it's not life that matters but the journey...

I had meant to get on here last night and post the rest of my photos from last week - but then Masahiko got home from work early and wanted to go to this little local jazz club and jam with the owner and his wife. So I went with him, just for a short time. It was fun - we were the only ones there, and he played some jazz standards for about 40 minutes, and I drank a glass of red wine and then a cup of milk tea. Since I'd sat at home all day by myself, it was nice to get out and socialize - and every chance I get to practice my Japanese is a good thing:) The owner of the club is actually Masahiko's cousin, and he's owned the place for about 30 years. The owner, who's a bassist, is forming a little band with his wife, a pianist, and Masahiko on guitar and a really good young drummer. They want to practice for a few months and then do some shows. It's so good for Masahiko to get a chance to play jazz with some really good musicians - it makes him so happy!

Anyway, today was probably the warmest day since I've been in Japan - I went for a long walk and sweated the whole way, with my three layers and my down coat (which I was carrying after only 10 minutes). It seriously felt more like April than January - and miraculously the house isn't even all that cold now that the sun has already set. I guess it could be just a fluke though, and we could still get colder weather yet, as it's not February. But we'll see...

My calendar seems to be filling up these days, which is nice. I've got lunch plans with a former student on Thursday - she's coming to pick me up at my house (which is great since I don't have my own car), and we'll eat lunch and catch up after 10 years! The weekend is probably going to be slow and quiet, but Tuesday I will go with my two friends named Naomi to an onsen (indoor hot spring/bath) in Yaizu (which is about an hour's drive or more from here). Then after the onsen we're going to Naomi's house in Shimizu so I can meet her little girl (who is now 4, and the last time I saw her was the day after she was born!) Then next Wednesday I have yet another interview, this one with a conversation school in Fuji. It's the first job I applied to, way back at the beginning of December - but it took them forever to get back to me about it. for some reason, I don't have as good a feeling about this place - the hours aren't so great, and the environment wouldn't be as interesting or rewarding as working for the public schools (which was the job I interviewed for on Sunday). But since I need to keep my options open, I'm going for an interview. On the 30th, next Saturday, Masahiko has a jazz gig at a small club in Fujinomiya, and we've just been invited to a big music party on the 6th of February at a place out near Mt. Fuji. We went to a party there 4 years ago in the spring - it was an outdoor party. This one is indoors, but I remember the house is really fabulous and modern, and surrounded by nature! So it seems I'll be busy at least until the beginning of February... and by then I should know if I have a job, and which one it will be!

Speaking of jobs, I want to briefly update about my interview on Sunday afternoon. This interview was with a company that hires ALT's (Assistant Language Teacher), to work at public schools. This is basically the same kind of job I had with the JET Programme back in 1998. The differences are that with JET, I was working at one high school, and I was directly hired by the Japanese governnment, and worked for the Prefectural Board of Education (which is more like working for a state). With this job, I'd be hired by the recruiting company, and teaching at a combination of junior high and elementary schools, which are run by the city (in this case Fuji, where I'm living). If I get hired, I'll work at more than one school (probably 3 days a week at a jr. high and 2 at an elementary), with occasional visits to kindergartens in the Fuji area. The awesome thing is that with my experience and Japanese language ability (which I thought was terrible, but apparently is better than most who apply), I can get a bit higher salary, and I also get the summer off with pay! My interview was in Shizuoka in the coffee shop of a hotel near the station. I met with the recruiter, a Canadian named Graham and his Japanese associate (I forgot his name!), and we talked for over 90 minutes! Some of their questions were pretty challenging, but I think I gave good answers overall - and I also went through the two lessons that I had prepared. In addition, I was asked to introduce myself and answer some questions in Japanese (only for about 5 minutes). Apparently, they were both impressed with me, and at the end of the interview, Graham said that he had really enjoyed talking with me and that he would like to offer me a position. He just has to wait a couple of weeks to see what kinds of contracts are going to be available, and he won't be able to finalize any contract until sometime in the next month. So it's not absolutely guaranteed yet, because of course at any time the board of education could limit the amount of contracts, or something could change. But it's really promising! So I'm kind of in a bit of a conundrum about the other job. I will go to the interview next week, but I'll probably have to tell them about this job too, and I'll have to keep both options open as long as I can until I can get an absolute answer on the ALT job (because it's the one I want for sure). it's definitely nice to have options, and I'm feeling really positive. If I get the ALT job, I can also renew my contract next year if I want, or even transfer to another part of Japan!

