Living in the Winter Capital of Niigata

By: Joyce Ogasawara

I live in the winter capital of Niigata.

Here in Tokamachi, we collect ridiculous amounts of snow every year. I say it's ridiculous, but the people who live here call it normal and I'm pretty sure that they are quite proud of it.  All this snow creates a very unique living experience for people like me.

I'm from California.

Famous for its sunny weather, warm beaches, and comfortable temperatures, many people living in California don’t know anything about snow. Many Californians have never seen snow. Many Californians have never thought about snow. Many Californians wouldn't know how hard it is to shovel snow off the driveway, or how fun it is to make an igloo.

"A silvery world with half a year of snow."

These are the words of my base school's moto. I couldn't believe the words when I first saw them. It was late August, and I was showering in my own sweat while sitting in the stuffy school gym. It made no sense at all. It didn't hit me until the snow started in early December. It started, it stayed, and it continued to snow through January, February and even all of March. I was brave enough to look outside my bedroom window on April 1st, and lo and behold, it's still snowing. While most schools in Japan have students take their nyugaku-shiki (entrance ceremony) pictures under a cherry blossom tree in full bloom, the students at my schools took their pictures indoors because there was a blizzard outside. And in case you were wondering: yes, cherry blossoms exist in Tokamachi. The trees look beautiful around early May. And they look extra beautiful with the big patch of snow right next to them.

April 30th in Mastunoyama, Tokamachi

So much snow!

What do people do when their city is buried in snow for half the year? The answer is rather simple. They aren't bears; they don't just sit inside and wait for the snow to melt. They get creative and set up all sorts of events to enjoy in the snow. A few examples:

• New Year’s marathon: where people run in the snow
• Tokamachi snow festival: where Japan’s snow sculptures and festivities started
• Nakasato snow festival: with thousands and thousands of candles in the snow
• Matsudai Fuyu-no-Jin: where people race to the top of the local castle in the snow

So how would a Californian like me cope in Tokamachi?

Just like everyone else. As winter approaches, my body requests that I eat more. I enjoy winter foods like mikan, nabe and hot nihonshu. Ramen becomes a must, and the local onsen becomes my bathhouse. I learn the proper way to wear layers of clothing. I start to carry an extra pair of socks just in case my first pair got soaked during the 30-second walk from my car to the front door. I check out all the crazy-sounding, outdoor events. And best of all, I tackle the local slopes. I'm not saying that you can't survive in this area if you don't take up skiing or snowboarding. But I highly suggest that you try it.

February 16th, 2013: Main stage concert at the snow festival with guest singer Inagaki Junichi

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is.

In Japan, people will create an appropriate event to enjoy each of nature's phenomena.

Welcome to Tokamachi.

Dress appropriately when you visit and enjoy all the snow.

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What are your tricks for surviving the winter? Share in the comments!

Thailand Guide

By: Jaclyn Spears/Friends of Niigata Noise
Photos: Flickr Commons - click through to source

As you may have heard, Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations for ALTs. Why is that? It might be because, as far as holiday destinations go, Thailand has everything you could possibly want. The food is amazing, the culture is rich and fascinating, the night life is varied and exciting, and it's just plain beautiful. There's dirt-cheap hostels and five-star resorts. There's trekking and temples, shopping and spas. Oh and one other great thing about Thailand: while it's not the cheapest place to fly to from Japan, once you're there your costs will be extremely low. All in all, it's a great place to relax and recharge.

That being said - I wouldn't personally recommend going to Thailand without doing some research first. There's a lot to do and see, so you may miss out on something if you don't take the time to plan ahead. Also, if you don't have a lot of experience traveling, or have never been to mainland Asia there may be some surprises for you. So I've asked some ALTs to share their experiences in Thailand and what they learned on their trip. Hopefully this post will help you have the best possible experience if/when you make it to Thailand!

General Tips

Everyone had some stories about traveling within cities. One common tip: if you take a taxi, make sure the driver is using the meter. They will often try to over charge you. Be assertive and ask how much it will cost beforehand. Also, watch out for tuk-tuk scams where they force you to go shopping (apparently drivers can get gasoline vouchers for taking you to certain stores) or drop you off before you destination. And don't believe them if they say it's any kind of national holiday. Avoid the most aggressive drivers and agree on price beforehand.

You don't need to worry too much about illness. If you have a sensitive stomach, it may be worth bringing some medicine like Gravol or Pepto Bismal. If you're going to be spending a lot of time in the jungle, you may want to look into Malaria pills. In general you should be fine with a strong bug spray. If there's an emergency, drugstores in Thailand will have what you need.

Remember to exercise caution at all times. Guard your passport, gaijin card and phones carefully! Wikitravel has a very good, in-depth safety guide you should definitely check out.

Thailand is a country that takes Buddhism quite seriously. Unlike Japan, conservative clothing is expected at religious sites. You won't see many girls in mini-skirts and high heels. So if you plan on visiting temples, remember to cover your legs and arms, or bring something with you to cover up - a breach wrap or skirt is convenient. Some places will rent things to you for a small fee.

Experiences You Don't Want to Miss!

Thai massage! Get foot massages or try the full Thai body massages. You will never find them as cheap anywhere else (seriously, insanely cheap!), and it's a great way to relax after a day of sightseeing before heading out for the night. You could also try a foot bath with the little skin-eating fish.

Check out cabaret shows that feature the "lady-boys" of Thailand. The shows are extravagant and unique in Thailand.

Thailand is a great place for snorkling and scubadiving! 

