ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

Since childhood I've enjoyed Hello Kitty iconography though I was never a huge fan. I was a "dog" girl, interested in reading books about dog training and learning facts about different dog breeds, not so much cats. Yet, for the last three years, Kitty's friends have captured my interest. It began with Kuromi (a rabbit) and developed into Cinnamoroll (a dog), and most recently I'm becoming interested in a lesser known character, Hanamaru-obake (a ghost)! So as you can imagine, I gave this gashapon two spins, getting my favorite design!


I learned about Hanamaru-obake through Sanrios bi-monthy magazine, The Strawberry News. Hauntingly cute!  

If you've been following along on my gachapon series, you'll know that I am no fan of "rubber straps," the thin slabs of rubber with characters printed on them, hanging from a cheap ball chain that will disappoint you when it falls off your bag. That said...there are certain times I will hand over my hard-earned yen for one. The time is nigh.

The Sanrio collaborations get me every time. As a Cardcaptor Sakura and Sanrio fan, this collab would be hard to miss for me.

I especially love this one-- it's my two favorite characters from each respective series on one piece of rubber. Is this dopamine?

Would you give this machine a spin?  

Bandai has done it again! This spring the third wave of the miniature Tamagotchi rings are being released, with cute, modern characters and designs. I will be on the lookout for these!

Honestly, I don't use these as intended, as fashion rings. I prefer to display them on my Tamagotchi shelf, or if I get doubles, make them into hair clips. Really I just love how highly detailed yet small they are. Keep your eye out for these super cute virtual pets in ring form.   

I love keychains, clips, character goods and gacha, but I don't care for "rubber straps." These flat rubbery works of art fall off my bags easily, and they often feel overproduced and less inspired than miniatures and figures.

However...there are times I will buy them if I like the art enough. When I saw this Oshi no Ko x Sanrio art, I had no choice but to play. I played the gacha twice and won Ruby/Hello Kitty and Akane/Kuromi. They are super cute and I put them on my water bottle cover with other Sanrio charms. Recently, I found the Aqua/Cinnamoroll secondhand! Yessss! I will remain on the hunt for the Kanna/My Melody secondhand--I'd be happy to have more of this collection, especially at a discount.

I became really invested in Oshi no Ko last year--I found the story powerful and fresh. It reminds me a bit of the 1948 Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate. Oshi no Ko is an enthralling, albeit fictional perspective on idol culture. I have not been able to get into the live-action drama they made though. Any other Oshi no Ko fans here?  

It's no secret that I love decora and kawaii fashion. Almost every single day I wear cute clips in my hair, even back in America. Of course, living in Japan has helped me elevate my style, as I can buy cute hair clips everywhere! Recently I found these Tamagotchi rubber hair clips in gacha form and had to play.

I believe this one was located in the Okayama mall under the station. I really wanted one of the Tamagotchi shaped clips, like the white Angelgotchi, however, I got the yellow poop clip! I was both disappointed and amused. I haven't worn the clip yet, but look forward to my student's reactions when I do. I should have played this gacha more than once. Gacha regret is the worst! If I see this machine again, I will try again. If not, there is always a chance of finding some of these secondhand, which is my favorite way to acquire clips.   

A gacha Tony and I have been chasing is this Katamari Damacy "personal marker charm." The series is formative to Tony's interest in Japanese art and music. He introduced the series to me when we were first dating in 2013 and it's something we've enjoyed together since!

We actually found this gacha at the Shikokuchuo Donquihote....but...the machine was broken and ate our money! The kind worker at the store said he couldn't open the machine to give us a prize because only the vendor had the key. We were so close! He did give us our money back. We will keep looking for this rare gacha.   

The year was 2020 and these cool, cyber-themed cat ear headphones by the brand "Yowu" began appearing online. They were pretty niche to the cosplay, alt-fashion community, but by Christmas of 2022 when I received a pair for Christmas from Tony, they had become somewhat viral, releasing more colors, styles, and collaborations with RE: Zero and Hatsune Miku. I brought my Yowu headphones to Japan, which was arduous because they are huge, but haven't worn them too much sadly. I already stand out here in the inaka, so I imagine a giant pair of cat earphones with the ability to put on a strobe light show are better saved for trips to Akihabara...

Alas, recently Yowu released a gatcha and I was over the moon to find it in Okayama. I played the gatcha twice and got the light blue and light pink keychain versions of this cool piece of tech. I'd be lying if I didn't say that the gatcha makes me want to buy another pair of their new model..so I guess this marketing ploy worked.

Are Yowu's your style?   

If you had told me a year ago that Spongebob Squarepants was relevant in Japan, I wouldn't have believed you. Yet, our bubbly buddy (and bubble buddy) are here in Nihon, making a splash. 5th grade Erin was obsessed with Spongebob. My room was Spongebob, including a lamp, blankets, curtains and posters.

I thought these gacha were super cutie, but I didn't get one. If I see it again, and I'm sure I will, I will get one for my Dad, who is living vicariously through my photos of gacha until I deliver his bundle of capsules when I visit him for his birthday in March. I can't wait!
  

