First Week at School

Ok, so first and foremost, there are quite a few things about Japanese schools that are way different from what you might be use to (for sure it is way different from American schools).

There are the obvious differences.  Practically every school has a school uniform that the students wear.  It kind of seems like the junior high requires them to wear it more than the elementary schools here though.  Though for the elementary schools I teach at here, some of them have a very small population, so that might have something to do with it too.  Then there is the fact that you have to take off your shoes before you step up into the building, and switch to either slippers or a pair of inside shoes (and it’s kind of cool cause some of them have cubbies with my name on them J ).  There are some major differences too.

While it generally starts at around the same time (technically a bit later since the first thing in the morning are staff and student meetings), it can get out wayyyy later depending on if you are a part of a club or not.  If you are, you can anticipate being at school for much longer!  While in America there is usually only about an hour to maybe an hour and a half for club activities, here in Japan they can easily run until about 6 or 7 in the evening.   That doesn’t even include the extra time some students have for cram school in the evening!  We have it easier by far in America in that aspect.  They also go to school year round, with a short summer vacation (about a month I believe), as well as some small breaks for national holidays and I think in between semesters.

I also found it a little interesting that here it is considered part of the child’s education to learn manners, and etiquette.  Each child is taught how to give thanks before and after the meal at lunch (they even all say it together), brush their teeth after eating, and show proper respect to their teachers in how they speak (though granted, like in America, just cause they were taught that doesn’t mean they stick with it lol).  Even lunch is interesting.  Here, everyone gets served the exact same thing.  You aren’t allowed to bring anything from home for lunch until you are in high school.  You are also expected to finish your plate (with the exception being allergies I would think, though I don’t think I’ve run into anyone with that kind of problem).  This is followed by everyone brushing their teeth together.  I really haven’t had any problems with it so far, I find it is all really good actually!  My only problem comes to the fact that at every lunch they drink milk!  Normally I would suck it up and just drink it (I’ve sort of gotten over my aversion to tomato and lightly with shrimp this way), but it is more because I can’t digest it well.  Milk always ends up making me feel sick if I drink too much of it, and I’ve apparently been this way ever since I was a baby (my parents had to get a special kind of formula for me because I would keep spitting it up).  Small amounts are ok, and if it is cooked into something (essentially any way that it is not just by itself) I am usually okay with it.  I just do feel a little bad that I can’t drink it.  That aside, I’m also not that much of a fan of the taste either.

The one thing that can get pretty tiring really quickly is the amount of times you have to introduce yourself!  This of course is a sort of case by case thing.  Some JETs (lol I think on rare occasions) will only be assigned to one or two schools.  Others will have a surprisingly large amount of schools to go to.  I myself had to give my own sort of self-introduction to 7 schools (and this was actually doubled as I had to do it once for the staff and then another for the students), and at least 3 or so departments in the Board of Education building.  There were even a few of the schools where I addressed the whole student body (in this small town that isn’t very much in each school), and then again later to the English classes.  At the junior high I actually had to do so for at least 4 different classes.  This also usually meant that for at least the first week of school I was essentially repeating the same lesson over and over with each new group of students.

While all the students are usually on the shy side (lol I think the junior high kids the most to be honest), the elementary kids are so cute and very energetic!  One of my favorite times is at one of the smaller schools (lol population of maybe 14 or so students), where a group of 2^nd graders come up to me and ask me to join them for the end of the day after my lesson.  They usually go to finish their homework in the library, and then after that they pretty much have free time to themselves.  It is a wonderful end to the day!

My First Week at Work (sort of)

I keep putting off writing a new entry every night, but I think it was understandable that at first my time here in Japan would be one big whirlwind at the start.

So here are a few brief things about my literal current situation.  In between classes (and unless you are allowed, or invited to sit in on other classes) you get to sit in the staff room at your desk.  Being an assistant, and not yet fully trusted by some of my teachers, this can be a VERY boring time.  This is what I’m doing right now.  I’ve finished giving my lesson for the day, so until lunch I have pretty much nothing else to do.  But why waste this time?  Instead, if I have the time and I can, I will be trying to write out some of my blog entries.  At least it will give me something to do and give the appearance that I am working to my co-workers.  LOL one of the advantages to being the only fluent English speaker in the office I suppose is that it will just look like I am typing something up, not many will be able to fully understand what exactly I am writing.

