a touch of home: skype

Gotta love it. Herroow!

Jo x

baseball: keio vs waseda

Imagine RHUL vs UCL. Times 10. Times 100. Keio and Waseda University are archrivals since forever and the baseball game (twice a year) between the schools is a huge thing. To begin with, baseball here is something like college basketball in the U.S. They broadcast the games on TV and stuff. And today was the big day. Actually, yesterday was the big day #1. See, they play the teams twice in one weekend, and there has to be a decision. For example, Waseda won yesterday and if Keio would win today, they'd go at it again tomorrow (which would mean all classes cancelled!).

The arena

I've never ever in my entire life watched baseball before, and had no idea about the rules except that they are similar to Swedish brännboll. Of course now I am an expert. At the end of the 8th inning I'd figured out the scoreboard and what would give us points (with help from Canadian friends) and all of a sudden it got exciting! Keio was down 3-2 for the last inning and still had a chance to win, but because of silly, silly mistakes they lost by 4-2 in the end, and classes are all on tomorrow. Was a cool experience though, even if it really isn't an exciting sport. The game took well over 3 hours and was largely a coordination workout with the cheerleaders chanting more or less all the time, having us clap and shout the names of the players. And whenever Keio scored, there was a special dance where the rows of people would hold around each other's shoulders and sway with the music. The kind of cuteness only the Japanese can do.

Very sad we lost, however (and not just because of classes!), but Waseda won't win the league this year so at least there's that. Keio won it last year, but will end up 2nd I think this time around. Vengeance is mine, Waseda...(which so happens to be the title of the Japanese film I am now going to watch for class - Smooth Transition, you are my bitch).

Jo x

halloween

 I may have mentioned this fact before, but here you go again: Halloween is HUGE in Japan. And I mean huge. Parties go on everywhere from Friday to Monday and people dress up in serious costumes. A lot of slutty she-devils as per UK/Sweden, but also Pikachus, Willy Wonkas etc. Saturday we went to a club in Shibuya for a party organised by a student's organisation.

I finally, finally had a legitimate reason to realise my Sailor Moon dreams and suited up in a semi-colour-matched costume (note the Swedish colours!) and over-knee socks à la Japan, I went with a bear, three school girls, a manga character, two Pikachus and a pumpkin to the club. Now, this party started fairly early and we took the 5pm train. You think people were looking at us? Nah, not at all.

Oh, and the party had a costume contest - which I won :D ! The 5 contestants had to stand on the stage, each holding a voting bucket (I was number 3) and the other partyers would vote with a chocolate we were given at the entrance. So essentially you had to flatter the people into voting for you. Apparently I did it well, as I beat the Radish-Samurai (!) by 2-3 votes and won the grand prize! So psyched! Took so many photos with so many people after that. If I relied too much on my hair before, that's nothing, I repeat - nothing! - compared to now. So what was my prize? Well, a huge chocolate pretzel thing (see photo) + sweets + a Keio logo bag thing (that I've been wanting to get since I got here but never got around to!). So a happy Miss Moon indeed.

Random sign in Shibuya...

After this party we continued on (it ended at 8pm...) to Camelot, another club in Shibuya. Free entry with costume and £5 drinks. Won't complain. The music was awesome as well and around 10pm is started to fill up properly. Weird Japanese custom though - in a club, people face the DJ and sort of jump up and down rather than dance in circles with your friends and you'd see, well, anywhere else in the world. Also, they had TV screens showing the music videos of some of the songs played. Strange indeed. Foreigners as we are, however, we formed a circle, then jumped up on the stage and did rocked that club like there was no tomorrow.

Happy Halloween, peeps!

Jo x

confidential project: unconfidentialised

As promised earlier, it is time to reveal the second project, a.k.a Confidential Project. I choose now as the time to divulge its secrets because it is more or less settled and ascertained, and there is little more to risk being jinxed by talking/writing about it. Me? Superstitious? Never!

It actually ties in a wee bit with the Swedish Project. My life-long vow never ever to be a teacher has been breached and broken and blindsided brutally as I will also, as well as teaching at the Swedish school, do private tutoring! Yes, that's right - more job, more teaching.

