学期最後はクリスマスレッスンーーーエマ先生

I can’t believe it’s already almost the end of the semester! It went by very quickly, and I enjoyed it very much. It was really fun to get to know the unique personalities of all of my students. For our final classes, we had a special Christmas-themed lessons. Jared Sensei and I found a fake Christmas tree in the school, so we set it up in an extra classroom. First, we had the girls listen to “All I want for Christmas is You,” a famous American Christmas songs. Then, the students made and decorated Christmas tree ornaments. The students wrote what they wanted for Christmas on the ornaments. We surprised the girls by taking them to the extra classroom and letting them decorate the tree. It was really fun, and a great way to wrap up classes for the semester!

初めての学期末（来日4ヶ月)－－－マーレン先生

It’s almost finals week and I am excited to be helping give the exams. It is very different than what I am used to in the United States. I am still trying to adjust to the fact that teachers go from room to room instead of the students. I really love grading writing though, so I am happy that the process here is the same.

 

It was my last day teaching some of the third year students today and I am so sad they will no longer be my students! At the end of the lesson they lined up and gave me cards, which was so sweet! I will miss them and hope they take my elective course next semester. When I first got to Japan I did not know what to expect, but the students and JTE’s have won me over here. I am glad to be at Fujimura!

日本語の学習ーーーエマ先生

My Experience Learning Japanese

Before coming to Japan, I didn’t know any Japanese. I knew how to say kon’nichiwa and arigatō, and that was about it. Dealing with the language barrier has been difficult, but it hasn’t been impossible. Thanks to the kindness of the Japanese people, the power of non-verbal communication, and my willingness to laugh at myself, I’ve been able to get by. It’s amazing how much you can communicate with pointing, hand gestures, and a smile.

I’ve also been making every effort I can to learn Japanese. I am determined to not just deal with the language barrier, but to actually break it. So, as soon as I arrived in Japan, I started studying. I bought myself a textbook, started learning to read hiragana and katakana, and signed up for a Japanese language class. Learning Japanese was really, really difficult for me at first! Studying Japanese has really made me sympathize with my students who are learning English. The two languages are extremely different, and I really struggled to understand Japanese.

One of the hardest things for me about Japanese is the writing system. Compared to English, it is very complex. It took me a while just for me to understand around how the writing system works, let alone actually use it. In English, you only have one alphabet, whereas in Japanese, you have hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
I’ve learned to read hiragana and katakana, which are simple enough, but I have not even started with kanji yet. I’m always so impressed when I see how quickly Japanese people can write in kanji – the characters are so complex! I’m also surprised by how many different characters there are. I’ve heard that to be able to read a newspaper, you need to know at least 2,000 kanji. Wow! Compare that to English, where you only need to know different combinations of the same 26 letters.

Learning Japanese has been difficult, but I have noticed myself slowly progressing. It’s a really rewarding feeling, to finally be able to read characters, and understand when I hear people talking. I can now give a self-introduction in Japanese, and understand some basic words and phrases. I still have so much to learn, but I’m making progress, and it feels great!

日本でのThanksgiving と 初雪 －－－マーレン先生

A few days ago I had my first Thanksgiving in Japan. About forty people from America, Japan, and Australia all came together to celebrate. We had so many different dishes! It was fun to see traditional American holiday food like a turkey, mashed potatoes, and bread rolls next to other cultures foods like sushi, white rice, vegemite, and mashed radish. It truly was a mixing of cultures! I talked about the experiences in my classes and my students said that American Thanksgiving sounded a lot like the Japanese New Year Feast. I’m looking forward to comparing the two!

 

Today it snowed in November for the first time in 52 years! I am from a state that does not get a lot of snow, so this weather is very different! It is exciting to see the bright red leaves against the white of the snow. I can imagine how beautiful it will be in a few months. It also really felt like Christmas, which is perfect for the end of Thanksgiving celebrations.

日本でのハロウィーンーーーエマ先生

A few weeks ago, I celebrated my first Halloween in Japan. I know that Halloween has only become popular in Japan in recent years, so I was quite surprised by what a big deal it was. So many stores and restaurants had Halloween decorations – more than in America! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, so I was very excited to celebrate and share my experiences with my students. The week before the holiday, Jared and I taught special Halloween lessons in all of our classes. I gave presentations on Halloween in the United States, we played games, and students learned special vocabulary words about scary things. In American schools, all of the students and teachers dress up on Halloween. Wearing a costume is my favorite part about the holiday, so I dressed up for my classes on Halloween. In International Club, we had a Halloween Party. It was so much fun! We made our own decorations and decorated the classroom. We watched American Halloween movies and listened to Halloween songs – for example “This is Halloween” and “The Monster Mash.” We played games, and I talked with my students about my favorite parts of celebrating Halloween in America. I wore my costume, and brought hats and masks for the students to wear. All of the girls were very excited and took lots of pictures. It was a great Halloween, and I enjoyed it very much!

 

 

もうクリスマス？－－－－マーレン先生

　　It is November in Tokyo and I have noticed that there are Christmas decorations everywhere! I was very surprised to see the tree outside Kichijoji station and hear the Christmas music playing on Sun Road. In my hometown, people don’t start decorating until the beginning of December because in America we have another holiday called Thanksgiving. Japan doesn’t have this holiday, but I had not realized it meant Christmas would come early here! I hope this means there will be a lot of sales and interesting gifts in stores. I’m excited to see how else this holiday will surprise me during my time in Japan.

