Welcome to Hokkaido!

Ok, first things first, sorry I have been so terrible about writing entries!!! I'm just very busy! I'm working, and trying to be involved in the community as much as I can be! I am also trying to get an online photo album going since I rarely post all of my pics here, but it'll take some time, so please be patient! I am usually tired when I come home, so I normally just veg out with a book and read instead of spending time online as I did in college!

So, the trip in to Hokkaido... Let me just warn anyone who plans on visiting, it is TERRIFYING!!! If you think you are going to die, this is, apparently, totally normal when flying in to Hokkaido. Every Japanese person on the plane around you will be totally calm, meanwhile 30 ALTS are gripping the armrests of their chairs, white-knuckled and screaming. Ok, not quite... but close. The plane seriously nosedives into the runway, I guess to avoid the mountains? The plane literally tilts toward the ground.... like... you will be in your chair at an angle. Again though, as long as every Japanese person is totally calm, rest assured, you probably will not die. Probably. By some miracle, you will land on the ground with a big thud, but the plane will not burst into flames. It took us all a while to collect ourselves before we had to go meet representatives from our contracting organizations.
I was nervous meeting the person who came to get me from my BOE, especially because I had dressed nicely and had a lot of baggage and dress shoes on. This is not practical. Advice to all future jets, look sharp, but don't compromise practicality. But she was kind and helpful, and has continued to be through, well, everything else! We walked a few blocks to the Keio Plaza in Sapporo, which it seems I will come to know well, and then settled in for the night. I was very ready for a much-needed rest, and the 5.5 ish hour train ride the next day certainly supplied that. Then it was getting the basics (futon, towels, etc) and going to a few welcome parties. I must admit that I was still somewhat in-shock and jetlagged for all of this, so I wasn't quite as festive as usual.
So my first few days in Wakkanai were hard, I wont lie about that. It wasn't anyone's fault really, just culture shock, I suppose. Wakkanai was bigger than I expected, so that was a plus. Really, everything I need is available here unless I want to buy the most expensive electronics or latest fashion or something else silly like that. But the basics for home, clothes, and food, are all right her and within walking distance of my house. So is my workplace. Even so, the first few days were intense. I felt really disconnected from the world - especially my friends and Jakob - because I didn't have a phone or internet in the beginning and I didn't (and still don't) know how to use the calling card I bought. There was also the overwhelming realization that most people around me did not speak English. Neighbors, co-workers, community members, cashiers, really.. almost no one. That is a very lonely feeling. I guess I didn't expect it so much because in my previous trip to Japan I was with friends who spoke both, and so it never really became an issue.. but suddenly simple things like buying a futon or a cellphone had become very complicated for me and I was very dependant on other people to help me. Also, some things that I wouldn't even expect to be different in Japan are very different. Wouldn't you assume banks work the same way everywhere in the world? You get your paycheck, put your money in, watch your transactions, and you always know what is happening. In Japan, this is not so. Many things are automatic, which was an adjustment for me, as an American. I don't mean just that your paycheck is automatic debit, but also if your company reimburses you for travel expenses it just goes in automatically and you wont really even know when it will go in! Also, bills often come automatically out of your bank account. You wll never see a paper bill for some! You just have to trust that it was OK. I'm used to online banking and paying for everything AFTER getting a bill. I'm used to being able to track every cent as it comes and goes. It isn't that I don't trust my bank, or workplace, or the bills here in Japan... it is just very very different for me. I guess even though I thought myself to be very open-minded and flexible toward other cultures, even I found myself saying things like "Why isn't it like in America?? This system doesn't make sense!!" (By the way, I regret now being so harsh toward Jakob for being xenophobic when he said these things about America and how Germany just made more sense. I understand now what he meant) Of course it isn't America, and I can't expect it to be. This realization is what has really made a difference for me, though I am sure I will have ups and downs as I go. Of course it is conveniant for me if a cashier can speak English, but it is just a bonus. I should never expect it because it is rare, and why should they speak ENglish to me anyway? Everything here is in Japanese and everyone else speaks Japanese. This is Japan. It sounds obvious, but that is very hard to adjust to at first. I have found a few cashiers who spoke English when I was in Sapporo and one very friendly very genki one at Sapporo Drug in Wakkanai, but mostly no one does. Well, hey, I said

Bon Odori
This is a Matsuri for Bon Odori - a day to remember people who died. They sing and dance in the evening after visiting the temples in the daytime.

