Reflections on Japan #2 (with food!)

I have had a hectic week at work: We are working on seminars and make-up lessons, so I have been scrambling to understand what I need to do.  Thank all that is holy for my co-workers; they have been tremendously helpful.  In any job, if the employees are willing to work together and remain patient, the whole workplace atmosphere improves significantly, and everyone can complete the tasks at hand with no added stress.

I have been enjoying my weekend, but, alas, it will come to an end shortly.  My Japanese tutor/friend, Mitsue, will stop by my apartment later today to continue instructing me in Japanese.  I know some basic phrases, and I want to become much better.  I can recognize a few katakana characters, but I need to practice and study much more.  (Katakana is made up of symbols that constitute "borrowed" words from the Roman alphabet.  For example, my name is not Japanese, so the characters that make up my name are in katakana: セレスソ is one way to write my name in katakana.  I have seen some other ways, too, which all sound slightly different.  "L" sounds are not easy for Japanese speakers since "R" and "L" have the same character.  This is why many Japanese speakers may sound out my name as "Ceresuto.")

I haven't gone on trips yet.  My first holiday is in two weeks (yay!).  I want to go to Tokyo at least for two days, so my co-worker and I will begin planning a trip as soon as we have some time.  I am aching to explore Japan as much as possible.  Tottori is beautiful, but I really want to visit Hiroshima, Kyoto, Tokyo, and wherever else my friends recommend.  The Shinkansen is incredibly fast and reliable, so I will be fine.  ^_^

My favorite dessert here is kakigoori, which is essentially a snowball.  How cool is it that I can enjoy my favorite snack from Louisiana in another country?

My co-worker and I are at Joyfull, which is similar to Shoney's.  Look at those kakigooris!!!

My kakigoori with strawberries, condensed milk, and ice cream at CoCo's, which is like Denny's.  <3

I love trying the different snacks over here.  I am hesitant to try anything that's a little too odd-looking, like certain fish or bento boxes, but I am certainly not starving.  I go out to eat almost every day for lunch because I need some time to step out of my workplace and get some fresh air.  I often go to the 100 Yen Bakery, which sells delicious mini pizzas, hot dog rolls, pastries, and sandwiches.  

Panda and tiger buns from the bakery.  So sweet--in looks and taste!

Anpan Man bread roll.  It's filled with chocolate!

I like to buy enough snacks for my apartment so I have breakfast and dinner whenever I return home from work.  I usually eat grilled cheese sandwiches, ramen cups, or frozen pizzas.  I am usually incredibly exhausted by the time work is over, so fixing an elaborate meal is far from the top of my list of priorities.
 

There is a convenience store called Lawson Station that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It is a chain of stores throughout Japan, so if you are ever in need of a quick snack, something to drink, or just even a familiar sweet like a Snickers bar, stop in at a Lawson.  I frequent this place, so the workers recognize me (I'm sure the fact that I'm not Japanese helps them to remember me, too!).

Lawson Station in Osaka, Japan.  (Source)

For lunch, I stop in the mall's food court.  The food is always fresh and delicious (not to mention rather cheap; I pay about 500 yen or $5 for my meals).

 If you aren't sure what to order or what you want to eat, fear not!  Almost every restaurant in Japan features plastic food models of the dishes.  How convenient, especially for someone like me who cannot speak or read the language.  '-_-

 

 Japanese curry is perfect in every way.  It reminds me of a spicy version of beef stew.  The spiciness is fairly mild, though, so don't worry about giving this staple a try.

 Udon noodle soup on the right, pickles in the tiny saucer, and rice with eggs on the left.  Simple, delicious, and filling.  Another common dish.

Hamburger curry.  It's similar to meatloaf, but it includes rice.  Love this.

 Korean appetizer at Jeju's in downtown Tottori.  I didn't have a chance to take pictures of every dish since I was with co-workers for a farewell party, but here is a preview of some delicious Korean food.  I am in love with kimchi, which is a spicy cabbage (top middle).

Mos Burger, a burger chain in Japan.  I love it!  I had a Coca-Cola, a strawberry shake, some fries and onion rings, and a melted cheese and onion burger.  The portions are smaller, so my caloric intake wasn't terrible.  ;)

 McDonald's fries.  Delicious in any country.  I find these taste fresher than the ones back in America.

