Endings and Beginnings: The Spring 2009 Version

The school-year has finished at S.I.T.  Final tests have been taken and last minute projects completed.  All the kids are now on Spring Break (which, on a block schedule, is like finishing for the summer vacation), taking with them a new status of being another grade older in their high school careers.

March brings with it a huge changing frenzy for high schools all over Japan.  Middle schoolers have to take crazy entrance exams to get into the high school that they want, an event not much unlike our SATs and ACTs that high schoolers back in the States take to determine which colleges they are eligible for.  In Japan, one does not go to the high school predetermined by his or her school district, but instead takes the coveted high school(s)'s entrance exam in hopes of making it in, resulting in many students boarding a few hours or more from their families and hometowns in order to be closer to their high school.

The posting day of the results are ceremonious within themselves.  Big-eyed middle-schoolers, parents, grandparents, and even homeroom teachers flock to the high schools to see who made it in, often with resulting hugs, tears, phone calls, and photos in front of the results and with friends!  Our high school posting day looked like this at exactly 10am, when results were put up in the window:

Another March event, or events I should say, are the mounds of farewell parties for teachers and administration leaving the schools.  A few teachers leave because of retirement (mandatory at age 60), but many of them get re-assigned to other schools and districts by the Board of Education in a shifting-ritual which I think is cruel and unfair (especially when you've allowed yourself to grow close to some of them)!  

My first farewell party was that of all the English teachers at S.I.T.  I absolutely adore everyone in this group as they are the people that I, naturally, speak and interact with the most on a day-to-day basis.  I've neglected posting many photos of the people I work with, but feel that they are all such an important part of my life here in Japan that leaving them out just wouldn't give a complete story up on this blog (however, to keep any of them from showing up on internet searches and the like, all names have been withheld or changed):

The biggest and second party promoting the dreaded goodbyes was the one with ALL of the teachers at school...yes, there are more than 100 of us, so it's usually quite the party!  I love these parties because I usually am sitting next to someone who I don't normally talk to and who doesn't speak English, therefore forcing Japanese-language practice AND (many times) newfound friendships!

Finally, one of the most bittersweet farewell parties, was that of our all girl's group, The Secret Society of the Mystic Cherry Blossom (which you can read more about here).  Due to retirement and reassignment, we are losing three prominent members (and fun friends) of our fabulous group!  One being Prez (pic below).  If you can believe it, she is at RETIREMENT age!!!  Yes, this woman is SIXTY:

Prez started the SSMCB 12 years ago when there were a lot fewer women working at S.I.T. (the ratio isn't much better...out of 100+ teachers, around only 17 of us are women)!  She is beautiful both inside and out (60!?!?  Really!?!) and really advocates for the importance of having a group of strong, fun women within the male-dominated profession of teaching (such a change from back home)!  Without her, this group would not exist.  Without her, I hope it continues to be just as amazing.

The last change of March is the total revamping of our teacher's office and shifting of teachers to new desk locations and teams.  Before all of that can happen, all of our desks have to be cleared off, our belongings stored in various other rooms, and ALL of the chairs and desks (like I said, 100+ of them) moved out of the office for cleaning.  It basically went from this...

To this...

That's our fabulous Kyoto Sensei (vice-principal) for ya...always working, desk be damned!  We did, however, hook him up with a temporary setting:

So this should be my schpel where I cleaverly put a twist on the "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" bit.  Instead, here's hoping for some amazing new beginnings to balance out these pesky old endings a bit.

Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival

We had a three-day weekend this week, prompting us to use it for a chance to get out of the city for a bit and up north into the mountains. We headed to Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and into the little village of Sounkyo (population: 300) for their magnificent Ice Fall Festival. This festival is an amazing man-made fantasy of frozen waterfalls, twisting grottos, ice caves, slippery ice staircases, and lots of bruised butts, all of which are psychedelically lit up at night. I'd like to think that if Dr. Seuss and Timothy Leary had lunch together, this is probably what they would come up with:

This is the kind of weather we were up against, even in late March! Tripods and long-exposures didn't stand a chance:

The festival thoughtfully had a large, warm hut selling all kinds of popular foods from Hokkaido, and especially our favorite: hot, sweet sake:

And there was a traditional Ainu woodcarving shop set up as well. The Ainu are the traditional peoples of the Hokkaido area whose rich heritage and culture are just now beginning to be appreciated by the Japanese people (and government):

Entrance to Daisetsuzan National Park:

Self-portrait in front of the little mountain village of Sounkyo.

