Shirone Kite Festival

Every Tuesday. Every freakin' Tuesday.

I cannot -repeat- CANNOT stand my 3rd years at my base school. They are the most lazy, non-creative, careless students I have ever had the chance to teach. I'm usually a very lenient and easy-going teacher, but these kids literally get on my last nurve and I just can't deal with them! I admit, I have some 3rd grade classes where 2 to 4 students won't work and sleep at their desks the whole period (which I still don't like about Japan, but can accept at times) but at my base school, AT LEAST 3/4 of the 3rd years blatantly refuse to work. They'll sit there and stare at the wall rather then think. They'll hand in empty worksheets not caring about the grades. They'll only write one sentence over and over -"I play soccer."- when they're suppose to be writing about where they live. I hate to say it, but these kids are either brainless or just plain indolent. I've tried playing games and I've tried having them draw English mangas - anything to get them out of the usual English book routine into trying something new and fun, but they...just...don't...care. So, guess what kids??? I don't have to care about your class anymore either. It's only repeating vocabulary words over and over again and long writing worksheets for you from now on. Which is what...4-5 more weeks? Hallelujah!!!! It's a pure blessing I'm leaving Japan because I couldn't teach these kids for another week let alone a year without pulling my hair out!!! Thus, ends my ranting. Thank you!

Sasadango

These Japanese sweets were given the name"sasadango" by the troops of Kenshin Uesugi (16th century samurai warrior) who would carry them as provisions.
They would mix the "dango" (dumplings) with "yomogi" (mugwort) and wrap them in "sasa" (bamboo leaf) hence "sasadango".
Although traditionally eaten at festivals during June, it has now become a popular Niigata souvenir to take home.

In olden times, every family made many during the holiday periods.

Now a days, there everywhere again for summer and I love it!

I'll deffiantly miss mochi when I'm gone.

And I'll esp. miss getting the frozen ones for school lunch and as little gifts on my desk.

New English Board

I get sick and tired and people (aka teachers at school) asking me "So, what did you eat in America?" They always assume it's just hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. So, I made a new English board to show some of the famous foods from across USA. I couldn't list everything, but I think this kind of covers some of the major ones - Sour dough clam chowder bowls, fajitas, gumbo, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, and Chicago deep dish pizza.

Brownie points if you can spot the spelling mistake!!!

I just saw it now in the photo even though its been up for about a week at school.

Just...great! :)

Lots of time on my hands!

heheheh Since I'm working on a new blog, I've been feeling really artsy lately. So, I made this collage of my face. It has to be snippets of at least 20 pictures of me takin at different angles and with different lighting, but it was kind of fun putting them together. Low and behold....me....

The new me

Well, my time in Japan is coming to an end and so must the ol' blog. I've been working on a new one for the future, where ever that may lead! :)

http://johannadarilek.blogspot.com/

Seaside Drive

For some odd reason, I woke up today at 6am and couldn't go back to sleep. After laying in bed for 10 mins. with an even odder amount of restless energy, I thought I should take advantage of this and do something on this beautiful sunny Sunday morning. So, I went on a seaside drive. It only takes 10 mins. (seriously!) to get to the sea from my apartment in Nishikawa.
The roads were practically empty except for the fisherman and farmers. Lovely!

Kakuda Cove

Such a wonderful day!!! :)

I should do this more often.

Also-

One of the reasons I really enjoy living in Japan is that you get books AHEAD of the actual release dates. (I'm not sure if they know they're suppose to hold them or what...but...?) hehe These are two books I pre-ordered back in January and got them this past weekend when they're not to be released for sale until next week in the States. Woo-hoo!!!

Good weekend.

ABCs

1. A is for age: 25

2. B is for beer of choice: Asahi Dry

3. C is for career right now: English Teacher in Japan

4. D is for your dogs name: I don’t have a dog!

5. E is for essential item you use everyday: deodorant

6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Supernatural

7. G is for favorite game: Texas-Hold’em Poker

8. H is for hometown: Shiner

9. I is for favorite instrument: harp or piano

10. J is for favorite juice: grape

11. K is for whose ass you'd like to kick? Ummm – no problems with anyone at the moment. Wait till I have my 3rd graders today, then I might be able to list a few.

