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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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HL: I finally got to visit the Ghibli Museum earlier this month after having to cancel going back in 2020. It's very cute! I really like Mitaka in general and the park it's located in is lovely. We could have spent hours in the park alone. haha I also got to try the Totoro cream puffs.
I have a very sweet and caring partner now! He told me when we live together in the future I can deck our house out in Ghibli stuff because he wants to too.
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 05.25.2022, 06:29 PM |
  
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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So one thing I'm hoping to do before the end of this year is start the process of getting an ADHD diagnosis. I'm pretty nervous, but living undiagnosed has not been fun at all. And if it's not ADHD that I have it has to be something else and I would like to know, although after doing a lot of research I'm definitely a textbook example of an adult with undiagnosed ADHD. I have someone who offered to take me to appointments and translate and who is familiar with the process.
It might seem like not a great idea to get a diagnosis in Japan but most people I know who have tried here have had a pretty straightforward experience. The downside is the lack of therapy options and medications are limited to only a couple of kinds for adults. I'll be so happy and relieved after I do this but it's difficult to make arrangements and whatnot for me right now.
Most friends have been incredibly supportive and I would not be surprised if some of my coworkers have thought I have ADHD (I have a co-teacher who purposely keeps me very busy when I'm at his school, even if it makes him look bad to other teachers, and always tries to keep me on task or involved). A little worried how my family might react. They might feel guilt for not noticing sooner.
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| 09.19.2021, 02:41 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Yeah, like my job is temporary but the pay and other benefits have provided a sense of stability I've never really had before. Sometimes I'm scared of moving back to Canada in the future because I don't think I could make nearly as much money as I do here and with the housing market plus my student loan payments...
I'm in a good place in Japan if I do want to stay here and find a stable direct hire job after (I would need to get my driver's license first, which is a pain) but I'd likely have to live pretty countryside and I'm worried if I live in the countryside for too long I'll never meet anyone and be single forever. lol But at least it's definitely an option. I've thought of moving countries, which would mean a pay cut but I might have more freedom with teaching and I could have free housing. I already decided what type of work I'd do if I move back to Canada and my experience teaching abroad fits into it very well. But right now that type of work in Canada is heavily impacted by the pandemic.
My mom has been trying to convince me to move back and I do noooot want to move back to my hometown or any of the surrounding areas. I love it but not to live in for the rest of my life. I guess my gut was right about moving to Hokkaido and I feel very at home here in a way I didn't back home. I think it's cool I ended up here by chance but felt for so long like this was the place I was meant to live in.
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| 09.10.2021, 06:41 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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quote:
Originally posted by Kazegami
Ugh, it's got to suck working with an anti-vaxxer. I read about some crazy company in Japan that basically told all its employees to quit if they got vaccinated. Thankfully it's just a small, loud minority that are like this.
HL: first haircut in a year and a half. I enjoyed the chance to grow it out, but it was getting too much in the summer heat.
Replying late but yeah. haha It's a very small, loud minority. Most of my students and coworkers wanted to get vaccinated. Some of my students started getting vaccinated recently. I got fist bumped by a few when they asked when I'd get my first shot.
I got it today. haha Arm is a little sore and I feel sleepy but hopefully that's it.
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| 08.28.2021, 04:49 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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quote:
Originally posted by husky51
GOOD to see you, FFF Personally, I recommend the vaccine as soon as possible... My daughter and some of her children were diagnosed with covid a few weeks ago BUT are all feeling better now... Still not GREAT, but appear to be getting there... Just a thought... If you are still over in Japan, is there any chance that you might get vaccine shots through your Embassy? Just a thought...
I hope that you are not anywhere near where that landslide occurred in Japan on the news today... If you are still over there??? lol
Good luck on the book sales, Kaz!!!
