In this article, I’ll reflect of the highs and lows of my first week in Japan.
You Only Need ONE Good Friend
So as I said last time, my friend and I were the odd ones out.
We went to Aeon mall in Okayama, which is the biggest in Japan I believe. I had some unbelievably delicious pancakes, which I still haven't been able to find again to this day.
We also did purikura for the first time which was so fun!
My friend and I decided we wanted to go drinking on our day off, so one night we went to a small bar she had found online.
We met a really nice bar tender, he was extremely into Jamaican culture, and my friend is from Jamaica so it was perfect.
His bar was closing so he invited us to go to a club afterwards.
Yes, it sounds shady, but I was in Japan and honestly didn't feel any danger signs coming from this guy... Plus I was down for anything!
I just wanted to have fun.
So we went to this club and they were only playing reggaeton, I was SHOOKETH to say the least.
They were very friendly, and were extremely curious about my friend and I. But especially my friend because she's Jamaican.
We danced and had fun. At the end of the night, which was actually at 6 AM, they made sure we were able to get back to our hotel safely. They also invited us out another night, which would be on a Wednesday. Side note: Japanese parties can go on…and on…and on.
It would be in the middle of our training week, but we thought we could make it..... We did NOT.
I got all dolled up, I laid down for a just a second to wait for my friend. The next thing I knew, I woke up at one in the morning. I was still dead tired.
The Boring Stuff…Training
The training itself was seemingly intense, and instead of us having two weeks at the headquarters, they decided to give us only one.
I suppose the training itself wasn't too bad, but it was just the short time frame in which we had.
We had homework ourselves to write lesson plans.
Honestly, I don't remember much of it, but I do remember I was tired and felt it was pointless.
Maybe I would have been more upbeat if they had given us more time to get over our jetlag before throwing us in the mix.
I also remember I had a breakdown just before the end of training because I got my schedule...
It was busier than everyone else's in my training group!
I couldn't believe it!
I asked the trainers when will I have time to plan the lessons and to you know.. rest... They brushed off my concerns, and got an attitude, which of course only made me angrier. I believe I was teaching 35 hours a week in a 40 hour work week!
I also was in contact with the teacher who was currently at my school, but whom I would be replacing..
When I asked him questions about the staff and the classes, he also brushed them off which also pissed me off.
So he was also useless.
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow, Until Next Time Okayama
On our last day of training we had to teach children at the headquarters.
This was my first time teaching children!
I was soooo nervous to say the least... But I made it.
That night everyone went out together to celebrate our last night together.
My friend and I went out with another girl from training who also had a similar experience to ours, being that she was a loner from the group.
We drank to our hearts content that night at a 300 yen bar. Needless to say, the next day I was hungover. I still had to be up at 8 AM to ride the Shinkansen to my actual school in Kanagawa.
I would be moving into my new apartment that day, I was so excited!!!
However, the excitement didn’t last long…I had one of the worst managers at the company.
I really must be unlucky hahaha…I’ll tell you more about it next time.
Takeaway
I will never forget my first week in Okayama.
Before I went, I thought I couldn't possibly have fun there because I had NEVER heard of it.
But it was one of the best memories I have to date, sans the actual training.
I got to see my first drunk salaryman pass out on the street, I got to drink on the street for the first time!
And I met a really great friend!
Regardless of where you go in Japan, chances are you can still make friends and have fun.
I wouldn't have expected to meet any Japanese people who could speak English in Okayama, but I did..
And they were really nice.
I would say keep an open mind to the experience, especially if you are new to Japan.
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