"They Breed 'em Big Round Here..." - Being the Third Massive Missive to Friends and Family Far Far Away

... I mean it - the bugs are HUGE!

You thought godzilla and his mates were the crazy ideas of some overimaginative film-maker?

Nope. Documentary.

I think it's a humidity thing.

So who's wandering about this breathtaking landscape then?

Well - we have grass hoppers, cicadas, huge butterflies, scary-ass poisonous centipedes and other things that I'm not sure exactly what they are. All the bugs here are on average as big as my thumb with the spiders being about half that... they make up for this by building webs that are nearly 5ft wide(!). I found one trying that between my bed and the window! Needless to say he wasn't doing it for long because I gently pointed out to him the wisdom of doing it elsewhere. I suggested to Mr.S that if he took his buisness outside my room he would have far more success since the great outdoors has more flies and fewer sturdy squish-worthy articles. At which point I backed up my argument with a cup-paper-open-door-vigorous-throw combo which sealed the deal.

Now I don't know about you guys but it's been one heck of a roller coaster ride for my poor old heart. I've been flipping between feeling mighty pissed off at being so near and yet so far from the Bright Lights of the City and then catching myself with my mouth hanging open as I watch Hawks lazily drift around the sky over the sea. I think/hope this is normal.

The town I'm in is full of contrasts. There are beautiful (and I mean staggering) views of mountains, sea and forest all around it while there is also plenty of rusty machinery and industry within it. The population is pretty split between under-15s, their parents and the more mature members of Nipponese society. So far I am still waiting to meet someone of a similar age to me. This situation is vexing but I'm sure it will sort itself out in time.
\n \nWith regard to shopping, we have a couple of good size supermarkets and also a wicked bakery called Boulangerie Fleur (Flower Bakery ) which is heaven on earth for a shamless foodie like myself. The lovely ladies inside have been really friendly and, whether they like it or not, they might well be the first people outside of the school to witness my shameful excuse for converstional Japanese. : ) Added to this are a couple of handy supermarkets - the \nLiberal and (wait for it...) Super-Kinki ! Ho-ho!! How I laughed.\n \nTo be honest I am still in the process of making my mind up about how I really feel since I know that the whole cultureshock thing is going to be messing up my perceptions for a good while yet. I do feel a bit frustrated about the fact that there are not as many people around that I could talk to compared to other people who are based in more urban areas. But then I think that there may be opportunities and sights here which I wouldnt have in a more metropolitan setting. Which is more \nJapanese I wonder?\n \nAs I say it\'s still really early days yet and there are many more things that are still to be discovered. One day at a a time eh?\n \n\n\nI think getting some skill in the language might help out since I don\'t speak much more than "Hello, my name is Will" and "It\'s hot today isn\'t it?". Go-go-gadget language aquisition! I \nhave been learning to read the different alphebets (hiragana and katakana) which is fun. Kanji is still on my to-do list. The first two are syllabic-alphabets which deal with Japanese and Foreign-Import words (like \nhoteru - hotel) respectively. Kanji is similar to the Chinese style of pictograms that combine lots of meaning into a liittle space but are more complicated for little old me.\n \nFun things that have occurred recently include:",1]
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With regard to shopping, we have a couple of good size supermarkets and also a wicked bakery called Boulangerie Fleur (Flower Bakery ) which is heaven on earth for a shamless foodie like myself. The lovely ladies inside have been really friendly and, whether they like it or not, they might well be the first people outside of the school to witness my shameful excuse for converstional Japanese. : ) Added to this are a couple of handy supermarkets - the Liberal and (wait for it...) Super-Kinki ! Ho-ho!! How I laughed.

To be honest I am still in the process of making my mind up about how I really feel since I know that the whole cultureshock thing is going to be messing up my perceptions for a good while yet. I do feel a bit frustrated about the fact that there are not as many people around that I could talk to compared to other people who are based in more urban areas. But then I think that there may be opportunities and sights here which I wouldnt have in a more metropolitan setting. Which is more Japanese I wonder?

As I say it's still really early days yet and there are many more things that are still to be discovered. One day at a a time eh?

