MIA NEWS 195ed., Sep. (5)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
4-1 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-0073
TEL 0986-23-2295
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Hello Miyakonojo!
Hello everyone! My name is Kyle
Johnson and I’m 35 years old. I
came to Japan from Los Angeles,
CA in America, and I arrived in Miyakonojo on August 2. I’m a junior highschool ALT. In America I taught atelementary, junior high, and highschools. At elementary school, Itaught Math, English, PE, Music andArt; in America it’s common for elementary school teachers to teachmultiple subjects. At a combined
junior high and high school, I taught
English, and also coached volleyballWith my family
and worked in the school library. In
my free time I enjoy sports, movies, going to concerts, singing,playing guitar, and performing.
However, performing fills me with the most passion. My
performances have included playing original songs, acting intheatrical plays, standup comedy–a single person telling jokes
and stories on stage, and improv–a group of actors who create an original play in real time based on an audience suggestion.
I lived in Los Angeles the last 8 years, but I grew up in Chicago, a lakeside metropolis in northern America. Chicago is awonderful city, full of gorgeous buildings and fun cultural activities. It was a great place to grow up. Chicagoans create awarm atmosphere with their kind personalities, but the weather can be brutal. In Chicago, people often have to dig theirburied cars out of the snow during the long, frigid winters.

Los Angeles is a great city, too, but for different reasons.
Los Angeles is the largest city on America’s west coast. It sitsnear mountains, forests, and the ocean. It’s usually warm in
the city, even in the winter, but you can drive to the beach andsurf, and then drive into the cold mountains to ski in the sameday. Los Angeles is probably best known for being the entertainment capital of America because lots of music, television,and movies are made there. It’s an exciting place.
As a teenager, I saw the movie Lost in Translation–a movie
about an American actor who feels out of place while working
in Tokyo until he bonds with another American visitor.. I immediately felt drawn to visit Tokyo and explore the neon wonderland myself, but it took more than a decade for me to finallyvisit. In 2018, I visited Tokyo and Kyoto and loved every moment. It was so fun that I decided to return for three months in2019, intent on experiencing Japan outside of the major tourist
destinations. Through World Wide Opportunities on Organic
Farms (WWOOF), a homestay network of organic farmers, I
stayed with families in Hiroshima, Kumamoto and Nagano
prefectures. I also volunteered at a school in Kagoshima prefecture for one month. Those three months were the best ofmy life. Some of my favorite memories are chatting with locals
at farmers markets, relaxing in hot springs, and enjoying a
spiritual sojourn on Mount Koya.
Since I’ve lived my life in big cities so far, I want to have a
different experience in Japan. I’m glad that I can walk lessthan a kilometer from my apartment here in Miyakonojo andfind myself surrounded by fields. I look forward to knowing
Miyakonojo, both its way of life and its residents, more deeply
through my time living here.

Information & Notices◇ Community Safety Workshop for Foreign Residents
Together with Japanese people living in Takazaki, Miyakonojyo, youcan learn how to live safely.
Target Audience: Foreigners living in Miyakonojo and their families
Date and Time: 10/22/2023 (Monday) 10:00-12:30
Location: Miyakonojo, Takazaki District Community Center 2nd Floor
Large Conference RoomContent:●Miyakonojo city trash placement and separation●Police box information
English, Chinese, Mongolian, Vietnamese, Persian (or Farsi) translations are available.
Participation Fee: Free
Estimated attendees: 15
Application Method: By 10/23/2023 call or email the Miyakonojo
International Association about applying.
1) Name 2) Address 3) Preferred Language *Choose from the listedlanguages 4) Mail Address
Application: by using phone, FAX, or E-mail, please send this information to the Miyakonojo International Association (MIA).

◇ International Exchange Night! Let’s mingle!
(Intended for people over 20)
Enjoy a meal while engaging with foreign born people who are livingin Miyakonojo!
Date and Time: 11/18(Saturday) 6:30 pm to 8:30 pmLocation: Naka-machi Food Hall (Miyakonojo Naka-machi 17-9 Cineport Building 1F
Content:
The main purpose of this event is to exchange with local residents ofthe region. There might also be quizzes and games.
Target Audience: Over 20 years oldAttendance Limit: 20Participation Fee: MIA members: 2,500 yen General 3,500 yen
Hors d’oeuvres and a 2 hour all you can drink are included. There will
also be 2 kinds of foreign beers.
No reservations in advance. Please buy a ticket beforehand.
As the seating is pre-determined, please purchase a ticket ASAP.
There are no same day tickets.
Ticket Acquisition:
By phone, FAX, or email, contact the Miyakonojo International Association (MIA) in order to purchase a ticket.

Movies info
C-Plaza Cine-port (Tel: 0986-24-2571)
17-9 Nakamachi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Map-Code (GPS): 117 488 540*55●Alice and Teres’ Illusion Factory●Meg the monster 2●Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning●Kingdom Flame of Fate
●How do you live

●Haunted Mansion●Gran Turismo*The 1st of every month is ¥1,100 for everyone.
*Every Wednesday is ‘Ladies’ Day’, all ladies ¥1,100.
*The cinema is closed every Tuesday.
*For session times visit: http:/movie.walkerplus.com/th286/schedule.html (Japanese)-All broadcast in Japanese.