such a journey have i had!

i am at present rather jetlagged(or JET-lagged as we on the japan exchange and teaching programme rather cornily put it). i have had a long few days, both exhausting, thrilling and at times frustrating. after the flight to joburg, i met up with all the capetownand durban jets, and we were shuttled off to the holiday inn. we chatted and shared our excitement, and discoveredthat one jet (brindley) had been to japan for two years teaching at a private school before joining the jet programme. he was a source of vital and interesting information. he showed us pictures on his keitai (cellphone) and told us about the all-you -can-drinkkaraoke evenings (\1000).

then we arrived at the hotel and discovered that our booking had been lost. i must commend holiday inn sandton city for their apathetic and disinterested service. aren't they a good representative of our country? anyway, after a round of drinks at mcginty's, we checked in and got ready for the orientation and welcome, at which we met the other jets from joburg. they were, for the most part, joburgers. the weight of our bags became the most pressing issue and we all headed off to repack obsessively.this would soon prove futile, as my bag was 24.5 kilos and nothing was said. my hand luggage however was overweight,and i was told to unpack some stuff- and carry it in myhands (uh... how does this make it lighter?) once throughthe baggage check i put it back into the trolley case and that was that. welcome to the world of airport bureaucracy).

so we flew off to hong kong, a 13-hour flight. i watched "man on fire", "taking lives" "laws of attraction" one episode of Abfab (saffy is a pregnant lesbian) and could not sleep. probably that is because midway through the flight 3pm ie. afternoon became 10pm , as they switched offthe cabin lights and closed the windows.

and on to hong kong, which is a nice airport, from what i could see of it as we travelated through to our next flight.4 hours to tokyo, watched "hellboy", began to feel jetlag... more than 24hours since i had slept at this point. jetlag is fun as a) you're tired, b) you are stupid and c)your brain constantly feels like its bouncing in yourhead. like dizzy, but upside down.

off the plane, and onto the bus ("do you have your passport", they asked repeatedly) for three hours as we rode into the city. which is approximately 1000 times the size of cape town, this is not hyperbole. after arriving i had a shower (blessed relief!!!) and went out to see thelights. tokyo at night (even on a sunday) is mindblowing...1000's of poeple, neon, shops open till late,binging, music, pinging, bands playing live on the street (like busking but with amps and professional sound. the orientation was too much to describe... lots of info,many many americans, met the sa ambassador at his home, huge buffet breakfasts and lunches, lectures, 10 huge textbooks to read, free stuff, information, heat andHUMIDITY!!!

toilets with taped recordings of water rushingplayed over the noise of ones tinkling... everything is automated from toilets flushing to taxi doors to the omnipresent vending machines which sell pocari sweat(whichtasteslike it sounds) to coke to coffe (hot and cold) to food etc. there is too much to describe. everything is clean and safe and foreign and familiar at the same time. so now i am at my school, and have been in my home foralmost a day... it is too big for me, having a main room,three bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom (with a deep short bath...it' square!) and a whole lot of appliances.. no tv though and i need to food shop.... i went to daiso last night which is a hundred yen shop. got lots of stuff ie cutlery etc for 3000 yen, which is very good!

today i will go to a recycle shop (secondhand store) to try to find a bicycle.i am so tired i can barely speak english so my japanese efforts are quite pathetic, but my supervisor mr koki sasaki (sasaki sensei)has been really helpful, dragging me all over the place... this weekend i plan to sleep and sleep and sleep. i have also met the other ALT here called greg who is canadian but has been living here for 12 or so years. hehas invited me to dinner next week and sightseeing next weekend. apparently sasaki sensei's girlfriend would liketo meet me.

payday 21st august...

an email from japan.

this arrived in my inbox today...

This is Koki Sasaki of Ikeda H.S. I'm sorry for being late for sending mail to you... Now we Ikeda students and teachers are preparing for Elm Festival ( School festival on next week). Students are making each parade floats and costumes. And are practicing for class chorus.
Anyway, it will be fun to have such school events! I will send some pictures of the fes. soon!
By the way do you have any info. about your accomodation in Ikeda?
What kind of information do you want me to send?
Please reply me soon. I will help you!

Now, let me introduce myself and our school a little bit...
I'm a 23 y.o english teacher, and this is second year as a teacher.
Now I'm teaching for 3rd and 2nd graders. (the students are around 17 to 18 years old)
There are 4 english teacher in Ikeda High,other teachers are Ms. Kagami, Mr. Oikawa, and Mr. Ogitsu. We cover all generations from 50s to 20s. So It is really instructive for young teachers like me.
Totally there are about 40 teachers in here. I really enjoy teaching here. I hope you can enjoy too!
We have various kinds of subjects even in only english classes. For example Intercultural Communication, OralCommunication,Reading,Writing,English two, english for living, etc... Do you have any classes which you are in? Our students are really cheerful and gentle. They are also waiting for you.
I will send you infomations about classes and students later!

I teach intercultural communication class( 6 students) and English2
(general study). Also, Ikeda High School has three sister schools in Canada. I wish I could do more cultural exchange with them and any other countries including your country!
My students are writing about Japanese culture and their school life in their own English for you. I may send you before you leave South Africa. If you can, please read them and reply them! And we are waiting for your more information and Questions for us!


Today, I found a usuful book for ladies from foreign countries to come to Japan. It may contains useful informations to you.

{ "Being A Board in Japan" published by Alexandra Press }


Keep in touch. Koki Sasaki
Hokkaido Ikeda High School