So life go

If you were a boy

2009-12-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

So for the last day of school I was in a play. I played the thug version of Joseph. In an all girls school with few male teachers you have these opportunities to play male roles. So I let out my twists and toss on a cap. I out on my deep voice and I was ready.

Play came off. The few girls who were there happened to think I did a god job as Joseph. One compliment I got - Miss, if you was a boy mi wud a check you- LOL These girls are absolutely hilarious.

Merry Christmas !!! - mer

HS life

2009-10-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

The girl did a presentation today and I feel truly blessed that I teach these girls. They are super talented and truly beautiful. Realise daily that I have great responsibilty and praying that I will do well. HMJ

Note to self

2009-10-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

Keeping in contact with people is a good thing. I need to get the list check it twice and get to writing people. I have been such a delinquent in this area. Talking on the phone isn't my favourite thing so that leaves email. Plus I like getting a little note in my box so I think I'll spread the love

Need to start shooting people. ( taking pics) Love portraits and have faces that must be seen. Get it together- tek out di camera an' tek some pictcha. Going to start with the gd .

If I manage to do these things that I think I will feel that I'm moving instead of standing still.

What happens when you move from downstairs to upstairs?

My Bolt's home

2009-06-20T05:44:00.001-07:00

Why are some people so covetous and lazy?! See it here. Usain went to reperesent Jamaica in Europe. While he ws running, someone was breaking into his house and stealing his laptop and digital camera. Why people so wicked? Sure he can buy it back, my yute drawing down some decent money, but that's besides the point. If you have your things you should be able to feel confident that people will allow you to enjoy it. Now in Jamaica land we love that seems impossible. cho man . Now is not hungry dem hungry cause phone and pc cyaan eat. And I just have the feeling that they aren't going to sell it for anything worth having. How you breakthe spell of red eye and grudgefulness in Jamaica is something that we need to find a solution to. Bwoy I hope the computer and phone mash up pon dem mek dem cyaan use it. Bun mi fi dem man. Daaaamn, why people stay so?

Images and Hijacking

2009-04-20T04:27:00.000-07:00

As I type, a plane is being hijacked at the Sangster International Airport. Praise God for Jesus, none of the passengers were hurt but the crew is still being held hostage. I am really praying that they will be released soon and that no one gets hurt.

This from the Gleaner:

The Government is working to protect Jamaica’s image following last night’s hijacking of the Canadian-bound flight.

Now I know that this is potentially disastrous for the tourism industry but the government must be delusional to think that the image of Jamaica is rosy. The fact is Jamaica is a dangerous place - mis seh so. Not even in Iraq where you have war you have so many people being murdered. The government plays the role of the hypocrite by trying to trick people, foreigners into thinking that the are absolutely safe here. Now that Jamaica has been exposed for what it is perhaps they will try to deal with the crime that has been devastating the country for years. This unfortunate situation of a plane of white people being hijacked may spur on the government to deal with this problem of crime. The truth is Jamaicans have been held hostage by crime for years. But the government ,instead of dealing with it, has tried to cover it up to present a good image to the world. But see it yah, now we naked to the world and our shame exposed.

MARRIAGE AND CONVICTS

2008-10-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

Many people dream of one day finding the perfect person to marry and living happily ever after. For the Christian, its finding a nice Christian man/woman- hey, gotta be equally yoked - nuh? Yet anxiety can soon set in for those who envision this future for themselves.

Recently the Observer did an article on a conference which catered to frustrated Christian singles desirous of finding 'the one'. Now, if I go to a conference I would really like to feel hopeful on my way out. Yet one line from the talk at this conference would have certainly left me a bit discouraged.

The speaker was trying to make the point that girls and guys need to wait for that special someone but I want you catch this line and I quote '

"God might have a wife for you, but she still in college, God might have a husband for you but him still in prison,"

STILL IN PRISON!???!!

The guy seems pretty set- his girl in college but di girl guy inna di lock up. You mean yuh telling me seh I have to go join the prison ministry, meet the man and wait until 'im come out ah jail on parole? - aaaahhhm this not monopoly. You mean the only guy you going to be able to find who is a Christian is an ex-con?

Now - I have nothing against former prisoners. I firmly believe in redemption- After all Jesus came to set the prisoners free and even our beloved Apostle, Paul, was in the joint at several points. But the problem that I have with this line is the thinking that it reflects.

We have such low expectations for men ( they all heading to jail) and of the influence that Christ can have on the educated, decent man. Many find Jesus in prison but you can also find him if you not in those desperate conditions. Probably I am reading too much into it but it also seems to send a subtle message to ladies that they are probably going to have have to settle.-mmm.

The guys seem to be OK but just a a little encouragement for the ladies- If you are being called to marriage , the Lord has the person for you and probably not one with a record.

