Exhausted

So, from the title you can tell I'm a bit tired so I'll make this quick. These have been a really rough 3 weeks. From taking the Bus and Train to trying to meet everyone while staying up to the wee hours of the night to pack, I am literally exhausted.

There's a silver lining... It's almost time. I am also glad because I feel loved by my friends. Everyone wants to spend one last time with me before I leave which makes me pretty happy so I've been trying accommodate them but it has not been easy. Even people I never felt I was that close to now seem closer. I guess that's what leaving does.

I probably could have avoided this by planning one big Soubetsukai (Farewell Party) but to be honest I didn't think I would need one. I like the small meetings better anyway. I get One on One time with my friends... or 1 on 3 or 4 time which is much more personal. I apologize to everyone for being late but I'm trying to pack so many meetings in, on one day that if something happens like the horrible traffic that was caused by construction today it blows my schedule to hell. Why in the world would Atlanta do that much construction on so many highways?

I'd like to say thanks to everyone who has taken the time to make me feel special. Especially my great Tennis team who gave me a surprise farewell party!!!!

Hopefully once I get to Japan I'll have more interesting things to write about. I just bored myself to sleep.

For everyone who was wondering what I will be doing once I get to Japan I have found a YouTube video that explains it all. I'm sure I won't be as funny as this guy but I will try.



Ok, so it probably and hopefully won't be anything like this but I found the video pretty funny. It does illustrate one of the problems that I might have to deal with. It is perceived as not cool to speak English in class (so I've heard) so I think I will have my work cut out for me. Stay tuned to find out if teaching English in Japan will be anything like this.

Kasai-shi, Hyogo-ken

加西市
I finally got my placement and at first I was a little sad. It appeared that I was going to the Inaka (rural area, or country side). After a bit of stressing I did a lot of research and I realize now, that Kasai seems like a great place. Of course the place is so small that you can't even look it up on Google Maps but if you're diligent you can find it.

It's located about an hour by train from Kobe which seems like a great city. About an hour by train to Himeji. It's not that far from the beach. There are two major expressways that run through the city so you know what that means?...Road Trip. I'm still not sure whether or not I'm getting a car or not. I will have to wait to talk to my predecessor about this. There are also lots of Onsens, and Temples to visit. I definitely want to go to an Onsen. So now I'm really excited and i can't wait to leave.

I know I jump around but this is my Blog, and I don't really care if anyone else reads it. I think there are 4 Junior High Schools which most likely I will be teaching at. One of these have a boys tennis teams so maybe I'll get to make myself feel better by beating 10 and 12 years in tennis...or maybe I'll get my feelings hurt. Here are a couple of links check them out. This is where I'll be living.

http://www.hyogokentkk.or.jp/english.html
http://www.city.kasai.hyogo.jp/

You might want to use Google Translator for that second link..