I grew up on a ranch where Jazz (sister, 21) and I used to have a game where we’d dress up as poor little Indians and fight over the name Cherry Blossom. The Rash, (brother 17), called us Indian Squashes, and me, in particular, “Peaquah”, which was his take on my first name. At the age of ten, to the chargrin of The Folks, I demanded that the younger siblings stop calling me Bepa, Peaquah, Ninger or Talmon. Then, I got married, changed my name to Shaw, which sounds a bit like squash, and, feeling guilty about leaving the Rabbit Slayer (brother, 9) and Weaser (sister, 15) alone with The Folks while I gallavant around Asia, took up the mantle. I also respond to The Commander and Squash Cherry Blossom. None of them can live up to their oldest sibling who, at the age of 23 (despite being an English major in another life) is slowly becoming literate enough in Japan to take the right train each and every time.
So, why Japan? The JET program recruited and placed me here (if you count their recruiting as me applying and spending hundreds of dollars to interview). Sponsored by the Japanese government, the JET program employs about 5,000 foreign English speakers a year. We’re distributed all over Japan and work in high schools, junior highs and elementary schools as assistant language teachers. I’m not allowed to teach any classes alone which means that when I teach I have a Japanese teacher wandering aimlessly through the rows hitting kids on the head when they nod off. The teachers I work with most often: T-Rex Sensei, Gonzo Sensei (debate teacher), Ms. Delicious and Mount Fuji. I took a year of Japanese at a California school from a long-haired teacher who made us sing commercial jingles. That year I learned over 300 verbs and no kanji (Chinese charaters) or other vocabulary. These days I recognize obscure words like “to burn” or “to adorn” yet I can’t figure out how to tell someone I’m hungry. I’m working on the problem, which means Johnathan (Japanese major, husband) helps me finish my monthly correspondence tests.
I teach about 12 classes a week, which means you’re reading what I write in the downtime. Sometimes, during exam weeks, there’s a lot of it. By email: peaquah [at] gmail [dot] com
Love your blog! I found it through Serafina. I will explore your archives later this week. Thanks, Christa
P.S check out my blog if you’ve got time
petitefashionista.com
Hi Lady Kyushu,
I’m looking for petite blogger interviews for June. Would you be interested in being featured? I’d love to chat w/ you and find out where to shop in Japan.
Cheers,
serafina
Love your blog, but I do have a question.
A year ago I was an exchange student in Japan. I lived near Fukuoka. I went to a school called Kurume koukou. I’ve been searching the web for a website for that school when I came across this blog. I’m just wondering if that is where you teach. I want to get in contact with my old sensei and kids from my class. I’m pretty sure their are 2 Kurume high schools in that area so you might be at the other one. Anywho, you should get my e-mail address when I post this, so if you could drop me a line and let me know if I’m on the right track, it would be much appreciated. / \(^_ ^)tanomu
I didnt get a return e-mail address from you so I’m going to have to write here:
The only teacher I remember I remember the name of is Aso sensei, he was the english teacher of the class I was in. It’s funny, your blog starts a month after I left, so it would be weird if you were at my old school.
Hey Steven,
I tried you respond to your email address, but you said you never received anything. I’d be happy to talk to you about specific teachers and students through email. Feel free to email me at peaquah [at] gmail [dot] com
Peaquah,
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Hope you find it helpful!
Cheers,
Jerry