日本とアメリカの学校の相違点ーーーエマ先生

21 October 2016

Differences between American and Japanese schools

While settling into my job at Fujimura, I have been taking note of some differences between schools in America and schools in Japan. In some ways American and Japanese schools are quite similar, and in other ways they are very different. Here are a few of the biggest differences that I have noticed so far:

·         In American schools, the teachers stay in one classroom, and the students move around from classroom to classroom. Because of this, there is no teacher’s room in American schools. Personally, I like the community aspect of the teacher’s room. But, I would have liked to have my own classroom, just so that I could decorate it!

·         There are no school chores for students in America -all of the cleaning is done by janitors. I think it’s great that Japanese students take ownership in their school and help clean.

·         Clubs are more serious and time-intensive in Japan, compared to school clubs in America. All the clubs that I was in in high school only met once a week. I’m very impressed with students who have club practice every single day!

·         Most schools in America use whiteboards instead of blackboards.

·         Students at Fujimura are responsible for getting to school by themselves, but in America most students get to school by school bus.

·         In America, High School is required for everyone, and there are no entrance exams.

·         There is no Bunkasai at schools in America! I think this is a shame, because I thought that Bunkasai was very fun.  

It is very interesting to work in a school system that is so different from what I’m used to. I think that there are pluses and minuses to each system. I am excited to learn more about the Japanese school system, and hopefully take some good ideas back to America with me.

パフォーマンスーーーマーレン先生

These past two weeks I landed (and performed) a role in the premier performance of the Tokyo Perfect Liars Club. It was absolutely amazing! The performance was in Setagaya and there were almost 100 people in attendance. The show is made up of four people telling a story, with three people telling real stories and one person telling a fake story. The audience then gets to interrogate the performers and try to figure out who is telling the lie. After the performance I was offered a few auditions for other Tokyo based theater things and have seen a lot of positive reviews. I love the Tokyo audience and am excited to be able to have the opportunity to perform here. It really is a treat!

Marlene

文化祭 ---エマ先生

A couple weekends ago, I was able to attend bunkasai, or School Festival. It was very fun and I was very impressed! All of the students and teachers put a ton of work into preparing for the Festival, and all their hard work really showed. We don’t have anything like bunkasai at schools in America, so it was very special for me to see. I ate curry and rice, which was delicious. I watched the Choir Club performance, and I went to a tea ceremony. It was my first tea ceremony in Japan. I really enjoyed it, and the tea was delicious, but it was difficult for me to sit seiza the whole time. I walked around to each of the homeroom classes. My favorite ones were the haunted house and the rollercoaster – I rode it! Then I saw the Dance Team and the Rhythmic Gymnastics club preform. They were both very impressive. I’m happy that I get to work with such talented girls!

-          Emma Sletteland

文化祭 ---マーレン先生

It has officially been one month of teaching here at Fujimura and I am learning just as much as I am teaching. Last week was the culture festival, bunkasai, and it was absolutely amazing. In the United States we do not have anything like it! I couldn’t believe that one class had built a rollercoaster inside the classroom. This past weekend was also the first time I attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and was very impressed! It was fun to see all the different food, games, and events that my students put on. I am very lucky to be teaching at a school with such talented girls!

 

Outside of school I am getting involved more in the local Japanese community. I have been acting with a local improv troupe as well as performing stand-up comedy with an all American group in Shibuya. I love performing so it is really cool to be involved in shows here in Tokyo. I get to meet local residents who attend the shows as well. I also have joined a Calvary Chapel church in Fuchu and love how welcoming the other people who go there are. I love that the service and worship is in both Japanese and English!

 

~Marlene

Trip to the Izu Penninsula （伊豆半島への旅)

This weekend was a 3-day weekend because of Respect for the Elders day, so I took a trip to the Izu Peninsula. It was fantastic! I took the Shinkansen down to Atami Station on Sunday afternoon and met up with my friend. We stayed in a traditional ryokan with tatami mat floors. It was very beautiful and we had a view of the ocean from our room. On Monday, we got up early and took the train down to Shimoda. We took a boat tour, and then took the cable car to the top of Mt. Nesugata. There was a beautiful garden and a shrine at the top, and amazing views of the city and the ocean. Then we went to the beach. It was cloudy because there was a typhoon about to come in, but the water was warm, so we swam and enjoyed it very much. We had the beach all to ourselves! It was a great trip. I was happy to find such a nice little paradise so close to Tokyo. I would love to go back in the summertime when it is nice and sunny!

-          Emma

Japanese food and amazing experiences （日本食と素晴らしい体験)

I have been living in Japan for just over a month and a half now and I am loving the Tokyo life! There are so many things to explore and try. The food is also very good! While some I know from home like sushi and ramen, there is a lot of cuisine I have never heard of while living in the states. Before moving here I had never tried udon or takoyaki, but now udon is my new favorite food. I love the soy broth with an egg and shrimp tempura!

 

In addition to trying a wide variety of Japanese food, I’ve also been going to events and exhibits around the city. My favorite was an art show called DMM Planets. The creators used light to make amazing displays that I couldn’t believe were real! In one room, you are standing in water up to your knees and there are koi fish and flowers being projected on the surface. It was like magic! There was also a room with a string of lights from the floor to the ceiling that lit up in time with music. I felt like I was in a storybook. Already Japan has proven to be full of fascinating events and good food, so I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!

