Yashiro. It was called the “concentration camp” by others that had survived. Yashiro is the name of the town that was hosting a four day mandatory seminar for all the new Assistant Language Teachers. I was told there was nothing to do there, and it turned out to be the truth.
Rather than bore you with the details, a few short memories will suffice to summarize the entire seminar.
During the day they pounded us with information, much of it repetitive. The food was bearable, and sometimes quite good. We did our own dishes. We lived in rooms shared with three other people. I got a good poker group together. The showers were communal. The beer vending machine ran out on the first night, so everyone went to the nearest convienence store where the clerks all had an expression like they were being taken over by aliens (which they literally were). I was the number two ranked ping pong player in all of Yashiro. Somebody had bought a large beer… 2 Liters of beer. Oh, and never drink with English women… they can drink Irishmen under the table.
All together, it was a good time, and it was nice to meet people in the same situation. I think I’ve got a few poker regulars, and certainly I have the space to accommodate a poker party now and then.
I’m glad the experience is over – I was really happy to get back to my modest apartment and get back into a routine.