Also , what about the single life? I am a firm believer in marriage. My parents have been married for 28years. I think we are all called to share our lives with people and that marriage is a perfect example of people doing just that. But I also think that you can do so much for Christ being single. To some this may seem blasphemous ( 'every hoe have dem stick a bush', they say) but I think that you can grow in love for Christ and others as a single person, after all isn't that our ultimate goal?

If you want to read the article, here's the link http://jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/AllWoman/html/20081027T000000-0500_141824_OBS_CHRISTIAN_SINGLES_PLEDGE_TO_LET_GOD_CHOOSE_THEIR_PARTNERS.asp

Long time

2008-10-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe that I haven't blogged in over a year- what way time gallop!!! This line is just simply to obliterate '1 year since last post' note - I'll write something substantial later. - until then, tek care!

Flowers

2007-09-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

I see nobody nuh tek me and my competition on but is awwwright!!! ( No really is ok :) - I will try to come up with another one that is hopefully more appealing)
So what do you know- I love flowers !!! I love their colours, textures, shapes , smells- everything bout dem I love. Let me insert here that my favorite flower is the big, beautiful belle of the south- the maganolia- it has it all.
On my way home one night I passed this flower shop. The florist was inside working on an arrangement and since I didn't have anything to do I decided I would go in to watch. Now mi nuh know dis lady from Adam so you see how mi well brazen. Anyway the florist was (and still is so sweet) and I ended up staying there until 1 the next morning and left with a flower in hand. Emiko- san and are are great friends now and I still stop by. She does the most beautiful arrangements and I enjoy sitting and watching. Today though I decided to try out a little thing with some of the discarded flowers. They are nothing close to how beautiful her creations are but it's so nice to see how they make the plave feel nice. Below are a couple pictures I took of them. Who knows, I may get good enough to do your wedding bouquet ;)

Me and Emiko-san at Hanamomen, Kosaka, spring 2007)

A painting of the magnolia ( what a beauty!!)

My Creations

BIGGEST GRIN

2007-09-18T09:28:00.001-07:00

Here is your oppurtuntiy to be a part of this amazing photo blog - the Biggest Grin. It's simple all you have to do is show as many teeth as you possibly can in one smile.

Useful tip

Lower teeth count so remember to drop the lower jaw and lip a bit. ie. skin teet ( example below)

Right now I am the only participant But I hope that won't be the case for long. ( Do mi a look a little company so patronize me ok?) Email me those pictures with the teeth count. and I'll post it. I did a zoom on the picture below and 18 teeth are accounted for but I know we have a king or queen out there who can do better so let's get this show on the road. laters!

Sky Art

2007-09-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Now some claim that Osaka is the ugliest city in Japan. How they came by that I have no idea. Yes, it's the industrial capital so it certainly isn't short on buildings but to me a beautiful city is a clean city with kind people and Osaka well clean and di people dem nice. Plus if you look up you'll realise that there is much beauty to behold.

My sister wrote a song and in it she says - "something about blue skies that make me happy"I am pretty fond of blue skies myself and here on the fourth flour of my my Mansion ( ok so it an apartmanet but the place name 'yoshida mansion' and mansion you must admit has a nice rrrring) I get a fantastic view of the beautiful Osaka sky in blue, pink orange and even purple. I really enjoy it and I've taken a few pics to remind me of how pretty it is . Remember take the time to look up and you may see something amazing !

2007-08-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Mieko- san and me in Mie Prefecture

My neighbor and dearest friend Mieko dressed me up in her Yukatta. We were going to a fireworks show (one of many)that the had throughout Japan.

RUN IN WITH THE LAW

2007-04-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

So there I was on my bike, riding merrily along. I had come to a stop light so like I good citizen I stopped. Later, I was grateful that I had that because I noticed that there were two police coming in the opposite direction. Hey I wouldn’t want to get a ticket for "careless and reckless riding'(not that I know definitively that such a ticket exist but if dem can tow mi bike I don’ put nothing pass them.) I noticed too that they were staring a me but that was nothing new. People are always staring and though I don’t find it polite, I don’t find myself terribly annoyed by it either. The light changed and I started to ride again but now I notice that the police crossing the road and coming towards me – STRANGE!!! Now when a bike is in front of you can try swerve and continue on but when a police bike block you yuh know seh is stop yuh haffi stop. I had officially been pulled over by the cops. (LOL)

So the guys in blue hop off and I have no choice but to do the same. He asks if a speak Japanese. ‘No’, comes the swift reply and so my boy launches into an interrogation in fluent English. (Why I am not surprised?).

