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