October in Aomori

So, the last time I left off I was preparing for the Beef and Garlic Festival, the Soccer Tournament in Nagano and the 3K race in Towada. Well, those have all been completed! And as you can tell (from the picture to the left) I made some time to try out curling!

The Beef and Garlic festival was very fun. We took about a two hour road trip and arrived there around 11. There were many events of the day, such as a rock, paper, scissors competition vs. the garlic lady and the garlic queen (who comes from California). Stands were all set up, selling food and extremely cheap garlic (Takko is the garlic capital of Japan). Then you could buy sets of beef, vegetables and some garlic and then there were lots and lots of flat grills to cook all your food and enjoy. It was a very fun day. On the way home we checked out Jesus' grave. In case any of you were confused, there were 12 years in the bible that were missing, that is when Jesus trekked through Russia and ended up in Aomori, where he had a wife and children. When he was supposed to be crucified, his brother Izukiri took the cross for him instead. And now Jesus is burried here in Shingo, in Aomori prefecture. Just though I would inform you of the correct history about Jesus.

The following weekend was an exhuasting weekend but extremely fun weekend filled with soccer. About 25 of us left from Aomori on Friday night for our long bus ride to Nagano, which took about 11 hours. The bus ride was a blast getting to hang out and talk with a bunch of people, but the sleep wasnt the best. We arrived at our hotel/Japanese inn around 5 am. Our first games were around 9, so we had a few hours to rest up and nap. The girls team, the Ringo Stars (Ringo means apple in Japanese, and Aomori is famous for their apples, they produce a little over half of the apples sold in Japan), had four games that saturday. So it was a very tiring day. We won 3 games and tied our last, i scored a goal too. woo. The tournament was an All Japan ALT tournament, so jets from all over were there. We all stayed in the hotel so the hotel was crawling with hundreds of jets, it was fun and that night there was a big party. The next day everyone was so sore and still tired, but there were more games to be played. We ended up loosing a game to Nagano prefecture, but we came in third. Coming in third meant we got a trophy and a case of beer (its Japan). The boys, Aomori United, did not fair so well, but it was still fun. We then were in for another 11 hour bus ride back for everyone to return to their homes only a few hours before work.

Then, last weekend Christy and I took trains down to Towada for the 3K race. The first night we stayed with our friend Aaron, who was running in the 5K. It was nice to relax and just chill before the race. Sunday was the race and Christy and I were not going to race, but just to have something to run in (since we are doing a running scheduled called from the couch to the 5k). We ran our 3k in 15:59, not sure what we were hoping for haha. But the race day was really fun. That night we stayed at a Japanese Inn, where we relaxed, took many onsens (the Japanese public baths/hot springs). This place had a nice outdoor one which we did a lot. We also had a good traditional Japanese dinner of Sukiyaki and other small dishes. Towada has some great horse, so we were also given a lot of delicious raw horse meat, which I highly recommend.

This past week has been a little more relaxed. Since Monday was a holiday (Sports and Health day) I did not have hip hop class. And my bread baking class is every other week. So I thought my nights would be free, but they got filled up with a big trip to Nittori (Japanese Ikea) to buy things for my apartment and dinners with friends. This weekend is a relaxing one with no plans which is nice. The weather is starting to get nice and autumnish. Today I just biked around a bit and then walked around this beach/park by my house. Tomorrow my middle school near my house is having their school festival, I might stop by and make an appearance there, see some of my kids.

Coming up:
Next week: Halloween Party in Hachinohe (any good costume suggestions?)
Week after: 3K Race in Rokkunohe

September in Aomori

So, I have not written recently at all. I have been very busy and have not found too much time.
I have been busy with work, after work activities and then many excursions.

Monday through Thursdays go to middle school and Fridays I go to Elementary schools, where they are always crazy. It's amazing how fascinated and excited the kids get about a foreigners. I also live near one of my middle schools that I attend once a month. The students do not think that we (the ALT) exists outside of the classroom, so when I ride past my students they get really excited and start screaming Taysha Sensei!! Which is always fun, last week I was on the way to dinner and saw two groups of kids, then at the grocery store saw another group too.

Other than work I have been busy with Japanese club, hopefully trying to get better at Japanese. Then, Christy (another JET who lives two doors down and who I am always with) and I have started running (we are running in a 3K near Towada Lake in a few weeks). We have also started a bread making class at the home of a really nice Japanese woman. And in October we are starting hip hop classes at the NHK Culture Center. So, that should be interesting.

