I missed out on blogging about my high school`s insanely spectacular Sports Day last September, so I don`t want to miss the chance to tell you about my high school`s bunaksai, or Culture Festival, that happened in June. After reading about bunkasais from other ALT blogs, I am getting the sense that events in the Japanese school… Continue reading My Japanese High School’s Bunkasai
Tag: amami island
I Live in a Tropical Paradise
That settles it. Amami Oshima is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I already knew that but maybe I've never said it aloud. Monday's national holiday was appropriately Marine Day, or "Ocean Day." So we rented a beach house for Saturday and Sunday night for mine and Carson's leaving party (and Jonathan came… Continue reading I Live in a Tropical Paradise
An Ephipany in the Classroom
I started off my week by giving a speech to all my third grade students about how I was failing math in high school until I found a teacher who tutored me almost every morning before school so I could pass his class. I told them to never be afraid to ask for extra help… Continue reading An Ephipany in the Classroom
Learning to Appreciate the Here and Now
I've always been a restless person. I can never stay in one place for too long. When I was still living at home, I was gone almost every weekend visiting friends in other parts of New England or New York. I think one of the best parts about growing up in the northeast was how… Continue reading Learning to Appreciate the Here and Now
Not Recontracting and My Future JET Successor
This is the cup of coffee my supervisor gave to me on the day in early January I had to tell her I wasn't recontracting. I have so much love for my placement and my school, and while I felt no pressure from anyone about my decision other than myself, it was still more difficult and… Continue reading Not Recontracting and My Future JET Successor
A Snapshot of My Life, and Why I Haven’t Written About Golden Week Yet
I love the way sunshine breathes life into a city. I just returned from a beautiful evening bike ride around my little city, the perfect way to close out a great weekend at the beach. On my bike ride I saw more kids outside playing than usual, and lots of people were enjoying dinner with their… Continue reading A Snapshot of My Life, and Why I Haven’t Written About Golden Week Yet
Amami Oshima, You`re on to Something…
It's been weeks since I've updated! I have been busy playing Amami Tour Guide. My boyfriend was here for a week, and then the day after he left I had some mainland friends stay with me at AirBnBecca (yep, that's what I call my central island apartment.) This week, I've been catching up on sleep,… Continue reading Amami Oshima, You`re on to Something…
Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
White Day March 14th is White Day in Japan. If you don't know what it is, I promise it`s not nearly as bad as it sounds. White Day is simply a day designated for boys to return sweets to the girls who gave them something on Valentine's Day. After a couple friends asked me why… Continue reading Celebrating Green and White Holidays in Japan
The First Perfect Island Day of 2016
I wrote this post last night. I came home from an amazing day and needed to turn my experience into words. Here you go. Today. I need to put a day like today in words. Right after it's happened. When I can still feel the palpable heat of the sun on my face and it makes my head… Continue reading The First Perfect Island Day of 2016
Japanese High School Graduation
My high school's graduation ceremony was on March 1st. The Japanese school year begins in April, but graduation happens in the beginning of March, midweek, while first and second year students still have classes. It was a fun cultural experience to attend a Japanese graduation because it was so different than a high school graduation… Continue reading Japanese High School Graduation
The Becca Jar 