I wanted an emmersion experience, right? I am studying very hard to improve my Japanese, but everyday presents new challenges and reminds me how alone I am here. Some things like taking buses when the schedules are all in Kanji are especially tough though. I can learn my stop and others I need to go too, but even that takes time, plus I'm not used to taking buses everywhere anyway.
It's not all bad though! And as I said before, nothing worth having comes easily. It's really really hard sometimes, but I wouldn't change it. I am happy that I moved here. I made a lot of friends through previous ALTS with some Japanese people here who can speak English. I am also getting along and growing to like my co-workers and my JTEs (Japanese Teacher of ENglish). Many of them have been very open and friendly to me. I met a teacher at a Japanese high school recently even who is not a JTE, but speaks English well. He has been to Germany before and his wife studied in Australia. He asked if I wold just hangout with him and his wife so they can practice English, and

Temple at night
Yuka was kind enough to take us to her family's temple and explain the holiday to us. She was really happy that we were curious. Each of these lanterns has a name hanging from it of a family member wh... [more]

I was happy to accept because I think we will have a lot to talk about! I met another JTE who studied abroad as well, which is always exciting for me because it reminds me of my sweet roommates Aiko and Tomoko and all the good times we had in college. Then there are the other ALTs and our extended network! There are a few of us in the region who all hang out (hello, Moraya, John, Teresa, Chris, Ed!) and many more around Hokkaido that we got to meet up with in the Sapporo Orientation. They're really amazing fun-loving people with a brilliant sense of adventure, so I'm sure we'll have a lot of good times (there's a camping trip coming up soon!). There are also some Japanese people who have befriended the ALTs and continue to be a great source of support in language, culture, and just directions around town if needed (That's you, Akiko and Haruko!).

Overall, things in Wakkanai seem good so far. I stay busy, and I travel a lot, which has positive and negative aspects. Negative is mostly that I am always tired and I can't keep in touch with people back home

Wakkanai
This is a view of Wakkanai from my office, on a particularly muggy day.

as much as I would like. But on the other hand, I get to meet a lot of different kinds of people and see a lot of beautiful places! A co-worker always talked to me about Rebun, and now that I have seen it myself, I am convinced it is one of the most beautiful places on earth! (Hopefully I will have some pictures for you all soon!!). I'm not sure what else to say about life here except that, aside from the obvious language barriers, it really goes on as usual. My apartment is becoming really cute as I organize it. I find the best way to fight homesickness (and college-sickness) is to make my living space as comfortable as possible. I've been able to do this really inexpensively too by buying a lot of supplies at hyaku en (100 yen) shops and giving myself projects I can work on (like making a box for filing my mail and decorating it). It seems silly, but it helps me settle in and keeps me occupied. I have to say that though I have only taught at two schools so far, I like my job. I've tutored lots of different kinds of students, but my students here in Japan are especially enthusiastic, and I love teaching - especially when it promotes internationalization in one form or another. I'm finding more ways to get involved in the community too with schools and such and am working on a few joint projects with other ALTS (a theatre class in English, a culture festival, a halloween party, and I found out today about some possibilities to do some programs out on the islands).

Anyway, sorry it has been so long! I have a list of entries I want to write on here, so I will try to get through it tonight. But for now, there's a little introduction to my arrival in Hokkaido. (By the way, it's not so chilly either. Yet.)

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2 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message

September 1st 2007 - Shin: Good to hear your story in Wakkanai.

Hi. You still remember me? This is Shin. I read your whole story about your arrival to Hokkaido. You seem like having some difficulties like banking system that is different from American way. Of cource, I felt lots of differences when I came to the states, so I felt sympathy to you. I understood your feeling so much. However, it is a huge opportunity for you to get involved new world. I'm sure that you are now having some trouble related everything you see in general life, but don't worry you'll be used to them some day. I can say like this becasue I was like you. Just try to be positive, Heather. You are having a great valuable experience in Japan. I would like to hear your story as you encounter culture differences. You know? I am proud of you, and Spencer because it's so difficult to live and work in Japan where most of people don't speak English. Anyways, I hope everything will be going well with you. And, I wanna see more pictures!! Good luck for your everything in Japan. By the way, we started new semester 3 days ago. I will tell you about Maryville sometimes. Take care and keep in touch. Shin from Maryville

September 4th 2007 - Author's Reply HeatherAnn: SHin!

Shinnnn-kunnnnnnnn. Of course are remember you, hahaha! You think I will forget my friends in Maryville so easily? It has been really tough sometimes, yes. I really empathize with you and with my roommates Aiko and Tomoko now! I think I can understand how difficult it must be. But then, nothing worth doing is easy, right? I'm challenging myself in ways I never could back in America. It's great to hear from you!! I miss all of you so much, so keep in touch!!

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