Forever in my Heart: Nick Swanson

It pains me to write this. Yet, I feel if I don't I'll keep thinking it's a dream. My best friend's brother died the other night. I grew up with them. Over the years, I've come to know them as my second family. I'm at a lost for words. Our relationship was rocky at times, but there were many, many good moments.

Nick, I'll always remember our childhood.

Summer days by the pool,

The first day of school.

Mario kart sessions and I was continuously beat by you and Corrin.

When you taught me the Pokemon game,

Always getting me in trouble with your mom,

I'd try to pout about it for the whole day, but then you'd do something or say something funny and I just had to laugh.

Trick or treating in our elementary school days,

That one Halloween when you dressed as a woman and you bravely walked on to the playground. Epicness.

Your vivid imagination,

Chilling in the barn,

Walking through the wash,

Teaching me how to make Wolverine claws with the bamboo leaves.

Telling me that my voice sounded like Alicia Keys.

All of this and so many I'll remember. I am praying for you and your family. Rest in peace, my friend.

To My Uncle...

I found out my Uncle died. Now, I didn't know the man very well. Strange, I could hardly remember his face. But I do remember his booming voice that came through the phone whenever he called and it was often, for he and my father were close.

I don't like that I can't be there in person for my family during this difficult time. But, I dedicate this post to my Uncle Rushnel. May your soul rest in peace, dear Uncle. Although we didn't see much of each other in person, I will always remember your voice and the joy I felt when I heard you say hello or when you inquired about my life at school and growing up.

<3

Family is everything. I am because of them.

Cornrows? Nan de?

I'm getting bored with my hair. All I really know how to do is a twist-out or a braid-out. So, today I decided I ought to learn some new tricks...that I probably should have learned a long time ago, but whatever!

And I am also the only black person on this island and I doubt I'll find a Japanese person on Iki who knows black hair. I may be wrong, but I have yet to meet this person. I kinda hope they're out somewhere....

And! I'm not spending oodles of money to go to big cities like Osaka or Tokyo just to get braids which also cost an insane amount of yen!

No! My friends, I must learn to do things myself! *Sorry, that was a lil dramatic.*

Here's my first attempt at cornrows that turned into a weird mix between twists and cornrows. Meh.

Uhhhhh, cornrows?

Epic fail, but I'm still cute about it. =)

Can I Get an Otsu kama sama please?!

*Culture and Langauge note: Otsu kama sama deshita. This translates to "thank you for your heard work" roughly. It's said all the time. Usually said when you leave work or after a practise of some sort.

Today, I taught five classes all of which we're about Halloween. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but by the last class of the day I was really trying to keep up my enthusiam for candy and costumes.

On Wednesday, I had to teach one of my 3rd year classes...by MYSELF! When my JTE told me, I swear I almost cried. The third years? On my own? The first few classes with them hadn't been very smooth. Probably noticing the instant change of expression on my face from very genki(enthusiastic) to super kanashii(sad), she assured me that I wouldn't be totally alone and that one of the assistant teachers would be in the classroom.

"Oh that's great," I thought. "If she can come out with some brilliant English in the next day to help explain Halloween to the students, then yes, I'd be okay."

Of course, no such thing happened. Nihongo Ganbare!

I prepared Halloween games for the class the week before, but Monday and Tuesday I was a silent wreck.

The day before, my friends who much more skilled in Japanese, despite what they say, helped me write the directions in Japanese to explain the game.

Then comes the day. A Wednesday. A particular sunny, yet cold day. I dawned my green dress and witches hat and prepared myself for what I thought would be the worse class ever.

Class begins. The students stroll into the classroom. Thank goodness for the announcement the JTE made about me teaching on my lonesome.

But, have ye a lil faith, sensei!

IT WAS AMAZING! Honestly, I don't give my students enough credit. I was having some trouble connecting with the third years before, but I think this class was just what was needed to break whatever layer of ice that remained. Before, they simple nodded at me with a quiet "konnichiwa" when I walked past them, now they won't leave me alone.

I shared my Halloween memories and traditions with them, showed a bit of the Nightmare Before Christmas, and gave out lots of candy. And Nightmare Before Christmas is a totally legitimate Halloween movie!

And with that...can I get an Ostsu kama same desu?!

Just Shut Up and Listen

It's easy to fall into this position as a teacher thinking that you and only you are the sensei.

I think it's especially easy when we're young and we've just cut the ribbon into the "real world." We're motivated and our friends are telling us that world isn't ready for us. There's so much motivation and that's good. We need that drive. At the same time, whatever position you may be in, it is important to keep in mind that teaching and learning is a two way streak.

Yes, I'm teaching, but I often fail to realize that these students are going to teach and broaden my horizons. As I teach, I'll learn and vice versa.

While JET has us here for internalization, it is important to keep in mind what Japanese culture can teach us and what we can learn from each other as we will be interacting with people from all over the world.

Sometimes we need to stop talking and just listen. Which is something I'm really learning now.

Just shut up for a minute or two and hear what people gotta say.

Katsumoto Festival

Not much to report about this particular event. I went to a festival this weekend in Katsumoto, which is the Northern part of the island. A good 30 minute drive from house. Some elementary schools, the Junior high school and other groups of the Katsumoto community danced in a parade and several, I'm guessing, the Iki fathers, in drag. All in all, it was another wonderful weekend followed by an "wild and extreme" Iki party.

Osaka! O,Osaka!

Last week, I went up to Osaka for a JETS of African Descent trip. Lemme tell yah! It was so wonderful to see all the different shades of brown and the different hairstyles and just be with people that looked like and understood where I was coming from. I could bring up race and it wasn't awkward! Yay!! Oh, I was a happy duck. I say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud!

I took the Shinkansen for the first time and it does sort of feel like you're floating...very quickly. The ride was smooth and the days were chill. I made friends with a native Osakan who gave me and a friend free cookies that his wife baked, had AUH-MAZING Mexican food and as always partook in the Osaka nightlife.

I feel another trip to Osaka needs to be in the works...