1000 Words

Fly Hawks Football in Sasebo

2007-03-12T02:34:00.000+09:00

Playing some good football with the Nagasaki team at the Navy Recreation park in Sasebo, Nagasaki. Found a willing troop of firemen who took us on for a 50min game. Was great especially since we had great team work and learned alot from the win ;-) I'm still getting the hang of the endurance, skill and teamwork of this beautiful game but will be there soon.

Doll Festival お雛祭り

2007-03-05T01:50:00.000+09:00

Pictures from a Arita-san's (my Japanese family :-) ) Japanese Doll festival elaborate and beautiful display. Ohina matsuri as it is called in Japanese celebrated the happiness and health of girls. Each set can contain up to 15 different dolls. The top and main tier is decorated with “Emperor and Empress” dolls and their retainers on five to seven tiers with tea and sewing sets, traditional games and musical instruments. Just setting up the dolls takes a lot of work - not to mention patience! Even today parents will spend thousands of dollars on these lovely dolls all in the hopes of their daughter finding happiness.

Kyushu National Museum with Saori

2007-03-04T01:58:00.000+09:00

Went to check out a great exhibition by Ito Jakuchu an old Japanese painters collection on display with my friend Saori. Was really great but the place was so huge it took us 5hrs to do 2 floors. Worth it though.

Rushed to the sound of pan in the lobby and found this NeoJazz group. When I talked to the guy he was quite surprised to meet someone from Trinidad there and told me that he got his pan in LaHorquetta, Arima. Good music.

There was a huge Google Maps-type map of Fukuoka, the city the museum is in, on the floor and many people were stopping to look for their houses and stuff.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2007

2007-02-18T23:02:00.000+09:00

Had a great time with some friends from Hirado (a far away city in Nagasaki Prefecture) and my neighbour and her firends from Saga for this year's Latern Festival, one of Nagasaki City's big celebrations (lasts about 2 and half weeks)

One of Nagasaki's famous landmarks, Spectacles Bridge.

Bounced up some students (graduating this April) from my High school at a photo booth corner.

Back L-R Yuki and Alex
Front L-R Emiko, Chris, Allan and Yoshino

In the midst of the crowd finally we met up with Annette, my friend from Jamaica and continued seeking out the thrills of Latern Festival

Aaaye!!

2007-02-17T22:58:00.000+09:00

Everynow and then something from the Caribbean jumps outs and surprises me in Japan. The bottle of Matouk's pepper sauce in the 100yen store, the tucked and hidden away Jamaican restaurant, and below, once again pepper sauce at a Mexican restaurant in Sasebo City (after a football match with friends L-R Alex (Washington) Chris (England) and Courtney (forgot what state USA). Was actually good, the Trinidad Mustard Sauce.

Home time - Nagasaki Kakuyo High

2007-02-16T22:44:00.000+09:00

No, not for me quite yet. Just decided to get some pics of students after another hard day at school. いってらっしゃい！

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T22:32:00.000+09:00

Love is just a 4-letter word,

That when given from the heart -
Purely,
Without unnecessary distractive influence,
Or mal-motive -
It can cahnge the World!
Think of what we can do
With 1 letter's worth!

In Japan Valentine's Day is for men! That is, women are supposed to give men they admire or like, some token (chocolate, cake and the like). All you Western women who are already throwing their arms in the air crying 'BLASPHEMY!', there is a day next month (March) where the token is reciprocated. Anyways, last year I was at my High School and got nothing but a little candy from a group of 4 girls... damn teenagers! lol This year I was at Takashima Elementary and Junior High School and this is just part of my stash. I felt loved (that didn't sound too pathetic...) That's my stash... home baked cookies, chocolates and goodness.

Second Grade Sashimi Class

2007-02-13T22:21:00.000+09:00

Mori-kun, the last guy there, the period just before lunch ran past the school shop that I was helping out at and shouted "Allan! Now... sashimi!" in a rather inviting way (at least that's what I wanted to hear Sashimi, raw fish, being my favourite Japanese food. "Really!!" I shouted and bolted to the staff room to get my camera and stuff and told him to wait on me. What followed was a great food class with loads of fish to practice and of course eat after... Yellow tail, some other fish and squid were on the menu. I have yet to make sashimi myself at home but I guess I can try now. The remaining parts of the fish (the heads and tails and stuff above), Yoshino (my neighbour and one of the teachers of the food class... 2nd person from the left in the pic above Mori) made a nice broth.

