Rainy inside day

Today is super windy and stormy and wonderful. It's warmed up quite a bit this week and I hope it stays that way. These pictures are from the school I taught at today. The first is our lunch, shrimp fry, bread roll, Chinese soup and whole milk.

These are second grade students. Quite a few of my classes are small like this but I also have quite a few with 20 or more students. We played a game where I hid a picture of a bomb under one of a bunch of cards that were stuck to the board. The students have to say what's on the card (in this case fruit) and hope they don't hit the bomb.

You-san

A portrait I did for my friend You-san. She's living in Taiwan, I'm planning on taking a trip there as soon as I get some extra money saved.

Moko chan

Here ya go Moko. This is a good friend of mine in SF who asked if I'd paint her. 似ているかな。六ヶ月前のと全然違うけど、いつか本当に上手に描くよ。　じゃんじゃん　次

Walking Day

Last weekend we had Walking/ Jogging day, an annual event in Nagata where lots of locals from around the island get together, walk or jog between 4 and 5 kilometers then come back to the school campus to eat Udon noodles. It was a lot of fun despite the cold wind and rain. One farmer let us pick his oranges while we were passing his orchard.

While we were eating my friend asked me how to say okura in English. I told her okra, it was an English word. She said "oh, do you eat it often in America?"
"Well, I think mostly in middle America, like Oklahoma."
"Okrahoma?"
I was cracking up but had a hell of a time trying to explain why that was so funny to me.

Miyaurabashi+

A girl
This took between 2 and 3 hours. It's of the old bridge here in Miyanoura. The photo is on my blog somewhere. I didn't go into details, I felt I captured the basic feel and learned a few things so I'm calling it a night.

Koseda

This is the elementary school I taught at today. The classrooms are around 50 degrees and the kids are wearing shorts and windows and doors are open over the place. Lots of people tell me its sooo cold but I think some people say it just to make me feel better cause they can tell I really am.
I was playing soccer with the kids, slipped and covered one of my pant legs in mud. The kids didn't really notice though, I think they do it all the time.

Recently I started I've started writing 5 new words I hear everyday. Today's words are:
1. usugi - a word that means one is wearing very few layers of clothing. atsugi is the opposite
2. kudaranai- trifling, unimportant, frivolous
3. namerakani- smoothly, easily. used with sound or music
4. habuku- to omit, the cut out
5. dachou- ostrich

Cold and Rainy days

A few days ago Brittany and I figured that we had exactly 6 more months until the end of the school year. We declared that we were exactly half way through our one year contract. Brittany isn't re contracting so if I stay I'll get a new island buddy. I haven't signed anything yet but I'm planning on staying a second year. I'll write when its decided.
I've been meaning to take some more photos for awhile now but its been raining everyday not to mention freezing. When I'm not working I'm bundled up inside. I've been working on my Wacom again, drawing directly into the computer.

Some practice sketches on Photoshop. I do this kind of thing all day at school too but its hard to learn anatomy without models. I'm thinking about trying to start a drawing group in my town. I think quite a few students might be interested.

end of January

This is the port town, Miyanoura, the main town on Yakushima.

I went to the small island Kuchierabu, population 150, to teach last Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, due to stormy seas, the ferry couldn't get to the island and I was stuck there until Friday night. It wasn't so bad except that I was cold almost the whole time, not having brought a decent jacket. Next time I'm bringing lots of clothes, and lots of books, just in case.
I did get to help teach a few of the Art classes which is particularly fun for me.

Fukuoka

I just got back from a week trip to the northern cities of Fukuoka and Nagasaki. It was so great to be in a big city again, hundreds of restaurants, fast food, book stores, electronics stores and other things I miss. I also got to see a friend I hadn't seen in a long time.

The first couple days were relatively warm but then the temperature took a dive and the day I left there was a light snow storm.

I met up with my friend You-chan and we after wandering around Fukuoka for a bit we went to this cute old style town that's famous for its retro style and western buildings. It's also famous for bananas for some reason, we even met up with Banana man.
Retro vs. boring tower


Later that day we went to Kokura and saw their Xmas light displays and feudal castle. The castle was closed so we couldn't go inside but it was still impressive. Kokura was the original target for the Nagasaki atomic bomb but the skies were cloudy so the plane moved to city number two on the list.


