My First Day at Work ...

Wednesday -
Considering that Japan is 14 hours ahead of home time, I have become more of a morning person that I ever imagined. My grandma would be so proud :) I work up around 6:30am, ate two bananas, got ready and Amanda came to get me at 8:45am to head to the train station.
In Japan, everyone rides bikes. Not motorcycles, pedal bikes. So of course, I have one. Quite hilarious considering I haven't been on a bike since I was close to 12, but when in Rome... So each morning I get all of my things and take them downstairs and pray that they fit in the basket on my bike (nerdy, I know). Then I unlock my bike & begin my journey to the train station. It only takes about 10 minutes and on my first day I followed Amanda. She showed me where to park our bikes & where to go in the train station. Everyone rides the train here. When I explain to people that in Iowa we do not ride the train they look at me all wide-eyed and confused. Trains are the standard here. The train arrives right on the second ... DO NOT BE LATE, which is an obvious problem for me. But thus far, I have not missed my train! Everyone should be very proud.

I ride with Amanda on the train and when we arrive at our stop a driver picks us up and takes us to our schools. I go to Kanada Nursery School and Amanda goes to a different school. At my school I got the celebrity treatment. I walked in & the escorted me over to a sitting area with leather couches & a small table. "Tara Sensei, drink?" Oh, no thank you. "Tara Sensei, eat?" Oh, no thank you. I'm fine. "Tara Sensei, nap?" Huh? Take a nap here? At work? Although it sounded somewhat appealing, I declined. One lady brought a fan over (it was slightly warm) and set it up directly in front of me. "Ok Tara Sensei?" Yes, thank you. I sit for about 20 minutes and then it is time to teach a lesson to 5 year old children. I was not prepared (I just came to Japan less than 2 days ago!!), so I introduced myself and they asked me adorable questions. The teachers translated between me and the children. They smiled a lot. As did I. The exchange was great and only slightly awkward. My thought was that it was going to be SO strange and I wouldn't get anything. But really it wasn't. I was pleasantly surprised. One child did bring over a HUGE beetle to show me. He thought it was amazing & I almost threw up. It was literally the size of my hand. I'll have to get a picture of that thing. Disgusting.

I have another 5 year old lesson and then go downstairs to give teacher lessons. I work with a small group of teachers to work on English skills and conversational speech. Everything was good. I talked about America. They listened and talked about Japan. We communicate some things through a e-dictionary (an electronic translator). Then I make the mistake of asking where the bathroom is. I say bathroom and get funny, confused looks. So then I say 'Restrooom?' In America, the polite way of saying bathroom. In Japan, not so much. Next thing I know everyone is rushed out of the area where I am sitting. People start closing the blinds and someone pulls out a large screen that they unfold and set up around me. I hear one of the teachers speak to the other office workers saying "Tara Sensei something or another" and "Shhhh!!" I still had no clue what was happening but I did know that now I was enclosed in this small area and still needing to go to the bathroom. Then I reflect on my choice words. 'Restroom'. Oh no... they think I want to rest. Now the office is dark and everyone is forced to be extremely quiet. I feel like an idiot.
Note to self: do NOT say restroom again.

In the afternoon I go to another school, Chitose (sh-toe-say), to give teacher lessons. A driver picked me up and took me there which was nice. The streets are so narrow I sometimes am amazed that we fit through. I later learn that these streets are two way streets. Impossible!
After the lessons, one of the principals Kazuyo (ka-zee-oh) takes me to the train station, tells me to go to platform two, and leaves while saying "call if you have question". Ok - here I go. Sink or swim. I use my ticket, find platform two & ride the train from Higashi (he-gosh-ee) Okayama Station to Kitanagase (kit-a-nog-a-say) Station (3 stops) all by myself. :) I then locate my bike amongst the sea of handlebars and navigate my way back to my apartment. I lock up my bike, ride the elevator up to floor 7, come inside and lay down. I feel accomplished. Tomorrow I do it again ... this is going to be a long week.