This is a portable shrine used to carry the incarnation of the figure central to the Shinto belief. It is used during (sacred) religious festivals.
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11 years ago
Friday, January 30, 2009
This picture was taken at the entrance of the Odawara Shrine, in the south western part of Kanagawa Prefecture(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odawara).
I have been told that a shrine is used for worshiping the different deities of the Shinto religion, which used to be a state religion in Japan. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto), whereas temples are mostly for those who practice Buddhism.
My teaching schedule
I have been here for 6 weeks already, and so far, everything is fine. This is my weekly schedule, at both Yaei High, in Sagamihara, and Kanagawa Sohgoh High in Yokohama. I go to Yaei on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
I have 10 teaching sessions every week. Classes start at 8:50 in the morning and end at 3:30. This year, I was told to follow the same schedule as the the Japanese teachers. So I have to stay in school till 5:10 before I can leave.
During this time, I work with the students who need tutoring. Right now, I am tutoring a student in French who is going to France in March for 3 weeks.
The classes I teach are Practical English for the 1st year students (10th graders) and English Expressions for 2nd and 3rd year students (11th and 12th graders). At Kanagawa Sohgoh, the classes are more varied. I go there on Tuesdays and Fridays. School starts at 9:00 a.m. and I have to be there by 8:25. On Tuesday, I teach 2 periods of 90 minutes each. The classes are "Media and the World" (very interesting) and Creative Writing. Media and the World is focused on world events and the teaching style is discussion-based followed by writing. On Fridays, I have Global Studies, Presentation, and Creative Writing. Each class is also 90 minutes.
As you may have guessed, things have picked up here. You know, I came at the end of the Japanese school year, so now I find myself in the middle of the end of year entrance exams into high school, and university entrance exams for 12th graders.
So far though, all is well, and I enjoy teaching as well as working with my Japanese colleagues. Though reserved, they are quite funny and interesting. At one of the schools I teach (Kanagawa Sohgoh), they are giving a party in my honor on February 6!
3 weeks ago, I went to Costco and bought some food items I am familiar with. I used my Costco card from Maryland.
I have 10 teaching sessions every week. Classes start at 8:50 in the morning and end at 3:30. This year, I was told to follow the same schedule as the the Japanese teachers. So I have to stay in school till 5:10 before I can leave.
During this time, I work with the students who need tutoring. Right now, I am tutoring a student in French who is going to France in March for 3 weeks.
The classes I teach are Practical English for the 1st year students (10th graders) and English Expressions for 2nd and 3rd year students (11th and 12th graders). At Kanagawa Sohgoh, the classes are more varied. I go there on Tuesdays and Fridays. School starts at 9:00 a.m. and I have to be there by 8:25. On Tuesday, I teach 2 periods of 90 minutes each. The classes are "Media and the World" (very interesting) and Creative Writing. Media and the World is focused on world events and the teaching style is discussion-based followed by writing. On Fridays, I have Global Studies, Presentation, and Creative Writing. Each class is also 90 minutes.
As you may have guessed, things have picked up here. You know, I came at the end of the Japanese school year, so now I find myself in the middle of the end of year entrance exams into high school, and university entrance exams for 12th graders.
So far though, all is well, and I enjoy teaching as well as working with my Japanese colleagues. Though reserved, they are quite funny and interesting. At one of the schools I teach (Kanagawa Sohgoh), they are giving a party in my honor on February 6!
3 weeks ago, I went to Costco and bought some food items I am familiar with. I used my Costco card from Maryland.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Pictures of trip to Odawara and Hakone
These are some the pictures I took on my way to Odawara and Hakone.
New Year In Sagamihara
Ohayo (good morning)
Konnichiwa (good day, used after 12 noon till 3 p.m)
Happy New Year 2009 all!
My New Year was quiet and uneventful. Temperatures took a dip, and went down to -2C/29F.
This is how it went.
I met a couple while doing groceries. The guy is from the Bahamas, and his girlfriend is Japanese. I was having difficulties decephering and selecteing some grocery items. They helped me out.
Later on, I invited them to my apartment and cooked the spinach I had bought with shrimps, mushrooms, and sliced eggplants. We ate it with boiled sweet potatoes. They said it was delicious.