I think getting some skill in the language might help out since I don't speak much more than "Hello, my name is Will" and "It's hot today isn't it?". Go-go-gadget language aquisition! I have been learning to read the different alphebets (hiragana and katakana) which is fun. Kanji is still on my to-do list. The first two are syllabic-alphabets which deal with Japanese and Foreign-Import words (like hoteru - hotel) respectively. Kanji is similar to the Chinese style of pictograms that combine lots of meaning into a liittle space but are more complicated for little old me.

Fun things that have occurred recently include:
\n \n- Getting taken out by the Principal to a delicious Chinese restaurant. Yum!\n- Getting invited by our super-friendly English teacher Okawa-Sensei to the Hiashiura summer festival where we saw fabulous performances of Taiko drumming (which I plan to have a crack at!), excellent amazingly energetic traditional/modern fusion dancing from the South of the country which I joined in with at the end! (Very similar to Maculele but even \nmore energetic!) \n- Meeting another new ALT from Awaji today. His name is Josh and he is very nice, as is his Japanese fiance(!).\n- Finishing Around the World in 80 Days (thanks Aiden!) Inspiring adventures of the most English of English Gentlemen.\n- Finding really cheap fish (lots of fishermen round here) at the supermarket and making tasty dinner with it.\n- Planning an adventure off the Island with another ALT based nearby.\n- Watching the kids play their summer classes. So far I\'ve witnessed Soft ball, Basketball and yesterday Table Tennis. I even played myself and only just won. Against a teeny first year of 11. I felt so proud!! \nWatashi-wa itchiban-san desu!! \n \nIt\'s nearly time to go so just time for some horrendously brief personal hellos. Sorry they\'re so puny. : )\n \nTony Wright-San: I hope you had a wonderful holdiay. I bet you saw some fantastic sights! Thanks for the Haikus - they were great.\nGina & Tash: I hope you had a wicked time in Ibiza! The phrasebook has been really useful. Thank you!\nKim: I hope all\'s well and you\'re not partying too hard ; )\nSophie: Sue that crazy lady for all she\'s worth! Or at least get her to buy you a coffe or something. Hope you get well soon sweetie.\nMat O\'C: Tick-tock mate. I think ya bairn is going to have a ball. Any kid with James Bond stuff ready and waiting has to be onto a good thing!",1]
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- Getting taken out by the Principal to a delicious Chinese restaurant. Yum!
- Getting invited by our super-friendly English teacher Okawa-Sensei to the Hiashiura summer festival where we saw fabulous performances of Taiko drumming (which I plan to have a crack at!), excellent amazingly energetic traditional/modern fusion dancing from the South of the country which I joined in with at the end! (Very similar to Maculele but even more energetic!)
- Meeting another new ALT from Awaji today. His name is Josh and he is very nice, as is his Japanese fiance(!).
- Finishing Around the World in 80 Days (thanks Aiden!) Inspiring adventures of the most English of English Gentlemen.
- Finding really cheap fish (lots of fishermen round here) at the supermarket and making tasty dinner with it.
- Planning an adventure off the Island with another ALT based nearby.
- Watching the kids play their summer classes. So far I've witnessed Soft ball, Basketball and yesterday Table Tennis. I even played myself and only just won. Against a teeny first year of 11. I felt so proud!! Watashi-wa itchiban-san desu!!

It's nearly time to go so just time for some horrendously brief personal hellos. Sorry they're so puny. : )

