Let's Reunion!!

Hey y'all (practicing cos I just KNOW I'm gonna pick up the habit again after staying with Johanna for two and a half weeks :D)...

I'm outta here tomorrow. I may upload some pics and stuff while I'm away. In the meantime I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah/or whatever other major holiday, being celebrated this December(from whatever religion) applies to you.

Anyway, so Johanna and Natasha, Part 87 and 3/4 to commence soon! YAY...

Geseende Kersfees en Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar!

00Z

Looks like the Madam and Eve boys really don't like old Julius. Who can blame them? He is a contemptible little dumbass...

Gatvol

To those of you who don't know "gatvol" means "fed up" (that's the polite translation).

Writing Assignments

Howzit folks... been ages since I blogged but that's because my life has been pretty mediocre lately, so I had nothing much to say about the life and times of Natasha Anders the First. Besides, I hit my blogging peak with that cricket post two years ago... and just couldn't ever manage to top that again. Been on a blogging downhill slide ever since.

Anway I digress, today I thought I'd share some student writing with you. So some background info: I started a Speech Skills class with my 4th grade chuto kids a couple of months ago (1st grade High school for those who don't teach at chutos. Sixteen year olds for those who don't teach in Japan at all). Basically I suggested that whenever we have a team teaching class scheduled, we forego the textbook and teach the kids public speaking skills instead. Next year they have to do a public presentation after getting back from their homestay in Australia - and I wanted them to be prepared and confident for that. In addition to that, the kids have been asked to start a journal - for lack of a better word(not a diary) - to practice writing as they are required to write their own speeches every week for the speech skills class. Their first assignment was a rather dry self-intro... but I've been pushing for some creative writing assignments and last week the teachers overcame their sceptism and asked the kids to write a fictional story as their second assignment. Here are a few of the offerings I liked (mistakes included):

1
Once upon a time, there is a little girl who was born into a a poor family. She was very happy and the family got along well but she felt sad once every year at Christmas. Of course her family didn't have enough money to buy presents for Christmas. She thought that if they were rich, she could give presents. But she knew that her father and mother worked from morning till night. So she had patience every year. One day when Christmas was drawing near, she wrote a letter to Santa Claus. It said, 'Please give a present to my parents. They are working all day long. I don't have enough money to buy presents for them. SO I want you to give a present.' Santa Claus read the lettter during the night. He thought 'This child loves her parents. I'll give them a nice present.' Next day the little girl woke up and she was surprised. There were a big Christmas tree in the garden. She and her parents were very happy. It was a memorable event for them and they were all living together happily.

2
One day a she-chick went to her friend's home and played until evening. They said goodbye and she returned home. Suddenly it started to rain heavily, but she didn't have an umbrella. She took shelter from the rain under a tree. "I wish it would stop raining." Just then, a hen, her mother, came to her with an umbrella. "Mom! Thank you for coming for me!" Mother said "That's ok. Let's go home, and drink hot milk." (Random, huh? N)

3 (Christmas seems to be a regular theme. I like this one)
Once upon a time, there were a Santa Claus and reindeers, rabbits and monkeys. On the day before Christmas, the Santa had a cold. He said "If I were fine, I could go to the houses to gave presents." The animals were at a loss. The reindeer said, "Let's help him and carry the presents by ourselves." The animals agreed with him. The reindeers carried a sledge with animals and many presents. Monkeys looked at the map and led the reindeers. Rabbits went through the stovepipe and put presents. They completed the task. One Christmas day, there were may happy smiles of children, animals and a Santa Claus. Fin

(Santa's Helpers)

4 (From a student who was at this year's summer camp. Joel must have made quite the impression on her. Uhm...)
In the old days, there was a big castle. In it lived a princess. Her name is Natasha. Natasha loved a person, his name is Joel. Joel is a farmer. But Natasha had a fiance, his name was Genius. Genius is a prince. Natasha always thinks, "If Joel were a prince, I would marry him..."