In return, they invited me out for dinner on New Year's Day. That was yesterday. We went to an "Izakaya", a drinking place that also serves light snacks and meals. I was introduced to horse meat. It is served raw! But, I made them grilled it for me.
Honestly, it was quite tasty. I wouldn't mind eating it again.
Today is Friday. I start teaching formally on Thursday, January 8 . I have been indoors since morning. It is quite cold outside.
So far, from what I have seen, Japan is very interesting and quite beautiful. The people are very nice, though reserved, and very welcoming. They are funny but in a very subtle way.
I was told (by some of my colleagues) that they like to drink and get drunk so as to "loosen" up. They believed that if you open up and talk in a loud voice while sober, then something is wrong with you. So, they use the pretense of alcohol to get intoxicated and lose all inhibition.
I have been having quite a few invitations to go out for a drink.
Konnichiwa (good day, used after 12 noon till 3 p.m)
Happy New Year 2009 all!
My New Year was quiet and uneventful. Temperatures took a dip, and went down to -2C/29F.
This is how it went.
I met a couple while doing groceries. The guy is from the Bahamas, and his girlfriend is Japanese. I was having difficulties decephering and selecteing some grocery items. They helped me out.
Later on, I invited them to my apartment and cooked the spinach I had bought with shrimps, mushrooms, and sliced eggplants. We ate it with boiled sweet potatoes. They said it was delicious.
In return, they invited me out for dinner on New Year's Day. That was yesterday. We went to an "Izakaya", a drinking place that also serves light snacks and meals. I was introduced to horse meat. It is served raw! But, I made them grilled it for me.
Honestly, it was quite tasty. I wouldn't mind eating it again.
Today is Friday. I start teaching formally on Thursday, January 8 . I have been indoors since morning. It is quite cold outside.
So far, from what I have seen, Japan is very interesting and quite beautiful. The people are very nice, though reserved, and very welcoming. They are funny but in a very subtle way.
I was told (by some of my colleagues) that they like to drink and get drunk so as to "loosen" up. They believed that if you open up and talk in a loud voice while sober, then something is wrong with you. So, they use the pretense of alcohol to get intoxicated and lose all inhibition.
I have been having quite a few invitations to go out for a drink.
Hakone Hot Springs
Today, Friday December 26 gave me an insight into some aspects of Japanese culture and people I will never forget. Here is how it started and ended.
A colleague from school came and picked me up at around 11:20 a.m. He is one of the few teachers who has a car. As part of my cultural exchange activity, we had to drive to Odawara, in the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture, and visit the Hakone Hot Springs.
The trip took 2 hours and 30 minutes, one way. It involved driving up narrow mountainous roads, across towns like Atsugi (where I was told was the entry point of General MacArthur in Japan during WWII); going through tunnels dug deep inside mountains, crossing the Sakawagana River.
A constant point during the journey was the sight of Mt. Fuji, covered in snow.
From Sagamihara to Odawara, there are 4 toll gates. It was an opportunity for me to witness Japanese technology. In his car, E.T. (my colleague) has a device into which he inserts his bank card. As he comes closer to the toll, the scanner on the gate automatically reads and deducts the charge, and the gate lifts up. I was amazed! One more marvel uncovered...
On our way to the hot springs, we stopped at a Japanese shrine. I had to submit to various rituals: make a wish, jump over a woven bamboo mat, toss a coin into a dry well, and drink a ladle of spring water from a dragon fountain! Hope to see my dreams come true!
From the shrine, we stopped at a souvenir shop, where I was introduced to someone from the Maldives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives.
Then, we finally got to Odawara, and the resort of Hakone. In my mind, I was thinking of hot springs and visualizing them as just hot water coming out of the earth. My mistake was probably due to the fact that, as we were driving up the mountain, I could see vapors coming out of the mountain side.
Once we got there, I realized and was told that Hakone is indeed a Hot Spa resort created from the natural hot sulfur springs. Then things (to put it mildly) got suddenly very interesting.
