At Last

I have great happiness in sharing the following news: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is finally being released in Japan. Only nine sleeps till it is in theaters. I’ve been waiting (not always so patiently) but its almost here. The plans are to see it with a few my students, Steve, Tiffany, and Hitomi. It is still unclear if it has been dubbed into Japanese or there will be Japanese subtitles, either way I am going to see it. Though I would prefer to watch it in English, it would help with general comprehension and overall enjoyment.

When renting video it is always important to know if the videos has subtitles (therefore in the original language which 95% of the time is English) or has been dubbed. Normally you have to look on the side to see if the characters say "dubbed" or "subtitled". I can’t actually read the characters I’ve just learned to associate symbols with either "English" or "Japanese".

However tonight my "knowledge" was of no help. I picked up an older VHS (When Harry Met Sally because I’ve never seen it). The cover was discolored and the printing faded. Looked for the "this is English" characters on the spine -nothing. Searched the back and got very confused. After a few moments of staring blankly at the box in vain I decided to take action. This meant seeking the guidance of the friendly video store staff (who may or may not be able to speak a single word of English). Up until tonight I have avoided asking questions in the store out of fear and the confusion and frustration it might bright.

Trying to be brave I placed the box on the counter looked at the nearest worker and said, "Sumimasen (excuse me) Eigo (English?)" He picked up the box turned it over few times. Placed it down and looked at me very confused. Then the thought ran through my mind -Crap, I left my cell phone at the apartment. I can’t even call someone to help translate- then I started to laugh. Why not try again, "Eigo" (Jen, I forgot the desu ka). Only this time I made talking movements with my hands. He picked the box back up, looked a little less confused and said, "English version-toe". Yes, progress! He called a co-worker over talked in rapid Japanese (all Japanese sounds rapid to me). Turns out neither of them had a clue if it in English. There were a few other customers helped in the midst of this, so I just smiled and waited. Finally the second worker returned to the counter and said, "five minutes wait, please" He went upstairs, I think to the play the movie. He returned some time later with a smile handed me the video and proudly announced, "English". Success! After paying and receiving my movies I said "Arigato (thank you)" He said an English thank you. So for some reason said thank you again in English. As I walked out of the store I could hear the entire staff at the counter bursting out in fits of laughter.

Word Up: Arigato –Thank you. To be polite add gozaimasu at the end.

Indirect and Overly Polite

Learning something in a textbook and experiencing something in the real world are two very different things. There are things a textbook can’t teach you or truly prepare you for, like culture shock, language barriers and living in polite indirect societies.

For indirect communication saying "no" is not an option. So growing up members of the society learn the cues and how to read between the lines. If you did not grow-up in the culture its hard to pick up the cues and various signs. When don’t speak the language it feels next to impossible. Japan is a polite culture. People don’t want to embarrass others or make them uncomfortable. Indirect communication is always used. Confrontation is often avoided to keep peace.

Last week I sent home a notice to the parents which had the children’s names on them. One of the mothers came to Kayoko and said that there was a typo, that her daughter’s name is Reina not Rena (it would be similar mistake to writing Ann instead of Anna or Tim instead of Tom). The thing is I’ve been calling Reina Rena since I started teaching in September. I’ve been teaching the preschool class for the past five months. I’ve sent home activity sheets, crafts, notices and newsletters all with the children’s names on them. In December, I had parent teacher interviews and gave out report cards, which had the children’s names on them. Everything had Reina’s name as Rena. Yet I learn about the mistake five freakn months later! I’ve been calling my student the wrong name every four-hour-class, every week for the last five months. All because they didn’t want to hurt my feelings. AHHHHHHHH!

Word Up: Sumimasen –sorry/excuse me

Classic Kid Conversations

There are four children in my preschool class: George, Yuu, Ryou, and Reina (who is the only girl). The following is a conversation I had today with my preschool class during lunch. To set the stage, George has just said something in Japanese that made everyone laugh and Reina the hardest and wouldn't stop:

Liz: Reina, what’s so funny?
Reina: I don’t know.
George: Yuu!
Liz: Yuu is funny?
George, Reina and Ryou: Yes!
At the same time Yuu yelled: No! Liz is funny!
Liz: I am funny?
Yuu: Yes.
Liz: Why am I funny?
Yuu: Face
Liz: I have a funny face?
Yuu: Yes. (and other children begin to laugh again)
Liz: What makes my face funny?
Yuu: Ears.
Liz: Ears?
Yuu: Yes. (more laughter)
Liz: I have funny ears, what makes my ears funny?
Yuu: Lion.
(Everyone laughs, I couldn’t help but join in)
Liz: I have lion ears?
Yuu: Yes
*Conversation ends*

I have lion ears? Who knew?