‘Where are you from?’ >>> ‘Where do you work?’ >>> ‘Is this your bike?’ >>> How much did you pay for it?”>>> ‘Where are the papers for the bike’ (Yes bicycles have papers but I didn’t have the papers for the bike.) >>> ‘Do you have your passport?’ Usually I don’t travel with my passport but I had it on me that day because I needed the visa page photocopied. I was glad I had it too because I done never have the papers for the bike.

So as Mr. English looks through the passport Mr. Silent gives the bike a thorough search. All bikes have a number on them so they start to radio the numbers back to the base. A bike had been stolen and mine fit the profile or was it my face that I fit the profile of a Thief ie. Non- Japanese.? Now I can’t even begin to explain to you how many black bicycles there are in Japan and how many black bikes passed as I was being interrogated.

Anyway I make them do what they have to do. I had to be somewhere at 5:15 and it was 5:08 so I just hoped that they did what they had to do quickly. They got a response from the base, this was not the stolen bike. I could have told them that from the beginning. Although the way dem did a check I start feel guilty although I know that the bike was perfectly legitimate. They thanked me (although I think I’m sorry would have been apt) and I rode off.

Update

2007-04-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

I really can’t tell when last I wrote a blog, and I guess I could have just brought up the page and had a look but I always write in Word first and then cut and paste.

Anyway all is well here in Japan.

You may or may not know but I went back home in April. (sorry if I didn’t get to link you) I had a fantastic time. Definitely being with my family was the biggest treat and the biggest factor why almost I cleared out my account, but it was definitely worth every yen. ( How ticket expensive so ?) Got to check out two matches with the WI when they were winning, went to one of my favourite places, Portland and I got to see my Gabby who is absolutely precious.

Don’t ask if I neva put down a big bawling before I leave (cathartic) but I am happy to report that I have settled back in . I staying on for another year and really jusy enjoying every bit of this experience.

Latest drama- nearly rode into a moving car. Truly I know it is the Holy spirit protecting me from these possible accidents. But let me tell you how it go.

I was riding home one night and I had to take a corner. Now you may think that Jamaican roads small, but yuh nuh see small road till you come a Japan. Anyway I had to take this corner and on the corner of this small road was a parked a van. Usually I make the corner on the side walk so you are out of harms way but with this van parked on the side the only way to take it was to go on the road. So I went around the van ( i.e. on the road). Anyway there was a car coming at full speed in the opposite direction ( memba road small so it really doesn’t matter what side you on) , and me and him nearly make a CRASH). As you know though unlike the driver who is in a metal case of a car mi nuh have nuttin’ round me. Anyway I draw brake quick time and swung somewhere else and avoided the collision. Now I could I claim reflex but I know is the Lord himself who helped me. Other than that though things have been pretty uneventful – which isn’t all that bad if you think about it. School started back and I have a new set of students so I trying the make the classes as informative and entertaining as possible (the latter for my benefit of course)

Blessing on everyone who is reading this blog and even those who aren’t J Laters

Japan Time

2007-02-03T05:25:00.000-08:00

Japanese take time seriously. If they say they function ends at 3:03 try make sure that you out of the place by 3:02 because at 3:03 you may find yourself being locked in. The concept of lingering is truly a foreign one and grand entrances- well you can just forget about that. Needless to say each person tries desperately to be punctual especially for work. I have truly been making an effort to be on time but my brilliant record came to a dismal end last week.

I love my sleep so to try to convince myself that I am getting more sleep I set the alarm clock early. Sounds silly but when you see the clock saying 7:30 although is 7 it really does something for me mentally. Anyway I had set the clock to alarm and it did but them I decided to sleep a bit longer. Anyway when I decided to get up the clock was saying a decent time so I knew I was still on time. So I go to get ready and I look at my watch that I’d left in the bathroom and it was saying that it is 8:30 – “Oh great! Now I have to change the batteries for my watch” I say out loud. But then one mind said “Check the internet to see the time”. Kinda worried now “Could I be…. Late?” When I googled “Japan time” you know seh it was 8:30 and you know what time school start- 8:30 I was officially LATE! The batteries in the alarm clock had officially died.

Well my friend had said that is only one late you can late an' since I did done late I never even bother to harass myself. Sometimes when I see the time going I try pull a Lance Armstrong but that day I just decided to check out the scene on the ride to school- I was irreversibly late (if you can say that) I was just grateful that I didn’t have a class in the first session. Anyway when reached school I was trying to sneak in but when I reached, there was the Vice Principal and the Principal to greet me- Oh NO!!!! So of course I start feel shame same time. All the bravado of not trying to rush even though I was late instantly vanished. Anyway I explained the situation to the V.P., who is my supervisor and he was so nice about it. He said I slept so late because I was young (hahaha) Hey I definitely don’t want to be late again and a got a second clock to make sure that I have two clocks to refer to but I am so glad that I was shown mercy.