Culture Shock #1. To get into the spa, which costs 1,600 Yen ($13.76), everyone has to take off their clothes! At the main entrance, built like a hotel lobby, after checking in, you are given two towels, the size of hand napkins, and a locker key, for your personal effects. Past the lobby, men and women are separated. Once in the locker room, you have to remove your clothes. Only then can you proceed, naked, into the Spa, which are a series of hot bubble baths, Jacuzzi-style pools, showers, and steam room/sauna.
You proceed from one pool or sauna to the other at your convenience, trying not to feel consciously naked in the middle of naked Japanese men of all ages!
Apart from this ...ahem, bizarre feeling, the experience is quite satisfying. You can literally feel your body relaxing.
It is said that frequent bathing in these hot springs help with blood flow, oxygenation, and overall well-being. I cannot argue. The Japanese are the ones with the highest life expectancy.
We spent over two hours in the various springs. I think I came out feeling better and stronger.
After the spa, I was treated to a traditional meal. I know that at one point I ate beef, rice, and onions. The rest, I will tell in the morning. I also discovered another local beer: Yebisu. It is named after one of the 7 Buddhist deities whose role is to make us happy and successful. I think it is a Buddhist version of Bacchus.
I got back home at around 8 p.m. All in all, a very nice day, a cultural eye-opener. Japan, I am coming to realize, is not only about electronics and cars. The people are friendly and funny, but in a very subtle and reserve way.
Tomorrow Saturday December 27 is another day. I have nothing planned, though the English teacher from Ireland wants me to come along to a Karaoke, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaoke. I don't know about that.
Bye for now and take care. Stay log-in for my next adventures and insights into 21st century Japan.
Anthony
A colleague from school came and picked me up at around 11:20 a.m. He is one of the few teachers who has a car. As part of my cultural exchange activity, we had to drive to Odawara, in the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture, and visit the Hakone Hot Springs.
The trip took 2 hours and 30 minutes, one way. It involved driving up narrow mountainous roads, across towns like Atsugi (where I was told was the entry point of General MacArthur in Japan during WWII); going through tunnels dug deep inside mountains, crossing the Sakawagana River.
A constant point during the journey was the sight of Mt. Fuji, covered in snow.
From Sagamihara to Odawara, there are 4 toll gates. It was an opportunity for me to witness Japanese technology. In his car, E.T. (my colleague) has a device into which he inserts his bank card. As he comes closer to the toll, the scanner on the gate automatically reads and deducts the charge, and the gate lifts up. I was amazed! One more marvel uncovered...
On our way to the hot springs, we stopped at a Japanese shrine. I had to submit to various rituals: make a wish, jump over a woven bamboo mat, toss a coin into a dry well, and drink a ladle of spring water from a dragon fountain! Hope to see my dreams come true!
From the shrine, we stopped at a souvenir shop, where I was introduced to someone from the Maldives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives.
Then, we finally got to Odawara, and the resort of Hakone. In my mind, I was thinking of hot springs and visualizing them as just hot water coming out of the earth. My mistake was probably due to the fact that, as we were driving up the mountain, I could see vapors coming out of the mountain side.
Once we got there, I realized and was told that Hakone is indeed a Hot Spa resort created from the natural hot sulfur springs. Then things (to put it mildly) got suddenly very interesting.
Culture Shock #1. To get into the spa, which costs 1,600 Yen ($13.76), everyone has to take off their clothes! At the main entrance, built like a hotel lobby, after checking in, you are given two towels, the size of hand napkins, and a locker key, for your personal effects. Past the lobby, men and women are separated. Once in the locker room, you have to remove your clothes. Only then can you proceed, naked, into the Spa, which are a series of hot bubble baths, Jacuzzi-style pools, showers, and steam room/sauna.
You proceed from one pool or sauna to the other at your convenience, trying not to feel consciously naked in the middle of naked Japanese men of all ages!
Apart from this ...ahem, bizarre feeling, the experience is quite satisfying. You can literally feel your body relaxing.
It is said that frequent bathing in these hot springs help with blood flow, oxygenation, and overall well-being. I cannot argue. The Japanese are the ones with the highest life expectancy.
We spent over two hours in the various springs. I think I came out feeling better and stronger.
