There's been a death in the family. Thought I'd better get this out of the way now so as to not taint the rest of the story with grief. On Friday I had to say goodnight to my Fuji digital camera. Well, I guess it would be more accurate to say he's still comatose, but the doctor that is my common sense (and he's been running tests every day) tells me to give up hope. Water damage, was the final diagnosis, brought on by Japan's eco-bottles having rubbish caps. The offshoot of this is that I don't have much in the way of photos to show you today. What few I've taken with the iPhone can already be seen on Facebook. It was only a little water... and yet...
Sorry, sorry, I'm okay now.
So, let's get on with the show. I've got a week and a half to cover and Gundam Musou 2 (that's Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 to you) waiting for me to finish. Wednesday, awoke at 6.30 for a 7am breakfast and to pack, 8am meeting for an 8.30 departure to the airport. This flight was a lot better than the last one we'd take-
I never talked about Tokyo Orientation, did I...
Okay, TWO weeks to cover now. You saw my room, and heard about the flight and Shibuya, so all that's left is to talk about the seminars. Monday morning, 7am start for a 7.30 breakfast with Steph and Amara (it is so GOOD to be in the same time zone as your girlfriend!) followed by the opening ceremony at 9. After a brief explanation by one of the longer-standing JETs ("How do you like my new cat-skin shoes?") the ceremony began. Speeches by staff from the Minstries of Education and whatnot, all very grateful that we were there, and then a run-down of the next two days. We'd be picking our own seminars for the most part, with a few, such as prefectural meetings, being compulsory. Let me see if I can remember this... Steph and I spent the day learning about using JET as a springboard into a career in education, elementary school teaching and finally a very lively talk about self-introductions both for our first time in front of our new co-workers and students. Funny coincidence, that last one was headed up by a guy called Fergus, a British guy who graduated from Edinburgh Uni with a degree in Japanese and then went to Kobe City on JET with his girlfriend. Sound familiar? It's a funny world we live in. Anyway, Fergus is one of the ward team leaders for Kobe JET, so we'd be seeing a lot of him in the coming days. Lunch (in the midst of all that) was a simple tomato pasta thing, but I didn't complain 'cos it was free. We also a number of stellar talks about 'grassroots internationalism' (FAR more entertaining that it may sound) and what foreign language education is like in each of the school levels. Hats off to Mr Junior-High for a simply hilarious talk. Now, throughout all this was an AJET Information Fair, where we could pick up books about travel, education and the like, as well as enter into a raffle and sign up for the JET support mailing list. The one complaint I would have about that first day would be that the fair ran from the time of our first talk to the end of our last, meaning the only way we would be able to make the most of the room would be to skip out on either a seminar (which I for one was told would not be allowed) or lunch (which I for one would rather die than do). Seems like a bit of a silly system, really, the result of which being that Steph and I simply didn't get a proper chance to give it a look. Dinner was a reception in the main hall. We were... fed, I suppose, but the vegi options were slim pickings to say the least and so, after drowning myself in as much free Pepsi as I could, Steph and I headed for the convenience store around the corner for some sweet, sweet instant udon. Bed, sleep, end of day one.
Phew, one down.
Tuesday was essentially more of the same. Breakfast again (did I mention we got chips and ketchup as part of that?) followed by a panel discussion about JET life. Useful stuff was said, even if I was feeling a little rougher than I had the previous day. After that we split into prefecture groups to watch a demonstration of 'team-teaching' (or maybe 'one of us, one of them') in action, which was really excellent. Really helped my confidence to see the system working so well. Then it was more seminars, and let me tell you, the information load on this poor boy's brain was really beginning to weigh heavy. Classroom troubleshooting (such as what to do when some kid tries to ask you how much sex you get) followed by a Kobe City meeting, and then a talk on teaching special needs children. By the end I was ready to collapse, my brain felt heavy enough to give me balance trouble. And so when a not-compulsory-but-you-really-should-go trip to the British Embassy was announced, I wasn't the happiest of customers. I think I had better not have gone, all things considered. 520 yen on the train there and back, and all I get from it is the end of a talk on Embassy services (travel planning team leaders were beheaded for that little blunder) and a beer. I was promised food, but that promise did not come with the assurance that I would be able to eat the stuff. Yeah, more anti-veg levelling. Ridiculous, for a country so vegi-minded as Britain...