Of Teeth, Falls and False Teeth

2006-12-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

My greatest fear is losing my two front teeth and consequently I dread falling because that fall may just be the one to get those two babies out. The others can get extracted and I guess if for some strange reason they drop out I would just have to live with it. But I am quite fond of the two front ones. At Christmas I always think of the song ‘All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth’ and when you are five and someone sings that to you then I guess that’s cute because everyone knows that your teeth going to grow back next year. But when you are twenty three and someone happens to sing that song to you then you know you just salt.

So the other day I was flying up the stairs-nothing strange. Any way this time is different- I miss a step and that sets the fall into action. I not thinking of the scars I may get or the fact that behind me are two students who will be witness to this moment all I thinking about are my teeth and in my heart I crying out a prayer and my hand of course flies to cover my mouth. Anyway I am glad to report that after I recovered my teeth were in tact. You know those reality makeover shows show you some real good looking false teeth but for me nothing tops the original. Lesson to be learnt from this blog- take your time when you going up and down stairs.

Omiyage

2006-11-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

Now in Japan people are ALWAYS giving gifts. They call it omiyage. You give it when you enter a new organization (so you know when I came I had to be giving out gift left, right and centre) and you also buy omiyage when you travel especially to foreign countries to give it away upon your return. The omiyage doesn't have to be fancy. It's usually just sweets but it shows that wherever you were that you were thinking of other people -your coworkers, friends etc. and it clearly encourages generosity and thoughtfulness - WONDERFUL !!!

This is how serious Omiyage is. A teacher went on her honeymoon (I repeat, HONEYMOON) in Italy and when she came back yuh done know there were boxes of Italian chocolate on the table in the staff room for the rest of the teachers. So if you planning to go anywhere and you nuh waan’ buy nuttin', don’t tell nobody because if you do, you know you better try bring back something. No one will come to you demanding their gift but it’s one of those unspoken rules. Now even if I wanted to do the “’Don’t Tell’ Cop Out”, I can’t, because I always have to make my Vice-Principal know exactly where I am just in case I get into any problems.

Now my mother, whom I love dearly, always told us that when we buy a gift we should buy something that we would like for ourselves. This ensures that you give only the best gift. So when I went to the Kyoto I had the omiyage on my mind. Now Kyoto isn’t exactly foreign ( it’s only one hour by train from where I am in Osaka) , but still the omiyage thing was on my mind, and worse, the people with whom I work, knew I was going to Kyoto (every body know mi business- lol) So I went to this shop where the sold sweets to get the omiyage. The great thing is that you can taste the sweets before the purchase them. So there I was tasting away when I came upon this absolutely scrumptious sweet. I decided that it would be THE omiyage. But I took it a step further- I decided to get one for myself too. On the journey home I feasted on this chocolate delight. Oh it was so good! Soon the packet I had bought for myself was finished. Suddenly the omiyage was looking very tempting. The taste of what I remembered were delectable chocolates was quickly vanishing and of course my mouth started to water for the omiyage. How absolutely dreadful! Now herein lies the moral dilemma. Should I take some of the omiyage to satisfy the sweet craving or should I leave' the people dem omiyage'?…. What do you think I did?. . . .

I bus’ the omiyage of course – LOL But soon the sweet chocolate was having a bitter taste – That’s what you call GUILT . I couldn’t eat it off. Luckily the guilt tripped in pretty quickly so there were enough packets of sweets to give to everyone. I was also quite pleased that when I gave them out, everyone seemed to enjoy them ( I know I did ) . It really is a nice feeling to know that other persons enjoy the gifts you give them ( no matter how small ) And learn from this blog- If something bought is intended for another ' don’ nyam is out' !

Wedding

2006-11-19T03:49:00.000-08:00

Now I have always asked God for what some may consider ‘silly’ things and he has granted me each and every one. When I was younger I prayed that I could work at Burger King so that I could eat all the burgers I wanted. And in the summer of 2001 , right before entering UWI I got the job I had prayed for. For six glorious weeks I worked at the home of the whopper and don’ ask if I never nyam. I expanded weekly and my face took on a greasy sheen but I never cared a bit because I was loving every moment of the job. The added bonus was that I got to speak on the intercom system to take the orders and don’t ask if I never use up the radio voice- It was lovely.

I also I love weddings. I love the excitement, the beauty and the joy that accompanies a wedding. I remember Mommy taking us to see a wedding at Holy Cross once and you would have thought I knew the bride the way I did happy standing on the outside and looking in. So before I came to Japan I asked the Lord if I could see a Japanese wedding. Things were looking a bit impossible though because to get to go to a wedding I would have to get know someone who was getting married, befriend them and get an invite. Plus you cyaan just mek fren cause you want to go to the people them wedding- no sah. That is using people and it nuh right. Perhaps a picture would have to suffice.