I have filled up my weekends and long weekends. A few weekends ago was the Aomori scavenger hung and JET welcome party. The scavenger hunt took your team all over the prefecture to find things such as the oldest apple tree in Japan, Jesus' grave, and various other things like eating scallop ice cream. Last weekend I went hiking and camping with some other people at Hakkoda, it was very tiring and very cold on top of the mountains. This weekend Christy and I went to Mutsu to visit our friend Alex. Mutsu is very rural and very far north. To get there we took the train and got off at the most northern train station on Honshu. There we saw the most northern monkeys in the world, went to the most northern point on Honshu (the main island of japan and we could see Hokkaido), Oma, where we ate Japans best tuna, and had a good time!

Life in Aomori is interesting. Aomori is the second poorest prefecture in Japan and you can see it, especially when we leave the city. Aomori is also mainly comprised of old people, its hard to find younger people our age, because many leave the prefecture and those who attend college outside of Aomori usually do not return. Japan has an aging population, but it seems like they have all ended up in Aomori!





Things coming up:
- Next weekend -- Garlic and Beef Festival in Takko
- Oct 3rd weekend -- Soccer Tournament in Nagano
- Oct 10th weekend -- 3k Race in Towada

Aomori, Japan

I am now in Japan!! I will try and keep things brief, as so much has occurred since I first arrived. The first few days were spent in Tokyo at orientation. It was nice being back in Japan and I actually met up with a Wake Forest person who was in Tokyo too. Then -- Orientation ended and trip to the new home of Aomori began.

My first few days in Aomori were hectic! I arrived on the final few days of their famous Nebuta Festival. In this festival there are giant floats, lots of music, and lots of people in crazy outfits jumping around shouting. We, the foreigners, were dressed up in these outfits, given crazy hats, and put on jingle bells (which were to be ripped off and thrown out into the crowd, sort of like candy at parades). So, my first few days were fun filled with that festival.

Since then I have been going to work, which is at a branch of the board of education at an education training center. Because kids are still on summer break, there isnt much for us ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) to be doing at the moment. So some of our time has been taken up by learning how to ride the bus and get to the train station, me learning to ride and bike, and getting bank accounts and cell phones.

The leaving CIR's (Coordinator of International Relations) contract did not end until about now (and her apartment is where I will be living). So while she is still here I lived with my supervisor and his family for a few nights. They were awesome, his wife was so sweet and he has two teenage daughters. On the weekend they took me great places. Aomori is wonderful because it is right near mountains as well as the beach. So we visited Mt. Moya (which you can take the chairlift up and take little scooters down), then we went to the beach and aquarium. The next day we went to a big Buddha. Now I have moved into the apartment though and have been sharing it with the girl who will be leaving soon. The apartment is really nice and really large (esp for Japanese standards). I have a large kitchen, a large living room with tatami floors, and two bedrooms upstairs (one tatami floored, one regular). It is in a really nice area and only about a 7 minute bike ride from work.

Well other exciting things about Japan right now, is that me and some of my friends have explored the wonderful Onsens (public baths). One that I went to, other than having the indoor and outdoor baths also had a wonderful rock-bed sauna room, you laid on hot slabs of rock and your body just completely sweated out all your toxins. Another one that I went to last night, had a very cold bath, and a very hot bath (apparently good for circulation), an electric therapy bath (a bath with a current going through it apparently good for sore muscles and arthritis... it sort of hurt) and a nice outdoor bath.. there were also doctor fish, a little tank you stuck your feet into and all these little fish ate your dead skin cells, it felt so funny and your feet came out smooth and soft!

Today after work did some exploring of the city, learning how to get around on the major roads, which I think was very necessary!

Well I am off for now! I will try and keep this updated although I feel I will be rather busy here, especially for a while!

Pura Vida

Sad. I leave Costa Rica tomorrow morning (Monday the 14th). I cannot believe how quickly almost six weeks went. INSANE. Seriously, we discussed this so many times while I was here how fast time goes.

