Layers

Bra, panty, socks (two pairs)

Silk thermal long-sleeved top, silk thermal bottom, legwarmers (to pairs)

Blouse, cardigan, trousers

Wool mittens, silk headscarf, wool hat, wool scarf

Coat, shoes

December in Gyeonggido

***

Bra, panty, slip

Dress

Sandals

May to September

2013

Broken Tooth and Village People

Broke a molar last week while eating nori.  Nori.  Went to my dentist in Gunma.  He repaired it in less than 30 minutes and it cost me ¥2070.  Since it wasn’t too far from where I used to live, I hopped on the electric blue village van for a quick visit. Four of my former students were on there:  Hakura, Ririko, Yoshinosuke and Rin.  Was so happy to see them.  They’re tenth and twelfth graders now!  We chatted a bit, then I let them get back to their video games and music. 

On the ride up the mountain the sky opened up in a sudden thunderstorm.  Up until then, the day had been bright, hot and humid.  The forecast hadn’t even said there’d be rain.  But then, the mountain seems to have its own weather system.  A few minutes after arriving at the village, it became a light drizzle.  As I walked down the hill from the gas station, a woman jumped out of a white pick-up truck, ran across the street and held a burgundy colored umbrella at me.  “Please take it.”  I was surprised, but then not.  This is how people are in the village.  I miss that.   

June 10, 2020

Non-haiku

rainy autumn Sunday, Bantu knots
turtleneck shrug I knit from thrift store yarn
orange Daiso umbrella, ₩3000 

Nov 2017

I Feel the Earth Move

Since moving to a new city in August, I feel tremors about once per month.  When I lived in Gunma I never felt them because the mountains absorbed the quakes.  But now I feel every little shake. 

Oddly, it’s always at night… except for one time it happened at school.  It was second period.  The school’s principal and someone from the Board of Education were observing my class.  The room shook.  The students looked around and giggled.  A few moments later the room shook again, harder and longer.  Tittering, the students jumped out of their seats and crouched under their desks. The principal ran out of the classroom.  The BOE woman and I looked at each other silently.  I wasn’t sure what to do.  I’d never had an earthquake drill training, so I stood there.  A few minutes later an alarm sounded and the principal went on the loudspeaker telling the school that it was safe to resume what we were doing.    

It’s unnerving.  The sound of the building creaking under the stress of the movement.  Should I get up and hide under the desk?  But if it begins to shake while I climb down from my sleeping loft, I may fall off the ladder.  So I lie there waiting for the temblor to stop.  If it doesn’t, I might die crushed by my upstairs neighbor’s washing machine. 

Living alone doesn’t feel lonely to me.  I enjoy it.  But whenever the earth quakes, I wish someone were there with me.  

Typical First Conversation with a Japanese Person

Where are you from?

U.S.A

Oh, America where?

Connecticut. [Nobody’s heard of Connecticut, so I always draw a map of the U.S. and show them where it is. If there’s nothing to draw on, I just say it’s between New York City and Boston.]

What’s famous in your hometown?

My state is beautiful in autumn because all the trees change colors. People from other states come and take photos. Also, my state has the best women’s university basketball team in the country.

Then they tell me that they vacationed in Los Angeles years ago, or that their cousin studied at a university in Minnesota.

How’s Japan weather?

It’s very similar to what I grew up with.

Really??

Yes, we have four seasons.

Eeeeh?! [Why do so many Korean and Japanese people believe that theirs is the only country on planet earth with four seasons? It is basic geography that if you live on the same latitude line as another country in the world, you experience similar weather. What are they teaching in social studies classes?]

How long have you lived here?

Do you speak Japanese?

Then comes the dreaded “Do you like Japanese food?” (There’s a separate post about this topic.)

How tall are you?

176 centimeters.

Do you play basketball?

No.

What sport did you play in school?

Guess.

Track.

No.

Volleyball.

No. I’m a swimmer. I was on the swimming team.

Eeeeh?! Oh, long arms and legs! Good for swimming fast!

No, I wasn’t a sprinter. I was an endurance swimmer. I swam the long races.

What is your job?

I’m an English teacher.

How are Japanese students? Okay?

Yes, they’re okay.

If they know that I’ve taught in the U.S., they want to know if Japanese students are more hardworking than American ones. Nope, they’re a mix of diligent and lazy just like everywhere else. Y’all ain’t special.

If they know that I’ve taught in the Korea, they want to know if my Japanese students have a higher level of English than my Korean students.

Korean children usually have a higher level of English than their Japanese counterparts, not because they’re smarter, but because Korean schools begin teaching English earlier.

**********

Korean variation

Very similar to the above, but add the following:

Do you know kimchi?

Yes.

Do you like Korean food?

Yes, some dishes.

If they hear me speak Korean, one of the following will happen:

a) uproarious laughter

b) amazement and adulation at the utterance of one simple word or easy phrase

c) “You should speak better.” 

March 5, 2020

Vernal Equinox

How did we celebrate the first day of spring in my village?   With an all-day snowfall, of course.  

March 21, 2018