5. This one reads like a HCA fairtytale (cho kawaii)
It was a fine day, there was a lonely little witch. While she was strolling in the forest she got hungry. At that very moment, there was a bakery between the trees. An old man was running the bakery. the little witch wanted to eat a delicious loaf, so she talked to him. "Would you give me a delicious loaf?" The old man replied, "I'm in trouble now. I've used all of my match. If I had match I could bake a delicious loaf for you." The little witch thought and said "I am a great witch! I'll light a fire in your oven." She tried. At first she didn't have confidence. But she finally made it. "Look! I could make it!" She said. "Oh, really. You're a real witch! Thank you very much. I will bake a delicious loaf. Wait a while." He said. They talked until the loaves were baked, about their own life, dream, hobbies a... and more. Without notice they had become friends. They ate delicious loaves together. They were happy.

6. Freddy the Leaf-esque (I thought it was so good that, at first, I wasn't completely convinced it was entirely his)
On a very cold day, there was heavy snow. The next day, there was snow over everything all around. A few children made a snowman. The snowman was bright with a carrot nose, a bucket hat, twig arms and glove hands. Children played with him but after a short time they lost interest in him and he became lonely. When winter was ending, he became to have feelings. He was afraid it was getting hotter day by day and spring was coming. He was afraid of death. He felt it. "I wish I could live one day longer. I want to see everytime of the world. I don't wanna melt" He said. But spring came. There was no snowman where he had stood. There was only a little pool. Though in early summer a flower was buded in that place. It is likely that it will see everything for the snowman. Fin

7. Pretty grim. But one of my faves
Today is Christmas. The town is in a festive mood. The children are romping around too. But only Edward is watching them playing in the street from his room. He murmured "If I had legs, I would play with them..." Beside his bed, there is a sheet of paper in a sock. Even Santa Claus can't grant Edward's wish...

(Poor, lonely Edward)

8. Very cute
Once upon a time, there were three cats. One day when they were walking in the garden, they found a lot of cream in a large pot. They wanted to eat it, so they tried to lap it but they fell into the pot and into the cream. The littlest cat couldn't swim and began to drown, so the biggest cat let the littlest cat step onto his back and help the littlest cat climb out of the pot. The middle cat tried to creep up the pot but he simply couldn't creep up. So the biggest cat let the medium cat out of the pot in the same way. Then the biggest cat was so tired and he couldn't creep up. He was drowning. "If he hadn't helped us, he would be saved!" the others shouted. They looked for something to do but they could do nothing. They thought he would die. Then they cried hard. The biggest cat was rowing in the cream to try and creep up the pot. Just then the cream became butter and hard. So the biggest cat could step onto the ground from the butter and he was saved.

9.
"Do you want to become a transparent man? If you were a transparent man, you could do anything and everything." A witch said to the man. The man think that it is very good chance and he said "yes". In an instant the man became a transparent man. The next day, the man stole some money and jewels from many people. The man feel satisfaction. But the man suddenly noticed a serious matter. The man said "If I were transparent forever, I can't use some money." The man didn't know how he return to the ordinary man. Nobody knows where he is now. If a witch ask "Do you want to become a transparent man" to you, what will you answer?

10. A bit Narnia-ish
Tom liked reading adventure stories, he wished he were the hero in the books when he read them. One day, he was reading on of them under a big tree, suddenly the book shined and he was dragged into the book. He woke up and looked around. He noticed that he was in the world of the book which he was reading because the scenery around him looked just like what he saw in the book. He was the hero in the world. He had many adventures. For example, fighting the dragon, crossing the ocean, entering the forest, climbing the snow-covered mountain. He made a close friend during the adventures. He had many adventures with the friend, but the friend parted from him. When he left Tom, the friend gave him a beautiful ring. Tom began to wear the ring every day. Many years have passed since then. He became sick. He was beyond help. After several days, he died watched by many friends. "Tom. Tom" he heard a voice calling him. He woke up. He was under a big tree. His mother was looking at him. He was a boy. He noticed that he had a very, very long dream. The he was surprised because the ring his close friend gave was still shining on his finger. Was that the dream or the reality.

My students are great! They put so much effort into excelling at every little assignment no matter how muzukashi or mendoksai they think it is. Of course, these are but a few. A large percentage of them were average - but good. These were just the ones I found entertaining. I enjoyed marking these. I was just about falling asleep marking the self-intros last week. It got so bad my supervisor suggested I listen to music while working, to help me stay awake. Not so this week... I was entertained from beginning to end. Okay... cheers okes!

