The last time I posted about my vacation. I had crazy tales of ziplining through the Philippine mountains, kayaking into caves, riding elephants, visiting Filipino Doctors; exciting stuff. I thought about not posting about my time home because the 7 people that read my posts will be let down by my lack of adventures. But, I think its important to talk about why I would choose going home over spending the same money seeing a place I've never been and going on new adventures.
Going home, I knew I wasn't planning on doing anything extravagant. It was actually hard to believe this would be the 3rd time I've been home since moving to Japan less than a year ago. But it was the first time in about 6 months. When I got there, the first thing I really pick up on is the noise. I felt like I had super sonic hearing because I could listen to conversations people were having across the room. Its not really that I could hear more its just that I could actually understand what they are saying. Where I live in Sendai, you just don't hear random people speaking in English naturally.
The interesting thing about the food is, when I'm in Japan I just crave random things we never get here, like mozzarella sticks, good pizza, breadsticks, Arbys, Taco Bell, etc. But when I got home, it was all at my disposal and I never really cared that much. I got Arby's and Wendy's but that was about it. One big difference that you get reminded of is the portions. In Japan Tinkerbell would be starving after getting a large fry and the drinks are so small they evaporate before you take a sip.The standard American size is the "oinking out" fries with the drink that comes with the optional diving board. I ordered the medium combo at Wendy's Drive Thru and had to open my door because the window wasn't big enough to slide the drink through.
The other thing you notice is the roads. After driving in Japan the roads seem gigantic. You can't even fit half the standard American cars on the road in Japan.You also have an easier time drawing a straight diagonal on an Etch-A-Sketch than finding a straight road in Japan.
Right away, my friend Ashley picks me up from the airport and my body starts freaking out because it feels like she's driving on the wrong side of the road especially when turning. Luckily, I didn't drive from the airport.The interesting thing though is that when I started driving, I had no problem with the correct side of the road. It was like muscle memory as soon as I took off. Parking is also great in America. In Japan, you've got to back into a spot that was already too small for your car. Coming from Japan, I felt like I could park a Hummer parallel in a regular spot.
Jet lag also dug into my time in America. Everytime I've gone home. I haven't been able to sleep well. I get a few hours then wide awake at night. Christmas I woke up at 2AM wide awake but was exhausted at noon. Pretty much every night I stayed awake till 3 or 4 AM. I'd sleep for a few hours in the morning then a few hours in the afternoon when I got a chance. Coming back to Japan, my biggest issue is I get tired early at night and usually wake up around 5 or 6 AM which isn't always a bad thing.
Even though, I may not have "done anything" it was great to be back home. I got a chance to see a lot of great people that I haven't seen in too long. When I was home it sometimes felt like living in Japan was just a dream and I was back to normal. Its really good to have that place that you just genuinely feel at home. Sometimes it even beats the adventures. I'm just not ready to give up all the adventures completely yet haha!
**Also for the first time ever, I had no issues flying back to Japan on time with power. For more on my traveling woes check here
SKI TRIP
A day after I got back, I went on our high school program's ski trip to Eboshi. Its about an hour away. I have skied all of 3 times in my entire life. Each of them was a relearning experience. Last year, right before I got to Japan I got the chance to ski at Cannonsburg in Michigan. By the end of the night, I felt like I had kinda gotten the hang of it. Boy was I wrong! We spent spent Saturday teaching the kids (and me) how to ski. I did great at the starting and turning but I couldn't stop. On a mountain, gravity just won't do it for ya.
After Skiing, we all watched Cars 2 before dinner. They have some great Japan references. It was really interesting to to hear the Japanese students laughing at different parts. I wasn't sure what they would actually get.
Day 2 we got up bright and early to ski at 9AM. We got to Eboshi and the place looked like a lot of other ski resorts I'd see in America. We spent the first several minutes grouping kids by experience. Then I went with my students to some more easy practice. Finally, we went on the hill. This was my first experience skiing a real big mountain. With me falling every few minutes. It took about 30 minutes to go up and down the hill. It was a lot of pain and a lot of fun.
**Side Story for those that are still reading. I was riding the plane home when half way to Chicago the girl that sits next to me asked me if I taught at MeySen. Turns out her school uses GrapeSeed (our Curriculum) and got trained at our campus just before the earthquake. To make things crazier, on the way back I sat next to the aisle. In the aisle seat directly next to me was this exact same girl. The funny thing was it wasn't even her seat. A lady asked if she would switch. Small world!
