Sunday July 27, 2003 - -
8:17 pm
I'm on the 27th floor of the Tokyo Hilton, chatting with my roomate Molly, who is ironically also from Texas and also going to Tottori prefecture. There are thousands of JETS (Japanese Exchange Teachers) here from all over the world. I've met lots of Brits and Americans as well as people from Ireland, Jamaica, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa - the list goes on. We're all here together for two whirlwind days of orientation to learn how to live and teach in Japan. I'm sure we'll have it all down and be completely prepared in 2 days....
Tuesday July 29,2003 - -
11:15am
I haven't been able to sleep due to this crazy jet lag. There's a 14 hour time difference! This morning I went running through the streets of Tokyo. I don't think people normally do that, as I recieved several strange looks. I went to a park and was greeted by rows and rows of bright blue tarps, "homes of the homeless". It was like an entire community had been set up and apparently had existed for quite some time. For some reason, I only saw homeless men. I'm sure there are homeless women in Tokyo too. Where were they at 6am? The people had obviously made an effort to make their little spots comfortable, with makeshift cushions, strategically placed open umbrellas, carefully taped cardboard walls, and folding chairs covered with plastic. They leave logs on their wrapped up tarps when they're away. I saw a couple of businessmen quickly making their way through the park. Maybe it was my imagination, but they seemed to give me a look of slight embarassment. Some people were walking their dogs through the park, ignoring the blue plastic neighborhood. I've already started to pick up the Japanese bow, or "hello-nod" and made a conscious effort to acknowldge and nod at the men in the park. One of them smiled, bowed, and proudly said "Good morning" in English, to which I returned the greeting.
Wednesday July 30, 2003 - -
8:10pm
I took an hour plane ride from Toyko to Tottori city. The principal of Yabase Elementary School, the English teacher, Education Supervisor, and someone else (?) were all waiting for me at the airport with a bouquet of pink flowers and a matching pink sign that said "Welcome Katherine Carnahan!" They took pictures of me in a frenzy of "How do you do"s and whisked me into a rattly old van for our hour and a half drive through the rice fields, along the coast, and through tunnels in the mountains to Tohaku cho (cho = town). We dropped off my luggage at a hotel, after first stopping by the Board of Education, I think to show me off more than anything else.
At the hotel, they took me to my room and said, "20 minutes". My Japanese is pretty bad and their English isn't too hot. So communication is basically on a cave man level. I asked, "what?" and they said, "20 minutes! Lobby." ok. So I laid down and starred at the ceiling for a while and then went downstairs where they were waiting for me.
We went to the "Welcome Katie/Goodbye Kim (the teacher before me)" party. I was shown into a large room with 8 big tables full of fish, sushi, sashimi, squid, yakitori, miso soup, soba noodles, octopus, oysters, fruit, egg tofu, and things I'd never seen before. They told me to sit in the front (as the seats were assigned) with the mayor and other important looking old men in suits. One of them went to a small stage, took a microphone, and made some kind of speech using my and Kim's names frequently. Then Kim went to the stage and read a printed speech in what sounded to me like perfect Japanese. Then they called my name and pointed to the mic. Crap. I didn't really have a Japanese speech formally prepared...so I stood before these 70 or so people and said "Minasan konbanwa" (good evening everyone) - to which they all replied "Konbanwa!" in perfect unison. "Ha", I thought, "that was cool". So I introduced myself in Japanese, thanked them, and apologized for not being more skilled in Nihongo (Japanese). I said the rest in English and followed up with a good "Yoroshiku onegai shimasu" (which, if I could recommend one phrase to learn for anyone coming to Japan, that would be it - basically means "I'll do my best" I think, but they say it probably 20 times a day!) So they all applauded loudly and then asked Kim to the mic to translate what I'd said. I didn't get to eat too much because I constantly had a crowd of people surrounding me with wide eyed fascination and questions about Texas. (Yes, they think we're all cowboys with guns and horses.) They took pictures of me eating, of me talking, of me sitting in a chair...
So now I sit in my little hotel room, listening to the Japanese version of "Rucy in za Sky wih Diamons" and watching the news with the mute on (can't understand it anyway) in my big cotton Japanese robe. I have no idea what awaits me tomorrow.
Thursday July 31, 2003
5:40pm
If only you could see this place. I'm at the home of Osamu and Kazuko Shin, 2 of the nicest people in Tohaku. I'm surrounded by bamboo forests and pear orchards and flowers in bloom. The insects are all buzzing and humming, the birds are chirping. The air is warm and thick with sound. The house smells of old wood and is full of books.
I saw my new (old) apartment today, though i won't move in for a few days. I can see the Sea of Japan from my front balcony and Mt. Daisen from my back balcony.
The Shins took me to a great restaurant for lunch and introduced me to okonomiyaki, a dish of cabbage, squid (or shrimp), noodles, corn, seaweed, bbq sauce, and other things (I don't really know) all mixed up. It sounds absolutely horrible, I know. But it's surprizingly tasty. You get to cook it yourself at this little grill in the middle of the table.
Osamu just left, so it's just me and their 102 year old grandmother who stays in the back room. I haven't seen her, and am not sure if I ever will. I just hear coughing and shuffling around from behind the sliding door from time to time. The oldest person in the world lives in Japan - a 116 year old woman!!!
more please
take me home