Good Idea Bad Idea - Whistling

Lmao! This takes me back! It's my favourite Good Idea, Bad Idea! For some reason it's the one that stuck in my head for years and years. I loved this show. Siiiiiiiiiiigh! Used to rush home everyday second day to watch it.

For Annabelle

Look what I found... this takes me way, way, wayyyyyyyyyyyy back (okay not THAT far back)... I knew you'd be one of the few people who would appreciate it (well, maybe Vonnie would too... didn't know her back when this song was popular). Good stuff man!

Hey Annie

Here's another one... good old-fashioned homegrown talent. Whatever happened to Sugardrive anyway?

Presenting Mr and Mrs Van Der Schyff

One of my best friends got married a week and a half ago and as with every other recent landmark moment in my friends' lives, I missed it. I knew she'd look gorgeous... and the groom wasn't too shabby himself - even though we know the brides are gonna outshine all on their special day.



Thanks to Lynn for her/Shane's pics... and congratulations to Mr and Mrs Shaun and Lorinda Van der Schyff. I so wish I could have been there. You both looked stunning and so totally in love.

Hugs and kisses

Natasha

Just like yoghurt

Madam and Eve always say it best... mwuhahahahahaha!

Mango Groove-Special Star

OMG!! If you're South African this will make you seriously nostalgic... "There's a spe-shul stah that shines... every evening in your eyes!!" Hahahaha... who could forget those chickies in those tiny school uniforms and the gum boot dancers and MOST IMPORTANTLY, that maestro on the penny whistle. Takes me way, way, waaaaaaaaaay back!

I bless the rains down in AAAFRICA!!

Andy Mckee - Africa - Toto - www.candyrat.com

Howzit? Been a while since I posted, ne?! Sorry okes, I've had no computer for ages... but I'm back now, so hope you folks back home wi'out Facebook are as totally excited about it as I am!

I love this dude's rendition of Africa by Toto. Fantastic.

And since it's one of my karaoke faves, I figured I'd post it on my blog for all to enjoy. Anyway, who can forget that nostalgic Castle Lager ad featuring this song... "All around the world, as South African's home is his Castle"? Makes me feel all teary-eyed just thinking of that ad... sniff.

Maar nou wel, hope youse are all lekker!

Zimlander

Robert Mugabe... what an arsehole!
(yes... I will simply not acknowledge the fact I haven't been posting for 5 months and carry on regardless).

Merry Christmas

It's been a while since I've blogged about anything... but my computer's been crap, so I couldn't really help it!

Anyway, I'm off to South Africa (YAY HOME) on Friday and hope to sort out my laptop woes once I'm there.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, no matter where in the world you are, and a fantastic New Year!

Stay safe whatever you'll be doing!

Peace and love to all...

N

Happy Birthday to my babyyyyyyyyy

It was Fidel's birthday yesterday! How cute. He's 8 years old and still a gorgeous little thing. He hasn't slowed down much since his bird-hunting puppyhood and still tends to run my mother ragged! Can't WAIT to see him in December... am sure you all know that I miss him heaps (it's a bone of contention between m'mummy and me, cos she feels I should miss her more than the dog).

Amabokoboko you RULE!!!

Then (1995)

South Africa - Rugby World Champions 2007. The Bokke played fantastically throughout the tournament and deserved this win - even if it wasn't the most exciting game in the history of the world (personally I think we would have had a more exciting match if it had been a rematch of the '95 WC Final. Even an Aussie/SA match up had more potential! And those Fijians certainly gave us a run for our money in the quarters! Worthy opponents all)

Thanks Vonnie for the call and the cheers from your fellow party goers! So wish I could have been there... it was no fun watching over here. A pretty lonely feeling, actually! So it was great to hear from you guys! Hope you had a LEKKER jol, ne! Am sure the partying went on 'til well into the early hours of the morning!

I'll say it again, cos it bears saying twice: South Africa are the Rugby Champions of the World! For the second time in 12 years! I can't stop smiling! Dankie manne... ons is so trots op julle!

