The Move to Wordpress: The What, When, and Why.

UPDATE: LINK TO NEW WORDPRESS BLOG!

theterribleblogger.wordpress.com

Update 2.0: I will not be updating this blogger site and will be setting it to private in about two weeks. You have been warned!

Previously on the Terrible Blogger… 

I wrote a blog about my goals and expectations (somewhat) for the next year, then mentioned how I was thinking about moving to wordpress… I took the plunge!

While I really wanted my own domain, I decided to hold off because I wanted to make it a goal to blog more during this year and as a reward buy my own domain. Therefore, by giving myself more incentive, I’m going to do my best to blog more frequently. I bet you’re all wondering when will this happen, well if you read the past two paragraphs and notice my use of past tense you’ll already know it has happened already! 

Now I guess for the question of the hour… Why?

Why did I finally decide to make the switch? Simple really: The app. One of the things I was super excited about when I first started to blog was doing it on the go in quick bursts as I would travel Japan with my smartphone. But I quickly found out that the blogger app was quite limited and not as intuitive as I had thought. Fast forward a couple years later, hopping the blogger app had improved in the time I had not blogged I tried to give it a go once more… sadly nothing had really changed. That’s when I looked at the wordpress app. It was exactly what I wanted. I can upload more than one picture, better link embedding, simple yet highly efficient writing formatting, etc.  So on the days I want to blog but have no computer with me or its too cumbersome to take out, I can use my smartphone. Now I have no excuses!

Yes wordpress lacks space, only giving its free users 3GB, however I can always use flickr as a space to store my photos online to use for my blog. I can also maintain the quality of the photo with flickr, therefore giving you the people the chance to see some of my photos in all their glory (my photos aren’t that great but some of them really do benefit from not having to compress, resize and scale down the resolution). 

There you people have it. In the next week or so I will work to make sure that people who go to my blogger site are redirected to the wordpress site. I’m also moving though in the next couple of weeks so there is a good chance that the most you might hear of me is in a few photos. I should probably write a post on moving and also do a video at some point but that’s in the future… Until then, まてね！

The Horrible First Post of The Year

Once again, the terrible first blog post of the year. In fact, it is so terrible because I haven’t posted in little over a year. Therefore, this entire has been upgraded to the title of “The Horrible First Blog Post.”

Many, probably only a few actually given my viewing record, of you are perhaps curious to know how my year went. Was it exciting? Did I achieve all the things I had set out to do? Has Japan continue to be an adventure of an unknown culture? Not really.

Well, this isn’t really correct. The answer is more like, “It started out great and just went downhill after summer.” I won’t get into details as to what led to that but rather focus on the future and what I would like to accomplish in the next year.

1. Studying Japanese, Spanish, and English oh my!

I’ve been so focused on learning Japanese, I’m forgetting that I also need to nurture my fluent languages. Practice makes perfect so practicing a little each week with all three will certainly help for me to retain my language fluency. Whether it is reading a book in English or Spanish, simply talking to my mom, or even talking to friends, every little bit counts. My goal is by the end of the year to take the JLPT 5 (or 4 if my teacher thinks I’m ready) for Japanese.

My friend Eri and her mother putting on a traditional Yukata. I love this mother daughter moment. <3

Eri's mother helping me put on a Yukata! I admit, I love wearing these for festivals.

Hanami! Basically, Japanese people go out and have a picnic under the beautiful cherry blossoms.

2. Get better at digital painting and photography.

Yes although there are hobbies, it is something I would like to see improvement on.

3. Buy a new computer.

This is a big one. My little old machine is running on the hopes and dreams of my love at this moment. Trying to start up any program, open a document, paint in CS5, etc. is a chore and S      L      O     W. I’m pretty sure turtles can run around the world faster. I really need a decent computer for work and digital stuff because what I have isn’t cutting it anymore, this leads me to the last but important point of…

4. SAVING MONEY

This year, my number one goal is to save money. I’m already looking into a second job for tutoring at my new place which reminds me…

I’M MOVING TO THE KANTO AREA!