After the spa, I was treated to a traditional meal. I know that at one point I ate beef, rice, and onions. The rest, I will tell in the morning. I also discovered another local beer: Yebisu. It is named after one of the 7 Buddhist deities whose role is to make us happy and successful. I think it is a Buddhist version of Bacchus.
I got back home at around 8 p.m. All in all, a very nice day, a cultural eye-opener. Japan, I am coming to realize, is not only about electronics and cars. The people are friendly and funny, but in a very subtle and reserve way.
Tomorrow Saturday December 27 is another day. I have nothing planned, though the English teacher from Ireland wants me to come along to a Karaoke, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaoke. I don't know about that.
Bye for now and take care. Stay log-in for my next adventures and insights into 21st century Japan.
Anthony
Christmas in Sagamihara
Merry Christmas from Sagamihara. It is 9:04 p.m on this Thursday. I have just finished cooking and eating my Christmas dinner: Japanese rice, boiled: It tastes and looks like Ndop rice; okra and mushroom, from a dollar store. By the way, 100 yen is about $0.86, or roughly 430 frs cfa. Their dollar store is called 100 yen store. I bought 2.5 kilos of rice for 1,040 Yen ($9/4,500 cfa). That was my Christmas.
Yesterday Wednesday 24, was the last day of school. I will be home till January 5, when we returned from the Winter break.
I had to give a speech during assembly, for the staff and students. There are about 900 students at Yaei High School. In the English Dept., there are teachers from Japan, U.S.A (2), and Germany.
After the speech, two colleagues took me to City Hall for my Alien Registration Card, and later, to the Bank of Yokohama, to set up an account.
As I had my first experience with Japanese bureaucracy, I could only wonder how I would have coped without my colleagues helping me out, translating, explaining, etc. It was meticulous to the point of being scary. I pity the guy with no relevant documentation!
So far, everyone is nice and very welcoming. The colleagues, especially those in the English department, are doing everything to make me comfortable. I think all will be fine during my stay here.
Today, a colleague came and took me to a suburb of Tokyo. The purpose was to show me how to find my way on the Japanese railway system.
(Later on, I will discover how Japanese politeness and deference give way to city jungle mentality inside a metro train. Maybe in another post, so keep reading...)
He showed me a bar, and in an indirect way, said that was where some of the foreign teachers at the school come and drink, because of the availability of Japanese girls. Good information, for those on the prowl! By the way, it's an Irish pub in a city called Machida.
I am expected to start at the other school, Kanagawa Sohgoh High School, in Yokohama, on January 5. Someone will come and pick me up, and then we will take the train. It is a 40-47 minutes ride, from Fuchinobe Station to HigashiKanagawa
Sayonara for now.
Yesterday Wednesday 24, was the last day of school. I will be home till January 5, when we returned from the Winter break.
I had to give a speech during assembly, for the staff and students. There are about 900 students at Yaei High School. In the English Dept., there are teachers from Japan, U.S.A (2), and Germany.
After the speech, two colleagues took me to City Hall for my Alien Registration Card, and later, to the Bank of Yokohama, to set up an account.
As I had my first experience with Japanese bureaucracy, I could only wonder how I would have coped without my colleagues helping me out, translating, explaining, etc. It was meticulous to the point of being scary. I pity the guy with no relevant documentation!
So far, everyone is nice and very welcoming. The colleagues, especially those in the English department, are doing everything to make me comfortable. I think all will be fine during my stay here.
Today, a colleague came and took me to a suburb of Tokyo. The purpose was to show me how to find my way on the Japanese railway system.
(Later on, I will discover how Japanese politeness and deference give way to city jungle mentality inside a metro train. Maybe in another post, so keep reading...)
He showed me a bar, and in an indirect way, said that was where some of the foreign teachers at the school come and drink, because of the availability of Japanese girls. Good information, for those on the prowl! By the way, it's an Irish pub in a city called Machida.
I am expected to start at the other school, Kanagawa Sohgoh High School, in Yokohama, on January 5. Someone will come and pick me up, and then we will take the train. It is a 40-47 minutes ride, from Fuchinobe Station to HigashiKanagawa
Sayonara for now.
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