falling leaves in the land of the rising sun...

"Cohee, ko-ko de kudasai"
I would like a coffee, to stay. Please
(my latest phrase. Wonder where I learned to say this? You guessed it.)

Currently listening: Feist, Open Season
Latest wierd sighting: old lady sleeping on subway gradually made her way onto the lap of an unsuspecting teenager. I chuckled to myself

Its almost embarrassing how the staff at Starbucks know me here now. But, its fun at the same time, because it has really helped me be more confident with the phrases that I'm learning here and there. I'm probably known by them as the girl who gets coffee like 10 times a day. "Oh, here she comes again, the girl who gets coffee like 10 times a day."
Saw Yuji unexpectedly today. That was a nice surprise. We keep trying to test each other on what we remembered. I managed to ask him, in Japanese, how his day was. We laughed. He seemed impressed. I had to get back to work, so it was brief visit, but needless to say, my day was a little brighter after that. Get this, in Sunday Voice class (where students get to simply have free conversation time with me about any topic. My very favorite time of day at work!), there are a couple students who know about my little crush, and they keep asking me about Yuji. Its really cute.
(Having these little experiences has really been helping me combat the homesickness I experience from time to time now. I think reality is really starting to settle in. Not the "let down" kind of reality- just the, "oh ****, I really am in a foreign country for more than just 2 weeks" type of reality.

The other day, I was so drained. It was hard getting up in the morning. I have had trouble sleeping the last few nights. Not sure why. I remember on the train, and listening to this song by Tim Hughes, and quietly saying to myself, "Lord, please teach me how to love my students in a new way today. I feel like I don't have the energy." The first two classes in the morning were tough, but then it was like God literally pressed in my heart and fell in my lap, and changed the way I saw them. My lessons transformed into not just me teaching english, but seeing them as really lovely and enjoyable people.
I just felt the excitement in one of my students today as she learned the new phrase, "I'd like to return this sweater please. There's a whole in the sleeve." So simple, yet I could tell she felt so proud about being able to say a full sentance finally. These are the moments I really look forward to in the day. Although teaching can be exhausting at times, all it takes is one student who feels good about what they've learned, and I seriously want to hug them! This one student in particular, an older lady, you all would want to hug her too!! She is precious in my sight.
I've found teaching so far to be mainly about self exploration. I think I've learned more about myself in the last 2 months than I have in the last 2 years. It can be scary at times. But, generally, I think God is really helping me be ok with it.

I now have my 2 days off. I'm finally going to be making a long awaited trip to Kyoto (only 30 minutes away from Osaka by the Hanku Line!). I've been hearing from students that the leaves are beginning to change there. Along with all the many beautiful temples and shrines located in the hub of Kyoto, this is sure to be more than worth the visit. I booked a guesthouse there for the next few nights. I'm needing to get out of this big city Osaka for more than just a few hours. Not sure of my exact plans yet, I'm just excited to see where the sun takes me.

Until we meet again. The next time I'm in Starbucks, I will imagine you all there, sipping a latte with me.

Jane.

gen-ki des ka?

In the last couple weeks, I have met a new friend - Yuji. He works at the Starbucks close to my school. Since I come to Starucks quite a bit, he excitedly introduced himself to me one day by writing his name down on a reciept. In attempting to give me a taste test of the latest Starbucks coffee, we kept apologizing to each other for our lack of language skills. Dispite my lack of Japanese, and his little English, we have somehow managed to share a laugh or two. Over coffee last night, Yuji and I decided to become language exchange partners. I have finally come to the conclusion that I can't just rely on my mime artistry in order to communicate with the people here. I have managed to pick up a few words and phrases here and there, but expecially to interact and meet new people, I want to hopefully carry a conversation - especially with Yuji (ok...if you haven't guess already, I think he's cute mostly, but getting to learn Japanese is just an added bonus of getting to hang out with him!)

sushi: to much of a good thing.

too much sushi today...for lunch and dinner. I think I have become addicted. Tuna, salmon, snapper - you name it, I ate it. I just love this stuff so much. I feel somewhat cultured when I go to the sushi places around here. Sam and his girlfriend Yumi showed me the Japanese way to eat sushi tonight - by putting the whole thing in your mouth at once. Good and bad advice. Unfourtunately, with this method, your head is not able to keep up with your stomach.

Hello my name is Jane, and I'm a sushi addict.

a few lonely pics for ya.

My apartment #206 at Shin-Osaka Nanai Biru. Trying to make it more homey everyday. As you can see, its very simple. Living here is really teaching me how little I can actually live on - and be quite content actually! We have a little balcony to hang our laundry on and chat with our neighbors. Myriahs room is too the right - not in the picture - with tatami mats and sliding doors.


