No news is good news...

That's right...you don't have to live in Cali to have palm trees on your campus :-P

The Central building where I will spend most of my time...

What keeps me going: Babies holding hands in matching hats :-D




I sort of stopped posting, eh? Well, it is because I lose track of the days (I'm trying too hard to stay in step with NY time) and because nothing is happening here.

I did meet with all of the English teachers/International Relations dept/Adult Ed and ironed out what exactly I traveled across the globe for. I finally met Dan Perry (I primarily TA for his English courses), since he had been at Roberts when I arrived here. He is American, so I can be sarcastic and know I'm understood.

I will be teaching a ton of TA groups and 2 adult classes, participating in the English club, organizing off campus/out-of-class English gatherings, speaking in chapel, and sitting around in the CALC Lab (like our Learning Center) in between my other duties to aid any girls with work or to simply talk to them in English. I will also be taking a weekly Japanese class. I can't wait to get started, but I'm also a little bummed because I thought I would have more free time. Really I will be out of the apartment 9-5 everyday and also some evenings. I mean, I shouldn't complain because this is a much better job with much better benefits than some alternative in Rochester, but I guess I was under the impression that I would have a lot of spare time to be by myself (and therefore get wedding planning done and catch up with all of you).

Who knows, maybe even with the 9-5 I will have a ton of spare time. I guess I won't release an official statement until after I begin working.

The Advetures of Cassie and Kelly

breath taking flowers :)



real bamboo...and I touched it!



the "GREATER" panda, trapped in a glass box :(



Osaka Castle, rebuilt again after a very traumatic history



my favorite part of this weekend: jelly fish!



I think I took more pictures of babies than anything else this weekend...



This weekend was absolutely crazy. Kelly and I did more sightseeing and walking than I have done in my entire life. We visited Tennoji Park & Zoo, Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, and every mall this town has to offer (about 900). My feet are so sore, my camera battery drained, but I feel so refreshed. I needed that visit to remind me that I am not completely helpless, lost, and depressed here. Kelly, having been here 6 weeks now, is beginning to pick up the language and manners as well as the confidence to try out Japanese culture. She was such an encouragement just by being here and leading me through subway stations, escalators, menus, and more. I'm sad she had to leave, but definitely feeling great now that I am a bit more comfortable with my city/neighborhood and the year ahead.

We also visited an international church Sunday and a coworker's barbecue today. The service wasn't spectacular and the food was a bit much, but I made a lot of connections that I am excited about...I met some foreigners that are going through the same thing as me, and hopefully my new mini-support group will make the year fly by.

I don't want to bore you with pictures, so I just posted my favorite pictures from each spot (the rest are in my photo blog), and I am sure you can check out more on Kelly's blog as well.

Accomplished.

Today I cleaned the apartment and organized it top to bottom (there is so much clutter here from the girls before). It finally feels like my place, and not a temporary home with everyone else's leftovers. I also figured out the whole trash thing...burnables in one bag, plastic wrappers in another, metals and glass in another, and cans in another (that last one is really an improvisation by Jill because people were going through her trash to get the cans out, so she finally just began putting them in a separate bag to take).


View Larger Map

I also nailed down where I am on a map (check out this Google satellite image...zoom out to see how big/crowded the city is...it's scary). I looked up a few things for Kelly and I to do this weekend, AND I went grocery shopping and made it back to campus all by myself :-D.

I also introduce myself in front of the Child Education majors today in chapel. It was scary because the girls were chatting the entire time, so I couldn't tell if they were talking about me or just ignoring me and talking in general. By the way they acted during the message, I think it is the latter. Today gave me a bit of purpose and a reminder of why I am here (even if I have no idea my assignment yet!): the girls here could care less about Christ, it's just another school to them. So I have to do my best to be a good representation of both Americans and Christians. It's hard enough expressing Christ in English, I'm a bit nervous about doing it in a language I don't comprehend. But then again, maybe that will help...

Pressed, but not crushed.

I encountered, and killed, my first giant cockroach today.

I hate bikes.

What everyone needs in the morning: a good bathing in a giant sink.


My department: Office of International Relations.




