Nagoya T plus One Week

Greetings Gentlefolk;

As of typing I am still drawing breath. As this Internet cafe is full of cigarette smokers, this is not so much a good thing. I have survived the week long training　process and have emerged as an official teacher. I even have the business cards and the little lapel pin to prove it. After comparing both policies side-by-side, I've realised that the lapel pin actually has a better insurance policy than I do.

I've made some good friends since I've been here. I'm pretty happy that I don't have any drama queens or jerks in my intake group. In fact, after our last day of training we all went out to a karaoke bar and screamed into a microphone for the rest of the night. My contributuions to the night were 'Take me Out' by Franz Ferdinand, 'Down Under' by Men at Work and 'YMCA' by... those really strange guys.

The training week was pretty long and there were a lot of things to cover, but I think I've got the hang of things now- I'm sure I'll pick up the rest when I move to Anjo tomorrow. I taught two classes with Japanese students last week, and they went pretty well. At least they didn't run screaming out of the class room or throw things at me.

I've been pulled over by the cops under suspicion of being a westerner, something that never happened when I was last here. I knew enough Japanese and they knew enough English to get me through the encounter with as little jail time as possible.

I've been eating losts of strange things since I've been here- rice and ramen of every kind, tempura, shabu shabu, teriyaka chicken, even Octopus Balls (eck). I wouldn't be suprised if I'm losing even more weight (I don't have much more left to lose)

I've been taking a lot of pictures- Downtown Nagoya, Tsuna and I at Atstsu Jingu shrine, Karaoke the other day... they will be posted as soon as Kendra gives me her Flickr link and password

Peace out (for now)

Great Teacher Blake