#riisargh

[riisarghwho]

Societies at Uni

My logic was, I’m 28, in University, so I need to make the most of it while I can right?

So, first I obviously signed up to the Japanese society. Which, at the beginning wasn’t very easy to find out if any events were going on unless you were in a particular group & especially if you didn’t know if it was on a social network or not. Anyway, added the group to Facebook and eventually found out their social is once per week. I went to one with 2 friends I have made here in some of the same classes I have. I didn't really know what to expect however I at least expected some form of practising Japanese. That didn’t happen. It was literally just to socialise with other people also learning Japanese. Which of course is a good thing if everyone wasn’t buying jugs of cocktails! Ha, I’m so old! Anywho, I’m looking forward to the next social that involves something to do with Japanese.

Next society I joined was Karate. I have always wanted to try karate but always been too nervous to go to a class in my area. However the joining fee was £15 for the whole year so I thought that was an absolute bargain! Again, with the start I had no idea whether there was a social network group, when the first class was etc but eventually I got in touch with someone who organises it who informed me of the days the classes run. Twice a week! I’m going to be kicking butts in no time! haha. Really though, On my first day I was so nervous, what to wear, do I keep my trainers on? No! Who do I speak to? Everyone! First class was awesome! So freaking glad I went! I’ve had 4 classes since then. I’ve also bought my heavy weight gi (The clothing worn) Definately my fave out of the two. Plus it keeps me fit since I quit the gym and don’t have time to go to the gym anymore.

Have you been to uni before? Did you join any societies? If so which ones? Have you ever done Karate? If so got any tips for me? 

[riisarghwho]

Update after returning home from Japan.

It’s almost been 2 month since I arrived back in England from Japan and there isn’t a day that goes by without me thinking about my time there. Comparing the ‘everyday rules’ of life, getting on the bus, paying for things, speaking English, interactions with people and something about something annoys me every day.

One thing that’s hit me quite hard is staff in shops looking miserable and not welcoming me in to the shop. I know you’ll probably think that’s quite sad but I found it comforting knowing where staff were if I needed their help. Here, you have to look for staff for a while before you find one.

The biggest thing that I’ve noticed is the TERRIBLE, UNRELIABLE public transport. Always late, 90% of the time the bus driver hates their job, people trying to sneak on the bus for free, etc etc etc.

Annnnyway, Never mind that, I have to make the most of a bad situation and that I certainly am. Dan and I have amazing families so we have a roof over our heads, I managed to walk straight back in to my old job at Tesco thanks to a super caring colleague and, it’s 1st December and we’re home for Christmas with our families! Can’t ask for more than that, can I?

What’s next you ask?

I’m hoping to still vlog here and there and I’ll continue to study Japanese even though The Manchester College has appalling customer service and I haven’t heard from them for 3+ months after chasing them up several times!! But eh, Doing as best we can.

[riisarghwho]

Is the best enough?

So for the past 3 month or so, Dan and I were reluctant to plan to move back to our home country, England. Unfortunately, our life in Japan didn’t work out as we wished it to.

Dan had the best job an English teacher could of hoped for. He was employed by the board of education which is said to be the place most people work towards. Although this is said to be a good place to be, the pay wasn’t enough to support a family in the long term. Along side rent & food prices, for a foreign couple to start a family, it would of been too difficult. This made us think, “Well, how to Japanese teachers afford to support a family?” Then we found out that Japanese teachers earn more than foreign teachers as standard wage. Which I personally find discriminatory against foreigners. Don’t you?

After I finished my studying, I got a job in a bar to tide over the bills. 

The first 8 months of us being there, we were living off savings we had saved up before coming. After they had gone, we were living off only Dan’s wage. It also doesn’t help that teachers in Japan do not get paid for the holiday like they do in England. So that was difficult! So we were forced to decide between living in Japan, scraping to get the bills paid, in a great country struggling to start a family or back to a not so great country, with our family, better house prices/sizes, able to support a family. And since we’re here in England, It’s obvious what we chose.

