Settling in a bit...

Wow, my first few weeks in Japan have already flown by. I only have one week left of training, and then I’m unleashed on the Japanese public. So, this is now the longest time I have ever spent in the country, as my holidays here before have only been 7-day trips. And so much has happened since my last post. Let’s see.

TRAINING In the initial few days, as I think my previous posts show, I felt so out of my depth, and was questioning if I’d made the right decision. So I was grateful just to have a purpose on the first day or training, as if the job itself could somehow help me make sense of my decision to come here.

Well, the training has been intense – long hours, lots to remember and very short breaks – but the trainers are all pretty friendly and energetic so they make the time pass quickly. I’ll be teaching both kids and adults lessons, so our first week concentrated on adult training which is basically using a textbook we have to get really familiar with. This week we’ve been doing all the kids class training, which is a total contrast, although just as structured in its own way. And I get to play with cookie monster puppets! Yes!

One of the best things about training has definitely been meeting the other trainees. I’m the only only Brit, the others are Australian, Canadian and American – which has been really cool for learning about each other’s countries/customs as well as marvelling at the Japanese experience together. They’re a great bunch and I hope once our work begins proper we can still arrange to meet up often. Most of them are in Osaka, although one is moving out to Hiroshima next week which will be sad because she’s ace… but I want to go visit Hiroshima anyway so it will be good to go see her once she’s settled.

SIGHTSEEING Not done a huge amount of it so far, mainly exploring Osaka and my own neighbourhood, but gathering confidence on the subways and trains means I’m less daunted about going elsewhere once I get paid again. Last week a few of us went to the cup noodle museum/factory, where we saw the history of instant ramen and were able to make our own personalised cup. It was really fun and reminded me of why I wanted to come to Japan, to see the kind of place you wouldn’t get to go on a jam-packed holiday. So more of that to come!

SHOPPING Now, I haven’t got a whole lot of money to spend at the moment so my usual shopping habits have taken a nosedive. However – ECC require we all have a mobile phone, so I had a real adventure getting one.

An ECC trainer had told us about a westerner who worked in one of the Softbank stores in Shinshibashi, and by luck we found his shop - he made a beeline for us as we nosed around the phones. I’m glad we did manage to find Michael, because the process for setting up two phones (mine and Robby’s) took about four hours. Michael had to scan in all our documents (passport, visa, receipt for gaijin card) and fill out several forms with us. And here came the rub – because our visas are only valid for one year, we had to pay upfront for our phones AS WELL AS take out a contract. If we’d got two-year visas, we would have only had to take out the contract. It was a very expensive day, let’s put it that way. However – I’ve always wanted to own an iphone, so I decided to splash out and just get what I wanted. The idea of being able to check my facebook/email any time I wanted was just too much of a draw. The Disney phones were very tempting, though I felt a Disney phone, bank card (YES!) and watch (Which I’m wearing) might be a little overkill. Michael’s customer service was above and beyond – while he worked on Robby’s application papers he sent us to a nearby curry place, or rather, he actually walked with us out of the shop and pointed to his recommendations on the menu. Later, when I flapped about not having a phone case for my super expensive phone, he walked me out to the mac shop just two minutes away. Such personal service!

Michael himself was a really interesting guy. An American, he has lived here 8 years. He gave me some advice, to try and learn more Japanese and just try it out, not be afraid of making mistakes. He also said ‘look around – do you see many old western people living here? Or many children? That tells you a lot about westerners who come to Japan. There’s a time limit.’ He also said it took him three years of living here before he could learn Japanese on a basic level. Wow. So yeah – if you ever come to Osaka and need a phone, drop into Michael’s store because you’re guaranteed an interesting few hours (and he had a very cute co-worker with good hair… my eyes kept drifting!)

By the way, a week on, I completely love my iphone – It’s a great way to kill time on the train and I found a manga reader on it and everything so I’m racing to catch up on my favourite titles. Yay!

SOCIALISING! While she’s a busy bee working her two jobs, I have spent a bit more time with my housemate in the last week or so, which has been really nice. We have little chats when she gets in, usually where I show her what I bought or what I’m working on, and it makes me feel a bit more at home. She told me she has a dog back at her parents, which I would love to meet.

