Babies and Bikes

(Traditional Style Room I Stayed In)

   My first thought as I awoke to the first day on my grand adventure in Japan was: "Holy crap this hurts like hell!!" Inspiring, right? The combination of a thin futon and tatami mat flooring was disastrous on my back and impossible on my shoulders. In general I'm not particularly picky with my lodgings. I can easily sleep on couches, on chairs, in cars etc. and none of that really bothers me. So it surprised me just how much of my body hurt sleeping on bamboo! That probably explained why I only slept for 4 hours.....

  I was staying with the aforementioned "fourth-removed" connection due to a laps in time between my arrival time and the time at which I would be able to claim my apartment keys. My temporary host invited me to attend church and I gladly accepted. Little did I know that it would encompass the entirety of my day. (Well, I was given the option of escorting myself back through the maze of city we had gone though to get to this church-- not surprisingly, I declined.) Day one:down.

   Day two was spent getting to Ueno, which is a larger station where I was to meet my manager for my apartment contract "stuffs."(seems to be a very popular word, at least among the Japanese staff in my company) After a few hours and a bunch of paperwork, we headed off to find my apartment. Several train-line changes later we arrived at "my" station. After a little bit of confusion, the manager found the apartment and we finished even more paperwork inside. With the business done, we both set off back to the station. I spent the rest of my day figuring out how to get to the Shinjuku branch I was scheduled to be at the next day. 

  Day three (yep still incredibly sore from another night on the thin futon) I woke up bright and early to make the hour long commute to my new apartment before going to work. I loaded myself down with about half of all my luggage and wobbled off to the train station on my first solo train mission!

.... and immediately got lost trying to find the local train station. Doh! I cursed under my breath and scolded myself, "I can't even find my way to the train station after I tried so hard to remember the short directions!! How can I find my way around Tokyo when I hardly can go three streets without getting lost?!" I was bit upset as I walked around the block a few more times before finding my way.

   Once at the station I checked my directions... "ok, I need a train towards Shinjuku....." The platform I was on felt "right" but was going the wrong direction and to get on the other platform meant I had to hoist all my super heavy luggage up a very large staircase. So after a call to my host to make sure the other platform was definitely the correct one, I started to climb what seemed to be a towering mountain of steps. Of course, as soon I finished my exhausting task I saw where there was a separate entrance for the platform. Hypothetically... if you had 100lbs of stuff  that you needed to get from one platform to the other, you could simply go through this gate and not have to climb a horrendous amount of stairs... yep. My 20/20 hindsight vision often explains why people stare at me.

    I finally arrived at my station! I was bit tired and frazzled, but I had successfully navigated it all by myself! (celebrate the small things...) Now to find the apartment... I had been there only yesterday, but the manager had gotten turned around a bit which made remembering the correct way back more difficult. Ever get the feeling that when you feel lost, looking for your way, time passes much quicker? I blame adrenaline. Anyway, I was trying to calculate the amount of time I needed to walk and then attempting to recalculate that in light of how I knew my adrenaline was throwing off my mental clock. I could feel I was getting close, this one bike shop seemed familiar. But then again, my directional "feelings" are usually wrong.

   Just then I saw one of the locals being a little more obvious with her stares as she was putting out her trash. I have taken this to mean that they are more open and willing to help the lost looking me, so I took advantage of it. I approached her and said something like "sumimasen, kokowa doko?" while pointing at my map of the town. She was super nice and after not being to decipher the map nor the address, she decided to set out on the town in search of it with me. I implicitly trusted the directional sense of this native house wife. Which proved to be a bad decision because after stopping three times to ask other townspeople and going the length of the town both ways (seriously we walked forever!) we still hadn't found it. 

   I was not a pretty sight to behold. I had dressed warmly for the cold morning air, but now it was much later in the day and the sun's warm rays were seeping hotly into my thick black winter coat. Not forgetting that I was also lugging the equivalent weight of an additional body all over town. I was an exhausted, sweaty mess. For my prides sake, more than anything, I desperately tried to keep up with her fast pace, but as the search continued I began to drag further and further behind. 