 The famous--or should I say "infamous"?--Big Mac.  It has the same "secret" sauce as the Big Macs in America do, but pepper is sprinkled between the buns and patties.  It tastes great, though.

 Tropical McFlurry with sour candy (available for a limited time in Japan).  I love this frozen treat, mainly because I love sour candy and fruity flavors mixed together.  

  Check out the menu for McDonald's Japan! Japan loves "limited-time only" offers, so some food may not be available year-round.

My mom mailed some Louisiana mixes to me so that I can make étouffée with some shrimp from the grocery store and also some dirty rice.  I won't have a problem finding rice over here, I can assure you.  :P

Yesterday, July 29th, my co-worker and I went with our supervisor to a special berry farm.  We paid 300 yen to pick as many blueberries and blackberries as our hearts desired.  We ate a few while we picked them.  After we finished, we brought the rest to the workers, who weighed our buckets.  We each paid only 100 yen to take home our findings.  I put my blueberries and blackberries in some delicious creamy yogurt today.  What a great treat!  ^_^

The berry farm.  I sweat so much, and the wet grass and mud created a smell similar to the marshy odor in Louisiana.  Home, sweet home, right?

Some unripened blackberries.  I wish Granny were here so that she could make her amazing blackberry dumplings for me.  :)

Beautiful blueberries.  They taste so delicious freshly picked and warmed from the sunlight.

I will post more entries and pictures of food once I have more to share.  Sometimes I am pressed for time during lunch or am simply too exhausted to remember that what am eating and experiencing is not readily available back home.  I need to work on not taking my time here for granted.

For now, I will share with you all later.

Have a great day/night!

Reflections on Japan #1

Greetings from Japan!  (Or, should I say, "Nihon," as it is called by the Japanese.)

I am relieved that I survived initial training and my first month of work.  I think I will become used to the routines, the business protocols, and the teaching methods, but right now I am a little overwhelmed and nervous. I admit it: I wonder what I have gotten myself into sometimes.  I have a new job, which is always a challenge to adjust to, but let’s not forget that I have a new job in a foreign country.  Japan is similar to the USA in many ways—technology, food, service industries, manners, etc.—but I am still thousands of miles away from my boyfriend, my parents, my sisters, my grandparents, my cousins, my godson, my friends, my pets, and my comfort zones.  I do love Japan; I’m just wistful for some familiar company who can share my experiences with me. 

Speaking of company, I have met some great people over here.  My training group was full of kind, thoughtful, and humorous people my own age who are in my same position, and the staff who trained us is all more than willing to assist us in every way they can.  In my new home of Tottori, my co-workers are just incredible in their ability to make me feel welcome and in their alacrity to show me around town and include me in their outings.  We have great times singing karaoke, shopping, biking around town, and going out to eat.  They are beginning to feel like old friends I have known for a while.  It's a small world after all.  :)

Sometimes I like to keep to myself and gather my thoughts, even pray and reflect a bit.  I need some silence in the chaos, or even just some personal time that allows me to recuperate from my jitteriness.  My apartment is gradually beginning to feel like my own place, my own home.  My haven, you could say.  I just need a taste of  my Louisiana home a little bit every day—every other day, at least—so I can remind myself of where I come from and what has helped to shape me into who I am.

.

My year in Japan has just begun.  I still wonder, “What if this is a mistake?  What if I fail?  What if something terrible happens?”  I have to pounce on whatever voice in my head allows those questions to surface.  I have to remember that nothing is ever easy at first.  What about every first I have had?  The arrival of my first sibling.  My first day of school (every year since I was four.  Look!  I survived!).  My first pair of glasses.  My first time wearing braces.  My first acne breakout.  My first dance.  My first test in a new class.  My first time traveling abroad.  My first time living alone.

I have made it through every first, and I will make it through this one as well.  Without curiosity and determination in even the smallest sense, we are not human beings; we are walking carcasses.  

And I choose to live.