Mamemaki, Feb 2007

2007-02-07T22:16:00.000+09:00

Not sure what the exact name of this festival is (when I find out I'll correct it here) but 'Mamemaki' is what you do. It is something to do with driving out bad spirits (Oni) by throwing of beans. As I have observed with many Japanese things (customs and practices) there is no real meaning behind it to the people doing it... like Nike they just do it.

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L-R: Saori, Me, Sandy, Mari, and Mrs. Imanishi. Saori invited me to come with her correctly suspecting that I had never seen or partook in the activity. It was quite interesting. Liming with Saori and Mari is always fun.

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L-R: Mrs Imanishi's sister (I didn't know that in the 20secs that I met her for), me, a Maiko (apprentice Geisha... but I'm not sure she is the real deal... most likely not) and Sandy.

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Drones of people went for the rituals at the big Suwa Jinja where there was the mamemaki (throwing for the beans) and then some kind of stage performance (either dancing or taiko drumming or something) in 30min sets. Everything started at 7pm. We got there just in time for the second set.

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There was a stall selling some Japanese hot rice wine porridge kinda thing... was really nice. Always impresses me how well organised everything always is. The old woman were all well dressed in their white looks giving them that professional look and busy selling their goods.

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Burning of old wishes from last year

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This is the stairs to the shrine that became a market for the festival

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Afterward we went to a Fugu (blowfish) restaurant. Everything was made or related to the poisonous if not prepared properly fish, down to the dishes. We ate the raw fish, its skin, its fat, even the sperm... all really great!

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The voices you hear are well the priests saying "Oni wa soto!" (Demons get away) and Sandy and my laughs and screams of enjoyment or the excitement of trying to catch the beans.

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Nagasaki Chinese Latern Festival

2006-02-06T01:27:00.000+09:00

Following the Dragon Dance from Chuo Park stage to the China Town.

Posing with Mr Crane. Lacy, Sandy, Amanda, Dan and Andy.

Some of the lantern art at Chuo Park for the latern festival.

Shots at the Chuo Part Show area

In the city laterns galore!

Suisan Koukou

2006-02-06T01:16:00.000+09:00

Just a little R&R at school for the kids before the heat is on for exams. Watching a movie in the gym. Hadn't see that kind of movie equipment out of a cinema before... isn't that a bit old for technically advanced Japan? hmm

2 Queens of Suisan Koko, Minani-sensei (left) and Mami (affectionately). Admiring the beauty of flowers brought in I guess to signal the end of winter. Minami-sensei takes care of alot of the plants in the office, taught me a bit too! 2 really cool people.

Joining Mizoguchi sensei (good friend and the English teacher I co-teach with most at school) for one of her 3rd year classes. The graduate this February so although I don't teach them I had to give them a final visit (it was actually my first time to that class).

Some first year girls (15 years old) taking care of the flower beds in front the school. The girl to the left never lets me take pictures of her, I've tried in class before but always got her just as the book or curtain hid her face. As u can see I was successful this time. Not so lucky with the one on the right though.

Miscellaneous

2006-02-06T01:04:00.000+09:00

Just some pics I forgot from stuff before...
Singing to Sally for the Christmas gift exchange at Indian restaurant.

Enjoying karaoke with Dan, Maria and Evan.

Who is the hottest taiko drummer... Of course yours truly is de man with mad timin' . Dan could get a lil props too :-P

Foreigners reunite: everyone is back from their respective Christmas trips and enjoying a cool lime. L-R Lacy (England), Sally (Boston), Allan (Trini Possee), Debbie (Ireland), Rob (England), Andy (Seattle), Amanda (USA), and Sandy (Trini Possee)

Kakunan

2006-02-06T00:55:00.000+09:00

Helping out at the printing press class at the high school for mentally disabled children.

Happy Birthday Sandy!

2006-02-06T00:17:00.000+09:00

Sandy had her first birthday in Japan and we had a celebration with lots of giving picture taking and game playing. Happy 24th Sandy!!!

A Tribute to...

2006-01-15T19:34:00.000+09:00

Why by-golly! It's me! I know youall have been missing my face so here you go. Actually I had nothing to do so I said I would give you a sample of all of THIS!! Just kidding but missing youall.

