1 month in Japan!
So now I have been in Japaqn for a grand total of 1 month! Celebrated by going and seeing the new Harry Potter. Due to the obscenely high cost of english language copies of the new book (4000yen) I haven't read it yet.
Work is going well, I am getting pretty used to teaching, and am even starting to learn the students' names! Most of them are pretty good, and hilariously a few have been trying to convince me to quit Nova 0nad take an ALT job. My co-workers are pretty cool, so I have people to go izakaya-crawling and such with. Am enjoying living close to the other teachers... it makes it easy to drop in for a cup of tea in the evening or an icecream during the hot summer days.
My Japanese is improving, and I now have a formidable amount of "survival" Japanese, although generally I still can't understand the majority of their responses. I am trying to simultaneously learn some kanji and more language and solidify my katakana.... so I'm pretty occupied with studying.
Am still dojo-hunting at the moment, although I have good leads on both Aikido and Kyudo dojos. I know my way around down fairly well now, and although I do have a shiny new bike, I am still yet to purchase a phone -essential for Japanese life.
Its summer festival season in Japan at the moment.... the only unfortunate thing is that all the festivals are on at the same time! Locally, tomorrow is Inawashiro Lake Festival, Sunday is the Koriyama Beer Festival and next weekend is the Koriyama Uneme Festival, so there is plenty to do in my own town!
More Japan photos are up now...
http://picasaweb.google.com/DanielGSullivan
Work is going well, I am getting pretty used to teaching, and am even starting to learn the students' names! Most of them are pretty good, and hilariously a few have been trying to convince me to quit Nova 0nad take an ALT job. My co-workers are pretty cool, so I have people to go izakaya-crawling and such with. Am enjoying living close to the other teachers... it makes it easy to drop in for a cup of tea in the evening or an icecream during the hot summer days.
My Japanese is improving, and I now have a formidable amount of "survival" Japanese, although generally I still can't understand the majority of their responses. I am trying to simultaneously learn some kanji and more language and solidify my katakana.... so I'm pretty occupied with studying.
Am still dojo-hunting at the moment, although I have good leads on both Aikido and Kyudo dojos. I know my way around down fairly well now, and although I do have a shiny new bike, I am still yet to purchase a phone -essential for Japanese life.
Its summer festival season in Japan at the moment.... the only unfortunate thing is that all the festivals are on at the same time! Locally, tomorrow is Inawashiro Lake Festival, Sunday is the Koriyama Beer Festival and next weekend is the Koriyama Uneme Festival, so there is plenty to do in my own town!
More Japan photos are up now...
http://picasaweb.google.com/DanielGSullivan