Next time I'm taking the train

This morning was quite the adventure. I stayed at Bryan's last night so this morning we rode our bikes together part of the way to our respective schools. However this was only my second day riding my bike to school, so taking a different route proved to be a bit troublesome. Add to that torrential rain. It is so humid here that I was practically just as wet inside my rain gear as outside. So I showed up late and bedraggled on my first real day of school only to find out that I had missed my own introduction at the teachers meeting, and that I was to be introduced to the whole school at an assembly and would give a short speech.
What a way to start the day.
Of course everything turned out fine. I gave my speech and they clapped. Then I watched the assembly. Seeing all the students made me excited to meet them. Some of them are so tiny, many are cute and since it's junior high some are a little awkward, but everything about them is endearing. Classes start next week and I'll be giving a "self introduction" lesson. Feel free to send me pictures that I can use.
I'll be having school lunch for the first time today, I'm looking forward to that. All the teachers bring their own chopsticks, so I've got mine ready.
Yesterday I visited the high school that I'll be working at. It's a private school for students who didn't go to either elementary or junior high school. So their english level is very low and many of them don't like english. The teacher I'll be working with seems nice. I'll be teaching there on tuesdays.
As for my base school, Asuwa Junior High, the teachers are very friendly and helpful. In Japan teachers work extremely long hours. especially junior high teachers. One reason is that at the end of the year the 3rd year students take an exam that determines where they can go to high school. But as for the rest of the year I have yet to determine why they work so much. Many of them supervise extracurricular activities, but still, so do teachers in the states.
It's friday and I'm ready for the weekend. I haven't gone grocery shopping since I moved into my apartment and I just haven't had a chance to run any errands. I also want to work on my lesson plan so that I'm ready for next week. And Bryan and I are going to try out the rock climbing gym.

Hello Japan

I made it! It's been a bit of a whirlwind, but I'm taking it all as it comes. I am now in Fukui after spending two nights in Tokyo. Today Bryan and I have been exploring the city and he's been showing me around a bit. It's great fun, everything is new and different. There are bike lanes and garages all over the place and everyone rides their bikes. There're all one speed grandma bikes equipped with basket and bell. Unfortunately mine's a bit small, so I'll probably end up getting a new one. There are also gardens everywhere. Big beautiful vegetable gardens with cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, squash, corn, you name it. And the rice field are so big and green. So far the weather hasn't been too hot, but it is very humid.

We've gestured our way through a few social interactions and people seem to be friendly and willing to help. I met a bunch of the other JETs at a contract signing ceremony yesterday and it seems that they create quite a social network with sports teams, parties, volunteer opportunities and events. I feel glad to meet them all and know that the support system is there, but I also feel that if I get too involved with other JETs I won't have as many opportunities to meet Japanese people. So for now I am making friends, but resisting the urge to commit too much time to English activities.

Right now I am at "mister donut" and my donut tastes like marshmallows were a main ingredient. There are lots of young people here maybe junior high or high school age, talking and doing homework. It's fun to just look at everything around me and take it all in. There is so much to see.

One thing I saw today that made me wish I had a camera was a man riding his bike with a boy in a seat on the back and a girl in a seat behind the handlebars, it was very sweet. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I keep seeing things I want to take pictures of. So be patient, I promise I'll post pictures as soon I as have some to share.

All in all everything is going great so far. I'm really excited to be here.  Miss you all.

Rachel

The time has come

Well I leave for Japan tomorrow. I'm feeling surprisingly calm. I still have some packing to finish, but I'm almost ready. I'm glad I've had some time at home to run all my last minute errands, mail all the necessary paperwork and visit my family and friends. The time seemed to swing like a pendulum between two extremes, rushing by leaving me feeling panicked or lulling me into thinking the day I leave would never come. I've been standing on the precipice of this new adventure so long, I feel a mixture of relief and fear that the day to leave has finally come. I wish I could have spent more time with everyone here. I wish I could take all of you with me. So come visit me if you can. If not download skype for free and we can talk for free. 

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/

My skype name is rachelhilsen. 

I arrive in Tokyo wednesday evening, (my flight is only 9 hours, but Japan is 16 hours ahead of us) have an orientation on thursday and take the train to Fukui on Friday. When I get to Fukui I will go to a contract signing ceremony and then stay with Bryan for the weekend since I won't have time to meet my landlord and get into my apartment. Then on monday another orientation and tuesday I'll move into my new home. So take care and keep in touch. I'll miss you all.

My predecessor in Japan, who is amazing, made this video for me. It's a video tour of the apartment I'll be moving into in Fukui. Enjoy! (I hope it works)

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=n-kqdFnAJSA