So yesterday (Sunday) was the first time I've ever taken a JLPT. JLPT stands for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, and is divided into four levels (kyus). 4kyu is the easiest and can be completed by new JETs who have never studied Japanese before coming to Japan their first winter here. 3kyu is a bit more difficult but also on the easy side. ( Read more... )

So Tuesday morning I rolled into work, half asleep during the daily morning staff meeting. 'blah blah blah' I hear in Japanese, then I hear my name in the sentence, 'Today Rich is supposed to be on a business trip in the morning', followed by an awkward moment of silence when everyone looked at me wondering what I was doing at school ( Read more... )

So I went up to Toyama to see Elliott, eat an awesome Thanksgiving dinner, and have an all around awesome time ( Read more... )

So I had the pleasure of going to Minato Elementary School in Fukui City to observe a class. During the class the ALT showed some slides of thanksgiving, starting with a Cornucopia and asking the kids about the various fruits. Then he showed them a photo of a turkey and asked what kind of bird it was. Some kids shouted out 'chicken' in English or ' ( Read more... )

So I be taking 2kyu December 2nd and I started studying kanji a TON. It's surprisingly fun. Like if I study a new kanji, then think of a word that I know that it might be part of, then I go look up that word and see if I'm right or not ( Read more... )

So Japanese peeps use the term 'juice' a lot when referring to various beverages. And today I was teaching the class 'I'm ~ing', like 'I'm eating', 'I'm sleeping', 'I'm dancing', etc. At the end of the class we were playing the lines game, where the class divides into two teams and each team makes a line. Then I show a card to the first kids in ( Read more... )

So when I was walking outside during recess some young (kindergarten) aged kids were playing in the playground and having fun. Tons of them yelled out 'hello'. But the strange thing, one kid, couldn't have been more than 5 or so, yelled out 'Hello baby!' Man, who teaches these kids that kind of English!?! haha ( Read more... )

So I had two birthday parties, one here in Fukui and the other in Tokyo. Both were mad fun ( Read more... )

any idea as to what I should be for Halloween this year? Last year I was a pimp. It was loud, flashy, and awesome and I stole the show... but I can't do the pimp thing again this year so I need a new costume idea. Again, I want flashy, loud, and show stealing. Any ideas?

So today before my 2nd grade class the kids had me flex my arms, they latched onto my beefy biceps, then I spun in circles as if I was the swing ride at an amusement park.