Tips on Kyoto Kimono Rental

                         Japanese kimono is very beautiful. I think, every girl who is interested with Japanese culture would like to wear it at least once. However, it's so expensive (more than 2000 dollars) that most Japanese who buy it pass it to the next generation of women in their families. For foreigners and anyone who can't afford to buy, maybe it's a good idea to go to a kimono rental shop to be dressed in kimono by real specialists (it's almost impossible to wear a kimono on your own and there are specialists who were well-trained to do it). I have tried this experience last cherry blossoms festival in Kyoto so here are some tips for those who would like to experience it too!

1. Search for the best rental shop for you. You might want to consider these when choosing;

• Details about the price- Of course, everyone wants to save money. The cheapest might be catchy but make sure what's included in the package. You wouldn't like to pay additional charges for somthing like choosing kimono colors etc. 
• Location- Is the place accessible from where you will come from and where you are planning to go? You might spend less for the kimono but spend more for transportation.

Here are some with English websites- Okamoto, Kyokogoro, Yumekyoto, Umesakura and more. I had mine at Yumeyakata because it was only 2,500 that time. It's my Japanese friend who made a reservation for us so I'm not sure if the staffs can talk in English or not.

2. When you find the answers to number one, call the company and make a reservation so you can avoid hassles on your chosen date if ever there'll be lots of people on that day. Also, don't forget to ask the rental shop where you can have your hair done if you would like a Japanese hairstyle. Ask for the salon's number and make a reservation there too.

3. Before you go to the rental shop, make sure you bring your make-up and accessories (including the artificial flower that you want to put in your hair if you have one). You might also want to bring a smaller wallet so it can fit in your small kimono pouch when you leave your things at the rental shop and start walking around Kyoto.


4. Go to the rental shop at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time. They wouldn't like you to be neither very early nor late since the Japanese follow time strictly, they might not accommodate you well in that case.


5. There's plenty of flamboyant kimonos to choose from. Ask for permission if you can be allowed to mix and match the kimonos and the obis (belts). Remember to be orderly when doing this.



6. Enjoy the whole process of being dolled up like a real Japanese girl! Be cautious when taking pictures at the dressing room.

7. Choose your slippers and pouch (included in the fee) then go to the salon to have your hair done. You can also buy hair ornaments there. I preferred to put real sakura flowers, they're free! haha

8. Remember not to stain your kimono. Keep in mind how expensive it is.

9. As soon as you start walking wearing a kimono, you'll know you have to move finely. It was honestly hard for me. Also, tourists would love to take photos of you so be kind in talking to them. (Funny how many of them hesitated to talk to me in English because they thought I'm Japanese).

10. Return to the rental shop on time or else you'll have to pay more. Go early if you don't want to rush in changing your clothes because the shop has to close on their scheduled time. You can also bring home the socks that they've given you.

Me while enjoying the beautiful sakura trees.

Side Trip in Ogaki

                         Ogaki City is one of the progressive cities in Gifu prefecture. There are lots of interesting shops and restaurants near Ogaki station. Just ten minutes away from it, you can reach Ogaki castle on foot. I decided to go to this castle on my way to Osaka because I know the important role it played during the Battle of Sekigahara.

                         I was surprised to know that the castle is surrounded by many residential houses. Anyone not looking for it but found himself in the area would be surprised that there's a town's jewel right in the middle of ordinary houses.

                     It might not be so special to someone who has been to bigger Japanese castles but it's still worth to see especially during the cherry blossoms season. It's a very good spot for having hanami (flower viewing) picnic. It also has a small playground near the castle ground so families with children would surely enjoy their stay here.

                        On my way back to the station, I was lucky to pass by a line of cherry blossom trees next to the river. I also witnessed a group of people who were riding on a boat to enjoy the season more.

It must really be a great experience but I unfortunately didn't have time to do it too. 

Common Questions from Japanese Students

Heads up to all those who are going to start teaching in Japan! Here are common questions from students.

1. How old are you? 
Tell them you're 100 if you don't want them to know your age.

2.What is your favorite food? 
They'll laugh at you when you say ordinary Japanese food such as takoyaki,melon pan,onigiri etc.

