Short Update.

Hey everybody,
Short update here. Kindergarten is good. I had to run to the convenience store for some pick-me-ups. Not that I'm down, I just really need some chocolate or something after meals or during the day... Here are a few pics from the last two days:


I rode my bike a mile in the rain for this stuff...Well worth it!

Good morning!

Playing with the young ones.

Ready to attack me...

Bye...

Kindergarten!

Hey Everybody,

We began working at the Inzai Shion Kindergarten on Monday morning. I am living on the second floor of the kindergarten, right above the main staff offices. So far, it has been so much fun. We work pretty long days. Our schedule varies but has been something like:

8:30-10:30 play/teach English to students.
10:30-12:00 Japanese Lesson/Class.
12:00-1:30 Lunch/Class visits
1:30-2:15 Bus preparation/boarding
3:00-6:00 After school program or daycare.

The kids are super cute and fun. They jump off the bus in their uniforms with huge smiles on their faces. They say, "Good morning, Mike sensei." It is pretty sweet. I will post some pics of the kids and campus in my next blog. They have made it really fun. One bummer is the language barrier. I speak so little Japanese. We are working on it! I have had minor headaches the last two days and have been completely tired out at night. I don't think it's the busyness of the day but rather hearing Japanese all day. It is so foreign to me and wears me out after a solid 8 hours...haha, part of the job I guess...

Last night, I went on a nice tour of the area. I took my rockin bike and went south from the school. I basically wanted to explore and take some pictures along the way. I saw some cemeteries, miles of rice paddies, and a baseball diamond. I found an awesome river with anglers doing their thing along its banks. I'd heard that bass fishing was pretty big over here...Anyways, I snapped a few pics of my men who were bringing in some big ones. (I actually saw a couple guys catch some.) Chad, they were using rubber worms and hot n' tots. The bike ride turned out to be quite a bit longer than expected, if you know what I mean. Here are a few pics from my ride:



This evening, the teachers from the school showed us how to make miso soup. Miso soup is really popular here. Mom and Dad both know the taste :) Anyways, it was a really cool time to hang out with them and get to know them a little better. Most of them are actually between 22-25. They work really hard and seem to really enjoy their jobs.


I think I missed home for the first time last night. I woke up in the middle of the night and really wished that I could hear kindergartners that were speaking my language...I guess I'll just have to learn more Japanese for the now :)

Well, it's 9:30 here and time for me to read a bit and then hit it. Goodnight, thanks for reading.

Mike

So So So So So!

First update!

Konbanwa.
Hey everybody!
We made it to Japan just fine and have had quite an amazing time so far. I would have updated sooner but we did not have Internet access until Friday night. Here is a quick update:
Because of Swine Flu, we are not going to be allowed to enter the kindergarten until next Monday. The people here are much more worried and cautious about the flu than Americans. In fact, the picture shows some of the Japanese health workers who came onboard the plane before we were allowed to leave the plane! It was a very serious operation and took almost an hour! After we were finally cleared and deemed “clean” by the officials, we grabbed our luggage and got through customs with little problem. We were met by Mr. Kei Nishimura at the airport. He informed us that we were going to stay at a hotel for 5 nights because of the Swine Flu. The parents at the kindergarten are understandably nervous that we might infect their children. So, they came up with new plan for us for the week. It sounds like so much fun!
Goodnight.


Ohio Gozaimas.
I am writing this on a bus headed to Tokyo Train Station.
Okay so the first few days in Japan have been…wow. We have been absolutely taken care of. Mr. Kei Nishimura, uncle to Keiko and Minako (the sisters who run the kindergarten) has been our liaison thus far. He is a retired music executive of EMI. He has seen and met almost any famous musician. We stayed four nights in the beautiful Fountain Terrace Hotel. There are many hotels in this area that get 95% of their business from people who travel to Tokyo Disney Land and Disney Sea. We were part of that 95%...
The first day in Japan, we woke up @ about 5 because of jet lag. I took a shower and took a walk outside of our hotel. It is only about 200 meters from Tokyo Bay. It was awesome. The Bay is used for so much industry and is full of barges, ships, and fishing boats.
We grabbed some breakfast in the hotel and then got on the shuttle for Tokyo Disney Land. I have never been to Disney, even in the states. You can imagine how PUMPED I was to go! The four of us got our 2-day passes and were with the first (10,000) in line. Tokyo Disney Land was fantastic. There were so many people there and we were apart of the vast minority. We visited so many attractions during our first day at Disney. Here are some of the pictures!


Disney Sea was our Tuesday. Mr. Kei decided to stay back at his condo to get some work done. He helped the three of us get onto the shuttle and then we were off! We all felt fairly comfortable maneuvering around the park. Although most of the staff doesn’t speak English, they are amazing at directing people. They use so many hand gestures and communicate in so many alternate ways. We spent the entire day at Disney Sea (9-9). We started with a Dream Cruise Show, then hit various attractions like Indiana Jones, Ariel’s Underwater Castle, Aladdin’s Theatre, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc…I really can’t even explain how amazing that place was. They really know how to take care of the guest. Everyone is smiling there. Literally. It was really interesting. At night we caught an amazing fire/water display that blew my mind.

On Thursday, we grabbed some doughnuts, yogurt, and orange juice from the convenience store in our hotel and ate it in the park on Tokyo Bay. Then, we boarded the subway for Midtown Tokyo. Kei wanted to show us around the “biggest city in the world.” With over 30,000 million people, this city didn’t really seem to stop. We visited the very famous are of Ginza. It was similar to 5th avenue in New York or the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. However, Ginza is one of 5 “downtown” areas that Tokyo has. We went up the Roppongi Tower and saw an amazing view of the city. After much walking, food, and coffee, we got back on the train. Mr. Kei was getting some work done on his BMW in the garage and it was ready to be picked up. That meant that we all had to cruise in his Beemer, top down, through the streets of Tokyo…I was a bit reluctant but decided to take one for the team…(sarcasm)

Here are some things that I can now check off my list.