Wednesday, and we're ready to go for good this time.
The flight was a whole ton better than the last one I'd taken, only taking a little over an hour. But boy, Kobe is HOT. I mean, it's really, REALLY hot! Even now I'm struggling to get used to just how hot it is. Sweating is as common an action as breathing. But yeah, that's not important. What IS important is that Kobe is also staggeringly beautiful. From close to any vantage point in the city you can see the whole thing, with the tree-laden mountains providing a really awesome backdrop. We didn't get a whole lot of sightseeing done on this first day, taking a bus immediately to the KEC, the Kobe Education Center, where the magic happens. Paperwork, introductions and another talk about things to come. Our CIRs Daniel and Marie are both excellent, and did a superb job of letting us know we were in safe hands. But boy, am I not glad to be back in amongst the red tape of bureacracy. I've done more paperwork these last two weeks than I think any administrator knows what to do with. We also met some of our staff, Siba-sensei, Miki-sensei (finance division) and our own ALT supervisor Wada-sensei who, I am told, is incapable of anger. And after that, the intense fear and tension of meeting our team teachers for the first time. But rest assured, reading public, Nishida-sensei seems like a really great teacher. He quickly warmed to the conversation, and seemed incredibly pleased to hear my Japanese. He even used the term "English gentleman" when he called up the vice-principal of our school to say I'd arrived safe. Talk about a vote of confidence. We took a taxi to Hanayama, my new home, which if anything is even hotter than hot, hot Kobe. It's also very far out of the way, the taxi driver not having heard of it before and being unable to find his way there without help. Travel costs are gonna destroy me, if nothing else does. It's green like no other place I've ever lived before, with trees just everywhere. Oh, and creatures that live in trees. We've been warned about centipedes and cockroaches, but I've also seen crickets the size of my fist and last night I even saw a tiny lizard. Oh, and a praying mantis. It's like living in Twycross Zoo sometimes. The rest of the day was spent socialising with the other Hanayamans, first at a barbeque and then at one of our sempai JETs' places. And make no mistake, the people of Hanayama are quite simply the nicest, most welcoming and most entertaining people I have EVER met. Each one of them is kind and enthusiastic, and very easy to talk to. I am truly blessed to be here, with such a stellar support network in place.
Okay, swiftly on now. Thursday was our first Neighbourhood Day. After a brief trip into the KEC again we went off with our house groups to the ward office to register, and then Sannomiya, the central entertainment area of Kobe, to get iPhones. Those little things are staggering. I'm listening to music on mine right now, it can store all of my library and still has space, essentially making my iPod obsolete. The battery's a little low, so I'll likely bring my iPod as well on travels, but the breadth of function of an iPhone is just magnificent. Downloadable games, a camera, Skype, internet and email, Google Maps. It can even allow you to TALK to people who aren't right next to you, so long as they have a phone as well. After that we went back to the Hanayama area (my poor wallet...) for lunch and to look around. We stopped by a shop called Konan, the B&Q of Japan, where we picked up dehumidifiers and the like. Apparently the humidity here will melt away your clothing if you're not careful. I'm going to have to stop by there again some time soon to pick up bug deterrents. More on that later. That night was okonomiyaki at a nearby shopping area in Oike, which was superb. Drink bar includes icecream, a heavenly combination.
Phew, getting tired here. Next was Friday, in case you were unaware, and a true tour of Sannomiya. We saw Tokyu Hands, the Loft, a little food alley behind the station, cinemas, stations, offices and shops. I didn't buy anything, holding out for a more interesting cover for my phone, but eventually we made our way to the Hub, the British pub, for a quick Happy Hour. Many of us split at that point, but a few of us from Hanayama stuck around for a quick Thai curry and karaoke, which was brilliant. I'd forgotten how much I adore karaoke, it's such a release, and the other Hanayamans are an almost ideal group to sing with. Though the Jankara in Sannomiya didn't allow for things like extensions or cheap alcohol, I was assured that the 'Phoenix' near the okonomiyaki place was a much better deal. Finished at 9pm (I know, pathetic), and then it was home to sleep.
Saturday, Steph and I returned to Sannomiya for a bit of personal shopping. There's a fanTASTic floor of 'Centergai', the main shopping center, that caters to folk of a more otaku slant. I got myself the most incredible phone cover, a white one with a picture of Kyubei's smiling face on it. Don't know who Kyubei is? Google him, and then watch Madoka Magica. After all that, it was off to Ikea (interesting fact: it's pronounced 'ee-kay-ah' in Japan) to pick up some sheets for Steph's bed, and then off to see the fireworks. Kobe's annual fireworks festival is not to be missed, make no mistake. Though I was tired beyond belief I'm extremely glad I went, it was just staggering. The East really does put us Westerners to shame when it comes to fireworks. The afterparty was at a senior JET's house on Port Island, where I once again successfully dodged the King's Cup.
Sunday we had tried to get to church, but to our discredit we didn't do the right amount of research, and when the time came to head out we didn't really know where to go. I'm hoping God's willing to forgive us this once, it HAS been a very exhausting work week. We have plans for tomorrow, though, going along to somewhere called Kobe Union Church with a Hanayaman named Alex. We know absolutely nothing about it, save that there's a Bible study on Wednesdays, but it'll be good to get the those church roots planted. The rest of the day was spent not doing anything. No, seriously.
This next week's been a bit of a blur, so don't blame me if it's a little brief. Monday was a sort-of job-training thing at Suzurandai JHS, a school reknowed for its second-to-none English ability. We had some short, informal talks with our senior JETs about things like teaching materials and extra-curricular activities (can it still be called that if I'm not a student?), followed by lunch with some of the students and a tour of the school. Let me tell you, it was ace being inside a building only ever seen in two dimensional illustrations before. A building, may I also point out, that traditionally gets attacked by supernatural forces or that acts as a training ground for magicians or robot pilots. It was a little odd finally being inside one. The boys taking us around were really nice, they seemed unusually relaxed to talk with us. Hiro informed us we'd be seeing more of him this coming week at Summer School, the English language teaching event for Junior High students that we ALTs help out with. The highlight of the day, though, was getting back on the bus at the very end and reuniting with Steph (who hadn't taken a tour with my group) and holding hands as we walked to the gate, and getting accostered (yes, that's the right word for it) by a small mob of girls who seemed extraordinarily excited to see us. "Couple?" they asked, "Married?", and then squealed very loudly when we responded. Sometimes young girls are the same the world over.
Tuesday was our first day of Japanese language class. Steph and I were placed into the top set together, along with most of the group. Class was from 9.30 to 3, with super-generous hour and half lunch, and consistenly left us drained of life. But I'm glad I went; it was good to have that extra practice and it was very well-taught, even fun. Tuesday was self-introductions, with an emphasis on finding funny stories to tell about our names. Wednesday was illness and wallet loss, Thursday was keigo. We also spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning preparing for our unofficial assessment: a 3-minute speech on a topic of our choice. The two lower groups had fixed topics. Friday afternoon was a massive presentation of the amazing products of our imagination. In case you were wondering, I did mine on the way that the changing economy is forcing Japanese businessmen to rethink the way that they use Japanese formality markers in speech in the light of money-loss balancing the workforce in the eyes of society*. It was a lot of fun, all in all, and I received a number of happily-received pats on the back.
Over that week we didn't do much with our free time. We were so exhausted, there was little enthusiasm to really do anything. We cooked dinner, we watched films, we restored our energy. On Thursday afternoon, however, we participated in an epic water gun fight with the other Hanayamans (see profile picture for proof) in which a small Japanese boy tried to fire a water gun up my bum. No joking. It was extraordinarily wierd. I was even told afterwards that he was attempting to coerce others into doing the same. Fortunately none of the other Hanayamans were WIERD JAPANESE BOYS! Tch, so ridiculous. I am NOT putting up with that sort of treatment when I get to my school. Friday afternoon we spent out last opportunity to be in Sannomiya cancelling optional extras on our iPhones, buying Crocks and phone covers, and turning traveller's cheques into real money. I also bought Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2, and we played Terraria co-op deep into the night.
And now here we are. It's half-2 in the afternoon, and we're about to head to the convenience store for lunch. It's gonna be a long day of Terraria and Gundam ahead, methinks, and maybe a bit of Dragon Quest 9 in there as well. May well be my favourite game of all time, that last one.
Anyways, as always, thanks for reading. I'll try to be faster next time.
*Psyche. I did it on Pokemon.
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