Feeling Good

We haven't actually been teaching classes yet, but I feel like I am finally getting into a groove. People and places are starting to become familiar to me. It's not so overwhelming!
I am also getting along well with my coworkers. I think when we first got here, everyone was hot, tired, and a little cranky (yes, including me).
Now that things are a little less threatening and we are getting our feel for what life will be in Hasuda, we are able to focus on getting to know our colleagues/neighbors.
I have to say that, at first, I thought that I was really going to clash with Katlin, but she is turning out to be such an AWESOME person. I seriously misjudged her and for that, I am sorry.
I realized right away how important it would be for all of us to get along. We don't have to be best friends, but it helps if we are able to enjoy each other. Considering that she is the only other female JET in our town, it's important that we get along.
So I am happy and content, because it seems like I am living and working with a great bunch of people who like to have fun, but will do a good job here as well.
I think I will feel a little sad when we start going to our individual schools, rather than going as a group to one school. We are starting to feel like a little family now and that feels good!

Today...

...I have done absolutely nothing. I did do some cleaning and some laundry, but stopped because it's so hot inside my apartment. (If anyone is deciding to come to Japan, please refrain from coming in July or August unless you love hot and humid weather)
I decided to break down and have a soda today, because I have consumed so much water. After cleaning, I wanted something a little different. I also decided to walk to the vending machine instead of to the store. (For those who don't know, there are vending machines everywhere in Japan. I will probably blog about that later). When I stepped outside, I realized that it was probably 10 degrees cooler outside my apartment than inside. So after coming back to my apartment, I thought that I would finish up my laundry and then maybe wander around town where it was cooler.
I finally finished the last of my work (MAYBE 20 minutes later), I walk outside, and it is now hotter outside than in my apartment. I don't get it. At that point I decided to shut myself in the one room I do have with A/C and watch one of the few movies I brought with me.
I have to say, watching a Christmas movie and thinking about snow made me feel cooler.
(I know, I'm a nerd).
So yeah. Today= nothing accomplished. I feel a little guilty, but it also feels good not to be working so much.

Oh Happy Day

Today has been a good day. To start with, it is the first cool day we have had since arriving in Japan. Believe me, I appreciate it. It's supposed to be hot again tomorrow, but the coolness of today was very refreshing.
The only negative thing that happened today, was that I overslept and missed taking my garbage out. I won't be able to take it out again until Monday. It will be hot, so my kitchen will probably get a little smelly.
In the afternoon, we went to Hasuda-chu to help with speeches. It was very laid-back and didn't take too long. Afterwards, Eddie showed us where the hyaku yen store was (dollar store). They are so much cooler in Japan than they are back home. Of course, I got some really cool things, so I am happy. After our visit to the store, we explored a nearby park. I should preface this with the fact that most "parks" in Japan consist of dirt, benches, and sometimes playground equipment. If you are really lucky, you might see grass. Well, this park had a huge pond for fishing, bike trails, loads of grass, and the most amazing children's area I have ever seen! It had a fortress on top of rocks and the illusion of a dried moat beneath. If I were a kid, it would be my favorite place to go.
After our excursion, I had a little down time before I met with my Thursday conversation group members. These ladies are so much fun. They met me and Rosa (the former teacher) for dinner. It was very relaxed and a lot of fun. We will start lessons next week, so I am really looking forward to it. I won't have to do much, because they already have a book and way of doing things. I am mostly there to visit and correct their grammar.
I knew that I would be getting paid for this class, but I thought that it was about $100 a month. That was wrong. I found out tonight that I will get $25 per hour per person. That means that I will be making about $500 a month. I would have done it for less, but I am thrilled to earn this.
I am here so that I can make a dent in my student loans, but I want to be able to travel and do things locally as well.
I am happy and feel blessed.
Oh, and one more great thing...I know that I have been losing weight, but I did not know how much. Today, I got on the scale and I have lost 27 pounds! I am very excited! I hope that I will keep this up for a while. I guess that the bike riding, humidity, and drinking 4 to 6 liters of water a day have really helped. Also, I have pretty much quit drinking coffee and soda.
I am going to go and do a little happy dance now.