Tony Wright-San: I hope you had a wonderful holdiay. I bet you saw some fantastic sights! Thanks for the Haikus - they were great.
Gina & Tash: I hope you had a wicked time in Ibiza! The phrasebook has been really useful. Thank you!
Kim: I hope all's well and you're not partying too hard ; )
Sophie: Sue that crazy lady for all she's worth! Or at least get her to buy you a coffe or something. Hope you get well soon sweetie.
Mat O'C: Tick-tock mate. I think ya bairn is going to have a ball. Any kid with James Bond stuff ready and waiting has to be onto a good thing!
\nDave Hood: Ichiban san! Ichiibaaaan SAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!! \nMum, Dad, Di & all the rest o\' the clan: Thanks for all the updates they are much appreciated. Good luck for the 50th!!\nLee: I wish you could see these bugs mate. The moths could carry you off.\nBarney: I imagine by now you might have heard one way or the other. What\'s the story dude?\nAnna: Yeah right you\'re missin me! One fewer smelly boy about the place. : ) The Mr Scruff towel is now a Most Excellent shade for my bed lamp. It looks awesome!\nPelicano: Thank you so much for your mail! I\'ve been showing the site to all the teachers here and they are very impressed by Capoeira so I think I\'ll show the children too. Please give my love to the class. I miss them lots. \n\nVane: Keep on trucking darlin!! You can totally do it!\nLauren: It\'s all gone a bit quiet eh? I\'m sure it\'ll get a touch more exciting in a few weeks.\nMatt: Ace photos! No worries about not meeting up earlier - that\'s what the internet\'s for.\nMish: Good luck in the interviews sweetie!\nMike: You too! Your voice o\' wisdom is most soothing. Thanks.\nMaz and Graham Thompson: So Sorry I\'ve not been in touch sooner. What an ass I am...\nAris: Thanks again for the welcome. Sounds like I\'ve some mighty big shoes to fill. Good luck with the prep work - from what I\'ve seen of your stylings here it should be one heck of a do. : ) Also, the tea is an absolute \nlifesaver. Yum!\n \nGosh that\'s a lot of typing...\n \nI really must be off now. Thanks again for all your mails - they keep me sane you know. I\'ll have photos up once I have a camera.\nTill then take care and I love you all loads!!\n \nWill.x\n \n\n",0]
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Dave Hood: Ichiban san! Ichiibaaaan SAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!
Mum, Dad, Di & all the rest o' the clan: Thanks for all the updates they are much appreciated. Good luck for the 50th!!
Lee: I wish you could see these bugs mate. The moths could carry you off.
Barney: I imagine by now you might have heard one way or the other. What's the story dude?
Anna: Yeah right you're missin me! One fewer smelly boy about the place. : ) The Mr Scruff towel is now a Most Excellent shade for my bed lamp. It looks awesome!
Pelicano: Thank you so much for your mail! I've been showing the site to all the teachers here and they are very impressed by Capoeira so I think I'll show the children too. Please give my love to the class. I miss them lots.
Vane: Keep on trucking darlin!! You can totally do it!
Lauren: It's all gone a bit quiet eh? I'm sure it'll get a touch more exciting in a few weeks.
Matt: Ace photos! No worries about not meeting up earlier - that's what the internet's for.
Mish: Good luck in the interviews sweetie!
Mike: You too! Your voice o' wisdom is most soothing. Thanks.
Maz and Graham Thompson: So Sorry I've not been in touch sooner. What an ass I am...
Aris: Thanks again for the welcome. Sounds like I've some mighty big shoes to fill. Good luck with the prep work - from what I've seen of your stylings here it should be one heck of a do. : ) Also, the tea is an absolute lifesaver. Yum!

Gosh that's a lot of typing...

I really must be off now. Thanks again for all your mails - they keep me sane you know. I'll have photos up once I have a camera.
Till then take care and I love you all loads!!

Will.x

"Finding My Feet" - Being the second mail to escape to the Occident world

Hey everyone!

It's me again and this time I'm writing from my school (Higa Shiura Junior HIgh School to be precise) for I have finally found a computer in Awaji. Hooray!

I'll be quick because it's near the end of the day and I'm not sure how much time I have to play with - although you lot are probably getting settled in what with the crazy 8hr time difference.

Well here I am in a nutshell (cue mental image...):

- The Tokyo induction was quite fun and very interesting, especillay chatting with all the crazy foreign types from all over the world. There were Americans (naturally...), Aussies, Kiwis, South Africaaaaans, Canadians ay, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Jamaicans too! It was good for getting some good resources and contact details although I think the actual training will very much be on the job so to speak.

- I'm in a smallish town on an island called Awaji near Kobe and Osaka.

- It's hugely hot and humid. Roughly the same as the hottest days we had the other week but this will last until september.

- I've spent the last couple of days sorting bank accounts and such which has been quite fun but also tiring

- I have a suspicion that I am one of three english speaking people within ten miles. Best get learning the old Nihongo eh?!

- Yesterday I visited the four schools that I will be teaching in. I'll be at the main Junior High School (12-14 yr olds) from tuesday till friday and will visit one of three elementary (5-11yr olds) each monday.

- Today I gave my introduction speech to the 234 kids and they were quite smiley.

And now it's time to "Do One" as I've taught one of my new frieds who loves idioms.