So, when we ‘decided’  to move back here, in lovely England, we had to sell all of our furniture etc. Obviously, we didn't accumulate much but we had a really good rice cooker and a traditional kotatsu that we were in love with! <3 We did want to have them sent to England but it turned out to be too expensive. :’( We, luckily managed to sell everything. Not for much but in our situation, (Moving back and starting a fresh) anything was better than nothing!

To ease the stress a little we booked to stay at a hotel the day of our last day in the apartment. We had booked to have a short holiday in Tokyo the day after.

Once we handed over the keys to our apartment, and we said our goodbyes to the amazing, helpful landlord, I had a little cry to myself. It was happening. 

What was keep our minds off the whole thing was that neither of our families knew we were coming back, let alone coming back for good. (I will write about that in another blog) So we were both excited to see everyone.

The whole thing was crazy stressful, we would occasionally ask each other “Is this what we want?” “Are we doing the right thing?” etc It was never a 100% happy decision but we have to make the most out of it.

Never regret ANY decision you make. Everything happens for a reason. We both count ourselves amazingly lucky that we even got to experience it for a year. And who knows what will happen in the future?

[riisarghwho]

Last day of school.

So on my last day of school I knew I’d be emotional because it’s a whole year of my life and I see the same teachers 5 days a week.

When we arrived at school we received our scores. I passed, surprisingly. And I received a certificate for 100% attendance in the whole year with an envelope with 20,000 yen inside which is about £140. I was so shocked.

When I left the school, I started crying. Luckily, I made plans to meet Julia In Japan. I thought it would take my mind off of things. And it did too!

I met Julia in a vegan cafe she kindly searched for. We chatted about all kinds of things from Japan, language, career etc Afterwards we headed to Ginkakuji to take in the traditional side of Japan. It was beautiful! I personally prefered Ginkakuji to Kinkakuji. The reason is because of the grounds. Ginkakuji’s ground were a lot more relaxing and natural.

We both made a video of our day.

Mine: Last day of school

Julias:

Hope you enjoy x

[riisarghwho]

In Japan, new pocky and KitKat flaours are constantly being released! Although, the Wasabi flavour KitKat may put some foreigners off due to it being a distinct Japanese flavour but as a foreigner, I really recommend you trying this one! Have you ever had chilli chocolate? I’d put the wasabi with those types of sweets.

As for the Pocky, Coconi=ut and Brazillian Orange are the Summer flavours that are only out for a limited period. So if you see them grab a few!

Hope you enjoy the video <3

[riisarghwho]

First time visiting a Zoo.

Yeah, before this visit, I had never been to a Zoo before. By that I mean the type where you walk around yourself. I have however been to Knowsley Safari park where all the animals are free to roam where they like. You drive your car on a path very slow.

Anyway, I love all animals and heard there was a zoo 10 minutes away from where we live.

When I arrived, I was like a child. AHHH FLAMINGOS!!!! etc. Then I noticed the hippo’s section was quite small for how big a hippo is. Next 3 lions in a small ground. I was happy to see these beautiful creatures but a little shocked, I began to get emotional inside. 

Round the corner I saw a leopard, Cat leopard and a Jaguar in a small enclosure no bigger than 6 tatami mats which is about the same size as my living room! I burst in to tears watching them walk around in circles!!

I couldn’t stay, innocent children stared at my crying face. I left the zoo straight away disheartened feeling hopeless to help them.

The entrance fee was only 500 yen. They could increase that to gain more money to expand to make the enclosures bigger!

I later found out my Mum never took me to a zoo because of this exact reason!

I recorded my day thinking the zoo would be fun. but ended up turning it in to a 'Day in my life' type video as I didn’t want to pretend everything was all well and good.

Youtube video. A day in my life: Ep 3－Sadness at the zoo