3. What is your favorite sports? 
You'll make soccer players happy when you say soccer,it's as if they suddenly found a special connection with you.

4. What is your hometown like? 
You're goin to introduce it anyway, just remember to use simple English.

5. Why did you go to Japan? 
Coz I love Japan then wink!lol They might want to hear something interesting from you.

6. How many people are there in your family? 
Weird but it's a very common Japanese question, sometimes they include their pets when answering this question.

7. What do you like in Japan? 
They'll be glad to hear good things about their country.

8. What is strange in Japan? 
Try not to make a face when you hear this,haha..In my case, I talked about Japanese gestures such as pointing their noses when referring to themselves, waving their hands in front of them when they say no [which means "smelly" for us] or anything that you can think of because they really don't know those.

9. When will you go back to your country? 
Rude right? But they don't mean to make you go home,they just wanna know how long are you planning to stay with them. You might as well avoid saying that you just wanna stay for a short time so you won't disappoint them.

10. Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? 
The ice breaker! I remember I was asked if how many boyfriends do I have and I unconsciously gestured "stop" using my hands but my students understood it as "10 boyfriends!" lol

Just have fun guys! You don't have to be very serious in answering their questions,make it light because your students might be 10x more nervous than you! Try not to reveal your country right away, ask them to guess then give hints (the magic word for The Philippines is "banana"!). When you make a speech, keep it short and simple then smile!

Gambatte kudasai!Yoroshiku ne!

Tips for New ALTs

                     
                         Being a foreign teacher in Japan is quite stressful yet it's a rewarding experience. A lot of first timers get nervous and confused when they start going to Japanese schools. I also used to feel disoriented on my first few days here so now that I'm on my second spring semester in Japan, I'd like to give some pieces of advice for new ALTs.

1. Dress to impress.
                 First impression lasts so it's better to show a nice image of yourself on your first day at school. ALTs are usually required to wear suits but in some rural areas, it's ok to wear sweatpants. Just to be safe, it's still better to wear suits on your first day and ask the teachers if it's ok to wear sweatpants next time. Be sure that you don't look tired or sleepy, it's always better to show a happy disposition at school. Japanese are very observant so you might also want to clean your fingernails, shave your beard and have a proper haircut before going to school.

2. Always be on time.
                 You should neither be very early nor late at school. (Well, maybe at least 15 minutes earlier is ok). Time is money for many Japanese so please don't be late or should I say, please don't steal money from them. It's also good to go to classrooms at least 5 minutes before class hours so you can talk to some students freely.
           
3. Be polite and friendly to everyone.
                 You might be the only foreigner that the teachers and students at your schools know so show a good example of someone from outside Japan. A lot of them might really be nervous when you are around, some might even avoid you but try to be friendly with them. A sincere smile can never fail you. If possible, it'll be great if you can memorize some common Japanese words such as ohayou gozaimasu (good morning), konnichiwa (hello/good afternoon), sumimasen (excuse me/sorry for troubling you) and otsukaresamadesu (thank you for your hard work). They wouldn't expect you to say them but they'd be glad to hear you say those words.

4. Put your feet on the ground.
                 Being down to earth is a must in Japan if you really want to have a harmonious relationship with your workmates. In relation to teaching, some of us might feel quite aggressive at times because we think we are better than the Japanese teachers but please try to control yourself. Observe everything first before you speak, you might be surprised with the difference of Japanese education system with the one that you have in your country. If you really can't stop yourself, then try to ask the Japanese teacher in a very subtle way. Make suggestions and talk about what you are planning to do instead of sounding authoritative.

5. Don't be troublesome.
                 Mendokusai (troublesome) is a common Japanese expression. And no you wouldn't like to be one. Japanese teachers are often busy so as much as possible, don't disturb them. Ask for help only when you think you have no choice but to do so (such as when using copiers etc).

6. Ask for permission.
                  Everyone is careful when using the school's materials so it'll be appreciated if you'd ask for permission first before using some things at school. Just say kore o tsukatte mo ii desu ka? (May I use this?).

7. Watch your moves.
                 Because that is what people around you are doing. Try not to be absent-minded while at work. Even staring outside the window for a few seconds would make your workmates think you have a big problem though you really have no reason for doing it.

