Welcome to Kawanishi.
Well, I have been in living in Japan for just over a month now and am starting to feel a bit settled. Ironically, maybe, that’s because I haven’t actually been to one of my schools since the 11th nor have I been home for more than one consecutive night. I’ve been traveling around the prefecture helping other schools run their summer English camps; picture going to camp as a 14 year old, but none of your counselors speak your native language, or at least they pretend not to, that’s my take on the kids’ perspective. Nevertheless we had a dozen tearful eyes when everyone left the last one, so apparently we’re doing something right. I haven’t been alone, JETs from all over the prefecture come to these things; it’s a great means of getting out of the school office during the summer, and also a good way to pick up some new tricks (English games and things) and practice the whole “teaching” thing. The teachers seem to really dig it too as it acts as a little 3 day vacation while being at work. Life at school will be changing real quickly here as well, classes will be back in session on Monday and I am beginning to better realize the responsibilities of my job. Rumor has it that I was handpicked to become the JET at my base school because they are the only school in the prefecture to maintain a cultural education program (also the only one with both a middle and high school, usually very separate here). Why I was picked I still haven’t figured out, but teachers both at school and at the prefectural office keep mentioning things. Anyways, it would be pretty cool if my job were geared toward cultural awareness just because that means I can research cultures I find interesting, make it a lesson or game, and call it a good days work… not too shabby, really. But we’ll see what happens. Anyways, I digress. Here’s a quick photo tour of Kawanishi:
Our Welcome sign.
My apartment building.
A few minute walk from my place is the famous Kintai bridge, Iwakuni Castle, and the cherry blossom tunnel (pictures coming soon [well, in April]).
Summer time is festival time in Japan, this is a festival I went to at Kintai bridge.
The dairy department, eh hem, I mean daily department at the grocery store.
Someone told me the statistic that, in Japan, there is 1 vending machine for every 4 people. Its probably true, you’ll be walking through a rice patty and then BAM, vending machine.
Now I may live in a town with only a train stop, supermarket, and a beer vending machine to its name… but just two stops away is the bustling metropolis that is Iwakuni.
Heres the view from the train station.
What a typical street looks like (they even have bicycle parking garages at some stations).
Alright, thats all I have for now; but if I ever get around to doing something interesting you'll be the first to know.
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