2 weeks in......

It`s time for another update folks.

Well it`s been two weeks exactly since I set foot in Susami and it`s funny how little things about the place now seem like home. The hourly clock chiming on the hour around the town, the party animals next door, sushi for lunch, chilling at the beach, typhoon warnings, the time consuming process of separating rubbish into six (yes, SIX) rubbish bins have all been integrated into my daily life. There is just so much to say about Japan and not enough time to say it all!

The working world in Japan is extremely strange. It seems as if it doesn`t matter what you actually do in the office, so long as you`re there. One thing I`ve noticed is that no one seems to know what they are doing and take copious “coffee breaks”. This is probably a good thing seeing as I`m just as clueless as they are. Therefore I`m kind of looking to forward to teaching because am feeling guilty about taking the Japanese government`s money and doing nothing in return!

Some of you were asking what a typical day for me was so here goes:

7am wake up and kill a few spiders!(getting used to the little b*****s now!) Shower, breakfast. 8.20am set off to work on my bicycle with has a basket and my name painted on it, stop and mumble some unintelligible Japanese to people on the way

8.30am Staff meeting which I don`t understand so just smile and nod. Morning – checking emails…msn….eating /drinking whatever they put in front of me 12pm Lunch so every rushes out to watch baseball on the TV whilst eating sushi from bento boxes from the local supermarket

Afternoon Back to “work” 5pm Finish work…cycle down to the beach and chill Evening – badminton/baseball/BBQ /bar

However, today was not a typical day. I spent most of it rushing around visiting my 6 schools in the prefecture. Most of them are situated in the heart of the mountains overlooking the ocean and the schools themselves are large, old buildings with more computers than teachers! Each schools has its own character and one of them only has 6 students!/ Imagine being the only one in your grade and being the constant source of attention! All the teachers are very nice but the constant bowing is making me feel a little guilty I mean do they ever get back ache?! The moment you walk into any building in Japan someone (ALWAYS female) runs after you with a drink which you accept whilst attempting the potentially dangerous swapping shoes and balancing bag/drink act! Men need merely tap their glasses and the women come running. I went to a BBQ one night and the women were fussing over the food/drink whilst the men were boasting how domesticated their wives were. I guess it would be utopian for the men but it still baffles me!

Anyway, school starts in a week so have been compiling a collage of all things British (towns, food, fashion etc ) Such an activity is definitely making me crave fish and chips. I`ve been told that they sell them in the main city, Wakayama but I`m dubious as to how good they will really taste! Everytime I stick a new photo in my scrap book or write down someone`s name I am frequently told how good looking my friends and family are. They think you are all beautiful and you`re now local celebrities!

Speaking of celebrity status….This weekend 10 of the other “Wajets” (- Wakayama JETs) came to visit and spent the weekend roaming around the town and drinking on the beach/swimming. Then we all piled back to mine and resumed the drinking whilst attempting to eat spaghetti with chopsticks in our drunken state. All in all, a good weekend! Arriving at the Board of Education Monday morning however, everyone knew just how many people had visited, if they were male/female etc and wanted to know each and everyone`s marital status. I`m sure they`re compiling a database somewhere of us all…. Much attention was also paid to my severe sunburn whilst telling me about a “miracle cure” that perhaps isn`t available in England yet…sunscreen!

Although it may appear at face value as if the Japanese are nosey,　I`ve come to realize that it`a only because they care and show a genuine interest in you, especially your blood type (apparently your blood type is used to determine your character/compatability with someone else). The community spirit is undeniably strong here in Susami. Everyone knows everyone else and is always eager to lend a helping hand. I happened to mention in passing the other day how I like playing badminton and a couple of hours later I was at the sports center playing. I have now fulfilled a life long ambition (that and meeting J.K.Rowling) – to win a badminton match in the far East! Have been invited back next week so I can`t have been that terrible. Jono, Ollie “too much angle”, Scuds I thought of you all whilst playing. Although the basic rules are the same there is bowing (again) between every point and rock, paper, scissors determines any dubious calls etc. In fact this “scared” tradition is applied to almost every disagreement which may arise.

Well, tomorrow is the beach party at Shirahama where I`ll meet the 2nd/3rd year ALTs etc but before that it`s the annual cleaning of Susami. Every year (if I understood correctly which I probably didn`t) all the towns people gather to clean up the town. I think it`s a good idea to make people take pride in the town but I doubt anyone will be feeling “proud” at 8.30 on a Saturday morning!!!!) Around 70 Wajets will congregate at Shirahama beach around noon and I`m sure the beer will flow. I`ll try and take as many photos as possible!

Thus my time here in Japan is proving to be unique. I am so determined to see everything and experience as much as I possibly can. Before coming to Japan I never quite realized just how much this country has to offer and feel embarrassed about how little I know about it`s culture and history. From Hokkaido to Okinawa there are 47 prefectures, each one having its own distinct personality and I want to see as many as possible!!

Anyways I`d best be off. I should really get back to “work” and this has turned into one very long email! I`ll email next week for another update…hopefully with some photos this time.

I love you all,

Sara xxx