A Conversation Adventure

I had my first conversation class last night. I was excited and nervous. Mostly nervous, because I didn't know exactly where I was supposed to be. I finally recognized the kanji on a building from a piece of paper I had seen in my apartment. I don't know what the kanji said, but I was really excited that I recognized it!
In the conversation group, we will meet three times a month. There are between six and nine students of all ages.
I was told that the first meeting would consist of us talking about the kinds of things the class has done before and then we would go from there. People were very shy and nervous, so they weren't saying much (not good for a conversation class). Thankfully, I have had enough experience with tutorials at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, that I could think of tutorial ideas as well as topics of conversation that seemed popular with the girls.
I am happy that first night is over with, because now I know the level of the group and more of its members' personalities. I will definitely be prepared next week.
I have another conversation group tonight. If we are actually starting tonight, it will be for two hours. I will have two ladies for one hour and then two other ladies for the next hour.
There are a lot of things that are still unclear to me. I keep asking questions, yet people don't answer. They only seem to be concerned about someone teaching their class. I am not going to worry too much about it though. Just like any new job, I will just have to learn the ropes. In the meantime, I am getting to meet people and learn more about the community I live in.
In my Wednesday night group, there are two older men who love to go mountain climbing. They told me that they are both in their 70's (I would not have guessed), and they both enjoy tennis and mountain climbing. One said that he is always looking for a new adventure, and learning English is an adventure for him.
So as far as conversation classes go, it sounds like it is an adventure for all of us.

Education Reflection

Today, we visited another junior high school to help with the city's speech contest. We are helping the contestants with grammar and pronunciation. In some cases, because of the entry limit, we have to decide on the best speeches from that school and eliminate some students (this is tough for me to do, because I don't want anyone to be so discouraged that they stop studying or speaking English).
So far, I have enjoyed both the students and staff from the schools that we have visited. They are a very energetic bunch.
As we were getting our bikes from the school today, there were a couple of teachers with their students outside practicing English. I assumed it was a club because there are no formal classes until next month. One of the boys began speaking to us in clear, unaccented English. I was impressed. He was very talkative and was especially interested in the two of us who were from America (sorry England and Australia). I noticed that he had difficulty responding to Japanese though (he is native Japanese). Also, another boy talked a little to us. He was shy and looked very tired. His English was also perfect. The other students didn't really talk to us other than a "hello", "nice to meet you", or "bye-bye".
After we left, our veteran ALT informed us that this was the special needs class. I was completely shocked! I was shocked for several reasons. The first being that the two boys had flawless English (the first boy was probably autistic). The second, was that they were meeting during the summer. But the third reason, was that, as I reflected on our education system and Japan's education system, I wondered if America would even bother trying to teach its students another language that may or may not be helpful to the individual later in life. Or for that matter, taking the time and patience to teach a useful skill.
I was humbled in those few moments. Today I encountered a student who thinks that everything American is great, yet I wondered if his view would be completely different if he were a student in the US.
If we can't change our education system all at once, we should definitely try to make a difference in our communities. It is important to reach out and take care of those around us.
In Asia, everything is group oriented. It is something they are taught from birth. Everything is about bringing harmony to the group and doing what is best for the group. Basically, they take care of each other and put others first. This is so different from what is ingrained in Americans. We are taught to be superstars, over-achievers, etc...
I realize that I came to Japan to teach, but I have a feeling I will learn far more from Japan than I can ever give back.

Festivals

On Saturday, our town held a festival to wrap up obon week. As the newest city employees, we were asked to participate. Our job was to perform a dance for two blocks. We also had less than half an hour to learn this dance.
Saturday was hot, but not as hot as it has been. It was still really hot though. We met at the park prior to dancing and discovered many of the other city hall employees drinking and eating (mostly drinking). They offered us food and drink. I passed. I did not think that heat, alcohol, and a dance would mix well. When we lined up on the first block to begin dancing, I soon realized why everyone had been drinking so much. Only one or two of maybe 40 people, knew the dance. With alcohol in their systems, they could blame their mistakes on the booze. I should have thought of that.
I finally got the dance down, but I was becoming distracted by the taiko (Japanese drum) performers. Most of them were probably elementary students. They were really good too.
After the dancing, we were free to do whatever we wanted to. We walked around and saw some really cool floats for the parade, paper lanterns lining the streets, and local food vendors. I know we have a lot of these things back home, but the foods were very different, the floats were not like anything I had ever seen, and the yukata (summer kimono) is definitely not something we see other people wearing on a semi-regular basis.
As I was walking around, trying to take everything in, I realized that this is part of the culture I wanted to experience in Japan. The best part though, is that I am getting paid to be here.