Another day, another gacha! This time, I found one of my favorite Camera brands, Nikon, showcased in miniature form. I have been shooting with Nikon since high school and all throughout my career and degree in photography, so this was an exciting find. I bought one for myself, and one for my Dad, who gave me his old camera in high school which was a wonderful influence in my life. We both got the camera with the giant lens, which is cool. I definitely can't afford that lens in actuality--they are so expensive! I'll have to post my camera collection someday--I have found some great secondhand cameras here in Japan.
  

Another day, another gacha! This time, I found one of my favorite Camera brands, Nikon, showcased in miniature form. I have been shooting with Nikon since high school and all throughout my career and degree in photography, so this was an exciting find. I bought one for myself, and one for my Dad, who gave me his old camera in high school which was a wonderful influence in my life. We both got the camera with the giant lens, which is cool. I definitely can't afford that lens in actuality--they are so expensive! I'll have to post my camera collection someday--I have found some great secondhand cameras here in Japan.
  

Imagine my surprise as I stumbled upon a gacha machine featuring food from my first job. That's right! At the ripe age of 16, a sophomore in high school, my mom forced me to start working at Subway instead of joining marching band. What fun!

Still, I was excited to find these miniature treats and bought one for my Dad. Maybe I should get one for my Mom too!

P.S. If you are craving Subway, there is a restaurant located in the gigantic Aeon mall near Okayama station. It's tasty and surprisingly similar to America Subway.  

One of Tony's students gifted us these neat Starbucks reusable cups which showcase their new product--"Origami" pour over brew coffee pouches. I've been using Max Value's equivalent product, which is equally tasty, but this was a fun experience, and the internet has made me cup-obsessed, so I can't deny the appeal of a new cup. I never expect gifts from our students, but it's always a sweet surprise when they think of us, especially when it's one of Tony's students who I haven't even had the chance to meet yet! This reflects my experience with the kindness and thoughtfulness of Japanese people that I have experienced while living here so far.

P.S. Making this coffee reminded Tony of an old song we used to LOVE and listen to all the time. The joy of rediscovering this song I had forgotten was so fun! Origami by Capital Cities

  

Hello everyone! How was your Christmas?
I've been telling everyone I had a "Kagawa Christmas" because it's true; I did not travel for the holidays. I was in need of some rest and relaxation and home organization after my first busy year at Gem School. I spent the break tidying up and preparing for the New Year with Tony.

Prior to the break I created a fun cultural Christmas Quiz for my cyber students. If you're a teacher reading this, you can probably answer the question with ease, but for my students, they had no clue if that jolly elf was named Dudley, Buddy, or Smiley. Most guessed "Smiley" with only one student guessing "Buddy" correctly. I was amazed! In America, or my family at least, Elf is a beloved Christmas movie that I have half memorized after watching it so many times.

When I was in middle school, my three-year-old niece lived with us for a short time. I remember watching Elf and Tangled with her over and over again, to the point that we still have inside jokes and references that we make regularly. We call each other "fruitcake" as a fun nickname which references the film. Ah, good memories.

I hope your holiday was swell! Now, back to reality!

Erin  

A

On a recent trip, I discovered that in Okayama's Sun Station Terrace shopping and dining area, a delicious Italian restaurant awaits. Right across from Starbucks is Del Sole, a quaint Italian restaurant that is perfect for grabbing lunch or dinner while you wait for your train. We dined here out of convenience, but it was surprisingly delicious! The spicy pizza and spaghetti were unbeatable, besting everything I've had in Japan so far. I highly recommend it!
  

For my 30th birthday, I treated myself to a new hairdo at a cool salon in Kurashiki! Not only was exploring Okayama and Kurashiki a blast, but I left feeling so refreshed and confident. I was recently back in Okayama, but sadly the salon was closed as the stylists, a husband and wife duo, were on a trip to their hometown, which is understandable. Alas, I will absolutely have my hair done here again. I feel lucky to have found a salon with English-speaking Japanese stylists. Kaori and her husband are so cool and kind, and they put a lot of time and effort into creating their own salon. I highly recommend Luthier Atelier, located minutes away from the Kurashiki bikan district.

You can find the salons details here: https://www.instagram.com/luthier.atelier?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

My next self-care adventure is finding new glasses!   

I have Tony to thank for introducing me to the Shin Megami Tensei line of JRPGs, namely the Persona series. From day one, playing Persona 3 on his old PlayStation in our early dating years, I fell madly in love with the soundtrack. Now, a few years and game release later, I find myself returning to Persona's unbeatable score to study along to. Even one of my dear neighbors here in Kanonji who has not played the games (YET) appreciates the music. So, I encourage you, right now, to take a listen! If you're unfamiliar with Persona or video game music, you'll be very surprised at what you hear. Recently, this is the Persona study along playlist I have utilized most. Whether you are studying English subjects or kanji, I think you'll enjoy this.

