1st FEW DAYS

6^th Aug 2006

Arrived at the airport at 330am… It's too early!!! Only managed to sleep a bit. Ann, Roslynn, Waiyue & Lynn came to send both Teresa & me off.. Was really surprised to see them! Mama cried when I was about to go in… No wonder she was awfully quiet… Comforted her & told her I’ll be fine… Hugged Mama, Papa, Ei & my Dear… Then I waved goodbye to Singapore….

When I was on the plane, I suddenly felt very sad… Teared a bit when I thought abt Dear… Well I shall just sleep off my sadness…

Reached Narita Airport at 245pm. We were all led to a bus that brought us to Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku. Oh, I’m sharing room with the Christian gal, Felicia. Yeah!

Had dinner at an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) with Hiroe, Shimin’s Japanese friend and a few other Singaporeans. Then I called my family & Dear via a phonebooth outside the hotel.

7^th Aug 2006

A whole day of workshops. A formal dinner reception was provided at Conrad Ballroom. Food was good but it was so crowded!

8^th Aug 2006

Even more workshops today…. Feeling the effects of information overload... ZZZZzzzzzZZZ

Embassy dinner at a really authentic-looking restaurant.. Yummy & the best thing is….. it’s FOC!

9^th Aug 2006

Singapore, Happy National Day! It was raining when we left Keio Plaza… Look at how dark the sky is...

The typhoon is expected to hit central Japan today. Hopefully it will not affect my flight… Hopped on the bus with all my barang-barang and sat beside Felicia. Was initially checking out the scenery, but I felt too tired so I closed my eyes and

rested. Soon we reached Aomori Airport. Alas, our flight was delayed, but only by half an hour. Plus they gave us a compensatory 500 yen voucher! Yeah, can do some shopping! I bought a “Flying Dorayaki”, which is essentially a huge red-bean cake with a smiley face. I decided to get it coz its wide grin cheers me up. Besides it’s only 400 yen so it's just right to make full use of the free voucher.

Boarded the plane & I sat beside Crystal who was so nice & chatty. Too bad she’s quite faraway from me, at Rokunohe … Managed to sleep a bit on the plane. After 1 hr 50min, I finally reached Hachinohe! My supervisor, Mr Murakami was at Aomori Airport to pick both Russell and me up. Russell is a Filippino-Canadian. Just got to know him at the Prefectural meeting yesterday. Nice guy…

The other 7 ALTs were also at the airport. Claire from Scotland, Veronica from USA, Joel from USA, Wade from USA, Ricky from USA, Q from South Africa and Kathryn from United Kingdom.

We are boarded a bus and made our way to Hachinohe Board of Education (BOE). Along the way, we had lunch at an authentic Sobaya where Mr Murakami treated us to a super refreshing & yummy zaru soba! Now that out stomachs are filled, we continued our way. Then we stopped at Shichinohe for a toilet break & for anybody who wants to buy groceries. Once we arrived at the BOE, Russell and I were introduced to the rest of the staff in the office. Then I was brought to my apartment.

It was wonderful! Very neat, homely and clean. It wasn’t what I expected but I like it. Dahlia, my predecessor kept this house so neat! I have a loft bedroom…. Means I must climb up a ladder to reach my room. How cool! http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/yenlingmah/?action=view&current=P8090079.flv

Mr Murakami taught me how to use the gas for the stove and the shower. After that, Kathryn & Mr Murakami brought me to the nearest supermarket to do some grocery shopping for tonight’s dinner & tomorrow’s breakfast.

After that, they sent me back to my apartment & there I was all alone in my new house… Felt weird having dinner alone in a totally foreign place... Started to feel sad. Suddenly I feel like going home… Sniff... After wiping my tears, I unpacked a little, but couldn’t get to sleep till 3am…