ミオ語り

Meo in Gotsu, Shimane, Japan!

[meoventures]

Late pic post, but here's the airport and my city~

[meoventures]

visiting my old placement on a day where all the schools gather for a city-wide sports fest. my favorite reaction to so far my being back in Gotsu is a teacher (Suzuki or Sasaki-sensei?? Sazamoto??) wearing shades, sees me, takes off shades, nods in recognition, walks off, /back tracks/, and is like "you're here!!" 😂

[meoventures]

*goes to japan* *forgets money*

[meoventures]

I'm watching the Gyakuten Saiban anime because free time 🙌 and in episode 14, Morgan Fey does the whole assuming-Lotta-Hart's-a-foreigner-because-of-the-way-she-talks and Fey does the whole: "Oh, maybe you're one of /those/" ("those" said in distain and implying "foreigners") "Your Japanese is ~so~ good!!" and they make light of it here, but having been a foreigner in Japan and having that exact treatment of people "praising" my Japanese made me realize, once again, how demeaning it was despite how it sounded. (1) it basically emphasized that my Japanese sounded unnatural. You would never tell a native language speaker that they speak their native language ~so well~, that's fucking bullshit. (2) it drew the line between us. I was immediately casted as an outsider. In a culture where "Uchi" (inside) and "Soto" (outside) are HIGHLY emphasized, this phrase could not hurt more in saying: "You don't belong," "You're not one of us." while there were people who had been impressed by my studies and progress in Japanese during my time there, there were also people who without a doubt, held malice in their choice of words, even if they "didn't know it." I think those words constantly reminded me that my time there was temporary even though I haven't committed to that choice yet myself (almost as if it was already decided for me). It's really an old bone to pick, but I still think this is a common occurrence for my JET peers. (Including the infamous "You're so good at chopsticks!!") microaggression never seems like a big deal (hence the word micro), but I think bits of it does add up.... if the pen is mightier than the sword, can't we say the same for speech? that speech can fucking hurt more than sticks and stones? (Honestly if I find the one who said "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me", I'm gonna clobber them.) I want to be more careful with my words, and while I know I will definitely be shit at keeping that promise, if I say something that's off the mark, call me out, tell me how good I am at English or chopsticks and I'll stfu.

[meoventures]

how crazy is it that two, three months ago, I couldn't "read", much less "write" this. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. Functional code & baby's first github repo. Education is wild.

[meoventures]

I think @kawaiilo-ren tagged me in some selfie thing and I wasn't originally gonna post any but I wanted to share my 707 Dakis and pillows and my recent adventures so here I am.

[meoventures]

praying to god seven, exam notes, and pre-exam jitters

[meoventures]

Yaaaaaas

[tofugu]

English Bulletin Board Ideas for JET Program ALTs

You can make eye-catching English bulletin boards today. Our ideas are aimed specifically at English teachers in Japan.

Welcome to your first day as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the JET Program. You’re ready tocommand the classroom. You’re ready to inspire the students. You’re ready to become a poster designer!

Wait, what was that last part?

As a JET Program ALT, you’ll likely be tasked with creating colorful English bulletin boards for the classroom and/or hallways…every month.

If you don’t consider yourself an “artist,” don’t worry. Below, we’ve listed tips and tactics that go into the creation of an amazing, eye-catching boards. Plus, there are enough ESL bulletin board ideas in here to last you 5 years or more.

Grab your scissors and glue. It’s time to get creative (whether you like it or not).

Read more!

[kawaiilo-ren]

3, 19, 50?

3 If given the opportunity, where would you time travel and who would you bring with you on the adventure knowing that you’re not going to alter anything in the present? 

