Valentine's Day

So Valentine's Day here is a bit different than back in Canada. On Valentine's Day in Japan it's only the men who receive chocolates. Yes, only men! When I heard about this I thought that it seemed a bit backwards from what I know back home because it seems like women are the only ones who remember or really care about Valentine's Day (I apologize to those guys who love Valentine's Day). But women aren't left out completely, we get White Day on March 14. I learnt from one of my students that it is called White Day because it has something to do with sugar, makes sense.

At the end of most of my lessons, we do a 5min bit called Cultural Awareness and and this month is explaining our Valentine's Day versus theirs. When I finish explaining it I usually tell the students that Japan is special because they have 2 days in the year meant for love whereas we in North America can only handle one day in a year.

22

Last night I was asked to sum up my year of being 22. I didn't realise that it has been such a big year until I started listing off some of the major events. I've had a few different jobs as a 22 year old. Babysitter, candy shop worker at a water park, liquor store worker, english teacher in japan. I also graduated from university with a Bachelors degree in English literature. I've lived in 3 different locations, Calgary, Tsawwassen, Okazaki. I made the move over to Japan and into the the unknown. I travelled to south east Asia for the first time and went to Thailand. I got my first tattoo. I found out that I was going to be an aunt.

All in all it has been a great year. One that has flown by and I look forward to what the future has in store for 23.

My first run in with the Japanese Police

Yes, it finally happened....the cops are onto me, but I'm not sure why. So the other night I was biking home from work with another teacher because she was teaching with me at my school that day. I was around 7:30pm and we biked past a local police box or Koban. I went through the green light and the other teacher was behind me when the police man started running after her and throwing his arms in the air. I stopped to see what was going on and they were pointing at her bicycle seat. I was wondering if maybe her seat was too low, but I think it had something to do with the fact that she doesn't have the regular bicycle lock that is permantly attached to the back tire. i don't have that type of lock either, but I have a fold up bike and I don't think that kind of lock would fit my style of bike. Anyways, it was really confusing and finally they asked if we were travellers and they asked for our passports. Or course I didn't have my passport on me but I did have my ARC (alien registration card). That card has my address, my passort number and I think it has my company's info on it as well. After he looked at my card I was pretty sure he made a remark about how old I was and then they apologized for stopping us. So it was quite random, but I thought it was kinda funny. I'm still not sure what they were looking for or who they thought we were.