Five days and counting!
The past few weeks have gone by in a blur and, sadly, I did not really accomplish many of the things I had said I was going to do before leaving.
However, I have still managed to see most of the friends that have stood by me through thick and thin. Just tonight, I took my most amazing friend out to dinner for her birthday, and afterwards we did a little bit of shopping. When it came time for me to leave, I really didn’t want to. It’s strange, I don’t believe it’s hit me yet that I won’t just be able to call her-or any of my friends- up for a random coffee or dessert date.
On the other hand, I’ll be able to call up my friends in Japan and go out on random coffee or dessert dates with them-finally!
With less than a week to go, I was getting a little nervous that I had not been contacted by anyone from my Board of Education. Similar to the whole “Where have I been placed” episode, I literally received an email the next day! I will be teaching at a senior high school in Iwatsuki, which is roughly 50 minutes by train from downtown Tokyo. There are a little less than 1,000 students at the school and from I managed to gather from the website and email correspondence, it’s very oriented towards multiculturalism and internationalization. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!
While there is a part of me that’s disappointed I wasn’t placed elsewhere in the country- maybe even in a rural area, where I would really have the chance to improve my Japanese and become close to my future students- the bright side of living in Saitama is that I already know people, and it’s conveniently located for anyone who wants to come visit me!
In the aforementioned email, I learned a little bit about my housing situation. It’s going to be the size of a pillbox, but I wasn’t expecting anything more than that. I am still a little wary of how I’m going to fit everything I’m bringing with me into my place (it’s pretty much dorm-sized), but maybe I’ll get some creative shelving ideas. Ikea is just around the river bend!
Now, here’s to hoping that I can manage to stay beneath the 50 pound weight limitation on both of my bags. Although…if they are overweight, it’s just money. I know that sounds ridiculously arrogant to say when many people in the program are struggling to come up with the funds necessary for a transcontinental move, but I’m trying to find more balance in my life. I was stressed about money for so long this past year that I feel blessed I can look at my financial situation so casually. That, and another very good friend has been telling me from the get-go that "It's just money". And she's right. It sure makes things easier, but it doesn't do to hoard it and not spend it on things that will legitimately make you happy.
In the long run, I’d rather have too much stuff and be comfortable with my living situation, than regret not bringing enough to make my new apartment feel like home.