The next day we went to Nagasaki to visit the peace memorial park and museum. Unfortunately the museum was closed due to it being the end of the year, but at the park we could see ground zero where the bomb was dropped and pictures of the absolute burned desolation that was the result. Nagasaki is now a beautiful city, but there are so many statues and reminders of the devastation that I think it would be a little depressing to live there.



Nagasaki has a beautiful river running through it marked by all the old style stone bridges. This one is called Megane bashi because in the reflection it looks like a pair of eyeglasses.



Back in Fukuoka on the New Years Eve we went to a temple just to look around and a nice old man showed us the demon masks on the sides of the temple, one a male, one a female.

New Years eve was nothing special for us. We met up with some of You's friends for dinner and a few drinks but it was way to cold to go to a temple and hear them ring the gong at midnight as many people do. The next day You-chan flew back to Taipei and I'm back on the island waiting for the school year to start up again.

Winter Break

The usual boat to Kuchierabu is being repaired so I had to take a fishing boat to the island. It turned out to be better than the big ship. It hit the waves pretty hard but at least I was outside. Plus, it only takes half the time.
The teacher asked me if I would draw a happy new year poster for the school. She mounted it in pink and had me write a little something. It turned out nice but, I have to say this is way to cutesy for even me. I let it get a little out of hand.
Leaving the island on my way back. The ocean was so smooth I could have skied.
Kitten speed painting. Cute or Scary, you be the judge.

To Pieces

This is a sketch I did last time I was in Kagoshima. I decided to throw some color on it and make it final. Its pretty simple but It turned out nice I think.

Christmas in Japan

Recently I've been teaching my kids about Christmas using games and Christmas vocabulary. All my students are taken aback when I explain how the elves work for Santa, making him toys year round. I try to explain that the working conditions are pretty good but when I get to the part about the factory location its a lost cause.

These kids are very bright, but when I ask them about the origin of Christmas they're all a little lost. I explained to the teacher in English that we celebrate Xmas because it was the day Jesus was born. She wasn't getting it and kept telling the kids that Jesus was born on Christmas therefore it was a big deal. I asked the kids.

Me: "Who is Jesus?"

Student: "Jesus means 'shimatta' (Japanese for darn it)

Me: "uh, ok sometimes. But who's son is he?"

Various answers " Christ's son", "son of an elf", and the most popular answer " Santa's!"

In Japan Santa enters through the window and most parents give their kid one present and put it on their pillow so they see it first thing in morning. That's a really nice image.

Bust, the Sequel!

I'm doing a serious of busts because its good practice and the only face I have to draw, beside my own. The wonky perspective of the base is due to my lack of interest and therefore skill in architecture. I ordered a book on perspective, I think I'd better just copy it page for page.

I promise not to put up any more busts unless I deem them especially special.

The Kitchen

These are a few pictures of my kitchen, the first is from the living room so you can get an idea of the scale. If anyone is wandering about all the trash cans, on Yakushima we have to divide the trash into five separate bags, plus we are supposed to bundle cardboard and Styrofoam separately. We have a bag for cans, dangerous items (mirrors, razors etc.), green waste, plastic bottles, and general plastic packaging and paper.

I haven't taken any pictures for awhile. By the time I get off work its almost dark and pretty cold so I haven't been going out much. I think winter is tough on Yakushima because once its too cold to do outdoor activities there isn't much to do.

The Hike to Jyoumon Sugi

The sun rose after hiking for awhile in the semi-dark.

The day after Thanksgiving I went with Brittany and her friends on a hike to Jyoumon Sugi, the oldest and largest ceder on Yakushima. It's an eight hour hike plus travel time to get to the trail head so we had to get up at four.
A lot of the path is pretty easy. We started by following this old track into the mountains for about two hours.
After the tracks we climbed up into the woods. The paths are all well maintained and there is nothing too treacherous.
This is Jyoumon Sugi, though looking at a photo doesnt do it justice. I may try to post more later and get a little more detailed, I just don't have the energy right now.

