Ken Stevens (Owner/Teacher, Smith’s School of English - Koenji)
Well this Christmas holiday I was really looking forward to, as last year, my first in Japan as an English school owner with Smith’s School of English, I was feeling exhausted and had no spare cash or desire to travel outside of Japan. However by Christmas 2006, after a full year of teaching and promoting my schools I actually felt that I needed a rest and had earned a break. The Smith’s holiday calendar offers a decent break and I also had the means to do it so do it I did!
On my first day off I got up an hour or so later than usual and went to Okubo for a stroll and to have breakfast. It was raining and it had, if I remember correctly rained all night. It was cold but not as cold as it would have been if it was not raining and if there was a northerly wind. I went back home to Koenji earlier than I had intended to do as I wanted to get into my warm air conditioned apartment. I spent the rest of the day relaxing, watching TV and reading.
In the evening I headed off to Shinjukuj to see the Christmas lights and go to the Koma theatre in Kabukicho to see the musical “We Will Rock You”. Although I had seen the Christmas lights in Koenji – which were very simple, colourful and festive - I was excited to see the lights in Shinujuku, in particualr those near the East Exit of the JR railway line which were silver and a most stunning bright metallic looking blue. They were so magnificent that they took my breath away. – they were simply the most elegant Christmas lights I had seen for a long while.
The musical was great, it was about “Queen” and Ben Elton and of course featured many of their world famous songs. I was surprised to see throughtout the show Japanese people standing, clapping and dancing in time with the rocking beat. I thought the story was a bit weak but the actors had very good voices and it was an enjoyable experience. I spent a few days by myself, and had a Christmas lunch with one of my long time friends who I have known for more than 20 years and who works with the Japan Times.
On Christmas Eve I had dinner with my son who I travelled with soon after to Singapore to spend sometime in the sun and to welcome in the New Year away from Japan. I have always had a soft spot for Singapore as it is a very modern, clean and friendly tropical city. The island of Singapore was beautifully decorated for the festive season in the sophisticated colours of gold, red and silver. It is a shoppers paradise as well as a sensational place to taste a wonderful variety of Asian foods. Although Singapore’s first language is English (referred to as “Singlish” Lah) it is a city of people from various ethnic backgrounds the most prominent of which are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian. We ate usually in a food hall or at an outside venue as it gave us a very good opportunity to try numerous types of food.
Besides shopping and eating Singapore has many attractions. It has fantastic beaches, the Sentosa amusement island, beautiful Botanical Gardens which are regarded as having one of the finest collection of orchids in the world, a world class zoo which in addition to its day time activities also has night safari tours. We also took trips to Chinatown, Little India, Clarke Quay and Marina Bay.
On New Year’s Eve we watched “Kohaku” – our hotel had an NHK channel – after which we went into Orchard Rd (Singapore’s Omontesando) and mingled with the very large crowd.The public transport system is excellent in particular the railway. I really enjoyed the food in Singapore and am looking forward to an opportunity to visit it again soon.
On arriving back in Japan I was very happy and I was looking forward to catching up with my student friends to find out all about their New Year’s Holidays and to tell them about my R & R in Singapore. I was also wanting to hear about their experiences in using the English language that they had learned during the last few months.
I really had a lazy Christmas/New Year break and I am already thinking about next year – maybe a white Christmas in New York.
To all my students, Smith’s support staff and my fellow Smith’s School of English “Coaches of Communicative Confidence in Japan”: I thank you for being there when I needed you in 2006 and I look forward to working and being with you in 2007.
Ken Stevens