This is my very simple room. Its a work in progress. I'm trying to put little touches here and there. Whatever inspires me. Notice the futon! Jer, I hope you can see the photoalbum you gave me right beside my bed! The bicycle I have been talking about. "The blue bullet" I'm calling her. Notice the sweet basket on the front.
One of my days off to Osaka Castle.

This is all I have right now folks. I managed to email these to myself from my mobile phone. More coming, I promise.

the old lady and my bicycle.

Just got home from work. Watching Japanese soap opera. Tofu and salad for lunch (chopsticks are not so hard to use anymore!).
Its windy today here. Cloudy too. I rode my bicycle home from the station and I noticed the air is cooler today. Embarrassing story - so, apparently I have no sense of balance - while riding my bike to Nishinikajima-Minamikata station (say that 5 times fast!) this morning, I pretty much toppled over for no reason. I stopped at the crosswalk, and almost fell onto some old lady. I got a wierd look. I hope no one else saw. What made me feel even more dumb was that fact that 2 smaller girls on their bikes, simply whizzed past me and giggled to themselves. Very random. I seem to wear a big sign on my forehead that says "Laugh now, please."
Some days its really tricky to figure out how to dodge people on your bike. Not to mention this SUPER SCARY tunnel that I dread everytime on my way to the station. Its so narrow, and you literally have to hold your breath everytime you pass someone. I think I'm an accident waiting to happen. My palms sweat just thinking about going into that darn tunnel.
I've learned that I just have to scare myself ****less here at first (excuse the language!), then I eventually feel better. Still...I hate that darn tunnel.

untitled (yet too much to say)

Thanks for coming back! It’s been a while since my last update. Pull up a chair…stay a while.*

So, having recently turned 24, I celebrated by going to an izakai (Japanese bar), buying myself a hat, a new piece of jewelry (of course) and learning to ride my new bicycle. (which I ride almost everyday on my way to the train station**!). It has a basket and everything. (Myriah calls the ones with baskets on both ends a “Mommy-tron” bicycle – literally, moms have their kids on either end of the bicycles here! Seriously, little Asian kids – the cutest thing you will ever see! I digress). My friend Sam and his girlfriend Umi helped me find a really good deal ($50 CAN!) and once I registered it (yes, like a car!), and managed to weave my way through the pedestrian traffic here. Yes, I have to weave! I thought to myself…no kidding, I’m riding a bicycle in Japan, singing “I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike”… a very Lonely Planet-esk moment.

Speaking of lonely planet, my travel book lead me to visit to the Human Rights Museum the other day. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived, but little did I know how big of an impact this visit would have. The museum goes through the history of various human rights issues in Japan – women’s issues, people with disabilities, homosexuality etc. I must say, that it got me thinking a lot about how lucky we actually are in Canada to have the resources we do. Even in regards to the way we think about human rights issues. The other day, for example, in the subway I noticed there was a man in a wheelchair who was waiting to catch the Midosuji line. As I waited beside him, I noticed how accessibility is so limited here. One of the station masters had to wait beside him with a ramp in order to help him on the subway car. And, in a matter of 30 seconds, he had to get him on the car. Somedays, it just breaks my heart when I see people with a disability who struggle to walk the long hallways of the underground, or try not to be pushed by the crowds (and believe me, somedays, it can be ruthless here in the subway!)

So (not sure what the transition should be here) I’m sure many of you have heard about the situation with North Korea at the moment and the nuclear threat that Japan is experiencing***. The other morning, two of my students simply just wanted to have a free conversation about this. We talked about the general feeling of the Japanese people right now, and what this whole nuclear crisis could mean for the country. I have to tell you, its been pretty remarkable learning about this whole thing directly from Japanese residents. I never thought it would be as meaningful as it has been.

Random things…
-found Canadian maple syrup in a train station store the other day
-latest english t-shirt sighting “Go on: Extrude my boot.”
-I bought a beer tonight, from a vending machine in the street, for 100yen ($1).
-I miss peanut butter
-I miss utensils
-I miss thanksgiving. No mom, theres no turkey sushi here!
-I met another teacher from Edmonton today, during my Kids Training at another Nova branch – get this, she lived just down the street from Kings!!! No way.
-another person came up to me in a train station on my day off, asking me if I need help (I did, in fact.). This random stranger not only pointed me in the right direction, he lead me to the exact train I needed to be on. The kindness of strangers. Its a good thing.

* I like talking to you all… as if you are sitting next to me.

**my butt is sure hurtin’

***wow, to see this written out is a little frieky. I hadn’t thought much about it until now

Miss you all. More than you know.

Jane.

autumn rain

The other day, it was raining here in Osaka. Strangely, I enjoyed it. I felt this odd peace inside. Later that day, I just happened to come across Psalm 84. Part of the verse is "What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger..."

I hope this speaks to you somehow today. Psalm 84. Read it.

Jane

PS - Happy Birthday Krista (tomorrow anyways). I love that we have the same birthday. I will think of you in Japan, if you think of me in Edmonton!