Last Monday I went to Kyoto with some teachers. Now Kyoto has dozens of temples all over and each is surrounded by lovely gardens. Anyway we went to this temple only to find out that they were having a very special event there that day (You can guess what it was don’t it?) Yes - it was a wedding. But better still, anyone who was visiting could see it. They had a special section set up for guests to sit down and view the ceremony. I was in my elements. My prayer was being answered. With glee I watched as the bride bedecked in her pristine white kimono and the dapper groom go through the wedding rites. I couldn’t understand what they were saying but love needs no interpretation and that was felt. I was so glad I was able to see a Japanese wedding . I just wish them all the very best because I am always cognizant that a wedding and a marriage are quite different. And I thank God that he hears even the “silly’ prayers.

Transportation woes

2006-11-19T02:59:00.000-08:00

Think Japan and you think Transportation. After all this is the birth place of the cars that most of us drive daily - Nissan, Toyota and of course Honda, just to name a few. In Jamaica you know I had to depend on my parents wheels but God is GOOD. In Japan I have managed to get some wheels of my own and it’s called Bicycle- major brand over here. Yes it only has two wheels but I’m giving thanks.

The other day I even got my ride pimped. I got a new basket for the back, for those supermarket runs, and a place where the umbrella can be held, so when it rains I just get wet, not soaked. :) You can just imagine how my black bike look good.

This bike takes me most places but on Friday I had a seminar in this far out place called Abiko and so I couldn’t ride. I was running really late that morning though so I just jumped on my bicycle and pedaled away to the station, parked the bike where I have parked it dozens of times before , jumped off the bike (literally) pulled out the key (yes it have key too) and I flew up the stairs to the catch the train.

Anyway at 9:00 pm. I returned to Eiwa Station and went downstairs for the bike and I didn’t see it. I said to myself “OK. Maybe someone moved it somewhere down the line” because sometimes they do that to create a bit more space for other bicycles. So up and down the row of bicycles I went and I still didn’t see my bike. After I looked and didn’t see it I started thinking that somebody “T’ief mi bike” (after all, hog mummy always tink him pickney pretty and my bike nice so I coulda kinda understand if you woulda want it - lol) However before reaching a conclusion I decided to look on the ground where the bike had been parked and there lay a pice of paper taped to the floor with the date on it. This was beginning to look serious because the paper looked very official. I also noticed too that others were probably there earlier and had been taken up so I proceeded to tear it from the floor only to realize that there was a sign close by which had a bicycle with an red slash on it – Ladies and gentlemen it did’t take me long to figure out that I shouldn’t have parked my bicycle there and finally that my beloved bike had been towed. Anyway I took the sign to someone who could explain it fully to me and they confirmed that indeed the bicycle had been towed and that it was going to cost me 2500 yen ( 20 USD) to get it back. Now, as far as I know is car you tow not bike – but you live, park in the wrong place and learn.

I friend of mine drove me to the place where the bike was (which by the way was quite a distance form my apartment) When I reached I realized that this thing is probably big business because there was a sea of bikes in this lot. Some old men were in charge of the lot and had a good laugh when I put down a fake bawling as I drew the money from the my wallet to pay them. At the end of the whole thing they said that is should come back soon a request that I am sure will not be granted because I will make sure I park the bike in a safe place.

Ironing Queen

2006-10-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

My grandma Gray has the amazing abilty to make the most crushed cloth smooth. I have never seen anyone press clothes as well as her. When she would visit us I would step out in my skirts which I thought was decently ironed and she would herd me off to the laundry room and tell me to take off the skirt so she could iron it, ignoring me all the time when I told her the that "the skirt was perfectly fine as is". When I got it back though, I knew that skirt had got the touch from the Ironing Queen- Miss Dor.

So here I am in Osaka ironing my own clothes and missing my grandmother because I love her but also because I really can’t seem to get the shirts as good as she does. Last night I spent about twenty minutes ironing this striped shirt that I love and in the end it looked good and I began to think that some of my grandmother’s talent was rubbing of on me. But I have to cover the shirt with a jacket because it’s getting so cold, so no one will see the queen that I am becoming.

2006-10-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

When Vida grew old,
She gave all her jewels away,
Jewels, as beautiful as youth,
With powers to veil years.
For the one to whom she had given her soul ,
Whom she would soon meet,
Face to face,
Loved only the beauty of her heart.

- For Mommy D.

