Day One

Its an odd feeling when you see another 外人 (Foreigner) in a public space as foreigners are so few and far between that when you see one it's like you want to make an event of it. Part of you wanted to reach out and talk to them to say “Hey, your not Japanese too.” But that would be weird. Very weird. So I don't.  

Osu Kannon Temple, Nagoya

I think it's sinking in now!

Well here I am, in Japan, Nagoya to be precise. And I've now had a day to try and get my barrings and body clock set right. But even though I've been here a day now, its really only just sinking in what I've really undertaken. It starting sinking in around the time I got to Shanghai actually. Being placed in an airport where no one speaks English helped to hit it home. There were issues with where I was meant to be going and I already found myself lost in translation. However, I made it here ok, locating my connecting flight, filling out the various entry forms at the airport, navigating the trains and dispensing myself at the hotel for a hot shower and a long sleep, without any major issues, so I must be doing something right.

Shanghai Airport (I'm so tired and dazed, I'm not sure if it's sunrise or sunset!)

Where Am I Going?

I'm going to a small town in Okayama prefecture called Shoo.  It looks like a great area and Okayama is quite a varied region, with a desert in the north and snow on the hills in winter.  There are lots of great places to go, not too hot and not too cold.  It's great for onsen (Hot spring baths) and has some interesting local delicacies. If you like, you can see more about Okayama at this link, Discover Okayama.

Its about 2 hours and half hours to Kyoto and Hiroshima by car so lots to see and do on weekends and holidays.  Shoo itself is famous for a local farmers market and they produce black soya beans (Anyone tried them?).  I'll be working in two elementary schools and one junior high school, a nice mix for me I think.  I'm really looking forward to going now I know where I'm going.  Once you know where, you can begin to picture it better, although I was getting a little bit worrying when we got a month before leaving and still nothing was confirmed, but I know it's all part of the ALT process.

11 days to go.  11 little days and I'll be leaving my home, my friends, my job and my country; getting on a plane to travel to Japan, to work as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher)

In some ways I feel excited about starting a new life in foreign lands.  I get a clean slate; a fresh start to be who I want to be.  I get to be a novelty, 'the only Gaijin (Foreigner) in the village' (Crap, that's what I should have named my blog) and probably the tallest man in most rooms.  I cannot wait to sink my teeth into all the ramen, sashimi, yakitori, udon, takoyaki, tempura and every other food Japan has to offer (Apart from Natto).  I'm looking forward to improving my poor basic Japanese to a level I can converse on daily topic and understand which platform I'm meant to be on.  I get to travel and see Japan in all its colours, sights and sounds, not to mention its weirdness (You know what I mean).

On the other hand, I'm kind scared about the unknown.  I've never really taught in this kind of situation before, and the prospect of being stood in front of a class full of tiny Japanese faces, expecting some kind of knowledge to be bestowed upon them in an adult-like, educated manner does make me think "What on Earth am I doing?" But it will be an adventure and I think a week or two's experience behind me and I'll be like a duck to water.

Today I went to the Japanese medical centre in London for some tests I needed before I started work.  I had forgotten how much I've actually missed being out my comfort zone!  I enjoy it.  I like that feeling of being a little 'lost in translation' and like you don't really know what's around the other corner.  Aside from the bizarre tests, alien gowns and odd translations, the creme de le creme came when the tests were finished and I was shown to a 'Recovery Room', where I was given a cake (Dorayaki) to eat!  You don't get that on the NHS.  I say more cakes on the NHS, its the way forward.  And if in Japan, I get that kind of polite and friendly service, along with cakes, all I can say is "Come on Japan, give me all you've got".