Tuesday, July 31, 2007
My Worries in To-kay-O
It's been a trying couple of days.
First off, my apologies for not offering a "goodbye America" post. As my time in New York dwindled, I found myself rushing to get everything in order. I ended up spending most of my last night packing (with major help from Dad, the packing master) before getting a couple hours rest prior to heading out to the airport early Saturday morning. As I expected, there was no practical reason to arrive 3 hours early (I simply spent two hours sitting at the gate) but since I was getting a free ticket to Japan, the least I could do was oblige my employers.
The flight was not an easy one. There were a number of turbulent pockets that were not severe enough to be frightening but they were not easily ignored. I got almost no sleep at all, an unimaginable frustration considering the length of the journey. The food was passable but I guess I thought a Japanese airline would, through their quest for superior service, offer more delightful cuisine than their boorish American competitors. I did get to try their original drink, "Skytime," something I found to be very amusing in concept alone. Taste-wise, it was essentially a less-sugary lemonade.
The orientation process has also been more frustrating than I would have expected. After months of waiting for details about my job, the answers I've been getting here in Tokyo have been less than encouraging. Too often I am told things like "Everyone's experience is different" and "We don't know what [your Board of Education/fellow teachers/supervisors] will do." Even basic questions regarding tomorrow's transportation arrangements are met with uncertainty. They expect someone from my BOE to meet us in Osaka tomorrow, but where we go and how (car/train/etc) is unknown. Likewise, no one can confirm whether or not I'll get to move in to my apartment afterwards.
Yet all this is secondary to my actual job - teaching English to elementary school children - about which I have learned precious little during this "orientation." Today I did get to watch two demonstrations of sample lessons, which I appreciated, but both were prefaced by the above-lamented disclaimer "Everyone's experience is different." Sooner or later, shouldn't I get some kind of definitive, direct instruction regarding this occupation? I have virtually no experience...yet no one besides me seems to care. Is this job truly so easy that it can be effectively performed without prior training? Or is it simply an on-the-job, "sink or swim" situation?
All I can do is continually tell myself that hundreds of people have gone through this orientation before and went on to work in other elementary schools. That, and the fact that Mako is waiting to meet me this Sunday and make me feel at ease all over again. In the meantime, I'm unsure when my phone and internet will be fully prepared. I'll write again, soon (I hope).
Feit...out - of touch, for now!
First off, my apologies for not offering a "goodbye America" post. As my time in New York dwindled, I found myself rushing to get everything in order. I ended up spending most of my last night packing (with major help from Dad, the packing master) before getting a couple hours rest prior to heading out to the airport early Saturday morning. As I expected, there was no practical reason to arrive 3 hours early (I simply spent two hours sitting at the gate) but since I was getting a free ticket to Japan, the least I could do was oblige my employers.
The flight was not an easy one. There were a number of turbulent pockets that were not severe enough to be frightening but they were not easily ignored. I got almost no sleep at all, an unimaginable frustration considering the length of the journey. The food was passable but I guess I thought a Japanese airline would, through their quest for superior service, offer more delightful cuisine than their boorish American competitors. I did get to try their original drink, "Skytime," something I found to be very amusing in concept alone. Taste-wise, it was essentially a less-sugary lemonade.
The orientation process has also been more frustrating than I would have expected. After months of waiting for details about my job, the answers I've been getting here in Tokyo have been less than encouraging. Too often I am told things like "Everyone's experience is different" and "We don't know what [your Board of Education/fellow teachers/supervisors] will do." Even basic questions regarding tomorrow's transportation arrangements are met with uncertainty. They expect someone from my BOE to meet us in Osaka tomorrow, but where we go and how (car/train/etc) is unknown. Likewise, no one can confirm whether or not I'll get to move in to my apartment afterwards.
Yet all this is secondary to my actual job - teaching English to elementary school children - about which I have learned precious little during this "orientation." Today I did get to watch two demonstrations of sample lessons, which I appreciated, but both were prefaced by the above-lamented disclaimer "Everyone's experience is different." Sooner or later, shouldn't I get some kind of definitive, direct instruction regarding this occupation? I have virtually no experience...yet no one besides me seems to care. Is this job truly so easy that it can be effectively performed without prior training? Or is it simply an on-the-job, "sink or swim" situation?
All I can do is continually tell myself that hundreds of people have gone through this orientation before and went on to work in other elementary schools. That, and the fact that Mako is waiting to meet me this Sunday and make me feel at ease all over again. In the meantime, I'm unsure when my phone and internet will be fully prepared. I'll write again, soon (I hope).
Feit...out - of touch, for now!
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All I can tell you is that my first teaching experience was also "sink or swim." No one told me how to do anything and I was in a panic, but it all worked out. I'm glad you arrived safe and sound! Check in when you can...
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Hi everyone, I'm using an Internet cafe and I just wanted to remind you all that I'm still here and still blogging! As soon as I get Internet at my apartment I'll upload all the stuff I wrote during the downtime.
Gotta go, my time is limited. See you soon, hopefully this Friday.
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.Gotta go, my time is limited. See you soon, hopefully this Friday.
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Be sociable! No sign-up is required!
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