04/13/2009: "Cherry Blossom Season"

So, it's the sakura season, when the cherry blossom trees bloom everywhere, people go out on a hanami with their friends and family to sit in a park under the trees for a picnic: talking, eating, and drinking. "So, how was it??", you ask. Umm.. well.. when I went on one 3 and a half years ago, it was an interesting experience and I met some Japanese fisherman that we ate freshly caught fish with. This year? I hate to say it, but I'm not exactly a fan of picnics or staring at trees, so I didn't really do anything special. But I did look around the parks, university campus, and street in front of my house (which is lined for half a mile with sakura trees). So, I performed my civic duty of appreciating trees.

So, so, so, so, so... I need a new word. 'Thus', maybe..

Anyway, other than that, everything's been going all right, I'd say. I was still sick for another week and a half (and that stupid cough refused to let up), but it's pretty much subsided now and not only can I actually talk, but I don't need to pop throat lozenges every 3 minutes (a shame, too. I started to like the taste!). Finished my US taxes from my university job's income, filed for the Japanese stimulus package (money from both countries? Awesome!), finished my application for a Japanese proficiency test in July... hmm. Oh, and I need a Japanese driver's license within the next month or two. Due to some date issues on the license, I might need to go in and argue with some people, but we'll see how it goes. Any time I get a card with my name or picture on it, though, I'm happy. It's just somehow awesome to have credentials in another country.

Sometime in the next month, I'll also be signing my new contract (for another year) with my company. I've made up my mind that I'll spend a maximum of 3 years teaching English, so I've still got about 26 months before I need to do anything big or important with my life. Kinda keeps the stress low, though my goal now is to save as much money as humanly possible for whatever I'll do in 2 years. I also signed a year-long contract with the high school I teach at for my company (basically, I'm an employee of my company, and the high school pays my company for me to work there. Due to some legal quirks, though, I have to technically be an employee of the high school, hence the contract). It's nice, though, because it means that I can put it on my resume that I officially worked as an English teacher at the premier English high school in the prefecture.

April is the beginning of the school year in Japan, which means I've had a bunch of new classes thrown on my plate and my students move around. Doesn't mean much other than that, but it is interesting to see my students grow up and get older. A-chan is now in junior high school. Y-kun passed the exams and got into high school. S-kun, against his expectations, got into his first choice university. In few other jobs are you in the unique position of watching people grow first hand. Of course I also teach adults, but they make up 8 out of 34 weekly classes. Anyway, it's just really interesting.

Tomorrow I start at the high school again, so I need to start waking up early. After spending the last month not working until 5 pm, it's going to take some getting used to. But I really enjoy teaching at the school, so it's fine. I actually had to go out and buy some more dress shirts and ties today, as well as some indoor office slipper for the classrooms. Bah.. And then ironing. IRONING. Definitely not my favorite activity.

There was actually a lot more that I wanted to mention and talk about (like my exciting brush with racism..! Being a white, Christian, male American has left me generally out of the 'discriminated against' category for much of my life), but it's late and this is getting long as it is. Maybe tomorrow or so. For now, I'm gonna read, go to bed, and head off to work.

Oh.. and Happy Easter!


Jason