Going home, I knew I wasn't planning on doing anything extravagant. It was actually hard to believe this would be the 3rd time I've been home since moving to Japan less than a year ago. But it was the first time in about 6 months. When I got there, the first thing I really pick up on is the noise. I felt like I had super sonic hearing because I could listen to conversations people were having across the room. Its not really that I could hear more its just that I could actually understand what they are saying. Where I live in Sendai, you just don't hear random people speaking in English naturally.
The interesting thing about the food is, when I'm in Japan I just crave random things we never get here, like mozzarella sticks, good pizza, breadsticks, Arbys, Taco Bell, etc. But when I got home, it was all at my disposal and I never really cared that much. I got Arby's and Wendy's but that was about it. One big difference that you get reminded of is the portions. In Japan Tinkerbell would be starving after getting a large fry and the drinks are so small they evaporate before you take a sip.The standard American size is the "oinking out" fries with the drink that comes with the optional diving board. I ordered the medium combo at Wendy's Drive Thru and had to open my door because the window wasn't big enough to slide the drink through.
The other thing you notice is the roads. After driving in Japan the roads seem gigantic. You can't even fit half the standard American cars on the road in Japan.You also have an easier time drawing a straight diagonal on an Etch-A-Sketch than finding a straight road in Japan.
Right away, my friend Ashley picks me up from the airport and my body starts freaking out because it feels like she's driving on the wrong side of the road especially when turning. Luckily, I didn't drive from the airport.The interesting thing though is that when I started driving, I had no problem with the correct side of the road. It was like muscle memory as soon as I took off. Parking is also great in America. In Japan, you've got to back into a spot that was already too small for your car. Coming from Japan, I felt like I could park a Hummer parallel in a regular spot.
Jet lag also dug into my time in America. Everytime I've gone home. I haven't been able to sleep well. I get a few hours then wide awake at night. Christmas I woke up at 2AM wide awake but was exhausted at noon. Pretty much every night I stayed awake till 3 or 4 AM. I'd sleep for a few hours in the morning then a few hours in the afternoon when I got a chance. Coming back to Japan, my biggest issue is I get tired early at night and usually wake up around 5 or 6 AM which isn't always a bad thing.
Even though, I may not have "done anything" it was great to be back home. I got a chance to see a lot of great people that I haven't seen in too long. When I was home it sometimes felt like living in Japan was just a dream and I was back to normal. Its really good to have that place that you just genuinely feel at home. Sometimes it even beats the adventures. I'm just not ready to give up all the adventures completely yet haha!
**Also for the first time ever, I had no issues flying back to Japan on time with power. For more on my traveling woes check here
SKI TRIP
A day after I got back, I went on our high school program's ski trip to Eboshi. Its about an hour away. I have skied all of 3 times in my entire life. Each of them was a relearning experience. Last year, right before I got to Japan I got the chance to ski at Cannonsburg in Michigan. By the end of the night, I felt like I had kinda gotten the hang of it. Boy was I wrong! We spent spent Saturday teaching the kids (and me) how to ski. I did great at the starting and turning but I couldn't stop. On a mountain, gravity just won't do it for ya.
After Skiing, we all watched Cars 2 before dinner. They have some great Japan references. It was really interesting to to hear the Japanese students laughing at different parts. I wasn't sure what they would actually get.
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| At night the students made Kamakura. Basically a Snow Fort they put candles in. |
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| My kids made the Sendai Samurai. |
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| A Monster |
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| The view From My room at 6AM |
Day 2 we got up bright and early to ski at 9AM. We got to Eboshi and the place looked like a lot of other ski resorts I'd see in America. We spent the first several minutes grouping kids by experience. Then I went with my students to some more easy practice. Finally, we went on the hill. This was my first experience skiing a real big mountain. With me falling every few minutes. It took about 30 minutes to go up and down the hill. It was a lot of pain and a lot of fun.
**Side Story for those that are still reading. I was riding the plane home when half way to Chicago the girl that sits next to me asked me if I taught at MeySen. Turns out her school uses GrapeSeed (our Curriculum) and got trained at our campus just before the earthquake. To make things crazier, on the way back I sat next to the aisle. In the aisle seat directly next to me was this exact same girl. The funny thing was it wasn't even her seat. A lady asked if she would switch. Small world!
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