I'm a real sensei now!

OK so I was unable to find a bank or bank machine or money mart that was open on a Saturday which meant that I didn't get any of the million things that I had to do done because they involved money somehow.  It also means that I was relegated to a bag of rice and a small bag of frozen peas, corn, and carrots for every meal both Saturday and Sunday.  Needless to say I was waiting outside the bank this morning when it opened.  I was able to cash both of my traveller's cheques in at no cost (FYI I do not recommend bringing traveller's cheques of any currency to Japan!  Just bring yen in cash).  I managed to get some passport size photos taken so that I may now apply for both my sponsored work visa and my gaijin (foreigner's) card.  I applied for my gaijin card this morning and in so doing learned my address.  The clerk at City Hall asked me for my address and I showed him my key which says something in kanji.  Laughing, he told me that it said my apartment number only but no other information about my address.  He then asked for whom I was working.  I told him Unitas.  He said that it was no problem, he would just call Unitas.  He then asked me for Unitas' phone number.  Again I had no clue so he looked it up.  For those who are interested my address is

KOPO KINDAI 1-102, 3-15-23 MARANOUCHI, KOFU CITY, YAMANASHI PREFECTURE, JAPAN

KOPO KINDAI 1-102, 3-15-23 MARANOUCHI, KOFU CITY, YAMANASHI PREFECTURE, JAPAN

I think.

After receiving the stamp in my passport that says I have applied for a gaijin card, I can go get a hanko (a tiny stamp of my name either in Kanji or Katakana that I must use along with my signature whenever a sign anything official.)  And with this I will be able to get a mobile phone and a bank account!  I now have to decide what my name in Kanji would be as there are many different Kanji for the same syllable and each one means something different.

Oh yes and after applying for my gaijin card I went to the grocery store and stocked up on some produce and other expensive but probably vegan foods.  The one cost that most surprised me was how expensive rice is considering it is the staple of their diet.  And for some reason bread is very expensive as well.  It is around 100 yen for 6 or 8 slices (and that is the cheapest!)  Bread here has a weird consistency which means that it doesn't crumble and isn't messy to eat at all.

OK I will skip to the point of this whole entry.  Today was my first day teaching classes.  It is mid-term test time so I mostly just gave one on one oral exams but it was really good and I was very comfortable.  I did teach two one on one conversation classes after that as well and had to plan and lead games for when the exams were over so I did have to do some work!  I think that I am already a better teacher than the arrogant American who has been here for 2 months!  (yeah I know, I'm sounding pretty arrogant myself).  I think I am going to enjoy my job which is far better than I ever expected!

I was just speaking with one of the Japanese staff and I think I will be beginning Japanese lessons on Wednesday.  It is 3 hours a day 5 days a week with native Japanese-speakers so it shouldn't take too long for me to pick it up!  The only problem is that the lessons are from 9-12 every morning and then I work from 1-9 so I guess I will have to run all of my errands and get my groceries on the weekends!  Poor Byron will be alone all day!

Also, I think that Ayami is going to come visit me this week and help me read labels and sort out my daily life!  And I will go to Tokyo next weekend (Sept 23) to see the sights there.  This is definitely something to look forward to.  As much as I don't want to live in Tokyo I am still really excited to visit.

Well I think that the office man is itching to go home.  It is 10:30pm right now and I think I am keeping him!  I will update this thing again soon!

Kelsey