In comparison to last weekends blog, this week was pretty calm, but very good. I got to enjoy my last days of my Costa Rican life. Worked, went to my final pilates classes, and hung out with friends. Lots of hanging out with friends and people I work with was a great way to spend the last week. Friday at work we had pie and ice cream, at least you get to celebrate leaving I guess. I absolutely love the people I work with and really hope to stay in contact with them, and def come back and see them again! (See picture below, some of the people I work with and Alvaro's kids) Friday night went out to dinner and around San Jose with friends, who are also the best people ever. I really did not think I would make so many great friends coming here and will miss them a ton, at least I got to spend a lot of time with them this weekend.


Friday was great fun hanging out with them and the entire weekend basically consisted ofbeing with my Ticos and having goodbye parties! Saturday I also went to Andres' climbing competition, it was an outdoor climbing wall on this huge mountain cliff, the wall was TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FEET HIGH! (see the above picture) It was incredible how high this wall was. Saturday night I also went to this CRAZY performance. It was pretty much all in the dark with black lights with people in black but then would have parts you could see that formed insane creatures and illusions, it was really the strangest, coolest, and trippy thing I have ever seen and had no idea what I was getting myself into. Check out these pics I found online - truly you need to seem them here

Not too eventful for blogging, but it was great hanging out with my friends before I leave, as I have already mentioned numerous times.

Tomorrow I open the office one more time, when Nora gets here at 8, and then I think I am heading to the airport around 9ish. Sad day.

Costa Rica has been amazing. I had no expectations, let alone knowledge (I thought it was like Puerto Rico or something) about this place. And oh my goodness, what an amazing place this little country is. I will forever love Ticos and this land of theirs!

Advice for this blog, Lime and Salt make everything so much more tasty, seems simple, but its true.

So, everyone should travel to Costa Rica, need any advice let me know. But if the website that I worked so hard on writing the content for ever gets up I will def let everyone know so they can book their Solimar Travel trip to Costa Rica ;-)

South Pacific Coast

Well, well, well. This past week has gone by so fast, been a pretty normal week, filled with working, pilates, and going out with friends. But it was also spent trying to figure out this weekends transportation to the secluded south pacific coast. For some reason I was taking public bus (which was still like a charter bus) and was going to have to make two transfers, at different stations, and all the places were not answering their phones so we could figure out times. Eventually it was planned that I would take the 5:30 am bus from San Jose to San Isidro and meet up with the hotel manager (who was going to be there) and he would take me. Phew, much easier for me! Then we called a cab to pick me up at 4:30 the next morning (the station said to get there 40 mins early). Alvaro, who set up my cab, said to call the company at 4:25 if they had not arrived, and he wrote down what to say in Spanish. Oh no, this just isn't going to go well, I could tell.

Saturday Morning: 4:15 am the cab arrives! Early! Perfect! And playing good music, it's going well! I did not have to call the company, did not have to wake up Alvaro! It's going to be a good day. I thought way way way too soon. Get to the station and no one is there, completely closed down (and its dark outside and rainy). I was like aqui?? And the cab guy was like yea. So I get out, walk around, the entrance is closed. The cab guy got out, made a call, and was like it does not open til 530. And then continued to tell me that this area is very dangerous, very dangerous. So I did not know what to do, maybe I would have to make the call to Alvaro. The cab guy told me to but my bag in the car, while I crossed the street to call (since it's very dangerous). Luckily I could not figure out the phone and could not get through, because what could Alvaro have done? So three women arrive, so I guess all I can do is wait. While waiting, some crazy man came up and started babbling on, I could tell he was no bueno because the women were trying to avoid him, I could also tell he was saying stuff about me. But the line got longer and the doors finally opened. Next issue: the only tickets left for the bus were standing (which had to be explained by someone since no one around spoke english), but I needed to get there so yea I bought a standing ticket for the 3 hour journey to San Isidro. Luckily there were seats and I got to sit the entire time.
Get to San Isidro, look for the manager's car, I do not see anything. Time to attempt the public phone and call his cell phone. After it finally decides to take my coins and stop speaking Spanish to me, I get ringing, but no answer. I keep trying and the phone keeps not working. I ask a woman near me if she speaks english, of course not, but she helps me and tries to call the numbers I have, and then attempts with her phone card. Doesn't work. After more attempts, contemplating taking the bus back to San Jose (since it was only 5 dollars) and asking more non-english speaking people for help, I head into the jewlery/clothing store behind me to see if she speaks english and can help with the situation of me being stranded in San Isidro. Of course seh does not speak English, but uses her cell phone to call, and eventually we get through to the hotel. The woman there tells me he waited at 8 and I did not show up... my bus arrived at 9 and it was supposed to arrive at 8:30, wasn't THAT late. Anyways she said to call her back she would try and find me a taxi. Well after lots of waiting and calling she gets me a way there. It's this old man driving a truck, obviously no english. But I did use some of my Spanish and found out he lives and works in San Isidro, has two kids a son and daughter who also live there and a few other things and he asked me some stuff. Eventually I get to the eco-lodge, but the cab was expensive and I decided I am def taking a plane home.

