Sunday 4 July 2010

Farewell Japan

I have decided not to renew my contract with Aeon. I have lots of reasons not to continue with Aeon but I have enjoyed working for them and found the experience invaluable. I recommend Aeon to anyone looking to get a foot on the ladder in the ESL world. You will need to strong and flexible with Aeon but a I think it is worth it.

Now I need a new challenge so I will head offshore from Japan and head to Korea. I am looking to work for a public school this time. I feel it will give me a good chance to work with children in a government school and broaden my teaching range. Previously Aeon focused mainly on conversation with adults.

It will also give me better hours to spend time with my wife. Aeon finishes at 9:30pm so by the time I sleep its 1am and Yuuri needs to be up at 7am so she wants to sleep. Public schools are 8-5 with weekends off so I can enjoy life more.

The lessons are fewer so I can spend more time planning my lessons. Aeons lessons just require practice, once you know the lesson its just about getting to know the students and finding out what they are thinking about and what they want to say. It takes time but its a lot of fun working with the students and getting to know them.

I chose Korea because its not far from Japan and it will give Yuuri and I chance to live abroad without going to far from home. For Yuuri it will be tough because she cant work, shes still looking for ways to fill up her time but she thinks she will try and complete her university course. She is considering English literature.

For me the difficult part is coming back to Japan. Since I wont be working in Japan I cant get a working visa and since Yuuri isn't working I cant get a marriage visa. But I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Right now I have applied for Korea and I am currently waiting for a school to accept me. I will be starting on the EPIK program. I was recruited by Teach Away, a Canadian company who I recommend to anyone who wants to work abroad.


My family


So now that I am married Im lucky enough to have two families. Golden week was a great chance for both families to get to know each other better.

Yuuris family always welcomed my parents into their home and cooked for them. Sometimes without me because id be working. They always tried to cook food that was friendly to my parents. I think its tough to change onto Japanese food straight away, they have some strange tastes. Also style is very different and food is plentiful but often served on many small dishes. Drinks are usually poured for you by the host which can leave any guest feeling a little more than tipsy by the end of the night.

Yuuris parents also made time to take my parents out. We travelled to the northern island of Hokkaido with my parents, Yuuri, her sister Arisa and her parents. We rented a car and hit the road.

It was a good time to bond and Yuuris family took care of everything. The trip was well planned and all the sights and times were all sorted out well in advance. They always thought about my parents and what the think they would like.

We visited the tower and drank beer at the beer hall. Ate local crab at the hotel on traditional tatami, whilst wearing Yukatas. We started the next day with a refreshing dip in the Japanese hot spring or Onsen. We then set out for the sumo museum and finally the park which had an old samurai castle within.

As a result my parents had an amazing time in Japan and why I tell them I always have an amazing time in Japan.

Currently I am suffering with pneumonia and Yuuris parents have taken care of me at their home. Sometimes its nice not being alone when your ill.

Married life in Japan has been very good to me.

Saturday 3 July 2010

The Story so far



Well during Golden Week my parents came to Aomori. They had a great time, I think they were amazed by how friendly everyone is even though my parents speak very little Japanese.
Japan is a very welcoming place and I think Japanese are very kind, considerate and caring to new people.

The main reason they came to Japan was to see my wedding which was held on 1st May 2010.
We had a traditional chapel wedding with the white dress but after we changed into kimonos and hakama for me. This gave it a more japanese style. I think everyone was surprised to see a foreigner in such traditional Japanese clothes.

We had speeches from Yuuris boss which is usual in Japanese weddings. My dad made a toast and my best man Kenju made a second toast. I had everything translated by an interpreter, a good friend of mine Yuko. My best men gave his speech both in Japanese and English!

Later Yuuri changed back into her white dress for the cake cutting. We also had entertainment in the form of a magician who turned water into wine! After him we had a shamisen performed on a metal snow shovel by 5 girls. Finally we had a traditional Japanese dancer using fans and umbrella and wearing a kimono.

Yuuri left to change into her blue dress which was made for her by her gran. This was made for our first dance. We had been practicing for about 4 weeks. It was a kind of cuban rumba to the music of Van Morrison's Crazy Love.

After Yuuri sat down I began my speech in English and as much Japanese as I could. In Japan families sit at the back of weddings while bosses and co-workers sit at the front. I couldn't let my parents come all that way and sit at the back, not with my mums eyesight! Yuuris parents were happy to sit at the back with the rest of the family.

After my speech i started to sing acapella to Yuuri san. I sang "say a little prayer" from the movie "My best friends wedding". I got the audience to join in with the chorus too. It was a nice surprise for Yuuri.

Yuuri went away again to change and I served the guests drinks and thanked them for coming. When Yuuri came back she was wearing her beautiful red dress and carrying her bad her mum made.

We came in together and I held a sword with a flame on the end. The room was dark with a spotlight on us. We went round to each table and lit the candles using the sword. Finally we lit the one on our table and it glowed red.

After the wedding we went to a French restaurant and had drinks and a buffet. Yuuri changed once again into the black dress I bought her for Xmas.
Finally we ended the night at a club with some friends wearing eye masks.

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