1. Picture with the real Jasmine from Aladdin.
2. Japanese woman sleeping on my shoulder on bus. (Currently happening and making it difficult to type with my left hand!)
3. Cruised in BMW convertible, in Tokyo, while listening to Southern Gospel music. (Music wasn’t my choice.)
4. Four espressos from the hotel buffet in one breakfast. (They are tiny and delicious.)
5. Re: #2. She woke up and gave me a glazed over look of confusion.
6. One word: Mask.
7. Feeling not “trendy or hip” enough.
8. Another word: Minority.

Awesome.
Bye.

Flight

Sunday 15:51-In Flight

Hi everybody,

The adventure to Japan began today! I am writing you all from an altitude of 33,000 ft. We are flying over Hudson Bay at the moment… I just woke up from a quick little nap. During the nap, I had an interesting, nonsensical dream about some random Japanese temple. A majority of the people on this 747 plane are sleeping. Apparently the showing of Blue Planet isn’t really that interesting…

Anyways, I can say that I am currently very thankful for a few different things. Here’s a quick list:

Noise canceling headphones
Bon Iver on my iPod
Airplane stewardesses
Canada Dry

Commencement

Hi everybody,

Here's an update on my life. I'm graduating this Saturday from Spring Arbor University. Then on Sunday, I will be leaving from Detroit for Tokyo, Japan. I am spending the summer teaching in a kindergarten and also traveling. I want to use this blog to share my stories and pictures with you! Thanks for caring and I'll miss you guys.

Also, to my Spring Arbor boys: I'll miss you guys. I love you all and was absolutely privilege live with you and become your friend.





love, mike

P.S. * If you have Skype: Check me out at michael.dean.yoder I'd love to chat with you...

*If you want Skype so you can talk to me, get it here

US 23-Traffic like molasses? or icier than Jay-Z?

Here I sit.
Yes, in my Blue S-10 that is too old to be operating in conditions like this.
No, this S10 doesn’t like this weather. She’s a Florida girl. Dad got her for ME when I was 14.
Yes, with my 3 surviving fish, swimming next to me in a used caramel-popcorn tub. Hopefully they are a bit more resilient than the rest.
No, fish aren't always food.
Yes, with the roads slicker than Joe’s rink, right after a zamboni has worked its magic.
No, the roads are not clearing. A Zamboni might make it less slippery.
Yes, as NPR announces that there is freezing rain in Ann Arbor and that the side walks might be icy. "USE EXTREME CAUTION IF YOU ARE WALKING YOUR DOG," they say.
No, NPR isn’t only for sophisticated liberals.
Yes, as the Fed Ex driver next to me, the poor soul, found himself quickly on his bottom as he was attempting to clean his mirror.
No, Fed Ex men don’t fall often; but, when they do, it is funny stuff.
Yes, as the Buick LeSabre’s and Honda Civic’s are performing illegal maneuvers going “off” an “on” ramp.
No, illegal maneuvers might not really be so illegal in this situation. Still dangerous though!
Yes, as flashing lights that would certainly send some into an epileptic fit, go blaring past me in the night.
No, I’m not epileptic. But those lights have given me a headache, nonetheless.
Yes, with truck full of ones college necessities.
No, fish are not a college necessity.
Yes, with lap full of said necessities.
No, lap is not enjoying necessities.
Yes, as necessities in truck bed are getting sleeted upon.
No, necessities in back are not waterproof.
Yes, as teenager in front of me got out of his vehicle and is now performing “The Moonwalk” for all of us stranded journeymen and women.
No, “The Moonwalk” was not performed quite like that.
Yes, as the perfect arrow between the “E” and the “X” on the Fed Ex truck to my right is ironically point me back in the direction of either home, Canada, or at least away from some sort of accident.
No, I cannot go back. Life, education, SPRING ARBOR is calling.
Yes, as girl in front of me just grabbed her pink Compaq from her trunk. Maybe she’s blogging too.
No, I do not wish I had a pink Compaq. My white Mac is just fine.

Excitemike

Hey Everybody,
As this Christmas/New Years break is wrapping up for me here in the Thumb (the stay here has been great and much needed), I can't help but feeling ultra-excited for the final semester of school and then...(pause for drum-roll)...my cross cultural to Japan!!! (I thought about throwing 4 exclamation marks in there, but three should suffice.) For those who might be wondering, I am spending the summer of 2009 in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan. It is an 11 week program in which I will be studying the language and primarily teaching in a Kindergarten. On the weekends, we will have the opportunity to travel, see the sights, and really soak in more of the Japanese history and culture. What an opportunity, right!!?

I feel like this break might be the final long-stretch of time that I spend living with my parents. I'm sure that they will welcome me back to stay if I need a place but it just might never be quite the same. No more summers at home wake boarding and fishing. No more runnin the streets with Mitch and Jackson. Actually, we never really ran any streets...No more Little Caesars!? I can only hope and pray for that one...

All in all, folks, consider me extremely blessed and grateful to have such an awesome opportunity. I can't wait to share my thoughts, pictures, and stories about the trip right here on this blog. In the meantime, I will fill you in on my last semester at SAU!

HollerBack.Mike.

P.ost S.cript.

So does anyone remember that sweet game for Nintendo called Excitebike? I sure do. That is why I've titled this blog "Exitemike." I am excited for Japan. And life? Sure. Here's a pic to help you remember and reminisce. If anyone still has a working NES, I'll take you on in a game.