Places

Bangkok

The capital city is huge and offers tons of things to do or see. You will find the most aggressive tuk-tuk drivers and travel agents here. As long as you're assertive, you should be fine! (If not, you'll learn your lesson quickly.)

Some of the best sights in Bangkok are the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (or "Reclining Buddha") and the Wat Arun ("Standing Buddha"). The Grand Palace is beautiful and elaborate, a must-see in our opinion.

Riding the river taxi is an experience you should definitely check out. It's a far-cry from the public transit of Japan.

You can find some crazy nightlife in Bangkok. There is, of course, Khao San road (known as a backpacker district) and surrounding area. You'll find a lot of "gaijin" bars here. Sukhumvit is also highly recommended.

Chiang Mai

 

It can be a little difficult to get to, but is worth the effort. You may have to take a train or overnight bus to get there - it's about 8 hours from Bangkok. It's main draws are: the small-town feel (despite being a good sized city) and friendly people. There are plenty of expat bars and restaurants; and most of all, it's a great base for treks and other activities.

A note about guided tours/treks/classes: make sure to check out reviews of anything you plan to do online. This is especially important for tours involving elephants to make sure the animals are being treated well. One thing we learned is that the "saddle" seats used on elephants is actually quite uncomfortable/painful for them. Look for places that offer bareback rides and that focus on the rehabilitation and conservation of the animals.

Sukhothai

If you're into ancient history, check out Sukhothai. This ancient capital is a great place for a day trip or a place to stop en route to Chiang Mai. You can rent bikes and cycle around the park, or just go for a leisurely walk. Nice hostels and friendly bars in town.

Phuket and other Islands

This island far to the south is a popular tourist destination with beautiful beaches and an active nightlife. However, several of us found it to be a depressing place to visit. It's extremely touristy and slightly more expensive than other places you could go to.

Ko Samui is also highly recommended. You can access Koh Phangan from here for the  famous "Full Moon" Party. If partying is your thing, the Full Moon beach parties are not to be missed.

If you are strapped for time and/or money, Ko Samet is a great island option. It is the closest island to Bangkok, which makes it convenient to get back to the airport for your flight home!

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Have you been to Thailand? Share your recommendations (or warnings) in the comments!

The Thing About Feelings

By: Jhana Williams
Illustrations: http://www.irasutoya.com/

The thing about feelings is... they change! They change because the sun is hot, because it snowed, because your boyfriend didn't respond to your text, because your girlfriend wants you to go steady, because your colleague wore pink to school, because your Facebook friends didn't like your new photo album, because you could really do with your favorite food from your home country. You see that’s the thing about feelings - they change!!! It follows then, that it is definitely unwise to let our feelings direct our attitude. Yes, I said it. Calm right down, and realize that our mental attitude will always determine how our day will go, and since life is really just a total of the many small experiences we encounter... it means that our mental attitude will certainly determine the direction of our life.

You see; I'm sure that you've been through at least 1 situation that left you feeling angry, scared, inadequate, hurt, etc... and that's OK! J Life is just like that. No one, and I repeat, NO ONE has it perfect. Why then are some able to dance in the storm, or to take limes and make tasty Margaritas? I subscribe to the belief that this is because they have practiced how to control their mental attitudes. I will share 2 techniques that you may utilize; they are the acts of compartmentalizing and forgiving. Read on! J

Let's go! By "compartmentalize", I'm humbly suggesting 2 things. First, that we live in "day-tight compartments" and secondly, that we all take steps to separate our feelings from our reactions. I first learnt about the concept of living in "day-tight compartments" while reading Dale Carnegie’s “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”. In short, "day-tight compartments" refer to us taking it 1 day at a time. Of course, we all have future plans, and a past that we check in with ever so often (some good, some bad). But, are we taking the time to enjoy the present? Always remember that  "today is the tomorrow that we were worried about yesterday" and that "the present is a present". Furthermore, learning to place things in mental boxes and packing them away until they actually happen, or need to be addressed is an essential skill that we may adopt in an attempt to acquire and maintain a healthy mental attitude. I can’t tell you just how many times I have worried about things that have already happened, will never happen, or that simply have to happen. This, in turn, creates unhealthy feelings. The only way to fix this is to pack them away into safe compartments, and move on with our lives.

Next, let's talk about forgiveness. The big thing about forgiveness is that we may think that we are finding it difficult to forgive others. However, in reality, we often find it even more difficult to forgive our own selves. We easily say things like I’m so stupid, how could I have said that, why did I wear that, I can’t believe he/she thinks that about me... you get the drift. These feelings create emotions that come packaged in various shapes, sizes, looks, and textures. We need to give ourselves a BREAK! We need to understand that no one is perfect, and this "thing" will not matter in the next couple of years (unless you choose to live with the guilt or the horrible feelings, causing it to become toxic within you). Being able to forgive yourself quickly will help you to be in a better place, mentally.

So, as I was saying! The thing about feelings is they make us ill, and they try to control us! The idea presented here is a challenge for us to find strategic methods that we can effectively use to control our feelings, and free ourselves from the ups and downs that life tends to so generously offer to us. The best results will be achieved after some trial and error, and it will take time. The end result, however, is something that we should work ceaselessly to achieve. That is a positive mental attitude.  The advantages of having a positive mental attitude are so much that this article would go on like the song the never ends. Nonetheless, I can tell you that you will love what it does for your hair, your smile, your skin, your heart, and your life.

LOL (Load of Love),

Jhana