China: Summer Palace, Pearl Market, Temple of Heaven Park

On day three of our trip we made our way out to the Summer Palace on the edge of the city. I should mention that anytime we went anywhere it took a long time to get there. We started off the week with all of these grand plans of seeing more than one sight in a day and quickly realized that was impossible with the travel times. The city of Beijing is roughly the same size of the entire country of Belgium! And with a massive place like the Summer Palace it is easy to spend an entire day there...in fact that's just what we did. We got there around 10 am and didn't leave until almost 5. We got back to the hotel, ate some dinner at a cafe nearby and then collapsed. Sightseeing is hard work!

The Summer Palace itself was absolutely beautiful. I wouldn't rank it as high as the Great Wall but it was a highlight of the trip. We were still pretty energetic and not beaten down by the crowds or sickness this early in the trip either so we had a very pleasant day.


The more animals on the roof the more important the building is.


A shopping street so the royals could see what it was like to be a commoner...kinda.


These two little girls were adorable with their princess headgear.


One of several temples in the palace.










For 10 yuan (about $1.50) I dressed up as a royal princess.

Sunday our plan was to take our bags to the train station and put them in lockers and then go to the Forbidden City. Then head back to the train station to catch our overnight train to Xi'an. We had scoped out the route and where the lockers were our second night in Beijing. This was a perfect plan on paper. But in reality we were at the wrong train station. Beijing has six million different train stations apparently and we were supposed to be at West not at Central.

Thank God I can read some Japanese because the girl trying to explain we were at the wrong station could only say, "Not here." So we hopped in another taxi and got to the right station. Where after a little trouble and finally some help from a very cute attendant we were able to get our things in a locker. Then we tried to look for the non-existent subway station that is on the map but hasn't been built yet. Completely frustrating! Throughout the entire trip the train stations were crazy - packed to the rafters with people inside and outside. A lot of them were from the countryside and they carried these large sacks of who knows what (we never did figure out what was in them) and they stared at us like they had never seen a white person before (which they probably hadn't.)

Now I'm used to be stared at in Japan. People stare and tell me I'm beautiful and I have a high nose. My tactic here is to either stare back or to say hello. This usually gets me an embarrassed hello back and the staring stops. In China they wouldn't stop! Even after I said hello and stared back. I was having staring contests with strange Chinese men who weren't just looking at my face but undressing me with their eyes. It was soooo uncomfortable.

So after losing several staring contests and wanting to punch someone or something we finally figured that we needed to take a taxi back to Tienanmen and where to catch that taxi. We get to the Forbidden City and it too is absolutely packed to the gills. It was a Sunday after all and it felt like everyone in Beijing had decided to see the Forbidden City that day. So already tired, frustrated, and striking out on all aspects of our plan we abandoned it and caught the subway to the Pearl Market where some coffee and a little retail therapy perked me up. (Dad had tried en route but I warned him that any comfort he tried to offer would just make me turn my frustration at the situation onto him. Maybe this is why I travel better alone?)

We had a card for a pearl retailer named Kathy from our friends back in the States and she offered us rock bottom prices. I bought birthday presents for my sisters, several necklaces for myself, earrings, and talked my mom into getting me a beautiful string of pearls for my birthday. It was a relief not to have to bargain and I only ended spending $60 for a huge haul. The market had more than just pearls and I also bought a jade stamp with my name carved in English and Chinese, some Diesel shoes, and some new ear buds.

Then we headed over to the Temple of Heaven park to relax before heading back to the train station (Beijing West!) The park was beautiful and also packed with people. There was a large group of people dancing. A choir performed and local people wandered up and joined in. Groups of young and old were playing hackey sack. I saw about 20 different cards games going on and several people had brought karaoke machines and were performing. We watched all of the activity for awhile and then found a quiet spot to relax for a little bit.



Then we caught another taxi back to the train station where we were frustrated again trying to find a place to sit down. It took us awhile to figure out that our first class tickets gained us admission to the soft seating waiting hall but once installed there we comfortably waited for our sleeper train. Then it was off to Xi'an!

Next up: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, and the Bell Tower.

China - Tiananmen, Sacred Way, and the Great Wall

The first day of China was not exciting but was instead spent traveling and then waiting in the airport for mom and dad to arrive. Pretty much a wash. We got to the hotel, checked in, ate in the restaurant downstairs and went to bed early.