At the eco-lodge I watched a video about the lodge and Uvita (where I was, south of Dominical). "Please feel free to kill any wasps, scorpions or ants in your room out of self defense" oh great, I do not have Andres my scary bug catcher, "And do not walk on the trails alone as there are numerous poisonous snakes" hmmm I am alone. My tours that I was supposed to go on, Kayaking on Saturday and Whale watching Sunday did not happen, the area is so secluded that some days people are not signed up so they do not go. So, Saturday I hiked down to the beach, which I could only stay at for about 30 minutes since high tide was coming and that meant the beach would disappear and I would not be able to get back to the trail. Then it rained, so I took a nap, since I had been up since 4 am (oh and I did not eat until I got to the lodge which was like 1 pm). Oh, I did forget to mention, the lodge has an AMAZING panoramic view of the ocean and all the rooms have their own porches which have great views as well. But I realized that secluded places, true nature eco-lodges (without pools, tvs, bars, etc..) and without tours are not really places for single travelers.
Sunday: I had to go on the trails since I had no tours. I started of with the Los Ajos trail, took me deep into the jungle and I was paranoid about snakes, thinking that no one would find me if I were to be bitten and die in the jungle. Suck the venom out right? I did have a basic first aid kit with me and my leatherman (thanks laura haha). The trails were really long and great actually and this deep in the jungle trail was made great by me seeing two black and green poison dart frogs. (And then I remembered what a guide had told me earlier about how you become paralyzed, start convulsing and die.. or something like that). I also saw a lot of snake holes, and then realized they belonged to spiders as well when I saw a giant spider crawl back into it. About after an hour loop I returned alive! Next trail I took led me deep into the forest and then out onto the ocean with lots of rocks to climb around, then another place with huge rocks, which were all very beautiful and I took way too many pictures that probably look all the same! There I also walked through a huge spider web and disrupted a huge spider, debated whether I would be able to pass or if he would jump on me and attack or something. Luckily I passed because climbing on the rocks was great fun. Again I made it back! Decided to head to the beach again during low tide. The rest of the afternoon just rested around, read a book, hung out on my porch. This morning I was woken up by a howler monkey right outside my room at 430, it was SO loud, I really cannot believe how loud they are, but they are, and if I had not heard them before I would probably think a gorilla was coming to get me. Also, before I left I saw some spider monkeys right outside my porch, they are my favorite because they just fling themselves around.

But, yes, I did take a plane. Again the taxi to the airport was a bit expensive but the plane ride was totally worth it. I waited at the "airport" ( I put that in quotes because it consisted of about four benches and a landing strip), at the airport I met a Japanese woman so we talked a bit (in Japanese of course, especially since she did not speak English).
But the plane was small but the flight was awesome and Costa Rica is beautiful. On my cab ride home though I did have to stop at the ATM since all my money was taken from me by cabs trying to get to and out of the South Pacific.

But now I am home sweet home. And very very sad that a week from today is my last day here. GAH i don't even want to think about it.

Oh, my advice for the week. learn spanish? take flights to remote areas? no.. umm oh, stay at hotels or lodges that have airport transportation, that would be nice.