Happy studying! In the pursuit of knowledge--huzzah! PERSONA!

Kindly,
Erin  

My preferred reading and writing genre is YA, young adult fiction. As some of you know, I spend almost all of my weekends working on my MFA in English and Creative Writing. For a recent essay, I had to explain why I chose YA as my genre for the MFA program. Please have a look at what I wrote.

" Once upon a time, in the growing past between my adolescence and current age, I fell in love with YA fiction. I am very lucky that my mom taught me to read very early and that I grew up enthralled with books. As my life circumstances became turbulent, books became a welcomed escape from my chaotic life. In middle school, I began reading titles like To Kill a Mockingbird, Speak, Are You There God? It’s Me. Margaret, and other contemporary YA classics. The resonance and validation I discovered in these novels became something to cling to. They were not only entertaining but educational and emotionally grounding. Even though these were fictional characters, I felt validated that I was not the only girl dealing with dysfunctional family problems and growing pains.
In high school I followed literary trends, devouring Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games trilogy. These stories served as enthralling entertainment as well as a place to reflect and work to better understand myself. As I continued to grow up into adulthood, I simply never tired of these transformative stories. My favorite YA novel, If I Stay by Gayle Foreman, bridged the gap for me as I began community college, keeping me aligned with the genre and all it had to offer.
It wasn’t until I began studying creative writing in college that I truly understood why I am still so irrevocably in love with YA as a genre. It comes back to the themes that are central to it; identity, coming-of-age, self-discovery, first love, family, and friendship. These themes are central to adolescence certainly, but in my experience, far beyond adolescence too. Even at thirty, I am working to understand and come into myself, to be a good friend, daughter, and significant other. While I am further along than at 15, my coming-of-age story still feels underway. So, even in stories with teen protagonists dealing with the perils of high school, I continue to relate and find value.
I have dreamed of being an author since childhood, simply because I loved books and good stories. Now that I am formally developing the skills I need to write well, my appreciation for YA as a genre has combined with a passionate goal of creating literature that can help support and validate readers just as so many authors have done for me. If I can write a novel that can offer some insight, comfort, and validation to just one person, I’ll have achieved my dream. "

Next time I will tell you about my all time favorite YA novel. What do you think of my essay? As an early draft of what will likely be part of my thesis, I'm content.

Happy reading and writing!

Kindly,
Erin


  

This month Tony and I celebrate our second wedding anniversary! But can you guess how many years we've been together overall?
A. 4 years
B. 9 years
C. 15 years
D. 11 years
.....The answer is....D! Ding ding ding! 11 years of togetherness. I am so grateful for the highs and lows we have experienced and how they have led us here. To create a festive mood I finally tried out using the photo printer at 7/11 and created a garland with a photo from every year we've been together. What year do you think this photo is from?

A. 2013
B. 2020
C. 2016
D. 2010
.....The answer is...C! Ding ding ding! In 2016 my grandmother gifted us with tickets to a The Great Gatsby themed charity event. I had done the promotional photography for the dance studio involved in the event, so it was special that we were able to attend and see their performance. We rented these costumes from a neat old costume shop in Sarasota, Florida. It was a very fun night!

Thanks for taking this anniversary quiz. Here's to 11 more years of joy and discovery together.

P.S. Anniversary celebration culture seems different in Japan--we both struggled to find cards and decor specifically themed to the celebration--but it's okay! I love an excuse to be crafty.

  

After work last week my husband was kind enough to visit the Shikokuchuo Pizza Hut so I could try Tamagotchi Pizza. A fan of virtual pets in my youth, I have fallen back in love with them in recent years, for their retro yet futuristic aesthetic. I can’t have a real pet at this stage in my life, so these lovable pixel friends are a fun alternative.

Each pizza order comes with an exclusive sticker, and I got my favorite OG Tamagotchi character Mimichi. I also love the green penguin character Kuchipatchi, which is why I tried his signature pizza, which had mayonnaise, bacon, and broccoli. It was strange, but I am grateful I was able to try it.

I hope to try more traditional Japanese foods alongside these funky pop culture treats. What do you recommend?

  

By the end of this month, one of my favorite video games will be winding to a close. Of course, we'll still be able to play it for the next couple of years, but the ongoing narrative that has been developing with each update since the release of the game in 2022 is wrapping up with a final question. Which is most important to you: Past, Present, or Future?

Players must choose a team to participate in the massive final event, which will push this game to its graphical limits. I am very excited to play, but I have had trouble choosing a team. What is most important to me? I have made a choice in adulthood to not dwell on my past, but what is more critical, the present or the future? What would you choose? I am leaning toward the present, but it's a difficult decision.

Do you like Splatoon? I get so excited seeing it everywhere here in Japan, from beverage labels to cool merch to my student's pencil cases. It's popular but not widely enjoyed and celebrated in America as it is here. I love talking to my students and coworkers about the game.

No matter what team you choose, the future is sure to be bright for this series as the release of the next Nintendo consoles looms on the horizon.