Kaleido’s Scope

Last week was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me. I never thought that I would admit to liking the DMV, but in Japan, I adore the people who work at the Driving Licensing Center. The English written test is extremely easy, while the practical driving examination is damn near impossible. I failed twice before passing. Unlike in Florida, where you can just pop-up and hang out at the DMV taking as many re-takes as you like in a single day (provided you are willing to a) wait & b) pay), in Japan it’s a once a day shot and more expensive.

I was fortunate to have exams at school, so I could request special leave to go to Daiei (about 45 minutes away from Tottori City) for this. The people at the center were so kind to me, especially because I was trying to do everything in Japanese and without the assistance of a teacher. My supervisor, vice principal, and teachers were so supportive of me. When I came back to school today, I was showing my Japanese license like a baby picture. Everyone wanted to see it & hold it. I also had to take out my American license because they wanted to see what it looked like. There was a clear difference between the girl on my American license and the one on the Japanese license.

It was not only an accomplishment for me to earn the ability to drive in Japan, but it was also a test of my Japanese comprehension and my ability to navigate (survive) in Japan, by myself.

For a female teacher, I received a sizable haul on Valentine’s Day. I wasn’t expecting anything, but my students kept surprising me. I actually received some looks of jealousy from expectant male teachers who saw my cautiously tucking away the small boxes tied with ribbons and heart shaped stickers. I got another one today from Mami-chan (one of my 1-6 Volleyball girls), and tomorrow her teammate, Nami-chan, will try to remember to bring me her gift (She’s on crutches at the moment, so I wasn’t overly fussed).

I love my 1-6 sports class! It’s like having 42 younger brothers and sisters who make me feel like I am not a 25 year old fuddy-duddy. I truly feel young around them, but just old enough to be protective of them. As long as I am at Yazu, I am not letting the other ALTs teach them. They are my kids.

I am protesting Valentine’s Day in the sense that I refused to wear red or pink to work today. I actively participated in the day’s festivities by handing out hand-made (from scratch) Tuscan style biscotti with hazel nut coating. I am very, very proud at my efforts for engaging this holiday. Since I was 14, I have always had a boyfriend (or a super wonderful guy friend to give me pity) on Valentine’s Day. This is the first time (that I can remember) actually being single.

In Japan, Valentine’s Day is for Women to give Chocolate to Men. I gave most of my friends (male or female) one or two pieces (and some of the older male teachers who have been particularly wonderful to me). I informed people that in America, we don’t have White Day (3/14), where the men reciprocate. Just one day of chocolate covered madness only. I also gave my crush some biscotti. I felt so 14 years old about the whole thing, but it was a good feeling. He was pleasantly surprised, I think.

Bless Tomoki-sensei & Yasunao-sensei! They made a pilgrimage out to the parking lot to clear snow off their cars and then started getting requests from the teachers’ room via open windows and pointing! They looked so cold, but they continued walking and clearing off different cars. I am sure that once I get my car (and the necessary items), I’ll be enlisted (or shuffled back to the staff room by the many gentlemen at my school) to clear rooftops & windshields.

Today during cleaning time, the boys in charge of helping clear the second floor breezeway between the teachers room and the new classroom building built a life size "yuki daruma" (snow man). I was lucky enough to sneak out on the blanketing snow during 4th period and take a snapshot before he was decaptitated during lunch time. I am thinking about sending the picture into the AJET photo contest next time it comes around again. The poor thing had a bright purple bucket hat and mops for arms. When I get home I am going to e-mail it to the snowless (and considerably warmer) peeps back in Florida.