Arenal

This past weekend I headed to the Northern Region to check out the Arenal/La Fortuna area! And let me tell you, it was one packed weekend! I got to my hotel around noon on saturday and had a tour at 2:30. My tour was a canopy zip-line tour through the rain forest! Amazingly it was only me and the two guides, which was so awesome, did not have to do any waiting and just zipped along all the different lines! I went upside down on one, and flew like superman on another one! haha. Then at the end of zip-lining I rappelled down a cliff to a river, then took a horseback ride. And this was not like a trail ride, it was just me and the horse guy and we galloped all the way back, which was up steep rocky trails, I think I might have been more tired than then horse at the end! so fast! But then I was able to see the entire volcano (it had been cloudy before).
Arenal volcano is the most active volcano in Costa Rica and often on one side lava is flowing and other times it is grumbling or little eruptions. When I got back to my hotel I heard a boom and saw some ash and gas come out, and then there was a second bigger boom and another. It was pretty awesome and I was pretty excited about that!
Sunday was totally packed, I did the combination tour which started at 8 am and ended at 10 pm. Yea, busy. Started with a hanging bridge tour through the rainforest, which was 15 suspension bridges in the forest and we saw tons of animals. Poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, hornet hawk, eyelash vipers, mott motts, tons of things. Then went to La Fortuna waterfall which was nice, got to swim and relax around that, then to a volcano look out place and learned about the history of Arenal and then went on a volcano hike, then to a lava look out place but it was too cloudy and a bit rainy so I did not get to see lava. But I did get a full view of the volcano on my weekend which is rare because it is often covered with clouds, so I was very lucky. THEN after this long long day, got to go to Tabacon Hot Springs, AMAZING. They are these springs, pools and jacuzzis that are heated by the volcano and so warm and the location is just like a tropical paradise. You can walk around and find secluded hot rivers with waterfalls or hang out at the big pool one that has a water slide and a bar. But the perfect end to a busy but so fun day!!! Then up early to head home the next morning.

Bug Story time: The other night I went to my room, turned on the lights, and something HUGE scurried across the room. At first all I could think of was giant cockroach (because I have yet to see one in my house) but then it slowed in the corner and it was a huge, brown, furry spider, a bit bigger than a half dollar. So I was just was like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, NELA! (she was still here). She came in and decided to go get Andres. He came down, with plastic bags, caught it, and we took it outside. It was actually quite calm, he said its good and eats cockroaches and other bugs, so I am glad its good but much happier that it is out of my room. So now Andres is my official bug catcher and am very glad he lives in the upstairs apartment.

Words of advice from this week: Even if your itinerary says something make sure to check the ticket voucher for the exact time. Itinerary says: 630 am pick up Ticket says: 8:20 pick up.

Life in SJ

Alright no "business" trips this past weekend so I just explored San Jose with Nela and her amigos. Thursday went to Latino Rock Cafe and saw a great band called Parque en el Espacio (we actually might see them again tomorrow). Friday we went out and then Saturday checked out downtown San Jose. We went to breakfast and then the market. The market was neat, lots of cool cheap things, from Costa Rica trinkets, to meat, to art supplies. Sunday was a day to relax and take in the sun (this weekend had the first days that I have been here in the rainy season that haven't rained). Today was cold and gray though, so I am glad I did my laundry and sat outside. I also had time to cook a delicious meal -- Tilapia with Mango Salsa and then for dessert Banana/Mango/ Pineapple Skewers dipped in Chocolate.. mmm. Andres who lives upstairs joined for dinner which was nice to talk with him for a bit. So, those were the highlights, but now I will just explain some things a bit about being here.

I live in a house which is also the Solimar Office where I work. The house is pretty empty and the rooms are the offices. The kitchen has a microwave, toaster oven, stove (with no gas), and like a knife. So I have to get inventive planning dinners. But I also feel like I have to work a lot because Nora comes at 8 and then people don't really leave! haha But it's all good. And Andres, the president, lives upstairs, it has an outdoor staircase though so it's pretty separate.

So I love the Costa Rican greeting of kiss/hug when I first got here I was caught off guard, but then that made me wonder: In the US there are good and bad handshakes are there good and bad kisses/hugs or what if you don't really like the person.. so I asked and it does exist, its a "pirate kiss" for people you don't necessarily like, where its just quick, and obviously longer hugs for friends/people you like.

So my what I learned of the week. Bringing my perfume was one of the best decisions I made (Dolce & Gabbana light blue, smells so good). Costa Ricans all smell AMAZING, girls, guys, young, old, everyone. And I concluded it is because they all kiss/hug each other all the time. I was talking to one Tico about it, they said they like to be clean and smell clean. But either way, I love it, they smell great! So bringing my good smelling lotion and perfume was a great decision. (In the picture, Nela, Ana, Carlos, Hime, Me in San Jose)

Well I am going to go sleep, I am tired from work and pilates. But Andres just came home during this blog and I he had me try some Coconut Juice, which apparently is good for digestion (I feel like they say that about everything). But it was very good, tasted like watered down juice with a slightly milky soft feeling. In Limon, on the Caribbean Coast, they make really nice rice and beans and sauces with it apparently, and I actually did try some which were great.