We were up bright and early the next day thanks to jet lag on mom and dad's part. We started the day off geo-caching in a park with views of the Olympic area and then we met some lovely people - friends of a friend back home. Mom had taken requests via email on things they missed from the States and we delivered bags of candy, cereal, and coffee creamer. They in turned bought us lunch and gave us tips on things to do and see.


The view from our hotel room.



Then we headed over to Tiananmen Square where we got our first taste of annoying salespeople trying to sell us postcards, books, hats, and English tour guides. We resisted them all and stayed around until sunset when the national guard lowers the main flag in a special ceremony.


The flag goes up at sunrise and comes down at sunset.


A patriotic little girl.

The next day we joined a tour to see the Sacred Way and the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Of course they also take you to a jade factory and a Chinese medicine center where you are encouraged to buy jewelry and herbs. Although all cynicism aside, the doctor of Chinese medicine did accurately pinpoint most of my annoying health issues, especially the fact that I have "too much heat in my belly." Apparently my tongue is not the color it should be. Still, I didn't buy any herbs. I was there for the Wall.


The doctor diagnoses mom.


But before the grand finale of the day we visited the Sacred Way which is a long road book ended with large gates and lined with statues that leads to the Ming Dynasty tombs. Each year the royal family would make a procession down the Sacred Way to inspect the construction of the royal tombs.

We learned all of this from our super cute English speaking guide, Mary. She spoke really good English but she had a very thick accent and when we got off the bus here the three of us had to have a short conference to determine why she was talking about "janitors in Asian times." We finally realized she meant "generals in ancient times."







Then finally after lunch we headed to the Great Wall. It really was amazing. We had talked about doing a section of the wall where you hike 10km but we knew mom wasn't going to be up for that due to her bad knees. After hiking just a very small section of it that we did this day I wondered if I would have been up for it. It's not just long. It's steep. We took a cable car to the top since we only had 2 hours to explore but even just getting to the cable car station almost did mom in. Dad and I had to leave her at the first guard house and continue exploring without her.

We walked quite a ways, through many guard towers until we came to a huge flight of steep steps that went took the wall up over another peak. Dad walked about halfway up and I think regretted it the next day. Most of the wall we were standing on was built during the Ming dynasty but other walls had been built for hundreds of years before, as early as 220 B.C. The part we were on is touristy (there was a Subway next to the car park) but a lot of the Wall is poor condition. I would have loved to have seen some more of the "wilder" Wall but even this tourist safe version was easily the highlight of our entire trip.













Next up: The Summer Palace, a mistake you wouldn't want to make on the Amazing Race, the Pearl Market, and the Temple of Heaven park.

Mt. Fuji...finally!

I have finally seen Mt. Fuji! And it only took three separate trips to do so, but I think I appreciated it that much more.

This past weekend I went up to Fujinomiya with my friend Danielle to meet another ALT, Ashley, who lives and works in the shadow of Japan's most famous mountain. She took us around to some scenic sights on Saturday - Lake Tanuki, Shiraito Falls, and a temple whose name I have forgotten but is easily the largest temple I have yet to see in Japan. Of course it was still kind of cloudy so my pictures from that day aren't the greatest. You can't see the tip top of Fuji in them.

After a long day of walking and sight-seeing we headed to the local onsen - hana no yu - to soak our sore feet and legs. I couldn't get over that Ashley gets a Mt. Fuji view AND an onsen in her town. Tahara is nice but I think she wins when it comes to job placements!

On Sunday, I got up early and took a walk since the best time to see Fuji is in the morning. Turns out I didn't need to be worried because later in the day we headed to a local sake brewery in town for their yearly festival and had a perfect view. We drank and ate and relaxed under its shadow. Then it was back on the train and ready to work on Monday morning.

It was a great weekend with friends, Fuji, and sake. Thanks to Ashley for her hospitality! Because of her I can go home this summer knowing I've seen Japan's most famous mountain. It's definitely Japan's number one icon and I finally know why. ;)


The view from Ashley's bedroom window. I'm soooo jealous!




Early Sat. afternoon we were having no luck so we had some Mt. Fuji cookies instead.


Shiraito Falls


I've tried a Wasabi Kit Kat but there was no way I was trying Wasabi ice cream but it's a specialty in Shizuoka prefecture.


How awesome would this picture be if you could see the top of Fuji? le sigh!


Lucky for me there was other beautiful scenery to look at.


On my walk Sunday morning. A very peaceful and relaxing way to start the day.






My friend Danielle at the sake festival.