I’ll be in a city close to Tokyo so hopefully that will open more windows of opportunity for me in future endeavors. As much as teaching is nice, I know I can’t be an ALT forever so I’m taking small steps in the present towards bigger future goals. Whether it all pans out in the end, who knows? But I’m hoping that taking a small step every time will lead me in a better direction.

Some things I will miss about being in a small town…

1. Small classes. It’s easier to plan for and it’s fun to get creative!

2. Driving a car. Once I move into a big city, I’ll be taking public transportation.

3. Neighborhood. I’ve gotten to know some of the neighbors so it’ll be sad to say good bye.

4. My schools in general! I’ve learned a lot and made some great memories.

Some things I’m looking forward to living in a big city…

1. Being able to buy fashionable clothes. I’m not a really fashionable person but I love my options!

2. Makeup. Again, FINALLY MORE OPTIONS that cater to various kinds of skin.

3. Meeting more people. I like meeting new people and you are always meeting new people in the city.

Some events I’m looking forward to this year are…

1. Going to a One Ok Rock concert (hopefully!)

2. Going to the Tokyo Game Show (One of my goals in life is to go!)

3. Visiting Home

I’m also hoping to go to Tokyo Disneyland at some point! That means I’ll only have Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Paris Disney to visit then I’ll have officially been to every Disneyland Park! This is obviously one of those important life goals I’ve set many moons ago however, it is these little achievements that really help me build confidence in bigger and better things.

I’m trying to look on the bright side of moving because I will miss where I am a lot. I’ve met great people, done some awesome things, and seen some traditional culture you might not find anywhere else in Japan. As I grow older, I realize it is becoming harder to move because well you start thinking about a lot more things and responsibilities. Nevertheless, I feel that professionally and personally this move will be beneficial in the long run. 

Picture of the first day of the New Year. I can feel 2015 is going to be great!

Last day of 2014. Glad that year is over!

Nothing great lasts forever, eventually we all move on, and change in inevitable. The important things is what we carry with us into each new chapter of our lives.

Anyway, before I close this blog entry, I would like for everyone to please look at my friend Jennifer’s blog. She just started but she updates A LOT MORE regularly than I do plus she has some great advice on fashion, makeup, and Japan. 

CHECK IT OUT! ———> http://osharegirl.co/ <———Fashion, Makeup, and Japan blog!

Also, I’m thinking about moving to wordpress too. But since I like to post pictures, I’m worried about space… I could simply upload images to Flickr and simply link them in the future though. These changes will probably take place in future and I’ll be sure to write a post about it (maybe upgrade my status from terrible to barely passable blogger? lol).

New year, new opportunities, and a fresh start! 

The Terrible First Post of the Year

Sweet Aunt Jamima Batman! I'm actually writing on this blog!

I do want to try and at least post up more of my pictures of Japan this year though. As for writing more actual posts... maybe... But hey, if it is any consolation, I might start a Vlog since a friend of mine is actually willing to help with making it because my video making/editing skills are about as good as a elephant trying to peel a banana. Also, I am gearing up for round 2 of being an ALT in Japan so がんばります！！！

2013 was quite an eventful year full of new experiences. I have learned a lot about teaching in another country, culture differences and of course Japanese. I am in no way fluent in Japanese but now I can actually understand parts of a conversation and actually nod my head in agreement rather then in confusion. In any case, my goal this year is to get to the JLPT 4 level of Japanese. In other words, learn enough Japanese to talk to second graders this year.

With all that being said, knowing Japanese is a little helpful but certainly not essential for teaching English. I would say that it is more about HOW you teach rather than a language barrier. Example, you can draw a smiley face on the board point to it then say "Happy" with enthusiasm and most 1st graders will make the connection with the word. I find that it isn't so much that they have no interest but they don't get to use it outside of class, therefore as they get older some begin to think, "What's the point?" As I was saying one evening to some friends, English is becoming more of an international language and it is starting to be increasingly important to know to communicate. I hope in this year to convey that more to my students and give them the ability to express themselves in English.