...and now (2007)

Stimela si qhamuka eSouth Africa

Some Queen for the English Pansies (I mean... ROSES)
Here we stand or here we fall
History won't care at all
Make the bed light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight yeah

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
It comes to you as to us all
We're just waiting
For the hammer to fall

What the hell we fighting for?
Just surrender and it won't hurt at all
You just got time to say your prayers
While you’re waiting for the hammer to hammer to fall

Welcome to the Rugby World Cup Final 2007: South Africa vs England! 4 More days before the game and I’m a nervous wreck! Hate to think of how the players must be feeling. So who will win?! Well, if the sports gods are fair and just, it should be South Africa for sure… but the English team seems to have been casting these weird ass voodoo spells over all their opponents and has managed to scrape through every game (by the grace of the rugby gods and JW’s fecking annoying boot). So I suppose anything can happen! I take nothing for granted after watching teams like Australia and NEW ZEALAND inexplicably crash out of contention – it has been a decidedly strange WC! South Africa in the final is the only thing that is as it should be… but the other supposed given, South Africa WINNING the World Cup – well, that remains to be seen! The sports gods are fickle and may reward the crappier team (I mean ENGLAND, of course) on the day!

Anyway it looks like Madiba can’t make it to the match on Saturday (the guy is 89, really, WHAT were they expecting?) – but am sure his Magic is just as effective from a distance. So, with a little bit of Madiba Magic, a healthy dose of Shosholoza Fighting Spirit and the prayers of 47 million South Africans behind them, I know that the Amabokoboko will play their hearts out and give those Pansies a run for their money. Maak hulle SUFFER, manne!

Random Acts of Kindness...

There are a lot of reasons why I still enjoy living in Japan (and whole bunch of other reasons why I don't – but you're always hearing about those, so I thought I'd talk about something positive for a change) and a few incidents recently have reminded me of exactly why I still like it here more than I hate it.

Last month I went to one of my visit schools for the first time, I wasn't teaching or anything, I just wanted to check out the route and do a quick “yoroshiku”. This particular school is the one everybody told me would be the most difficult to get to, two trains and a (rarely seen) bus from the train station. I, however, discovered that there is a bus that goes directly from my station to the school and vice versa (which is great, cos the school is miles away from the station) and I was testing out the bus service on the day in question. No fuss, no mess... I got to the school without a problem and stayed for a couple of hours before heading home (it was my half day). Now I had some vague notion of the return time being between 11 and 11:15 (I didn’t think to check the schedule at the bus stop when I got off that morning) – so I thought I'd be okay if I left at exactly 11. Unfortunately it was raining (pouring actually – am sure you can all imagine my frame of mind at that time!) and the bus stop is about 3 minutes away on a clear day but it's slow going in a torrential downpour when you're wearing sandals and struggling with an umbrella. It was as I was still walking down the side street toward the main road (where the bus stop is) that I saw the damned bus pass by... I started running (it would have been funny if it wasn't so pathetic – my feet were soaked, my sandals were slip-sliding all over my feet and the umbrella was about as effective as a plaster (Band Aid for you brand-obsessed Americans out there) on a gaping wound!

I was about ten metres away from the bus stop when the bus simply moved along its merry way. I remember holding up a hand and shouting “Stooooooop!” but naturally the driver didn't hear me or see me! So I limped up to the bus stop time table to check when the next bus would be and I was horrified to discover that it would arrive more than an hour later! I felt like crying. I remember stomping my foot (in a puddle of water that frikken splashed up and under my skirt – NOT pleasant) and practically screaming: “FUCKFUCKFUUUUUUUCK!!”… it was at that time when I realized that there was a car standing behind me (it had stopped while I was desperately trying hail the bus) and the driver had obviously seen my rant (I sincerely hope he hadn’t understood my language)... he gestured for me to come closer... and I approached his car a bit warily, wondering what the hell this was all about now!

