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22/7/2015 0 Comments
Stately Statues of Japan
21/7/2015 0 Comments
An Ode to Vending Machines
From far and wide,
I dared to stride,
And never did I know,
True loneliness - my life was bliss
With vending row on row.
What did I need?
A drink maybe,
for weather hot or cold.
If cold, how nice,
how about some ice?
Matcha or choco?
Ice cream is sweet,
But soup to eat
Is lovely in the snow,
And all year round
In town to town,
No matter where you go.
18/7/2015 0 Comments
Japanese Festivals
One of the best parts about Japan are the festivals. There are so many festivals happening year round, and most of them are specific to the local community. They are a great opportunity to observe local talent and interesting traditions. There might be a parade, ancient palanquins, or even music and elaborate costumes. One thing is for certain, there will always be delicious food, and lots of people.
The Kikusui Matsuri at Futaarayama was a beautiful collaboration of an intense cacophony of instruments, and pageantry. There were many people dressed in traditional garb, and some prepared for a purification ceremony. I wandered around, lost in a world I've never known. I found the surroundings nearly overwhelming, and deeply satisfying but some people appeared distracted. There were some stares. They don't see a lot of non-Japanese people and I felt like a moving display, open to interpretation and hushed curiosity.
I didn't mind though. I was too busy admiring the intricately decorated horen or letting the ritual sounds thunder through my heart. There was something so spiritual, so wondrous that I couldn't help but become entirely enraptured.
I visited the local shrine often, since that's where all the events seemed to take place. I missed a lot of events actually, due to work conflicts, but I feel lucky to have witnessed a few, like Oshougatsu. The New Year's Day Festival started late December 31, and became unbelievably crowded before midnight. People were out drinking and partying in the square. I couldn't believe it. I could barely maneuver through the crowd - not a normal sight in the small city. They were lined up to visit the shrine and hopefully attain good fortune for the year. What surprised me the most was everyone counted down to midnight in English! It made everything feel so surreal.
Soon after New Year's Day, there was a parade of fire fighters, performers, martial artists, and even children. At the end, a long line of fire trucks drove past slowly. In the meantime, they maintained regular traffic in all the other lanes. I was astonished. A parade of this size and importance was still not enough to shut down part of a main street. Trust the Japanese to put efficiency and politeness at the top of their priorities, wouldn't want to bother people too much with an annual parade.
I visited Ueno Park in April during the finals days of hanami. Most of the sakura (cherry blossom) petals were gone, but it was still beautiful. Ueno has a zoo, a couple national museums and even a "lake". I walked around the park, visited the museum, ate small octopus on a stick and even had the opportunity to get in a swan boat with a friend for funsies. I enjoyed it!
During Golden Week, on Kodomo no Hi, there was a concert in front of the shrine. It featured several different bands, playing varying degrees of rock. Some bands were more metal, and others were more pop. The best part about the concert was the amount of people dressed up in some form of cosplay. I loved seeing such creativity and imagination sprung to life on the people around me. Most of them were college students, taking the opportunity to celebrate. Some were middle aged men simply enjoying the spectacle of wearing a skirt out in public. I ended up buying an album and tweeting about the event - I really did enjoy the music.
I saw so many festivals. One of my favourites featured a small market in a rural town. It barely covered a block, and was dappled with tents covering handmade crafts, and unique novelties. I saw old Astro Boy manga, a gold leaf ashtray from France, jade necklaces, baskets, food vendors and even a booth to make your own pin or keychain. I bought myself a figurine of komainu - which surprised the locals. I also bought some handmade jewellry, and designed a keychain alongside a 5 year old girl. All the meanwhile, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I listened to elderly singers strain to hit the right pitch over the speakers, while pedestrians stared relentlessly. In fact, as soon as I started browsing, a man with a camera began to follow me. He wanted to know where I was from and if he could take a picture. I told him it was fine and he took a couple. Then some of the vendors wanted to know where I was from and what I was doing there. They were surprised by the presence of a foreigner to their little town (minutes away from a major tourist destination). Everyone had to ask. I thought it was sweet and enjoyed their curiosity. Although, the man with the camera kept following me and taking photos...guess I granted him the right to be my temporary paparazzi. It was sort of funny, and I think of those moments fondly. The sun shining brightly, the wind tousling my hair, and meeting some of the nicest (and most curious) people in Japan.
Compared to larger festivals within the city - the people kept to themselves and seemed too shy to approach me. Sort of an odd juxtaposition. All-in-all, Japanese festivals are entertaining and enriching. They're an excellent chance for anyone to become involved in the culture, and take part in something bigger.
17/7/2015 0 Comments
Shinjuku Robot Restaurant
When one thinks of Japan, one might immediately think of fantastical and unbelievable things. What's more fantastical than a robot? Japan is home of the robots. Whether you're thinking of Honda's Asimo - the helpful, soccer playing robot or Softbank's Pepper - a robot capable of recognizing human emotions. Japan is on the frontier of robotics, and perhaps the most beautiful example so far lives in Shinjuku - a ward in Tokyo, Japan. Amidst the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, there is a little underground room where robots and dancers bring magic to life.
Robot Restaurant (ロボットレズトラン) can be found just a short walk from the station. A stroll down a narrow pedestrian filled street alerts you to unusual products and arcades. Then you can't help but notice the very unusually coloured letters written in English and Katakana, "Robot Restaurant". There's a small entrance on the street and there are men in black armed with clipboards.
I was a little nervous at first, I always get a little nervous before a reservation - as though something is about to go horribly wrong. I went up to him and told him the name. We had to wait in line to confirm. Luckily, we were some of the first people for that show.
Waiting in line revealed a lot of tourists. Not surprisingly, some white people. When the time finally came, the velvet rope was moved and we purchased drink tickets. No one deals with any cash inside the restaurant - only tickets. Then we were informed that we had to go across the street to wait in the lounge on the something-th floor. We made a u-turn and walked out, following a staff member leading the way.
We walked into a shiny, mirror covered corridor and waited for our turn on the elevator up. The elevator was small and could only take a couple of people at a time. When it was our turn, we got in with a few other tourists and attempted to take as many people as possible. The elevator buttons wouldn't light up. Some people stepped off - no luck. A few more - there was a moment of uncertainty, but the buttons lit up and we went up to the lounge. The elevator itself was outfitted in decorative convex pexiglass bubbles. So far, things were seeming abstract.
Then we arrived, and oh, did we arrive. I was instantly agape. Everything was a beautiful hot mess of glass, gold and swirls. It was so over the top, it was brilliant. The walls were lined with flatscreens playing odd video footage of robots and warrior women, while the provided chairs nestled between rows of glass tables were giant golden snail shells, capable of turning 360. To top this amazing lounge off (besides the alcohol) was a band of musicians dressed like robots. So great!
We ventured underground to our destination and looked at our tickets. There are 3 rows of seats on either side of the room, and the seats are packed in tight. I felt very lucky to be in the first row and right in the middle. What great seats! Soon enough, the show began. They informed us of all the safety precautions - largely that we couldn't leave our seats until the intermission, and we needed to actively duck out of the way sometimes. I really liked that part. Audience participation at its finest. Look out for your own damn safety!
The lights dimmed to black, and two giant self moving stands of taiko drummers rolled out. As if in a duel, the teams of drummers began beating the skins intensely, filling the air with beautiful vibrations that hummed through my heart.
After the amazing drumming performances, pieces of a giant palanquin maneuvered out. Dancers climbed aboard and the magical contraption unfolded to transform into one giant stage. The dancers were mere inches away, and their beautifully synchronized routine was enthralling. I was completely in love with it all.
What next? Well, they took a moment during intermission to place heavy poles and after everyone returned to their seats, they added chains in front of the audience. We mused that it may have been placed to protect us from harm. Either way, it had the intended affect of creating an atmosphere for a story to unfold. The next thing I knew, they told us of a planet and its citizens at one with nature and in complete harmony...until the robot empire invades and disrupts their peace! So the people of the peaceful planet work together with nature to defeat the robot queen (think Rita Repulsa meets Queen Beryl). It's not long before dinosaurs team up with attractive women to beat back the evil robots.
Oh, and at the end they had a giant snake and spinning robot move around the room to a touching song. Then a pretend robot fight that appeared something akin to Rock 'em, Sock 'em robots. Yep.
After it was finished, I felt completely satisfied and more than that, I wished I had booked it every night. Shinjuku's Robot Restaurant was by far one of the greatest experiences I had in Japan. If I had to recommend for anyone to see just one thing in Tokyo, it would be the Robot Restaurant. No joke! I know it may seem ridiculous but it was unbelievable! Certainly underrated. So if you're in Japan, or if you're planning a trip to Japan - go online and find tickets to the Robot Restaurant. There are a couple of travel places that sell them - so you can purchase them in English. Go, enjoy and savour the experience for the rest of your life.
16/7/2015 0 Comments
What I Miss
During my final month in Japan, my friends kept asking, "What will you miss most?" I always struggled to come up with an answer because I wasn't sure. I had a feeling I'd miss certain things like how polite everyone is, or having my own apartment, but I didn't really know. I'd answer that I'd miss the food. Which is definitely true. Japanese food should be hailed as some of the most delicious food in the world. I'm not just talking about succulent sashimi or scrumptious sushi – but every single meal I had prepared by Japanese people was amazing. Maybe there's a part of Japan that has less delicious food, but I wouldn't believe it. I sort of wish I was exaggerating. It's a great place for a cook - the grocery store is filled with wonderfully fresh ingredients! I miss frying up tentacles. So good!