Moving on, many people who are into anime or manga have this perceived image that Japan is this high technological paradise where being an otaku is somewhat of the norm. News flash, it isn't. In fact, being a hardcore Otaku is looked down upon really and except for Tokyo (maybe Osaka) a lot of Japan still has late 90s tech maybe early 2000s. Now, I had done my research reading many sources scattered through out the internet so I never really suffered culture shock because I knew what I was getting into. That being said, there is a few things which you will see everywhere in anime and manga that you find everywhere here. An example is school uniforms, especially girls with short skirts. HOWEVER, technically the school rules dictate that they be at the knees but the girls roll them up anyway.

Looking back on previous journal entries from a year or two ago, I have changed a lot. Quite drastically it seems. I feel that I am not plagued but the uncertainties of life as much as I was before, in a way I have come to accept a lot of things that have and haven't happened. I feel more grounded. Probably due to the fact that when I was writing in that journal I was basically going through unemployment, drama with love/loss, figuring out what to do next then finding myself again, etc. Now that I have been in Japan for almost a year, I feel at much more peace with myself and that I'm going in a better direction. I think that I have grown up/matured a lot, I have someone to thank a lot for that but I won't say their name. You know who you are though. 

So what's next?

Not sure.

I do have things I want to accomplish this year like saving money to possibly move next year to the Kansai/Kanto region, get my TEFL, visit friends in Tokyo, etc. Planning can take you so far, however, you never know where life will take you. I can only prepare and brace for what life throws at me next.

Cheers,
Nathalie
 

Getting gas in Japan

Here is a small video of the buttons you should press if you want regular gas to fill the tank. Enjoy.
"How To" Get Gas In Japan Video

The 7 hour drive

The story of the 7 hour drive from Sendai.

I had decided to join a friend on a small trip to Sendai to pick up his sister. After a full day of training for work in for me and a day of running around doing errands for him in Morioka, we started our journey. Now, getting down there we took the way with no tolls and while we had a small detour it had been quite successful trip to Sendai.

Sendai in my mind is like a mini Tokyo with small traces of western influences. Overall I found it pleasant to walk around, despite the allergies that suddenly flooded my nostrils. After we had found his sister, we ate at Mos Burger and proceeded to make our way back to the little city of Miyako. We decided to drive up the eastern coast since it was only a 4.5 hour drive with no tolls, since he had driven down I offered to drive back up.

Now the rainy season had decided to come in late this year. Instead of May/June of rain, it had been tail end of June and has rained throughout July. Japan, due to its makeup of the soil, is prone to mud slides and sometimes mini floods or raging rivers more so during this time of year. Our first mistake was underestimating the power of mother nature.

3 hours into the drive back home, we encounter a road block. As the worker looks into our car full of surprise to see a group of Gaijin (foreigners) so late at night driving (it was 2am or so I believe), we are informed in broken English and Japanese that the we cannot cross the bridge. The road worker proceeds to then discuss on the radio if anyone knows English in which a loud cry of "EH!?!? EIGO DESU?!?!?!" from his coworkers is heard through the radio. My friend and I chuckle to each other as we over hear them converse about us and saying they haven't studied English in a while.
At this point there is three different options since we are driving through the mountains, my friend asks the worker in Japanese if we can take a right to go onto the other road. Nope. Now we have two options. At this point, my friend decides to drive because honestly I had been driving slow since it had been my first time driving his car on an unfamiliar path (my driving in Japan is a different story entirely for another time).

We proceed with option two to make a Uturn, back track then try a different route slightly more inland than cross over back to the coastal route. My friend had been up since 6am, making sure his apartment was ready for his sister then driving 2 hours to Morioka to run around to do errands then had driven 4 hours to Sendai. My friend's sister had been traveling for more than 20 hours. I had been up since 6am had gone into the city early for training all day for work then had proceed to ride along 4 hours to Sendai then drive from there for another 3 hours. I had at the point had my hard contacts (literally fiber glass in my eyes) in for more than 20 hours, one of them had scratched my eye when it had moved earlier thus I was in a lot of pain.

Needless to say, we were all very tired when we hit our second road block.

