Dartboard

Last night was so much fun! Tomonaga-sensei and Hatakeyama-sensei took me on a very low key enkai (welcome party) around Nagasaki City. We first went to a Japanese restaurant where we had delicious food and they knew exactly what I liked! All of Tomonaga-sensei's inquisitiveness regarding food makes sense now. They ordered only cooked fish, pork, chicken, tofu, vegetables, french fries(!) and cocktails! Yeah! I didn't have to drink beer or sake on my first enkai! Another great thing was that the cocktails were so weak I could drink two without feeling any effects. Because drinking (especially for men, but for women too) in Japan is almost expected and those of you who know me, know I don't like to drink much alcohol. Afterwards, (after a $80 bill that they wouldn't let me touch) they wanted to take me to another bar for more drinks. We went to a little jazz-theme bar and I got more weak cocktails! I felt like I was playing a big trick on them--drinking, drinking, but not even getting a little bit tipsy. We called it a night after that; well, I called it a night, later on Hatakeyama-sensei told me he went out for more drinks, but jet-lag is really taking it's toll on me this trip.

I'm really looking forward to working with these two. They are both very relaxed. I was wearing a nice black dress with a matching jacket, nylons, high heels, the whole nine yards for this "very important introduction" and my supervisor showed up in jeans, a short-sleeve button-up shirt and sneakers! I couldn't believe it! I felt kind of silly all dressed up, but I had no idea to expect that! I think his age may have something to do with it. He's much younger than I expected. Hopefully, I at least made a good first impression in full regalia.

Having one more night in Nagasaki may have been a blessing in disguise. I got to see some of the city, experience a little bit of bar hoping without going crazy and know what I might want to come back and see later. Besides, I hear there is no place we could have had an enkai in Narao!!

Despite last night's fun, this morning I'm kind of sad. I woke up so early, around 6 a.m. and have packed up all my bags, gotten dressed, completely ready to head out the door, but I still have 45 minutes. I watched Japanese TV for a while, then read my gjestebok that all my family and friends wrote in and it just made me miss people. I'm not like crying and wishing I were home or anything, but I kinda want to talk to someone familiar. It's so silent in this hotel now that all the other JETs have gone their own ways and I'm all alone. I could call but I'm too cheap to buy a phone-card. I want to wait until I get to my apartment and know exactly how much money I have and what bills I'll have to pay before my first paycheck.

But today is the big day I get to go home! The ferry leaves at noon and I should be home around 2:30. Once I get settled, I'm sure I'll feel much better.

The Port in Nagasaki.

Where we'll hop the ferry!

The view of the bay, where Nagasaki Port is located.

Love and cocktails,
Sierra

Finally, today was our last morning of orientation madness and I met one of my coworkers! Tomonaga-sensei ("sensei" means "teacher") came and picked me up at Omura International Hotel to take me to Nagasaki City. Somehow, just putting a face to a name has eased some of my fears. He's not even my supervisor, but at least I have a friendly face and I'm so relieved. Tomonaga-sensei is very inquisitive, talkative--and very strong! He carried my 70 pound bag all around town today--upstairs, downstairs, on the train, off the train, in the taxi, out of the taxi, on the elevator, off the elevator, etc, etc. I was carrying lots too, but he always took the huge bag. He's 42 with two children, 8 and 10 years-old. His son is a sumo wrestler, which I was very excited to learn. Tomonaga doesn't seem to be a typical Japanese person though. He seems pretty informal and easy-going. Everything except the time! He has a stopwatch clock that he keeps around his neck and tucks in his front shirt pocket. He looks at it all the time and is a glowing example of Japanese punctuality.

Once we got settled into our hotel in Nagasaki and had some lunch, Tomonaga-sensei showed me around Nagasaki City a bit. I didn't really see enough to have an opinion on the city yet, but I'm sure it will seem huge after being in Narao for a while. We walked through China Town, which is basically one short alley, then walked up to Hollander's Slope. There is a huge Dutch influence here. In fact, at one point, all foreigners were called Hollanders. At the top of the slope there is a nice view of the city and the ocean.

The view from Hollander's Slop

We stopped in on this international house, an international cafe of sorts, the walls covered with a collection of "things" from all over the world. Then we rushed through Glover's Garden. It is an absolutely beautiful garden with the largest koi (or maybe carp?) I have ever seen. I was regretting that I was wearing high heels and my suit skirt, (oh the blisters I formed walking all over Nagasaki City in heels!) but I didn't know when I'd be meeting my supervisor and making my first impression. I didn't want to risk it in casual clothes.

The view of Nagasaki from Glover's Garden

The pond full of koi at Glover's Garden

Me at a Catholic church in Nagasaki.

So tonight I'm staying in this hotel in Nagasaki City, only one more night of this living out of a suitcase business and then I get to go home! I can't wait. Actually very soon I should be meeting my supervisor, Hatakeyama-sensei. He is coming to the hotel in Nagasaki in 10 minutes so I'll have to shut down my computer and be punctual.

