The ambulance service in Japan is pretty fast. You'll probably get immediate help in whatever emergency. The problem would be the hospitals. Unlike in most countries, hospitals in Japan (in Hamamatsu, at least) seem to shut down on weekends.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
About the Purple Pen
Konnichiwa!
Where am I in Japan?
I'm Faye Vitan, an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. I'm teaching in a Junior High School in Hamamatsu City. Where is it, you may ask. Hamamatsu is in Shizuoka Prefecture where Mt. Fuji or Fuji-san is. Before being assigned here, I don't have any idea where Hamamatsu is too. Surprisingly, Hamamatsu is a great city. It's quite international with a large population of gai-jins (foreigners). This is also the place where Honda, Yamaha and Kawaii are born. It's rich in culinary delights such as mikans (small sweet tangerines), gyoza and unagi (eel). Location wise, it's strategic for travel since it's between major cities of Osaka and Tokyo and near Nagoya. Hamamatsu is also one of the windiest cities in the world. It faces the Pacific Ocean in the east but it has mountains in the west. Great place, really!
What am I doing in Japan?
Before coming to Japan, I've been teaching English in the Philippines. I've taught in a Korean school for two years, in an international school for 3 years and in a university for a year. My original plan is to teach English in China to hopefully earn more. Thankfully, Japan opened its doors for Filipino English teachers and I'm now here! Yey! I mean, I'd rather be here than in China. Though I've been teaching for quite some time, the teaching I'm doing here in Japan is totally different. I'm forced to be creative beyond how I used to be. I'm pushed to be excellent within a limited time and limited scope of responsibilities. I have no choice but to adapt to the working culture which I find organized yet sometimes frustrating. Still, I'm trying to take things in stride.
Why am I blogging in Japan?
This blog started as one of the products of my frustration at work. Because I'm a foreigner and I can't speak Japanese, there's no one I can share my thoughts with in the workplace. Writing has become my voice and this blog my audience. Then the more I stayed longer in Japan, the more I realized that there's more to life here than ranting about work. I thought that there may be other foreigners who might need the information I can share so I also have lots of info here especially for Hamamatsu residents. I'm also glad to receive feedback from foreigners in other countries who are just interested in Japan. I hope that I've been of help even in the smallest of ways. For me, blogging alone helped me cope with my work and knowing people read this blog make it even more worthwhile.
Why Purple Pen?
I like the color purple. I don't know why. I use purple pens when checking student papers, when writing daily in my planner and when signing documents (unless it's not allowed). So I thought, why not use the purple pen for blogging as well.
Other Things:
Where am I in Japan?
I'm Faye Vitan, an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. I'm teaching in a Junior High School in Hamamatsu City. Where is it, you may ask. Hamamatsu is in Shizuoka Prefecture where Mt. Fuji or Fuji-san is. Before being assigned here, I don't have any idea where Hamamatsu is too. Surprisingly, Hamamatsu is a great city. It's quite international with a large population of gai-jins (foreigners). This is also the place where Honda, Yamaha and Kawaii are born. It's rich in culinary delights such as mikans (small sweet tangerines), gyoza and unagi (eel). Location wise, it's strategic for travel since it's between major cities of Osaka and Tokyo and near Nagoya. Hamamatsu is also one of the windiest cities in the world. It faces the Pacific Ocean in the east but it has mountains in the west. Great place, really!
 |
| Hamamatsu Castle Park credit: http://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/lan/en/ |
Before coming to Japan, I've been teaching English in the Philippines. I've taught in a Korean school for two years, in an international school for 3 years and in a university for a year. My original plan is to teach English in China to hopefully earn more. Thankfully, Japan opened its doors for Filipino English teachers and I'm now here! Yey! I mean, I'd rather be here than in China. Though I've been teaching for quite some time, the teaching I'm doing here in Japan is totally different. I'm forced to be creative beyond how I used to be. I'm pushed to be excellent within a limited time and limited scope of responsibilities. I have no choice but to adapt to the working culture which I find organized yet sometimes frustrating. Still, I'm trying to take things in stride.
Why am I blogging in Japan?
This blog started as one of the products of my frustration at work. Because I'm a foreigner and I can't speak Japanese, there's no one I can share my thoughts with in the workplace. Writing has become my voice and this blog my audience. Then the more I stayed longer in Japan, the more I realized that there's more to life here than ranting about work. I thought that there may be other foreigners who might need the information I can share so I also have lots of info here especially for Hamamatsu residents. I'm also glad to receive feedback from foreigners in other countries who are just interested in Japan. I hope that I've been of help even in the smallest of ways. For me, blogging alone helped me cope with my work and knowing people read this blog make it even more worthwhile.
Why Purple Pen?
I like the color purple. I don't know why. I use purple pens when checking student papers, when writing daily in my planner and when signing documents (unless it's not allowed). So I thought, why not use the purple pen for blogging as well.
Other Things:
- My greatest dream is to travel the world. When I'm not planning my lesson, I'm planning my next travel adventure.
- I love the outdoors and I love moving. But I also enjoy the times when I can just stare at nothingness.
- I'm immensely interested with culture and human behavior. I would have been a cultural observer if there's a job like that.
- I like to read than watch movies. I like to write than to talk.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Changing Schools in Japan
I'm changing schools next school year. Come April, I'll be teaching in a smaller Junior High School, one Elementary and the most challenging... (drumroll, please) Yochien or Kinder. Thanks to the Board of Education, I won't be able to see my current second years graduate next year from JHS. I have seen them grow from first years and it would be nice to be with them in their last year. *sniffs*
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