Monday, December 31, 2007
さらば、２００７ (So long, 2007)
Yeah...um, sorry.
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There's no way to excuse a four+ month absence from what should be (ideally) a daily account of my life. To be frank, I can't offer up much of an explanation, nor can I even promise that things will change in the year to come. I don't know what the future holds for feitclub.com or for my blogging, period. I've got some ideas in my head right now that I'd like to explore, but spending an hour or two of each day summarizing what I did isn't among them. Having said that, the least I can do is bring you up to speed on what I've been doing since August (August! Jesus, I'm embarrassed to admit that).
My job is very satisfactory, albeit nothing like the position I imagined I was accepting. I spend five days a week rotating between the six elementary schools in Hana Town (that's a fake name, in case you forgot). The schools are wildly different in nearly every respect, so each day is pretty different from the next (or the last). It turns out that most elementary school students in Hana Town only get one English lesson a month, which means nearly every idea I had about this job went out the window immediately. I would loosely describe my classes as International Exposure Hour. Once a month, I stand in front of these kids, say some words in my crazy Foreigner Speak, try to get them to play along, and then say goodbye.
That's not to say some kids don't get into it; there are absolutely a couple students in each school who are eager and willing to embrace English and participate with a smile on their face. There are also a couple students in each school who find the notion of speaking English to be impossible, a waste of time, or possibly both. Most of the students fall somewhere on the broad line in between those extremes. I wish I could say that the "good" students outnumbered the "bad," but that wouldn't be true and it would be unfair for me to label the students as "good" or "bad." Basically, they're just there, everyday, and I do my best to get them involved in my classes in the hopes that they will accept me and my Foreignness as normal.
At the far-more-important home front, well, everything is different now. Mako and I were formally "married" in September once I turned in a kon'in todoke (婚姻届 "marriage registration") form. The funniest part of the story? I did it by myself, as she works later than the local city hall accepts such documents. So I got to call her on the phone that night and give her the good news. She moved in a few weeks later, and throughout the month of October we went about reorganizing and redecorating he apartment. After all, this place was set up for single occupancy and things like a full-size bed or a sofa for two needed to be purchased.
By the time November rolled around, we were two very busy people. We had weekly meetings to plan our wedding ceremony, which included coordinating the arrivals of my immediate family from the States, plus Mako spent an hour or two every night studying for an accounting exam connected to her job. That exam happened to fall on my birthday, which was inconvenient, although we still made time to go out to eat at the Osaka branch of Heichinrou. It was delicious, of course, but I think the booze is an acquired taste.
The wedding took place on Thanksgiving weekend, and it was an exhausting, exhilarating, one-in-a-lifetime (hopefully!) experience. My family all made it and, by all accounts, they had a wonderful time. Despite the language barrier, Mako's family and mine get along splendidly and everyone seemed to really like each other. I was also lucky enough to have a friend living here in Japan make the trip from Kanto to join us. His visit, besides meaning my side of the wedding had 33% more guests, also meant there was at least one native English speaker near my family throughout the ceremony and luncheon. Richard, if you're reading this, thanks again for coming.
So that's about all the major stuff I've had on my plate since I stopped writing. What does 2008 hold for me? Right now, Mako and I have got two trips planned in the spring, including one back to New York to celebrate the wedding with everyone who couldn't make it to the ceremony. I fully intend to pursue a renewal on my contract, as this job is definitely worth hanging on to for a while longer. As far as my writing habits go, I can't say what next year will be like. With any luck, I'll write more, but whether that writing will involve blogging, who knows?
In the meantime, from the future, Feit...out.
![]()
There's no way to excuse a four+ month absence from what should be (ideally) a daily account of my life. To be frank, I can't offer up much of an explanation, nor can I even promise that things will change in the year to come. I don't know what the future holds for feitclub.com or for my blogging, period. I've got some ideas in my head right now that I'd like to explore, but spending an hour or two of each day summarizing what I did isn't among them. Having said that, the least I can do is bring you up to speed on what I've been doing since August (August! Jesus, I'm embarrassed to admit that).
My job is very satisfactory, albeit nothing like the position I imagined I was accepting. I spend five days a week rotating between the six elementary schools in Hana Town (that's a fake name, in case you forgot). The schools are wildly different in nearly every respect, so each day is pretty different from the next (or the last). It turns out that most elementary school students in Hana Town only get one English lesson a month, which means nearly every idea I had about this job went out the window immediately. I would loosely describe my classes as International Exposure Hour. Once a month, I stand in front of these kids, say some words in my crazy Foreigner Speak, try to get them to play along, and then say goodbye.