   She had called back to me, but at this point my brain could not muster enough energy to even begin to translate my thoughts into Japanese. Then she walked back to me and as natural as could be asked "Do you want me to speak in English?" It blew me away! Waah!? She hadn't spoken a single English syllable before this and now she was speaking in fluent English! Well, this made things easier. I gave a few more specific memories that might help find the place like, "I think it's near that bike shop." She gave me a quizzical look at this remark which I took to mean "that can't be right." So I dropped it, she must be right, I mean she is local.

In front of the "bike shop"

   After not being able to find it she proposed that I come to her house. She needed to take her daughter to preschool soon and said that we could look directions up on Google. Perhaps it's a single female traveling taboo- but I heartily agreed and soon found myself sitting in her kitchen. It was glorious to be able to take off my coat and baggage and sip on cool water. The mother went about the house doing some morning necessities while the young daughter peered at me from a hiding spot in another room. The house wife would come in and out of the room doing various things and usually stopped to ask "Are you sure there isn't anything you need?" I would decline the offer of food as she bustled off to get her daughter properly dressed etc. 

   Then she came downstairs and had me meet someone-- her baby boy who was about a year old. She sat him on my lap and went back to preparing for the day. There I sat; a strange foreigner charged with looking after her drooling baby, unattended in her kitchen. 0.o; It was a weird feeling. Which got weirder as a big, scruffy, and still half-asleep Spaniard found his way into the kitchen. He seemed to take finding a stranger in his kitchen, holding his only son, into stride very well. He give me a quick glance and casually asked me "How're you doing today?" This was the beginning to what became an interesting conversation on chess, Spanish culture, and tri-lingualism.(I learned that Spain has four official languages- and that not all Spaniards speak Spanish.)

   After declining more offers of food, the family finished breakfast and 'Dad' left for work and 'Mom' left to take their daughter to preschool. Again there I sat, with the drooling, happy baby alone. o.o;; A minuet later mom got back, checked Google for directions, popped Baby into a stroller and we were off to find the apartment again! We walked less than a block away and turned.... at the bike shop. Within two minuets we were at my apartment. In fact the cruel irony of it all was that you can see my apartment from her house. It should have taken 2-3 minuets tops to get to my apartment from where I met her putting out the garbage. 

Her house is in that cluster and my apartment is on the right

   Both of us thought it was pitifully hilarious and upon discussing further figured out why "bike shop" didn't register. Bike=Motorcycle and is NOT used as a shortened term for bicycle. So... the town doesn't have a "bike shop," although it does have a "bicycle shop".... really near our houses. 

   I had only come so freakishly early in the morning to avoid the commuter traffic, but after meeting with so many time consuming trials, I was glad I did. After getting into the apartment I had just enough time to unpack a little before I had to leave again. This time as I left, I heavily documented the landmarks with my camera. That morning taught me alot of my ability and limitations. Now when I'm shown the route to new location I always take the camera and make a picture guide for myself.  

One of my original landmarks - They've now added Christmas elves

   It wasn't even noon yet and there was still training and navigating my way to and through Shinjuku....

24hrs of Travel

   On international flights you can typically look forward to a few things: personal tv, stream of free movies, and my favorite: free food! You may recall me saying that I booked a cheapo flight, so I was kinda expecting cheapo service (the kind of airline service I'm used to XP). As the flight service started off they offered us peanuts. "Typical." I thought, and tried to eat some. I was starving at that point <<;; because I hadn't eaten all day.

   I was wrong though, because after the peanuts came a huge meal including curry, salad, fruit, dessert, bread, and a drink.... any drink. Then, they'd come back and ask if you wanted a refill or coffee. I turned down the offer of alcohol mainly because I wanted to be sure I would be in full control of my mental capacities to achieve the task of finding my way to a warm bed later that "day." This surprised the attendants, and they kept on asking "Are you suure you don't want any beer? We have red wine too!...white?" I was just so happy to have real food! Then came snacks, and another full course meal, and more snacks, and more drinks.... I stuffed myself till I had to tearfully send food back without finishing it all! ToT/  I would have finished it if I could!