Preparation for Japan: How to Stay Sane

I interviewed in April for my teaching job and received the job offer only four days after my personal interview.  I had the weekend to decide whether I wanted to bid my loved ones good-bye for a year.  Obviously, I decided to scramble to pack my bags and have all of my documents in order: I was leaving in June.

Fortunately for me, I had my passport already, thanks to a trip to Nova Scotia three years ago.  If you would like to teach overseas, even if you are not guaranteed a job, I strongly recommend that you apply for a passport.  Make sure that you apply for a passport that covers every continent (there is a form for only North America).  You can visit your local post office, clerk of courts office, or another certified government building (check here for locations for your state: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/) to turn in your paperwork if you filled it out online and printed it.  I recommend taking at least an hour to fill out the necessary paperwork and then going to one of those locations to have it processed.  Here's where you need to go: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

I then needed to wait for my company to send me the visa paperwork.  I had to fill out some forms that they sent me via e-mail so that Japan's government could check my files and make sure that I was truly who I claimed to be.  This process took less than a month, thanks to the efficiency of my company and our cooperation in staying in touch.  Here's a link to the embassies of Japan in the USA: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/index.html.

You can locate your consulate (mine is in Nashville, TN) and even sign up for e-mails to notify you of events with the consulate.  Jobs are posted sometimes, too!

*Please stay in touch with your consulate if you are planning on obtaining a visa.  I didn't receive mine until two days before I left America, which is no one's fault but the long and technical process's.  I checked in on it two days before it arrived because I hadn't heard anything for a week, and my papers clearly stated when I was departing. Japan usually writes dates with the day, month, and year (sometimes with the year, day, and month), so the consulate assumed I was leaving in September rather than in June.  That wouldn't have been good for me at all.

If you plan on going to Japan even just to visit, you must make sure that any prescription medication you need to bring into the country is legal, or you must fill out the paperwork for a "Yakkan Shoumei," or an official document that states what medications you are bringing into the country and what their purposes are.  I have read through different Websites, and most suggest that stimulants and antidepressants are the main types of drugs that must be reported.   *Also, some substances, even in over-the-counter medicines, that are perfectly legal in the USA are illegal in Japan.  Please read this to see what you must do in regards to bringing in medicine. 

I brought in only oral contraceptives, and I did not need to fill out a Yakkan Shoumei.  Now, my first worry was the amount I was bringing in.  I needed a year's supply, of course, since I am living here for a year, and nearly every document has stated that I need to fill out a Yakkan Shoumei.  I contacted my company and my consulate, and the correspondents both assured me that oral contraceptives do not cause any alarm or require special measures.  If you are concerned, however, I suggest that you fill out the paperwork and contact your consulate.  I have my doctor's prescriptions with me in case of an emergency.

Pain medicine is widely available in most stores.  I have tried Bufferin, which is akin to Tylenol, and it works very well at relieving my aches quickly and for a long time.  I recommend cutting the pill in half; it's rather large.  I don't know the specifics for aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen brands, so if you have allergies or preferences, please consult a doctor, your consulate, or a medical site.  This forum shares some helpful tips on brands and dosage, too.

Contact lenses are not a problem at all.  I ordered a year's supply through my optometrist's office (Wal-Mart with 1-800-Contacts) and have them with me in my apartment.  I also have a copy of my eye exam and prescription in case I should need any more contacts or a health exam.

Here is another helpful link with more medicine information and facts about safety and crime: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html.

I then needed to begin stocking up on supplies and toiletries. Not everyone who goes to Japan stays for as long as I am, but there are some items that we use in the USA that are not available in Japan.  Perhaps bigger cities that cater to tourists (Tokyo, Osaka) carry popular Western brands and items, but I wouldn't risk failing to bring the following:

• deodorant (Japanese brands are not the same as the ones in the USA.  I haven't tried any, but my recruiters and co-workers have warned me to avoid them if I am used to a certain brand.  I like to experiment with cosmetics, but I am hesitant to try something that could make me smell bad!)
• toothpaste (again, I haven't had a chance to try this because I am living off of the amount of Colgate I brought from the States.  I am willing to give the Japanese brands a try, though, when the time comes.  In case you are concerned, I read this article that has useful information on finding toothpaste in Japan: http://injapan.gaijinpot.com/live/health-and-fitness/2011/03/04/how-to-find-good-toothpaste-in-japan/)
• sunscreen and face lotion/cream (American sunscreen is thicker and supposedly more potent, but my co-worker uses Japanese brands, too.  She informed me that face creams are really liquids that don't work as well on her face as the ones she uses back in the States.  Make sure that the lotions do not contain skin-lightening ingredients.  While many ladies in America worship the sun and tanning, most Japanese women want to become paler.)
• towels (most Japanese towels are thinner than the thick ones we're used to in America.  I wouldn't bother bringing some if you are going to be staying in a hotel, though; hotels have every amenity you can imagine!)
• clothing, shoes, undergarments, socks (unless you are relatively thin or have a smaller frame, please make sure to bring enough of your personals.  I wear about a size 2-4--depending on the company in America--and am a medium in Japan.  I have a small bust but slightly curvy hips.  I have seen some larger Japanese people who dress just fine, but if you don't want to spend the majority of your traveling in the mall, I suggest you make sure to pack enough attire.  Also, socks can be a little expensive, around 500 yen for just two.  Shoe sizes go by centimeters.  I am a size 8 to 8 1/2, which is about a size 23-24 cm.  Just try some on if you're interested.  Keep in mind that bigger sizes are not as readily available.)

*Please note that I am sharing the same advice my recruiters, fellow bloggers, and friends have shared with me.  Japan's economy and modernity are on par with the USA's, so I wouldn't worry if I had to use a Japanese product listed above.  Soap, face washes, shaving tools, shampoos, conditioners, styling products, styling tools, body washes, hair dyes, etc., are all available here, too.  

*I also brought my own cosmetics with me, but I am always willing to give any brand a go.  I have seen Maybelline and L'Oreal in the drugstores and department stores, and bigger cities usually have Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Lancome.  Be careful of Japanese facial cosmetics; many contain skin-whitening substances.  


*For the ladies of child-bearing ages, fear not: sanitary napkins/pads are abundant here.  Do keep in mind that sizes are in centimeters (metric system, after all).  I recommend bringing some of your favorite brands with you and then looking around for Japanese brands.  I prefer size 23; the largest ones cover the entire length of your underwear and feel like diapers.  :/  I haven't seen tampons here, but I don't use those often anyway.  This is another item to keep in mind.

So far, I have felt like I am right at home here in Japan.  I have the Internet through NTT in my apartment, an iPhone, and a bike.  My supervisor and co-workers have been a tremendous help in every aspect of my stay here.

*Speaking of phones, unless you have a special international phone, you should keep in mind that Japan has a different frequency than America, so  your cell phone probably will not pick up a signal here.  I bought an iPhone here and have a fantastic plan with unlimited Internet usage and texting to SoftBank users (SoftBank and au are two major cell phone providers).  I use Skype to call home (I bought a subscription for unlimited calls to any US phone for only $7 a month).  Calling directly from my cell phone over here is about 30 yen per 30 seconds to Japanese phones unless I call someone with the same provider, so I limit communication to texting (or e-mailing, as it is called here).

Please ask me any questions.  I may have forgotten to list something here, after all.  :)

Greetings from Japan!

Hello, everyone!  I'm finally living my dream: I'm teaching English in Japan for a year!  

I will not reveal my company because I am under contract--and my common sense--not to do so.  I will discuss Japan, however, and share my experiences.  

I haven't had much time to travel because of my work schedule, but I have taken a plethora of pictures and videos.  I haven't written lately because of how busy I have been, but I do plan to update my blog at least once a week from now on (even if all I share is a cute picture of Hello Kitty or something).

I trained in Okayama and now live in Tottori-shi, Tottori.  It's a small town that has plenty of restaurants and stores within biking and walking distance, as well as the famous sand dunes.

Yours truly out and about on the sand dunes of Tottori!

The picture doesn't suffice; these dunes are enormous!  Climbing up was a workout.

Beautiful beach on the Sea of Japan.

I wanted to share a quick update on my life.  I will post more entries on more specific aspects of Japan and of my time here.

Later!