What I really wanted to reflect on during this post was what my first week here in Japan was like.

Since I was a late upgrade, that means I missed most of the nice long orientations in Tokyo.  After I landed and was gathered together with some other late arrival JETs we were then taken to the same hotel orientation was at, but for only two nights.  Our one day in Tokyo was for a major crash course orientation session, and then the next morning we would depart ways to our designated towns/cities.  For me that meant a bus ride to the second airport in Tokyo (Hanaeda), and then an hour and a half or so flight to Izumo, followed by an hour drive to my small town.  There was a Shimane Prefecture representative to guide me along my trip to Izumo, and then at that airport I was met by my supervisor and another worker from the town office that was kind of my translator.  I didn’t have too much time to myself at first since there was sooo much to take care of!

During the weekend I was taken on trips to the larger town of Matsue for supplies that may be missing from my apartment, set up my cellphone contract, and car insurance.  I was also shown to a local supermarket that I could buy food for the weekend at (which is actually a short walk from my apartment, so yay!) The rest of the week was also packed full of various appointments, and showing me around town a little bit.  During the week, I was officially starting work at the Board of Education Office, but through the week I had various meetings with people and traveled about town.  A couple of the days had time dedicated to my supervisor driving me around town and showing me how to get to the various schools.  This also gave me the opportunity to briefly meet the staff and give a short self-introduction to them.  It was also during this week that I had an appointment to meet with the mayor of the town!  There was a brief ceremony in his office where I was presented with my official contract for the school year (Definitely something to frame!).  This did mean though, that the rest of the day while I was in the office I had to once again make myself look busy.  This included making lists of things I needed still for the house, practicing writing my self-introduction to my future students, and whatever else I could scribble.  At least there was something to do every day to break up the long hours of “working” at my desk, and every day my supervisor took the other JET and me to eat out at these really good restaurants!  I also had to go get my bank account set up during the weekday, and I got my inkan (personal seal) officially registered.

During this first week as well (and actually even a little bit longer) I also didn’t have access to my internet connection.  It was already set up, but the PC tablet I brought with me only had USB ports, so I didn’t have anything to connect it to.  This meant that my evening activities were pretty much limited to the iTunes movies that I already had saved on my external hard drive.  Though this wasn’t always a bad thing, there were times that I was pretty tired when I got home anyway, so I was fine with it.

One of the exciting things that happened my first week being in town was that I was right on time for the next festival!  There was all kinds of yummy food booths, some that were merchant stalls with various things to buy, and the highlight was by far the beautiful fireworks display!

All in all a pretty good start to my year here I think!

More late night blogging

It's a little odd, laying here in my room for the last time.  These past couple of days I've been hit with odd fits of nervousness.  While it is not ideal, this has also led me to refrain from eating in fear I might throw it up.  I honestly wasn't expecting to feel this way until after I arrived in Japan (the same thing happened when I went study abroad for a couple of weeks one summer).  I think part of it comes from the fact that I will be living on my own and very far away from home for a significant amount of time for the first time in my life.  And then, almost as suddenly, it goes away leaving behind a slight rumble in my stomach from the lack of food.

I know that I'm going to have a blast, and adjust to my new life soon enough though.  I've wanted this kind of experience for a very long time already.  It's just slightly annoying to feel this way when in my mind I'm all ready for this adventure.  Lol I guess it's a classic case of the heart going against the brain.

Sorry that I don't have much to write about this time.  Gonna keep this one on the short side so I can try to get some sleep before my early day tomorrow.

Countdown Continues!

It's crazy to think that it's getting closer and closer to my departure date!  I just received my passport back in the mail today with my visa for Japan.  I'm now 12 days away from my flight, and I keep running through my mind a list of the different things I need to make sure I pack.

Aside from thinking of what kind of lessons I can plan, I've been having fun dreaming up all kinds of information about my new life.  Most importantly I've been dreaming up what my daily life is going to be like, and what kind of furnishings I will be getting.  I'd like to find things to make my new little apartment ready to receive guests.  I'll have to look for some linen, at least one futon, and possibly a day bed/couch that would fit in my living room.  I'm also really looking forward to finding the little furnishings as well.  Things like dishware, and other home furnishings.  Oh!  I'm also looking forward to finding a quilt to use with my kotatsu table!

