AET コーナー

Today I find myself sitting almost entirely alone in a staff room intended for over 30 people. My big project for the past few days at school has been to construct my AETコーナー(AET Corner), which is essentially a big bulletin board. My initial plan, however, was foiled when I learned that the board had to be educational and somehow related to my self-introduction. Essentially, now it looks like something out of a child`s picture book complete with complex English words such as “sun” and “flower.” Okay, so really it`s not that bad, but there`s a reason why I haven`t taken an art class since middle school and it shows. （on a semi-related note, I got into a long discussion with the school`s art teacher about art and, subsequently, my lack of knowledge/skill in art. Did I mention that the two people I spend the most time with were both art majors?）It`s just been frustrating because I think it looks fine as it is and two people have said to me　“お疲れ様でした” (otsukaresamadeshita: a set phrase usually reserved for the end of the day meaning something along the lines of the respected person who is tired (because they worked hard to do something)).

The school`s band is playing selections of John Williams` music. There`s nothing quite like walking down a hallway and hearing Darth Vader music played by junior high kids on the French horn.

Anyway, rather dangerously, I have figured out how to call internationally from my apartment. As a result, I may have called a number of people at a time when they were asleep (and woke up at least one person). Whoops. Nevertheless, it sucks that I don`t have my American cell phone, since I only have a few random phone numbers in my address book.

Our first payday is in less than a week and I`m really excited. No, I`m not going to a host bar to spend all my money (although some debauchery in Tokyo is planned). I`m excited about furniture shopping. My apartment is in a wonderful state of empty space (which anyone who saw my room in DG or in Hawaii can attest is something I`m not used to.) My kitchen contains a sink, stove, counterspace, refrigerator, dining table, two chairs, large cabinet, and a smaller rolling cabinet thing. My bedroom has the huge futon storage closet thing, a mirror, and large dresser thing. The living room has a tiny tv stand (complete with a number of VHSs of bad movies) and a couch that sits on the floor (in the sense that you are only about an inch or two off the ground when you sit on it. My personal favorite part of my living room is the set of two little square folding tables. One is white and the other is a sassy red (Dan picked them out). I have decided that I need a bookshelf because I am tired of storing books in the closet.

Anyway, I am glad that the weekend is coming up soon (as in 1.75 hours). This is the weekend of stuff done on the cheap since everyone is running low on funding. Last week Sunday, Zac and I went on a hike. It was crazy intense, and I felt bad because I thought I was holding him back (he`s in much better shape than I am). The mountain overlooks Hidaka city and we could see major landmarks like our respective schools, our apartment and the grocery store we all frequent. I would not be surprised if plans for this weekend include a return to the mountain.

In un-related news, my internet box thing is on it`s way from Yahoo, so hopefully I`ll be connected at home in a week or so. Hooray!

Saitama Orientation

On last week Thursday, the four new Hidaka JETs found themselves wandering across the prefecture to Saitama City. Little did they know, they were in for a long day of lectures, presentations, and panel discussions...

"`Little did they know`? I could write books on `little did they know`"

(Sorry, I couldn`t help myself)


Anyway, we left the confines of the Kyoiku sentaa(education center) and went to Saitama City for a prefectural orientation for new JETs. It was omoshirokatta(interesting). The most interesting of all was the enkai(afterparty) on Friday. First stop was Rikki`s. Rikki`s is a restaurant that is completely covered in soccer articles, photos, and memorabilia. After some dinner and drinks, consensus dictated that we head to karaoke. Ironically, the people who had been annoying all of us over the course of the past few days decided to come along. Most amusingly was one guy who veryvery blatantly tried to hit on one of my friends. I won`t go into detail, but it provided ample entertainment for the group of us.

Saturday rolled around, so I decided to ride my bicycle to school. I don`t have a keitai(cell phone) yet, so I don`t have a portable way of keeping time, but I would guess that it`s about a 30 minute bike ride. The commute is actually really nice (I`m sure I won`t be saying that when it`s raining/snowing, but I`ll get to that later). I ride past a couple stores, a rice field, and a tiny little temple (which currently has a sign on it saying something like "beware of chikan(perverts)." Also the bank is close by and the school is near a trainstation (I`m thinking of riding the train instead of biking if it snows. I think I would hurt myself severely if I tried to ride my bike in snow).

Plans for today include meeting the principal of the school where I`ll be working, meeting the mayor (and getting our photo taken for the local paper?), and lots of sitting around.

Anyway, I finally have the romanji(English letter) version of my address, so if you want it, please send me an email. I also have a phone in my apartment, so I can give that out as well.

One week later...

Last week Friday I found myself wandering over to Kasumugaseki and TIU. It wasn`t until I arrived that I realized that I probably should have brought my camera. In the words of Tami, *facepalm*. As I walked toward the main building, I passed someone who reminded me of Chiemi, one of the Peer Assistants who helped us out last time I was in Japan (but she was a senior at the time). I moved on and met up with Lorenzo and Junko at their office, and discovered that Lorenzo is not only leaving Japan, but moving to Willamette. Again, *facepalm*. Furthermore, I soon realized that the person I thought to be Chiemi actually was Chiemi. Weird... we exchanged phone numbers, and I promised to stay in touch, and they had to go and finish the work day.