Shakin', Bakin', and Orientation

As you probably know by now, it has been extremely hot in Japan since we have arrived. I am ready for this weather to run its course. This past week has been so hot, that we have been setting new records. Thankfully, we had orientation in an air conditioned building for the past two days. This was a blessing in disguise. This particular orientation was useful and had A/C. (The simple things do make me happy). That's about all there is to say about orientation. I enjoyed it and it was useful.
On Wednesday, my friend Chikako came to visit. (She lived in Spokane for about a year). I met her early at the train station. She walked around Hasuda with me and my co-workers as we took pictures for the newsletter we are now responsible for. Later, we went to Aki Habara in Tokyo. It is the section of the city where you can find cheap electronics and any kind of anime and manga. We went in the late afternoon, but didn't stay very long. We were both in culture shock. I am still trying to figure out exactly what happened that visit. All I know, is that the French maids who were outside of the train station scared me.
We had a late night hanging out with my coworkers. (Things are finally going smoothly between me and the coworker I thought would be most unpleasant to work with). Around 4:00 am, I woke up because my bed was shaking. Yes, we had an earth quake. I realize they happen all of the time here and I have experienced a few, but I don't like them. Up until Thursday, the last one I experienced was a big one in Seattle. Not my idea of a good time.
Anyway, in the past few days, I have managed to survive sweltering heat, an earth quake, and orientation. I have also survived drinking more alcohol in one week than I did all last year (not that much, really). I had a visit from one of my friends and I think I finally made friends with a coworker.
Overall, I'd have to say that this past week was a good week.

Drinks and Karaoke

Tonight, I went out with my coworkers. We are all finally in the same spot at the same time. I decided to go out tonight, because I have said no to all of the other nights. Mostly, because I am not a big party animal.
We went to a small restaurant/bar in Hasuda. The group had quite a few drinks. I had only one with alcohol. I only ordered about 6 dollars worth of stuff, but because they split everything, my share came to 15 dollars. After drinks, we went to the karaoke place next door. I have to say, it is a lot more fun here than in Japan. You get to sit in a little room that is semi-soundproof and belt out the hits. The most random songs you can think of are available to sing.
Up until tonight, I really didn't feel like most of my new coworkers took me seriously. After the first song though, they started to treat me with more respect.
I am so tired of stereotypes. I know that some people don't even consciously realize they are doing it. To my coworkers, I am a plain, chubby, middle-aged woman. They see me as a bookworm who has no life. While some of this may be true, I assure you, a lot of this is not.
I may choose to lead a different life than they do (I just don't party all of the time). This does not mean that I have no life. i simply find other things to enrich my life. I will still go out to the rare party. I just try to be a little more responsible for myself, that's all. Also, drinking a lot can get very expensive. It can also get you into a lot of trouble.
So tonight, I had fun. We laughed a lot and had a good time. The best part of it though, was that, I didn't feel guilty for going out. I have not gone out every night, so I still have money left. I spent less than 20 dollars tonight and have no regrets.
It is finally nice to be able to afford to pay bill every month and to have money left over. I really hope this lasts.

Random Ramblings

PART 1:
Today, we had another discussion about sorting garbage and recyclables (yes, ignorance is bliss). The term "PET bottle" was thrown around so much, that my mind began to wander as it often does. The only answer I have been given, is that the recyclable bottles say PET on them (even in the US).
I was thinking about how funny it would be to name my water bottle. I could introduce myself to the students and then say, "Oh yeah, this is my PET bottle. I have decided to call it shizuka (quiet), because it never makes noise." I am guessing though, that if I did that, I would probably be sent home to be committed.

PART 2:
Ex-boyfriends can be such a pain. Their new "significant others" can be worse though. That's all I have to say about that.

PART 3:
You never realize how much a person means to you until you move away or they are gone.

Thirty is NOT Middle-Aged!