When we’re not correcting grammar or fretting about demos, me and the other trainees have been out and about, drinking in a gaijin-friendly bar in Osaka or shopping in a massive electronics store. We’ve been having some great times and I think meeting each other made us all feel a bit less ‘What have I done??” Why ECC don’t put you in touch with other trainees on your first day I don’t know – well, to be fair they were all miles from me anyway, but it would have been nice to know if I braved the train I could meet others. Which leads me to another point. I’ve seen quite a few westerners wandering around Kobe. I wonder if they work for ECC too, and if they do, why doesn’t ECC put us in touch with one another? It would sure have made settling in a little easier. Maybe they just don’t have anything like a social network… or maybe there is and I just haven’t found it yet. We’ll see.

 Anyway. I know I am still feeling waves of homesickness. I didn’t realise it would be so strong in the initial few weeks. I thought I’d have so much to do and think about that it wouldn’t hit me until a few weeks later. But perhaps some of it is just fear of the unknown. I do wish it didn’t cost so much for my mum and dad to ring me though (£17 last night and we were barely on for ten, fifteen minutes?) So I’ve got to get some skype set up – maybe when I get paid (Nov 12^th)I’ll go and get a dongle (or memory card I think they call them here) so I can have better net connection in the flat. Also I’ll be able to update the blog any my camera pics quicker – just one thing my iphone can’t do. I still love it though <3

 That’s it apart from to say Happy Halloween (^_^) / I hope I can get some trick or treat theme fun in even though its my first proper working week. We’ll see!

Day 2 mission: Shopping

Heed my advice today. If you’re planning on moving to Japan, bring a bottle of shower gel with you for the first few weeks. I brought everything else but – and spent an hour today trying to decide what if what I was holding was indeed shower stuff, hand lotion or bath cleaner. The bottle says ‘body soap’ so I’m hopeful I have the right thing. We’ll soon see.

 Shopping was today’s big mission – well, food shopping to be exact. After paying 1,500 yen (about a tenner?) for a pizza last night I realised I needed to stock up on some basics or I’ll run out of money quickly. I don’t get paid until Nov 12^th, and even then it’s less than I will usually get (due to training for most of the month). So I headed hopefully back to the huge 10-floor department store that furnished my bed. The bottom two floors are food – one is fresh (fruit. bread, meat) and the other has everything else. Luckily I bought a book about Japanese food buying in the UK, so I skim-read this before I left, and took it with me to check against Kanji. I’m really glad I did that for the milk alone, as it was hard to distinguish between milk and yoghurt drinks.

 Japanese supermarkets are clean, fairly busy, and LOUD. There’s music playing, but it’s not good music, more like lift music, and there’s also people on aisles shouting about the samples they want you to try. Some displays talk as well, I’m not sure if they are motion activated or just go off randomly.

 I bought a modest amount, thinking I can go back easily if I find I like something in particular. I was happy to see a lot of familiar snacks (yes, Pocky!) and brands (Tropicana, Kelloggs, Twinings). I bought a few of these, and I also bought a bag of rice purely for the fact it had cute illustrated instructions on the back. Also because the flat has a rice cooker, which I’ve always wanted to try… maybe I’ll have a go later. Although I might need Yuko’s help.

 Oh yes! I met my housemate at last. After catching up with everyone in the UK on the net last night, I headed for bed as I was feeling really tired out and spacey. I was dozing when I heard her come into the flat last night – and then she knocked on my door. I scuttled to it in my hello kitty pyjamas, eager to make a good impression. She seems really nice, and confirmed she does have two jobs – one as a chef in a kitchen, the other in Starbucks. Her English isn’t great, and neither is my Japanese, so it was just a brief conversation before my head hit the pillow again. Today is her day off, and I kind of woke her up when the nice man from JAL came to drop my bag off. I was flapping at the intercom with him going ‘sumimasen…’ as he talked to me, and she came out and rescued me. JAL said it would come 6-7pm yesterday; it came at 10am today. Oh well. The important thing is, I’ve been reunited with my case! So my wardrobe looks a bit less bare.

 Do I feel as freaked out as yesterday? In some ways, a little less. Seeing Hello Kitty branded face wash and loo roll called fruit basket made me smile, the sun is beautiful (it’s tshirt weather here) and I had a friendly nod from an elderly neighbour as she left the building. Once again, I think when I start work, things will get a bit easier because I’ll have a lot to occupy me, other aliens to share the experiences with, and I’ll get paid, so I can afford to do things on my days off like visit other parts of Japan that I really want to see. Right now everything still feels very alien, and anything vaguely familiar (like the Twinings tea!) is comforting. I understand now why people often go to travel/live in English speaking countries like Australia or America; it takes some of that alien element away at least when you’re in a new environment. I wonder how many people come to the UK and feel this way?

