We Made it!

After almost a year of planning, we finally landed in Narita Japan last Wednesday around 4:30 p.m. (2:30 a.m. in the U.S.). Most of our luggage was shipped to our house to arrive the next day, because from there we hopped on a train that took us on a 4 hour ride to Shinjuko that had one transfer in Tokyo before stopping in Kofu. From Kofu we had a 20 min. car ride to our house in Minami Alps. By the time we reached our house it was 10:30 p.m. and we were exhausted.

Our guide here works for the Board of Education, her name is Kae, and she has been very helpful. We have had to do a lot of paper work the first couple of days in setting up health insurance, a bank account, getting alien registration, as well as getting groceries and other necessities.

We have not eaten a whole lot yet, but we have been happy to see some familiar food from home like bread and Skippy peanut butter. Although the 5 oz. jar cost about $4.50. I also was excited to drink some milk the other day, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't from a cow-I'm too scared to ask what it might really be from. The first real day we were here, another ALT (Alternate Language Teacher, that's my title here) called and invited us to dinner. He and a Japanese ALT took us to a Japanese restaurant. They likened the food to pancakes even though there is no similarity other than to the fact that they are semi flat and cylindrical. We were given bowls with cabbage and ginger and tofu, cheese, tuna, egg and some other stuff. Then you mix it yourself and pour it on a griddle in front of you and push it down kind of in the shape of a pancake. The hard part is flipping it. Greg took a turn a did a fabulous job. To finish it off you pour some kind of hot sauce over it and then you can dip it in mayonnaise if you want (we didn't).

They also took us to Kofu Castle, the ruins of an old castle that are lit up at night and offers an amazing view of the Yamanashi Prefecture, the area we live in.

Obon, a Japanese holiday, which I am sure to learn more about, begins this weekend and runs through Monday. Other ALT will be returning soon from vacation and I have been told will come to introduce themselves, so we should be meeting new people. I will meet the school Superintendent (who doesn't speak any English) and the school Principal (who speaks very good English) on the 16th of August, and then the Mayor on the 24th. I wont start teaching until the 29th.

Greg has taken lots of photos from out flight to Japan. We will have more of our house to come.

-- Jessie

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