8. Keep yourself busy.
                 You might not have classes sometimes but try to do something other than using your phone or sleeping. It's awkward to do nothing in the middle of hardworking people. Think of English lessons, study Japanese, talk to some school staffs, check students' papers etc.

9. Observe and imitate.
                  This can save you from many problems. When you are unsure of what to do (such as how to eat an unfamiliar school lunch), just observe the people around you and you might find the answer to your question. In this way, you can save yourself from shame.

10. Bow sincerely.
                   Last, don't forget to bow! It's the best way to show how humble you are in Japan. Don't forget to use your back instead of your neck when doing this.

                   I hope these reminders can help you to have a better teaching experience at school. It's not necessary to follow them but they can help you to have a better life at your workplace. Gambatte kudasai (Please do you best)!

A very surprising message on my first day at my JHS. :)

Volunteering in Tohoku

                        I've been thinking of volunteering in Tohoku since I arrived in Japan. Unfortunately, there were many hindrances such as my location (it's more than 700 kilometers away from the area), money issues, my friends backed out, volunteer houses were full, those who couldn't speak Japanese well couldn't be accepted etc. It took time for me to look for a volunteer group but I finally found OGA for Aid. Angela Ortiz, the director of the administration, patiently replied to me and guided me all throughout the time I joined their group. Using seishun 18 kippu (cheapest way to travel in Japan), I traveled to Tohoku alone. From Sendai station, I needed to travel by bus for 2 hours to go to OGA's bunkhouse. I slept on the bus, when I got up, I saw nothing but a huge rice field. I'm used to seeing this scenery in Japan but when I checked  if we're already near using google map, I was shocked to realize that we were actually in the middle of the disaster-stricken area! I couldn't believe how the tsunami erased everything on its way.

                      I taught English to a junior high school student. The boy looked excited to see a new face in their town so we talked for quite a long time. I also happily helped in OGA's Green Farmers Association. From the top of the hill  where the farm is located, I stared at the seemingly peaceful ocean. I learned that before March 11, 2011, Minamisanriku residents were leading simple lives with fishing as the main source of livelihood.

                        Before going back to the bunkhouse, we went to Shizugawa, the place with the highest death rate during the tsunami. I can't help but stare at what I saw- the whole place was erased from the map. It is hard to comprehend that the place where hundreds of buildings were once located is now a ghost town.  I felt weak as I look at the swept away bridge (I honestly thought they were just starting to build it up), broken cars, pile of debris, twisted steel and all the reminders of the incident. All those reminded me how strong can nature be.

                   Schools are located in high areas so most of the students were safe. I went in front of Shizugawa JHS, it probably was a great spot for looking at the whole town but now the scenery is just an eye sore. I find it unbearable to imagine how the students survived watching their town with their family and everything they have be swallowed by the tsunami.

view from Shizugawa JHS

                    I remembered the JHS student I taught , I suddenly felt admiration for the boy for being so positive in life. The whole time we talked, he only mentioned the good things they have such as their famous products. He even convinced me to go to Sunshine Village, I learned later on that it's a small mall made up of tin houses, the only interesting place in the middle of the rubble. He didn't complain about not having lights in roads at night, few buses, no supermarkets etc.

                        During my short stay there, I was lucky to meet the community leaders in a party. All of them happily shared stories but they also seriously talked about how to revive their city. I've learned from Angela and Peter that they also lost their relatives, houses, businesses and almost everything they have. They didn't think of their personal problems, instead, they lead in helping those who need more help. After the tsunami, they starved for almost 3 months but they shared everything they have equally for everyone. Once again, the Japanese showed what most of us forget especially in challenging times- KIZUNA or unity in Japanese. No matter how strong was the tsunami, it didn't take away their relationships and will to survive.

                   You've probably seen a lot of impressive pictures of how the disaster-stricken areas were cleaned up. The truth is the devastated areas are so huge that they still need help in clearing things out. Aside from that, residents also need help in recovering from their traumatic experience. There are still a lot of things to do in Tohoku. Please don't hesitate to give a hand whenever you can, no matter how small your contribution will be. I will always be thankful that I was given the chance to volunteer with this group. I'm looking forward to future projects that will make Tohoku residents' lives better. I know the tsunami is not just the Japanese thing, it is a challenge to all of us, citizens of different nations to unite!