That's not to say some kids don't get into it; there are absolutely a couple students in each school who are eager and willing to embrace English and participate with a smile on their face. There are also a couple students in each school who find the notion of speaking English to be impossible, a waste of time, or possibly both. Most of the students fall somewhere on the broad line in between those extremes. I wish I could say that the "good" students outnumbered the "bad," but that wouldn't be true and it would be unfair for me to label the students as "good" or "bad." Basically, they're just there, everyday, and I do my best to get them involved in my classes in the hopes that they will accept me and my Foreignness as normal.
At the far-more-important home front, well, everything is different now. Mako and I were formally "married" in September once I turned in a kon'in todoke (婚姻届 "marriage registration") form. The funniest part of the story? I did it by myself, as she works later than the local city hall accepts such documents. So I got to call her on the phone that night and give her the good news. She moved in a few weeks later, and throughout the month of October we went about reorganizing and redecorating he apartment. After all, this place was set up for single occupancy and things like a full-size bed or a sofa for two needed to be purchased.
By the time November rolled around, we were two very busy people. We had weekly meetings to plan our wedding ceremony, which included coordinating the arrivals of my immediate family from the States, plus Mako spent an hour or two every night studying for an accounting exam connected to her job. That exam happened to fall on my birthday, which was inconvenient, although we still made time to go out to eat at the Osaka branch of Heichinrou. It was delicious, of course, but I think the booze is an acquired taste.
The wedding took place on Thanksgiving weekend, and it was an exhausting, exhilarating, one-in-a-lifetime (hopefully!) experience. My family all made it and, by all accounts, they had a wonderful time. Despite the language barrier, Mako's family and mine get along splendidly and everyone seemed to really like each other. I was also lucky enough to have a friend living here in Japan make the trip from Kanto to join us. His visit, besides meaning my side of the wedding had 33% more guests, also meant there was at least one native English speaker near my family throughout the ceremony and luncheon. Richard, if you're reading this, thanks again for coming.
So that's about all the major stuff I've had on my plate since I stopped writing. What does 2008 hold for me? Right now, Mako and I have got two trips planned in the spring, including one back to New York to celebrate the wedding with everyone who couldn't make it to the ceremony. I fully intend to pursue a renewal on my contract, as this job is definitely worth hanging on to for a while longer. As far as my writing habits go, I can't say what next year will be like. With any luck, I'll write more, but whether that writing will involve blogging, who knows?
In the meantime, from the future, Feit...out.
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Congratulations, Dan, from all of your old friends at the Saw Mill Multiplex!!
(Yes, we're keeping tabs on you. Ralston has eyes everywhere.)
No really. Vic and Frank wish you all the best. You've come a long way, pal. Great wedding picture.
(Yes, we're keeping tabs on you. Ralston has eyes everywhere.)
No really. Vic and Frank wish you all the best. You've come a long way, pal. Great wedding picture.
# posted by 
: 01 January, 2008 02:43
Yes, I agree- beautiful picture. It's awesome to see you so happy and growing in your life. Of course, I miss you terribly in blogland (and in NY), but understand that blogs can't last forever! :)
Keep in touch and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
love,
h
Keep in touch and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
love,
h
Congratulations Dan. It's good to see that things are going well.
You're lucky that you don't have to teach middle school students — by the time they get there, they're too cool for English because they have decided (realized) that it is a waste of time (i.e. something they have to study in order to pass a bunch of tests, but will in fact probably never use).
Anyway, off to go get stared at in the gym by housewives!
Jacques
You're lucky that you don't have to teach middle school students — by the time they get there, they're too cool for English because they have decided (realized) that it is a waste of time (i.e. something they have to study in order to pass a bunch of tests, but will in fact probably never use).
Anyway, off to go get stared at in the gym by housewives!
Jacques
Friggin finally! I've been starved for news from Danland.
Congrats on your wedding, and that photo is priceless. You should do kimonos more often!
When is the NY party? I want to meet Mako, as you didn't get her up to the inn when she came to the states last year!
Congrats on your wedding, and that photo is priceless. You should do kimonos more often!
When is the NY party? I want to meet Mako, as you didn't get her up to the inn when she came to the states last year!
Dude. That makes me happy just reading it. Congrats to you both! Much love and blessing for you now and in the future! Stan
# posted by : 01 November, 2008 07:14
Thanks to everyone for their wishes. I hope some of you are still reading now that the blog is back.
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