I miss you all loads and hope you're having lots of splashing fun as the soggy wet England water falls from the air - as opposed to here where the water
is the air. : )\n \nThanks to everyone who replied - I\'ll get back to you as soon as I can.\n \nKim, I know exactly how you feel. I\'m there for you darlin even when I\'m here.x\n \nI hope all the Atcherson clan are ok. My love is out to all there too - even if it\'s a bit late.\n \nAlso for all my new contacts my first email follows below.... Again, if there\'s anyone who you think might like an email please let me know.\n \nUntil next time boys and girls!\n \nWill.x\n \n<<>>",1]
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is the air. : )

Thanks to everyone who replied - I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Kim, I know exactly how you feel. I'm there for you darlin even when I'm here.x

I hope all the Atcherson clan are ok. My love is out to all there too - even if it's a bit late.

Also for all my new contacts my first email follows below.... Again, if there's anyone who you think might like an email please let me know.

Until next time boys and girls!

Will.x

My First Email Home AKA "Panic Over!! Hooray!! "

Hi everyone!

This is the very first mail to leave the Mysterious East on my behalf - hopefully the first of many!

I`m safe and sound here in (very) sunny Tokyo and it`s amazing!

Everything went really well at the airport, I didn`t lose anything and we had a great flight. In fact the flight was really fun in itself since it was Virgin and they have loads of really handy free stuff like eye-masks, earplugs and also a fully interactive entertainment system that has dozens of films, albums, games etc for you to play with. It even had a head up display that showed you exactly where you were in the world, how fast you were flying (average 540 knots) how long was left and what your route was.

We then grabbed all our stuff in the not-too-busy-at-all-Tokyo Narita Airport and then had a nice bus ride in. There was a great girl called Jenni (from New Zealand) who answered lots of our questions and prepped us on what is in store for us over the next few days. We`re staying in a great 5-star hotel and I`m sharing a really fancy room with two guys, Jeff and Laurence, who are placed near me in Hyogo prefecture (although not actually on the island of Awaji-Shima itself). They`re ace and we`ve got on very well.

We (the British) were the first group to arrive and so we`ve had all day to ourselves - spent tucking into delicious Japanese noodles in a creamy, chili sauce (YUM!) adventuring on the Tokyo Metro, witnessing the mad-cap wardrobe antics of the Harajuku crowd, discovering huge Meiji era shrines in a massive forest and also playing Taiko Drumming Arcade games. Tokyo`s super hot and humid and most of my cool clothes have been forwaded on to my school in Awji. Consequently I`ve been knocking about in Gap khakis, white vest, hawaian shirt, aviator shades and Man-From-Delmonte-Hat looking like the most touristy tourist in the world. It`s great fun catching people staring at you and then givving them a massive grin - some smile back while others almost fall over as they look away so quickly.

The actual orientation starts tomorrow with a big presentation followed by lots of individual workshops on various bits and pieces of Japanese JET life. The evenings are our own so I`m looking forward to mass nocturnal expeditions into the city. One fun part is that we have to be in Business Dress (note yonder Capital Letters) which is very smart but also really hot. I plan to escape the heat of a full suit by wearing my waistcoat with a lovely linen shirt rolled up to my sleves and complete with pocket watch set to Greenwich Meridian time - for the sake of The Old Country : ).

Right now it`s time to go upstairs, have a quick shower and maybe hangout by the pool before a quick round of sake and karaoke. Yup, I`ve done well so far. Let`s hope my luck holds out.

Sorry to everyone who I didn`t say goodbye to personally - it`s been so hectic I couldn`t believe it. No excuse for not getting touch mind, just a reason.

Also if you find that there`s anyone I`ve not got in my magical list please let me know their address and I`ll be sure to keep em up to date.

Thanks for being such great and lovely people I hope you are all having as much fun as I am. However I also hope for your sake that you`re getting way more sleep than I am (six hours kip in two days = fun!). I love you all loads and can`t wait to hear about what you`re up to!

Love, hugs and most polite bows,

Will.x

I live.... Again!!

Blogs: Preserve of the cool, the verbose, the trite and the goth*.

And now I'm in on the action too - I give it six months max before the world finds something more interesting to do, but until then... Lets enjoy reading and writing!

This post is what's known in my head as "A Test" and we** shall see how this works out.


Right then - unto the breach...




* - Unlike Rhubarb and Ginger Jam, which is the preserve of the adventurous.

** - The royal We, naturally.