While the food was phenomenal, I ended up missing something a little more subtle. I miss the cleanliness. Japan is fucking clean. Yes, an expletive was necessary. The only comparable place is probably Germany, but I wouldn't know. I've just heard tales of its cleanliness. Which I'm sure are true, however Japan as I know it, is the cleanest place in the world. Damn. They sweep, and scrub, and wash everything daily it seems. Sometimes the streets would smell like bleach. I'm not kidding. I watched people prune trees, meticulously sweep sidewalks, and of course always remove shoes indoors. Garbage didn't seem to exist. You can't even find garbage cans – no joke. Ask anyone who's lived there, you're lucky if a convenience store has one.
Japan is beautifully, magically clean. It's my sort of paradise. I believe in keeping things clean and organized. Apparently, they're on board with that. When I returned to my hometown, what immediately sprung to mind was how dirty everything and everyone looked. I felt grossed out actually. I feel sort of bad about my reaction, but it was unexpected for me. I took for granted how absolutely picture-perfect everything is in Japan. People painstakingly keep their clothes tidy, and nothing ever looks out of place. Men and women in suits, children in uniforms, and even people dressed in casual attire appear freshly washed and pressed. In Canada – more specifically my blue collar hometown, people seem to wear just about anything. Ripped sweat pants and a t-shirt dappled with paint are acceptable clothes to wear in public. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but I have to say I was a little spoiled. Even farmers in rural Japan didn't appear out of place.
As an aside, the real reason Japanese people and the community at large appears so immaculate is due to their fear of offending anyone – or for that matter, bothering anyone. Seriously. They can't even imagine intruding. It would be the worst, most horrible thing (another thing I have in common). Well, apparently my sensibilities became tailored to that environment and when I returned I…turned my nose up at it. I laugh at it now because it seems silly but it's good to reflect in complete honesty.
So I miss the artfully clean streets of Japan, and the perfectly done up pedestrians – what else do I miss? I miss my apartment – as tiny as it was. It was my place. I ate what I wanted, came and went like I pleased, and on top of everything, had a sense of freedom and independence I've never known before. My family was in another country, but they might as well have been on another planet. I had no obligations outside of work. It was different. Now that I'm back home, things have more or less reverted back to the way things were.
What else do I miss? My friends, my students, the local grocery store, the 7-11 with my favourite clerk, washing and hanging clothes (oddly enough)…I miss my life there. My imaginary, brief life on another planet across the ocean. I had another identity, I was a different person. I became a person that enjoyed teaching children and adolescents. I should reiterate, I definitely miss some of my students (and others I'm all too happy it was the last time).
Thinking about how I miss everything now really makes me realize how ignorant I was before. I took the simple things for granted, and assumed I'd just be happy to be home. Which, don't get me wrong, I'm happy - but I can't help lament over the conclusion to a chapter.
15/7/2015 0 Comments
After Japan
I've finally returned to Canada!
One of the oddest feelings after returning from Japan has been finding a few little things that I had left behind but intended to take with me. Nothing too significant, but for some reason I immediately believe that if I had brought the thing with me – perhaps it would have rendered my entire experience more positively, and with that I feel a gripping sadness. An emotion of such proportions that in order for my ego to deal with moving, my mind imagines that it's nothing but a faded dream. I have literally sat in silence, wondering if I had ever lived in Japan at all. A ridiculous thought that simply bewilders me to no end, but it also feels the most true.
If one day I "wake up" to find that I have been living in an asylum, and somehow had been convinced of my delusions, well I wouldn't exactly be surprised. I might be mildly startled. "Oh? All a figment of my imagination? Some sort of strange fantasy? You think I would have imagined something better…" That's when the psychiatrist or what-have-you would explain that when my parents visited, I pretended to be skyping them. "They went along with everything – for your sake," the psychiatrist might say. I'd simply nod – maybe yawn, "Makes sense".
I suppose part of the reason I could believe it's all just a fantastical and mundane story, is that no one acknowledges that it happened. Yes, upon my return they told me I was missed, but when I tried to share some of my experiences – I found an odd thing happen. People would avert their attention and talk about something else. At first it made sense to me – if I was the other person, I might be annoyed or bored by stories of some far off land I've never been to – it's a possibility. Then it just started to feel weirder. I realized that no one really wanted to hear about it. So I've kept to myself largely, only casually bringing up a comparison now and then. That's when people make the obligatory "Hm!" sound, like they just heard something interesting.
Now I know that by confessing these feelings I might appear vain or self centered. One might be inclined to roll their eyes, but from my perspective I travelled to another planet and completely transformed myself. I want to share my traumas, my heartache, my discoveries, and moments of absolute delight! I want to share with the people I love and care about. Yet, I sense a wall every time I broach the topic. I generally try and avoid it altogether for that reason. All of this affirms my odd belief that it was all make believe.
Then I remembered something else. Their lives have changed too. They lived their lives while I was gone. They weren't put on hold – stuff happened. They saw movies, celebrated events, suffered tragedies…these things happened without me. There was a literal distance between me and everyone back in Canada. In a sense, I asked for a break. "Look, it's not you, it's me. I know we've had some fun times. And I haven't stopped loving you…but, I need some time and space. I need to grow as a person. I just think this would be better – for both of us." Canada then nodded and swallowed hard, wanting to believe it was for the better when all it could taste was the salty tears of abandonment.
I apologize. I let myself get carried away with theatrics.
After a long time of mulling things over, I remembered that there is one place where I may vent inexhaustibly and some people might even listen. A beautiful, wonderful place – you may have heard of it before. The internet. That's right, "the". As in, the one and only.
From now on, I'll be updating my website daily with one story or another from my time in Japan! (Maybe other stuff too...) Look forward to it!
2/2/2015 0 Comments
Touring Kanto: Hakone
We were immediately blown away by the simple beauty of the room. Wonderful tatami floors, accompanied by a traditional kneeling table and chairs, and adorned with a beautiful tea set. We were given a quick tour before we had a moment alone to admire our room. A set of chairs looked out onto the outdoor patio, right next to the stocked bar. Outside our glass sliding doors was an outdoor shower, and an open air hot springs bath. Our own, private hot spring! Lucky for us, there was a tall fence and walls surrounding the private patio, but still a noticeable view of the mountains and trees. Soon enough, the attendant returned and asked us to sit down. She served us green tea and gave us a delicious mochi snack. She left us alone and we delighted in our situation.
I finally removed my shoes and slipped on the provided ones, where we were then ushered into a little dining area with a fantastic, panoramic view. A woman, obviously proficient in English, asked when we would like to schedule dinner, and breakfast in our room before whisking us away down the hall. She gave us a little tour of the facilities, pointing out the bathrooms and accompanying segregated male, and female hot spring baths. There were delightful copper sinks in the hall, which gleamed invitingly. I squealed with delight at every turn in the corridor. Every inch of this place felt authentic, and warm. Soon she showed us to the elevator and informed us which floor the room was located. My partner and I squeezed into the little elevator, while the woman in her tabi and sandals, took the stairs and met us on the same floor. Again, the customer service and enthusiasm impressed me to no end. She quickly escorted us to our room and as soon as we entered the little foyer and genkan, I removed the slippers and stepped up onto raised platform. She thanked me, almost profusely, making it obvious that many foreigners didn't recognize the faux pas.
When we finally reached the Hakone-Yumoto station, we were starting to get really excited. We found the bus heading in the right direction by asking at information – and felt really fortunate when they spoke English – then prepared for our final leg of the journey. Our stop was approximately 20 minutes away, but it took a little longer since there were delays. The road to the ryokan was a long, twisty road up a mountain. The further we travelled, the more we wondered where we were headed. I started to panic a little (as I do) and hoped that we actually caught the right bus. I wanted to make sure we made our check-in time. I would hate to be late. It would be absolutely unseemly.
We crossed the road and as we were admiring the brilliant visage ahead of us, a man in traditional work garb was bouncing down the stairs with a clipboard. My partner and I looked at one another before the man eagerly greeted us, then said the name the reservation was under. We nodded, impressed with the immediate and enthusiastic service. We hadn't even gotten to the bottom of the stairs leading to the impressive ryokan. We followed him as he led us through the antique sliding doors, and were instantly set upon by a whole team of women in kimonos. They smiled warmly and encouraged us to remove our shoes in the genkan and replace them with slippers. When they saw the size of my partner's feet, they quickly and quietly switched them out with larger ones. I was struggling to remove my shoes and was leveraging myself on my partner's shoulder, when one of the women scurried away to bring me a special bamboo stand especially designed for that purpose. I couldn't believe the already outstanding service.
During my Christmas break, I had the luck and fortune to visit a few great places in the Kanto region. I visited Hakone (world renown for their hot springs), Tokyo, and Nikko (home of many famous temples and shrines). In Tokyo, I had the opportunity to see a few of the major tourist attractions, including: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Roppongi Hills, the Tokyo Skytree, and just outside of Tokyo – Mitaka, where the Studio Ghibli Museum is located. In order to see all of Tokyo, you would honestly need at least a full week. There is so much to see and do. Many things require reservations in advance and can only be done with enough forethought. My significant other and I had been thinking about what sort of things we'd like to do together, since he was going to visiting me during my break. We came up with ideas and made the appropriate arrangements.
