Hi there everyone! Today was the starts of this years (With in Japan) Research Trip.
The yearly trip is designed for 1,2,3 years to gain two credits and learning about Volunteering, Corp. Responsibility, International Aid assistants, and assistants with in Japan.
This years trip includes a trip and volunteer work in Miyagi, Ishinomaki. A visit to JEN and JICA.
Are trip also includes volunteering in a surrounding area of Sendai called Ishinomaki 石巻.
While on the bus... I tries not to think about it but we were pasting a bit too close to the Fukushima area.... While I had the nerve to check exactly ... The worst was over.
We arrived quite late, checked into our hotel and had a little dinner...
We have a bit of the morning open tomorrow so we can sleep in abit.... Some of us are going to head up to the Temple in the morning...
Tom
Note: Some of the pictures suck... I am working with rather limited tools..
First big news is that I got the job! Well.. Actually I got 4 jobs. Despite my lack of experience in Teaching or experience in English for that matter, I have been getting offer after offer.
I have one offer from an Elementary school, two from two Middle schools and one from a High school.
Decisions Decisions! I am currently leaning towards a Middle school with in Chiba Prefecture but a little out of the city.. about 1 hour away from Chiba and 1 hour away from the Tokyo area...
On that note, have already started to find a new place to live... Although I have next to zero cash and I am still waiting for some very over due funds from Student Loans, I should be able to complete the move.... Some how...
I have a feeling that it is going to be much like the last move. Dollar store everything.
I have moved apartments in Japan a few times now and I've gotten use to the pattern but I though I would try something a little different this time... Just out of curiosity I called up an apartment service specializing in serving foreigners. I called them up and a nice Japan man answered the phone in English. I gave him my contact information, where I was planning to move and my price range. Then 30 min later I got a call back from a English speaking Korean man. ( Mr.Kim )
I met Mr.Kim at the station and he toured me around to a number of nice places.... Most of them a little pricy but he did show me one that only cost ¥26,000 per month! (About $315CDN) !! Although it was a little out of the way and would take me a considerable amount of time to get to work.
Waiting to meet Mr.Kim
Looking at Apartments
Now that most of my job hunting has come to an end and school is basically done (Besides a volunteer project ), Life has slow down to a craw... And I have taken a few good walks around the city... I have live in Chiba for almost a year but I really haven't tour around.... I'm going to miss living here....
Today is sunny!
Currently sitting in the coffee shop where I competed most of my thesis, I know most of the workers here and they know me.... Besides I just order a coffee or two and sit for hours with my computer open.... And because I have really hairy arms..
I actually have free time to write my blog!!!
Anyways ... My stress level has dropped to almost zero and I'm trying to eat healthier now that I have the time to actually make a salad.
I have been running around everywhere trying to find someone that will give me money hired me from April.... As I am running short on both my allowed Visa Stay in Japan and Money time to my next payments on my credit cards, I have to find somewhere quick!
But though all the madness, I was able to take a quick break from it all.
After my very early morning interview in Kisarazu 木更津 grabbed an Onigiri (Ball of Rice) from the convenient store and started to head back to Chiba...
When I arrive I was greeted by this at Kisarazu Station!!
A STEAM TRAIN !!!
Oh I love trains ! It was so amazing!! I asked a few people at the station and they said that anyone could go in side and take pictures! So I pulled out my phone and started shooting.
Then I asked... Where is the train going? Can I get a ticket?
The train master replied... Some people have reserved tickets along time ago... but you can check if an one had canceled at the gate...
I walked over to the gate and!!!! There were 3 tickets left!!! Someone has canceled!
I quick bought tickets and had only 5 mins before departure!
Like Charlie in "Charlie and the chocolate factory" I ran like I had a golden ticket!!
Last picture before getting on!
A rode the train for about 40 mins till we got near Chiba where the train stopped for viewing...
I was able to take some good shots.... and took some footage...
Over top baggage
My certificate of riding
Phone Strap of the stream train
Boarding.... In a suit
MASSIVE!!
This still works!!!
The were two trains pulling the cars on both sides.. Like the movie Unstoppable..
Either the stream train didn't have much power left in her or just for safely ...
Here is the other side
Add caption
Thats all..
If you've read this far you must be bored .... You can watch the I Like Trains Video..
It's been a few weeks since my last post. I have been going to a bunch of job interviews here and there.
I recived a reply a few days ago from Iwate. A company called Interac Network, Iwate branch offered me a job.... I was rather happy to hear the news as I had rather wanted to head back up North.... But it's the largest ALT 発見会社 in Japan with a rather bad rap... Being the biggest I tend to throw them a bone. I've know some teachers from the corperate companies and everyone one is different and each localtion is different..... you only hear the bad stories.
I little worried I asked them to give me a few days to think about it and started to crunch some numbers and see if I could go there. I was about to except the job when I recived a phone call from another company.... Well rather city.
A city up in the North of Chiba right on the boarder of Saitama offerend another Job. Here I thought we were going through another 不景気 ....
Anyways..... Longer story short, I am going with the job down in Chiba.... It look like a much better postion and the people I meet last week were really nice..... I would perfer to stay out of the corperate machine...
This morning I gave a few apartment shops 不動産屋 and checked some pricing....
I'm hoping to find something around ¥30,000 per month or maybe ¥38,000 for two rooms. That may sounds like a crazy low price but there area is a little out of the way so I should be able to get something....