Well I didn't plan to write so much this time, so I think I'll just post some pics under a cut, with a little bit of explanation, and then go and watch the very last episode of Season 5 of Queer as Folk - I can't believe I watched the whole series! Thoughts on that, and some movies and other shows, later...

Here's

After my interview in Tokyo, I went to stay with my friends Fujiko and Katsu Yoshino in Saitama. Wednesday morning, Fujiko was busy with church stuff (they're very strong Christians), so she took me to her daughter Masami's house, where I met Masami's son Keita, who's 3, and her new daughter Aika who was born in June. We talked for awhile, then went to have a cheap pasta lunch, and then Fujiko picked me up and the two of us went to the John Lennon Museum, which is located in the northern part of Saitama city in a town called Omiya. Apparently, it's the only official museum dedicated to the life and art of John Lennon, and my friend Katsu suggested I see it because it's rumoured to be closing in October of 2010 due to lack of visitors. It's not surprising, since Saitama is a kind of strange location for a museum all about John Lennon. Neither he, nor Yoko had any connection to Saitama, but the story is that Yoko was approached by a Japanese company to endorse the museum and supply the exhibits. Also, I believe that since that area of Saitama is relatively new, they had the space. Yoko really designed everything in the museum, and it's quite nice - everything is written in both English and Japanese (many museums don't have English in Japan), and it was relatively inexpensive (about $12.00 u.s.) to get in. The museum basically follows John's life from the time he was born in Liverpool in 1940, to the time he was shot outside his apartment in NYC in 1980 at the age of 40. There were some memorabilia and items that I'd never seen of John's, like some pictures he drew as a child, and a newspaper he put together; and some information about his family and history that I hadn't known before. For example, I didn't know that his mother was killed in a car accident when John was 18, and that he had actually been raised by his aunt and uncle. I know that he wrote the beautiful song "Julia" about his mother, who he really admired, but who couldn't take are of him. John's childhood and youth were quite rebellious because of his tough upbringing, Also, I didn't know the true story of how John and Yoko met, and I didn't know that he spent most of the last 5 years of his life being a house-husband, staying home and caring for his son Sean. He was a devoted and loving father, so of course every time I think of him being killed right when he had found true happiness and peace of mind, it breaks my heart. His life was so interesting, and he was such a true artist.
Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the museum or of the exhibits (I'm sure people do with their cell phones, but I don't have one, alas), so I just took a few pics outside the museum.









Proof that I am indeed alive (since all my pictures so far have not included me):



And here's the John Lennon Museum website , which is all in English, so you can see a bit of what I saw.

After we'd spent an hour or so at the museum, and I'd bought a few souvenirs (some postcards and a poster), we returned to the Yoshino's house for dinner with Masami and her three kids (Yuji, who's 6, had been in kindergarten and at swimming practice earlier). The kids are adorable, but you get two boys together and you're bound to get super high energy, lots of competition, and some tears too. Keita spent about 10-15 minutes crying while his mom was out at the store because of a fight with his brother. Oh boy(s)! Little Aika is very cute though!

Here's me with the family:





and the three kids:



I wish I'd been able to spend more time with the family, but I had to get back and rest and prepare for my Sunday interview. I will go back to visit them again, though - maybe in the summer when I'll have some time off from whatever job I get. They're great friends, and Mr. Yoshino (Katsu) even told me that I could send my resume to him, and he'd forward it to the president of a nearby university, who is a good friend of his. So it's nice to have connections.

Wednesday night I slept by 11 pm and Thursday after breakfast, Fujiko took me to the station by 9 a.m. It was a good trip, but Leo was happy to see me when I got home! and I suppose my husband was too:)



I've got other photos to post that I took a couple weeks ago around here. hopefully I'll get those up soon!
happy week everyone:)