Author: islandanomaly

Hello all~ I am doing my best to establish myself as a blogger. I'm currently in Japan so I'm very excited about that and the prospect of sharing. I enjoy writing and reading, wish I could do it all day, but alas, 'tis not the case! That day will come. Enjoy!

Settle Down and Say Hello

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Hello everyone!

Apologies for my long hiatus. It’s been an interesting summer indeed. A lot has happened and now I’m back, here to write and post more blogs than ever before!

So for the latter half of July I visited the States, heading back home for a bit of cultural reprieve. While I was gone, Amakusa welcomed 5 new JET’s to the area, and once I was back in-country we welcomed 6 more! So we encountered a huge turnover this year, which is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Two of us helped Group A get settled, while myself and another ALT (a good friend) helped Group B get themselves settled in the area. That in itself was a whirlwind two days. Then I planned a mass dinner with our previous PA (prefectural advisor), current PA, tantousha, and the newbs so we could just bond and have a good time.

After said harried week, I rushed to prep things for Connect in addition to my materials for the next week’s orientation for new ALT’s. The day before which was the best concert of my life (which I’ll comment on in detail later, in a separate post)!!!!

I think this year I’ve been infinitely more busy than when I first arrived. One of my favorite things I did when I got here was work on my introduction English board, which I have pictured below. Whatcha think? I think it’s fun! It really got me through the initial downtime at school.

welcome board

Still have some things to do for Connect and the area, like plan the official welcome party, but other than that it seems it’s calming down a bit on my end. That is, before class begins! ‘Til next time, everyone.

Kumamoto Roasso game

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DSC_0133
うまかな･よかなスタジアム

So back in March a few of us went to the first home game of Kumamoto’s Roasso soccer team. I like soccer A LOT, so even though it was Division 2 it was entertaining for me. But at some times, it frankly looked like the same playing level as the men’s group I go play with on Tuesday evenings. To their credit though, they’re quite good.

The Ultra Red Section (Not the real name, but I don't know it. For die-hard fans only)
The Ultra Red Section (Not the real name, but I don’t know it. For die-hard fans only.)

Anyhow, some important things to know for those of you who want to go to a soccer game while in Kumamoto. First of all, verify the location of the game you plan on going to. They have two stadiums; usually it’s at the Umakana Yokana Stadium as pictured above, but sometimes it’s at the other one. But this is easily found on their website (if you’ve a working knowledge of Japanese). Also, you can usually buy tickets once you get there. I would say usually the stadium doesn’t fill up entirely. BUT! the parking lot does. So don’t get there too late or you’ll have to walk at least half a mile from your obscure parking location all the way to the stadium (like we did). So basically, give yourself time to get there without going completely cray.

Hey that's a fresh t-shirt, and those are some empty stands...
Hey, that’s a fresh t-shirt, and those are some empty stands…
Ambivalent Mascot
Ambivalent Mascot

All in all it was quite a bit of fun. They played against the Oita Trinita. (Who decides these names?) We were leading until the last 10 minutes of the game I’d say, and then it ended in a tie (1-1), which is definitely more frustrating to the players than it is to the audience. It’s quite a nice facility though, I was pleasantly surprised. And contrary to expectation, the crowd ended up getting pretty pumped on several occasions. There are quite a few onlookers dedicated to flag-waving and drum-beating and whatnot.

I want to go again but it is quite far, especially for a day journey from Amakusa. That being said, it’s quite possible, and totally worth it to get out of dodge every once in a while.

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こんな時こそ Yell Pre-North! Wait…erm…what?

Creamy Vanilla Latte with Lemony Swirl

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DSC_0129So it seems like I hit the Starbucks a lot more here in Japan than I did back home, but I’ve thought recently that the reason might be that the Starbucks here uphold some constant level of creativity when producing specialty drinks. Although I miss all of my favorite fall and winter confections back home, it’s usually the same set of drinks each year right? And it runs for several months. Here, they put out a new special drink for a select month or two it seems! I applaud that. Even if the drink is not a drink you would choose I think you can see some level of effort in that.

So Long, Farewell. Hello

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I’m going to start off this brief update with a bright point: the welcome wagon is rolling out guys! We’ve got a freshly accepted early departure ALT headed for Kamiamakusa, to arrive in April. Though I can’t speak for everyone, I know I’m pretty excited to meet the newest member of our local family. Here’s to new awesome developments! *air toast* I’ll be waiting for the rest of you all too, when July rolls around!

On quite another note however, the departure van is, well departing for us all in a different way. That’s right — early next week the much anticipated teacher exchange takes place. We’re losing some great teachers and, though I’m sure they don’t know it, some warm ALT support at our school. Some teachers who aren’t even involved with us two ALTs talk to us daily as we sit near them, and in doing so, help us to not feel like completely displaced aliens. It’s great. I want to do something nice for them, so I’m going to whip up some gifts by Friday, their last day and the 送別会 (soubetsukai or send-off party).

And though it is a time for endings (though not many of them are going very far!), it also is the beginning for many other things. New students for one. Or not so new students, for those we’ve taught in elementary school. And the new teachers who will take the places of our much beloved departees. Today they announced the incoming teachers and although I only knew one by name (English of course), I’ve got some optimistic hopes. One of my teachers who’s a younger guy joked that there wouldn’t be any ikemen (super fine guys) once he left! I’ll definitely miss his humor. We definitely shared a certain fondness for laughing. But I do hope he’s incorrect! Hahaha. Anyway, that’s all for now folks!

Sakura Chocolate Frappucchino

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wpid-DSC_0037.jpgSo now that it’s March/April, many eateries have started launching their sakura-flavored specialty foods and drinks. I figured that as I get a chance to sample these creations I’d do a quick post on them. This particular Starbucks Japan drink was available fairly early in the season for Sakura, around late February. It’s pretty darn sweet but it was tasty nonetheless. And it set quite a different tone than some of the drinks available in the US! I’d never be able to drink this there. Pretty cute, huh?