Japan!

Hey guys what's up?? Well I thought I'd start a blog so I can share with everyone my experiences in Japan =) So far things have been up and down. I arrived here Monday evening, which was very early Monday morning back home. When I arrived at the airport I had about an hour until my train arrived to take me to my hotel in Yokohama. During that hour, I had to freshen up so that I looked "professional" after my 11 hour flight. As I was leaving the bathroom after a quick change and freshen up of the make-up, I ran over my big toe with my suitcase (that my dad claims weighed 350lbs) and broke my toe nail! Who knew that I'd be using my first aid kit not even 30 minutes after arriving in Japan! Then on my way to my train, I almost broke my leg trying to go down an escalator in heels with 2 suitcases, a backpack, carry-on bag and my purse! It was quite the struggle but I made it alright. I do have to say that it was a very weird feeling arriving in Japan and not being greeted by Justin. After my hour and a half train ride, I arrived in Yokohama where a representative from my company met me and escorted me to my hotel. By this time it was about 8:30pm here/4:30am back home and I was completely exhausted, so I crashed.

On Tuesday morning, the same man who escorted me to my hotel the night before, met me at my hotel so we could go apartment hunting in Yokosuka! We took the train down there. I was so happy to be in familiar territory! We ended up finding an apartment which is close enough to base for Justin, and right up the road from the Shioiri train station that I will use to take to work. Its a very big place compared to what I've heard about places in Japan. But along with the space comes the price and let me say thank god the military is paying for it! I should be moving into my apartment over the weekend and as soon as I do I'll be sure to post pics! (If I figure out how, or Bonnie tells me how to) After apartment hunting, I was sent by myself to figure out my way back to the hotel. The train systems here are quite confusing and sometimes you have to get off of one train and transfer to another to get where you need to go. Justin and I have gotten lost on the trains before so to be doing it all by myself made me a little nervous, but I just kept asking questions about which train to take, which stop to get off at and so on. Japanese people are so nice about directing you where to go, and for the most part can understand what I'm trying to ask, or where I'm trying to go. When I finally got back to my hotel it was around dinner time here, so I walked up the road to TGI Fridays =)

Today was my first day of training. It was a long day, but very informative, and quite fun. I met a lot of other assistant language teachers, some who are staying in the same hotel as me, and some who will be working in Yokosuka with me, just at different schools. For the most part these past couple of days haven't been bad. I have definitely had moments where I questioned whether or not I made the right decision, and moments where I miss home like crazy, but as everything is starting to fall into place, I am feeling more and more at home here. I mostly get around by walking, and occasionally by train, depending on where I am going. I am getting more familiar with the streets here, and go not by street names, but points of reference. For example, to get to the JR Kannai train station near my hotel, I know that I have to pass the starbucks, and make a left at the corner where the mister donut shop is. I know that on my way back to the hotel, I have to turn down the street with the big Chinese (and I mean Chinese, not Japanese) building on the corner. And if I get lost, I just stop and ask someone for directions, or point to where I'm trying to go on my map (thats right I have a map, and I hold it out in front of me like a tourist when I'm trying to find somewhere new) and get pointed in the right direction by some nice Japanese person who usually tells me to take care, or have a nice day after assisting me.

Well theres a quick update for you all! I will try and post some pics soon! love and miss everyone! XOXO