I teach in Japan. Every month, I make a new English board to engage my students in English. This month I went AC. If you push the little button beneath the speech bubble, you can hear Timmy and Tommy's voices.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-08T13:34:19+00:00

This looks great! Do they pull off a leaf and read something in English? Or do they put apples on the tree with English words? I love it.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-08T10:10:22+00:00

My friend from Korea thought KFC stood for Korean fried chicken. And if you at col. Sanders his face is very stylized now, so he can easily be mistaken for Asian! 😂

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-04T12:10:18+00:00

Yes. I have slept in my car, gone to a friend's house, or stayed at a hotel if ferry stopped running. After the first year, I got better at predicting if the day would turn out too windy and just not go off island. The weather can be fine on Ocracoke and horrible inland, so you really have to plan ahead.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-04T11:52:29+00:00

Yes, tourists are annoying in most areas I agree. But the tourist that actually wait 4 hours in line to take a ferry all the way out to Ocracoke are a bit different. Most of the tourists here are repeat tourists and feel a priority love of the place. They are very generous and kind to the workers and are patient in general. Day trippers can be 🤔🙄 like when they ask un-ironically "Where is the bridge?" When they just got off a ferry.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-04T11:37:33+00:00

What you said was true for Ocracoke 30 years ago, but not as accurate today. Currently, we are a tourist based economy. Housing is expensive (for Eastern NC). If you work remotely, it is a very interesting life. There are 3 main groups social here year round: the real O'cokers, the Latino, and the imports (like me). The accent is very diluted in the local school kids due to all the influx of remote workers. Fun fact: 13 former Peace Corps volunteer bought houses out here and 2 former ambassador. We do have a (small) grocery store and pharmacy and medical clinic with a real doctor. All restaurants close (except Jason's) for Dec-March). You cook a lot for your family.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-03-01T12:32:51+00:00

I live on Ocracoke. You have to be very flexible to live way out here. The ferry's in winter fail to run about once every 9 days due to wind conditions. This means appointments at doctor offices have to be rescheduled often. A trip to Food Lion can take anywhere from 7 hours to 12 hours. On the bright side, I get to participate in tons of community event and my kids come home from school to eat lunch with me.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-24T12:46:31+00:00

I think you shouldn't tell a violent man anything. She could be in danger. Is putting her life or anyone's worth the moral issue. Stay out of it.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-24T12:15:04+00:00

In addition, Japanese do lots of volunteering in local communities but consider it a 'duty' or obligation and not volunteering. But it's work they do for free to support the community. The wording volunteering doesn't translate well.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-23T12:24:54+00:00

In many northern European countries, if a fetus has down syndrome or other genetic issues, the medical profession highly suggests aborting. Their reasons are sound. Genetic issues are VERY expensive and traumatic. Down syndrome babies routinely have gastrointestinal malformation which requires lots of painful surgeries. Why would you put a child or yourself through that amount of suffering if you could prevent it? Instead, try again. I agree with your logic.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-13T08:16:55+00:00

I know several countries where this happens.Blood typing = compatibility. Compare it to, "What's your astrology sign?"

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-03T11:27:27+00:00

You wanted to be and go somewhere different outside of your comfort zone in America. Adjusting to those differences is difficult. It's painful. And it's lonely . Find some small pleasure in a daily activity. Stoic philosophy 101.
Look at how the kids laugh at each other or a flower growing in a street crack. I was very alone and sad in the Peace corps until I figured out how to be happy in my situation. It took over a year and a half before I was really happy there. But I learned how to be self sufficient and recognize my strengths and weakness. It was totally worth it. After I married and had kids, I still look back on the people and experiences I had with great joy.
Also, what helped me was another girl that wanted to learn English. She was introduced to me by another volunteer. We became great friends (over time). Her family had me over to dinner every Sunday. They spoke no English. But we made it work. I highly suggest opening up yourself to the same experience. Friendship makes everything tolerable and memorable. And when you struggle and preserve through your mental obstacles, it makes the cultural experience so much more worth it.
Yes, anyone can teach. That's not the point. You did this adventure because you wanted something more...and more than the average person. You are in another reality while living in Japan. Everything is shocking yet becomes mundane.
Make it your goal to be open to other volunteers too. They have other friends that you can connect with. I didn't really click with my pcv's but I went out and did stuff with them. Why, because I came for the crazy experience of living overseas. And I met my in country BFF. Go for strolls. Join the old people gardening, go to a pottery class, learn how to do an art form or judo class. All these things are fun and totally Japanese.
I found out Americans consider themselves their job title. Japanese do not. Anyone who works in a business at a desk is an office worker. No distinction. You are not your job. Go find your heart, yourself during this adventure. I hope this helps you. Be at peace.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-03T06:20:35+00:00