Love and Affection

2006-10-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

Now if you know me then you know that I am quite affectionate. I love my hugs !!! And if I feel love starved then you know cause I will start saying “Gimme a hug nuh” This trait of course has caused my dear mother to utter impassioned pleas to find myself a husband since she is often the prime target when I have my demands ,but the truth is that she broke mi bad because she very affectionate too and plus I think is the husband must find you - LOL

Anyway before I came to Japan they told us that this is not a very huggy huggy place. A slight bend of the back will suffice. Needless to say my spinal cord has been getting much exercise here. I made the mistake and gave a student a little pat on the back (heh heh). You should have seen the little boy’s face- how him never wet up himself I don’ know and I remembered the touch rule again. But the other day I realized that my land lord’s mother ( the same one who had invited me to dinner) loves to be hugged . How happy I was to give her a big hug and squeeze when I saw her this morning- I think I’ll make her my little love pet –hahahaha

Gabby

2006-10-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

I just want to say how much I love my little neice Gabriella Camille !! Truly Gabby is a special gift from God to all of us and I pray that she will just grow in beauty, joy and love. Love you my Gabby Wabby!

Questionnaires - Good or Bad?

2006-10-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

The children at Fuse High school just completed their first semester exams and so as is the custom there the teachers have to give the children questionnaire to asses the classes and of course themselves. Now questionnaires are kinda tricky. Although out of sheer curiosity you want to see what these children thinking on the other hand you kinda fraid because their answers may just reveal that they really not enjoying your class or that they think you are an absolutely dreadful teacher. (A teacher’s nightmare- if you care)

I remember distinctly at UWI students relishing the moments when they got the questionnaire to tear a part the teacher who they just didn’t like. Imagine their disappointment when they realized that in spite of innumerable negative responses on the questionnaires it was not sufficient to get the lecturer fired, and worse, that they had to endure them for another course that was mandatory for their degree. Any way I had to make up this questionnaire whatever the results would be I would just have to deal with it.

So today I was reviewing the results . A few students said that the didn’t understand most of what I said (Not good) Others said the class was a bit difficult but generally most of the students seem to be doing just fine. At the end of the questionnaire I left a space for them to write general comments and quite a few the children wrote things like “I love Maria “I enjoy class every week” and “Thank you Maria.” I really was delighted and encouraged just to make the classes even better.

So you see questionnaires aren’t always bad after all.

Thank God for Skype

2006-09-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

As you know, the Miss World Competition was on Saturday (Sept. 30). Now I just happen to love the Miss World competition and this was a Miss world Final that I COULD NOT miss because Sara, my friend, was in it. But here in Japan I found myself faced with a major problem. I don’t have a TV and with it coming on at 3 o’clock in the morning my time I really couldn’t go visiting. I saw on the Miss World website that you could buy the programme for $2 US and watch it online, and so, with my newly acquired credit card I did so. Clearly, that was not the solution cause all now mi nuh get it.( I trying to get a refund) But Thank God for Skype and a lovely sister, Karena, who gave me a running commentary, because I was able to hear everything that was happening, as it happened and for FREE. When you call on skype you don’ pay nuh money. (www.skype.com - If you have people abroad and you want to siddung on the phone and don’t worry about the bill running up- this is the thing for you. Just download it, get a head set and you are in business)

How thrilling it was to hear the blow by blow accounts and the excitement came to a climax when Sara Lawrence, Miss Jamaica 2006, was named Continental Queen ( I hope you realize that that was no easy feat because the competition is quite intense). I am certain that my quiet, Japanese neighbours thought I was being hacked to death when I let out a piercing scream in the wee hours of the morning when this news was announced. I just want to say how PROUD I am of Sara for representing the beautiful island of Jamaica well. And I know she will be a great continental queen.

Yes people say Miss World is skewed and political and I tend to agree cause mi nuh know how Miss Czech republic who like to play with turtles and eat chicken win. First of all if you know anything about turtles you know that them nasty (pure disease live on them) and den to make matters worse She not even say what type of chicken she likes - curry chicken, baked chicken, sweet and sour chicken or boil chicken- she just say so-so chicken. I thought it rather anticlimactic but that certainly was not able to overshadow the joy I felt for Sara’s victory and I am thankful I was able to experience it via skype.

What are you interested in?

2006-09-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

The topic for this week’s lesson is ‘interests’. You may or may not know, but I prepare one lesson and teach it fourteen times for the week. (Thank God I am one of those persons who don’t mind repetition. In fact the repeat button on any CD player is my favourite because I will listen to one song a million times and I still don’t get tired of it) So in this class the students are supposed to draw something to show what they are interested in. After, everyone is supposed to guess what that thing of interest is. Simple enough. But before they do the guessing game I usually walk around to ask "What are you interested in?"to get them to speak in english, but also to make sure that I know the right answer (teacher cyan look like claffy – no sah.)