Onegaishimasu!






These guys had more fun than we did. ;-)


My favorite picture of the weekend.

卒業式

Today was graduation or sotsugyoushiki. My ninth graders are moving up to the big and scary world of high school. In the next couple of weeks they'll be taking high school entrance exams and choosing which high school they want to attend. And to celebrate that next step in life we had a two hour ceremony in a freezing cold gym with a few songs, several very boring speeches, and not one person who did a back flip when they received their certificate (unlike at an American graduation ceremony forever fixed in my memory.)





I thought I might cry since when I started this job these kids had just started junior high but the shivering cold of the gym and the intense boredom that comes with listening to speeches in a language you don't understand overrode any extreme emotions. The picture taking session in the courtyard after and the amazing bento lunch the teachers ate together later when the students had left made up for the uncomfortable morning. (Seriously amazing food and so much of it I won't need to eat dinner tonight!)

Good luck to my kiddies! Ganbatte kudasai!




Momo-sensei in her hakama - a special kimono worn at graduation. (But only by the 9th grade female teachers.)

Seijin no hi

On the second Monday in January each year a massive horde of 20 years olds dress up in their fanciest kimono and strut around town as new adults, finally allowed to drink, smoke, and vote. It's Coming of Age Day or Seijin no hi. This year I had planned a trip to Irago and Ise on the same weekend, not knowing I was about to stumble onto one of the busiest times of the year at Ise Shrine.

The crowds almost sent me into anxiety overload but the beautiful kimonos and outrageous accessories on both girls and guys was enough to make up for hyperventilating. We took the ferry from Irago to Tobu and then caught a train to Ise. Then we tried to catch a bus to the Inner Shrine - Naikyu - but we quickly realized that we would get there faster if we got off and just walked. Everywhere was packed full of people and we weren't able to eat lunch or do much souvenir shopping. We tried to get a taxi back to the train station but had to give that up as well and ended up walking.

I've been to Ise Shrine before and I think without the crowds it's a very beautiful and peaceful place but this weekend it was just chaos. Still, I was glad we went. If you want to see some more pictures (and ones that are better than mine frankly) then check out this website.


Waiting for the train to Ise we got a preview of what was to come.


Check out the big as your head hair accessories!


Walking was much faster than the bus.


The main shopping street. I don't do well with crowds so I'm hyperventilating at this point.


At the entrance to Ise's Inner Shrine.


Even the boys had on fun kimono.

My Japanese twin

Almost since I stepped off the plane here in Japan people have told me how much I look like a popular Japanese singer, Angela Aki. I had no idea who that was so I just smiled and nodded (this is my response to almost everything here in Japan now that I think about it.) I finally looked her up on wikipedia after my students started saying "Good morning, Angela" instead of "Good morning, Jennifer."

I guess I see the resemblance but I still think it's mostly the glasses. And then last spring we sang her song Tegami in chorus. I really like the song and since it's right in my range it's one of my karaoke standards now. My Japanese friends love to hear me sing in Japanese and with enough beer in them it's almost like their own personal Angela Aki concert. ;-)

What do you think? Were Angela and I separated at birth?

Pasta for Pennies

I am so proud of my high school! When I was a senior my best friend was the president of the service organization, Key Club, and I went along to the weekly meetings too. (There were also several cute boys in the club as well.) We also both spent our study hall in the Key Club advisor's classroom where for several weeks during the fund raising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society I counted out and rolled $7,000 worth of change. Our goal that year was to beat the $700 we had raised for United Way. We not only did that but raised enough to be one of the top schools in the program.

I don't know if it was the free Olive Garden lunch for the homeroom that contributed the most or Ms. Goohs' relentless enthusiasm, or if the students and parents just feel passionate about taking care of leukemia patients, but Princeton stepped up. I graduated that year but Princeton has continued to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Many years they are the top or the second highest school in the country! Last year they raised $38,000. The year before that it was $46,000.

It's amazing to look back and think that I had a hand in starting that tradition. And I'm happy to note, and a little jealous, that the students don't have to count out the change by hand anymore. Coinstar now donates a change machine. In fact, I think most of the money doesn't come from pennies found in the couch but from corporate sponsors and proud alums, but they still do collect change and they still have homeroom competitions. Their goal this year is $42,010. Hope they can do it!

Check out the school's website if you're interested.

http://www.princeton.k12.oh.us/HighSchool.cfm?subpage=305

Or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's website.

http://lls.org/hm_lls