Things have been pretty busy so far, so we haven't had a lot of down-time to reflect upon our experience until today. Life in Japan seems both very slow, and very busy, for the English teachers here. There are a lot of small things that need doing from day to day, and the Japanese work much harder than we ever could. Everything is done with careful planning and methodical care, but because we are forever foreigners, and at a loss in the communication department, we sometimes have to be very flexible when plans change quickly. This has not been an issue yet, but we've heard from other teachers that we should expect the unexpected.
Today we will begin shadowing the present teachers, learning our jobs, and getting situated in our roles at our specific schools. To be honest, it's quite intimidating. We know so little Japanese, and though the classroom time is generally all in English, the day-to-day and office life requires much more than "good morning" and "nice to meet you." So...we're studying our kana (alphabet) and phrases, trying to be patient with ourselves as we adjust to this new context. It does make one reconsider, however, how much we all have to "re-learn" to speak whenever we move to a new job, local, or church. The vocabulary is often different. The syntax is changed. The non-verbals are strange and new. The tendency (at least for me) is paralysis. This, however, is not an option. I can only hide-out in our little Japanese house so long...and besides...it's a welcome change to step out into this strange world and see the sights every once and a while...
Besides...it also means a few precious hours of me not bumping my head on the doorways in our house. So I suppose it all balances out.
More impressions later.
