First Day

Well, I just saw that my previous post was incomplete. Appropriately, it cut off exactly where I was saying not to expect anything fancy as google sites appear in Japanese. Thus I have to guess at what which link is which.

I have just finished my Orientation Day at the school. My Uncle met me this morning at the townhouse where I am staying. It is an adorable place on a college campus just down the road from the school I am teaching at this summer. There is a bamboo grove just outside my front door and a beautiful garden in the backyard. It is very peaceful and comfortable.

This morning after he met me, we climbed onto our bikes and headed towards the campus. This of course is the most dangerous part of my day. I am not a coordinated person to begin with, and I haven't been on a bike in a few years. Whoever said, "it's like riding a bike..." either didn't know what they were talking about, or people have been grossly missusing the quote. About halfway down the hill towards the campus and a few close calls with oncoming bikers, I finally decided that it sure would be a nice day to walk my bike. It is fun to be back on a bike though, and basically I am doing fine- but it will take a couple of days to really be comfortable! Last night on the larger and flatter road to the grocery store, it was actually a wonderful ride on a beautiful night. I may need to pick up a Huffy back in the States.

Of course the grocery store is one of my favorite places, and to explore one in Japan was some kind of Heaven for me. I am looking forward to going back again to wander and wonder (and purchase) some more. Looking at the colorful labels guessing at the contents was a delight, and marveling at the wonderful sushi creations that you can not find at Harris Teeter was a special treat.

Of course as I try to write about my day, I keep getting side tracked, so perhaps the blog about my job can wait as I recount my first experiences in the culture.

After finally settling in for the evening last night after my Uncle had left, I found myself very alone. The townhouse was so quiet, and I admit, my horror soaked American mind had a few images of the Grudge creeping through it. I opted to watch some Japanese television while my jet lagged body enjoyed some rest and an English muffin. Awesome, is all I have to say about the television. I have no idea what I was watching, but I loved it. I had previously planned to take a shower before bed to help relax and knock the day and a half of travel off me, but instead the day and a half of travel caught up with me.

Once my english muffin was consumed, I only wanted to collapse on my bed. Of course my travels had only felt like a long day. While it was 24 hours later from when I had left the US, I had not experienced night yet. We had flown with the sun, so my daytime had been over 24 hours long. Additionally, it was also almost two days later than I had left in Japan. Let me explain. Japan is 13 hours ahead of the US, so without moving an inch I had already lost 13 hours, then the travelling from Atlanta had cost another 13 hours, then there was the trip from Charlotte and layover, add another 4 hours. Then once I landed in Tokyo, there was the time before I had to catch the bus, add another 2 hours, then the bus ride, 2 more hours, then the trip from the station on the subway with my Uncle (only one stop) and short bus ride (maybe 20 minutes total). That's a lot of math that I am just not willing to do because I experienced it all and was surprisingly exhausted by it. Even though the trip had seemed easy at the time, my exhausted body was about ready to give out. So I climbed into bed and passed out.

And that's when the phone rang. I snapped out of my hazy slumber and picked up the phone. It was my Mom on the other end, who I was thrilled to hear from. The hardest part about landing in Tokyo was that I could not call anyone to tell them I had landed or to share my experience with. In fact until I met up with my Uncle, other than some interaction with people, I had not actually talked to anyone since my flight left Atlanta. I told her all about my day that had just ended while hers was beginning. No sooner had we hung up, then I passed out quickly again for 9 more hours.

Now after finishing my first day at the camp, I am playing in the computer lab while I wait for my uncle to begin the bike trip (uphill) back to the townhouse. I can feel the jet lag catching up with me, so I have a feeling it will be another early night. It is 3am in the US right now after all!