I'm still in Japan and as far as I know getting the vaccine through my embassy is not a thing at all (I also live very far from my embassy and my work would not appreciate me flying to Tokyo lol). I got my vaccine voucher yesterday and apparently can book my appointment in late August for some time in mid to late September.. not sure if high school teachers are going to be put on the priority list for my area yet. I know they want to, but the organizers for my area have been kind of given a crappy situation apparently.
Most of my friends got their first shot recently but they either live in the towns outside of my city or got it offered through their work/their spouse's work. My work hasn't mentioned anything yet, but I unfortunately have a supervisor who does not want me to get vaccinated..
Post last edited by foreignfilmfreak on 07.14.2021, 06:54 AM.
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| 07.14.2021, 06:54 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Aw, I'm so jealous y'all are getting vaccines! I think it'll still be awhile for me.  My supervisor has been trying to convince me not to get it.
HL: My students had their school festival yesterday and it was fun! I think it's one of my favourite parts of the education system here. It also varies in style depending on the school so not all school festivals are like those in manga and anime (although for regular track high schools they might be).
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| 07.03.2021, 04:22 PM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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I'm losing a coworker I really enjoyed teaching with to toxic work culture at my school. She's currently on leave but has told me she plans on quitting. I'm pretty bummed because I was happy to have a coworker who actually treated me like a person and friend at that school. I don't like the way her leaving has been treated, and it's kind of making me consider looking for a new teaching job for next year.
I really love my area and could probably get a longterm direct hire job but I'm also worried if I stay here permanently I'm going to be permanently single. lol Most guys here are unwilling to even try dating me because I don't live close enough to them, and the guys in my area are... questionable. I think dating in Japan has been the worst part of my time here.
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| 05.09.2021, 08:23 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Nah, I've been very single for almost five years now. lol
I haven't been up to a whole lot besides that I live in an old house now alone.
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| 01.02.2021, 02:25 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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HL: My sister bought me a lovely pair of mom jeans from Hot Topic that are Kiki's Delivery Service themed. So glad they're just the right size and the exact style of mom jeans that I like. haha It's so hard finding larger sized pants in Japan in that style.
Found a Nausicaa record from the 1980s with its obi still attached! I started collecting records which is definitely an expensive hobby but got lucky this one was on sale. haha
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| 12.27.2020, 10:12 PM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Speaking of police, in my home province in Canada two indigenous people were killed by police within eight days of each other. The first was a young woman whose boyfriend asked them to do a wellness check on her... it's really upsetting to me, especially after having police involved with my father when he had a wellness check and how well they handled him despite the circumstances. So why.. it just makes me so sad and angry. I'm fortunate the police in my home area took great care of my dad, it's just... upsetting knowing that poor young woman and a man were killed under similar circumstances. That could have been my dad, but my dad is a white man.
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| 06.15.2020, 07:50 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Alive but school starts back up this week. Haha.. ha
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| 04.04.2020, 11:31 PM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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Haha if you end up shortlisted as an ALT maybe they'll give you the other high school position in my city. For real though, I'm hoping they'll place someone good. I don't have much of a relationship with the current ALT for several reasons. I'd love someone I can share food with since we'll live in the same building as neighbours. lol
Merry Christmas~!
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| 12.25.2019, 09:14 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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I saw the new Star Wars movie and actually really enjoyed it, mostly due to the actors more than anything. I've spent a lot of time criticizing it with my sister for several reasons though. haha
I do wish there was more awareness put out there for those who are epileptic to be cautious when watching this movie. I didn't see any warnings. I say this because when I came out of a bathroom stall after the movie a young girl fell on me and had a seizure. I'm not sure if she saw the movie but given the timing it seems likely. It was terrifying for me because I was in a bathroom, surrounded by only children who were all staring at me to do something. I ran out and yelled for my friends to get help and the staff got me to come to the bathroom with them to identify the girl (she had gotten up but was very out of it).
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| 12.24.2019, 06:21 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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quote:
Originally posted by Kazegami
Thanks guys. :') Still a bit disappointed in myself, but I'll stay hopeful that I didn't do as bad as it seemed.