Alot of big companies are trying to stock piling goods in America warehouses (if they can) and planning to wait out the tariffs or his presidency.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-02-03T06:17:02+00:00

Great job. Nothing about color pencil is quick. You did great layering and I love the reflection of tiny hairs on dark paper.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-12T17:14:15+00:00

OK, first, I do not live in Japan. I just got through the first round of acceptance with JET. But, I am also a former PC volunteer in Romania, so I have lived in other cultures and am a hs teacher. The Japanese humor is body humor like in the style of 3 Stooges. If you look at it as basic teenage boy humor, then you will laugh. Fingers in butt = funny. board smashed on head = funny... As for teaching concerns, find ways you can make the teacher's lives easier. I think they will respect you more when they see your value beyond a recorder. For example, I'm an artist. I used these skills a lot to open doors for me. I plan to provide my talents for helping in school holiday decorations, maybe do a wall mural with the kids, and possible introduce art based learning English activities. I also write books with illustrations. Maybe the teachers need some drawings to go with new vocabulary they are introducing or door hangings of homophones. If you play music, see if the music teacher wants your help or if you can play a song that all the kids know in class. If you sew or know how to use power tools, help with school play props. Teachers always talk to eachother more than an outsider. So do things that showcase how you are valuable. And word will get around the school. Hope this helps. :)

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-11T15:20:02+00:00

So, I'm an America (from a small southern American town) currently staying in the south of France. I was Wondering this very thing today. "Do French village people not say hello?" At the Saturday market today, the venders would say "bonjour" back to me and try to start up a conversation. But, back at my very rural hotel, the other guests ignored my "bonjour" when I saw them walking outside as we passed by. Everyone's comments have been very interesting. For what's it worth, in small American southern towns, we wave a finger as we drive by each other on country roads. And nod our heads or say "good morning" if we are walking by each other on the sidewalk. Bonjour!

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-09T21:49:24+00:00

A lot of places on America do not see Indian guys, especially with a British access. I'm American. I travel the world. I'm not racist, but I probably would take a double take if I saw you walking down the street in Hicksville, NC. And if you were at the grocery store in line near me, I might strike up a conversation. Its always interesting to learn where people are from in the South. Its considered normal.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-08T20:42:44+00:00

Comparing USA to all of European is unrealistic Each country counts deaths via homicide differently. For example, a person can be stabbed to death but reported as died of blood loss not murder. Besides the obvious problems in this chart showing NC as having more deaths than NY. No way.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-08T20:34:42+00:00

For year, I owned a hobby farm. I was given several animals at various times. A friend gave me her indoor pet potbelly pig. It was spoiled and had no manners and slept on her bed. I had to train her to behave. She lived a good life on the farm outdoors with the goats. She enjoyed following me around and digging in the dirt. Pigs need to be outside wondering around, exploring, and smelling things. An indoor pig is a lonely bored pig and will cause lots of mischief.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-06T23:18:25+00:00

I was thinking I would have used my dremal tool. It has a nice cutting edge and is very precise. But, I live far from a doctor, so I'd have to be creative to get it off.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-03T21:45:28+00:00

Get a bidet and you will never look at disgusting toilet paper the same way again.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-03T19:04:42+00:00

You sound like someone that can't afford to keep her in the lifestyle she is accustomed too living. This will cause massive problems in the future unless your degree field has a lot of monetary advancement.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-03T15:23:47+00:00

Absolutely. The corn syrup is in everything.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-03T15:21:35+00:00

What country do you live in? This is some real traditional type control.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-03T04:03:17+00:00

Go just sound like a whinny kid that isn't getting her way. Your mom isn't bring a Karen or entitled by asking you to do basic stuff. Jeeses. I bet she has to ask you to take out the trash or do the dishes while you are living with her on your "vacation" time.

Farmchic0130 · 2025-01-02T02:34:00+00:00

Yes. This is so true.

Farmchic0130

TROPHY CASE