My White Valentine's Day!

                        I had a cold Valentine's Day this year because it snowed a lot (you can take it figuratively too if you want lol). In the morning, I braved my way on this overpass. That was really scary so I did my best not to lose focus or else I might be added to the hundreds of injured people in this year's winter.

                        At school, we piled up snow, I didn't expect it to be that tough! The shovel was heavy and digging the seemingly endless snow drained my energy. I didn't complain because I honestly volunteered to do that. I secretly found the joy in doing it simply because it was my first time and I could never do that in my country.

                        On the other hand, everyone was flying around at school, they were so excited to give and or receive chocolates. They were giving away either giri choco- courtesy chocolates or honmei choco-chocolates of love. Weird though, in Japan, it's women who have to give chocolates to men. I talked to some of my girls and they said this day is their "chance" to confess to the guys they like. After a month, March 14th is White Day and it's the time when guys have to give back the chocolates they received and answer if they feel the same way to the girls who confessed to them. This is really something I find hard to understand because in the Philippines, only men are expected to do the first move in courtship.

                        You're probably wondering if I gave away chocolates or not. The answer is no, hehe. Instead, I gave away these Filipino sweets. The other teachers and my friends here were delighted to receive and eat them since it's special and they can hardly find that in Japan. They're easy to make though, click on the names at the picture's caption to know the recipes if you're interested in making them.

Yema, leche flan and palitaw

                       Here's what I've got in exchange- a box of sinfully delicious chocolates from an old couple I know.  Those are vodka, rum and brandy truffles, I ate them all up but the taste is still so mouth-watering!

Hearts' Day at Yochien!

                       In my place, I have to teach English to Yochien (pre-school) kids three times in a year. My first time was quite a disaster because I really didn't know what to do since it was my first time to teach those energetic kids. The second time was quite better because we made it a Halloween lesson. Now was the third time and it was a Valentine's Day Lesson! Yey! I was so excited!

                        First, I gathered materials from the internet and luckily, I found great flashcards at MES, it's really a very good site for ALTs. Those cute activity sheets by the way are from Super Simple Learning, my kids really loved them!

                        We started the day by doing Yochien's usual morning routine which includes attendance and exercise. After that, I taught the Hello Song and Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes. We repeated it for about five times, imagine how tiring it was! The kids were so excited and enthusiastic to learn so I didn't mind keeping up with their energy. 

                        Next, I showed them the Valentine's flashcards so they can memorize the English words related to this event. They actually know the words but they pronounce it in Japanese katakana so I emphasized the difference. After that, I taught Janken game in English and I told them to play it when I give them the worksheets. I didn't talk in Japanese when I explained it to them. I just used examples and gestures so they could understand. The Japanese teachers were also there to guide those who were confused but fortunately, most of them understood my instructions. 

   

                        This activity really gave me cuteness overdose! The kids laughed at themselves a lot because they knew they made silly heart faces. I couldn't stop smiling at them too. The feeling was so priceless!

                        When everyone was done, we decided to have a contest. They voted which one has the best worksheet. That was what the kids were doing in the picture below. The Japanese teachers asked them to sit  and make a line in front of the person/project they liked. This made me a little bit nervous because those who didn't have votes might cry but I guess they're very sport.

                        The last part of our lesson was about making pastillas or Filipinos' milk candy. It probably has nothing to do with teaching English but based on how I understood it, English subject in Japan is not just about teaching the language but knowing and appreciating other cultures as well. Besides, the kids already learned a lot of words on that day. 

                        As you can see at the link above, the recipe was so easy. The bigger students helped in mixing the ingredients. Then, we distributed small papers for students to wrap the milk candies that they shaped. Everyone enjoyed eating their pastilllas so the last word I taught for the day was "yummy"!

                         Finally, 2 hours of being with adorable kids was over. I didn't even notice the time because we did a lot of things. I've proven again that the best way to manage hyperactive kids is to keep them busy. Three days in a year might not really be enough but I made sure that these days will be unforgettable for these lovely students. Oh, and of course I gave them "very good" stamps. They proudly show them to their parents while they repeat the English words and expressions they learned.