And I have a HL! Just a couple of hours after that interview this morning, I got an email from the JET Programme inviting me for an interview with them in February! So that's exciting. Although, the fact that that interview is apparently mostly in Japanese has put serious fear into me given how things went this morning... I really need to get some conversation practice in.
Is it the CIR interview? I didn't do that one but my best friend did. Although she did hers in America it probably isn't overly that different from what yours will be like. She ended up being shortlisted as an ALT with special privileges that allow her to do translation work for her city since they couldn't afford both an ALT and CIR. Her level is only around N2 (I don't think she's passed the JLPT for it yet) but the interview went mostly alright! My city has six JET CIRs.
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| 12.24.2019, 06:04 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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I'm thinking of staying in education after JET but I'm not sure yet. The thing is I prefer less academic schools so I would probably want to work in an agricultural high school or something similar afterwards. I really like teaching high school and I know I'm good at bonding with my students.
I don't have a lot of confidence in myself to be a good teacher. I don't plan my classes and I'm always awkward trying to explain things to a huge group of students. Although tbh teenagers don't really care, if anything they're oddly encouraging and I guess appreciate me not trying to be perfect. But as with anything, if I had more say over my classes I know my teaching would improve. The upside of my job is I've become extremely adaptable, I'm used to pretty much every type of school/classroom setting, and working with teachers with varied skills and abilities. "Problem" students love me. I don't know if I'm smart enough to be an actual teacher but I know I'd definitely try harder.
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| 12.11.2019, 08:31 PM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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quote:
Originally posted by Kazegami
I'm late but congratulations, arren! That's a great achievement. What did you speak about?
HL: finally sent away my application for the JET Programme today. Also looking at a paid internship on Awaji Island that looks really cool, definitely going to put in an application there.
LL: it's only two weeks until the JLPT exam. D: I feel unprepared. Just have to keep studying and reading as much as I can.
Oh yay! Good luck.  If you get in and aren't placed in Hokkaido you should come visit! I'm staying at least three years at this job but I might stay the full five.
I'm planning now to stay in Japan after JET.
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| 11.26.2019, 08:29 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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HL: I went on my first date in over three years and it was great? It was only for a short while since he had already made other plans but decided to meet with me right away instead of putting it off again (we've been trying to set a date for over a month but we both suck at making plans). He's a different kind of person, very laidback and free spirited.
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| 07.27.2019, 05:14 PM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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It's been a little over ten months for me in Japan!
I'm starting to really notice the positive impact I've had on one of my schools and it's made me pretty emotional. Those kids make me so happy. They go to my lowest level high school, I think it's the lowest tier school in the region. Lately they've put extra effort into learning English and use as much of it as they can with me. It's such a huge difference from when I started in August. I think this is the first time I've ever felt genuinely proud of myself.
They recently asked me if I have a good time at their school and were very relieved when I said yes. haha
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| 06.07.2019, 08:13 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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I love my students a lot. They're so dorky and silly. I got a bit emotional the other day knowing my now second years will graduate during my time with them. I don't want to see them go. But I feel really thankful for every day I get to spend with these kids. I was going through a bad bit of culture shock for awhile but they brought me out of it.
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| 05.30.2019, 09:05 AM |
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foreignfilmfreak
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 10.02.06
Location: Japan
Posts: 7589 |
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quote:
Originally posted by makc
quote:
Originally posted by foreignfilmfreak
it's a lot harder for me to start conversations in Japanese with my coworkers unless they come to me first.
why so?
They usually look busy so I don't want to interrupt them. My Japanese isn't good enough yet to really start conversations about random things.
I got a new school in the new school year and I like the staff there quite a lot. The teacher I sit beside used to live in Peru and can speak English and Spanish. One guy used to teach Japanese in Russia so he usually starts the most conversations with me and acts things out if I don't understand what he's asking me. They're very laidback and friendly there.
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| 05.30.2019, 08:52 AM |
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