I would take my partner in time @thecatsmeo, and hit up the cretaceous period. I promise I won’t abandon you when a T-Rex comes knocking tho Meo :^)

19 Most fucked up situation you have ever been in?

This is a tie between the personal life drama I am in right now (incoherent groaning here), or the time I went exploring with some friends into an abandoned house in Japan and left with the biggest sense of unease. Everything had been left exactly like it had been (a house on an island, 3 hrs from mainland, kids left and after parents died no one came back…), the floors sank under our feet and glass was strewn everywhere along with creepy dolls. I felt like I walked into Fatal Frame tbh

50 What is a memory that you’re very fond of?

The last group beach party I had with everyone in Japan, where we stayed up and swam in the water that had iridescent plankton in it. And we all took turns wearing goggles and diving down to watch the dark water sparkle when we moved. It was one of those moments where I realized that never again in my life will I have lived in a place like this, with people like this, and I couldn’t let these memories go to waste.

Thank you!! Now I am all nostalgic… ;;;;

[meoventures]

IM CRTING BECAUSE OF THAT LAST ONE

[meoventures]

[greetingsfromfukushima]

ALT Check List

In no particular order:

1. You’ve taken naps in the bathrooms at school/work

2. You’ve been left behind or forgotten by a JTE/HRT

3. You’ve had to pull a lesson plan/game out of thin air because you’ve been asked to do so last minute

4. You’ve cried at school/work

5. You’ve forgotten your bento

6. You’ve bonded with teachers and/or students over ridiculous topics/events

7. You’ve been asked to explain what something is like in the mysterious land of “Gaikoku”

8. You’ve eaten omiyage for breakfast #no shame

9. You’ve been shipped with one or several teachers by your students

10. Everyone somehow knows where you live or wants to know for some reason

11. You have a treasure trove of stickers, stamps, postcards, and random paraphernalia from your various trips

12. There have been days where you wonder why you’re here if no one wants to take you to class or talk to you

13. …and other days where you’re so swamped that you wonder how Japanese teachers do this all the time, and form a new appreciation for them

14. You’ve arrived to school/work in casual clothes only to find out it’s super formal today for some reason

15. ..but you’re not going to be caught off-guard this time, and already have a spare set of formal clothes ready to change into!

16. Everyone forgot to inform you about some sort of emergency drill (fire/earthquake/stranger danger)

17. Teachers have completely walked out on you during class with no explanation

18. Asking what you need to prepare for class and being told the most frustrating thing ever: “As you like”

19. After teaching for a year some kids still forget your name

20. You have juggled terrible lessons with no reward alongside lessons so perfect that you could cry, and came out loving this job all the more

I’m probably 14/20

Feel free to add in what you like! This isn’t meant to be negative or harsh, but a sort of way to show that despite ESID, there are things that almost all JETs experience.

It’s a way to know that somewhere, some other foreigner in Japan is searching for a secret nap place to use during free periods.

[meoventures]

〇〇 days back in the states

still casually sings ESL songs absentmindedly

[ashintokyoooo]

Japan is (sadly) known for its wrong use of English. Most of the time I get a chuckle, but sometimes I’m just left completely confused haha. These gave me quite a laugh.

[meoventures]

The reverse culture shock and jet lag is real. But on the other hand, here is my sheepcat.

[meoventures]

Things I've said :

“omg this is huge” (anything) “Wait, people speak English here.” “IS THIS REAL BACON.” “why is service here so rude.” “why are the streets so dirty.” “I miss Japan.” “WHY ARE YOU MAKING A WIDE LEFT TURN. ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME. oh.” “why are people dressed like slobs” “why don’t they have (Japanese item)” “You know, in Japan… (random fact)” “THEY PLAY ENGLISH MUSIC HERE” “I CAN READ THE MENU.”

…to be continued.

[meoventures]

Me: THE STEERING WHEEL IS ON THAT SIDE????

Me: you're driving on the wrong side

(Cars stop when I cross the road) Me: (bows)

(Brother signs restaurant bill with a shitty signature) Me: WOW your サイン is fucked up. Me: wait

Me: where's my oshibori?? (wet towelettes before every meal)

Me: shit people can understand me.

[thecatsmayo]

Before leaving Japan, I went to one of the happiest places on Earth… (at 東京ディズニーシー / Tokyo Disney Sea)