tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34983832011-04-21T19:50:03.048-07:00Ginger Vertican's Web SiteWelcome to the life of an American English teacher and musician in Japan.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-1064101049099655422003-09-20T16:37:00.000-07:002003-09-20T16:37:28.736-07:00Hello friends and family. What has Ginger gotten herself into now? Teaching. Again. You'll never believe where though. I am Adjunct Professor of English at Liberty University. It's going along pretty good, although it's a lot of work. Not nearly as much fun as romping around Japan as a JET. Even now, stacks of grading peer menacingly at me from across the room. I'm ignoring them for nowGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-1059618046663874672003-07-30T19:20:00.000-07:002003-07-30T19:20:46.703-07:00Nearly 17 hrs of an airplane ride later accompanied by a Shichi-Go-San (7-5-and 3 yr. old) Brother and 2 sisters behind me (kicking on my chair and bouncing off the back of it the entire flight) I finally landed in D.C. to the happy arms of my sister Gaylyn who was sporting a sign that said "Ginger-San" on it. It was totally hilarious. I'm still drugged with Jet lag now. But, I'm home. Or is Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-1057906366903755802003-07-10T23:52:00.000-07:002003-07-10T23:52:46.796-07:00DAY 2
I woke up to a clear and sunny day - with just a whimper and hint of rain in the air. Although it stayed clear and warm all day. I took the owner up on his offer to rent a bike for a mere 600 yen, stored my suitcase in the front hall, collected my maps and camera and was wheeling down the road in no time at all. Goals for the day Kinkakuji Temple - argueably the most visited spot in Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-1057548718946641992003-07-06T20:31:00.000-07:002003-07-06T20:31:58.916-07:00TWO DAYS IN KYOTO
So, I had a couple of days free after Chu-So-Tai (Japanese Jr. High Sports Festival) and decided to hop a plane for Kyoto in the South of Japan. Kyoto is the cultural heritage spot in Japan with relics and memoirs dating from ancient times. It was passed over in the bombings of WWII precisely because it had such a depth of culture and ancient heritage that the prudent Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-953183012003-06-04T22:53:00.000-07:002003-06-04T22:53:37.976-07:00LEAP GOES LIVE!
To all the friends and family who have been waiting for this....it looks like I am going to do a live conference in November for 20,000 Youth in Houston!!! I wanted you all to know that a website is being set up where you can buy my music right online and the CD will be sent right to your door! I will get that link added here when it is finished! Please feel free to browse theGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-949326392003-05-27T02:27:00.000-07:002003-05-27T02:27:02.533-07:00Quoted from World News.com
Strong Earthquake Hits North Japan, Shakes Tokyo
Mon May 26, 2003 06:15 AM ET
TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake hit northern Japan near Sendai city on Monday afternoon, causing house fires in the downtown area and rocking buildings as far away as Tokyo 302 km (189 miles) to the south.
National broadcaster NHK said the quake measured six on a Japanese scale ofGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-949150392003-05-26T16:43:00.000-07:002003-05-29T23:43:29.000-07:00 World - AP Asia
Strong Earthquake Hits Northeast Japan
Mon May 26, 3:45 PM ET
By GARY SCHAEFER, Associated Press Writer
TOKYO - The strongest earthquake (news - web sites) to hit Japan in more than two years rumbled across the main island Monday, causing fires and landslides along its northeastern coast and rocking skyscrapers hundreds of miles away in Tokyo. Dozens of people were Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-922574152003-04-08T18:11:00.000-07:002003-04-13T07:56:19.000-07:00SPRING BLOOMS AND ROCKETS BOOM.
While War continues to thunder in Iraq, the rain has begun to fall in Japan after a long, cold winter. Things are as normal as possible in Japan. What does normal look like? It's election time. So, on every street corner, dressed in neon yellows, greens, pinks and blues, supporters for various candidates stand with flags and wave and bow to all the passing Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-910295252003-03-19T18:24:00.000-08:002003-03-19T18:24:14.466-08:00"SENSOO" WA EEIGO WA NAN DESU KA?"
Today my 8th graders interrupted my class at 10 am shouting in Japanese and wide eyes, pointing at the clock and making guns with their fingers. Bush! Bush! They said. At first, I had no idea what they were doing or saying. The language barrier rippled between us for a moment. The students leaped across it. One buzz-haired boy made machine gun Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-893689982003-02-19T05:53:00.000-08:002003-05-22T08:28:03.000-07:00PHOTO JOURNAL ONLINE!!
IF YOU ARE ENJOYING A "DAY IN THE LIFE", go check out the WEB PhotoJournal I am building. SEE WHAT THAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE. I WILL CONTINUE TO ADD PICTURES NOW THAT I HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA AND INTERNET SERVICE AT HOME!Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-893689392003-02-19T05:51:00.000-08:002003-02-19T05:51:21.116-08:00A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ALT IN JAPAN
630 am. Get up! Unless I’m feeling adventurous, and sleep in till 7. Which of course inevitably sends me into a whirl of excitement as I have to get dressed, eat some yogurt and out the door by 720. That’s gotta be close to a world record.