He simply asked if I was okay and I was all gestures and English/Japanese wails of despair as I explained about the bus simply leaving me behind. He was quite sympathetic and immediately offered me a lift to chase down the bus (only about a minute had passed since the bus had disappeared). I wasn't too sure about this – I mean back home I wouldn't even have entertained the notion of accepting a lift from some man – no matter how well-intentioned he seemed (I mean, all those serial killers must have seemed quite well-intentioned to their victims, I'm sure). My options were either to stand at that bus stop seething with resentment at my terrible luck or heading back to school to seethe with resentment at my terrible luck in a dry environment (neither option was particularly appealing) – or I could take my chances with this tiny potential serial killer – who was obviously in his company car (there was a logo on the side) and wearing his company t-shirt (logo on the breast pocket) and who looked like a strong wind could knock him over! I figured I could probably beat the crap out of him if he tried anything and hopped into his car.

This lovely little fella went completely OUT of his way to chase down that bus... the stupid bus was frustratingly elusive… it was always just around the next bend and once we JUST missed it when it stopped at a bus stop! I was afraid the guy would wind up taking me all the way to Higashi Sanjo, when eventually we caught up with the bus (about five minutes later) – and after a whole lot of heartfelt thanks (countered with a bunch of doitachimashite’s) I leapt out of the car and onto the bus. When I looked out to wave at my savior, he was turning his car and heading back in the other direction. It was so sweet and unexpected! But rest assured it's not something I would do everyday!

Anyway, in a completely unrelated story... let me tell you about another little incident that simply made me shake my head in amazement. A week ago I was in a huge rush to catch a train to work... I parked my wheels in the allotted parking area outside the station and dashed inside to catch my train (made it with seconds to spare – phew!) – it was just as I was sitting down in the train that I realized I didn't have my keys with me. This meant one of two things – I'd left the key in the bicycle – or I’d dropped it somewhere in station (I was togging my self-intro stuff, a bag, an umbrella – I don't even think I brushed my hair... it was one of THOSE mornings, okay?!). I was a bit panicky at the thought of not having my keys, because a) my bike is new and therefore a temptation for any bicycle thief worth his/her salt, b)my aparto keys are on the same key ring and c)I (stupidly) have a tag on my key with my address on it!

I thought I could get to school and call the station asking them to keep an eye out for the keys but was I immediately swamped when I got to work, so I had to shove that concern to the back of my mind. I never got the opportunity to call, so I was feeling a bit nervous about the bike situation – and worse, the flat situation – when I got back to Higashi Sanjo station that night. I KNOW what would have happened back home – my bike would be missing and my home would be ransacked (now be honest enough to admit that that would probably have happened in YOUR country too) and I had a nasty moment when I realized that the bike had been moved from the spot I'd left it in that morning. After a brief, panicked look around, I discovered that it had merely been relocated by the magical bicycle fairies who occasionally move people's bikes from one spot to another for seemingly no reason on earth other than to have us wandering aimlessly up and down the bicycle lot looking for our wheels! The same mischievous magical bicycle fairies had very kindly removed my keys from the lock, placed it in the basket and taped it down so that a random gust of wind wouldn't blow it away, I guess! This would not deter an experienced thief back home – they have tools to combat sticky tape – but over here it served its purpose and I was totally chuffed (and actually little bit offended) to realize that nobody was interested in stealing my bike or ransacking my flat. Phew!!!

And then finally... last night... the best thing in the world happened!! I'd ordered a book from Amazon.co.jp and I had been waiting for it for aaaaaaaaaages! So last night I got home to discover the Pelican Delivery Service slip of non-delivery! So I called them and asked them if I could have it delivered that night (it was after six) – the lady on the other end was all apologetic and I got the gist of what she was saying, sorry their driver was running late, he probably would not be able to make it back to my part of the world in time to deliver the package, etc etc! I must have sounded as devastated as I felt (I had fond visions of starting the book as soon as I got it! It's been a while since I've read something new... and I was in the mood to be intellectually stimulated <- you'll get this particular joke if you know me well!) so she said she would ask the driver and then call me back! The call back was a long time coming and when it finally came it wasn't the girl in the call centre but the driver himself! Same story, he couldn't make it that night, could he deliver it tomorrow? I think I must've sounded pretty sad about it, because he was using his best consoling voice. In the end I thanked him, we reconfirmed that he would deliver the following day (tonight) at 7 pm and that was that! So there I was, sitting in front of The Dinosaur – disappointed that my huge and exciting plans for the evening had fallen through – trying to open an email from Lorinda (it was taking forever! The Dinosaur does nothing in a hurry) when my doorbell rang, followed by an authoritative knock! Who was it but my dear friend, the Pelican Delivery Guy?! I think I had a HUGE smile on my face and I couldn't thank him enough! What a nice dude, he's one of my new favourite people! He looked quite chuffed with himself too, because I think he realized that he had just made my week!

