Travels
I should probably mention it now, seeing as I’m leaving in three weeks time. I’m going to Japan for two and half months to work for a church in north Honshu. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to be doing there, or where I’m staying, but it’s all being organised and I’m sure I’ll find out in good time.
I’ve yet to discover what this means for my blog. I’d love to keep writing while in Japan (I’m sure there’ll be many things to write about) but I don’t know what internet access I’ll have, or indeed how much time I’ll have. I could be on dial-up, only able to get on for a few minutes every week or so to check email. We shall see.
If the worst comes to the worst, I will at least let you know. Hopefully though, Japan being the nation of high technology that it is (and considering the emailing habits of friends of my parents who’ve been at the same church for a few weeks) I will be online regularly. Whether I will be awake enough in the evenings to make sense I don’t know – I am going there to work after all.
So anyway, Japan awaits. Thought you ought to know.
Matthew @ 19:51, April 8, 2006 to Diary | Comments (14)
Comments:
Rory
Oh wow! I told you you should try and leave the country during your gap year – you won’t regret this, even if you don’t have a good time. Japan is somewhere I really wanna go, and I wish you all the best. I can’t wait to see pictures and stuff.
Comment added at 12:51, April 9, 2006
Mr E
Good luck! Have fun!
Comment added at 13:31, April 9, 2006
Verity
Awesome. What kind of work?
Comment added at 13:36, April 9, 2006
Matthew
I have only a vague idea. It could be with kids, it could be redesigning their website, it could be helping teach English, or working in the cafe/bookshop the church runs – all sorts of things.
Rory: You’re perfectly obliged to say “I told you so”, but really I think I always wanted to go abroad, I just also wanted to set up my own portable recording studio, both of which required money.
Comment added at 16:17, April 9, 2006
Martina
I hope you have a wonderful time. Take care of yourself out there. xxx
Comment added at 00:39, April 12, 2006
VC
Oh, and Matthew! I must swoop in and get your job (not camera one). Tell me how!
Comment added at 11:59, April 12, 2006
Matthew
I applied for the job online – go to the County Council website and the vacancy shows up there. Usually. With Saturday assistants it might be different, as I initially applied for something else. Ask for the Library Operations Manager (Sue), but do it on Monday the 24th so I’ll have left and they’re legally allowed to advertise for a replacement.
Comment added at 18:24, April 12, 2006
David Porter
hey matthew have had fun skimming over your web page!Any way my name is David and I am actually here in Japan at the moment at the place where you will be staying so if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Look forward to meeting you.
Comment added at 03:07, April 21, 2006
Matthew
David, fantastic to hear from you! I wasn’t sure whether you’d still be around when I arrived (was told you might be but for some reason Keith didn’t seem sure). Anyway, I have far too many questions to be worth answering really, as it’s only a week and a few days away from my arrival (time has suddenly started going slowly). I will find out in due course I am sure. The two pressing questions are “where will I be staying at first?” and “when will my learning Japanese CD arrive?” but I don’t think you can answer either!
Comment added at 10:02, April 21, 2006
David Porter
You will be stayin at Itayanagi chapel with a family called the Ghents who are awesome. Its a small town thats famous for apples and not a lot else, but all the people are really open and friendly…..very unlike the rest of Japan!!!! As for the cd, I havent got a clue!
Comment added at 12:36, April 22, 2006
David Porter
Sorry,its late and am very tired and just re-read your post. AT FIRST you will stay at the OMF guest home with Bryan. It is in a place called Ichicawa in Tokyo about 40 mins train ride from Narita. After that you will travel up to Itayanagi on the bullet train (which I really want to say was an amazing experience but I was asleep for pretty much the whole journey!). Im not sure how long you will stay at the guest home, I was only there for one night but apparentley some stay for longer.
Comment added at 12:42, April 22, 2006
Matthew
I’ll be there for a night I believe. What I meant (sorry, text-based media are difficult :)) is once I arrive in Itayanagi, where will I be staying (physically)? In other words, does the church have a flat? Will I be with the Ghent family? Will I be staying with a Japanese family? The latter would be slightly troublesome as I can’t speak any Japanese yet (hence the question about the CD). Anyway, I don’t expect you to answer all my questions as I will find out soon enough and you must have better things to do(!) One thing I would ask though is, if you look back to before you arrived, what would you have liked to have known that you didn’t?
Comment added at 20:16, April 22, 2006
David Porter
there are three rooms above the church that the male short termers generally stay in.At the moment there are three of us, myself,john and kevin so im not sure if two will share or they have another secret room that i dont know about.One thing that would have saved a lot of stress is that you dont need to know Japanese to survive,the english classes are with extremely able pupils and most of the tasks you are set dont involve talking to japanese people.
Comment added at 02:42, April 23, 2006
Matthew
Okay, thank you, that’s good to know :)
Still, I will at least make an effort with the Japanese, though considering it took five years to get me to a state with French where I could have an almost-intelligent conversation, I know I won’t learn too much in three months.
Comment added at 08:34, April 23, 2006
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