It has been 21 days since my feet landed in Japan and it has been a whirlwind of learning, culture and growing up. Here are some highlights:
Sightseeing:
Mid-Autumn Festival in Nagasaki - According the internet, this festival is also called the Moon Cake Festival. The night entailed visiting Chinatown, eating delicious Chinese food, the White Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance; the only thing that I was unable to find was a Moon Cake!?!?
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| Lanterns in Chinatown |
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| Children ready to do the Dragon Dance |
Temples/Shrines - There are lots of temples and shrines around town. I am excited to explore a few more in the weeks and months to come.
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| Signs with good luck messages |
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| Fortunes tied up...I love the Coke machine in the background |
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| A shrine where people come to ask for wishes |
Bio Park - This is an interactive zoo where you pay a fee to get in and then at each animal pay 100yen to feed them. Some animals you feed from afar behind a fence, but the majority you are in the animal enclosure and hand feeding the animals. I wasn't sure what to expect, but was excited when one of the first animals we came across was a lemur. I paid my money for the food and held my hand out, then without warning a lemur jumped into my arms. I panicked briefly then couldn't stop laughing. The little guy was trying to pry my hands open to get the food out and I pretty much had to throw him off of me! Some other animals that I got to feed were kangaroos, capybaras, turtles, goats, and more.
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| Monkey at the zoo |
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| This lemur jumped into my arms as I was feeding him |
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| A cute little turtle |
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| This kangaroo was eating out of my hand |
Aquarium - I visited the local aquarium and saw a lot of local sea creatures and sat through the dolphin show. The dolphin show was simple but entertaining with dolphins performing tricks and jumping in the air. Prior to the show, plastic sheets were passed out to everyone sitting in the audience since there is pretty much no way to avoid getting splashed.
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| Watching the dolphin show at the aquarium |
Shopping - Within walking distance of the base there is 1km covered shopping street that is full of little shops and restaurants. I have enjoyed wandering from shop to shop and dining at a few of the restaurants. One of the stores I have frequented a couple times is the 100yen store...it is best described as a dollar store on crack. The store is full lots of great things, but also some very random things like socks for your table and chairs or fuzzy adhesive toilet seat covers. I have yet to walk out of the 100yen store with less than 20 items in hand!
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| A collection of socks made especially for furniture legs |
Getting a Life
Driving and a car - I am officially licensed to drive in Japan and owner of a yellow Toyota Funcargo (I love the name!). Driving on the left side of the road has definitely challenged me, but I am adapting. Today was my longest driving adventure and I managed to drive on the expressway successfully. Tomorrow will be the first day I am driving myself to work and I will be leaving super early to avoid to traffic.
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| My new ride...it is kind of a cross between a station wagon and an SUV. |
Apartment - If all goes as planned, later this week I am moving into my apartment. It is on the top floor of the building and about 1600sq ft. I will also be getting my temporary furniture from housing; from what I have heard the loaner furniture is rattan with floral print fabrics. I am pretty sure I am going to feel like I am back on Kwaj with it! I will post more about the apartment once I have moved in.
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| Floor plan of my new apartment |
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| Dated pictures of the view and my living/dining room |
Job - I am settling into my new job. I am learning new software, figuring out all the aspects of my job and trying to make a good impression on all my new colleagues. I spend most days working with teachers and kids and the rest of my time giving off the appearance that I know what I am doing! I am figuring out the in's and out's of a dozen different pieces of software and have had a crash course in Dreamweaver. Some of the aspects of my job are things I haven't done since my Masters program 8 years ago, but thankfully have a pretty good memory and can navigate my way through a help menu.
Making friends - I am slowly making friends, mostly colleagues from work. I have been invited to dinner a few times and am enjoying getting to know people here.
My sponsors - Before I arrived, I was put in contact with sponsors that have been so wonderful. It is a husband/wife team with a 5 year old son. They have fielded 8 million questions from me and have helped to make my transition as seamless as possible. I have also enjoyed the antics and personality of their 5 year old son, he makes me laugh and reminds me in so many ways of my nephew...
Life on a base with more military than civilians and contractors - I feel like I have aged about 20 years in a few weeks! I have been called ma'am more times than I can count and feel like all the sailors are so young. Many of them are very attractive, but the majority look like they are barely legal!
Interacting with the community - I enjoy being off base and interacting with the Japanese. I have met some of the nicest, most helpful people that are very patient with my broken Japanese. I am also realizing how much can be communicated with gestures. One thing I have become very thankful for is picture menus, I am not always 100% sure what I am ordering, but everything I have eaten is delicious!
Overall, I feel like my move and transition to Japan has gone well. Last week, it finally started to settle in that I live here and I am not just on vacation. I miss people a lot, but love that the internet helps me connect with people. I have been using email, facetime, skype and more to keep in touch with people. Last weekend I group skyped a couple friends on Kwaj, and another friend in Germany; the miles don't seem quite so far when you can see people right in front of you!
I already have some visitors signed up to come see me and Japan. My parents are coming for Christmas and a few Kwaj friends are trying to work out coming for their Spring Break. My door is open and I would love for you to visit, just tell me when you are coming:)