I've also been getting my wardrobe together, fitting in as much as I can for both warm and cold weather.  I think I'll find little in my size as I can be bigger than most Japanese people.  LOL!  One thing that I will most likely have to find when I get there will be things like winter jackets.  I can't wait til I can explore the area and do some shopping!

Late-night Blogging

So I really should be in bed right now.... but I'm still running on my newest JET info high!

A couple of days ago I got an email with details of my assignment!  FINALLY!

Now it is a countdown clock until August 19th when I make my way to Japan.  I have been assigned the prefecture of Shimane, in a little town called Okuizumo.  It is still the main island of Japan (Honshu), on the Western side of the island.  A probably more well known landmark is that I will be a couple of hours north of Hiroshima.

I was apprehensive at first, I'll admit.  When I first did my google search to find out exactly where this place was, I was a little sad that I would be out in the country (the closest major city to me is about an hour away, and it is still nothing compared to the bigger cities).  But when I first filled out my application I was actually hoping that I would get placed in a small city.  The idea of the big hustle and bustle that comes with a major city like Tokyo and Kyoto sound more appealing to me as a visit, not a permanent living place.  And from where I am, it's actually not that far from Kyoto if I wanted to drive out there for a weekend.  I stayed for a few days during study abroad, and I love all the temples that you can visit there!

The other advantage I realized to my placement comes two-fold.  Firstly, the cost of living should be far less expensive since I will not be in a big city.  This means that I should have plenty of money to save a little nest egg for my return, and still afford to go on some fun vacations during my stay.  Secondly, being out in the country means that I get to use a car!  It's going to be different for sure, and something to get use to, but I think I'm going to love the mobility!

The last minor worry is that my apartment is going to be really small.  I only say this because I already have family making reservations to come visit me, and this means that either we will all be trying to cramp into my little apartment, or I will have to help find them a hotel to use.

Fun side note:  lol I had started this post late at night, but then forgot to publish it before I went to bed....   oh well!

One wait after another...

If I were to give anyone thinking about applying for JET right now advice it would be this: have patience!

Throughout the whole process it is nothing but one waiting period after another.  It is impossible to predict when you will be contacted after each step of the way, and if you spend the whole time worrying about it you will be miserable for months!

I'm kind of having fun imagining where I might be sent while I wait to see what the final word is.  I know that either way I will have a blast, but a small part of me is really hoping that I will at least not be on some remote island.  At this point I just have to make do with my final waiting game to find out when and where I will be going.

Also, while it seems kind of common sense to say, don't put all your eggs in one basket!  Look into other jobs, the worst that could happen would be that you would need to let them know another opportunity has come up.  If anything this would probably be the one thing I would change about my experience.  I was so obsessed about this process that I didn't look much into other job opportunities.  At the very least I kind of wish I would have taken a part time job to help set aside some extra cash.

My Adventures Begin!

Here we go!

The following blog will hopefully be a chronicle of my adventures as I navigate through my time in the JET Program!  To be honest, it still feels a little like a dream.

For what felt like an eternity I sat on the dreaded alternate list.  Each day my phone would make an alert of a new email, and with disappointment I would find yet another piece of either junk mail or some newsletter promotion.  You can then imagine the emotions I went through when I discovered that first call...

First off, I had missed a phone call from a number I didn't recognize.  It wasn't my area code, so I had no idea where it had come from.  Thinking it might be some annoying telemarketer, and wishing to add my name to the "Do Not Call" list, I called the number back to see what company wanted my attention.  To my extreme surprise I found that it was the voicemail for the Consulate-General of Japan!  There, that first spark of hope was lit.  Was I getting an upgrade?  Or did they just need to verify something on my application?  Either way the call was placed after regular office hours, so the best I could do was leave a message with my contact information and hope for the best the following morning.

As if by fate, the exact moment I was planning to pick up the phone and try again my phone rang again.  The office was calling me again since they didn't get a hold of me the day before!  At first it was verifying information on my application.  The hope was starting to fade, believing this to be nothing but routine data updates.  Then my world was thrown for a loop when I was offered to be upgraded to the short-list!  Announcements were made, and phone calls placed to let friends and family know the good news.  And after a while I got my first set of emails with info on upcoming events and forms that I need to fill and return to finalize my upgrade.

Once done I will have nothing to do but wait to find out when and where they will be sending me.  All I know as of right now is that I could be shipping out some time between the end of July and September!  It seems so fast approaching, and I have a feeling the next few weeks are going to feel like a whirlwind!