Oh hey, Pete, you do a blog?
Yes, it's been a long while. And that's
something I start all these things with, but I don't think I've
skipped a whole season before. So sorry, if this is the only way
you've been keeping up with my life out here. Though if that is the
case, go ahead and drop me an email because, as you see, this isn't a
very reliable form of connection.
Let's start with summer. In a word,
'busy'. As ALT Advisor for Kobe City, a position I'm sure all the
Yamans are sick of hearing about, the summer influx was one of the
big responsibilities of the year. I mean, I wasn't the only member of
the welcoming committee, not even the most involved member. There was
a lot of great work being done by a lot of good people, and I was
proud to be a member of such an ace team.
So here's the overview. Weeks of
meetings to get things like schedules sorted to start, and then the
Group As arrived. First day, paperwork and welcoming dinner at ours.
Me 'n Steph enjoyed hosting, something I know she's always been keen
to try but too chick-chick-chicken to put into effect until now. I'm
going to be saying variations of this quite a bit, but the newcomers
are all amazing. Well, they're not new anymore. I think to a man
they've settled down now, and that's excellent too. Next day was an
early start to the ward office for residence cards and proofs of
residence. A bit of confusion here, as clearly the office had dropped
a few memos down the drain or something. Still, a couple of phone
calls and we were back on track. Afternoon was spent loafing around
the phone shop getting phones. This was definitely not my area of
focus, so there was a fair amount of just kicking our heels and
keeping everyone entertained. Coffee was supplied, mercifully. Then
back home for an early night. Then Friday, which started with a trip
to the disaster museum. Don't get me wrong; the Hanshin-Awaji
Earthquake is even today a huge part of Kobe's identity, and learning
about it is very, very important. But still, I was not exactly put
out to not have to go with everyone else. That afternoon we went to
the city centre to take everyone on tours of important landmarks like
stations, nice restaurants and the immigration office. Lots of
walking, but not exactly taxing.
I think this is where the realisation
started to hit me, that I was no longer novice but veteran. It was a
nostalgia-filled summer, where every corner seemed to unearth
unconsidered memories like toys recovered in a long put-off room
cleaning. It's funny what sticks out. Walking across the overpass and
being asked about the British love of tea, or losing a digital camera
to water damage on the top floor of city hall. Things I haven't
thought of for many years. Hm.
Moving on, that night was pub, followed
by sleep. The weekend was just as busy, this time filled with
unofficial trips out. We Yamans took everyone to the second-hand
stores up in the north of the city on one day, and off in the other
direction for the big electronics stores on the other. By this time I
think we were all a bit washed out, but certain things (like air
conditioners) are pretty essential during the summer. The nights were
spent playing boardgames and drinking, usually at ours but
increasingly at others'. Again, I consider myself truly privileged
to be surrounded by such excellent people.
Monday now, and a trip to a, though not
exactly convenient, certainly typical junior high school for
seminars. Matt and I gave a bit of a hint session on self-intro
lessons, and that was entertaining. Again, it really hit me that now
we are the teachers. We're the ones with the advice to pass on. It's
a hard to take it, honestly. Something I always have to fight with;
that feeling of not having anything to offer. But I am fighting. And
darn it, this summer I came out on top. Tuesday was the first day at
school for the Group As, so we kicked back.
And then Wednesday came around again,
and the Group Bs arrived. Rinse and repeat.
I don't have to say this, really, but
everyone who came to Kobe this year is a remarkable human being, As
and Bs, and even Cs. I enjoyed talking to you all about your new
lives in Kobe, and I'm also happy to not really have to do that
anymore. But I think a lot of us old-bies agree: last year we lost a
lot of good men and women. The folk we were taught by. The folk who
let us into their homes. That hit hard. And I'm glad that, though we
don't have replacements for those gone home, we have something new,
and something just as good.
Alright, back to summer. After the Bs
came and did the welcoming thing, we had job training, two days of
seminars about the more intricate sides of teaching in Kobe. I had
another seminar to give, this time about remotivating yourself after
years of monotonous drudgery. It was a daunting topic, but I think I
got it. Or rather, I facilitaed the getting it of everyone who
attended and essentially did my work for me. Cheers, guys. I do like
a good KEC seminar day. Some days the place can be stuffy and
oppressive, but it sure beats a day at school. I mean, it ends and
you're already in town. You're near the pub. Heaven. And being with
everyone else is a real good point, too. I can't say I've been
thoroughly invested in every speech I've heard and every seminar I've
taken, but I can say I learn a lot from 'em.
Last thing I want to talk about i-
END OF SIDE ONE
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