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10 Differences Between Elementary Schools in Japan and the Philippines
1. Teachers in Japan do not have a permanent school assignment. They change schools. They can only teach in one school for three to four years the longest. They have to move to another school within the city or the neighboring cities. New teachers change from one to three years and veteran teachers who are…
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Valentine’s Day in Japan and the Philippines
There is a huge difference between how the Philippines and Japan celebrate Valentine’s. What to give/receive In the Philippines, Valentine’s is more on flowers – roses as the main star. With matching teddy bears and chocolates on the side. And love letters too. In Japan, it’s mainly chocolate. Not very much on flowers. Who give…
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Why most Japanese people don’t speak English well?
You might be surprised and ask yourself this question when you visit Japan for the first time. Having lived in Japan for many years now, I would like to share my thoughts on this matter. There are many reasons why Japanese people don’t speak English well. 1. Japanese Sense of Nationalism First of all, I…
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New Year’s Celebration in Japan and the Philippines
As a Filipina living in Japan for many years now, I can compare how New Year’s Day is celebrated in both countries. There are few similarities and many differences between Philippines and Japan celebrating New Year’s Day that I would like to share according to my observation and experience. Decorations and Preparations In the Philippines,…
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How to invite your family to Japan
I have been living in Japan for almost seven years already (I will be seven years exactly on September 24th.) With that span of time, I have invited my family to visit Japan three times already. The first time was in the spring of 2017. I invited four family members – my mother, two sisters…
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Temporary Visitor Visa extension of my mother and sister in Japan
Originally, my mother and sister`s visa is good for only 90 days. They came here last July 20th and scheduled to go back home to the Philippines on October 13th. That would be about two weeks before my due date which is October 30th. Upon consideration of many things, we decided to extend them a…
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English Bulletin Boards
One of the not so many tasks of an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan is updating the school’s English Bulletin Board. In my school where I’m assigned, in fact, the only school I am assigned (normally ALTs are assigned to more than one school), I make sure to update our English Board every month.…
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Why is summer vacation in Japan not a vacation for students at all
Most kids around the world look forward to summer vacation. For most of them, it is the best time of the year. Free from the tiring things in school, listening to the teachers sermon, doing projects and endless homework. But, not in Japan. Although summer is fun in Japan with so many festivals that you…
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Our Experience of a Cancelled Flight
The Long Awaited Day The 21st of July. We, the sleepyheads, specially my dear husband, miraculously woke up before our alarm. Our long awaited summer vacation will start today. We’ll be flying to his homeland, the so-called land of the free, the USA. We’ll be out for a while in the land of the rising…
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Setsubun and Risshun: Say Goodbye to Winter and Hello to Spring
The freezing cold of winter makes people long for spring. Spring, the time when flowers bloom. It is when the temperature goes up gradually. It is when people start going outdoors again. The weather is not too cold. Just “choudo ii”, as the Japanese say, meaning just right. The cold turns to cool. Everything turns…