 

~Marlene

 

自己紹介

新しいALTの先生方の自己紹介です。

マーリン先生

Hello! My name is Marlene Pierce and I am from Seattle in Washington state. I graduated from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA with a degree in English literature and writing. This will be my fourth year working with ESL students and my first time teaching in a private school. I have been to over twenty countries, but this is my first visit to Japan and I am loving everything. Everyone is very welcoming and I can’t wait to experience as much Japanese culture as possible!

 

エマ先生

Hello! My name is Emma, and I am very happy to be working at Fujimura. I’m American, and I am 23 years old. I am originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I have lived for the past five years in Denver, Colorado. At university, I studied International Affairs and French. Before moving to Tokyo, I worked as an Academic Advisor. My hobbies are skiing, hiking, yoga, and writing. I love to travel. This is my first time in Japan, and I am very excited to explore and learn more about Japanese culture! The first week of school has been great. I have enjoyed meeting the other teachers and all of my students. Everyone is very kind and helpful. I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

新ＡＬＴをお迎えしました

こんにちは。

本日より2学期です。始業式で、校長先生よりオリンピックに参加した難民チームのことについてお話があった後、夏休み中のクラブ活動の報告、そして最後に、新ＡＬＴの先生お二人と、オーストラリアからの留学生のためのwelcomeセレモニーが開かれました。

来週からブログを再開いたします。
Pierce Marlene先生、Sletteland Emma先生のお二人です。
お楽しみに。

副校長　今本

お別れの会、そして9月以降も続きます

昨年8月に来日されたヤヤ先生、サラ先生が間もなく帰国されます。
本日の終業式で、お二人が日本語で最後のスピーチをしてくださいました。

お二人の言葉の中から印象的な言葉を紹介させていただきます。

サラ先生
　　日本に来て、自分をもっと知ることができました。皆さんも海外に行く機会があったらぜひいって
　　みてください。

ヤヤ先生
　　次の言葉を皆さんに送ります。アイスホッケーの有名な選手の言葉です。
　　「シュートを打たなければ、100％ゴールはない」
　　皆さんも、チャレンジを続けてください。

お二人は8月に帰国の途につかれ、母国での新たなキャリアを始められます。
入れ替えに、新しいJETプログラムの先生方がまた2名来日されます。

このブログは、新たな2名の先生によって継続されます。

よろしくお願いします。

副校長　今本

さようなら

Sarah’s Blog Post 32: June 24, 2016

 

In August, I will be returning to the United States after being at Fujimura for just one short year. I have had such a good time in Japan, but more importantly, I have loved being at Fujimura. I will never forget all of the wonderful students I have taught English to and talked with. I will never forget all of the teachers I have worked with. Over the past year, I have taught many students, but I have also learned things from everyone I have met. Even though my Japanese is still not great, I have learned much more than I could have ever learned in the United States. When I leave, I will never forget the Fujimura spirit and I will always remember, アオイクマ. Every day I come to school and I am greeted by smiling faces and kind words. I will miss them when I return to the United States.

 

Good luck to the graduating class of 2017. I am excited for you, and it won’t be much longer until you leave Fujimura too. To all of my students, I hope you enjoyed my classes, and I know you will continue to have fun with your new teachers when I leave. If we meet again, don’t hesitate to say hello. Thank you so much for one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Please come and say hi to me before I leave!

 

いつも大変お世話になって、ありがとうございます！

Last Week of Classes

My time at Fujimura has gone by so quickly! It feels like I just arrived in Tokyo, but almost a year has passed. It took a while for me to figure out how to work with the students because each class, year, and school has a different personality. But I feel confident in the teaching style here and genuinely enjoy working with the students at Fujimura. A part of me wishes that I could see these kids continue throughout the years, but I know that this would take more time than I have. Nonetheless, I am grateful for my experience with these students and I will miss them. I feel very lucky to have been placed at a school where the teachers are very nice and helpful and the students are easy to talk to. I hope I’ll get to say hi to students a few more times before I leave and until then, I’ll try to make the most of my time here.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Real Hawaiian Food

A few weeks ago, I went to a Hawaiian food restaurant and it actually had real Hawaiian food! Most people think Hawaiian food is just burgers and pancakes, but that’s actually more American food and not Hawaiian. I was a little unsure about how it would match up to my food standards, but I was happily surprised. There is so much more to Hawaiian food than the world realizes and I’m glad this tiny restaurant was able to do it justice.

As an appetizer I ordered poke, which is pieces of raw fish mixed with sauces and other flavoring spices. For my main dish, I ordered a kalua pig and rice plate, which also came with some side dishes. Kalua pig is shredded pork that is usually slow cooked and flavored using salt. The side dishes were lomi salmon and mac salad. Lomi salmon is diced tomatoes, onions, and salmon, flavored with salt and green onions. Mac salad is a macaroni pasta salad with mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper. This mac salad was a little different because it had potatoes, so I didn’t care for it too much. Other than that, the food was great. They also had hurricane popcorn, which is a Hawaii-style flavored popcorn. It’s usually just melted butter and furikake, and it’s really delicious. Even though the food was a little expensive, I was really happy with the flavor of the food and the service. It was a great dinner.

