Japan’s 2011 Disaster

These past few weeks have been pretty hectic, both personally and environmentally as many can imagine. Luckily, I’m in a safe area of Japan that we didn’t feel the March 11th 2011 earthquake, nor were we touched by the tsunami. But my heart goes out to all of those who were affected, those who lost somebody and had their world turned upside down in an instant; and lastly, to those who are working around the clock to repair the situations. My thoughts and prayers also go out to the many friends and fellow ALT’s in the effected areas. This disaster was the worst Japan has ever encountered, especially because they’ve never been faced with a 30metre tsunami before.

“Hope” postcards by Mari Nakano.

Japanese community at work
It’s miraculous and heartfelt to watch a country pull itself together, and work in cooperation to get life back on track. Recently, I read that Nagasaki’s Huis Ten Bosch hotels and ryokans (Japanese Inns) will be housing many affected citizens from Tohoku. Transportation will be provided, along with clothing, food, and assistance to find employment and schools. This is Nagasaki’s way of giving back, since everyone around Japan helped them when Mt. Uzen erupted.

Note: Tohoku is on Honshu Island, up north of Tokyo. While Nagasaki is far in the south on Kyushu Island – close to my prefecture.

People from other parts of Japan are loading up vehicles with food, and driving out to deliver hot meals that many have not had in a long time. Considering that the weather is still a bit chilly, a warm meal goes a long way. Government staff helping victims, Search & Rescue workers with volunteers are still rummaging through the rubble. Then there are the heroic Japanese nuclear workers, that risked their lives to cool down and stabilize the nuclear reactors. These are a few of the kind and heroic gestures happening right now. As a foreigner, it’s an admirable to see this community bond, which pulled Japan through past hardships, and be another reason why Japan will bounce back through this one. (Article: Why Japan will prevail.)

Hot soup in the making!

International News & Disasters
Chatting with my good friend whose a Japanese local, she told me that she’s never felt so proud to be Japanese. Not only is the Japanese community working so cooperatively, but the international concerns and worries for Japan, to her, was most touching. To her, the world does care about Japan after all! Since Japan is a small country they don’t have anyone but themselves, so cooperation is crucial to survive. This is the first time for her to see that the world is willing to help Japan, and that Japan is not alone. Whether it be humanitarian or business reasons, people are thinking about Japan.

Lady Gaga’s “We pray for Japan” bracelets.
Raised more than $250,000. (click to purchase)

Thank you to all my friends and family for their concerns, and donated gestures. When watching or reading media, please do exercise discretion with networks or print that thrives on shock-value news. It’s great worldly coverage for Japan, at the same time majority of it isn’t reliable information.

There is suspicion that the Japanese government is trying to sugar-coat the situation, and in all honesty, maybe. But I’ve found the Japanese to have one of the most honest of governments that puts plans into immediate action. Even as a foreigner, I trust that the Japanese government knows how to best handle a situation for the public’s interest, even more than I would my own Canadian government.

White Day Gifts

Though it was yesterday, I must admit that life hasn’t been the greatest lately. Life has been a pile up of bad luck lately, and for some reason it all decided to accumulate around the same time. It’s a mystery as to how it even got to the point that it did. In short, it’s been a while since I could genuinely smile at work…

Japanese Gift Giving
Though people aim to give gifts on the day of, some may find it convenient to give it a day either before or after. Yesterday, I was more than happy to receive the sweet gifts of kindness from my staff members. Everyone was really nice, but today was the ultimate – blown out of the water, I know how to make you smile, gift. Walking into work, I could only imagine how it’s another day that will take forever to passover. Headed over to my desk and was totally taken by surprise. One of my teachers, (whose crazy about Gundam) assembled a model, and gifted it to me with chocolates!

Best White Day Gift
The chocolates didn’t even matter, though I love Godiva, nothing compares to Gundam! Feeling so happy, I made my way to his desk to thank him – and then I did the unimaginable that is second nature to Westerners. I hugged him. Boom! My teacher blushed and hugged back!
A head teachers saw, smiled and laughed. It’s definitely something the Japanese DON’T do, especially at work. But I’m Canadian – and that’s how we roll!

Thank you for making my day^^ sensei.

Who cares about Godiva, when there’s Gundam!

White Day

While Valentine’s Day was the gift receiving day for males, White Day (March 14) is the female-receiving counterpart. All guys who received a gift, should return the gesture on this special day.