Cheap flight? Yes. 

Value flight? Hell yes! I struck gold!!

   So that was the fun part of the plane trip. The part that I hate is the paper they give you: customs cards and debarkation slips. I always take forever to fill those things out, they just confuse me... and that makes me nervous about going through customs. I'm one of those people that gets freaked out by a cop just being near, even when I'm doing nothing wrong. So customs definitely freaks me out. Last time, I got searched because I didn't declare some flower seeds that my home-stay mother gave me to give to grandpa. (I didn't know they were regulated, ok?!?) But that's my point! I have no friggin' clue as how to navigate the custom regulations! Before leaving this time, I researched it for a few hours... yep. Clear as mud.

   Anyway, so the day before I left for Japan I kinda freaked and unpacked some stuff that might not have gotten through (ex. prescription med's not in my name. The mystery is I got that prescription from when I went to the ER--- how did it get prescribed under gma's name!?). I was prepared to meet rigorous regulations, deal with tough custom officers, have my carry-on luggage be scanned, searched, and ..... none of that happened. In fact they barely took more than two seconds to look at my passport before issuing my alien-resident card and send me on my way.

   Being a n00b (newbie) doesn't make you stupid, it's just you don't know any better and probably will pay for your ignorance. Two steps out the door of customs and that is exactly what I did, and I paid in cash. I'm not sure which I'd call it: smart or conniving. The ticket booth right outside of customs only sells reserved seat tickets, ( =$$ ) but if you'd go downstairs to the general admissions ticket counter it's about 1/3 cheaper. I got to the reserved ticket counter bought my overpriced ticket and was told very politely to run!! O.O A little shocked I did just that, and barely got in the train before it pulled out of the station. As I thought over my purchase I pouted a little, I hate paying for my n00bishness.

   It had been a really long day, quite literally. My day had started at something like 5am EST and now it was near 8pm JST, so about 24 hours in travel. I was finally getting close to bed! I rode the train and made my first solo train transfer and after about an hour I met up with a friend of an old peer of Aliel's. What is that, fourth removed?  (I might have been a little pushy with Aliel's peer, but he eventually found me a place to stay for a few nights. Motto of this trip: "Don't take no for an answer.")

   Anyway, after some other n00b issues like forgetting to pick up my train ticket after it got punched by the machine (had to pay a small fee) and accidentally crushing another ticket so the machine wouldn't take it.... (I decided early that tickets weren't for me) We finally made it to the Christian student housing. (I think it's something like that...) After heaving all my luggage up the stairs, I relaxed a bit on the internet and then hit the bamboo for some sleep. I slept on a crappy futon in a freezing room, but that wouldn't bother me 'till morning. zzzz...ZZZzzz..z...

Starting from the end

  My last few weeks in WV went by as if nothing was that much different (other than a small farewell dinner graciously held by Walt and Shelly). I was working at CJ's, helping out at Gma's office, it was almost as if the day that Dad would drop me off at the airport wouldn't come at all. Granted it was only a plane to Boston, but still....

   Anyway, as I arrived at the Boston Airport I was welcomed with a steaming box of pizza! <3 (lol notice a reoccurring theme here?) My stay in NH was short but fun. I got to see Smudge (aka Dreama), tour a bit of NH and get some local food. All in all, it was a nice, quiet respite--- except for the fact the apartment was FREEZING! I wore three layers constantly throughout the day until enough was enough and I finally winterized the windows! Once comfort was restored, I began repacking all my luggage due to the more stringent international baggage size and weight regulations (basically I swapped my large suitcase for Kiba's mid-sized one and redistributed all the weight to match the new requirements). With that I settled I got a farewell USA meal (of course it was McDonalds!!!) and headed off to the airport!

   Unintentionally that ended up being my very last meal in America. I was so err... "excited" (stressed!!) that I didn't eat until I was flying over the Pacific. I was most worried about the Los Angeles airport because I didn't have a ticket in hand for my "connecting flight." The result of using a cheap multi-airline combo ticket, which I've never done before and it seemed kinda sketch. Upon my arrival in the CA airport, I was directed to the "STOP! NO RE-ENTRY!" exit..... o.o;;; I asked several people, several times to make 100% sure that was for sure where I needed to go. Again... seemed kinda sketch.