The first place we visited was Hakone! We reserved our room weeks in advance (although it would be better to do it even earlier if you want more time). I spent a long time researching different ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) in the area and found out a number of them offer rooms with a private, outdoor hot spring bath. This really appealed to both of us – and it wasn't long after that we sorted through our top choices and settled on one. A place called, "Mikawaya Ryokan". It was established in 1883 and is one of the most popular ryokans in Hakone. After our visit, I completely understand why.
I currently reside in Utsunomiya, Tochigi and that's where our journey first started. We took the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Omiya, which is about a 30 minute ride, and then another 30 minute train ride to Shinjuku. From there we wandered around the station for a bit and enjoyed some time at a café while we waited for our Romancecar train to Hakone. We had booked the tickets in advance and discovered that the train name was slightly misleading. While it was a scenic route, I wouldn't necessarily call it romantic since it carried passengers of every description between Shinjuku and Hakone. Although we did enjoy the 100 minute ride with a few drinks bought from the cart.
What happened next? Well, it didn't take long to finish a cup of tea and run outside into the brisk air. One hot shower later, we braved the even hotter waters of the hot spring. We quickly discerned that we needed to turn on the cold water faucet positioned above the hot spring. We had been warned prior to using it that it would be necessary to use cold water – boy, she wasn't kidding. I thought maybe she was just being cautious. No, that was a real hot spring with insanely hot, natural water pouring in to the bath. Thank goodness for the cold water as a method to temper the heat. When we finally reached the ideal temperature, we sat back and enjoyed the chill mountain air, and natural, Earthly heat.
After a brief hiccup paying for bus fare, since my partner had never experienced getting change from the machine up front nor recognized all of the currency – we were finally at our stop. The bus pulled away and across the road was our beautiful, Japanese inn. We looked around and saw gorgeous views of the valley below us, since we had climbed the mountain and we were now towering over the little town. We arrived just 5 minutes before check-in, and this made me a little anxious. I was eager to get settled in our room.
When morning finally came, we woke up a bit early to take our final dip in the hot springs. A startling wake-up call from the cold air, followed by an immediate hot shower (and a couple of traditional buckets of water), and we were in the bath enjoying the startling heat and rising steam. We had closed the paper doors between the main room, and the bar room so that if they came early with breakfast, we would be fine. Sure enough, they arrived earlier than anticipated. We could hear the rattling of dishes and movement as we sat in the glory of the morning light. I suddenly realized I wasn't sure I could get out of the bath, so I sent my partner in to put on his robe and check. The attendant had left but in her absence, sat breakfast – ready and waiting. I scrambled for my yukata, and sat down, eager and hungry for another spectacular meal. I was not disappointed. Rice, miso soup, fried fish, and a couple of dishes I can't name, but enjoyed.
Their timing was always perfect, it wasn't long after we finished dessert and were contemplating another session in the hot spring when two men came in and quickly cleaned up the room in the most orderly and efficient fashion. They pushed the table aside and set up the futons as easily, and professionally as a pit crew. Night had finally spilled over the horizon, when we sat in the hot springs sharing sweet plum wine and admiring the night sky.
Hours slipped by, we eventually got out of the bath and put on our yukatas. They were comforting. My partner turned on some Japanese TV while we waited for dinner time. As per Japanese culture, dinner arrived early. Our attendant laid out a few dishes – sushi, sashimi, pickled vegetables, and two burners topped with a metallic bowl of sea inspired soup. We sat in awe of our bubbling soup, and made agreeable sounds when eating the sashimi. There was quite a bit of food, but it didn't take long for more food to be brought out. Beautiful cuts of fish and steak, more interesting food atop the burner, and of course an assortment of unrecognizable Japanese cuisine. We ate up the delicious food, and was served with yet another dinner course. We continued to marvel at the wonderful dinner and did our best to finish. When she brought the final dinner course, she let us know to call the front desk and ask for dessert. They served a mixture of sweet and unusual dishes, before we finally felt absolutely full.
When we finally finished eating, we realized that we'd have to get ready to leave our dream destination. We prepared for our departure and finally said our goodbyes to the room. My loving and incredibly generous partner took care of the bill while he sent me to the gift shop to check it out. The staff called us a taxi back to the station, and we lamented our leaving. Our trip back down the mountain in the morning light was quiet and unwinding. The views were breathtaking and wondrous. We finally arrived back in town, and bought a few things in a little shop before buying another ticket back to Shinjuku.
5. What do you know about Japan, Japanese culture and language?
What do you know about Japan? If your thoughts are something along the lines of, "I love anime!" or "Sushi is delicious!" but without any depth, or real knowledge, seriously reconsider. Yes, anime is fantastic and there is an innumerable amount of merchandise to find, your love for anime can be satisfied by just visiting Japan. How about sushi? Yep, also amazing. The sushi, sashimi, yakitori, tempura, and every other food is outstanding. Japanese food is probably the best food I've ever eaten, yet that can also be experienced by simply being a tourist. In fact, probably better experienced as a tourist since working here with minimal pay means largely cooking your own food and not eating amazing food every day. Suffice to say, if you truly want to live in Japan, your knowledge of Japanese culture and language should be exceptional. You need to be more than adequately prepared.
4. Do you like children?
Do you absolutely love being around children? Have you worked extensively with children before? If you haven't worked with children previously or even feel somewhere in the vicinity of neutrality towards children – think again. While it's assumed from an Anglo-Saxon point of view that Japanese children must be as polite as Japanese adults, the opposite is true. Japanese children are terrors. I'm not making this up. Why is that, you may ask. Well, the culture of raising children in Japan means believing babies are basically gods, and they can do no wrong. Hence, Japanese children are allowed to do whatever they like without being reprimanded. Yes, they are spoiled. They lack discipline. So how do they turn in to intensely polite adults? Through rampant passive aggressive shaping to invisibly force each child into eventually learning that being part of the group is the most important aspect of their lives. They acclimatize to the notion around the time they reach the age of majority.
3. What do you know about the company?
You should very carefully pick the company you're going to work for. While it is incredibly difficult to know what the company is going to be like from purely perusing their website or visiting rambling reviews or blogs on the matter, I would make a couple of suggestions. Don't believe all the propaganda the company sells – they can and will exaggerate for their benefit. Most companies will have you believe they are doing great things for you, but the fact of the matter is, you're doing them a favour and not the other way around. English teaching companies are big in Japan and highly competitive, they're all looking for fresh meat to put through the grinder. The biggest problem with private companies is that they are unmistakably profit driven. That means employees are put on the back burner, especially in Japan. Customer service is of the highest significance, and expect no reward for going the extra mile – it's simply expected. It can be incredibly stressful when dealing with finicky parents and undisciplined children. I would suggest finding a company that teaches adults, or one that hires for the public board of education. Less pressure, more time with fellow employees and never having to deal with parents. (Want my advice? Check out Interac or JET. Avoid ECC or iTTTi.)
2. How well do you deal with isolation and being away from home?
As a Gaijin, you will always be an outsider. After having spoken with many other Gaijins from various nations, and living here for various amounts of time – they all report the same. If you appear anything other than Asian, expect to be treated like a perpetual alien. Japanese people are notoriously xenophobic. I cannot stress this enough. There will be times when people will be afraid of being near you, or you'll receive judgemental stares. You can feel the cold aura all around you. Be prepared to feel isolated and alienated. This is even truer if you happen to be female. It takes a long time to develop friendships with Japanese people, and sometimes their intentions are only to be friends with someone non-Japanese, like a novelty. That's not to say there aren't Japanese people interested in having authentic friendships, but you're more likely to find like-minded people in a metropolis. Rural areas can be unwelcoming at times.
1. What are your expectations while living in Japan?
My last point ties in with my first point again, since I believe it is once again the most important. Before I arrived in Japan, I perceived Japanese culture to be one aligned with beauty, and simplicity. While Japan is beautiful and clean, the only type of simplicity that exists is perceived simplicity. Japanese society does its very best to appear uncomplicated and consistently beautiful. It is however, the exact opposite. Honesty does not exist in Japan. I'm not trying to be callous or inconsiderate, but brutally truthful. No one in Japan will tell you the truth, and if they do, you would never know it. Everything is hidden and veiled behind thick curtains and multiple walls of civility. The only aggression that exists here is passive. If someone doesn't like you, they'll never reveal their true feelings or intent. Instead, they'll continue to be dishonest and passive aggressive.
Perhaps I sound intensely cynical or jaded. You could argue that my experience is singular and I'm largely affected by my placement with this particular company, in this particular area. That might be true. I might be an irregularity. In that case, here's my closing statement. If you do choose to go to Japan despite my warnings, please keep the following in mind. Choose the area you want to be placed in – I recommend near or in a large city. Do some research and find out what interests you the most about Japan, then aim for living near that area. If crowds are not your thing, and you would prefer a smaller area, consider that it will be infinitely more difficult to make friends and communicate (unless you're fluent in Japanese).