 

- Yaya Campbell

夏

Sarah’s Blog Post 31: June 17, 2016

 

Summer is here! Summer in Japan is very different from summer in California. Most days, the weather will be more than 30 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit). Many days will be around 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), but it doesn’t feel as hot as it does in Japan because the weather in California is very dry. It doesn’t rain much at all during the summer in California. In fact, we are worried because there has been a drought for many years. Our lakes and rivers are losing so much water. Surprisingly, in desert places like Arizona, they have monsoon season. So for a month or so, there are very heavy rains on and off for many days.

 

Last weekend, I went to Nakano Broadway to an ice cream shop that I found online while searching for soft-serve ice cream. It was so good! I got an ice cream cone with eight different flavors, and it was about a foot tall! The only problem is that I had to eat it fast so it didn’t melt. The flavors were strawberry, vanilla, green apple, cassis, café au lait, chocolate, ramune, and matcha. My favorite flavor was the strawberry, but I also really liked the matcha and cassis.

Speaking English in Japan

This past week, I got to spend time with some family members who happened to be vacationing in Japan. I always enjoy being the translator for visiting family and friends, but of course, I can’t be with them the entire time so they have to rely on the help of Japanese people. While talking to my aunt and uncle about where they’ve travelled in Japan so far, from Osaka to Sapporo, it was interesting to hear their stories of who they’ve met and how they’ve communicated despite the language barrier. As expected, it is easier for them to get around and communicate with others in Tokyo and other big cities compared to the countryside. It was nice to see my cousins and show them a little of what I’ve learned about Tokyo so far.98

 

- Yaya Campbell

焼肉

Sarah’s Blog Post 30: June 9, 2016

 

I had yakiniku for the first time when I came to Japan ten years ago. I went to Gyu-kaku with my host family. Everything was very delicious, but I didn’t like the beef tongue. It was too chewy for me and felt like I was chewing my own tongue. In the United States, it is very hard to find yakiniku restaurants. You can only find them in big cities where many Asians live. There are some Gyu-kaku restaurants in the United States and I have gone to two different locations in Los Angeles and one in Torrance. However, Los Angeles also has a large Koreatown and Korean barbecue is very similar to yakiniku. There are a couple of differences between Korean barbecue and yakiniku in the United States.

 

Different meats are prepared different ways at yakiniku and Korean barbecue restaurants. I prefer beef from yakiniku restaurants and pork belly from Korean barbecue restaurants. Yakiniku restaurants in the United States almost never have an all-you-can-eat option. On the other hand, Korean barbecue restaurants often have all-you-can-eat menus. I really like eating meat, so I enjoy going to both yakiniku and Korean barbecue restaurants.

野球

Sarah’s Blog Post 29: May 30, 2016

 

Yesterday I went to a baseball game at the Tokyo Dome. I saw the Yomiuri Giants play the Hanshin Tigers. I don’t watch Japanese baseball very often because I don’t have a TV, so I can’t say who my favorite team is. However, the Yomiuri Giants and the San Francisco Giants, from the United States, have the same colors and very similar logos, so I cheered for the Yomiuri Giants at the game.

 

I really enjoy going to live sports games in the United States and have gone to many baseball games. I was very excited to compare baseball in Japan to baseball in the United States. Of course, food is very different. Japanese baseball stadiums serve snacks, but they also serve rice bowls and bento boxes. In the United States, we serve fast food. Popular foods are hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, nachos, and peanuts. Different baseball stadiums serve special foods too. In San Francisco, we serve local specialties like soup in bread-bowls and Godiva chocolate ice cream sundaes. The cheering sections in Japan are amazing too! Each baseball player has a special cheer. We don’t have that in the United States. Instead, people make posters for their favorite players and bring them to the game to show to the TV cameras. Overall, the game is still the same, and I am happy to see that Americans and Japanese people can share this sport.

Japanese Candy （季節限定品）

Japan has great sweets and is particularly skilled at seasonal treats. For me, it’s fun to be able to try the new foods that arrive with each season, but it’s sometimes sad to see the snacks that I like vanish from the stores. I’m amazed at how well coordinated the shops are at having new items and getting rid of the old ones. I guess it’s something that the people of Japan are used to but for me, it’s an interesting thing to experience. I think this is a unique aspect of Japan and I am happy to be here to see it for myself.

 

- Yaya Campbell

アレルギー

Sarah’s Blog Post 28: May 20, 2016

 

When I was younger, I didn’t know what allergies were. I just thought they were something older people got because my parents were always complaining about them. I didn’t realize that there were different kinds of allergies. The first allergy I was aware of was a skin allergy to metal. My parents told me that when I was a baby, I would get rashes from metal snaps on baby clothes. So I wasn’t allowed to wear any metal jewelry when I was a kid. In elementary school, I found out I was allergic to grass because we used to sit outside on the fresh cut lawn for our PE classes. My legs became very itchy.

 

When I was in high school, I developed pollen allergies. We call pollen allergies “hay fever”. The first year that I experienced hay fever, I was miserable. I didn’t know what to expect or what medicine worked best for me. Now I have gotten used to hay fever, but I started developing food allergies. I am allergic to some peppers and some berries. Allergies are very strange because you can inherit them from your family. Some allergies even begin later on in your life. I didn’t know I was allergic to berries until the end of high school. Before that, I was able to eat them without any problem. Spring is a time for many allergies and since I am not used to Japanese plants, my allergies are very strong this year.

