Live from Japan!

At our party yesterday we received several gifts, but there is one that I simply must show and share because it seems so useful and practical for our upcoming adventure.

Aaron’s former co-worker, Phyllis, showed up at our party yesterday bearing one, small gift. Now, we weren’t really expecting any gifts, but this is one that really surprised us and we’re so glad she thought of us.

Phyllis got us two copies of the same book. It is a book called “Point It: Traveller’s Language Kit.”

Now, this isn’t any old ordinary language kit. This one is universal. It doesn’t pertain to Japanese or English or any other language in particular, instead it takes a different approach.

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As it gets closer and closer to the day we depart (44 more days, for those counting), I start to think more and more about the place that I am going to be living. I know that this change is going to pose many challenges and obstacles in addition to many great adventures and joys. I feel as though I am somewhat ready and prepared for both. For some time now I have been trying to do my best to prepare myself for those things that I am able to anticipate.

I know that one of the primary obstacles I am going to face will be communicating. I have never travelled to a country where I do not know the language. In fact, the only international experience I have was traveling to London. Given this experience, or lack thereof, I feel relatively unprepared to successfully live and navigate a foreign culture.

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In a short 12 days we will be leaving Chicago. Wait a second, let that sink in.

Ok, now we can continue. 12 more days means that packing has officially commenced. But more than packing up our stuff to store, as we’ve been doing for the past few weeks, today we packed the first bag of stuff that will be going with us to Japan. And here it is:

Wow. What a lame photo. Look at my duffle bag. It is filled with my crap. Anyways. . .

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If you would have asked me a few months ago about my feelings toward Chicago. I would have probably said that I have only one feeling about Chicago, and that feeling was that I was so ready to leave.

Aaron and I moved into this fine city in the summer of 2003. For the first year or two the city was quite novel. We enjoyed exploring our new town. However, once that novelty wore off, I never fell into a good groove that I liked around here. It’s too busy. Too crazy. Not enough outdoor space. Not down-to-earth enough.

It wasn’t long after those first two years that I really wanted to leave. I began looking at other cities and towns. Checking out homes and real estate in other locales. Aaron began exploring work options outside of Chicago. Then we decided that we should go to Japan. Once we started applying to go to Japan I was relieved. Finally, my exit.

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I have been thinking and reflecting a lot about my year as a fourth grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools. All this reflecting has also left me thinking and dreaming about my upcoming position as an Assistant Language Teacher in the Japanese Public Schools.

First thing first, I have overall had a successful year with my students. I feel like I have made fantastic progress in a number of areas with them. They have all challenged themselves with their reading this year. We have read an incredible number (and variety) of books together as a read-aloud. I was able to create a community in my classroom where students can cooperate and share, where they have begun developing the skills necessary to solve problems on their own in safe and responsible ways. They have also developed into fine problem solvers. Given a problem, many of them can use resources they possess or cooperate with others to find a solution, to even the most difficult problem. I am proud of these accomplishments and I believe they will give me a fantastic jumping off point in my future years of teaching.

That said, I’m not really entering another regular year of teaching this upcoming fall. Instead, my position will be changing. I will no longer be the one-and-only authority in the classroom. Nor will I be in charge. Ultimately I am going to be exactly what my title says, an ASSISTANT.

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So as the days till our departure get shorter. I have started to feel some serious nerves about teaching. Both danielle and I have had our days where it really comes to a head, the “Holy Sh*&, what the F#%^ did we just sign up for” feeling. These feelings are usually short lived, surrounding some specific event, feeling, or item that we now realize we may not have access to when we are in Japan. It will knock us down for a day or so until either one of us pulls the other back up or just the overwhelming feeling of excitement rolls it under.

One aspect that I have not been able to roll under however, is a growing feeling of apprehension about teaching. Can I really do this?

I, at one time, seriously thought about becoming a teacher, to the point where I even visited my old High School for a day to kinda try it on for size. In the end for various reasons I decided to go another route. These various reasons have, however, started to creep into the back of my mind over the last few weeks. I thought I might do well to get them out, so that I can poke at them a bit and maybe get some advice.
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There are only a few things in my home that are of extraordinary importance to me. Aside from my husband and my cat, my house is turned into my home through the presence of artwork and books. The artwork we have collected and the books that grace our shelves are what transform this house into something that is uniquely ours. With the art and the books come the memories and stories of times past. The history that each home and family has.

When Aaron and I got married we decided to forgo traditional anniversary gifts. We already struggled finding good gifts for other gift-giving occasions because we felt as though we didn’t really want or need anything, additionally we really didn’t have the money at the beginning. Anniversaries seemed like they would end up the same way. So, we made a decision together to buy a new piece of artwork for our home each year to celebrate. Three years into this marriage we have added several wonderful pieces to our home and they make us happy each time we see them. Others, knowing our appreciation for good art, have also given us pieces to add to our collection. As a result, our home is filled with good art, art with stories and meaning. And now it is gone.

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On Saturday morning I spent a couple hours at the Nail Bar. My favorite thing about going to get a manicure and pedicure is that I get two whole hours of quiet, uninterrupted reading time. Well, it is somewhat interrupted, like when the woman wants me to switch hands. But other than that, it is ME time. This time I spent the two hours reading more of my National Geographic Traveler guide book. I am now reading about Honshu, the biggest island of Japan.

Very little has surprised me, thus far, in my reading about Japan. I’ve read about fish markets, sushi restaurants, mountains, volcanoes, onsens, gardens and shrines. These exist, from what I can tell, throughout Japan. But as I read on Saturday, I learned about two new sites that simply must be added to my list.

Photo courtesy of www.davemoore.org

This is a photo of Tagata-jinja Shrine. And, yes, those are hundreds of wooden phallic symbols. This shrine is one of 40 remaining phallic shrines in Japan. Not only does it house hundreds of phallic symbols, each year one of the phallic symbols is paraded around during a Harvest Festival in March. The phallus that is paraded around is about 280kg and over 2.5 meters long. As the guidebook says, “The monster wooden phallus leading the parade is enshrined in the main hall, and many more are displayed in an array of improbable sizes.” Improbable, indeed!

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You only have to be around me for a couple of minutes to figure out that I am a list maker. Now, we’re not just talking grocery lists here. We’re talking lists of all sorts. Lists of things to do, places to go, people to call, books to read, meals to cook. . . I make lists that govern nearly every aspect of my existence. Sometimes I feel that this compulsion helps me to be organized and together. Lists help me guide myself, ensuring that I don’t forget to do something.

Other times I feel as though I get buried by my lists. Especially when they contain items as mundane and obvious as the lists on my desk right now. Sometimes I am surprised that I don’t make myself a list reminding myself to brush my teeth and get dressed before I go to work. Most of the time I wonder if I would save time, and my sanity, if I simply performed the task right away, instead of adding it to my list. Paying the rent, for example. Writing that simple task on my list takes as long, if not longer, than simply writing the check and putting it outside my apartment door. If I just performed the task, not only would I save myself some time, I would also save my psyche. The pressure to perform and accomplish everything the lists say can be stressful, adding more to the list just makes it more so.

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The first official box has been packed. Game on!