720-740 Walk to the Yaotome bus station conveniently located near my apartment. Kinda fun. Busy City streets.
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-893605262003-02-19T00:11:00.000-08:002003-02-19T00:11:31.000-08:00PHOTO JOURNAL ONLINE!!
What? I can't believe I haven't written in over a month! I am currently making up for that - i have been writing a Day in the Life - to be featured VERY soon. Meanwhile, go check out the WEB PhotoJournal I am building @ http://community.webshots.com/user/gingspics It is taking a little bit of time to upload a bunch of pics - but currently I am trying to give some Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-870980732003-01-07T21:23:00.000-08:002003-01-07T21:23:51.233-08:00SUNSHINE DIVERS RESORT
I rolled my suitcase through the sand, relishing the feel of it on my feet, finally abandoned the case in a corner, stepped over 3 dogs and walked to the quiet, bamboo counter where a Thai man sat relaxing in the afternoon sun. "Hi, I'm Ginger Vertican. I'm supposed to have a reservation here? Made it on the internet with the JET Scuba group?" Looking around at the Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-870478322003-01-06T22:37:00.000-08:002003-01-07T20:40:59.000-08:00TRIP TO THAILAND!
The temperatures in Japan have turned arctic, and since they are an economically savvy people, they do not build heaters or say, insulation into their housing. (Never mind that the housing spaces are small and shouldn't cost a lot to heat - that's what blankets and wool underwear are for.) So, I treated myself to a 10 day trip to Thailand. Really 8 days - 2 spent travelling Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-847868522002-11-19T15:50:00.000-08:002002-11-19T15:50:05.726-08:002 KOREANS AN IRANIAN AND AN AMERICAN
Sound like the beginning of a good joke? Nope, it�fs just par for the course in my adventeer (adventurous career) here in Japan. Next week, Thursday, I will walk to an elementary school nearby and present (out of my vast indigenous experience) how Americans serve rice.
My Kyoto-sensei (boss) gives me this Bansho (permission of leave slip) in Kanji Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-844610922002-11-12T23:18:00.000-08:002002-11-12T23:25:45.000-08:00GRAMMATICALLY SPEAKING
Japanese is a very sensible language. It has no articles, no prepositions and seems to be straight and to the point. Cutting out any unnecessary colorful details. This can make it really easy to learn syntax (hurray to all you linguists reading this entry!) sentence-structure is relatively simple. "Me - you - bank - go". You don't even have to conjugate the verbs. Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-834982182002-10-24T22:03:00.000-07:002002-10-24T22:03:31.270-07:00FOOTBALL WEATHER
It sounds so foreign to talk about "footbal weather" here :( Noone here plays "our" kind of football. Leaves are changing, the days are brisk and cool and my breath puffs slowly out in front of me in foggy clouds as I pedal my bike up the hill to my house. I could really go for some good tackle football about now, and a fat, roast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. This Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-827296052002-10-09T00:05:00.000-07:002002-10-09T00:05:25.523-07:00SICK IN (NOT OF) JAPAN
I have been sick with a cold for 5 raging days. Geez, was that miserable. I finally went to the doctor (I was afraid because its pretty standard procedure to stick this little scope up your nose and down your throat to confirm that "aha-yes-indeed" you have a soar throat) - But I took a translator/friend with me and she assured me she would spare me from the doctor's Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-821813742002-09-26T23:27:00.000-07:002002-09-26T23:27:43.243-07:00FINAL EXAMS IN JAPAN.
It is entrance exam season for students all over Japan. Since students here graduate in March, while American students are just beginning their school year fresh (with the latest cool notebooks and pencils from Wal-Mart), Japanese students are winding down to the end of their school year. This is their "second" semester. I work in a Junior High school - and I have noticed Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-820311322002-09-23T22:08:00.000-07:002002-09-23T22:08:24.383-07:00Japan is full of strange pairs. Yin and yang are fully exemplified here. Give you an example? Okay, yesterday, I visited a shrine. You know those places you saw in movies and National Geographic with incense burning and large bells to gong and monks praying? Right next door �EI mean, not two feet away was a 7-11. Soooo, bizarre. How did they make all those Karate movies and block out the slew of Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-812245912002-09-05T22:48:00.000-07:002002-09-05T22:48:00.753-07:00It is just days before the anniversary of September 11th. Experiencing it outside of the states, in Japan, is a difficult and lonely venture. Last year I remember walking to breakfast early so I could study for a class later on that night. The leaves at Lynchburg College were just beginning to change and I breathed in the brisk air as I walked to the Cafeteria early. The best thing about Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-810219292002-09-02T00:05:00.000-07:002002-09-02T17:14:52.000-07:00Just when you all thought I was doing nothing but sight-seeing here, I've decided to include a little bit about my teaching experiences so far (lest you think I'm getting free Yen for nothing!)