Just when I though that I had found some common ground with Katlin, she managed to throw me for a loop.
As we were waiting to bike to work this morning, we were talking and then she says "Well at least I'm not 30 and middle-aged yet!". I told her that 30 was not considered middle-aged. I gave her my reasons backed up by biological reasons that 30 isn't considered middle-aged. She responded with "Well I remember you said you were born in the 70's so you must be middle-aged".
I let it go. I decided that when she turns 30 (in a few short years), she can deal with it however she wants to.
Me? Well, besides the fact that I use magic math, I admit that I was born in the 70's. I didn't do things in the traditional sense (I worked for awhile before going to university), but my experience does not mean that I am old.
Honestly, I would like to think that middle-age begins in the 40's. Today's life expectancy is a lot longer than it was a few decades ago. While I may have had a lot of experiences that other 30 year olds may not have had, it does not make me middle-aged and it doesn't mean that I can't come to grips with my own mortality.
I have chosen to have a younger attitude and to TRY not to take certain things so seriously. As long as I can laugh at myself (and with others when they laugh at me), I will keep a young heart. And if people in Japan don't want to believe that I am older than 24, it's perfectly fine with me.

Learning is Fun

When you are a new and nervous ALT presenting your first lesson in front of seasoned teachers, it can be quite the learning experience. I think it is more nerve-wracking, when you have to deal with a language barrier.
So of the four of us who had to present last week, three of us had managed to fumble our way through our lessons. The fourth (Evan) wasn't required to give a lesson, because he arrived later than the rest of us and was still jet-lagged. Evan decided to jump right in though. He was giving a lesson about singular and plural. He drew a picture of a dog and a cat. In Japanese, he drew the word, meow, above the cat. Dogs in Japanese, say "Wan, Wan". Evan wrote this in Japanese, but got his characters mixed up. Instead of barking, the dog said kuso, kuso. Let's just say that the Japanese teacher's response was a straight-faced comment "It's a very smart dog if he can tell his owner he needs to shit".
And THAT, was the end of our lesson.

Life, Oh Life...

I am posting more than once today, because I have been without the internet for several days.
Where to begin?
Last week, I got a call from a lady who works for the English Speaking Society (ESS) and she asked me if I would be interested coming to one of their meetings. I said sure and asked her when she wanted me to come ( I was thinking she would say September or something), and she said that Saturday would be great.
On Saturday, I took my first train ride. Buying a ticket was difficult. Our station is considered in the country and many foreigners don't live here, so everything was in kanji. Next, I proceeded to get on the correct train, but the wrong car (how was I to know they had a first class on the subway?). Lastly, I managed to go to the wrong monument to wait for the Toyamas. All of that in 30 minutes time...go me!
While I was waiting to meet the Toyamas, I was followed by two different guys who were trying to take my picture (none of them succeeded). They were trying to be sneaky about it. If they had asked me if it was ok, I probably would have said yes.
Anyway, I finally met the Toyamas. They are some of the nicest people. They took me out for cake and coffee to get to know me before we went to the meeting. We went to the meeting and I gave a short introduction about myself. I visited three classes and listened to a few short skits. While we were talking, there was a fireworks festival going on, so we stopped and watched for awhile.
After the meeting, most of us went to the Royal Host for food and drinks.
I was told that the Toyamas help choose ALTs for the JET program and they offered to be my Japanese family while I live in Hasuda. I felt very comfortable with the Toyamas and am really happy that I went to the ESS meeting on Saturday.

Roaches, Cicadas, and Bats, Oh My!

To me, these are scarier than lions, tigers, and bears. It is probably because I have to deal with them on a daily basis.
Last week, I was finally starting to feel like I was getting settled. I was even very proud of myself for cleaning and deciphering the washing machine. I rode my bike (as usual) to work on Thursday and had two separate near-misses with bats. Yes folks, they are all over Japan and not completely nocturnal. I am probably enough of a sight to the Japanese people because I am large and pale, but anyone who saw me trying to avoid the bats must have had quite the laugh.
So, I finally made it to work. I was having a nice conversation with my coworker (who lives in the same building as I do), when she tells me that she had her first encounter with a roach in her apartment. She said it was in her garbage. I know that there are roaches around, because I have seen them outside, but in my case, ignorance was bliss. When it comes to roaches and mice, I don't play around. I went to the store and bought a large package or roach traps (for preventative measures, of course). I also scrubbed down all of the garbages, swept and mopped the floors, and tried to get rid of anything that might attract roaches.
Again, there is something about roaches and mice that creeps me out. I really am a pansy. On Thursday night, I slept with the A/C on high (roaches don't like cold, right?) and I am ashamed to say that I slept with the light on.
I have not seen one yet, and I hope and pray that I don't. I have gotten better about my sleeping arrangements, but I still get jumpy from time to time.
Finally, we have the cicadas. I mentioned earlier about my experience with a particular cicada. They tend to be really annoying though. The lifespan of a cicada is very short, so they often fly into the side of my apartment and die on the sidewalk. I think that I am actually looking forward to fall. It would be wonderful if I didn't have to deal with bugs anymore.