Ice Skating

2006-01-07T02:05:00.000+09:00

Second Ice Skating lime. Dan, Kathrine, me, and Houtaro (playing the fool). This time was really fun. There were loads of little children and people in general on the ice today chasing us and making skating fast more exciteing (or dangereous, whichever you prefer... ran over 3 actually...lol) Most of us walked away with scars from falling.

Ice skating for the first time in MY LIFE last week. Was great fun. My feet were literally frozen afterward though. Went along with Houtaro, Sandy and Dan (L-R). Of course we all were the stars of the rink!

Houtaro, Dan and I displaying out new found skills. Well Dan is pro but we'll pretend he's still novice like the rest of us.

Necessary Purchases

2006-01-07T01:41:00.000+09:00

Music is is life... These are the CDs I have purchases since in Japan. 3 RnB, 2 Reggae, 2 Rap (Missy Elliott is mssing), 2 Classical (want so much more), and 1 Dance. No Japanese in this mix because they are really expensive... over 3000yen for most! The foreign CDs are always on sale. I almost bought an Ella Fitzgerals jazz CD today too but I was like "Allan yuh over doing it man!" The don't sell Gospel here (one of my favourite genres). No market for that.

Knowledge is power... Just some of the books I bought. I have bought a few National Geographic and TIME editions, as well as some Elementary school japanese writing books so I can learn the way the kids here learn. (I feel dunce everytime I hear some arbitrary 4yr old Japanese toddler rattling on in Japanese on the bus and I can't understand half of what they say.)

Jus one of those Wednesdays

2005-12-15T22:17:00.000+09:00

Reporting after lunch... how it was, what was done (cleaning up etc) and whatever else is applicable. A bit like boarding school but I love it.

After lunch brush

Learning "If...then" patttern. Kanematsu always tring to be the clown.

Winning group!

Once again waiting on the bus home. So why not just take picture of foreigners around...OH! just me I guess.

Signs of winter...SALE

2005-12-15T22:13:00.000+09:00

Gas heaters on sale at the home centre. I need to get me one of these so was checking out the prices heat better and cheaper than air conditioning that I have.

Mitsuyama Dake Takahashi Visit

2005-10-24T01:07:00.000+09:00

The principal of Kakunan High School invited me to his home for a hike and dinner. When he said hike I thought it would be just a little walk. Reach there man hand me gloves and his wife bid me goodbye in the same breath that she sadi "Nice to meet you" ..."see you in 2hrs or so". Was challenging, really steep but great views and just plain great!!

Mountain tribute shrine of sorts
On top of the world. Mitsuyama Dake is the 2nd highest peak in Nagasaki and we climbed right to the top

Takahashi-san hid a beer in his gloves as a celebration to the summit...little did I know it was to be a secret when I mentioned it at the dinner table. had a good laugh at that (apparently his family knows him as the guzzler)

The spread! "As you like it sushi" OISHII!!!

Kakunan Yougyougakkou

2005-10-24T00:55:00.000+09:00

Gen-chan is trying to be as menacing as possible so I would stop pointing the camera at him but it was just fuel for my camera...ok that analogy was kinda off, if you noticed consider your self annoyingly smart.

Pottery class

I call it "Ai no koen" or Love Park. Made it with the help of a great student. Can't wait to see it when it comes out of the oven all glazed and nice. I know it will be the envy of them all.

Don't worry she is listening to every word Tokunaga-sensei is saying despite the blocked ears and turned head. A lot of the students are autistic, and this is my first time dealing with these kind of people it is really interesting. Love it....crack us all up at itme the things they burst out doing saying or singing.

Signal to Winter

2005-10-23T01:03:00.000+09:00

After a healthy 6km all up-hill bike ride (took me a greuling 50mins) came back to the bike camp to get warm around a fire the kids had going. You wouldn't believe how cold it was. And I wasn't the only one. The guy in the background with the sleeveless is not human...I think he's from Saturn or somewhere

Lepricons and Pasta

2005-10-22T00:49:00.000+09:00

Had my first train ride!!! WOOOHOOO!!! (not that exciting as it looked on sesame street though) to Omura for a night of Irish Music and Pizza in aid of New Orleans. Was a nice cool lime.