The Japanese Method for teaching English to Jr. High students (As I See It)
It seems to be strongly rooted in Reading Comprehension. ALT's (assistant language teachers - like me) are being Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-805584922002-08-21T23:51:00.000-07:002002-08-21T23:51:42.353-07:00Grocery List of Miscellaneous items to cover:
CELL PHONES (Called K-tai's here)
SUBWAYS
FESTIVALS
...more to follow later.
So, for all of you who are checking in....a few items of interest for you.
CELL PHONES: K-tai's - virtually everyone owns them. I got on to a crowded city bus to go to school this morning (with 70-some jr. highers on their way to school- they don't have public school Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-802613052002-08-14T21:14:00.000-07:002002-08-14T21:14:17.820-07:00So, you want to know what my apartment is like, right? Well, its basically 2 rooms. Its really cool and modern, with a Japanese twist. Remember the camper trailers your mom and dad took you and your brothers and sisters on family vacations in? That's pretty similar to what my little flat looks like. You walk in the front door and (after removing your shoes) you will see along the left wall Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-801269022002-08-11T23:05:00.000-07:002002-08-11T23:05:02.706-07:00Sensei Monzen can only be 32 by my calculations. He is young, very tanned, handsome-even and constantly says he speaks "junya high engrish". I think he means to say he doesn't speak it so well, but I'm so happy to hear English and to know I will be teaching with him that I tell him over and over he speaks great English! He tells me he doesn't like to teach too much in Japan because younger Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-801260852002-08-11T22:35:00.000-07:002002-08-11T22:35:39.763-07:00Once in Sendai we were checked into the Sendai Plaza Hotel. This time I got a room to myself and I was so happy! Also, my computer was with me so I was excited to listen to some CDs and work on some lesson ideas. No internet though. Not yet. We had the rest of the afternoon to orient (no pun intended) ourselves and so I ventured outdoors because it was the last day of the Tanabata Festival -Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-801256552002-08-11T22:21:00.000-07:002002-08-11T22:21:09.373-07:00Hello everyone! Ohiyo Gozaimasu! I am in Japan! Well, lets see. I have been here 8 days and there is far, far too much to tell. So after 16 or so hours on the plane we finally touched down at Narita Airport. It took us another 2 hours to go through customs, etc and then they loaded all of us JETs onto buses headed for Tokyo. An hour and half ride. Through traffic. I was staying at the Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-790427382002-07-16T18:14:00.000-07:002002-08-06T08:09:48.000-07:00Currently, my tiny room in McWane is a wreck. There are assorted boxes and suitcases lying open with gaping mouths ready to swallow what belongings I can cram inside. I have moved from a 3 room apartment to a single room to a 5 by 10 storage space. I received the following excerpt from a girl named Tracy who lives where I'll be living and works where I'll be working. Her words made me excitedGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-785647522002-07-04T15:37:00.000-07:002002-07-04T15:37:45.613-07:00Hello friends & family. I am in my first week of Hall Directing for Governor's school - plus I've just finished moving out of my old apartment. It was a lot of work and really scary to try to figure what I wanted to leave out for Japan and what I wanted to store for a year. I decided the couch was over the weight limit, so I left that and packed it's weight worth in clothes. But, I just Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-778750742002-06-17T21:07:00.000-07:002002-06-17T21:07:13.890-07:00For all those anxiously awaiting their CD, the short delay is that there are 2 songs I want to add, and rather than send you incomplete CD's...I'm trying to finish right now and then it will have 13 of my best songs. The CD currently has 11. I am sure you will enjoy the newer version. Give me a couple more weeks and it will be finished. Thanks. - GinjGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-776443262002-06-11T23:53:00.000-07:002002-06-11T23:53:51.316-07:00I have been enjoying California with my family. Wes also flew out for a few days. It was great to have him here - the whole Vertican Clan went down to Santa Monica Pier and took over for a while. We had a great time watching the break dancers, fishermen, sunbathers, and generally weird people wandering around. I have a couple of more days here before I return to Virginia for one last month. Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-770735482002-05-28T12:23:00.000-07:002002-05-28T12:23:24.620-07:00I am getting ready to head out to California. The CD is in its final cuts! It sounds great - thank you all friends past and present who have loved me and my music - THIS MEANS YOU!Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-766643832002-05-17T10:13:00.000-07:002002-05-17T10:13:38.606-07:00I am finished! Yes, I have a Master's of English Education. I also am compiling addresses of my friends and family who want a CD of my music sent to them. so please email me at GingerVertican@yahoo.com if you would like to be included. Thanks for visiting. I should be in California on June 2 for a couple of weeks visiting family. I will be back In Virginia for the month of July doing Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498383.post-762846352002-05-07T18:06:00.000-07:002002-05-23T12:05:20.000-07:00Ginger Vertican's site is now open....
Welcome Friends and Family. Thankyou for exploring my site. I will attempt to keep weekly journal's about my preparations, travels and adventures in Japan. I don't leave until August 2nd, but I'll keep you posted on other events in my life. Like.....GRADUATION!! Yes, I am graduating from Lynchburg College on May 11th with a Master's In English EducationGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330107549117314936noreply@blogger.com