A little while later Reina looked at me and said "omoshiroi". I asked Kayko about it. She says the word in that situation is/could mean "You make me happy" or "I like being with you" or "Being with you is interesting/fun". It was an interesting noon hour.

Word Up: Omoshiroi –interesting, funny. The word has a positive connotation. Depending on the use it could mean "you make me happy" or "you make me laugh".

Traditions and Holidays

Happy St. Valentine’s to you, which is a very Japanese/Engrish way of saying it. (Or International Toater Day for the more cynical).
To celebrate I’ve posted some pictures from December. The day of our Christmas play I lacked a camera because I was silly and forgot to pick up batteries (with no time to run to the nearest vending machine). Wise people who had cameras and batteries have recently shared their photos with me.

The day was surprisingly wonderful for me. I got flowers! Before anyone jumps to conclusions they are not from a “special someone”. George, one of my preschool boys gave them to me with some help from his mother. Yesterday, Tiffany and I got together and baked shortbread and sugar cookies for the preschool Valentine’s day party and this morning I made some pink playdough my students. The children had fun eating their goodies, making a few crafts, and exchanging cards. Then tonight, my friend Hitomi came over for supper and a Japanese lesson. She taught me to say, “could you say that again?”


In Japan, Valentine’s Day is the girl’s day to give out chocolates to boys. The boys might just be friends or people they have a crush on. For the last week different students have been asking me which boy I was sending chocolates to. Then on March 14th is “White Day”. Boys repay the girls by sending marshmallow gifts or jewelry. An unspoken rule is the present given should be three times what the girl gave, I think that’s a little unfair.

Word Up: Mo ichido onegai-shimasu –could you say that again?

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way. 

Eating sweet potato...yummmm! 

Merry Christmas (either very late or super early) 

Tongues, New Food, and Half Way

Today was the half way marker; Melvin the Moose and I have been in Japan six-months and have six to go. It feels like days and weeks are flying by. At times I still feel like I’ve only just arrived yet other days it seems like I’ve lived here forever and Canada was just a dream.

Part of the reason it still feels new that almost every day I am learning something new about the culture or language. This week I was introduced to a Japanese desert called dango. There are three balls served on a small stick (like a shish kabob). One is pink and cherry flavor; the second is white not sure what the flavor was suppose to be but it was good. And the last ball is green for sweet grass.

For the most part I love Japanese food but there have been a few things I don’t like. The same day I tried dango, I confirmed that I have a strong dislike for mochi. It’s a very strong dislike close to detest. Mochi is a soft, mushy, rice paste. The type that I had was filled with sweet, red beans. The taste is okay but the texture is makes me gag.


This week I also tried some Korean foods. There was a rice-thing cooked in a stone bowl, and beef grilled on a BB-Q built in the table. I ate cow tongue. The thought of eating a tongue was actually the hardest part. It was surprisingly very good, tasted like beef just chewier.

Word Up: Gochisosama deshita –It was a nice meal

Crazy Cars

Japan could be renamed "the land of cute". Seems everything has a cute character or cartoon to decorated it. It is uncommon to pass a car with a few stuffed animals on the dashboard. Then there are a few cars that stand out. My friend Maki’s car makes is in this last category. It makes me smile. She likes Disney especially Toy Story and Stitch.

Monday Steve, Tiffany and I spent the day with Maki, driving around in the alien-mobile. Steve made the suggestion that we (the three foreigners) should adopt the Toy Story aliens as our mascots because the direct translation for "Gaijin" is alien. What do you think?

Sunday Joys

God's been encouraging me today.

-I woke up and He was the first thing on my mind.

-Felt His presence as I gave the message in our morning Bible Study/Fellowship. The messages was God speaking to me as He was speaking through me.

-Connected with my friend Maki, we're going to go somewhere tomorrow and do something (that's all the details she gave me).

-I am starting to remember the youths names! This is huge it's only taken six months. The pictures are a few of the faces who come out Sunday nights. I'm not going to attempt to spell any ones name.

-There was a new teen at our Sunday night youth group, Natsumi, who is one of my jr. high students.

-God is good!

Energy on Demand

Its late at night your remote dies no more TV surfing. What are you going to do? Radio shack is closed and gas station batteries cost too much. Solution –battery vending machines.