Ultimately, I would suggest just being a tourist in Japan. Touring and sightseeing will satisfy all of your casual needs like delicious food, interesting cultural oddities and tonnes of awesome shopping. Living here will drain the life out of you. You slowly conform to the robotic culture of work, sleep, work, sleep, work, sleep, drink heavily, and work some more while pretending that it's your favourite thing to do. What's different from any other place? Trust me, the Japanese work ethic is intensely different. You're expected to work as hard as possible without any sort of praise, (or for that matter overtime) and be grateful for it. If you even raise your voice to mention the possibility that you're at all unsatisfied (even if you're prompted), you will be judged extremely negatively. Expect to be reprimanded.
Japan is a fascinating nation with a truly bizarre and magnificent culture. There are many things I've enjoyed while living here, but the things I've enjoyed most about Japan have come from my brief times spent while behaving like a tourist. Time off is usually spent trying to unwind from a stressful work week, so when vacation time finally rolls around, it's the best time in the world. I had the chance to visit Hakone, Tokyo and Nikko. Beautiful and quintessentially Japanese locations – but only appreciated off work.
That being said, living in Japan has had some truly positive outcomes. I'm more confident and self-assured than I've ever been. A lot of my fears have dissipated – although not entirely, I've experienced a noticeable difference. However, I don't think that travelling to Japan is necessary in order to achieve these kinds of positive results. I think living in other countries would be just as satisfying, if not more. If I could recommend somewhere else that is similar to Japan but friendlier, I would say South Korea. It had been suggested to me numerous times but I was stubborn and insisted on Japan (for numerous reasons). Regardless, I can only offer my personal experiences and advice. Decide on your own if Japan is right for you – if not, please visit! It's worth it to have an adventure – see the sights, eat the food, and enjoy the culture.
Japan is odd in many ways. Whether it's the products you find in stores (tentacles on a stick, no joke), or the cultural expectation of wearing slippers for particular types of floors (one set for indoors, and another for the bathroom). The oddest thing about Japan, in my opinion, is living here. You are transported to a reality that simultaneously places you in the past and future. Now, I am drawing a comparison between Japan and Canada (or more generally, between North America, and to some extent, Australia and the U.K. - perhaps other countries as well, but I'm drawing from personal experience). Why is Japan like simultaneously living in the past and future? Let me explain.
The Past: So if you think of bygone days, what comes to mind? What are some things that were common and are no longer but a memory? Well, let me give you some examples that are alive and well in Japan. Bicycles. Yes, I'm sure you're aware that bicycles are common in places like China, but were you aware of how common they are in Japan? They are everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. Not just bicycles, but the type of bicycles remind me of travelling back in time to the 1950s. They're the kind of bicycles with baskets in the front and a bell on the handle. I'm not kidding. If you watch a movie from that era, you'll see people happily biking along on exactly the bike I'm talking about. How about trains? Trains used to be a common method of transportation. Guess what? They're everywhere here. Trains, trains, trains! So many different lines! Some of them are older and feel like they're from the 50s, I swear. In more rural areas, the train pulls away from the station with a tug, like pulling on a slack line. You can see the movement jostle everyone in the car.
Okay, okay. So bicycles and trains are a blast from the past. What else? Laundry. Yes, everyone owns a washer, but owning a dryer isn't actually common. Most people buy laundry clips and hang their laundry to dry on a line. It's true. In fact, I just finished hanging my clothes to dry. It's an odd thing having to take your clothes from the washer, and clip them to a string hanging outside your apartment. What year is this?
Remember fax machines? Well they're plentiful here. I use one every single day at work. I can hardly believe it myself. I find it so incredibly old fashioned. What about e-mails? What about computers? What about doing things that save paper? I'm not sure I understand myself. I guess Japan just prefers having hard copies of absolutely everything. So I spend my time filling out forms and dialing numbers. You think they're old, clunky machines? Nope. They're new. Yes, new, small, efficient, fax machines. Oh Japan.
Then we come to the topic of gas stations and convenience stores. You're probably thinking, "Wait, aren't those the same things?" Nope. They most certainly aren't, not in Japan anyway. I know travelling in North America is filled with gas stations and convenience stores being one and the same. Not in Japan. Take a trip back in time when those things were clearly separated. Your local "general" store carried everything you could possibly need in a pinch, and the service was always friendly. If you wanted gas for your automobile, you had to go to a different place, where it was always full service and they offered mechanical work if you needed. Welcome to Japan. In that sense, things are very much like looking back in time. Station attendants happily take care of your every vehicle need, and definitely offer any automotive service required. In fact, because it's Japan, customer service is always taken to another level. At some gas stations, expect the attendant to stop traffic and clear the way for you to leave safely, and in style. Now that's service.
If it isn't classic bicycles, gas stations, fax machines and hanging your laundry to dry, what else is a blast from the past? Simply put, gender roles. Japan is the place where women are exquisitely feminine and all the men wear suits. In fact, they're called "salary men". They work ridiculous hours and are never home with their families. Women graduate college, work as a receptionist for a few years then marry. It's true. They marry young and they have children. Then the men continue to work themselves to the grave, while the women take care of the offspring they've birthed. What's that? Is that the phone? Who's calling? Oh yeah, it's the '50s and they want their stereotypes back.
The Future: Honestly, I'm just going to talk about technology advances. For instance, the machines located in a train station. They can take bills, coins and most of them offer services in English. Then there's the gates. It's this elongated machine which you can either scan your pass through (you can buy a card that will scan electronically through your wallet, no kidding), or you can insert your train ticket into a slot and it will shoot through the other side of the gate. It's pretty amazing. It gets me every time. The city I'm from goes by the honour system. Kind of a huge mistake. In contrast, there's New York City, where you will actually get deported if you don't swipe your metro pass.
How about ATMs? Feel free to dump your change into these machines. That's right, ATMs process change. When you want to withdraw cash, a slot opens and the cash is presented to you in an expeditious and polite manner. (Not to mention the fact that everyone deals in cash. That's right, cash. Another blast from the past.) Or what about the presence of a copy machine/printer in every convenience store? They take USB keys, SD cards...whatever you can slap you files onto and print off. It doesn't matter, these machines will do it.
Japan is also very concerned about the environment. That idea is reflected in some city bus drivers that will actually turn off the bus instead of idling (even while at a red light). Although, I must say that I don't feel like it's helping much (if at all), but the thought is there. One hotel I visited, gave me a key card, which seemed perfectly normal until I got to my room. I attempted to turn on the lights but nothing happened. Then I saw a slot on the wall that asked me to insert my card. As soon as I did, all the lights came on. It blew my mind. They actually thought of a way to conserve energy even if you've left things on, because without the card, nothing would work. So if you go out shopping, and forget to turn the radio off, the tv, the bathroom light - whatever, removing the card would immediately shut it all off. Pretty cool.
I nearly forgot to mention trains again! Yes, there are old fashioned kind of trains, but there is also the shinkansen, also known as the bullet train! Oh my god. Prepare yourself for the most luxurious and comfortable train ride of your life. You have a lot more room than a plane, and yet it feels like you're flying. The train exceeds speeds of 300 km/h and feels like a soft glide just above the ground. If you're standing on the platform and watch the train go by, it rushes by with such speed and sound, that it's sure to surprise you! I grab my heart every time and feel the whirlwind wrap itself around me, like a plane passing you on the street. It's intense!
All in all, Japan really is like living simultaneously in the past and future. All of the technology (save fax machines) are a reminder that they are always ten steps ahead of everyone else. They have the ability to invent and implement everything right here, in their own country. Simple things like talking vending machines that can produce hot and cold beverages (depending on the weather), ice cream, beer and even cigarettes. Some ramen shops have a machine where you purchase your meal ticket before handing it over to the chef. Yes, technology wise they are "streets ahead". However, some things culturally remain rooted in old beliefs and traditions. Whether you're visiting a temple or shrine and witness apprentices wearing traditional clothing, catch a whiff of cigarette smoke from the numerous smokers (some places in Japan allow you to smoke EVERYWHERE), or observe the gender dynamics of a couple - the female wearing ultra feminine, frilly clothing and following behind her well dressed, male partner. Things in Japan are quite different from the rest of the world. Nowhere have I ever seen such a strange dichotomy of the past and future. I suspect that I will never experience this type of surreal reality anywhere else.
21/9/2014 0 Comments
The Gaijin Experience
First of all, what's a "gaijin"? Well, if you have no idea, I'll let you in on the translation. It means "foreigner". To the Japanese, everyone who isn't Japanese is a foreigner. Actually, it's more like, anyone who doesn't LOOK Japanese is a foreigner. Having a few Asian friends, I can honestly say that they're mistaken for Japanese people all the time. Which can be a good, and a bad thing. It means that sometimes Japanese people will attempt to speak to them in fluent Japanese, and other times they're completely ignored as being one of the many. One of the most challenging aspects (and interesting) about living in Japan, is the fact that as a "gaijin" you constantly stand out. People will stare. It happens, a lot. They seem to have no problem just staring straight at you like you're a zoo animal. It can be unsettling, and at times annoying, and I suppose on the rare occasion it makes you feel special (in that weird sort of uncomfortable way). As a white female with curly hair, I find that most of the time I do my best to ignore the stares. If I was in my own city in Canada, I would guess that they just think I'm attractive. That's the confusing part in Japan, you lose all sense of whether you're attractive or not. People just stare. The irony is that Japanese people are commonly plagued with the fear of being stared at, yet they have no problem looking right at you with their jaw dropped. Yes, I am clearly white. Thank you for noticing.