Pizza

Sarah’s Blog Post 27: May 13, 2016

 

Sometimes I wonder if Japanese people would like different types of food from America. There are some distinctly American foods like hamburgers and American barbecue, but the United States is also home to many other cultures. I like Mexican food and Italian food in the United States, but I’m not sure if you can call it real Mexican food or real Italian food. Even if the restaurants are owned by people who are really from Mexico or Italy, they often make food to match the tastes of their customers. This is how many kinds of fusion foods are born. For instance, “tarako pasta” is a Japanese-Italian fusion food.

 

Today, we went to get a food called “trapizzino” for lunch. Trapizzino is a new restaurant that Jared-sensei recommended. I researched online and found out that it is actually a street-food trend from Rome. It is basically toasted ciabatta bread filled with Italian-style toppings. I think it is like a pizza cone. I tried the meatball flavored trapizzino. It was delicious and reminded me of Italian food in the United States. I wonder if Japanese people will like it because many times Japanese Italian food is very different from American Italian food.

International Movies

Last weekend I saw the new Captain America movie! It was really great. I love movies and although I don’t go to the movie theaters very often here in Japan, I was glad that I got to see this one. During the movie, I noticed that my American friend and I were laughing a lot more than the other people in the audience and I wondered why that was so. After talking about it with each other, we realized that some of the jokes probably didn’t translate well into Japanese. I feel like this could be true for most movies, that even though the dialogue can be translated, there is still an element of nuance and personality that gets left out when it’s not seen in its original language. I encountered a similar situation when I went to Disney Sea and my friends who don’t speak Japanese did not understand the jokes of some of the shows. Overall, I enjoyed going to the movies and hopefully next time I’ll get to watch a Japanese movie.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Golden Week

I had a really nice and relaxing Golden Week. I hung out with some friends and ate Mexican food. It was very good. I also went to a beach a bit south of Tokyo. The weather was really sunny and the train ride wasn’t too long. Now that winter is over, I really wanted to feel the sun again and be outside. I found it interesting that the sun didn’t feel very strong even though there weren’t any clouds in the sky. I am used to beaches where the sand is so hot that you have to run if you’re not wearing any shoes and the sun is so strong that you should apply sunscreen many times throughout the day if you don’t want to get burned. Nonetheless, it was nice to be outside in warm and sunny weather and I hope to go more often.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Golden Week

Sarah’s Blog Post 26: May 6, 2016

 

This week we had vacation for Golden Week. In International Club, we asked what everyone was planning to do for Golden Week. Then the students asked us what we call Golden Week in America. I was confused because Golden Week is made up of two English words. So I told them that we call it Golden Week, but we don’t celebrate it. We don’t have a break from school the first week of May. The closest we have is Spring Break. Our Spring Break occurs between our second and third terms of school. That is when we get time away from class. Spring Break is very fun and important to college students.

 

I think this year’s Golden Week was strange because we had to come to school on Monday, so it was impossible to go far away for a vacation. It is very crowded and expensive to travel, so I didn’t go anywhere. Instead, my friends visited me from Tochigi. They enjoyed seeing Tokyo because it is so different. I hope everyone had a fun holiday.

日本のパン屋

Sarah’s Blog Post 25: April 28, 2016

 

One of my favorite things about Japan is Japanese bakeries. We have many bakeries and cafes in the United States as well, but they are usually much more expensive. A croissant in Japan is usually about 100 yen, but in the United States they are often about $3 (about 300 yen). There are many nice bakeries in Kichijoji, but I usually just go to the chain stores like Bon Bonjour.

 

This week in flower arrangement club, our teacher brought us “shio-pan” from Vie de France. We have Vie de France in the United States as well, but the prices and foods offered are very different. It sounded so strange to me because it translates to “salt bread”. It didn’t sound very tasty. I really like shio-pan because it is very soft on the inside and crispy on the bottom. It almost tastes like a soft pretzel from the United States or Germany, but soft pretzels aren’t as good because they don’t have the crispy bottom. “Melon-pan” is good, and it is one of the most well-known Japanese breads, but it is not as good as shio-pan in my opinion.

Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, and more Burgers!

This past weekend, I went shopping in Odaiba with a friend and we had burgers for lunch. I realized that because there is always Japanese food available, when I meet up with friends they usually want to eat non-Japanese food. I love both Japanese food and foreign food so I am happy with either option. It’s surprising that I’ve had more western food than I expected. But this is Tokyo, so it is easier to find international food here compared to the countryside. I find it interesting that most of the burger restaurants I’ve been to here in Tokyo are considered Hawaiian food. However, hamburgers are more American and although people in Hawaii eat hamburgers, it’s no more or less than other people in Americans. Nonetheless, I enjoy living in a city where there are a lot of options for good international food.

 

- Yaya Campbell

New School Year

It’s been a couple of weeks since the new school year started and I’m excited for this term. I like that I get to work with both old and new students. It’s nice to see familiar faces but it’s also fun to get to know new people. For me, it’s an interesting experience for the school year to start in April. In America, the school year begins in August or September and finishes in May or June. I don’t think there are any pros or cons to either style, but it’s simply interesting to experience the school system in a different way. I am looking forward to the rest of the term and I hope we all enjoy it.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Golden Week

Sarah’s Blog Post 24: April 22, 2016

 

Next week is Golden Week. I don’t really know why it is called Golden Week, and it is a little confusing because it is not a whole week. We have next Friday off for Showa Day, but we must return for school on Monday. Then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are holidays, but Friday and Saturday are school days. When I took Japanese classes in the United States, we learned that Golden Week is a time for holidays and a time when many Japanese people travel, but we never learned what Golden Week is.