House

I've been meaning to put up some pictures of my house for awhile now. I'll try to get more up in the future, its a pretty good sized house especially for just one person.

There's that cat again, hiding in the sun. This is one big room that can be divided into two with sliding doors. My bed is in the lower left corner and the desk and table is where I spend most of my time.

My house from the front. It's deeper than it is across the front.

Mid November

I haven't done anything very exciting over the last few weeks. Nor have I taken any good pictures or painted anything worth showing. I went to Kagoshima city again for a long weekend of teacher training and shopping. I ended buying lots of great stuff, like a squirrel gathering nuts for a long winter. Books, comics, paint, canvases, electonics, games, should keep me busy.

Next weekend Brittany and I are planning on having a Thanksgiving get together with our teachers and friends. We're gonna do our best to make a big dinner (neither of us cook well) and we'll see what happens. There are no turkeys in Japan and even if they're were there wouldn't be any on Yakushima. We're gonna have to get creative.

Happy Halloween

No one in Japan celebrates Halloween but everyone knows about it. I painted the above picture to illustrate the different costumes and overall scary theme of Halloween for my students.

I hope everyone has a fun Halloween.

Precious Things

This is a picture I took with my phone of a mostly dry river I was hiking up yesterday. The weather is getting cooler and its great for hiking.

Last week I went to Kuchierabu (Island of the Bats) again. The ocean was so rough on the way home I had to lay on my back holding my stomach. My whole body was floating as the ferry lifted off one wave and dropped down onto the next. It didn't help that I had to stay near the bow and below deck, the worst combination in rough water.

I met a really nice family last night and learned that the father makes knives. He said that he would show me how but that it takes months from start to finish. How cool is that.

Anbo

Just a few pictures I've taken over the last few days. Below is Anbo, the second largest port on the island. You can rent boats here and have dinner parties in the middle of the river.



Brittany is obviously much cuter than me but also oh so much more popular. She's already had her mother, step-father, father, step-mother, and boyfriend come to visit her. Next week she's got another good friend coming to visit and then who knows, maybe her dogs will come. Time to buy some plane tickets whoever you are.Or maybe its because I keep posting pictures like this. It's harmless, honest, except when you're washing your hands and notice it sitting a few inches below you in the sink and almost have a heart attack. Tenacious island bugs.

I was eating cereal a few days ago and noticed a small ant on the rim of the bowl. When I began looking for more I noticed small black spots floating all around in my milk. They had infested the cereal box without me noticing and I had eaten half a bowl of frosted ant flakes. Mmm yes wonderful.

Moon girl

I realize I haven't posted any decent photos for awhile now. Tomorrow I'm planning on a hike with a new friend of mine. Maybe I'll get some good shots if it doesn't rain too much. Brit's (the other ALT) parents are here so we've all been hanging out together recently, hiking and eating out. I even made them all dinner one night.

I'm taking a break from digital and decided to only paint "traditional" paintings for awhile. At left is my first shot, a bookmark for the friend I'm meeting tomorrow.

Same same but different

I've been getting some pretty strange school lunches recently. I eat with the students in the classroom and I'm always a little nervous about the menu. A few days ago we got a salad of pickled vegetable and these creepy little fish. Yesterday we got rice and seaweed mix, slimy mushroom soup and chicken liver. mmm. It's often quite good but some days I get the one two punch. A crazy mess that was fun to draw

Seasons

It's finally starting to cool off around here. I was able to take this picture of the coolness on my way home from work today. I got some water and rocks and stuff in the background but you can clearly see the nice weather in the foreground. We should have a solid month or two before it starts to get really cold (it snows at the higher elevations). That should be fun too though... snowmen in Japan woot woot.

A really rough painting. This is just too hard so I'm giving up, hopefully I learned something from it... perhaps subconsciously. Moving on...

Falling Water

I worked on this over the last few days. It was good practice doing all the different elements, water, buildings, sky and rocks... though the rocks are the hardest part, I'll have to work on those.