So what happens when you so clearly stand out from the crowd? Many different things can happen (besides the staring). Sometimes people will be rude because of their ridiculous xenophobia (fear of foreigners basically). Rudeness is almost entirely unheard of in Japan. Japanese people are typically the most polite, most considerate (and most fashionably dressed) people there are. Honestly. I didn't realize that so many people could be so nice without anything to gain in return. It's just a part of their culture. That's why it's always shocking when someone is actually rude. It's like a cruel reminder that they're still human. Maybe they're not that much different than us after all. Canada is known for being a "nice" country. Canadians are definitely nice, but not at all in the same way. See, a Canadian will pretty much tolerate anything that's drastically different from what they know, because hey, that's their right to be different and we have so many foreigners that we're used to many, many cultures. The important thing to keep in mind is that not all Canadians are nice. In Japan, people are so unbelievably courteous that they would bend over backwards to help you, even if they're not used to anything different.
It is Japanese culture to conform to the group as much as possible. There are some youth that enjoy participating in some sort of counter culture where they dye their hair funky colours, but they still belong to a group. Belonging to a group is of the utmost importance, and exclusion is a death sentence. So when they see someone who's VERY different, it can be unsettling for them. Sometimes they're curious, but most of the time they try to ignore that anything is different at all. As though it's not even happening. Let's just say that Japanese people are the masters of passive aggressive behaviour. Now, I'm not putting them down in any sense. I appreciate how welcoming they are (generally speaking), and I know I've enjoyed the help and admiration of quite a few people. They just deal with people who are different in a very unique way.
Gaijin or not, expect to receive the best customer service you've ever received in your life. I'm not kidding. I don't think any country in the world can trump Japanese customer service. Example, if you walk into ANY store the first thing the clerk(s) will do is welcome you warmly and enthusiastically into the store with an "irasshaimase". Then when you're ready to pay and get to the counter, they'll often say "douzo" which is a type of "please" that denotes an offering, in this situation they're letting you know that you can come up to the counter with your items. Then they'll quickly and carefully scan all your items, and arrange them very precisely for you in a bag or basket. When you hand over your money, they'll say, "oazukari shimasu" which basically means "I will treat this as if it were my own". They make sure to count your money in front of you, and then count your return change so you can see exactly how much money was processed both ways. After all is said and done, they thank you with an "arigatou goziamasu" and smile. Holy crap, they really care. You almost never run into someone who isn't trying their damnedest to make sure you feel like the most important customer on the planet. On top of that, NO ONE expects a tip AND they'll force your money back if you try to leave a tip. They are expected to provide exceptional customer service to everyone for their regular wages. It's crazy.
A perfect example of exceptional customer service is when I visited an electronics store for a phone charger. I was carrying a heavy box and as soon as I entered the store, one of the staff rushed to my side and took the heavy box from me. He then proceeded to help me pick out the exact charger I wanted. I happened to pick the cheapest one, but it didn't matter. When we walked up to the counter, and no one was at that particular till, someone literally ran from stocking the shelves to turn on the cash register for me. He then processed my 450¥ item (about $5) and thanked me profusely for my patronage. Holy crap. Never in my entire life have I ever received such an exemplary level of customer service, particularly for an item worth $5. They make you feel like royalty every time. I don't think I can come back to Canada (or any other country) without thinking everyone is very rude and expects too much money for nothing.
Anyway, as I was saying. Being a gaijin gets you a lot of attention. Sometimes people will attempt to speak English with you, even if it's a few words. Other times it will garnish you some odd behaviour. For example, I've had some women comment on my skin. One day when I was visiting a very traditional and authentic ramen shop for the first time with some friends, the woman who managed, cooked and ran the entire shop just had to say something to me. She came up to me outside after our meal and said (in Japanese), "I couldn't stop staring at your face. Your skin is so beautiful". She then proceeded to stroke my cheek with her hand. I stared at her wide eyed, completely surprised! I blushed and thanked her for her compliment. I just couldn't believe what happened. Another notable instance was when I moved to my apartment and was having my utilities hooked up. The Japanese woman handling the hooking up asked me how old I was, I told her "25". She was shocked. She then continued to compliment me on my beautiful skin. Apparently, my skin is appealing. Generally, they can't guess white people's ages and always guess too high. I was certainly complimented.
If it's not my skin, it's my hair. Sometimes when I'm teaching the students, they will lose it over my hair. They will repeatedly say, "kuro kuro" when means "going round and round". I have curly hair and they find it so interesting. They often try to touch it, and they laugh when I shake it around. I'm sure it's not just children who find it fascinating, but it's children who have no boundaries. Speaking of no boundaries...I'm quite well endowed for a woman, and the children don't fail to notice. They might comment in Japanese, thinking I don't understand, or if they're young enough, they'll try to touch them. I've had a couple of little girls try and grab them, or pat them. I just remove their hands gently and move away, distracting them with the lesson or a game. Yes, thank you children. I do have breasts.
When it comes to adults, my curves can intimidate and bring a lot of attention. Sometimes I dress up and that's when I notice a whole new kind of stare. Sometimes it doesn't even matter if their girlfriend is right there. Sort of surprising really, I guess they just chalk up to, "I was just looking at the weird gaijin..."...and the fact women don't have a lot of say in Japan. Let's just say, I'm a feminist and I walk confidently. I hold my head high and speak knowing what I know, and not pretending otherwise. Women in Japan are like shrinking violets - they behave so passively most of the time, that it depresses me a little. I'm hoping my confidence will rub off a little.
Anyway, let me sum up the gaijin experience. There are stares. There are odd, and sometimes inappropriate comments crossing social boundaries, and there are people who are super curious about you. Then there are the people who have no problem yelling at you because you're a foreigner. All-in-all, Japan will make you feel like royalty, and an oddity. Which is saying something, because Japan is fucking odd.
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March 2017


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Press Release: Philadelphia Exhibitions Summer 2019
The Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary Project Travels to City Hall, Old City, and the Free Library of Philadelphia
May 28, 2019 (Philadelphia, PA) — Connecting renowned book artists with individuals from Syria and Iraq who came to Philadelphia as refugees, a trio of Center City exhibitions will delve into concepts of human connection and sanctuary.
Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary, a project of Swarthmore College Libraries and Swarthmore's Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility, creates and shares works that explore art's capacity to increase empathy and a sense of belonging.
After an initial exhibition at Swarthmore, the project moves to Philadelphia, showcasing works by resettled Syrians and Iraqis and by commissioned book artists. Three distinct exhibitions, each focusing on one aspect of the resettled experience, interweave historical and contemporary narratives and experiences to open up conversations about displacement and refuge, history and culture, art and life. The project highlights the ways resettled people define themselves, outside of restrictive labels like "immigrants" or "refugees."
All exhibitions and programs are free and open to the public.
Friends at Twelve Gates Arts: June 7–August 15
106 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Visiting Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 12–6 p.m.
Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary participants opened their homes and hearts, sharing their histories, cultures, and personal stories. Yet a recurring question surfaced: "Why, when we [Syrians and Iraqis] know so much about American culture, do Americans know so little about ours?"
Can art help us to address that gap, and transform conflict into connection? Can we turn a gallery into a home? Friends invites you to experience works by fifteen unique artists that explore the relationships between personal experiences, culture, and history. Sculptures and dictionaries, archaeology books and paintings celebrate moments, conversations, personal stories, and most of all, friendships.
- June 7, 6–8:30 p.m.: First Friday Opening Reception with live musical performance by artists Erik Ruin and Julius Masri
- June 8, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.: Accordion book workshop and story share with book artist Islam Aly
Peace at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Branch: June 7–August 2
1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Open during regular library hours (2nd Floor)
Peace is not simply living free of war; it is a sensation that comes with being close to one's support network of friends, family, and neighbors.
Peace brings together artists' books, archival materials, and more to tell the personal stories of people striving for peace during historical and contemporary conflicts.
From archival materials from the Swarthmore College Libraries to a collaborative comic book inspired by stories of resettlement, to handmade works from Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project collaborators and commissioned book artists, visitors will feel the lengths human beings will go to for peace, and the importance of working together.
- July 13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Open House + Reception (Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement at Parkway Central Library)
Sanctuary at City Hall: June 7–July 26
Philadelphia City Hall: 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (floors 4 + 5)
Visiting Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
What does it mean to resettle in a new country, where one's identity has already been defined by negative media portrayals and stereotypes? How might listening to resettled Syrians and Iraqis help policy-makers and residents realize our shared values as a Sanctuary City? What are the commonalities between the global refugee crisis and local issues like urban displacement, mass incarceration, education, and community economic development? How can we make Philadelphia a true place of sanctuary for all?
Co-hosted by the Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Sanctuary presents multi-form artworks and new resources that explore the dynamics of power between the state, community, and the individual to challenge our understanding of the global resettlement process. Project collaborators who resettled from Syria and Iraq joined forces with commissioned book artists Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist to create collective and individual works that reflect both resiliency and the challenges inherent in navigating Philadelphia to re-establish their lives.
