Good evening!~ (or whatever time it is where you live)

I feel kind of good today. You might remember one of my last entries where I ranted about feeling down and not knowing what's wrong with me.
I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do from here on. Nothing is set yet at all.
Thinking too much about my future, especially jobwise, makes my head spin around. Thinking too much is not good either, I guess.

I recently asked in a community how other people who lived or still live in Japan decided or would decide when/whether/why to go back home.
The answers were really all completely different, but it was very interesting to read about it. Have yet to answer and thank everybody for their answers ;o; I suck!

I promise to keep you guys updated as soon as there's anything SET. Right now all I could do is ranting again, so I spare you.
What I did lately is looking into options that get me out of my shut-in life a BIT. Community centers and stuff where you can do calligraphy and other stuff for example. I'll visit there soon and see if there's anything I can do (esp. s.th. that's in accordance with my crazy work schedule / hours). I hope that's the first step into the right direction.
Looking for stuff, I also found out that there is a speech contest for foreign people soon (in Japanese, of course). 1st prize would be 30.000yen!!!!! That's awesome, isn't it?? (half an Arashi ticket!! XD)
Topic: write about the differences between Japan and your home country
Deadline: in 10 days
You send in your essay/speech and they decide on 10 people who can actually take part, but ... you know I think, mostly university students who have the support of Japanese profs etc. will take part, so .... and I just got to know about it, so ... it's too sudden.
One part of me wants to do it, the other doesn't.

Anyways, back to the main topic.
While thinking about too many things lately, I realized that I can't really figure out anymore what I came here for. Or rather, what the things are I still want to do (because I think things changed since I first came here, my interests and priorities DEFINITELY changes since back then!!!!)
When you first come to Japan, you're so hyper and excited about everything and you do all the things you always wanted to do, but after some time things calm down and I think .... you partly forget WHY you came here and even stop doing the things you came here for originally. I'm no exception. I recently read through old entries. I posted so often and took photos of each and every tiny things. And the things I was crazy about back then, aren't really things I'm interested in (that much) anymore now!
I did quite a lot of things since coming here. Hey, I even climbed Mt. Fuji!!!! ;P
But I still feel like I'm missing out on many things and sometims it's difficult to find "the way back". I don't wanna have any regrets. I don't want to forget anything and then realize back home I didn't do this and that and now have no chance to do it or whatever.

That's why I thought it might be interesting to ask YOU what the things are you would like to do/see/experience if you came to Japan!!!!
Anything is fine, no matter how unimportant or ridiculous you think it might be!!! :D I'd really appreciate it!! :333

Other than that I'm trying to reduce my internet usage / time online a little bit. I should also have a day where I don't go online at all, but it's difficult for me as this is my only way of communication with others (esp. family) and stuff, but once a week or so should be okay.
I can't believe that I managed to live 20 whole years without the internet!!! (o_o') .. How the hell did that work??!!!! (x___X)

People keep telling me that I should figure out what I really want to do (apart from studying Japanese all day long that is): in my free time, but also careerwise, social life-wise ....
It's just not that easy to find out what it is you really want to do. Or is it just me? How do you usually go about this? Making a list? I don't think that it's easier just because I try to write it down.
Are there any good advice websites or whatever you can recommend? I sound like an elementary school student who can't do anything alone, huh? XD
Well, without thinking I'd say I'd love to do / have / experience: photography, dancing, taiko, cat, Japanese

I also have to start planning my winter vacation this/next year!
The only thing that's in my mind so far is Nagano (snow monkeys + onsen), but .... that's about it (O_O') ....


Something completely else that I thought might be interesting for some of you who think about coming to Japan (and working as a teacher)

It seems that some female ALT teachers have problems with students harassing them (sexual harassment). It's not the first time I read about this.
Here's one forum thread on gaijinpot to give you an idea about it. ALTs are "Assistant Language Teachers" and work mainly in public schools (elementary, jr. high or high schools).
Thus, they have huge classes with all sorts of students. Of course, there are also those students who couldn't care less about studying. And as you know bullying in Japanese schools is quite harsh, too.
There seem to be a lot of problems in Japanese schools (not limited to Japanese (public) schools, of course!).

In my kind of job (eikaiwa - conversation school), it's different, though.
At least I've never heard that anybody had problems with sexual harassment (at least not from students XD).
In my school, I can't imagine it at all! Luckily!!~
But that's the big difference between a normal school where just everybody HAS to go and conversation schools where you can CHOOSE whether to go or not. They even pay money to come and study, so the majority of the students is somewhat willing to study. Classes are very small and the majority of the students comes from richer families (it doesn't mean that their manners are better, but I think you get what I'm trying to say).



Generally, it's possible that very young kids do something to you that we in Western countries would be considered as (kind of) sexual harassment. Did you ever hear about Kancho (カンチョー)?
I think Wikipedia explains it quite well so let lazy me just copy it, k?? ;P
It "is a prank often played in Japan; it is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them sharply into someone's anal region when the victim is not looking.^[2][3] It is similar to the wedgie or a goosing, although, as compared to kancho, the former mentioned acts do not involve physical contact which is quite as intimate or direct. "


(*click to enlarge)
Maybe you've already seen it in various anime (Naruto is one example *g*).

What might look funny in anime and maybe be fun among male teenagers is not so fun when young kids do it to adults. Especially because it doesn't seem to stop there!
I've read stories about teachers who got touched or grabbed where you don't wanna be touched/grabbed. I think the most difficult thing is how to react.
Japanese kids until a certain age get a LOT of freedom from their parents! They're not very strict to them, especially about these kind of things. Of course there are exceptions to the rule!
I saw our infants hitting or grabbing the ass of one of our foreign teachers, but as long as it's not more than that and .. geez, they're 3 or 4, so what? But if it goes farther, I think teachers still should be strict about it and make it a rule that it's not allowed in their classroom. While it might be okay elsewhere they should tell them, that it's not something they'd like to see in their classrooms. I know, easier said than done.
Mah~, I'm sure most of you already knew about this anyways, but I still thought it's interesting to share

Keep that in mind when looking for a job in Japan ;)
Don't say I didn't warn you ;P

Poupéegirl:
I'm totally in love with the current event for some reason!!! Probably because you don't get to usually wear dresses like that in real life which makes it interesting:

(*Click to enlarge)



I'm totally in love with that dress. I love everything about it, especially the colors (although they don't match my Poupée's dark tan XD) .... I wish I had a dress like that in real life, although I think it wouldn't suit me, but who cares?! XD


I'm currently watching ......... (no, no jdramas!!) LOST!! - the last season!
It's so exciting and confusing, I can't stop watching and I'm pretty sure once I'm done I have to go back and rewatch everything from the start (season 1). Wow!!! I won't really have time for that, but who cares? XD
That's all. Over and out.