   After what seemed like a 20min walk I finally found the international flight area of the airport. I got checked in, ticket secured, and attempted to ascertain if my checked luggage was still... checked? I mean I didn't have true "connecting ticket"... sooo? The clerk assured me it would be alright, but I still wasn't so sure. Well, you see while I was the the Boston Airport the luggage attendant was too busy to thoroughly check the international baggage fee agreement... so I got both checked for free (*cough*suposedtobe$70*cough*). As I walked away from the counter in CA, I crossed my fingers, did TSA all over again, and boarded the plane; hoping more than knowing that my luggage was coming along with me for the ride.

=P Well, it's getting pretty late and I still haven't even put away the leftovers from dinner, so ttyl.

Sorry for the wait!

ごめんね!~~~ 

(Sorry!)   

   Sooo...... I'm here guys! I have officially started this blog "in time." I left on November the 16th EST and I told myself that I would start a blog within a month. It is currently December the 15th JST so I am WAAY ahead of schedule! XD Right?

Before I jump headlong into my Japan stories, here's a bit about just how I got here.

    Most of you had probably talked to me while I was entertaining the idea of, or in actuality, searching for employment in Japan. Once I had everything together to start applying.... (it took way longer than it should have... let my perfectionist side go overboard a bit.. <<;) I started applying to mostly small kid centric schools. The idea of teaching adults was..... either boring or terrifying. I figured adult classes= lots of grammar and hard work, while children classes= singing silly songs and dancing around. I liked the idea of a small school because I like actually having work relationships and an offish corporate atmosphere would be a downer on my job satisfaction.

   I had sent out several applications and got a some hits, which then turned into a few 3am Skype interviews but they were several weeks later! Every school I was in contact with was agonizingly slow in any kind of progress. Every application I was sending had a custom cover letter based on what I learned about them from their own website--- except for the few "job interest form" schools. I didn't waste anytime researching schools that used a stock form to deduce if they liked me or not.... So I had inadvertently applied to a very large chain school.

   When they wrote me to get my resume and to set up an interview and I figured out that they were a chain school.... (yeah, that whole distant corporate culture thing I had been avoiding) I was tempted to just say no, but I figured it couldn't hurt. Thus began the whirlwind of paperwork and progress that took me by surprise and had me saying "I do" to a chain school that works mainly with adults. o.0;

   Nova is an ex-super-chain eikawa (conversation) school. It went bankrupt about a decade ago and has gone through several transformations since. I didn't recognize the fact that I was applying to a job for Nova b/c it's now a franchise and each company/owner does their own hiring under their own name. They were suuuper fast in hiring me and putting me through the whole process which normally takes 6 months, in under 3 months. Why? The Nova franchise bought out another eikawa school: Geos.

From speaking with a Geos teacher that I was covering for, (as he had quit rather abruptly) I ascertained that a lot of Geos teachers quit when they heard of the buyout. The reasons behind which seem to be:

1) It's as good of an excuse as any to quit.
   I have made a few interesting observations on corporate culture in Japan so far, one being the corporate guilt trip. Say you feel that your time as a teacher has been good, but it's time to move on to something else. Wrong. The company will plead, guilt, and in the end bad mouth you for your decision to move on. It's a mix of "corporate loyalty" issues along with "professional identity." Basically that you should be loyal to your company and that you are seen as your profession, and that shouldn't change-- no matter what opportunity you have for improvement.

2) Nova refusing to change Geos contracts (Nova contracts are apparently better than Geos ones)
   The overall idea being that, if they paid you peanuts to do that job, your work must be worth peanuts. A lesson learned the hard way by many: raises just don't happen.

   So basically I came into the company at a fairly turbulent time. I'm not sure if I'll want to stay on with them for the full contract length or not (1 year), but for now I'm trying to enjoy the ride. It's definitely interesting if nothing else! XD

I'm getting bored of writing... I think I might make some curry or something... ttyl!