 

Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, was in March. I know Boys’ Day is during Golden Week. Other than that, I don’t know what the other holidays are. I hope everyone enjoys their time away from school. I did not make plans for Golden Week, but I will try to do fun things in Tokyo that I have not done before.

Spring Vacation

Spring has arrived! I had a really nice spring vacation because the weather is so beautiful outside. During the break, my sister came to Japan to visit me and it was great! We had a really fun time together. We ate lots of Japanese food and went sightseeing throughout Tokyo. She really enjoyed eating yakiniku and going shopping. After my sister returned to the USA, I had lots of free time to see the cherry blossoms. I even went to Meguro River and took lots of photos. Spring vacation was lots of fun.

 

- Yaya Campbell

春休み

Sarah’s Blog Post 23: April 15, 2016

 

The best part of my spring break was going to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. I come from California and in California we have the original Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. I was really excited to go so I could compare Tokyo Disney with Los Angeles Disney. I think Tokyo Disney Sea has the best attractions and prettiest design of all four parks. Toy Story Mania had a 2 hour line, but it was the most fun ride I have ever been on. Disney California Adventure has the same ride, but I haven’t been on it. The volcano and the big lake at Tokyo Disney Sea are especially beautiful at night.

 

The next day, I went to Tokyo Disneyland. It was a little smaller than Disneyland in Los Angeles. While I was waiting in line to see Star Wars: Star Tours, it started snowing! I was so surprised to see it snow at the end of March.

 

Overall, I think Tokyo Disney Sea is the best, followed closely by Disneyland in Los Angeles. The reason why Disneyland in Los Angeles is better than Tokyo Disneyland is that it is bigger and has shorter lines. Also, if you like to see the Disney characters, Disneyland in Los Angeles has many more characters walking around all of the time. However, Disneyland in Los Angeles is much more expensive. Please visit Disneyland in Los Angeles if you have the chance.

卒業式：おめでとうございます

Sarah’s Blog Post 22: March 4, 2016

Congratulations to the Fujimura Girls’ High School Class of 2016. That is what we would say to the graduating class of seniors in the United States. I am so proud of each of our students and know that they will be leaving school to do great things. Since my arrival in August, I have come to know how dedicated Fujimura girls can be and it is inspiring. Even though I didn’t teach any third year classes, I got to meet some of the third years in International Club. I am very sad that we won’t get to see them next year, but I am very happy for them. I wish all of the graduating third years good luck in their future endeavors and am excited for all of the new third years (this year’s second years) to begin their final year of school next month.

 

Graduation in the United States, much like many other things, is much louder than in Japan. Parents and friends clap for each student as they receive their diplomas, and almost every graduation ceremony plays “Pomp and Circumstance” in the background. Since many schools do not have uniforms, we wear a graduation cap and graduation gown over our clothes. Both boys and girls wear the same graduation cap and gown. I am not sure about other Japanese schools, but in the United States, it is common for graduation ceremonies to be held outside as well. My graduating class was about 600 students, so it would have been difficult to fit everyone inside of our gym. The biggest difference is that graduation occurs in late May or the middle of June in the United States. Despite these differences, the feelings are very much the same. We cry because we are sad to leave and we are happy because of everything that has been accomplished.

 

So, I would like to say congratulations, one last time.

Graduation

This week I was attended the high school graduation and it was sad to see the third-years go. Although I could only understand some of what was being said, it was nice to be there for this important event. Throughout the day, I found myself reminiscing of my own high school graduation. One thing I noticed that was a bit different between my high school graduation and Fujimura’s is the order of what takes place at the ceremony. Here the diplomas and awards were given out first and the speeches were done towards the end of the event. Whereas my own graduation was quite the opposite; the speeches are given at the beginning and the awards are given out at the end. Regardless of the minute details, the ceremonies share the same purpose: to honor and celebrate the graduating students. My favorite part of the ceremony was getting to clap for the students as they walked out of the gym. Seeing these students and the range of emotions on their faces made me proud of them even if I don’t know them very well. After the processions were done, I was fortunate to be able to say a last congratulations and farewell to the seniors who were in the International Club. I’m excited for their next phase in life where they’ll get to know themselves a little better with each challenge and success. All in all, I hope for the best the graduated students and I am glad I was able to see a graduation ceremony in Japan.

 

Valentine’s Day

February went by so quickly and it’s almost over. If I was back home in America, the stores would be filled with discounted Valentine’s Day candy. It’s interesting how these holidays differ between the two countries. In Japan, there is Valentine’s Day and White Day. Two separate days for girls giving boys gifts and boys giving girls gifts. In the U.S. everyone gives all of their gifts on the same day. Sometimes it’s chocolate, flowers, a homemade snack, or a nice card. And while it’s a popular day for couples to give each other gifts, you can also give presents to anyone. When I was a child in school, a lot of children would bring chocolate or snacks for the whole class and we’d write cards to our friends or family. In high school, students would probably still bring chocolates for their friends and teachers would sometimes have chocolates for all of their students. It’s fun to see how holidays are both similar and different between America and Japan. In a few weeks, it will be White Day and I’ll get to see another unique side of Japan’s modern culture.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Sweets Paradise

Sarah’s Blog Post 21: February 26, 2016

 

This past weekend, I went to Sweets Paradise in Shinjuku. I really enjoy sweet food, so I knew that I would enjoy all-you-can-eat cake. Sweets Paradise seems like a restaurant for older students and young adults. Parents probably wouldn’t let younger students eat so many sweets and older adults probably wouldn’t want to eat so many sweets. There is a location in Kichijoji, but I heard that it doesn’t have a buffet, so we went to Shinjuku instead.