We were left with only one option, go all the way back inland to the express way and drive up to Morioka then go our usual route to Miyako. While it was nice to see some beautiful scenery in the wee hours of the morning, we honestly could have cared less. Nothing sounded better than sleep.

And that is how a 4.5 hour drive from Sendai became a 7 hour drive.

Tokyo Part 01 (FINALLY)

Finally, this is first part of a long post I have promised to all those interested sprinkled with pictures to at least keep you somewhat entertained if you don't feel like reading the text.

My first day in Tokyo was, needless to say, quite interesting. As I had mentioned earlier, in an attempt to save money, I decided to walk to Akihabara from Asakusa. Now this is a 30 min. walk with a map, however I wasn't in any rush to get there thus I decided to just start walking in the direction I thought was Akihabara. I think the best way to get to know a city is getting lost. Especially in Tokyo because if it becomes too much for you just head to the nearest train station, which are everywhere, and you'll be able to find a subway map or an attendant who can direct you to anywhere in the city. Also 7-11 are good with directions to train stations or major sites. During this time, I discovered that my favorite part of Tokyo is the alley ways. Within these small streets are markets, shrines and restaurants you wouldn't see by taking the main roads. It brings to mind the poem by Robert Forst in which he says, "I took the road less taken and it has made all the difference."
Here are some photos of some small alleys in Tokyo:

After about an hour and a half of walking in a general direction, I arrived at Akihabara. Anime or game Otaku, this is the place for you. Now, there is a lot of stuff here but all very packed within a small radius. Again, small alleys have loads of little shops with small figures for $5, card shops FILLED with YuGiOh cards, mini arcades, pachinko, a wall of little machines for phone charms, etc. However, there is nothing like walking into a building with 7 floors of arcade games or everything anime related.
Here are some examples of buildings and such:

I got to go into one of the SEGA arcades. Now, if you are a fighting game guru or fan, this is the place to be. However, many seem to prefer to stick to 2D fighters and Tekken rather then Street Fighter. Although I would be highly intrigued to see my good friend Lamar take on some of the players I did see on Street Fighter, I also wouldn't mind checking out how my peeps in San Francisco stacked against the players here in Tokyo. One of the highlights in the arcade was seeing a 8 year old kid completely own the Tako Drum Game (the video is down below). Now, when you see a small kid bring his own set of sticks and completely blow away the score of a 21 year old guy, you know you are in Akihabara, Japan. Another popular game currently in the arcades in the Gundam MMO that they basically have, it seems like LOADS of fun as a Gundam fan but as I was on a budget and had already spent my arcade money on Persona 4 and Street Fighter could not play. This brings me to my next point, keep an eye on your wallet at the arcade. The arcades are windowless, mostly a $1.05 per plat and if you are a really good player will take you far but if you suck (like I do) 20 min. later you can be $11 down the hole. It is easy to get sucked in and lose track in time. However, the fruit of victory is sweet.

Here is some pictures of the inside of some of the arcades:

A very particular thing that you can find in Tokyo is maid cafes. There are maids that advertise their cafes EVERYWHERE. Seriously, just walking down one street I found 7 of them! Now they'll always reject photos but I managed to get a snap shot of one from behind secretly (sorry maid girl!) It doesn't show her face so it shouldn't be a problem right?

Well, this raps it up for part 01 of my time in Tokyo. Sorry this is so late but there is a lot write about and admittedly I am quite lazy...

Blitzkrieg ALT Training Week

I said I was going to write more about my time in Tokyo but frankly, this is the first time in a week I have actually even opened my laptop. The reason? Blitzkrieg ALT training. Literally, about 3 days of just intense back to back 12 hour training days. At one point I just burst into tears from the sheer stress of it all (only has happened once before where I have cried from stress). After long days and very little sleep, manage to pull off a 30 minute lesson on my exam day! It was a great feeling of accomplishment to be able to finally pull together a lesson for a JHS, I'm more excited now to go teach and meet my students!

That bring said, this experience also introduced me to a lot of great people too! My hotel mate is wicked cool, it has been great to be able to bounce ideas and share information on what we've learned. I can't really say what the training consists of but I'll ay more when I am well rested and have extra time