Tribute to Daie Department Store

2005-10-22T00:41:00.000+09:00

The good times will be sorely missed!

Good location...right next door (view from my back balcony)

The happy shoppers...

The fun moments...(playing the fool in the luggae section)

Oh and the tempura...(a lil too much oil but ah still love yuh Daie)

The sales...

The great service...

The discounts...

2 months later...WELCOME!

2005-10-21T23:43:00.000+09:00

Pics from my welcome party thrown by the great teachers at the Kakunan High School for the Mentally Disabled that I visit on Mondays... GREAT!!

Nagasaki Season Final Track Meet

2005-10-16T00:36:00.000+09:00

We weren't the most successful of track teams on that day but I think everyone did their best (I did a personal competition best of 11.21 in 100m)
. We'll be ready for them next year!

Takuya (800m) and Yukihiro (Long Jump)

My fans!! Thanks guys, I really appreciated your presense. (ignore that I'm in tights)

Enjoying Art

2005-10-15T00:47:00.000+09:00

Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum for the Spanich Art Exhibit

Middle of the week

2005-10-12T22:39:00.000+09:00

Lunch... Rice, some Japanese mix up and Mizo soup. Very nice!

Saving Lives

2005-10-11T22:36:00.000+09:00

Holiday in the Park

2005-10-10T22:30:00.000+09:00

Settled

2005-10-07T13:24:00.000+09:00

Entering the bus if you have a bus card you scan it on the reader to the right and it records when you got on and swipe again at the driver when you are getting off. Love the technology!

My view on the bus to school... ok I'm not so tall I raise my hand, but a man can have dreams

An early christmas present from my second family in Trinidad the Williams TRINI POSSEE!!!! Thanks a lot! Winter jacket from my friend Philip that I left behind and some much needed Trini goods.

I took my friend and the other Trini in Nagasaki to dinner on Friday evening at a restaurant near my apartment, Hamakatsu. Real good food, I'll take a pic of the menu next time.

Sandy-san, beeming as usual.

2005-10-06T13:21:00.000+09:00

One of the things I absolutely love to see in Japan. Well dressed women (sometimes in evening wear) sporting helmet and of course matching high heals, gunnin' it down de road on a motocycle. Beautiful!

Interactions

2005-10-05T13:02:00.000+09:00

The image of casual Japanese man... sneaks, jeans, tee, cigarette in hand, and the prettiest of umbrellas on a rainy day. This is Masaru he works with his father on the ferry that I take to Takashima High School on Wednesdays.

My san-nen sei (third year students) at Takashima Junior High practicing casual greetings. Always fun! Youichi, right most guy really animated. Sometime I wonder about him but he is real cool and enthusiastic, a great student.

Haruna and Akemi giving each other ah bounce and Matsushita-sensei looking on. They always giggle with it but soon it will be second nature and all of Japan will be Trinbagonianized! MOOHAHAHAHAHA!!!

She adopted me as her 3rd son the first time we met. This Masaru's mother and my ferry dirver's wife, Mrs Ferry Driver (never catch her name...I'll tell you later) But she's lovely and a lot of fun. I love when she tries out her English! She prepared a huge banquet for me this evening although she apologised for being very tired. Champon (chinese noodles and stuff on top-Nagasaki speciality), Sashimi (raw seafood...OISHI!!), Rice, soup, veges, fruit, beer and, water

Susume, a great great guy and my ferry driver to Takashima Island, and his son Masaru at a dinner at his home for me. Domo arigatou gozaimasu!

Hiro is a real mello fella, my Japanese brother. He's Susume's younger son. Studied English in USA for a while so helps communicate alot.

New Beginnings

2005-10-04T12:58:00.000+09:00

I think it was ushering in the Autumn season that brought these new flower beds to the entrance to Suisan Koko, my base school. Kirei ne! (Beautiful isn't it)

Starting all over again

2005-10-03T22:02:00.000+09:00

My Monday morning climb. The buses ran a bit late this morning a fact I didn't realise till I got to school and found that the morning staff meetings were already in progress...normally I have a good 5-10mins after I arrive before meeting... and check me taking my cool time even stopping to take pictures. Guess Japanese are not always on time.

Kakunan Yogogakko School for Mentally Disabled, Harumidai, Nagasaki, Japan

The class I chilled with for the day... making diaries.