- June 6, 5–6 p.m.: Flag-raising kick-off of Immigrant Heritage Month
- June 15, 2–5 p.m.: Beyond Borders and Binaries: A Conversation and Workshop (at Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street)
- July 26 5-10pm: Closing celebration with guided tours of exhibition, dinner, art-making, and a projection show by the Illuminators on the North side of City Hall
The exhibitions include commissioned works by:
- Maureen Cummins, book artist
- Islam Aly, MFA, PhD, book artist, teacher and researcher
- Erik Ruin, printmaker, shadow puppeteer, and cut-paper artist
- Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist, co-directors of The People's Paper Co-op
Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary moves to Brooklyn in October.
Major support for Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the William J. Cooper Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Swarthmore College Libraries, and the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. Learn more about the Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project at fps.swarthmore.edu or on social media (@FPSBookArts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).

subset: commoncrawl


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If you're new to internet dating, we'll let you in on a little tip: the best online dating sites are the ones you already know about. Turns out that when we talk about the top dating sites, brand recognition really does play a role in just how successful a service is. But just because you're familiar with the website's name doesn't mean you know everything about it.
We plan to change all of that by detailing the exclusive features and Premium membership pricing of the best online dating sites according to users. So before you go downloading all of the dating apps, do yourself a favor and read the reviews below.
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Best online dating sites in the USA
1) eHarmony
Since its launch in 2000, eHarmony has continued to top best online dating site lists. Founded by a former marriage counselor and clinical psychologist, eHarmony practically forefronted compatibility testing. After sifting through years of data on what makes a long-term relationship successful, eHarmony introduced its patented Compatibility Matching System which uses your responses to a specific series of questions (I.E. Do you have kids? Are you religious? Are you good at building romance in a relationship? etc.) to match you with someone who meets your criteria. The test is regularly updated to ensure quality matching, and if you feel like you need a bit of coaching to get back into the game, eHarmony even offers dating advice to all of its members through its eHarmony Advice blog.
eHarmony reviewers say that its biggest flaw is the fact that the site doesn't delete or hide inactive accounts. So instead of only suggesting people actively chatting on or using the site, users have found they'll be "matched" with old/expired accounts that will likely never respond. Additionally, users complain that the site is rather expensive to use (more on that below)–especially since you can't pause your account. So if you sign up for six months and meet a great partner within the first four you're still stuck paying for those two months that you (probably) aren't even using.
Joining eHarmony is free but in order to access all the site's benefits, you'll need to upgrade to a paid subscription. Standard subscriptions allow you to see who's viewed your profile, unlimited messages and photos, and access to more matches. The Premium plan includes all of that plus the ability to browse anonymously, see when people read your messages and get featured with Spotlight.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
Standard Subscription rates
- $59.95/month for a six-month Standard subscription
- $49.95/month for a 12-month Standard subscription
- $39.95/month for a 24-month Standard subscription
Premium Subscription rates
- $69.95/month for a six-month Premium subscription
- $59.95/month for a 12-month Premium subscription
- $49.95/month for a 24-month Premium subscription
2) Match
Match.com has been another top online dating website since its debut in 1995. Instead of running capability tests, Match requires its worldwide users to express themselves in free writing sections and by selecting partner preferences. Profiles can also include up to 26 photos, but the site's most notable feature by far is its heightened level of privacy. It allows members to message each other anonymously while keeping all names and contact information confidential until you decide to share it.
People who have used Match.com offer mixed reviews on SiteJabber, with most saying it really only caters to an older crowd (60+) as many of the profiles of people in their 20s seem to be fake. That said, it's important to keep in mind that Match.com isn't responsible for a bad date–there's only so much potential chemistry it can predict. So if you choose to read more reviews, do it with a grain of salt.
Joining Match.com is free, but a premium subscription gains you access to all the site's perks. As a paid Standard member, you'll be able to chat with local singles, send and receive messages, see who's viewed you, attend live events and more. Premium members even get notifications when someone reads your email, one profile review per year, and monthly boosts. Plus, for a limited time, all Match.com memberships are up to 67% off–so if you're looking to try it out, there's never been a better time!
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
Standard Subscription rates
- $33.99/month for a three-month Standard subscription (regularly $45.32/month)
- $21.99/month for a six-month Standard subscription (regularly $29.32/month)
- $19.99/month for a 12-month Standard subscription (regularly $26.65/month)
Premium Subscription rates
- $37.99/month for a three-month Premium subscription (regularly $50.65/month)
- $23.99/month for a six-month Premium subscription (regularly $31.99/month)
- $20.99/month for a 12-month Premium subscription (regularly $27.99/month)
3) Passion
Unlike other online dating sites, Passion.com is a sex-focused website. In addition to the dating service aspect, it also offers private chatrooms and adult movies.
According to online dating reviews, Passions.com is a solid site for enjoying explicit content but it lacks key features (like a mobile app) and hides its best content behind a paywall. But once you get past that (and the overall corniness of the site's design) you'll find that Passions.com has all the fun you're looking for.
Passions.com is free to join but in order to view explicit photos, private cams, and profile summaries, you'll need to upgrade to a paid membership. The service currently offers a monthly Gold membership which gives you unlimited access to everything, a Private Chatroom membership that gives you access to just the cam section of the site, an Adult Movie membership for all your pornographic movie needs, and a points/credits based system that you can use to send tips and gifts to models.
Membership payment options (payable by credit card, electronic check, or money order):
Gold Membership rates
- $31/month for a one-month Gold Membership
- $24/month for a three-month Gold Membership
- $17/month for a 12-month Gold Membership
Private Chatroom Membership rates
- $10.95/month for a one-month membership
- $7.65/month for a three-month membership
- $6.55/month for a six-month membership
Adult Movie Membership
4) EliteSingles
EliteSingles.com has one of the cleanest interfaces of all the online dating services. It's intended to help users find long-term relationships, not just flings–which is why it developed the 5 Factor Personality Questionnaire for its users to take prior to registering. This quick quiz uses your answers to match you with other users that offer compatible responses.
If you're looking to hear from reviewers, SiteJabber users had mixed things to say about this service. It worked for some, while others say the service doesn't screen profiles well enough–leading to incompatible matches and lots of fake profiles. So is it worth the risk? We'll leave that up to you to decide.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $37.95/month for a three-month Premium membership
- $21.95/month for a six-month Premium membership
- $19.95/month for a 12-month Premium membership
- How to start a conversation on Tinder like a read smooth-talker
- Everything you need to know about Plan B
- Is Pornhub Premium worth it?
5) JDate
JDate differs from other online dating websites in that it caters to the Jewish community. So if finding someone of a similar faith is super important to you, consider JDate your ideal matchmaker. The service uses a profile builder based on your responses to basic questions, selected interests, and description of the type of person you're looking for to help you meet singles in your area.
JDate reviewers appreciate its sleek and simple design, multiple messaging options, mobile app, and its slew of other advanced features. However, users do complain about the limited search filters offered and the fact that the site isn't exclusive to the Jewish community (since it does allow users of other religious backgrounds to use the service).
Joining JDate is free and offers unlimited messaging (with paid subscribers), read receipts, the ability to control who sees what on your profile, anonymous browsing, and more. But if you want to unlock all the site's features, you'll have to upgrade to a Premium membership. Paid subscribers get all the perks found in the basic membership plus the means to message anyone (regardless of membership status), access to other users' photo albums, plus the ability to see who viewed you and/or liked you.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $59.99/month for a one-month Premium membership
- $44.99/month for a three-month Premium membership
- $29.99/month for a six-month Premium membership
6) ChristianCafe.com
For the last 20 years, ChristianCafe.com has been a lead online dating service for people of the Chrisitan faith. Like its Jewish counterpart, JDate, ChristianCafe.com uses a combination of your responses to general biographical questions and selected descriptors for the type of person you're looking for to find you a suitable match. ChristianCafe also allows users to search with filters (like age/birthday, location, username, whether or not the profile has photos, etc.), see who has viewed their profile, provide lengthy responses to open-ended questions visible on every profile, participate in discussions on the ChrisitanCafe Forum, and much more.
Users who have reviewed the site were pleased with the abundance of active and new users that are online every day. And when compared to other similar sites, ChristianCafe.com is actually cheaper than most–free communication weekends aside! That said, it is worth noting that unless you're willing to pay for a subscription you won't be able to do more than build a profile.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $34.97 for a two-week Premium membership
- $44.97/month for a one-month membership
- $23.33/month for a three-month membership
- $18.33/month for a six-month membership
7) Zoosk
A top dating site for singles, Zoosk.com offers members access to both free online dating services and paid subscriptions. Registering is easy and only takes a few minutes, and unlike other dating sites, Zoosk actually walks users through how to access all of the site's features. So if you're new to or unsure about online dating, Zoosk is the metaphorical equivalent of "just getting your feet wet."
Free users can message members, swipe through profiles, access dating advice, see who viewed their profile, flirt, and favorite members. Paid subscribers can boost their visibility, send gifts, go invisible, and access advanced search filters.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
8) FirstMet
After reviewing online dating service reviews of FirstMet.com, it seems like this is the site for people who don't know what they're looking for (in terms of relationship style). The service doesn't offer compatibility matching like other dedicated dating sites, which is part of its appeal–at least for those just looking to date or meet someone they can have fun with. But that doesn't mean there aren't people looking for committed relationships, either. It just means they may be a part of the site's minority.
FirstMet users gain access to a social network style dating service, an "interests" page where users can search for matches with similar hobbies or passions, and icebreaker questions to help with starting conversations. But since the focus is on honing that "first connection," the site doesn't offer video calling or instant chat support–just plain ol' email!