Riddle Me This

I am sure that most of you have heard the question "If 7-11 is opened 24 hours, why are there locks on the door?".
Well, today I was contemplating many things on my eternal bike ride. As I was looking around, I realized that we are very close to one of the largest cities in the world. That being said, as I was looking around, I was not looking at sky scrapers and industrial areas. No, I was looking at palm trees and fields. Mostly rice fields. The fact that there are fields so close to the city is very cool. A person can get the best of both worlds this way.
The thing I could not get over though, was the sight of palm trees. Yes, palm trees.
I have never lived in a place where palm trees grow. I'll admit that the heat and humidity here probably helps them to thrive, but Saitama also has winter. I've been told that it rarely snows here, but that it can get cold ( between25 and 30 F). First of all, that doesn't seem too cold to me since I have experienced winters in Spokane, Chicago, and Boston. I would think that for a palm tree though, that would be too cold. The winters are pretty mild in Seattle, but you don't see palm trees growing there.
I admit, I am strange. I am excited to live in a place with palm trees and I shouldn't question how they grow. I should just be thankful.
...now, if only I could have stopped with the palm trees. (I really did have a lot of time to think while riding my bike). Today we had a visit to one of the junior high schools that one of us will teach at. The English teacher was very kind and showed us around the school.
Many things are the same as in the states, but there are also some differences. For instance, we do not wear outdoor shoes in the school. We wear wabaki. At the entrance, there is a place to change your shoes and many small lockers to leave your shoes (if you have big feet like mine, you leave your shoes in a tidy manner near the lockers). They also have lines painted down the hallways. I imagine this makes changing classes easier on everyone. As I am taking all of this in, I am wondering what the protocol is for a fire drill or an emergency evacuation. I know you exit the building in an orderly fashion, but it would not be a good idea to have hundreds of people waiting to change their shoes before going outside. Wearing slippers outside doesn't seem very sensible either. It is also taboo to wear outdoor shoes inside. When I voiced this concern to my coworkers, they looked at me like I was crazy. Really, I think it's a legitimate concern if I am going to be working in schools everyday in a place that is famous for earthquakes. Also, I like to be prepared. If I am prepared, I can remain calm and help those around me.
So yeah, I like to think about a lot of things. Because of reactions like those I received today, I don't voice my thoughts very often. I usually limit what I say. Even in school, I never felt like I could fully express myself. I am hoping that this blog, combined with my new adventure abroad, will help me be more expressive.
Next question, why are plastic water bottles called "PET" bottles here...?

Confusion in Sorting Garbage

I know. It sounds strange doesn't it? In Japan, all garbage is sorted into combustible or non-combustible, glass and pet (plastic) bottles, metal, or cans. Sounds easy enough, but it is actually more confusing and challenging than one might think. For example, the paper carton from a pint of milk would be a combustible right? Actually, no. I was informed that it should be broken down and included with either the non-combustibles or with the pet bottles...I forget which one already.
If you are lucky enough to figure out how to sort the trash, then you get to learn the pick up schedule. For example, combustibles are picked up twice a week, the rest are picked up twice a month. If you don't read kanji and if your predecessor didn't leave you the information, it turns into a fun game.
Honestly, when I left the US, I never thought that dealing with my garbage would be so difficult. The important thing is that it's a new challenge and I still have my sense of humor. It will work out.
In other news, since I applied for this job, I realized that I was in training for a life of "hurry up and wait". I actually don't mind though. I knew that patience was something that I needed work on. I actually prayed that God would help me to work on being patient. Be careful what you pray for! Ironically, He answered with this job.
We have had many deadlines to meet and then are often asked to "just wait please". Today is another day like that. We don't actually begin teaching until September and our supervisor is very busy. He has given us several assignments that do not involve going into City Hall. Today, we were supposed to help out with a speech contest. As of last night, our supervisor still did not know if we were needed. So, we are to be dressed and ready to work at 10:30 this morning and we may or may not go to work. Again, hurry up and wait.
So, today may be a bit of an adventure and I can't wait to see what will happen today. I know that we have already biked our way past every school in town. This is good because we shouldn't have to do it again (all of them in a day).
So my goals for today are to figure out the garbage sorting and to master ironing while sitting on the floor. Sounds like fun!

