Finally!
I know it has been a while...but here I am back in Japan and back online....my appartment has no internet access, and I avoided going to the internet cafe for my first few weeks here. It was nice to be liberated from the interweb for a short period, but I felt that it was time to get back on the blogging horse.
I have a lot to say, so I will try to break each section down.
The flight from the UK
The Cathay Pacific flight from London to Hong Kong was pleasant enough, despite taking around 13 hours. I managed to get my baggage through check in without it being over their 20kgs limit, despite my worrying the previous day. 20kgs is not a lot when you are moving to another country, but I did my best, and hoped this would last me....
My aisle seat proved to be a good choice. I had a lot of legroom; could access my baggage easily; take strolls down the aisle to the toilet and not have the inconvience of being boxed in. I ended up watching "Defiance" and a few TV shows. Listened to some ambient chill out music as I tried to sleep (not successfully...it was a wierd kind of in between sleep)...and drank plenty of water....
At Hong Kong airport, it was deathly quiet....quiet unlike the last time I'd passed through. This was mainly due to it being around 7am....the flight to Narita wasn't so luxurious, but still pleasant enough and only took around 2 and 1/2 hours.
AEONAt the airport I was met by a fellow Brit and AEON trainer called Allan, who was a kind enough chap. Another AEON new recruit, Alex (from Mexico) had arrived and we chatted for a while as Allan forwarded the luggage we didn't need to our schools.
We met up with other AEON newbies and hung around until the rest of the flight arrived. In the end there were 13 of us who now had to be miraclously guided across Tokyo to Saitama prefecture and the town of Omiya by two trainers..Allan and Jane...and somehow they did it!!!
At the training centre we were welcomed and shown to our rooms...I was lucky enough to have a large room with only 1 room mate...a fellow Brit called Greg.
I won't bore you with the endless tales of training, but I will say it was tough and packed with lots of information and work. If you did your homework and worked hard, then it came back to reward you.
In the week, we had to give three lessons. Two part lessons to actual AEON students and then a full grammar lesson or "Roundup" lesson to some of our classmates and Japanese AEON trainers.
I think I did well during the week. I got back into the swing of teaching, made some new friends and learnt some new skills.
MOTOYAWATASo on the following Monday (after the week of intense training) we said our goodbyes and were escorted to various train stations where our school's Manager was waiting for us. I was met by Aya at Akihabara, and found myself to be lucky, as I had a kind and genki manager. Motoyawata was a busy, suburban centre and the school is right next to the station.
My co-workers are ALL great, my students seem good and after 3 weeks I have to admit that I have been lucky to have got a good school...
My appartment is in Shimosa Nakayama, one stop down the line from the school, and my Suica pass is paid for by the school. I have about a 10 or 15 minute walk to the station and then a 2 minute train ride....!!! Lucky eh?!?!?!
The appartment is clean, and larger than I expected...it is already feeling like my home....
RieSo I met Rie, in Ueno on my first Sunday, back in Japan and it was an emotional day for both of us. We went to Ueno park and saw the Cherry Blossoms, had some dinner and just felt blessed to be together again. This reunion fired me up for the rest of my training and I worked really hard so she would be proud of me...
The following weekend we spent Saturday and Sunday in Asakusa, which is a beautiful part of Tokyo...
Since I've been in Ichikawa, she lives about 10 minutes (by bus) from me. We have spent a lot of time together and it's been amazing...!!!!
On Wednesday, I met her Mum, who is lovely and Peko chan, her dog...CUTE...!!! Then we went to Disney Sea yesterday, after Rie got free tickets...
So, I am back in Japan....and loving it!!!!!!
A few weeks ago, myself and Rie tracked down Ichi-Ran ramen near Ueno station. My friends Brad and Evan had told me in the past how delicious the Kyushu based noodle shop were. Ichi-ran are famous for Tonkotsu Ramen (pork ramen) and it did not disappoint. You can choose the softness of your noodle, how spicy you'd like the soup, what size you'd like your onion and how much garlic and oil you'd prefer.
Myself and Rie also spent a Sunday afternoon in Odaiba, which was nice.