FirstMet.com is free to join and allows users to read/compose a limited amount of messages to other free members (Premium members are always free to message), browse in their local area, and access basic search features. Premium members unlock unlimited messaging, can see who's viewed their profile, search around the world, and access advanced search filters.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $24.99/month for a one-month Premium membership
- $16.66/month for a three-month Premium membership
- $12.50/month for a six-month Premium membership
9) OkCupid
Also in the list of the best online dating sites, OkCupid has seen a lot of successful relationships and even marriages! Since 2004, OkCupid has offered users free messaging, profile building, and access to dating advice through the service's blog. And just five years ago, the dating app was the first of its kind to introduce gender and sexual orientation options that exceeded the binary–so if diversity was ever a concern, just know that OkCupid embraces it.
And instead of a more traditional compatibility test, OkCupid has its members fill out a questionnaire that they can use to rank the importance of questions. For example, one question is "How do you feel about gender-neutral passports?" Users can choose to select "I'm in favor of them" or "I'm not in favor of them," and then either check the box to denote that "this is important to me" or leave it blank if it's not a dealbreaker.
OkCupid is free to join, but paid members (or A-Listers) do get to enjoy some perks–like seeing who views your profile, read receipts on messages, access to advanced search filters, and no ads. A-List memberships are available in two packages: A-List Basic which offers everything aforementioned, and A-List Premium which gives you everything available in the A-List Basic package plus daily boosts, increased attractiveness, access to other member's questionnaire answers, and message priority.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
A-List Basic membership rates
- $19.95 for a one-month A-List Basic membership
- $14.95/month for a three-month A-List Basic membership
- $9.95/month for a six-month A-List Basic membership
A-List Premium membership rates
- $34.90/month for a one-month A-List Premium membership
- $29.90/month for a three-month A-List Premium membership
- $24.90/month for a six-month A-List Premium membership
10) Plenty of Fish
According to online dating service reviews, PlentyOfFish is a mixed bag. Some people say it's no more than a very basic dating site, while others complain that it's not worth having to sift through all the ads and fake profiles in order to use the site without a paid subscription. So if you're thinking of using it, you should proceed with caution.
The site is free to join but in order to access the best features, you'll have to upgrade to a Premium account. Paid members receive read receipts, will show up first on the Meet Me page and stand out in searches, see when other members viewed your profile, send up to three gifts per day, be able to upload more photos, and unlock users' extended profiles.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $19.35/month for a two-month Premium membership
- $12.75/month for a four-month Premium membership
- $9.99/month for an eight-month Premium membership
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11) CoffeeMeetsBagel
CoffeeMeetsBagel is one of many local dating sites that can be used with a web browser or a mobile app. It requires its users to create a profile complete with your education, work, and biographical information. Instead of taking advantage of search filters, users simply swipe right to "Connect" and left to leave that profile in the dust–so it's similar to Tinder, to say the very least. But that's where similarities between the services end, CoffeeMeetsBagel allows members to "Give" (suggest) matches to their friends. So if you're thinking of playing matchmaker, CoffeeMeetsBagel supports that. And instead of constantly refreshing your Discoverable Matches, this online dating service only refreshes that page once per day. So be careful which way you swipe!
Reviewers claim that CoffeeMeetsBagel has a lot to offer (A/B testing with photos, rematches for people you swiped the wrong way on, tools to help you find potential matches with mutual friends, etc) but it hasn't perfected the system yet. It may be super easy to use, but CoffeeMeetsBagel doesn't offer any matchmaking features or compatibility tests beyond asking users for three fun facts which serve as "icebreakers" on their profile. Additionally, users seem to have more run-ins with fake profiles and potential catfishers than on any other app.
Joining is free and users automatically receive access to the CoffeeMeetsBagel profile builder, unlimited browsing and messaging (once connected with another user), and a few beans (the in-app currency which can be used to purchase specials like "Woos," which are the app's equivalent to Tinder's Super Like feature). Premium members unlock unlimited Woos, 6,000 beans per month, read receipts, and the ability to see any mutual friends (from your Facebook Friends list) you may have with a potential match.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
Premium monthly membership
- $34.99/month for a one-month Premium membership
- $25/month for a three-month Premium membership
- $20/month for a six-month Premium membership
- $15/month for a 12-month Premium membership
Just the Beans
12) Bumble
Considered one of the top online dating sites for women, Bumble lets ladies lead the way by only giving them the option to message new matches–and they only have 24 hours to do so! Here's how it works: Bumble grabs all your relevant info (think birthday, job, current city) from Facebook (or you can build it from scratch) and then asks you to create a bio and upload pics. Once you're all set, it's time to swipe. If it's a match, then let the countdown begin! Ladies have 24 hours to say hello, leaving the guys with 24 hours to come up with an eye-catching response. And if one of you fail to respond within the time limit, wave goodbye to that match. </3 However, if you're looking to swipe on the same sex these rules change a little bit. Instead of one swiper being the "designated ice breaker," either match can choose to message first. You only have 24 hours before they disappear forever!
As someone who's used Bumble (and I know I can't speak for everyone when I say this), I've found that's its geared more toward finding dates and budding relationships than most other apps that have users swiping for love. Although I haven't found that special someone, I don't blame the app for that–they can't help the fact that I have trash taste in men. That aside, I'd recommend Bumble to anyone looking to test out online dating. And if you're looking to just meet friends or grow your professional network, Bumble even offers counterparts to that (Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz)–all within the same app, too!
Bumble is free to use, but paid members unlock perks like Boosts, Match Extensions (gives your match extra time to message you in case their 24 hours are almost up), and being able to see who has already swiped right on you.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $8.99/week for a one-week Boosted membership
- $24.99/month for a one-month Boosted membership
- $16.66/month for a three-month Boosted membership
- $139 for a lifetime subscription
13) Tinder
If you haven't already heard of the online dating service Tinder, just know that it's the reason "swiping right" and hookup culture have such a prominent place in our society. Users can choose to import information from their Facebook profile (like age, location, education, work, interests/Facebook likes, and people on your friend's list) or build a profile from scratch using their phone number or email address. They also have the option to add a bio, link their Instagram account, and even pick an "Anthem" or share their most played artists on Spotify. All of these options make it pretty easy to get a good understanding of the person behind that profile. That said, Tinder doesn't differentiate between those looking for relationships and those looking for fun hookups–which can make matching a bit of a messy process. But that doesn't mean you won't find what you're looking for! It may just take some time (and a whole lot of patience).
As a Tinder user myself, I could see how some could be shocked the app made it on our list of the best online dating sites. It definitely has its fair share of problems (which you can read more about here), but it also works regardless of what type of relationship you're looking for. However, since it doesn't offer any real matchmaking services, finding something involving commitment can be a little sticky but not impossible (one Daily Dot writer met her fiance on it!).
The Tinder app is free to download and use but if you do choose to go premium with Tinder Plus, you'll be able to swipe anywhere in the world, hide your age and distance, control who sees you, rewind your last swipe, hide ads, unlock unlimited right swipes and extra Super Likes.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $9.99/month for a one-month Tinder Plus membership
- $5.83/month for a six-month Tinder Plus membership
- $4.58/month for a 12-month Tinder Plus membership
14) Hinge
Hinge is considered one of the more recently launched top dating sites. The service utilizes your Facebook Friend List to match you with singles in your area that also know some of your friends. But that's not the only difference. Hinge also requires each of its users to build a profile that includes three of its icebreaker/fun-fact prompts. Which I know doesn't sound like much, but reading people's responses to questions like "Two truths and a lie" or "Where you can find me on a Friday night…" really gives you a much better sense of the person behind the profile.
My experience on Hinge was one of the better experiences I've had on a dating app. Its interface is clean and the way Hinge presents users' profiles benefits those looking for something on the more serious side of the relationship realm (hell, the service's tagline is "Designed to be Deleted"). It also requires users to completely fill out their profile before they get to the fun stuff. The app alternates between sharing users photos, fun facts, and biography so when you're scrolling through their page, you're less likely to overlook something. And once you select a person's page, Hinge won't let you swipe on them until you scroll to the bottom or exit the profile. Dare we say it's the least superficial of all dating apps?! The app also allows users to set "Dealbreakers," which are strict requirements for what you absolutely don't want (one night stands, a slobby partner, kids, etc.).
Hinge is free to download and use, but free members receive a limited amount of swipes per day. So if you want to be able to swipe all day, see who has already "liked" you, set advanced preferences, or get expert dating advice, you'll need to upgrade to a Preferred membership.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $12.99/month for a one-month Preferred membership
- $6.99/month for a three-month Preferred membership
- $4.99/month for a six-month Preferred membership
15) Badoo
A lesser-known online dating service, Badoo hosts over 400 million users. Using your current location, Badoo helps you find local singles wherever you may be. But what sets it apart from its rivals is that the app offers a guesstimate of where/when you may have run into a potential match IRL. So let's say you're at the mall and so is another Badoo user–the app will notify you of that! Additionally, the site also offers profile verification to ensure its users are who they say they are, so there's little risk of catfishing.
Badoo is free to join and use, but many of its best features are reserved for Premium members only. So if you plan on boosting your profile, checking your popularity within the app, browse anonymously, or be the first to contact new users, you'll need to upgrade (which also requires you download the paid version of the app which will set you back another $3). Badoo also features an in-app currency of credits that can be used to send other members gifts, boost your profile, get to the Popular list and much more!