Without a doubt I know that the boys going to draw some sort of ball- baseball, basket ball, foot ball, tennis ball etc. But I go to this one boy’s desk and he has a picture of a face. This one throw me now cause it isn’t a easy guess. So I ask him “What is this?” He says, “you” so I say “Oh, how sweet!! You drew a picture of Maria. Ok show me the picture of what you are interested in.’ Hear the pickney nuh “I am interested in you, Maria.’ Of course I just burs’ out into a big laugh cause whoever spread the rumour of the shy Japanese student definitely missed this one. Anyway,I hope is just interested in Maria from a cultural perspective - LOL

How I got on Japanese Cable TV

2006-09-01T02:48:00.000-07:00

In Japan I get a lot of attention. Perhaps its my magnetic personality. What do you think? LOL - you know is tru I’m a little more tanned than the masses. Anyway with that said it’s hard to be inconspicuous.

The other day I went to a dance. Now this dance is no passa passa business. Although I am sure you could probably find something like that here , cause the other day I met this student and when she heard that I was from Jamaica the first thing she bawl out is – “ Jamaica! PASSA PASSA.!” Apparently she had the DVD’s, anyway back to the story. At the dance all the groups in the community who practise the traditional dances come together and have a dance fest. The moves are pretty much set so even is you don’t belong to one of these clubs once you catch the steps you just keep doing it over and over until the singer cut the song. Many people come out to this event.

So I’m at this dance with my landlord who is like a community leader (the good type), when I see this lady approaching. When she came close I saw the the words CABLE TV on her shirt. Now she wasn’t shooting anything but when my landlord told her that I was from Jamaica and I was teaching at Fuse High school the lady just prop the camera on her shoulder and what you know- I was in the video light . But mi nuh shy so when I saw the light in my mind I jus’ say “ACTION”. I had gone to language training so I could say my name and where I came from. With my best Japanese accent I start off. The lady probably think that I can talk now so she asking me all manner a questions but after the name and country sentence I draw blank. Anyway all I do is keep on smiling. So now you can say that you know a Japanese Cable TV star.

The things you can do at a beach

2006-08-31T02:39:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to this language seminar and my skin ketch a fire when I heard that there was a beach nearby. Now, it is really very hot so the thought of having a beach near was sounding really good. Now some things too good to be true , and this was one of them cause we hear from the shout seh de water well polluted- fish nuh even want to live in it and if you weren’t quite convinced by that, then a glimpse at green edge of the water would convince anyone that something wasn’t too right with the water. To add insult to injury was the fact that what from a distance looked like white sand was really white rocks stones ( I took a couple of them as souvenirs.) I asking myself now what this beach really good for if you cyaan even swim in the water and you haffi a trip over stone. Anyway later that night I found out.

It so happens that this beach is a great launching pad for fireworks. The rest of the city is so built up that if you go light fire works anywhere near there, then it woulda probably set the whole city ablaze. But this beach with its polluted water and wide expanse of rock stone was the perfect area to launch the fireworks, which you could easily get at the convenience store, 3 minutes from the beach. That night we bought the fireworks and headed to the beach. We set the fireworks in the stones and then watched them blaze. Now the fireworks weren’t spectacular like those at Kingston Habour on New Years eve, ( if you haven’t seen it you must go this year), but , we had fun lighting them and then watching them light up night sky and hearing the thrilling whiz and then pop.

You see, everything has its purpose, even a polluted beach.

The Convert

2006-08-31T02:09:00.000-07:00

Let me preface this blog by saying that I am not football’s greatest fan. Yes, I checked out a couple matches in the World Cup, but that aside, I really don’t know much.

In Japan there are pictures of Rolandinho everywhere and I’m thinking to myself “Why they have these pictures of this guy all over the place and him not even that cute?” Anyway, what I did realize was that he is extremely popular here. So when I had to do up a worksheet for the children and needed to base it on someone famous, immediately I thought of Ronaldiho because I was sure that they all knew him.

I went online and started reading up about this guy and out of curiosity I decided to look on one of the many video clips they have up on him, namely, the Nike golden touch clip. Suddenly I began to see this guy, Ronaldiho, in a whole new light. How talented can one person be?! The guy is like a magician with the ball !!! Suddenly it wasn’t Ronaldinho the guy with the weird teeth whose picture is on all the pepsi bottles but Ronaldinho the extremely gifted player who just happens to have a fine set of legs on him too- lol. This guy makes this ordinary game BEAUTIFUL. Bwoy, I promise myself that someway I going to try and find myself in front of a TV to see this guy really play.

First Day of School Drama

2006-08-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

I really didn’t know what I was supposed to do for the first day of school. I had been to the school before but when I went none of the teachers were there- they were living it up on their vacation. Anyway I decided that I would be proactive. So though I am no power point wiz I tried to put a little power point presentation together all about beautiful Jamaica. I put in my own pictures, I put in pictures from google and at the end of it the presentation really was looking sweet. Then the icing on the cake was that I had made a worksheet. Your girl was on a roll.

