Settling In

Tomorrow is my last day of training and then Friday is the opening ceremony at the school. I've been so busy since I got here that I haven't had much time to relax, but thankfully today I was free and got to buy some things I needed, as well as finally walk down to the lake that is only 5 min from my apartment building. I think I heard that junior high students have to take tests the first few days of school so I may not actually be teaching until the middle of next week or later. Don't know what I'm going to do this weekend but I'd like to do something fun in honor of feeling mostly settled in. :)

Last night was a welcome party for new teachers at my school and all the staff/faculty was there. It was really overwhelming for the first hour or so because everyone was speaking super fast Japanese and I didn't really know what was going on, but then I got to give a short speech about myself in Japanese, which everyone was really impressed with. Lol. They made some kind of bad Japanese pun out of what I said... <_< The principal of the school later had me join him and some sweet ladies in conversing. Turns out they are school lunch cooks. He helped translate and I had a fun time speaking broken Japanese. They were all excited to touch my hair and asked me what shampoo I use... haha.

I don't know when I'll next be able to post, I'm borrowing my neighbor Amy's internet. Be assured I'm doing well (although I have a slight cold) and am settling in fine. Sometimes it feels like I don't have many friends but I'm doing what I can to not get lonely. My apartment buddies help with that a lot. ^_^

I'll be posting pictures of the beautiful lake next time I get online, so you can look forward to that. It's almost like the ocean because it's SOOO windy beside the lake. :)