 So I feel quite cut off communications-wise, and I’m hoping as soon as I can get a phone that might subside a little. I would love an iphone, but not sure it’s affordable. I’m definitely going to get one with internet access though, so that I can go online any time. Otherwise I’m going to be drinking a hell of a lot of coffee at the place next door! What a shame Japan doesn’t seem to have anything like the dongles you get in the UK – you’d have thought they would, being so nifty in general with the technology. What I’m most gutted about at the moment is skype – I was really looking forward to being able to talk to my folks and friends face to face for free, and show them my room virtually. Now I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do that. Maybe when the café is quieter they won’t mind but I’m a bit too nervous to ask. So instead I have an expensive phone card where 2,000 yen buys me 51 minutes on the phone to the UK.

 Lastly on the phone front. I’ve been told I probably can’t get a phone unless I have an alien registration card, which I can’t apply for until Tuesday when the hall I need to go to is open – Monday is a national holiday here. The card itself may take a few weeks to be completed. So it might be a little while until I can get a phone. So again, my advice to anyone coming out here = get a phone that can work in Japan, even just for the initial few weeks. I know I used to live without a phone strapped to my side once – but it wasn’t in another country that’s for sure.

 UPDATE: The internet told me Apple have an English speaking advice line in Japan, so I’m going to call them tomorrow and see if they can sell me a phone. Yes!

Noodles or icecream?

After getting my passport back from the Japanese immigrations counter this morning, I noticed a piece of paper poking out of it that says: ‘To the Alien entering Japan, you must register at your local city hall or ward in 90 days.’

Alien. You couldn’t pick a better word for how I feel at the moment. Even though I’ve been to Japan before, getting bussed to a cozy hotel with fellow tourists to chatter to is a world away from arriving here to work.

 The flight itself was good. After an emotional farewell with my parents (used a whole pack of Kleenex!) I just barely made it to my gate for the first flight to Amsterdam. I’d just about caught my breath from the dash when we landed, and then had about half an hour to get over to the gate for my Osaka flight. Once onboard I was thrilled to discover I’d somehow been upgraded, and so my seat not only reclined fully, but also had no one in front or behind me, so surely only the captain had more legroom. Thank you KLM!

 The reclining helped when trying to sleep on the flight, but my whirling and emotional mind didn’t. I kept going over the things my parents said as we hugged each other tightly, and all the messages of support people have given me over the last few months. It seemed hard to believe the big day had finally arrived.

 I was finally dozing to some degree when a cabin crew member’s soft shuffles woke me up. I peered into the dimmed cabin lights to hear her ask, somewhat surreally, ‘noodles or ice cream?’ This was about 3 or 4am Japan time. (I went for the ice cream).

What seemed like moments later, we were woken up for breakfast, and as the plane dropped slowly through the clouds, I saw mountains and blue sky. Hello Japan.

I had to fill in some more paperwork on the plane (I declare I am not in possession of fireworks or swords, etc) and once that was handed over and my bag returned I was swiftly pushing the cart to the exit. Looking for the JAL delivery desk, as ECC kindly pay for your heaviest bag to be sent to your apartment through them, thus meaning you don’t have to lug it on buses/trains in your first few hours.

 The man took my bag without much ado, and it’s meant to be returned to me within the next hour as I type. Looking forward to having all my things with me again, not least because my mum crammed in 2 packs of wispa bars. Yay mum!

 That done, I headed to the phonecards, bought one and phoned my housing agent. I make that sound really quick – it wasn’t. It involved much pondering of the machines and then the phones – but I got there in the end. Next I headed out to the coach stops to find number 6, to Sannomiya station. There was a friendly staff member by the machines, who helped me to buy the right ticket, then another friendly staff member took my heavy rucksack away to put in the luggage compartment, and gave me a ticket to collect it at the other end. Super efficient, punctual and clean. It’s a world away from UK public transport, I pondered as I gazed out of a coach window at the tapestry of industrial heavyweight, and beautiful mountains, of Kansai.