Gifts usually come as chocolates, or sweets. Either way, it’s part of Japanese culture that guys spend more money on the gifts to girls. My coworker joked with me, that girls can go cheap on the guy’s gift – but not vice versa. “It’s for their sense of pride if they know what’s good for them”, my coworker smiled.

Happy White Day!

Japanese Expressions Through Tea

One of my senior teachers has taken on the happy duty of teaching me a new “cool” expression at least each day.I look forward to our daily chats, as I have found myself to remember these newly learned words and expressions better than what my textbook offers. The past couple of expressions have resonated in my brain with an affiliation of tea. My way of attempting to remember words, by linking them to something I hopefully know or recognize. Or maybe I’m just really craving tea.

 

Japanese Expressions with “Tea”

Me-cha Me-cha: As if you were saying “Matcha Tea”

Extremely, or totally. This can be used as a replacement instead of saying Totemo, for kids to young adults. Only used among peers or younger, and most definitely not to be used with seniors or higher ranks.

Example: Me-cha Me-cha kakkoii (Totally cool!)

I said this in conversation with a fellow junior teacher who exclaimed it was a “dirty word”, as in, this isn’t something an academic lady would say. Instead, (to him at least) it gives off the impression as we would usually perceive a Western stereotype of being “blonde”. This teacher usually likes to keep me in line by having me learn “clean” Japanese, to which I usually continue using the phrase anyway because I know it bugs him. Watching him get all worked up is quite entertaining.

~Chai mashita: Like “Chai Tea”

Giving an expression that you accidently did something by mistake. With a smile, this is considered a cute expression to saying “Oppsies, silly me!”.

I was told that in response, any anger or ill feelings the other party might of had will become ‘light-hearted and humored’. Haven’t had a chance to try it yet, and not sure if I want to. Probably the last thing I want is make a Japanese person angry, here.

Example: “LL room wa ichai mashita” (I went to the LL room by mistake)

                    “~ichai mashita” (I went to…by mistake)

                    “~michai mashita” (I saw…by mistake)

                    “~tabechai mashita” (I ate… by mistake)

Hakata Station Mall Pre-Opening!

For a while now, a section of Hakata JR train station was under construction. The grand opening is originally March 3, but my friend received an invitation (+1 guest) to attend the pre-opening (March 2). Funny enough, there was no one really checking invitations so anyone could join in. They only opened two side entrances to the new mall, each with their own long snaking lines. The line was continuously moving, so while it was long and winding, we spent less than 10 minutes outside.

Waiting in line to enter the new Hakata JR Station Mall.

Hakata JR Station Mall
Considered, at the moment, the biggest mall in a station, even bigger compared to those in Kyoto or Tokyo. There might be competition later on, who knows who will be the next station to create something bigger?

Krispy Kreme made it’s way to Japan. 1.5 hour wait.

Tokyu Hands in Hakata
I love this store. There’s a whole floor dedicated for DIY hobbies and projects. They were offering a leather sewing workshop. We got to try our hand at making a leather book cover, which took about 1.15 hrs to make. It was really fun! I think I found a new hobby^^.

Tokyu Hands in Hakata

Leather sewing workshop.

My leather book cover.

Limited Editions
Though there weren’t many sales as we expected, few stores offered fukubukuro bags (lucky mystery bags), and many stores were selling or giving away limited edition items with purchases for this opening.

Down in the food court we stopped by BAGEL & BAGEL because my friend is a loyal customer of theirs. If you put these bagels in the freezer they’re good for 1 month. They were also offering a special, buy 5 bagels (total 1000 yen) you will receive a free little tote and key chain. We were also surprised when they included a fleece blanket as well!

Bagel & Bagel.
Free tote, key chain and blanket with purchase.

My friend really wanted to go to this store from Nara, where they were selling limited edition items. They also gave away free handmade chopstick pouches with purchases.

Kitchen clothes with Hakata prints.

Prior to attending, the last thing I was expecting was to purchase wine. We found Enoteca, an international wine store. They were selling celebratory wine, named after Hakata (JR Hakata City) in white or red wine. There was also a limited edition of Sakura Bubbly Rose that was sold out by the end of the day.

Celebratory wine for JR Hakata City.

Speaking of wine. The opening mall promotion was spend 5,000 yen and get a free bottle of ‘Hello the World’ wine. Named for the opening campaign of Hakata’s new station mall.

Hello The World wine,
Hakata JR Station Mall special offer.