I`ve now officially been in Japan for over one week. I`ve completely moved into my apartment (no more living out of suitcases and piles of clothing on the floor). It is absolutely fascinating to me that I spend my working days for nearly all of August sitting around a room with five other people who are all also totally bored out of their minds.

Furthermore, it seems as though my co-workers are much more dedicated than me to the pursuit of a superior grasp of Japanese. Jenny, Zach, and Kristine always seem to be studying kanji and Kaz started reading manga today. In contrast, Dan and I spent a nice chunk of the morning napping and shooting rubber bands at each other. I also learned a great new joke:

Q: What`s orange and sounds like a parrot?
A: A carrot.

I found it amusing, but if you are at all with my sense of humor, you`re probably not surprised.

I still have no internet access at home and no cell phone. Living without a cell phone is oddly liberating and frightening. On the way home from Kawagoe on Friday night I realized that I didn`t remember which station I live near. Luckily, the line stopped completely at the station I needed, so I didn`t have any problems. If I had a cell phone, I could have easily called/texted someone to ask, but I was forced to figure it out on my own and everything worked just fine. This seems to be the way my time here has gone so far. Cooking for myself? Throw grocery stuff together and something edible will be created. Getting to work? Just bike downhill and you`ll run into it eventually. Crazy appliances in my house that don`t behave when I push buttons that I can`t read? Well, to be honest, I`ve figured out the tv and the lights. The rice cooker only recently started cooking rice for me, and I`ve been stuck taking hot showers even though the weather here is pretty ridiculously hot. It`s also not comforting that my predecessor from over 5 years ago left me a guide book to the appliances (with drawings) and most of the information says something like, "push the green button to ____. I`m not quite sure what the other buttons do, but you probably don`t need them."

よこそう日高！

Yesterday I arrived in Hidaka city, my home for the next year. Hidaka is shockingly close to Kawagoe. Last night the 6 Hidaka ALTs went out to dinner at the Oatman Diner, an American restaurant right outside of Crea Mall. I know this doesn`t mean much to most of you reading this, but any fellow JSP alums know the restaurant. I`m really enjoying myself so far. Zach, Jenny, and I met at the Tokyo Orientation at the Keio Plaza Hotel and we all get along really well. Yesterday, in Hidaka, we met the other new ALT and the two returnees.

As much as I`m enjoying myself, it all still seems surreal. Wandering around Crea Mall yesterday was definitely a flash back two years to fall semester of my junior year. Furthermore, the fact that I have my own apartment and I`ll be cooking and cleaning up after myself completely is simultaneously liberating and intimidating (especially when I can`t read the kanji on some of the buttons in my apartment). Furthermore, while the other ALTs are all within walking distance, it feels strange not to have people just down the hall to talk to.

Unfortunately, I won`t have internet until after I get my 外人 card, so I`ll only be checking my email at work or on another ALTs computer. As always, I can be reached through email or facebook.

Keio Plaza Hotel

I'm officially in Japan! I'm staying in the Keio Plaza Hotel in the heart of Shinjuku. Orientation is today and tomorrow, and on Wednesday I head to Hidaka-shi.

I'll update more when I get a chance!

Skype!

I bought myself an awesome new toy today! It's a lovely Skype headset, and I decided to celebrate my newfound Skype-ness with re-downloading the program. (I deleted it awhile ago as I only really used it to talk to one person and since they had since moved back the the U.S., I considered it unnecessary.) My phone has now officially run out of Whenever minutes, so if you have a strong desire to hear my voice, I can be reached through Skype. My Skype name is my screenname for everything, or you can write me an email I'll send you my Skype name. :)

Waimea Bay and my last sunburn for awhile

I realize it has been over a month since my last post, and I apologize. To summarize, the past five weeks have been pretty uninteresting. I've been working at Punahou Summer School, got a sizable raise, and finally worked with children for a few days. I also led Vacation Bible School, probably for the last time, and had a visitor.

My friend from Willamette came for a week and a half. We visited a number of beaches, many of them multiple times, and hiked up to Manoa Falls (which I believe to be a far superior hike to Diamond Head, although much less iconic). Overall, I think he enjoyed himself, and I had fun hanging out with him.

Recently, I've been making preparations to go to Japan, as I leave on Saturday. I spent much of my time at the beach crossing items off my to-do list, including writing some belated thank you cards and hemming pants for my short Asian legs. Luckily today's beach trip was much less productive, except in the sense that I improved my tan. Saturday is approaching quickly, and I am really excited!

On a semi-related note, my phone will be no longer in operation as of Saturday (and as of now, I have less than 19 Whenever minutes), so if you would like to talk to me over the phone, call me before then. I will be getting a Skype headset in the near future, and I will keep you posted.