What an overwhelming experience. Being in Japan is amazing. The town is always active, and people are everywhere. The Japanese seem to have a different take on everything that I take for granted.
Today I went across the street from the hotel during a break to have lunch with another JET. We (literally) ducked into a small (and I’m talking small) restaurant, and proceeded to order by pointing. My Japanese language ability was enough to get us answers to some questions (is that meat? fish? is that so? thank you!), but soon afterwards we are eating several dishes of food that neither of us could identify. The food was excellent, and the service is better than most American restaurants, and you can’t even tip to reward the great service.
Perhaps the most surreal part was that we are in a restaurant where nobody speaks English. Outside people by the hundreds are walking by, and very few if any speak English. It really makes you realize that you are on your own, and you need to use your wits, flexibility, and money to get you through simple everyday situations.
I ate breakfast today with some Midwestern-Americans, and a Canadian. I had a great conversation with some people from the UK, and there are some really nice Irish folks here, too. It’s been great talking and associating with people from such varied and unique backgrounds. They bring a new perspective to events around the world, and it feels good to expand your thoughts beyond your own country.
The orientation today was pretty good. There was a bit more of a focus on the teaching aspect of your job, and some of the lectures went a bit long. We watched a great movie showing a JET in action in several different schools. Some of it was painful to watch, but it looked like a lot of fun. I think the teaching will be difficult at first, and then become more second nature soon after. Also, they had put together some optional seminars, but I was pretty disappointed. They are presented by current JETs, but they seem heavier on the anecdotal than on the practical.
Tonight is the big reception, and tomorrow is another day of presentations. My roommate and I are considering going over to the electronics part of town to look at all the brand new goodies in Tokyo. Neither of us are looking to buy anything, but we heard that it’s a must see. We also were looking at “Kirin City”, a beer garden on top of a department store downtown. I’m trying to pick out memorable things to see and do, because very soon I’ll be leaving for my prefecture, and it might be a while before I make it back to Tokyo.