 

At first, I got a whole plate of cake because that is the main reason why I wanted to go to a dessert buffet. However, I knew that I would get sick if I only ate cake, so I got some curry and pasta as well. Since it is still February, and just after Valentine’s Day, many of the monthly specials were Valentine’s Day themed. They used lots of hearts and chocolate. My favorites were the crème brulee pudding roll cake and the yuzu chiffon mousse cake. I wish I could have eaten more of those two, but after trying so many other types of cake, I couldn’t eat any more. It was surprising how fast I got full while eating the desserts.

桜

Sarah’s Blog Post 20: February 19, 2016

 

Yesterday, I saw the first cherry blossom forecast for this year. I am very excited because my mom will be visiting me at the end of March, and the cherry blossoms are forecasted to begin blooming around March 26^th in Tokyo. It is very lucky that she will be able to see cherry blossoms in Japan the first time that she visits. I was also able to see cherry blossoms the first time I visited Japan in 2008. This year’s “hanami”, or cherry blossom viewing, will be very nostalgic for me.

 

The other exciting part about cherry blossom season is the number of special sakura-themed products that stores and restaurants begin selling. One of my friends told me that Starbucks was going to release a sakura flavored Frappuccino. I was very excited to taste it and bought one today. It was great, but it tastes more like strawberry than sakura, and there are too many chocolate shavings in it. They get stuck at the bottom and don’t mix well with the cold drink. Yesterday Yaya and I also went to the monthly tea ceremony with the tea ceremony club. Iwatsu-sensei, Yoshida-sensei, Morita-sensei, and Ozaki-sensei taught us about “Hina-matsuri”, or girl’s day. Yaya says that they celebrate girl’s day a little differently in Hawaii. I don’t have any experience though because we don’t celebrate girl’s day in the mainland United States (all US states except for Hawaii and Alaska).

Plum festival

Over the weekend, I went to a plum festival in Setagaya. The flowers were pretty and I took a lot of photos. The trees weren’t fully bloomed yet but it was still nice to walk through the paths and trees. I also ate some food and I was happily surprised at the prices. The food and snacks were a lot cheaper than some of the larger festivals I’ve been to, so that was nice. Going to this festival made me excited for the spring season and the activities to come.

 

- Yaya Campbell

かっぱ橋通り

Sarah’s Blog Post 19: February 12, 2016

People from other countries are often surprised by the food models that restaurants in Japan display in their front windows. I remember coming to Tokyo ten years ago and being surprised by the fake crepes that I saw in Harajuku. They looked so realistic. In the United States, it isn’t very common to see food models in front of restaurants. The only place I have seen them is in Japantown in San Francisco. Restaurants in the United States usually only have pictures in their menus to show customers what they are ordering. When I researched about food models, I learned about Kappabashi-dori. I decided to go because one of my friends who used to live in Japan also told me that he bought a very good knife from Kappabashi-dori.

 

At first, I thought it wouldn’t be very big. When I arrived, I was so surprised by how many stores there were and how many different kinds of things I could buy. Many websites said that you wouldn’t be able to buy real food there. This is true because there aren’t many restaurants in the area, but it is also partially false because there are many shops that sell specialty food products like dried beans, nuts, sauces, dressing, and tea. It is very hard to find some of these things in regular grocery stores. I bought two tea cups that remind me of “tsukimi” and some cooking utensils. I think I might go back there this weekend to buy souvenirs for my family and some food for myself.

Snowboarding

There was a holiday this past week and I wanted to do something winter related while I had the time, so I decided to go snowboarding. It was a bit more expensive than I would’ve liked, but I am not around snow very often so I thought it would be worth it, and it was. Before this week, I had only snowboarded once a few years ago so I am definitely a beginner, but I also used to longboard in college so at least my sense of balance is okay. It took a few runs for me to finally get the hang of it and by the end of the day, I was cruising along nicely down the slopes. I also had some fun with my GoPro camera and got a few good action shots. I’d like to do more snowboarding in the future, maybe do a few days instead of just one. I’m glad I got the chance to go and make the most of my winter experience.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Seeing Mount Fuji

A couple of weeks ago, I went to see Mount Fuji! I just felt like taking a day to see something cool in Japan, so I hopped on a train and went to Kawaguchiko. The train ride took about two hours and it was really nice. The view outside was pretty, filled with nature and lingering patches of snow. When I got to the train station, I didn’t have much of a plan, so I browsed the brochures and pamphlets of what to do near the lake and decided to walk to the ropeway to go to the viewing point to see the mountain.

When I finally got to the top, it was an amazing sight! I was a little worried because earlier that morning it seemed a bit cloudy, but by the time I got to the viewing point the weather had cleared and only a few small clouds remained. I took lots of pictures and videos of Mount Fuji and the nearby area. I really like photography and took my time exploring the sights and trying to take good shots. I’m still editing my photos and I hope they turn out okay. I’d like to go back again in the spring and summer to see how Mount Fuji changes with the seasons. This simple day trip has showed me that if I want to see more of Japan, I just have to go for it!

