Hello Everyone!
I received a request from my Mom today to update my blog, so this one is for her! Really, I am glad she did. It was just the kick in the pants I needed to get back to writing. I haven't written in a few days, so let me get you caught up. I will also try to tack on some photos, so you can see my tiny but amazing apartment!
So, Sunday and Monday I had orientation. I had to take a train (along with 9 other teachers) about an hour and a half to Kudanshita in Tokyo. Orientation was long, and really not so exciting, but I did finally found out what level I would be teaching (Basic, which is like mid-beginner), how many students I would have (over 60!), how many students I would have in each class (between 4 and 12) and how many classes I would teach a day (a whopping 7!) . It sounds like a busy schedule, and at first I felt TOTALLY overwhelmed. The think every teacher in the room was feeling a kind of panic, or at least the new ones. The good news is, I will only need one lesson plan per day (yes, I teach the SAME lesson SEVEN times a day...). The bad news is my schedule goes until 6:40 pm every day, so I can't make the free, weekday Japanese classes at the community center. I can still make the weekend classes, but I was really hoping to get more than that. I am still looking though. And who knows... maybe at the end of the school day I will be too exhausted to take a class. Or maybe I will just want to go to the beach! I did talk to a friend of Koichi's, who said she could tutor me, although that will also be on the weekend. Oh well, if all else fails I can just study on my own and take an ikibana class instead!
On Sunday night, after orientation, I met up with one of Koichi's friends in Tokyo, but about an hour away from Kundanshita and an hour away from my house! (Japan, like facebook, is vast!) We had some drinks and I met some of her friends and colleagues, who were mostly older women. They knew I was Koichi's girlfriend, and so kept saying I was "Kawaii", cute, and asked me a lot of questions. Since I was a pesca-vegetarian, they ordered pretty much every fish item on the menu for me. I have never eaten so much seafood! The octopus was pretty good though. It was in a really tasty sauce, but it was so chewy i thought I would never be able to swallow it! After about half a drink (plum wine and soda water.... yum!) the exhaustion started to set in, and I could barely keep up with the conversation. We chatted for a while and then I headed back home. A few of the women escorted me halfway home, which was so sweet, especially because it was in the opposite direction of where they needed to go.
Tuesday and Wednesday (today), I have had time off. It has been rainy and a little cold, so I have stayed in mostly. I did some grocery shopping and got some household goods at the hundred yen shop (like a dollar tree). I have really enjoyed "nesting". I had to be creative because we are not allowed to hang anything on our walls. And my apartment is brand new, so even the tiniest pinhole would look like cannon ball had gone through the wall on casual inspection. So, I clipped some pictures to my curtains using paperclips, and got a ton of magnets and covered my fridge in pictures as well. I got a small pillow to throw on my bed or in case I want to sit on the floor, I think those little things have made a pretty big difference, so it's really starting to feel more like home. I guess this is a good point to add some pictures, so here goes:
Welcome to my apartment! This is the view from the front door. To your left you see two doors. The first one leads to the washing machine and the bathroom. The farther one leads to the toilet. Come on in, but be sure to take off your shoes and leave them in the special shoe cabinet to your left (not shown).
As you enter the first door to your left, you will find yourself in this room, which is a combination laundry room/bathroom. To the right is another door (not shown) which leads to the actual shower/bathtub.
And this is the shower/bathroom. In Japan, it is customary to wash before entering the tub, which is used just for soaking. That is why you will see the shower does not point in to the tub. This whole room is like my shower really! Then when I am done, I sit in the deep tub, and relax in 44 degree water (Celsius, of course!). I just bought some cherry blossom bath salts and am really eager to try them out!
Here is the most amazing toilet you will ever sit on. Notice the buttons to the left. This controls the pressure and temperature of the bidet as well as the heated seat. Notice also the "sink" on top, which is actually part of the toilet and uses the drain water to flush the toilet. AMAZING!
This is the main living room. It functions as bedroom, living room, office and kitchen. The balcony is beyond the curtains. Notice my pictures hanging from them!
This is where I am sitting right now! Hi Mom!
This is the view from the balcony. Notice that the kitchenette is conveniently located next to the bed, perfect for those mornings when you are hungry but just don't want to get out of bed.
My fridge, which also functions as a mantel, displaying my photos of friends and family. Notice the indispensable rice cooker and the water heater. No toaster. :-(
My closets. I am proud of them because it took a lot of organizing to find a place for everything. Notice the discreet blue and pink boxes. I love them!
Step out on to the balcony to get some fresh air, or to make a phone call, since my cell phone doesn't get reception inside! As you can see, it's not the best view, but it is very private.
Well, that was my tiny apartment. I hope you enjoyed the tour. Thanks for stopping by! Come back again soon! :-)
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