Tomoko and I had more adventures in the city today...opening a bank account, buying a cell phone, getting my own signature stamp (Japanese sign with stamps, not pens), and getting lost. It took forever to open the bank account because the teller thought I was an exchange student, not a teacher, and students cannot open an account for 6 months....then after visiting two cell phone stores and finally making up our minds, I couldn't purchase it without the proper forms from the city ward, which Tomoko will get tomorrow. Tomorrow is a holiday (as is every day in Japan), so the cell phone store is closed, so I can't get the phone until Friday, which is crucial if I'm to meet my guest (Kelly!). It was a very fruitless day, save for the stamp, and I feel even more insecure on a bike than yesterday (though today no blood was shed).

But today was also good. I talked to Bob, Meg, Mom, Brian, Kelly, Katie, Bethany, and more. I felt more comfortable with Tomoko, I was okay with being lost (given I was with her), I watched a movie in English, I didn't sleep all day, I figured out how to use the washer, and I ate actual food! I think my spirits are improving.

Tomorrow I have to introduce myself in chapel (first of 3 introductions), but I'm not nervous because I have Tomoko to interpret---there is something about translation. Certainly a lot is lost, but then again it serves as a great buffer between stupid things I say and eloquent things the Japanese say. Wish me luck!

Abeno-ku

Erika, Sayaka, Chika...My tour guides (minus Keiko)

OCC, Huge and spacious in comparison to its surroundings



Yesterday was my first full day here...and it was horrible. I woke up dozens of times at night because my internal clock was switched, and when I finally arose at 10, I just wanted a warm shower to calm me down. I spent an hour trying to get the hot water to work! Turns out I was adjusting the volume for and hour, but I finally got it after a few breakdowns.

I had a mini-tour of campus and my neighborhood (Abeno) with Erika, Chika, Keiko, and Sayaka. Erika is very outgoing and talkative, so her and I chatted the whole time. The others hardly spoke, but were friendly nonetheless. I have no idea half of what they showed me because they either couldn't explain it in English or we don't have things like that here (a slot parlor?). Good news is there is a huge grocery store/mall, post office, ATMs, and train station within 5-10 mins walking. That much I figured out. Oh! And there is a KFC right down the street....the Colonel is FAT...I wonder if that's how they see Americans. :-P

Before the tour, OCC campus seemed small, cramped, and noisy. However, after the 2-hour tour of Abeno (I almost got hit by about 1,000 bicyclists), walking back into campus seemed so calm, spacious, and welcoming.

I am really overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise here...maybe once I can understand some of the language I won't be so bombarded. Then again, my English classes will bring some comfort...

I can't read my screen :(

I think I am updating my blog, but since I don't read Japanese....who knows!

I have arrived safe and sound (fairly). I almost missed my flight in Honolulu (they rushed me off the plane and I ran through the airport to the gate where my last flight was waiting for me). I was the ONLY American on the plane...Besides being stared at the whole time, I was feeling sick, the stewardess told me my luggage didn't make it (I found out later it did!), and my buttocks is so numb I don't want to sit for the rest of my life. But alas, I arrived. The airport was humid, but relatively simple to get in and out of, and I was greeted by 4 students and Jill and James (her very friendly 8-year-old son), and the head of my department---with a giant welcome sign and flowers. :) Tomorrow the girls are coming over at 2pm and taking me around town and campus.

The apartment is old and small, but cute nonetheless...I think once I organize it a little and unpack, it will feel more like a home. But for now, I am going to sleep...it is about 11pm here, but 10am at home and I have been up since 7am at home....er....for a long time. I will be more reflective when I can think again.

En route, technically

I guess today begins my journey to Osaka...though a few bumps in the road have already tainted the adventure. I'm sitting in Rochester Airport right now waiting 4 more hours until my flight to Detroit. Originally, I was flying to Detroit at 12:30, then straight to Osaka from there. Excellent, right? Well, since all flights to Detroit are delayed (Grace warned me about taking flights with short layovers in between), I would miss my connection. The NWA rep was great, though, and she tried her best to compensate. Now, I will get some free food, free hotel stay (in Minneapolis tonight), first class seats, and a trip to Honolulu (for an hour...)! I fly to Detroit, Minneapolis, Portland, Honolulu, then Osaka....I will arrive Sunday night Japan time (2 days from now either way). But good news: only one of my suitcases was overweight!

It was hard enough trying not to cry all morning with Brian, then all of this....I was happy I'd at least not have much time to think before arriving in Osaka, then crash for the night and sleep away the depression and jet lag....but now I have 2.5 days worth of traveling to contemplate and depress myself further.

I'm going to need a visit from Kelly pronto!