So, I got the best Christmas gift I could wish for. A Japanese man sitting on the floor of my apartment installing my internet on Christmas Eve. I switched companies LAST WEEK and already had my internet installed by the following weekend! I wish I had done it a long time ago! I'd like to say I'll miss my friends over at the net cafe... but that would be a lie.
Christmas in Japan is weird. People kiiiinda celebrate it. But it's only considered a commercial holiday here and most people don't recognize it's true meaning. And you still have to work. Working on Christmas probably would have felt weirder if it had actually felt like Christmas. But being so far from home and everything I associate with Christmas, it really didn't. We held a special Christmas lesson for our kids where I taught them some dumb Christmas song I had never even heard before and had to learn the night before.
The only time it ACTUALLY felt like Christmas for me was when I video chatted with my family late that night (their Christmas morning) and got to "be there" for the whole opening of presents and whatnot. It really felt like I was there at the time! But now, looking back it doesn't feel like a real memory. Just like having watched a movie. But it was still awesome to be a part of it and have Christmas with the fam in some way. Even if I had to keep jumping around just to keep from falling asleep.
This week was counseling week so we gave only private lessons and special lessons that we had to come up with on our own. I did a music special lesson. One class was called "Music Through the Ages" and taught about the differences of music through the different decades in the 1900s, and the other was about genre. I taught the genre one today and it didn't really work. Stuff I though would be SUPER easy (like classic examples of genre, Bob Marley = Reggae, Dylan = Folk) the students weren't really getting. Surprisingly they all understood Earth, Wind, and Fire as disco though. I guess some things just transcend all cultures. Scary that it's disco.
Now, my winter break begins and I don't have to go to work for a whole week! AND I have a special visitor coming who I am very excited about. All in all, things are looking good. I've got internet, no work, and good company on its way.
I could go the traditional Japanese route and have a quiet New Years Eve full of ceremony, at-home family goodness, and ringing of bells at shrines. Or, I could go to a club the whole night and dance my dice off. We'll see what happens. (try and guess) ;D Miss you all. Happiest of holidays!!
3 件のコメント:
I'm sorry Christmas with the family doesn't feel like a "real" memory! I guess in a way it was kind of like you watching a movie of us, but we did get to talk back and forth at the same time. At our end, it really was almost like having you right there in the room with us. And it definitely made it a lot easier for me. I probably would have cried about you not being here for Christmas otherwise. So glad you have a fun week ahead of you!!
Love, Mom :)
Where, exactly, are your "dice?"
Hello! My name's Erik, I recently interviewed with AEON.
I received a call yesterday with an offer that would place me in Koshigaya. I have until the 6th of this month to accept or decline (I've already declined an offer about two weeks ago).
I tried googling everything I could about Koshigaya to get a better idea of things and that's how I found your blog. Also, I asked my recruiter if there was a website for this particular school and he showed me the link (http://www.aeonet.co.jp/school/staff.php?sno=1122).
I guess I was extremely lucky because I believe you're the same Dawn in that link that blogs here!
Crazy, eh?
Well, I hope this message finds you well. I guess it's a strange coincidence, but I suppose if I accept this offer I'd be seeing you in Koshigaya?
Feel free to email me, I have some questions about Koshigaya and the school, some general stuff really.
I look forward to hearing from you, take care!
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