Morning glory

Got home bought some clothes and had a cool diner, shrimp and rice. Washed some clothes too... LAWD! dat is headache!

Saturday in the park

2005-10-01T22:13:00.000+09:00

Had a real fun day Saturday in Dejima park liming with some of the other JETS from around. L-R Sally, Lacy, Yuh boy, Sandy and Greg. Yea I sweaty from cricket!

I never enjoyed cricket more than I did today. The English and the West Inides had a hot battle and we even got some batters and bowlers that did pretty well! Some Japanese weould pass by and you would see the puzzled look on their face "What kinda baseball is that?!"

On My Own in Takashima

2005-09-28T06:08:00.000+09:00

Was walking home and saw these elementary kids playing on the otherside of the street on their way home. Had a conversation by yelling across the busy road... "Hello~!" "Hello~!" "How are you?" "Nani??" "How are you?!" "Wakaranai"...change of language because apparently their english was limited to Hello... "O Genki desu ka?" "Genki yo!!" I then whipped out the camera and they were more than happy to wave! All this over a busy main road.

Limbo with the Elementary school students. I asked for a broom stick 30mins before class, they heard limbo and got all excited and was greeted in class with this bright pink floral arrangement.

Playing a variation of "Go Fish"... L-R: Tanishita-kun, Kanematsu-kun, Mizukami-kun, Sasazaki-kun and Nagata-kun (dealing to Allan)

Posters we made to learn about Trinidad and Tobago. The red one is mine :-) This idea as all my teaching plans was a last minute decision, but came out great and student's liked it!

15mins with the Elementary school children. Practicing our introductions.

Teaching Takashima Junior High School on my own today. Was really cool and fun. Just started by telling them "Today is only English!" They were cool with that.

Any other Tuesday

2005-09-27T22:57:00.000+09:00

Had a play on unifying Korea and Japan in last period of school... good but of course I was bepping with quater of the students... my excuse is I have no idea what they were saying. They have no reason.

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Class on a Tuesday...ok I can't lie I too this pic like 3 weeks ago and I think it may even be my Thursday class but they all look the same so imagine I took it today.

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Bepping beauties. Bad angle but this was an interesting scene on the bus this morning. All prepped and fancy and beppin' hard at 7:36am. There was actually a 4th in this row but couldn't fit in the sneek shot.

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Lunch from the school shop. To the right rice with some seaweedy, spicy sprinkling. To the top far left some pickled vegetable (a normal side in bento sets), top left potato salad, and bottom, fried chicken nuggets and noodles. 300-yen. OISHI!!

Kakunan Yogogakko: My Mondays

2005-09-26T22:37:00.000+09:00

Pottery class at my high school for the mentally challenged... real cool stuff!

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The Communication class I teach... learning about Trinidad and Tobago... check out their posters!

Sunday Lunch

2005-09-25T20:10:00.000+09:00

OISHI NE!!! I know it doesn't look that appetizing from your angle but it was great... just prok, spinich and cabbage. Lunch at 6pm as usual.

2005-09-25T20:08:00.000+09:00

Making rice... its easier than it looks. Just push a button and hope its come out right

Culture Saturday

2005-09-24T19:49:00.000+09:00

Riding the Tram

2005-09-24T19:48:00.000+09:00

Taiko drumming concert... nothing short of magnificent! I think I'll take up drumming tomorrow.

2005-09-24T19:43:00.000+09:00

Chinese festival at a big Confucian temple in Nagasaki... kirei ne!

Autumnal Equinox Day

2005-09-23T19:50:00.000+09:00

I am strong... I'm interested... I am ashamed
Sally, me and Andy on top of the world... finally reaching our Light house in the distance in Nomozaski. Sally by the way was Queen of the hike... all hail... one of her plebs, Sandy, is taking the picture.

2005-09-23T19:49:00.000+09:00

Andy and me on our Autumnal Equinox Nomozaki Hike... wowo that was a mouthful. Great lime!

Takashima Wednesday

2005-09-22T16:59:00.000+09:00

Sneeking a peek at obasan relaxing on the bus

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Missed the first ferry so occupied my self with photography for the 1 hour till the next arrived

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Koyagi Honmura Port

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Waiting on the bus after school...just thought you'd want to see me!