Feeling Overwhelmed

Yes, I admit that I am feeling overwhelmed. I DO NOT regret coming here though.
My life has changed drastically in so many aspects that I feel like I am trying to collect my senses before finding my footing.
I am still not adjusting well to the time change. I am basically in bed by 9:00 or 9:30 at night and then up before 5:00 in the morning. I really try to force myself to stay awake later, but I think the heat and physical exhaustion play a role in my bed time as well. I have to say though, I am looking forward to some cooler weather. It has been high 80s to mid 90s with about 98% humidity since I have been here. The upside to this, is that I have gone down 1 pant size in 1 week. It's a trade-off, I guess. I am definitely going to try and keep up a healthier lifestyle. Amazingly, since I have been here, I have had no coffee and only one soda. This past week, I have consumed 3 liters of water every day, plus orange juice, grape juice, or tea (not a big fan of plain iced-tea, but it was out of politeness). I would be off to an excellent start if only Japanese bread wasn't so tasty...^_^
Last night, I cooked my first meal in my apartment. This was a great way to figure out what spices I need to buy on my next visit to the supermarket. My predecessor left me some spices, but I get the feeling that she didn't cook much.
My "kitchen" area consists of two burners(gas powered--scary) with a teensy grill beneath it. I think I might be able to fit a small chicken breast or fish in there. I have a rather large sink next to the burners and some tiny cabinets. I also have a decent sized refrigerator.
Last night, I went to buy a few items for my meal (most Japanese people shop on a daily basis due to lack of storage space, they usually have to carry groceries home, and the meals are fresher this way). The lady behind the check-out counter was so cute. Every time she would scan a fruit or vegetable, she would hold it up, smile, and practice the English name for it. I think this was for her to practice as well as for me to understand what I was getting. There are some fruits and veggies that I have never seen before, so she might assume that many of the foods are new to me. Anyway, it was kind of fun to see her get excited over English.
It's difficult when you live close and work closely. The sad thing is that I don't think that she realizes how negative she is. I have tried complimenting her on some ideas. I have tried to engage her in conversation, too. She is either really resistant or negative. Avoiding her is not really a good option either. On the weekends it might work, but I don't want to make things worse. I would enlist the help of the other assistant language teacher (ALT), but I think he is mostly interested in getting into her pants. Lately it seems like I am the third wheel on their date. Yet another reason why I have been laying low this weekend.
At any rate, I don't intend to seclude myself for the rest of my stay. After this weekend, I expect things will become busier for me. I also know that one of my friends from the Osaka area who lived in Spokane a year will come to see me. We might even get to go to Disneyland. I am very excited about seeing Chikako.
Also, I have another friend who is planning to visit around Christmas time if everything works out alright. My aunt may come and see me too. It's great because I get to see my friends and family and I have enough room so that nobody has to stay in a hotel. I actually have a fold-out bed (I was a little slow in discovering this) and I have spare futon in the closet. I am really equipped for guests. So anyone reading this who has actually met me, is more than welcome to come and visit. I really mean that. Just let me know when.
At the moment, the dollar is stronger than the yen, so the most expensive cost would be the airfare. The only thing is, I probably can't accommodate more than two extra people in my apartment, so please keep that in mind. Hope to see some of you here.
So some people may stare at you because you are a foreigner and others will come up to you excitedly to practice their English. Mostly, Americans are embraced here. Once you get past the curious stares, it is fun. We are often treated like celebrities.
There is no chance of blending in here, but the crime is very minimal, and I have always felt very safe.
Again, feel free to visit. If you can't visit, you can also respond to any of the blogs. Any words of encouragement or news from the states are always welcome.