Currently I have two regular students, but this number may increase to four (although I'm not sure I have time for that many). Basically I see these people once a week in a coffee shop or other, one hour at a time each, and teach them English. They already have some solid knowledge - Japanese people tend to know grammar well, but lack in conversation and pronunciation - so it's more or less conversation classes. Being paid for chatting, essentially (gosh, it sounds wrong - is that bad? Luckily I have no conscience). I'm also having them read The Little Prince by Antoine Saint-Exupéry. That's how I learnt French so I thought it'd be a good idea.

So there you go. A little extra money (which are currently being put into a jar to be saved for a special occasion) for this lady and some extra experience to put on the resume.

Now all we have left is the Super Secret Project. It has not progressed at all, but as soon as it does, I'll be sure to let you know. Hopefully events this week will have some positive effect on it. We shall see...

Jo x

our magic hour yokohama

The Yokohama Triennale is an arts event which only takes place every three years, and this year we were lucky enough to choose the right time to come here - so naturally we had to go. There were films to watch, texts to read, Japanese vocab/grammar to be studied, but am I going to pass up on something called "Our Magic Hour"? Nah, I don't think so. So we went. I took lots of photos, but below are some of my favourites.

Freaky faces outside the museum

Audioguide. In English!

 Among all the beads there is one realt, authentic, genuine diamond. Can you spot it? 

 This was a tad bit creepy. Each light bulb is connected to a child and will light up whenever that child performs an action. The child is not aware of the connection. WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?

 Edo period (1700-1868) monsters! Love!

 An artist put up an exhibition about his cat's last weeks in life. So sad!

 See that glass thingy at the bottom? Now this is pure awesomeness. It's like a maze thing and in the middle there is a telephone. Sometimes no one less than Yoko Ono herself calls from New York to that particular phone! People lined up to go in and take their chance at talking with her. We didn't. After a swift calculation we decided she'd be asleep, considering the time difference. But still! Imagine going inside and hearing the phone ring. What would you say?

By Swedish artist Björn Dahlem!

 Apparently made out of "fragile products such as dust and hair." Ew. It's a ferris wheel by the way. I guess a replica of the Yokohama one.

Yokohama

All in all a good day. Some of the art was...doubtful. How about a tennis ball placed on a white cube? I'm sure there is a lot of thought behind it. Maybe my brain is not developed enough to comprehend such deep and philosophical thoughts, I don't know. Nevertheless, most of the works were interesting and very cool indeed.

Now to actual work which I've neglected all day. My second project (Confidential Project) is taking a sharp upturn this week and will keep me super busy. Its future will also be determined by the end of the week. However, further details will be given Wednesday. Watch this space...

Jo x

shinjuku

 Shinjuku is a notorious party place - and not surprisingly home to the major gay club scene in Tokyo. My sister once pointed out that"You know if you were a guy, you'd be gay right?" and as I do enjoy a good night out with guys who actually can dance, I took my inner Gay Man and went with friends to explore this wonderful place on Saturday.

Kawaii!

Gay Club? Naah...

 Whenever Lady Gaga was playing (and trust me she was) this group of guys went on the stage and performed a flawless replica of all her dances. Bad Romance was epic and they were so cute! Knew every single step, move, wink and shake. Put your paws up!

My friends and I also had a wee bit of a show on the stage, but unsurprisingly 4 girls didn't get as much attention and appreciation as 4 guys.

Sailor Moon out walking with her lesser known friend

Such a good night and we danced like never before to Rihanna, Lady Gaga and some Korean pop. Cheap drinks, awesome people, brilliant music - can one ask for more?

Jo x

swedish project: revealed

Recognise the face above? Sure you do. Who is it then? Johanna? That'd be Johanna-sensei for you, please. That's right - I've gone against one of my top-3 Principles of Life and become a teacher. The JoJo has got a job!

Thus is the Swedish Project revealed and divulged and disclosed all at once. A few weeks ago I sent an e-mail to the Swedish school in Tokyo, basically saying Hi, I'm here, I'm Swedish, hire me? and I got a semi-positive reply saying that they'd keep my name etc. In other words, never thought I'd hear from them again. But I did. Yesterday. I missed the calls and only returned them this morning. Turns out they needed someone and asked me to come in already this evening! I just got back now.