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $0.79/day for a one-day Badoo Premium membership
- $3.99/week for a one-week Badoo Premium membership
- $9.99/month for a one-month Badoo Premium membership
- $8.33/month for a three-month Badoo Premium membership
- $5.83/month for a six-month Badoo Premium membership
- $59.99 for a Lifetime Badoo Premium membership
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16) Lavalife
For the last twenty years, Lavalife has provided an online dating service for singles looking to meet people based on interests, passions, and hobbies. The site's 10-minute profile builder also works as a matchmaker, as the service will only pair you with other users that you have things in common with. Other features include dating tips, an "In Common" feature that details why you and another user would make a great match, and advanced search filters.
People who have used the site only have good things to say, they just wish the site was free to use. Fortunately, it does offer new subscribers a free 7-day trial so you can figure out any qualms you may have with it before you pay out.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
- $19.99/month for a one-month membership
- $16.66/month for a three-month membership
- $14.99/month for a six-month membership
17) Chemistry.com
Being the sister site of Match.com, it comes as no surprise that Chemistry.com makes the cut for one of the best online dating sites in the USA. The goal of the site is to connect you with someone so compatible that after only talking, you feel like you've already met each other. Users are asked to take a compatibility test (similar to the one hosted on Match.com) that puts your personality on display. This way when Chemistry.com sends you a match suggestion, it's personalized to your preferences.
Reviewers claim that the award-winning site doesn't quite hold up to Match.com's precedent. That said, it's still a worthwhile pick for those looking to be matched and introduced to other singles also looking for a more serious relationship.
Chemistry.com is free to join and browse, but in order to take advantage of all the service's features, you'll have to upgrade your account to a paid membership.
Membership payment options (payable by credit or debit card):
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LISTEN UP: Are These International Dating Apps Legit?
In episode 99 of 2 GIRLS 1 PODCAST, Alli and Jen want to know what's up with the sketchy international dating apps made popular by reality shows like 90 Day Fiancé. Fortunately, journalist Paul Schrodt has tested many of them, and while some users do find love, there's also a lot of questionable power dynamics and behavior going on.
Subscribe to 2 GIRLS 1 PODCAST on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts!


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We often find ourselves having to make difficult choices. But what makes them difficult? A part of us wants to choose something, yet another one wants to choose something else. What are these parts of us and why do they have different perspectives on what the right choice is? Why are we split in such a way that we are unable to act as a unified whole?
It is as though we can feel the pull of opposing forces, each having a strong claim and we tend to agree with both views, because both views have legitimacy. How are we able to carry these contradictory tendencies and how can we expect to find clarity without elucidating the motivations and reasons of each of these split personalities?
If these sub-personalities had a voice what would they say? What would they really say, if they were radically honest? If they didn't hide behind good intentions, obligations and blame? If they took full responsibility for the way they feel?
I think they would sound much different than what they would appear initially. Many of our internal conflicts stem from the way we frame our problems, from the lack of willingness to take ownership for our problems and from not listening to our intuitive guidance. We often aren't able to recognize our true motivations for the way we act, because we are blinded by ideas of how things are supposed to be, by what is expected of us and by unconscious fears.
Two of the things that guide our behaviors without us realizing are guilt and shame. We want to do something that would be good for us, yet that would mean letting people down. This conflict causes anxiety, because provoking negative emotions in another person creates the impression that we would be doing something bad. We would have to be bad to disappoint somebody like that, they counted on us for this. If we are used to taking on other people's emotions, then we feel responsible for the way they feel. We forget that everybody is in charge of their own state of mind and we make it our mission to do whatever is in our power to keep other people's approval. Then we start getting resentful and bitter because in essence we are shifting responsibilities, we take on the responsibility of other people's emotions, yet we hold them accountable for our lack of happiness.
The thought behind it is something like 'fine, I'll do this to keep you happy, but just so you know, I hate it and you are responsible for making me do this.' If we were honest about what was happening we would find feelings of obligation, duty, shame and guilt beneath this attitude. If they can be recognized as such, then we need not act on them, since we know that our actions do not stem from love, but from wounding. We would liberate ourselves from these feelings and we would liberate the other person as well from deriving strength/value/security from outside of themselves. They would no longer rely on our actions for those things which would give them the chance to empower themselves. When we take responsibility for the way we feel, we help other people to do the same.
"There's such a thing as healthy shame. Such shame, which is directed at our behavior, catalyzes our conscience. In stark contrast, unhealthy shame, which is directed at our being, catalyzes our inner critic, which commonly masquerades as our conscience."
– Robert Augustus Masters, Bringing Our Shadow Out Of The Dark
Sometimes it is difficult to identify these emotions because the mind can engage in rationalizations and justifications for the way we behave, thinking it is acting on good intentions. But there is a difference between doing something out of love and doing the same thing out of obligation. The former is done wholeheartedly, without any regrets or resistance while the latter needs plenty of convincing to do and plenty of assurances to be given in order to be done. The former feels right and fills you up with joy, while the latter is done in order to be congruent with your idea of what the right thing to do is.
For instance, I once had to decide whether I was going to go back to my old job. I was extremely confused about it and I didn't know what to do. I spent a whole month trying to figure it out. I knew I needed money, since I was pretty much broke, yet I didn't really want to do it anymore. In my mind I kept telling myself how I needed to be financially independent and how other people needed to know I was self-reliant and I found all sorts of reasons to justify to myself that going back was the right thing to do. But this didn't last, because these lies had caused so much friction that I couldn't take it any longer and I finally decided, in spite of all opposition, that I wasn't going to go back regardless the consequences. Of course, being independent is important, it's just that for me going back at that point would not have been a good decision since I needed to move forward.
Other times, I would continue to live up to other people's expectations and always feel guilty when I wasn't be able to live up to them. I would find myself feeling suffocated by obligation and I would feel guilty about not being able to do things out of love. The more I did them, the more my feelings grew into resentment and bitterness. And I found myself getting more and more drained and weakened by having to do those things that seemed like the right thing to do. But they weren't, they were just the shoulds I had internalized to justify the fact that I was doing these things with good intentions.
Shame and guilt can take various disguises. Robert Augustus Masters identified in his book Bringing Your Shadow Out Of The Dark three disguises that they can take: aggression, emotional disconnection and narcissism. Aggression can be elicited when we feel ashamed, yet we are unable to accept that part of ourselves that makes mistakes and so we try to control the world around us into not disturbing us with these perceptions of wrongdoing that we find so difficult to accept in ourselves. Emotional disconnection is another strategy we can employ when we feel shame. Our emotions can be so overwhelming that we cannot accept the things we have said and done and so we resort to emotional disconnection as a form of self-preservation. We unconsciously believe that numbing our shame can stop the pain, but all it does is anesthetize us to the richness of life. The third means of escape from shame is narcissism, where we inflate our sense of self to such a degree that we cannot accept any criticism. We don't want to feel shame, we associate it with a feeling of being bad, of being annihilated and instead of accepting these feelings, we often try to hide beneath a mask of authority or competence or importance in order to discourage others from questioning us ever again.
"When I was eight or nine, I proudly brought home my report card. It was packed with As. I showed it to my father, and without looking at me he muttered something about "What the hell good is this when you can't even screw in a bolt straight?" I slouched beneath the crushing shame I felt at hearing these words. I'd already learned that if I couldn't master a skill, such as screwing in a bolt straight, right away, he wouldn't give me a second chance. The lesson, which he drove into me over and over, was that being successful meant being competent in skills that he valued and being incompetent in such skills meant being rejected, hurt, blasted with shame. And the more shame I felt, the more I was pulled to be aggressive with others, especially with regard to besting them physically and academically. I had zero awareness of this connection between shame and aggression at the time, it was completely hidden in my shadow."
– Robert Augustus Masters, Bringing Your Shadow Out Of The Dark
When we act according to our internalized shoulds we only have two options: either we do what is expected of us and breed resentment or we don't do those things and we feel guilty. That doesn't seem like a fair choice, does it? Well, it doesn't have to be that way. You are allowed to not want to do something without feeling guilty or ashamed. You are allowed to have your own boundaries. And you are allowed to say no to things that drain you. That doesn't make you a bad person. You can use your creative energy to build the life that you want, the life that brings you joy. And you can choose to direct this energy on a channel that is free from resistance.
The problem with shoulds is that they do seem to have a strong claim on the way you behave and act. But the best indicator of it being the right thing to do for you is whether you can do those things with love, without complaining or blaming other people, if you can do it without any feeling of guilt and shame, obligation or duty, whether you can do it because you simply want to.


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2015 12_05 Fall Bikes and Scooters
Our Bikes or Scooters
for Books Project
First Trimester 2015
We have continued our on-going Literacy project this year. For elementary students at any Lincoln Elementary school in the Western Placer Unified School District that achieves their Accelerated Reading Goals for the trimester, they become eligible for the Rotary drawing for a bike or scooter.
The purpose of this project is to encourage students to read. Up through the 3rd grade, students learn to read. Thereafter, they read to learn.
The pictures below show the winner accepting their awards.
Worldwide, 67 million children have no access to education, and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Basic Education and Literacy are supported worldwide by Rotary.