FIrst Week in Japan

Talk about sensory overload!
I had an idea of what I would be coming into based on my previous visit to Japan, but I am still trying to recover from sensory and information overload.
The first few days, I was extremely jet-lagged and thrown into orientation workshops that were too long, for the most part. I think they would have been more helpful if I had been well-rested and if they had been shorter. I got more out of Tuesday because I was more rested.
Anyway, on Wednesday, we were loaded onto buses according to our prefectures and taken to the capitol's city hall. Here is where we were paired up with our new supervisors.
There were three of us from this group that will be living in Hasuda. We collected our luggage and then made our way to Hasuda. In Hasuda, we went to our city hall to meet the staff from the local board of education (BOE). This is our new office/work-space until we are assigned a school.
After some time at city hall, Mr Aono (our supervisor) took us to our new apartments and introduced us to our new landlords. They own a traditional futon shop (not the wooden beds, but all the fluffy bedding that is tradition for Japanese to sleep on). We had tea with them and were all given new futon.
Our apartments are really great. I have a two-room apartment (huge for Japanese standards) and there is air conditioning in one room (woo hoo!). I feel very blessed because I found out yesterday that my rent will be subsidized. I was originally told the with subsidized rent, my cost would be about 70000 yen a month (a little less then $700), but we found out yesterday that our cost will be 32500 (less than $325)! How exciting is that!?
I knew that we would be paid enough to cover the rent, but now I will be able to save a little more a month...or pay bills off faster.
Friday was probably the most eventful day. First, we had to find our way to city hall. Mind you, we are wearing business attire, it is hot and humid, and we are on bikes. Did I mention that we had a rough map, but everything was written in kanji? I don't read kanji, but I do have a good sense of direction. My coworkers read kanji, but sadly the map didn't do much good. A bike ride that should have been 5 minutes lasted 20. We went the round-about way that had a lot of hills (usually not a problem, but my foot hasn't healed, so the pressure on my foot going uphill was painful). Three times, my co-workers nearly lost me, and the whole thing was a little unnerving.
Needless to say, coming back was easier.
After being at city hall for awhile, we were given maps (still rough maps) and given assignments. We had to find the bike shop and the bank. At the bank, we were able to open accounts with the help of Aono-san. It took forever though. While we were waiting for our accounts to be processed, we went to ask about cell phone plans.
I got my first Japanese cell phone plan yesterday. I have to say that I love Japan! I was able to get the Softbank plan and the phone I got is a Sharp Aquos 912SH. If you don't know what this is, I suggest that you google it. This is a sexy phone. Surprisingly, it is not even close to the most sophisticted phone available here. The great thing is that I can bring it back to the States and use it when I finish here.
Anyway, I have only described the first part of my Friday.
After we got the cell phone and bank taken care of, we were given the assignment of finding all of the junior highs and elementary schools in Hasuda. Mind you, there are 5 junior highs and 7 or 8 elementary schools. We had to do all of this on bikes with, you got it-- a rough map. I also forgot to mention that it has been really windy here because of the typhoon going on in the southern part of Japan. Needless to say, we failed in this assignment. We found about 3/4 of the schools that we were supposed to find, but we got lost so many times, that I don't even remember how to find the schools. I mean, we actually detoured through a few farms and rice fields, and the next thing I know, we are on a busy highway exit. I was so confused.
To make matters more embarrassing, we stopped for lunch at a little Japanese buffet. We already stand out because we are "oki" foreigners (big/tall), but in my predictable clumsiness, I managed to spill my bowl of soup that was on the tray, before I left the counter to pay for my food. I was so embarrassed. Thankfully, the staff was very kind. I think it helped that I was able to apologize in their language.
So I came home absolutely exhausted yesterday and just vegged in front of the fan.
Later, my neighbors asked me if I wanted to explore and find a place to eat. I almost didn't go, but decided to anyway. As a result, I have a new favorite place to eat. It is a curry shop that is owned by a young couple. The first floor of their house has been converted into a small restaurant. The husband is the chef and the wife is the hostess/server. The aroma of spices that greets you as you walk into the restaurant is amazing. The bar is lined up with colorful jars of spices too. It is a cozy place and not too expensive. The food is absolutely delicious too.
Needless to say, I came home and crashed after all of that.
There is so much more to say, but I have said a lot already and will save it for another entry.