Love and high heels,
Sierra

Another two days of orientation. I really struggled to get through today. I just wanted to be in Narao, in my apartment, figuring all this stuff out for myself. I had the fidgets through the entire thing. I can really sympathize with ADHD victims. Group A has the better end of the deal. Arriving a week early, settling in and then coming to the prefecture orientation just to hear, "read your contract, don't drink and drive, don't do drugs, be on time, make a good first impression," for the umpteenth time. Like, duh.

So what did I learn at the Nagasaki Orientation? Apparently, at work we will have nothing to do for this first month. We just have to entertain ourselves at our desks. So I'm making a mental list of all the things I can do while at school: Study Japanese. Play on my computer, composing emails, and working on a website. Take pictures of the school, the other teachers. Read books. Knit a sweater. Study Kanji. Make lesson plans. Read news online. Run around the perimeter of the school ten times. I think I can entertain myself.

Today one guy tried to scare us. He's our block representative (Gotos Islands block) and was probably trying to give a realistic view of island life, but end up giving a depressing one. I am not scared though. Well, a little nervous. He told us we'd feel isolated and it's because we are. We won't get to all the places our friends will. We won't be able to participate in AJET functions because we're too far away. I appreciated his frankness, but I also brushed it off pretty quickly. I know others did not. But I also think others have it worse than me. Some people are on an island all by themselves with very limited ferry service. I at least have Catherine in walking distance and she's not a total fruitcake. We have a port out of Narao so I can leave pretty easily. There's even an airport on the North end of the island. I'll be fine, right?

Love and isolation,
Sierra

Konbanwa from Tokyo!!! Today was the last day of orientation in Tokyo. All's well except--the meetings are probably my least favorite part because I feel they are mostly inefficient (presenters reading off hand-outs, give me a break! I can read them myself) or really boring (not the material, but the people themselves have no enthusiasm). Of course, not all are that way, but I'd say the majority. I just like interacting with everyone and preparing preparing preparing for my departure to Nagasaki tomorrow.

So I have met the other ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in my town and two of the other four on my island. Catherine Wood, who also lives in Narao, is from Bath, England and we were instantly friends! She's a very cute and friendly person, short, thin, blonde hair and simple like me (no makeup or primping, I mean). We really get along well (maybe out of necessity at this point) but I'm looking forward to the next year with her. She keeps saying the same thing, so that's a good sign.

I'm kinda glad she's not American because they all seem to be getting on my nerves. Laura and Kerry are the two who live up north. Laura is also from the UK (Scotland, I think) but Kerry is from midwest(?) America (not one of the ones getting on my nerves, I should note). I don't know them well, but they seem nice.

And tonight--I can't express enough my joy about this!!--my good friend, Hiro, was able to get off work early and come visit me in Shinjuku. I was so afraid I'd leave Tokyo tomorrow without seeing him. He studied at Linfield in 2001 and was Harald's Little Brother and therefore the three of us spent massive amounts of time together and became wonderful friends. Hiro now works for Lion (office supply company) in Tokyo and he works too much, too hard. Japanese business men always have to work in really stressful situations and really late into the night, but I wish Hiro didn't have to. I promised I would hire him if I ever owned a company, but I wouldn't make him work until 9 p.m. everyday! He liked that idea. We could only visit for about an hour; since he left work early today he has to go back to work at 5 a.m. tomorrow!! Hiro, my hero! Harald, you'll be happy to know that Hiro is very excited for your visit to Japan so that the three of us "the family" can be together again!!! Isn't he sweet!!!

So, I'm starting to droop which means maybe it's bedtime. Tomorrow is a day of traveling to Nagasaki Orientation. We will take a 2 hour flight and stay at the Omura International Hotel for two nights. I will finally get to meet my supervisor, Hatakeyama-sensei and then Saturday is the joyous day I get to move into my place!!!! Yeah!!

Love and friends, old and new,
Sierra

Tokyo's Skyline

Well, Here I am in Japan. I can't believe I'm finally here--at the JET Tokyo Orientation. Everything is great so far. There is free wireless internet in the Hospitality Room and it's open 24 hours a day. I brought my iSight down, but no one is online right now. =( Well, Daniel's idle and Mama is away.

The plane ride went smoothly yesterday. Oh, except that there was engine failure and we didn't take off for an hour after we were supposed to. It just meant that I got to sit on the plane for an extra hour. There were so many people in the Tokyo airport ushering us to the right places. It was very easy and fast. They have this orientation down pat!

I am adjusting to the time difference well. I went to sleep around 11 p.m. and got up at 7:30. Usually people can't sleep or wake up really early. I'm rooming with another Linfield student. Her name is Kelly and we worked in the International Programs Office at Linfield together for a little while. I'm kind of bummed I didn't get to meet someone new, but she's really great too.

Okay, our first meeting is at 10 a.m. In about 40 minutes. I'll probably be busy most of the day, but when I do have an hour or so I'll write more!

Love and appreciation,
Sierra

Keio Plaza Hotel. The orientation venue.

Tokyo from the 27th floor of Keio Plaza Hotel.