As the stop had said Sannomiya station, I was expecting at least a shed of some sort, but it turned out to be referring to the train station that sits opposite where the bus stops. Right in the middle of busy Kobe. I stood back and tried not to feel too much like an eyesore. Which must have worked, as Robert was there for 20 minutes before he found me (and he walked around the stop a few times).

Then began information overload: Robert stopped the car twice to give me directions, much to the chagrin of fellow drivers. He kept telling me how they’ve put me in one of their nicer houses (well he was hardly going to say anything else…) but I didn’t really believe it until we arrived. His wife and baby daughter met us outside the building, and the minute we got inside, the information began to flow. My new housemate is Japanese, she works two jobs, garbage is Tuesdays and Thursdays, make sure you put the fan on after you shower, here’s how to work the air con, would I like to pay next month’s rent now? I felt bewildered, but glad someone was here to at least take me round and show me things, even if I forget half of them tomorrow. The flat itself is lovely; a neat kitchen, bathroom and living room, place to take your shoes off, loads of cupboard space, sliding doors. 

Once we’d signed the contract (5 months minimum), I paid up and he’d shown me how to open the postbox, Robert and wife were off, but they each gave me a hug before they left. Which was really sweet. ^_^

I opened my post - a package from ECC with yet more information, some confusing Japanese forms and a training schedule that begins next Wednesday. The hours aren’t too bad (first day 12pm) and it’s pretty much until 30 October. That semi-absorbed, I decided I best head out for some bedding. ECC in their wise ways have only supplied me with a bed and mattress. I think they just like making you do this kind of stuff so you can get some independence, but god it’s a bit intimidating after a long flight.

Robert had pointed out a gigantic building I could get bedding from on his mini Kobe tour, so I headed back in that direction. Finding it again wasn’t too hard, but deciding on the bedsheets themselves took me ages. Japanese beds don’t seem to have flat sheets as we do in Europe, and everything was sized and, of course, I didn’t measure the bed. So I took a wild guess (as it turns out, spot on!) I managed to pick up a duvet as opposed to futon set and, as I didn’t trust the picture, I bought a separate pillow. I was really glad I did. So now I have a bed to lie on as I type and the jet lag is starting to prick at my eyes. I’m really trying to stay in this time zone though as it just seems like the best way to get into things.

 My housemate hasn’t come home yet, I really wish she would as having no-one to talk to is making me think about all the people I’m really missing right now. U_U

I don’t have a mobile or a house phone, although the nearest net café is next door, which I’m planning to go visit and upload this once my suitcase arrives. So that will be good to catch up with everyone’s news.

 And a few good things from my bedding trip: I spotted a starbucks in the department store (huzzah!) and a tokyu hands, which is a massive craft/model/cosplay store. I definitely need to visit, as Rei’s foot has come off in the journey – but the dolls otherwise travelled well. I only brought two – lucky as no more would have fit in my bags.

 What I keep telling myself at the moment, I have been telling myself for the last few months, is that I have to take each day at a time. Don’t worry about tomorrow or stress about next week. Just think about what today involves, and what I need to do today.

 And today was always going to be the worst 24 hours of this experience – leaving my family, tiring long flights, and seeing a strange new world. Nothing can really prepare you for that experience. But I wonder how long it will be before I feel comfortable here. I think the training will help next week, as I will be able to meet other ECC people in the same position, and it will give my day real purpose and other things to concentrate on. God. In the UK I used to long for my weekends to never end, now I’m wishing mine away.

So if you offered me a ticket home right now would I take it? Hm. Maybe we’ll come back to that question in a month’s time. What’s most scary right now is the unfamiliar. What you know, even if you hate it, is always going to be the easier way to live, isn’t it? I keep thinking about the similarities with the last two big moves I made – going to university then going to live in the midlands. My parents were there to support me through both of those moves too. What’s different is they were able to see where I was going, in person. And they were able to come and see me on a whim or whenever I really needed them. They can’t do that right now and I think that’s what’s the hardest thing. I’m in a strange place and everyone I love is physically hours away from me and they can’t share this in person unless they come out to visit. I have such respect right now for anyone who’s ever done this kind of thing, because it’s hard. And emotional. And confusing. I think I might feel more positive when I’ve spoken to my family, and had some food and some sleep. Hmm, and my suitcase still hasn’t turned up. So I think I’m going to try going to the internet café to make me feel just a little bit less lonely.

UPDATE; And it worked! Everyone has been on here chatting to me so I feel a bit better. Next time, I'll bring my mac plug X_X battery fail!