The Ups and Downs of Winter in Akita

The Ups and Downs of Winter

I feel like its been a long time since I blogged about my experience in Japan, it seems like since winter started there is never enough time in the day to get everything done....

Winter in Akita: The first snow hit while I was on vacation in Okinawa, so coming home to 5 feet of snow was quite surprising. To best describe the winters here in Akita....treacherous, uncomfortable, quite, picturesque, pensive, fulfilling, skiing/partying.

Treacherous: The idea of snow removal must of skipped the south block of Akita. It snows almost everyday and never gets warm enough to melt. So the sidewalks become mountains of snow, the roads become sheets of ice, and the drivers somehow decide to drive faster and more recklessly

Uncomfortable: I don’t have a car, walking everywhere is not that fun when its bitter cold, icy, and your face is getting pelted with snow. I have slipped and fell on the ice many times, have gotten sloshed with water and snow from oncoming cars. When I finally get home to my apt it is colder inside then it is on the outside. For some reason these apartments do not believe in central heating or insulation.

Quite: I have to say I do enjoy the quietness of the winter here. It is so nice sometimes to be walking through town, or laying in bed and just sit and enjoy the sound of silence. Living in a concrete jungle at home, you always here the white noise of cars, people, and business at all hours of the nice. This quite is not eerie or lonely it is just tranquil.

Picturesque: I have always loved the snow, the type of snow that stays white for a long period of time and is not ruined by the dirt and sand from the plows. The type of snow that blankets the landscape and covers the mountains giving them that majestic Ansel Adams look. One of my favorite parts of the day is when I am walking the halls at school and I catch a glimpse of the mountains. I just stop and stare for a few minutes and truly take in the scenery and appreciate just how magnificent nature is.

Pensive: There is a lot of time to think during the winter, especially at night. Its easy to just come home cuddle up in your blanket , get warm, and let your thoughts wander. Sometimes they wander to places of harmony and elation and other times they can turn to somberness and worry. I am by nature a thinker and very goal oriented, I am always looking for the next opportunity to fulfill my personal goals. I wrote awhile back I have five things I want to accomplish in the coming years. I think about these constantly and sometimes it makes decisions difficult. I never want to miss an opportunity to achieve my goals but I also don’t want to miss a chance to seek new adventure. I have always been sure of two things in my life, I wanted to become a teacher and I wanted to travel the world. I have done both and I want to continue to do both, in what avenue is the choice I have to make.

Fulfilling: Most ALT’s will tell you that the job sometimes can be pretty easy which also means pretty tedious. I think most teachers want a sense of gratification and fulfillment. To see that they are making a difference with their students. I know I do, I don’t think there is a better feeling for a teacher then witnessing learning in action. True learning, not memorizing , not repetition, but grasping concepts, understanding themes and topics. I finally feel like I am seeing that with some of my students. I teach three after school discussion groups, an hour a day from 4-5. Although I want nothing more than to go home after a long day, these discussion groups make me so happy. The students that come have such a strong desire to learn and I see such potential in them. I really hope I am able to give them the help they deserve.

I also have started to study the language, it took me a while and I did it half ass for a few months before. But I am making a serious effort to learn, its tough learning a language (duh). I ve never tried before, but once you get started and you start to recognize words and sentences at work or in the community, you feel so accomplished. I was at the gym yesterday and I actually understand what the gym trainer was saying to me “Are you still working out on this machine” which is Japanese is ? But I knew what he was saying. Baby steps as Dr. Leo Marvin would say...Baby Steps

Skiing/Partying: What would the winter be without skiing and drinking...boring. My weekends have been awesome. I went to see Donavon Frankenreiter , who is one of my favorite musicians on my birthday (the big 30). I have skied more times here ,then I have in three years in Arizona, I celebrated a Dirty Thirty Worst Taste Party with all my friends here in Akita, and I will be traveling to Nagano next week to ski one of the best mountains in Japan. I can really describe in words how much fun these weekend get togethers are...so look at the pictures on Facebook :-)