number two

Two posts a month? Uggh - August did not set a good precedent. Wow so what's happened the past three weeks, anyway?

As far as the job goes, I had a LOT of down time. Basically, I got paid to sit at adesk and keep myself busy for 7-8 hours a day. I love my coworkers though. Even though they don't speak English, their kindness is still very evident. It's great working with Damon too. He's a cool guy.

I've continued going to the little church in town. The people there are very kind too. I hope that I'll be able to understand more of the content eventually, though.

Last week I visited the prefectural capital, Kumamoto City, for a three-day orientation. It was great to hang with the other teachers from the prefecture, and we had some good times. Unfortunately, though, while I was there I got an e-mail from my Mom saying my Grandma had a stroke and was in the hospital.

It was harrowing news. I love my Grandma very much and really wish I could be there for her. You never want thing sort of thing to happen, but especially not when you're 4,000 miles away. Thankfully, she is doing better, but she is still very weak. I think strokes are the scariest of the big three causes of death: 1) heart disease 2) cancer 3) stroke. They have such strange effects - my poor Grandma has lost her capabilty for complex speech, can't balance properly, and can't even chew right. There are many people praying for her though, and I know that she is in God's hands. I know this was in His plan for her and that there is a reason behind it.

Changing gears a bit, to more trivial things - last weekend I went river rafting with a big group of ESL teachers from the area. It was my first such experience, and I didn't want it to end! The weather was rainy and gray but I think that made it more exciting. Going into the drink was the best part, when we flipped over. What a thrill!

And two weeks ago Hitoyoshi had its annual firework display, which I also went to with other ALT's. It was spectacular - apparently there were somewhere around 7,000 breaks in all. Below are some pictures. I'm wearing a jimbei, one of the traditional Japanese summer garments (the other being a yukata, or summer kimono).























I start teaching next week. In preparation, I've been visiting my schools and meeting the teachers there. I'm nervous but, excited to finally do what I'm getting paid to do - work with students.

God bless!

First Post

Hi everyone! This is my first personal weblog (one not done for class), and I must say I feel a bit wary about putting my personal feelings out there for everyone to see. It will be an exercise in discretion, I suppose.

So this first post comes from my first apartment - a three-room dwelling in the beautiful city of Hitoyoshi, Japan. The kitchen is a little small, but other than that it is a everything a penniless bachelor could ask for - all for less than $300 a month thanks to Japanese rent subsidies.

I'm in Japan by the grace of God, channeled through the Japanese government. I will forever be thankful for my opportunity to take part in the JET program as an assistant language teacher. While the contract is for one year, I have to say there's a good chance I'll try and extend my stay.

The first friend I made in Hitoyoshi is my colleague Damon Monitto-Weber, another ALT from the U.S. He's much more easy-going than I, and has made my transition to life here much easier with his kindness, wisdom, and translation capabilities. Thanks Damon! I'm looking forward to being neighbors in Green-Hills (that's our apt. complex).

I came to Hityoshi, a small city in central Kyushu, last Wednesday, after a grueling two-day orientation in Tokyo. The small-town charm was very therapeutic after the hustle and bustle of the world's largest metro area.

My first two days in the city were spent in the home of Osamu and Nobuko Tashiro. They were the most gracious hosts I could've asked for, treating me as if I were one of their own. Unfortunately, neither of their two daughters - 19 and 21 - were at home, but there wouldn't really have been room for me if they were, I think. Anyway I hope to meet them at some point. Nobuko speaks very good English, and teaches classes at a community center in Hitoyoshi. The two nights I was there, I got to meet some of her students and their mothers. Her is a picture of some of us:





The homestay went very fast though, and by the weekend I was moved in to my apartment. I also bought a bicycle. It is a mama-chari (short for mama-chariot), and it is will be very trustworthy, I think. I used it to go exploring on Saturday and to church on Sunday.

There are three churches in Hitoyoshi - one Catholic, one Eastern Orthodox, and one Protestant. I went to the last one yesterday morning. It has a very small congregation, so naturally they were very interested in me as a newcomer (and as a foreigner, or gaijin). Everything was in Japanese, so I didn't understand much at all, but I was at least able to follow along in my Bible. The teaching was from John 5, about Jesus' healing of the blind man at the pool by Bethseda. Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, this was the same passage I heard taught at my first Intervarsity meeting USC. Regardless of the communication barrier, I am very blessed to have found a community of believers here in Hitoyoshi. I hope that we will help each other grow closer to God over the next year.

Today I went to my first meeting and met the mayor of Hitoyoshi. I'm finding they really give us star treatment on the JET program. It can be a bit flattering at times, but getting used to attention is a good life skill too, I guess. I can't wait for what the schools will be like. I start teaching on September 1st!

I will try to post weekly at least. I will also be posting regularly in Japanese, which I will do below each post in English. Bye for now, and God be with each of you.

みなさん今晩は。僕は今一週間ぐらい日本にいました。夏だからやっぱり暑くてむしあついだけどうれしいです。住んでいる町は人吉と言う町です。このばしょはうつくしくて親切な人がいっぱいので僕きもちのいいです。今度のホームステイはもう一度すごくいいけいけんでした。田代さんの家でとまりました。人吉に住んでいる間に日本語が上手になりたいので勉強をがんばりましょう。じゃ、おそくになったから、おやすみなさいといっています。