A week in and I am fully enjoying myself. There seems to be exciting and new things around me at all times therefore I never have time to rest or get bored - just my kind of lifestyle!
Last Friday I went into GABA which is my language school to sign my contract. I met an Aussie couple who were also recruited from abroad - very friendly. We got our pictures taken and made a short film ... which is shown to clients so they can decide which instructor they want. I have been talking to a few people who have been here for a long time and they keep telling me that as a blond women I have it the best. The salary men want to be around women after work to relax and have fun; they also find western men very proud and intimidating .... and housewives or business women like to be with women because they believe English language to be similar to Japanese in the fact that there is women talk and men talk .. and these women want to learn true women talk! so hopefully this will show in my course bookings ... so far not soo much!
On Saturday, I started my 3 day training from 10am - 7pm with a group of 12 newly recruited instructors from japan and abroad. It was such a diverse group people aged 21 to 55; some who had just arrived and others who have lived in Japan for over 8 years .. it was a great group . Of course when you are put in a setting which is this intense, the group seems to build a bond between them.. and we did exactly this .. of course going to the bar that first night helped hugely. We went to an izayaka .. which is a typical Japanese pub .. with food and drinks ... so much fun .. but thankfully we were with a Japanese who could order food for us ... or else I would have been lost - altho I do know how to say beer - beeru! Two days passed .. and the training was very intense and tiring ... but we all passed our exam at the end .. and were placed in our learning/ teaching studios. I was placed in Shinjuku .. about an hour metro ride from home .. quite far but a good place to work... so I'm quite happy and just going with the flow ...
Shinjuku station (which is where I will work) is the busiest subway station in the world - every day approximately 3 million people pass through the station .. isn't that wild! Today I went into my learning studio to meet with other instructors and my boss .. great environment ... and I already got 3 bookings in less than 5 minutes of posting my schedule which is great! So my first client is on Friday .... ahhh!
Other great news - I met up with my friend Leigh the other day .. we met in Shibuya .. known for being the largest crossing intersection in the world .. those of you who have watched 'Lost in translation' would have seen in .. well that too was wild ... and amazing.
So the story goes that Leigh and I met up that night .. we were waiting to cross this huge intersection when Leigh recognizes the singer of the Montreal based band 'The Stars' ( who were the warm up for another Canadian band ' The Broken Social Scene') .. we start chatting; she tells him she tried to get tickets for their concert but it was full ... so he then invited us to go ... put us on the guest list and we were rockin it out 30 minutes later .... All in all .. it was a fantastic night .. had all the great elements ... and I was so happy ... it was also interesting as I witnessed that a Japanese with drinks completely lets go of all inhibitions ...
While at the concert I met this guy from California .. we talked a bit as he had lived in Tokyo for 2 years and I was curious about his impression .. he said 'leave before you start hating' - he said it usually happens at the 6 month stage .. where things like - being ignored and avoided start to get to you. I have not really experienced this yet but I heard that in the subway people will not sit next to a gaijin (foreigner) and some bars don't accept foreigners.
Leigh and I also meet up yesterday .. we walked around the 'love hotel' streets .. where young and old go to get intimate with their loved ones .. as a lot of youngsters live with their parents and affection is still quite private/ taboo .... we also ate at an all-you-can-eat desert place ... now that was great.
I have been adapting really well ... sometimes even feeling like I am not in Japan .. cause the culture shock hasn't been strong ... but I have to say last night when Leigh and I were trying to find a restaurant I got annoyed for the first time ... it was frustrating ... not able to read or understand.
My family is great .. they are so nice and hospitable ... we are still eating great food everyday .. its fabulous!
They are quite funny when they pronounce my name because in Japanese ... the 'r' and the 'l' are switched .. so you can only imagine what Raphaelle sounds like with all those R's and L's .. hahahaha
On that note .. Hope everyone is well ... Lots of love and kisses from Japan ...