12. L is for last place you ate out: The Pizzeria Friday night before PotC 3

13. M is for marriage: one day

14. N is for your name: Johanna Louise Darilek

15. O is for overnight hospital stays: zero (so far!)

16. P is for people you were with today: Katahigashi JHS

17. Q is for quote: The greatest risk is not taking one!

18. R is for biggest regret: not sure if I really have any or any that really come to mind now

19. S is for status: Single

20. T is for time you woke up today: 7:20

21. U is for color of underwear you have on now: purple

22. V is for vegetable you love: cucumbers

23. W is for worst habit: cracking my knuckles

24. X is for x-rays you've had: teeth, chest, etc.

25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: Hmmm…I haven’t really eaten anything “yummy” today so far.

26. Z is for your favorite zoo animal: giraffes

Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box)

The “Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box)” is a traditional Japanese puzzle box that was designed over 100 years ago in the Hakone region of Japan. The Hakone Mountains are noted for their great variety of trees. The Personal Secret Box takes advantage of this wide variety of natural wood colors and textures to produce their elaborate geometric patterns. The appeal of the Personal Secret Box is not merely in its entertainment qualities. It is valued as a Yosegi-Zaiku is a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handicrafts such as trays, boxes and chests. This marquetry technique is originated in the late Edo Period, and in May of 1984, was designated a National Traditional Handicraft by the International Trade & Industry Minister.
Most Japanese Personal Secret Boxes (Puzzle Boxes) have a variety of difficulties ranging from 4 to 66 moves. From a puzzler’s point of view the 59-move box has the most interesting sequence of moves, even better than the 66. A few large puzzle boxes have exceptional numbers of moves, such as 78, 122, 119, or 125.

Puzzle boxes are not easy to make. Since they depend on friction to work properly it is very difficult to produce a box that is neither too loose nor too tight. This becomes more difficult the larger and more complex the box becomes. Boxes that are too tight can’t be opened. Boxes that are too loose are not much fun for the puzzler. The instability of wood itself presents quite a challenge to the puzzle box maker.

Jewelry used to be kept in trick boxes so that a potential thief would have problems seeing and stealing the contents. Puzzle boxes have been crafted all over the world, including Morocco, Poland and South America. By far the most intricate and beautiful is the Japanese puzzle box since it's covered in complicated patterns of rich wood and featuring complex mechanisms to open them.

Nature of Hakone

Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) in the back left.

The view from our hotel room on the lake.

Cider Lane.

The flowers that were all over Hakone.

Numero deux et quatre

I know many of you have already done this, but here's mine:

Two things About ME!

Two names you go by:
1. Hanna 2. Jo

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. White GAP zipper jacket thingy 2. Indoor school shoes

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
1. Laughter 2. Trust

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Reading 2. Goofing around with friends

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. the pile of papers on my desk to be already graded 2. sleep

Two pets you had/have:
1. Mallie 2. Drako

Two things you did last night:
1. washed 3 loads of clothing 2. watched The Family Guy

Two things you ate today:
1. Blueberry bagel 2. Some nasty squid for school lunch

Two people you last talked to:
1. Rigby-sensei for 4th period 2. one of my students who asked me for my cheese at lunch

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. working 2. running errands

Two longest car rides:
1. That bus ride to Hakone two wknds ago seemed like FOR-EVER (since I was sick) 2. The 8 hour bus ride from Niigata to Osaka - did I mention I HATE buses and get motion sickness quite easily?

Two favorite holidays:
1. Easter 2. Halloween
(Total opposites, eh?)

Two favorite beverages:
1. Lipton Peach Tea 2. Strawberry Milk

Four things About ME!

Things you may not have known about me:
1. I wanted to be an Archeologist when I was little. 2. I love to sleep with all my windows open. 3. I hate doing the same thing as everyone else, so I strive to always be different. 4. I don’t like people watching me while I eat.

Four jobs I have/had in my life:
1. English Teacher 2. Waitress 3. Chocolate chef 4. Museum assistant

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Bridget Jones's Diary 2. Shakespeare in Love 3. Ever After 4. Little Women

Four places I have lived:
1. Shiner, Texas, USA 2. Canterbury, Kent, England 3. Niigata City, Niigata, Japan 4. Austin, Texas, USA

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Sour dill pickles 2. Fresh bread 3. Cheese 4. Cucumbers

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. In bed 2. Shopping in Shibuya 3. On a road trip 4. Anywhere in Italy