(Saturday, August 6th, 2011)
The air con in my apartment is set at a Siberian 26 degrees Celsius. I woke up around 5:30 this morning to turn it on; sweaty, gritty, and gross. Then I got distracted by my brand-new baby; a ridiculously high-tech iPhone, the kind I swore I’d never own. So much for sleeping in on a Saturday.
It is mind-blowing to think that it has been more or less a week (depending on which time-zone you consider) since I bid my family adieu and boarded a plane for Tokyo. Feels like months ago. Not in the sense of “oh-my-gosh, this-was-a-mistake, get-me-outta-here,” but in the “I-don’t-think-I-can-possibly-accomplish-anything-else-this-week-unless-I-decide-to-cure-cancer” kind of way.
And, in true Japanese-form, I am not alone in my thinking.* Most, if not all, of the other new ALTs in Tottori City have expressed similar sentiments. Between endless introductions and piles of paperwork, setting up “life-lines” (cell phone, bank account, and, hopefully soon, internet), navigating new necessities (grocery shopping, getting around, and going to the bathroom), Shan-shan parade dance practice, and trying not to melt into the sidewalk, we’ve had a pretty jam-packed few days. Which is why, today, we are heading to the beach for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.
If you think for a moment that I accomplished any of the aforementioned activities by myself, think again. Nihongo ga hanasemasen. I don’t speak Japanese. I also don’t write, read, or understand more than the odd word and only if it is spoken to me slowly and deliberately. For the first time in over twenty years, I am essentially illiterate.
That said, I am meant to be here. Despite my doubts, this has been affirmed to me time and time again over the past week. Whether it be my pre-arranged accommodations in an apartment building housing a dozen or so other JETs, or the fact that, although many school authorities apparently know minimal English, the Kocho-sensei (Principal), Kyoto-sensei (Vice-Principal), and the JTE** that I will be working with at one of my junior high schools all speak far better English than most Canadians speak French, I know that I am in the right place. It’s going to be a steep learning curve, but knowing that I have support systems in place will help ensure it’s an exciting challenge, rather than a daunting task. Ganbarimasu! I’ll do my best!
*As Misa, my Canada World Youth counterpart, would so often say, getting the most out of a cultural experience is all about “adapting and adopting.” Over the last several days, I’ve reminded myself of her wise words.
**JTE = Japanese Teacher of English, responsible for running the class, dealing with any disciplinary issues, and making sure their non-Japanese-speaking ALT understands where she is supposed to be and when.
