Angry John
05-04-2006, 07:43 PM
Had to log in after this long absence to let you cats know I'm heading to Japan for twelve days on Monday. The trip is through the local JuCo where I've been taking Japanese for the last three semesters. (Covered a big nine chapters of elementary J in all that time.....thats the diff between JuCo and a four-year school, kids.....).
Airfare, decent hotels, tons of stuff and only a few meals out of pocket...twelve days for just under $2,400.00......I hate travelling alone and I couldn't pass it up.....
After the thirteen hour flight from Dallas to Tokyo, we take a 2.5 hour shuttle ride to Utsunomiya, where we've got four days of home-stay with a host family. I've communicated w/ the wife via e-mail.....she teaches English to local kids in her home...thats a relief, in case-my nine-chapters worth runs dry a bit. She indicates that her husband is anxious to drink sake with me. I can hack that.
The first full day in Utsunomiya, we're supposed to help school some 5th/6th graders in their ESL class. My instructor loves to put us on the spot like that with no guidance whatsoever....it sounds fun, though and I have a feeling our hosts won't be leaving us on our own. We do some other municipal sight-seeing, hang with the host family and give a short blurb in Japanese at a banquet with the mayor on the last day. Practicing my bit, I am infuriated that the "J for Communication III" class got cancelled due to lack of interest this semester. Most of the kids are just trying to get their required Foreign Language classes at the easy school...oh well. Its supposed to be a hobby, right?
After Utsunomiya, its a stop in Nikko for the afternoon on the way to Tokyo for two days....then Kyoto for two days, then Osaka for two days...then we blast off from that airport on the fake island back to Dallas (eleven hour flight).
Thought I'd share that with you, even though I haven't posted in forever cuz I was super-busy with work and class, I thought you guys might be interested.
I'll let you know how it was when I get back. I'll post a link to some pictures and all that...assuming I get back safely without being beaten into a coma by over-zealous customs personnel......
行ってきます。。。。。(ya bums).
Airfare, decent hotels, tons of stuff and only a few meals out of pocket...twelve days for just under $2,400.00......I hate travelling alone and I couldn't pass it up.....
After the thirteen hour flight from Dallas to Tokyo, we take a 2.5 hour shuttle ride to Utsunomiya, where we've got four days of home-stay with a host family. I've communicated w/ the wife via e-mail.....she teaches English to local kids in her home...thats a relief, in case-my nine-chapters worth runs dry a bit. She indicates that her husband is anxious to drink sake with me. I can hack that.
The first full day in Utsunomiya, we're supposed to help school some 5th/6th graders in their ESL class. My instructor loves to put us on the spot like that with no guidance whatsoever....it sounds fun, though and I have a feeling our hosts won't be leaving us on our own. We do some other municipal sight-seeing, hang with the host family and give a short blurb in Japanese at a banquet with the mayor on the last day. Practicing my bit, I am infuriated that the "J for Communication III" class got cancelled due to lack of interest this semester. Most of the kids are just trying to get their required Foreign Language classes at the easy school...oh well. Its supposed to be a hobby, right?
After Utsunomiya, its a stop in Nikko for the afternoon on the way to Tokyo for two days....then Kyoto for two days, then Osaka for two days...then we blast off from that airport on the fake island back to Dallas (eleven hour flight).
Thought I'd share that with you, even though I haven't posted in forever cuz I was super-busy with work and class, I thought you guys might be interested.
I'll let you know how it was when I get back. I'll post a link to some pictures and all that...assuming I get back safely without being beaten into a coma by over-zealous customs personnel......
行ってきます。。。。。(ya bums).