First day of term today at school. Went to an opening ceremony. Still trying to work out exactly what I'm meant to do (it's a mystery) the schedule and timetable are all in kanji (of course). The japanese english teacher is helpful though, deciphering the hieroglyphics for me. I imagine the first few lessons will be 'testing the water' and getting a feel for things. Once I get the hand of it it will be easy, I'm sure. Today is basically sports club day. I've started playing table tennis. Thought about basketball but I might have an unfair advantage with my height. Baseball is the most popular game in Japan. On TV it's on 3 channels all the time. I've taken to watching a little as it's easier to follow than the japanese dialog programmes and often has a bilingual mode. I've figured out the news times when there's a bilingual option which is a good way to catch up on current events. There's a bit of tension here with the N.Korea thing and the six nation talks etc... New Zealand is paradise, don't you forget it!. Japan is beautiful. I don't like the political/economic tension of war. I wish war didn't exist. War is hell and the ugliest thing in this world. 'imagine all the people - living life as one'. Sharing and caring is where its at. I think alot of tension arises from the implicit assumption that ones one views are correct and the best. People automatically assume that their understanding is the correct one. In my opinion (excuse the irony) it is important to respect the many perspectives and opinions that people share in order to live together harmoniously. I guess that's what the JET programme is about - internationalisation - an awareness and respect for others cultures. It would benefit everyone.
I keep getting this 'wow this is real life' feeling here in Japan. It's kind of surreal, living here, but this is how these people live all the time - in this corner of the world. I feel like a pilgrim or a settler in a foreign land, starting a new life. The poeple are friendly and kind and I've made friends with lots of other ALTs. It's still really hot here. I sweat more everyday than I ever did in NZ!. I drink water all the time too. They have an endless range of sports-style drinks for re-hydrating ones person.
I feel kind of detached too, in a bhuddist / krishna conscious way. I do my best without being attached to the result. It's very much a 'go with the flow' scenario here. I never know what to expect - aside from the unexpected. Everyday is new. I do my best and remain centred, polite and courteous. It's interesting how people here are so similar to NZ. the similarities amaze me. Even though its a different language and writing. The japanese still talk about the same things and write about the same things! strange. We're all human beings and that's important coz we share a common brotherhood/sisterhood as people living on this planet. Even if we say things differently, underneath we're the same and I love the divine ground within which we all exist.