So there you have it! I know this is long but it's been a slow day and I had time to kill...

Oh and by the way, it's a rather lovely day today!

Chotto chilly!!

Okay so every year I write one of these despairing notes about the weather changing and all that! I’ve decided to be no different this year… why be original when you can stick to what you know?!

It’s COLD people!!! COLDCOLDCOLD! And I’m not liking it ONE bit!! So last Thursday it was warm – hot even… Friday brought rain (I won’t touch on how much I hate rain because I think you all know this already) and after that it was just plain cold!! I went from having my a/c on to sleeping with two blankets on my bed! Yesterday I wore long sleeves to school (for the first time in four months) but it was just one layer, so I got quite cold in the staffroom. I had to go out and sit in a patch of sunlight for an hour or so (positively reptilian, I know – I mean that’s the kind of thing cold-blooded animals do isn’t it?) before I felt warmed up enough to move again. I don’t understand how people can still wear short sleeves – it’s unnatural. I keep hoping it will warm up again. In fact, I was kind of hoping for another “unnatural” winter like last year but it looks like that’s not gonna happen… we’re probably gonna get record amounts of snow again (bleh). Sooooooooooo glad I’m going home for three weeks during winter – give me a lovely Cape Town summer anytime, surf, sand, sun, sexy bods (niiiiiiiiiice)!

Anyway, just thought I’d share this with y’all! It’s been a while since I blogged and I thought it would be nice for you all to experience my bitching and moaning again! Just in case you forgot what it was like.

In other news… Hmmm… I don’t think there IS any other news. How sad. The best thing I’ve done in the past month or so was make up my mind to go home for Christmas! I booked my ticket, paid my deposit and am now having fond daydreams of all the stuff I’ll do when I get home. It’s been two years – so I’m totally excited. The last time I went home I was SHOCKED to discover that they’d painted the local mall, built a petrol station behind our house and changed the money!! I was disgusted with both friends and family for not informing me of these shattering changes! I hope they see fit to warn me of anything like that before I get home this time. Changes I know about; Chevon has a bf, Lorinda has a bf, Nathan has a gf, Cousin Melanie is getting married (finally), one of my other cousins is getting divorced, grandparents are moving, mother has a bf (SHOCKER!), Garth has twins, Roberto and JP have moved, Dina Rodrigues was found guilty of murder (and justice is SERVED! Thank you very much), Thabo Mbeki has been on a power trip and firing all and sundry, Tokyo Sexwale may run for president, Helen Zille was arrested for something stupid (what the HELL?! Talk about screwed up –arresting the mayor of Cape Town for participating in an anti-drug march – but making no progress in actually arresting the drug lords out there! Then again am sure the drug lords and the cops have a lovely little symbiotic relationship going), Jackie Selebi is nuts – gosh I LOVE my country! It’s all fun and games over there! Never a dull moment in ole Minami Afurika! Anyway… so I do know about SOME changes but I swear, if I get home and discover that the neighbour has painted his house blue, or M-Net has changed their logo and no-one bothered to tell me, I’m gonna lose it!

So excited… will be nice to go on a road trip with the girls, play with my baby, spend time with my brother, argue (and go shopping) with my mother! Buy presents for the kids!! I can’t wait…

WC Rugby Fever

Everyone's got it...

England! The Rugby World Cup Chumps!

Got up at 4am to watch the SA vs England rugby world cup match! I was expecting a Battle Royale... instead the Boks wiped them out 36-0!! And to be honest, it should have been a higher score for SA! Glad I'm South African and NOT English today!

Hier kommie Bokke!!