When I went to school they asked me the question I was waiting for “Maria San do you have anything to present?” With a huge smile plastered on my face I tell them fluently in Japanese “Hie” (meaning yes - Ok so is just one word but I said it with the Japanese accent) After, I just back out my computer and bring up the power point.. I feel good now cause they knowing that this Jamaican girl not into no joke business. They looking impressed and I feeling real pleased. Together the teacher and I went to the class to make the presentation.

I hadn’t turned off the computer so I just flipped up the screen gave it a few seconds and then it came up. The room was kinda bright though and after I work so hard on it I want to make sure that these children seeing every single thing. Anyway I went back to the computer and saw a blank screen but I don’ panic cause you know the screen sometimes goes blank if you leave it for a while. So I proceed to touch the mouse- the screen still blank. Ok Still calm- I press the space bar – Nothing. I press every key NOTHING. Long and short- I had to present without the powerpoint presentation. Hey sometimes even the best plans don’t quite work out.

When I went back to the staff room the computer was working just fine so I was relieved that nothing was wrong with it. What happened in the classroom is a real mystery.

Dinner Adventure

2006-08-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Now you know that one of the joys of traveling is that you get to try all manner of food. For the most part I have enjoyed the food in Osaka and I have tried many things.But I am a girl if the food don’look good- I don want it and worse when I don’ know what it is and cyaan ask you to tell me in English.

The other day I got a dinner invitation. Now this was a dinner invitation a couldn’t pass cause is my landlord mother invite me ( big tings). I was glad though that she gestured to me eat and said “ tempura” simultaneously cause I knew that was something I could eat. Tempura is really a batter that they put on almost anything- shrimp, yam, bell peppers etc. Plus when you get tempura with the sauce it taste well good.

When I went to the house and she began to cook the tempura but after that she start to take out all manner of food from the fridge and of course I have no clue what it is. But what is worse is that, it not looking too pretty and nothing in it look familiar. Anyway she put it on the table and a mek a vow inna mi heart same time seh ‘mi naah eat it”

Things going on fine. I loving up di tempura and making sure the hostess know it tastes real good. Now I avoiding the other thing put on the table like how Egyptian did try to avoid plague but like a spite I see the lovely lady’s hand reaching for a spoon taking out the content of the unknown and worse putting it into my plate. LAAAAWD!!!

Anyway I did mek a vow. Now if I go on like I don’t see it then I’m fine. But the lovely lady give me a gesture and dis gesture is “try it nuh” . I cyaan form the fool- I know what she want me to do. I smile sheepishly. Now if you don’t try it is a big dis to the hostess and remember this hostess is my land lord mother. So I take it up and slowly put it to my mouth. The lady smiles and I …...puke? That would have been dramatic, but no, I smile back. It really didn’t taste that bad. I didn’t eat it off but at the end of the night I was glad I didn’t offend the lady.

* If you haven’t been to the East in the Market Place (Jamaica) you really should try it out. The restaurant is really quaint, the staff really nice and the food is sumptuous. This is not a paid advertisement but good food and good friends is always a winning combination and if you haven’t tasted Japanese food then it’s a great place to start a culinary adventure. To tell the truth, some of the food there tastes even better than the Japanese food in Japan - lol

The Power of MY smile

2006-08-24T04:56:00.000-07:00

Like how I know I can’t speak Japanese I really try to make myself look as pleasant as possible so I’ve been smiling a whole lot. Thankfully I brought my good old Colgate with fluoride ( of course) to keep my teeth as close to white as I possibly can. (Dem don’ like fluoride in Japan as you may know)

Anyway, now they having a festival for some children. It’s quite beautiful in fact. They make little lanterns with the names of the children in the area painted on them and then hang them by a shrine. Japan have whole heap a shrine, as you walk 5 step you in front of another shrine. For this festival the children will come by the shrine to ring a bell, to wake up the ‘god’ inside and make him aware that someone actually remembers him. After they do that, the person in charge at the shrine gives them juice and some snacks and they leave happy. Anyway I was sitting by the shrine by my apartment miming to my Japanese friends ( the only way we can communicate ) and a little girl came up to get her juice and snacks. She so cute I flash my smile at her. Well see yah, the little girl in terror burst out into a big bawl and start cling to her mother desperate to escape the shrine with the smiling black girl. But I really couldn’t believe that my smile was causing this reaction so like a scientist I decide to test it . I stopped smiling- the little girl was fine again. So I smile again and of course likkle miss start to bawl again hard, hard.

Bwoy I always knew a smile was powerful but now I know that mine has the power to make you burs’ out and bawl- lol Poor soul, she probably never see a smiling black girl in her two years on earth and did well fraid.