The festival during the day is just as much fun, and was also another excuse to sip on some more of that sweet, hot sake!

Although I am DEFINITELY ready for Spring to grace us with its presence, I have to say that I truly love Hokkaido's winter-time festivals and frolicking! This weekend was an amazing getaway and it makes me so excited to further explore Daisetsuzan this summer and fall! For more photos of the Ice Fall Festival, check out its flicker photo set!

Kit Kat Kingdom

Japan is a country of extremes. In a place where your age determines your rank in a company, not, say your work ethic or fabulous ideas, change is very, VERY hard to come by (you can read more about that matter at our friend's blog here). On the other hand, there have been a few seemingly good ideas infiltrated from beyond or within which Japan has grabbed on and seriously ran with. First it was cars, then electronics, then video-games.

And now it's Kit Kat bars.

Yes, that's right. Kit Kat bars RULE here, baby! The name itself closely resembles the Japanese phrase, "kitto katsu," which students use to wish each other luck on those ever-so-important-and-life-altering exams, and which, therefore, have contributed to the candy's popularity as items of good luck.

But no ordinary chocolate flavor would do in Japan...that would be silly and boring. For the Americans who thought that the introduction of "White Chocolate" Kit Kat bars was innovative, you ain't seen nothin'! Currently, Japan has introduced over EIGHTY flavors of Kit Kats, many of them regional specialties or limited editions. Flavors have ranged from blueberry, apple, and Hokkaido Yubari melon, to roasted buttered corn, green tea, and sweet potato!

This phenomenon can only mean one thing: a new obsession for me! Since my KFC Colonel Sanders statues have been taking a bit of a hiatus from their costumed Colonel Sanders of the Month, I now give you my personal lowdown on monthly (possibly weekly) Japanese Kit Kat flavors, beginning with that ever-popular Japanese dessert, Mochi and Azuki (sweet bean):

The Mochi and Azuki is actually quite good and tastes like the real deal...not too sweet with a light-rice cake aftertaste!

Surprisingly, one of the worst flavors I've had so far was the most "normal" flavored one: Strawberry. With one bite, I was instantly transported back to childhood illnesses and that thick, pink "medicine" that was an obligatory part of every doctor trip:

And the best so far was the most unexpected: Limited Edition Valentine's Lemon! It tasted like a delicious lemon cream pie, and the box folded out into a writable message for your Valentine!

I'm currently on the hunt for the fabled Exotic Kit Kats, with such flavors as Brandy and Orange, and Wine. Follow up post to come...

Adult Spice

Our friend and New Zeland JET, Telford, came for a visit this weekend, bringing with him a curious new treat...Night Club Pringles!

Yes, yes I know what you're thinking:  "Sweat, mascara, and weak cocktails all captured in the flavor of a chip!?  Surely the Japanese are the masters of the universe at artificial flavoring!"  The simple Japanese at the bottom of the can advertises the chips as being flavored with "Adult Spice!"

Adult Spice?  Habenero?  Jamaican jerk?   Vulcan's Fire Salt?

No, ladies and gentlemen, apparently in Japan, Adult Spice is another word for black pepper (stated prominently on the front as well).  Yes, that's right, these are just regular Pringles with a little black pepper sprinkled on them.   I'm sure that this is merely the precursor to Love Hotel Pringles and Hostess Bar Pringles which, of course, would give other Adult Spices such as salt and cinnamon equal play on the combini (convenience store) shelves.  Scandalous!

In other news, it's getting harder and harder to dig ourselves out of our house:

The snow has been relentless all weekend, and that means, more and more Japanese gals are donning high, spikey-heeled boots and short skirts.  Yes, even in the winter I often feel overdressed here.

We did make an amazing discovery the other day on our snow-trodding way to a hidden micro-brewery, and I especially enjoy how Jacob's fabulous photography skills have me mysteriously vaporizing into the steam:

Last, but not least...incase anyone thinks that we're in desperate need for some visual reminders of home, let me assure you, we're not: