Let's karaoke!

Kimono Party!

2007-06-25T03:40:00.000+09:00

Today we had a Kimono clad get-together in the town of Omori just outside of Ohda. Girls wore summer kimono and guys wore jimbe or yukata. We met at Matsuba-san's 230 year old house for dinner and a traditional tea ceremony. There were about 25 of us all together. We had a great time but were happy to get out of the kimono and the end of the day. Those obis are tight and not comfortable at all.

what's wrong with this picture?

2007-03-06T22:16:00.000+09:00

I don't know why but this photography studio took last year's school photo of me, enlarged to gargantuan proportions, framed it and put it in the window, without asking my consent whatsoever. In fact, I had know idea that it was there for all to see until one of my 7th graders said to me last week, "Brooke, I saw your photo." What?!?! In the US, this would be a lawsuit. You can't do stuff like this. I'll be honest, part of me is flattered and my students think I'm a superstar but I still feel a little violated. Its kind of disturbing. And it looks a bit ridiculous side by side with the happy Japanese families.......

Cute boys

2007-03-06T22:02:00.000+09:00

i had dinner at mr. amano's house a while back. this is me and his boys, gaku-chan and rikki.

お雛様!!! Happy Girls Day!!!

2007-03-05T23:22:00.000+09:00

its the day where parents and kids set up hundreds of dollars worth of dolls and accessories in the entry of their home for all to see! the more dolls you display the more affluent you appear to be! superficial? yes, but it was interesting....
girls day was sat, march 3.

Behunin luncheon

2007-01-29T14:28:00.000+09:00

I had a wonderful time visiting home this past Christmas. While I was there my aunt Maureen somehow managed to get all of the Behunin ladies together for a lunch in Salt Lake. Here's some photos of me and the fam!

Monkeys!

2007-01-29T14:20:00.000+09:00

I was driving through the mountains to Omori one day when I saw a group of monkeys cross the road! Crazy! I had to pull over and take some pictures.

Look at me! I'm harvesting rice!

2007-01-29T13:57:00.000+09:00

These pictures are a couple of months old but I wanted to show you anyway. I helped Tsukimori-san and her husband gather rice in their field one Sunday. It was hard work but the rice was yummy!!

Students making gingerbread houses....sort of

2007-01-29T13:34:00.000+09:00

These photos come from Ikeda Junior High School, one of my favorite schools that I only visit once a month. Last month we threw ourselves a Christmas party and made gingerbread houses with graham crackers. The students had never done this before which made it a fun and interesting day....

I know, I know, I know

2007-01-29T12:44:00.000+09:00

I'm the worst blogger ever. I probably don't even DESERVE the title 'blogger.' I promise to be better about updating starting now! Here are some pics of Eddah and me getting a crash course in world of the kimono.
Thanks again, Yuko and Izumi!!

2006-08-13T21:16:00.000+09:00

This is funny...

I found it on youtube.com. Its called Two Chinese Boys: I want it that way. These boys have made lots of "music videos."
Indy, you will like this...

One-person car

2006-08-10T00:05:00.000+09:00

Just another day in the grocery store parking lot......

Yukata time

2006-08-09T00:02:00.001+09:00

Last week I participated in a language course in Matsue. One afternoon we took a break from Japanese class to dress in yukata and learn traditional Japanese dance. Yukata is a lighter, more simple kimono worn only in summer. Girls and women and some men dress up in yukata for summer festivals. So this is a photo of Titia, me and Julia gettin our yukata on!

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-08-06T20:46:00.000+09:00

Well, I'm 23 now. There's not much else to say about that. I'm just getting older. However, I did have a wonderful birthday. Some friends and I went to a festival in the prefecture just up the coast from Shimane. The festival is called the Gaina festival and it takes place in the city of Yonago. The festival is actually hard to explain....so, bear with me.

Different groups (people from the same company or organization) make these lantern-bamboo-things.
They tie all these lanterns to a bamboo structure(?). But everything is tied onto a main bamboo pole. Then each group member takes a turn to balance the bamboo-lantern-thing (sorry, I forgot the name) on their hand, shoulder, or chin. Everyone else cheers on the person balancing. For those looking for a real challenge, additional poles can be attached to the main pole to make it higher. But this usually resulted in disaster. I saw a couple lantern-bamboo-things fall onto buildings, on traffic lights, and get tangled in phone lines.

The overall festival was pretty amazing. The entire street was filled with these huge things waving in the air. Special festival music was played up and down the street. Definitely one of the coolest events I have experienced in Japan.

Enkais and Hard Gay

2006-07-22T10:17:00.000+09:00

The next few paragraphs may sound strange but I will do my best to explain Japan's new and most popular comedian.
His character name is Hard Gay and he wears this tiny black leather costume with a matching hat and pilot glasses. His TV show is about him acting gay and playing practical jokes on people doing everyday things. He has grown popular with everyone in Japan, old and young alike. My students especially like him.
I bring this up now because two nights ago I had a work party (hereinafter known as 'enkai') where two teachers dressed as Hard Gay. Enkais are interesting. First all the teachers meet at a restaurant around 6:00 for a very Japanese style dinner- think sitting on the floor with your own tray of sashimi, sushi, octopus, snail and many other dishes I don't even know.

And don't forget the beer. There is plenty of beer. And you never pour your own glass. You always make sure those around you have a full glass and they will do the same for you. About half way through the first enkai the teachers in charge will have some kind of show. Enter Hard Gay.

Actually there were two, Takagi sensei and Tawara sensei. These two teachers aren't in the best physical shape so it makes the whole performance even funnier. I actually took some photos of them but promised not to show anyone. Believe me you are better off not seeing it. Anyway this enkai will usually last about 3 hours. In the end we gather in a circle and sing the school song (I still don't know it) and give 3 "BANZAIs." The teachers really get into this.
After, many teachers with families return home but about half will come to the second enkai, the nijikai. Nijikais are more relaxed. Everyone's a little drunk, okay really drunk. It usually takes place at a karaoke bar in town. We order more drinks and I'm usually forced to sing a Carpenter's song I don't know as a duet with someone. The teachers at my school are really serious about karaoke. They don't like to mess up and they kind of compete with each other. Nevertheless, the entire thing is very entertaining to me.
By the time the nijikai ends the time is about 11:00. Again more people leave but about 7 or 8 will stay for a sanjikai, the third party. Sanjikais are usually at an izakaya or a small restaurant. People continue to drink and usually order udon or soba or something to eat. By the way, the more intoxicated my teachers become, the more likely they are to try to speak English with me. Every teacher at my school has studied English in college as a requirement but they never try to speak it. Especially at school. They're self conscience about making mistakes. But the drunker they are, the more English they speak and some teachers can speak really well. That is why sanjikais are the most interesting for me. Also note the Japanese are infamous for falling asleep in the most awkward positions and places. They sleep sitting up on the subway, in waiting rooms to see doctors, and even at social events like enkais. Its very common for someone to sit back in the corner of the restaurant and sleep for 20 or 30 minutes before joining us again. This is socially acceptable and happens frequently.
So, lets wrap things up. A good sanjikai will last until 2 or 3 in the morning. At least for the teachers at my school. Of course work parties vary from school to school.
We have enkais about 2 or 3 times a semester and there are 3 semesters in a year. So I've been to quite a few.
They're fun. Even with Hard Gay.

By the way

2006-07-18T20:45:00.000+09:00

Today a teacher asked me if I was free December 2nd.

Its July.

Drivers license at last!

2006-07-18T18:56:00.000+09:00

After weeks of waiting for an appointment, an hour long interview about my drivers education and driving history and passport, a written test and a driving test where two men sat in the car with clipboards marking my every move, I am finally with Japanese drivers license. I've been using an international drivers license from the U.S. but it expires after a year (which is in just a few days). I was really nervous about the driving test because I heard that many foreigners fail and usually have to take it 2 or 3 times.
I'm so happy that I finally have it!!!!

I'm pleased to announce the birth of my baby blog

2006-07-17T01:31:00.001+09:00

I never considered myself the blogger type, but here I am. It took me a whole year in Japan to decide to do it. But its easier to have friends and family view your blog rather than trying to send out individual emails to everyone. That kind of sounds lazy. But I swear this way is better for everyone. A win-win situation.
The name of my blog is 'Let's karaoke!' because I hear this kind of "Japanese English" all the time. And because karaoke is so popular here. In fact, I kind of like it. Actually it has really started to grow on me...
Anyway, I will do my best to post interesting and intellectually stimulating information on my blog. So check it out when you can.
Let's karaoke!