You are officially reading the words of the new Teaching Assistant at Tokyo International School! Once a week I'll go to Mita (close to where my university is) and help, or 'assist' if you will, the teacher (24 years old guy) in a group with fourteen 6-8 year-olds! I'll do a total of 2 hours' work but they have small breaks in between sessions. The kids all seem very nice and it was so good to be able to speak some Swedish again! Maybe I won't forget it after all.

So yes, those are the big news. Very happy lady at the moment. Might have been the glass of wine I had with my new colleagues after class (I'm such a lightweight these days) but I'll take the current state of mind as a positive one.

Tomorrow I'm going to a gay club. Stay tuned for updates/photos/souvenirs (ew, no). Don't want to miss that!

Jo x

swedish project

Phone call proved fruitful. Now on to the next step: meeting. This is where I'm going - already tonight!

Some key words: Swedish, 6-8, and TIS.

To be continued...

Jo x

busy bee

Sorry for the absence of posts at the moment but I am extremely busy and nothing very exciting is happening anyway.

Well, actually that's a right down lie. I have barely no work for classes and a lot of potentially exciting things are under way (which I suppose is what makes me busy), but I shall not jinx anything. I want to see how it all unravels before disclosing any more detailed information.

In fact, certain things may clear up a little after a very specific phone call tomorrow, and (knock on wood) I might be able to reveal the content of this THIRD project (who needs spare time anyway?). Hm, it needs a name...The Swedish Project. There you go. How's that for a clue?

Jo x

it's all in the details

A little while ago I had a test if you remember; a Katakana test. It was easy peasy, I knew them all and felt like I had it all down while taking it. A week later I got the results back and I was, surprised let's say.

Above is said test. 2 "mistakes" corrected in fierce red pen. I'm sorry, Ms Sensei (teacher), I must have forgotten my ruler on that particular day. Bad JoJo.

...

Where is the returns desk?

Jo x

another day...in paradise

Today was one of the best days here so far. After much waiting it was finally time for the Tokyo Vegefood Festa 2011 in Yoyogi! I had no idea what it entailed but deduced from the name that it could only be good. And how right was I?! It was a place where us veggies were accepted. Where no one would sigh "ah, but you can't eat it anyway." Where our values were, well, valued. Where there was food we could eat. Plus it was 28 degrees and splendid sun. Paradise.

 There were loads of stalls with food ranging from Indian curry to Asian spring rolls, and there were stands with dried soy products, organic veggies, teas (Clippers!) and other organic products. I bought some raw food bars I always eat in England (nakd) - so good! One was gingerbread flavour. Won't even go into any details on how good it was.

Also munched on the stuff right. A vegan beanie sausage and some soy vegan balls. Both very yummy indeed. I wish this place could be open every day, but sadly its an annual event. Lucky then that I got a tote bag and a pin and a sticker with the logo on so I'll never forget my wondrous experience of Tokyo Vegefood Festa!

Full of good veggie karma we ventured on to Harajuku, which is only a ten-minute walk away from Yoyogi. There is a Halloween party in 2 weeks and we needed costumes. And costumes we found. This country is a tad strange. One the one hand they will charge you extortionate prices for fruit and then you can get a proper Sailor Moon (ooops, did I just reveal that?) costume for just under 2,000 yen?! Today that was a good thing though. It's incredible, this costume, but you'll have to wait for the actual event for photos. I can't wait!

Harajuku is an awesome place. You see so many dragqueens and generally strange-looking people, and there are the most random shops. Also took new purikura photos. Miaow!

Tomorrow it is back to reality and classes. Am changing around a bit to get rid of my stupid Kanji class. Kanji is like a fricking picture puzzle! "Today" in Japanese is kyoo, but if you write it in Kanji (Chinese characters) you use two signs - the one for NOW and the one for DAY. It makes sense of course...

Oh, and there is also my new exciting project as well...another Confidential one, although not Super Secret like the first. I'll give you three words: English, money, coffee. Trust me, it makes sense.

Jo x