 

- Yaya Campbell

美術館：村上隆

Sarah’s Blog Post 19: February 5, 2016

I actually went to the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi two weeks ago, but I forgot to write about it. This week, I really wanted to write about it because it was such a fun experience. Takashi Murakami is one of my favorite artists. He is well-known in the United States because he designed an album cover and music video for Kanye West. He also designed a line of products for fashion designer, Louis Vuitton. I was lucky enough to see a small gallery of Takashi Murakami’s work when I lived in Los Angeles. It was one of the most memorable experiences from living in Los Angeles. When I heard he was having a big show at the Mori Art Museum, I knew I had to go see it. My favorite painting at the gallery was a picture of cartoon shaped DNA. I also liked his version of daruma because it used very traditional Japanese colors. The simplicity set it apart from his other paintings.

 

The main work on display is called “The 500 Arhats” and was painted in response to the 2011 earthquake in Fukushima. I really enjoy the work of pop artists like Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Yayoi Kusama. Many of these pop artists have also influenced fashion. I think that it is great to see where fine art and fashion can intersect.

勉強（言語習得）の手段としてのゲーム、映画、漫画

Sarah’s Blog Post 18: January 29, 2016

 

There is a good way to use movies, TV, music, games, and comics to learn another language and a bad way to use them. For many years, I watched Japanese movies and TV shows with subtitles and wondered why it still seemed impossible for me to understand them. I think I was having a hard time understanding because my brain had to work too hard to process both languages at the same time. Since English grammar and sentence structure is so different from Japanese grammar and sentence structure, it is too hard to think about both at the same time. My brain automatically chooses to listen to the English. Without subtitles, I can focus on the Japanese and it becomes much easier. Of course, subtitles help you when you start learning, but after a while you should start turning the subtitles off. Today I was looking for cartoon clips to show in class. I saw an American cartoon called “Adventure Time” with Japanese audio and was surprised that I could understand it completely without English subtitles.

 

Recently I have started playing games in Japanese on my iPhone. It is much more fun than reading from a textbook. I play one called “Neko Atsume” and another one called “Bleach: Brave Souls”. Some people say that games, movies, songs, and comics aren’t the best learning materials. However, they help you recognize and review things that you learn in school so that you will remember information quicker, longer, and more easily.

Snow in Japan

It snowed a couple weeks ago! Even though experienced snow before, it was exciting to wake up to snowy streets outside. My favorite part about fresh snow is being the first to walk in it and make footprints. I hope that I’ll be able to go snowboarding while it’s still winter. I’ve only been once but it was a lot of fun and it’d be great to go again. It’s supposed to snow again this weekend so I hope I get to wake up to another morning of snow outside.

 

- Yaya Campbell

Train Delays

It’s interesting how train delays can make such a huge difference in travel time even though I only live 20 minutes away from work. Before coming to Japan, I knew that train delays were very common here so I am not surprised when it happens. This is probably similar to traffic jams in America, so I guess each country has their own version of delayed transportation. I am fortunate that my co-workers and employers are understanding when it comes to train delays, and luckily I usually manage to still make it on time. The train system in general is very convenient in Japan and I am glad that I get to experience a way of traveling that is different from what I grew up with.

 

- Yaya Campbell

誕生日

Sarah’s Blog Post 17: January 21, 2016

 

Yesterday was my birthday! I was a little sad because the time difference between Japan and the United States is so big that my parents wouldn’t be able to say Happy Birthday to me. My sister wakes up very early to get to work around 5:00 or 6:00 AM, so she was able to tell me happy birthday right at 12:00 AM in Japan. It was very nice of her and we had a long conversation on the phone.

 

After work, I went to get sushi with my friends. Yaya and I met up with friends to go to Kura-sushi. My favorite sushi is tuna, but I also really like Kura-sushi because you can get other things like shrimp tempura. I also think Kura-sushi is fun because you get to put your plates in the gachapon machine at the end. I don’t think there are any restaurants like that in the United States. When I got back home, my dad called me and I texted some of my friends from the United States. I feel so lucky to have so many people who care about me in both Japan and America.

Winter Vacation

Over winter vacation, I was very lucky to have been able to go home to Hawaii. I spent a lot of time with my family, especially during Christmas and New Years. I ate a lot of local food such as spam and Portuguese sausage with rice. I also ate some Hawaiian food like laulau and kalua pig. For New Years, my family and I usually go camping at the beach where my grandparents used to live. Over the few days we were there, I played with fireworks with my little cousins, went swimming and hiking, and played card games until late at night. Winter vacation was a nice time for me to catch up with my family and I am happy I got to see them. Now that I am back in Japan, it feels like I never left. Despite the cold weather, I am happy to return to my life here and I am excited for 2016 in Japan.

 

- Yaya Campbell

冬の天気

Sarah’s Blog Post 16: January 13, 2016

 

Winter weather was one of my biggest concerns when I was planning to come to Japan. I grew up in a part of California that never snows during the winter season. Yesterday morning, Yaya told me that it snowed in Kunitachi. It didn't get cold enough to snow in Suginami, so I jokingly told Yaya that I would have to stay at her house the next time it was cold enough to snow. It will be my first time ever seeing snow. Even though the temperature in California is about the same as it is in Tokyo right now, California is much drier. Since there is very little rain, it can’t snow.

 

Yesterday, I lost my umbrella at school. I will have to buy a new one before it starts raining (or snowing) again. My parents gave me snow boots for Christmas, so I hope I get to use them this year. Jared says that it will definitely snow sometime soon, but I’m not sure. Maybe I bring too much warm weather wherever I go!