No End To Sudden Changes

I could remember like it was last year, turning around in my mother’s womb giving that loving kick every time the placenta juice tasted extra good… now all of a sudden it seems I’m a virile 23year old eating raw fish and rice as a staple. Just last month it seems I was a “Trini to de bone” vowing never to leave the land of my birth ‘oh sweet Trinidad ah love yuh too bad’… now I am 80% settled in half way across the world in Japan not really feeling the developing world vibe anymore. Just last week I could read and communicate fluently… today (Illiterates Anonymous meeting): “Hi my name’s Allan and I’m illiterate”. Only yesterday (literally) Nagasaki was the hottest place on earth (only black man with a tan now!)…this morning I got up shivering; sun shinning bright yuh know, but cold-no-tail! Never a dull moment.

Somehow since my school’s sports day I have become a little more popular around town. I went to the store with some friends this weekend and when I got to the cash counter this gang of young boys crowded around me and were like “Suisan Koko no ALT?” quizzically I answered “Hai” not sure how they knew I teach at Suisan Koko but assumed they saw me at last weekend’s sports day. Then as they just continued snickering and looking marvelled that they were talking to an English speaker, I heard one behind me say “Allan sensei!” I couldn’t help but laugh, feel flattered and stalked all at the same time. I turned to Sally who was shopping with me, “How do they know me and my name…I don’t even teach them!?” It was quite enjoyable though.
Last night a cashier, while checking me out (no not me…the goods…focus!), asked “Suisan Koko no sensei?” I smiled and said “Hai” again wondering how she knew me. Then she said that she her son was in 1W, one of the classes that I teach, then she said a Japanese name and asked if I knew him. Enthusiastically I was like “Oh! Hai hai hai! Shirimasu yo!” (Just so you know I didn’t know him, all Japanese names are new to me even after 2 months of meeting about 10 japanese people everyday. And as soon as you tell me one…4-3-2-1- forgot it! And they still all sound the same)

This is my first autumn (neither rainy nor dry season prepare you for this change). I am writing from school and just came in from a morning jog with the students. The mix of blistering sun and chilly winds is a bit confusing… I shouldn’t be begging for a warm sweater while sweating like a dog… just not right. I’m up for it though. Am I blabbing?...

Anyways my long weekend was great. Friday was Autumnal Equinox Day (coming to think about it I think that may have been the point where the temperatures got stirred up). Sandy, Sally, Andy (I’m the only one with out an “~y” ending so call me Ally for now) and me, Ally, went to a lighthouse in Nomozaki where Sally lives. The hike up had some nice views of the beach and valley but the lighthouse looked very much in the distance… “I think we should go on”… “no it will be too late and flying insect will come out in the dark”… “I’m the queen of the hike!”… “we cya come all dis way fuh nothing” were the different opinions. Too many cooks almost spoil the sushi broth but we made it and it was completely worth the 45min hike.
Saturday we had a full day. Visited the Chinese Confucian temple for a ceremony (I almost got on TV!...almost) and then went to the most amazing Taiko drumming concert….GREAT stuff! Had ice cream and sandwiches at Baskin Robbins and then headed home.
Sunday was just rest day for me. I had planned to go canoeing but got up like 11.00am and just lazed around mostly for the rest of the day. This week I’m not sure what’s in store. Still trying to find some kind of routine. Things are still always up in the air but in time…