Message From the Front

The stone tori gate marks the small path that leads to the shrine that I live beside.
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So here it is! My first posting from Japan! Isn't that exciting? Terrifying? Surreal? Yes to all of the above!

Allow me to recap the past 5 days as briefly as possible.

Saturday: Northwest Airlines sucks. Worst service ever. More turbulence than I've ever experienced in my life. And yet, no falling from the sky in spite of the THREE thunderstorms we flew through. Don't fly NWA. Dropped my passport on the way through U.S. homeland security. There was a kafuffle. Sat nervously with the others until boarding the plane, which left me segragated (I was up front - everyone else was in the back). Bonus: roomates kick ass! Read What Would Buffy Do on the airplane. Other Ottawa JETs crowded around with awe to see what the next gift would be. So glad I'm enough of an addict to recognize the significance of the witch pez dispenser! Now all I need to find are three werewolf ones!

My town is nestled in the foothills of the Japanese Alps.
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Sunday: Hello Tokyo! Customs were a breeze! You could smuggle so much into the country. Roomed with Lesley (a Toronto JET flying out of Montreal), in the Keio Plaza. 5 stars! Holy Crap! Nice place! Fell fast asleep after 24 hours of travel time.

Monday: Welcome receptions abound. Chatted it up with the Aussies and Kiwis. Really not so interested in the Americans. Later, seminars to follow. I slept through the last two of the evening. Later, another reception comprised of bad chinese food. Had Sartre doing a little flirting, which always unerves me for some reason. This stopped when I told him that men who date me (present company excepted, of course) tend to turn to the otherside of the dating spectrum.

Tuesday: Surprise, surpise, more information sessions! Sat with Scott for the morning. We comiserated over poison ivy woes and had an interesting conversation about his scars. Tuesday night, went to the Prefecture dinner instead of the embassy bash. There was a distinct lack of Aussies and Kiwis, who had opted instead to go to their embassy night. Unlimited alcohol and 10 course meal sounded better than it actually was. In fact, the zuccinni lasagne, though veggie, decided to opt in mayonnaise for the bechemel sauce. How nasty is that? Sat with Chris (the other new ALT from Ottawa in Gifu), and made fun of this guy Daniel. Daniel is in his 30's, from New York and made the mistake of saying "Canada? You mean the 51st American State?" I was actually insulted. The only way for him to get a wife was to find one who didn't speak his language. What a freaking moron. Became very ill that night, probably due to something in the weirdest meal ever.

Wednesday: Off from the Keio, on to the Shinkansen. Sat with my new found friend, a Kiwi by the name of Jon. Checked out some pictures of Wellington (his home town), discovered that we're both in to piano (he has his performance certificate), amongst other things. We're going to climb Mount Fuji together, and exchange Bento Boxes filled with Western-style food. The bullet train was, as one might expect, VERY fast. So fast that it made my ears pop. Repeatedly. Went by Mount Fuji (maybe I can get some pictures from Jon, who's got a super fancy digital camera). Arrived in Gifu city, only to ship myself off with Maruyama-san (my supervisor), Hayashi-san (the superintendent) and Nekagami-senei (the junior high school's english teacher). Arrived in my smaller-than-expected-house (really it's an apartment, but very nice), in 40 degree heat. I was thrilled to discover (WOOT! [Realtime]Missing luggae just arrived!) that I have air-conditioning. Went for Yaki nuki welcome dinner. Ate cow's tongue (which Kelly-san liked), drank beer (of which Kelly-san could drink 4 pints). Watched small japanese men get tipsy off of one glass. No karaoke, but bed.

Thursday (today): Met the mayor. Had no omiyage for him, as my luggage (since found) was missing. Am skipping lunch, as stomach is still reeling from cow's tongue. Miss you all! Please feel free to post here or write me emails; MSN Messenger won't be available to me. If I'm slow to respond, it's only 'cause my internet access is limited.