September

Alright, I've declared blogging bankruptcy. I feel like this happens a lot.....

Anyways, yet again, instead of talking about everything that's happened, I will instead just let you know that yes, I have moved, and I'm now in Yokohama. It's been a big adjustment, and I haven't gotten used to it yet. I'm still missing Iwate so much, but I'm planning on visiting in the next couple of weeks.

Instead of talking about everything that's happened, I'm going to post a link to a Facebook album and you guys can look at that. There are waaaay too many pictures to post here. Some of them are a little bit explicit, and lest you think your Innocent Little Kimberly is into nefarious things, just remember that sometimes people steal my camera and take pictures. (OK, they're not really that bad, but it's still kinda weird combining my social life pictures with pictures for my family. Alright, whatever. Here you go.)

So I'll just tell you about a good day I had a while ago that stuck in my memory.

First of all, I didn't oversleep! YAY!! My sleep schedule hasn't fixed itself yet, and I've been rushing out the door to get to work lately. I went to my new school, a high school (not quite used to that yet either) and had my third class at that school, which was the first class of that day. The kids, despite being really shy when they see me out in the hallways, were surprisingly excited to see me. As soon as I walked in, everyone was stared at me and yelled out "Hello!" One girl said, "Yes!! Level up! Lucky!!!" (They had another ALT before, and that person just left, and I'm their replacement.) I was also surprised by the presence of a Belgian girl and a Moroccan girl, the former an exchange student, the latter half Japanese, and thus identifying as one. I kinda feel like teaching in front of other foreigners is more embarrassing because they already might have the knowledge of English and thus are paying attention to other things, such as how much of a clown I'm being. Oh, and that day, I was only asked if I was married once! YES!! I hate that question. Normally, when I went to an elementary school, I was asked about six or more times a day, from teachers and students alike. Yokohama people seem a little less ready to jump the gun and settle down and pop out some chillens. But I was asked why I came to Japan twice, a question for which I still haven't perfected an answer.

Then I checked some compositions, and the assignment was to write a recipe in English for a traditional Japanese dish. Some of them obviously relied on dictionaries and translators a little too much, most notably by the example one kid generously gave me when he translated "break apart the mushrooms" as "disengage the embryos" It was awesome.

Later on in the day, I was walking to the post office, and at a crosswalk I saw a lady holding two Pomeranians in her arms as if they were bouquets of flowers. I thought that even though they looked like neurotic little creatures that could turn on you any minute I would like to pet one, so I made a minuscule movement towards the woman. There was also a man waiting for the light to change, and he made a minuscule movement at the same time as me, and the neurotic little creatures turned on us and started barking and writhing and thrashing and the woman had to practically juggle them to keep herself from getting maimed. I hate Pomeranians. The man, deciding that the woman was a little preoccupied keeping her idiot dogs from falling out of her arms and bashing their heads, turned to me and asked me where the station was.
...me? I was asked for directions by a Japanese person? It was amazing. Now, I know that I wasn't his first choice, but it's not like there weren't other people walking around he could have asked. I was so flattered. Yay for being asked for directions for the first time!!

Then I went to the gym and I had a super hard workout, and I surprised no less than three people when they saw me, and saw how red I was and how much I was sweating after I got done with my cardio. Even the staff. I was going to get some water and I saw a staff guy see me and for a second look a little taken aback as if I was a monster coming to eat him and then realize this probably wasn't true and that I was just a white girl who sweat more than he ever would. It was awesome.

Then I went to the grocery store and I found a package of REAL DONUTS!! The donuts in Japan are normally half-assed monstrosities, hard and dry inside and not very sweet, but these were the real deal. I ate the package in two days.

Right now, even though it's been a month, I feel like I'm still getting used to Yokohama and everything. I'm not used to not being the center of attention, if that makes sense, and it's incredibly refreshing. I feel like I can step back and blend in a little more, and not have to worry about always putting on a show to represent the World Outside of Japan. I also have to rely on my own devices more, as being foreign won't get me as far. Dang.