfriend?
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Can I give my you my first love?...Can you help me be amorous? (me: ummm, we don't really use that word like that...*shows me dictionary..."what about this word"...*points to "love". Le sigh)....*late that day i see hima t lunch while I'm talking to other students- "I GIVE MY FIRST LOVE TO YOU!" ooooh geez.

coworkers

Some of the things my coworkers confuse/annoy/disgust/amuse/shock me...

• blatantly nap at their desks
• pick their ears (with fingers and/or ear digger devices)
• cut their nails
• talk to themselves
• blow their noses (loudly)
• hack up a storm and not cover their mouths/wear masks
• brush teeth/gargle/spit in the sink where i wash my hands
• flush the toilet before peeing so as not to let anyone hear the actual trickle of their pee (save the whales!)
• not fully close their mouths when chewing food so as to make an audible (re: disgust-inducing) noise
• picking at scabs on their faces (okay, this is just one coworker)
• creepily looking in my direction and quickly looking away when i make eye contact (same coworker as above)

Nice things my coworkers do...

• give me food/sweets/omiyage
• smile and attempt to speak to me in broken english/japanese (oh! good morning to you too!)

--- surprisingly, I think the nice things outweigh the not so nice ones. :)

walking people looked at me

"The cake looked very delicious. It was at the front of the cake shop. I bought it and ate it. It made me happy. But I lost money to go home by bus. I shouted "Oh my god!". Walking people looked at me."

genius.

amusing things my students say

hello blogging world! I'm alive! No pictures to post but here are some entertaining responses I have come across in grading my students' work. The list is never ending and constantly increasing. LOVE.


Assignment ("Talking about feelings")- 1st years: talk about something that made you happy, sad, embarassed, [insert other adjective here]. Use the key expression "this made/makes me ____".

Response: ""talking about feeling" was very difficult. My classmates could wrote it. But I couldn't wrote it. It made me annoy.""

Response: "Since yesterday I have been very hungry. Because I didn't eat anything. My mother didn't make dinner. And I was furious with her. This made me despair."

Response: "Mr. Sera is nice friend. He has gentle eyes. It make me happy."


Assignment- 3rd years: Write 3-5 sentences about a memorable experience.

Response: "Afterwards we went to eat yakiniku at West. We ate to much meet and rice, ice, furuts. My most favorite foods is ice into zenzai. It was new discover. You are let's try!" :)

Response: "My most memorable (experience is my) first kiss. Because it is important first kiss. I was thirteen years old. My most funny friend with talk. Because, it is exciting Love Story. ♥Love is Great♥!"


Assignment/activity- 1st years- Ask your friends about their favorite things. Write the answers in the table below.

Responses:

Favorite foods

• storovery
• ice--I was like...eating disorder? Apparently "ice" or "aisu" in Japanese refers to ice cream, popsicles, sorbet, etcetc.
• prin (pudding)
• atsuage (me: 'how do you say that in English?', *blank stare, me: 'fried tofu', student writes: 'flied tofu'
• carry and lice
• canedy
• choko, pan, apporu (sometimes my students think it is acceptable English to write in Romanji because it is English letters)

Favorite animal: locust (MAJIDE!!!???- ie "WTF, SERIOUSLY??")

Favorite sport: balleeball


Assignment- 2nd years: compare you interests/favorites/things you want to do with a friend

Response: "i want to be in a future a president, but miyamoto wants to be a god"


Assignment- 3rd years: Answer the question "Why do you (not) want to learn English?"

Response: "I want to learn English to marry a white man and have mixed babies." le sigh.


*from another ALT friend's student:::

Assignment: You have just arrived in America and are being asked questions at the airport. Question: "Why did you want to come to America?"

Response: "I came here to buy cocaine."


Assignment- 1st years- [as part of a larger activity]- come up with an original question to ask your peers.

Original Question: "Are you tensai?" ie are you genius?;;; "Are you woman?" o___O


Assignment: "What are you looking forward to this year?"

Response: "Making a girlfriend"



...oooh the kids.