Joetsu City

Four hours sleep is better than two right?

With my suitcase already on board the coach, I head down for my last meal at the magnificent Keio Plaza Hotel, and say my goodbyes to my two roomates.

It’s been a whirlwind few days.

The two dozen or so ALTs (assitant language teachers) for Niigata Prefecture meet in the foyer, before being chaperoned onto a coach that takes us to the old red brick Tokyo Station.

‘Be quick collecting your ticket, or the barrier will swallow it, and it’ll cause us a lot of problems,’ we’re told, as we’re handed our Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets.

Boarding, I’m struck by a wall of cool air, that immeadiately takes the edge of the sickly 35+ degrees temperature ravaging Tokyo.

Even in standard class, there are huge amounts of leg room.

The journey takes around two hours, and provides not just a fantastic chance to get to know those I’ll be working with over the coming years, but an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Japan’s mountanous interior.

Slowly, diffent ALTs leave the train at different stops to be welcomed by the local Board of Education.

‘Welcome to Niigata!’ reads the colourful, hand painted sign.

After a quick introduction, we get to meet two ALTs who are in their fifth and and final year of the programme.

Nagoka Station

From Nagoka station, we’re whisked away by a coach to take us to our new home: Joetsu City.

Stopping for lunch at a service station, I order a bowl of Tofu in a salty noodle broth; there’s a two step stage to ordering, first, you’re presented with a vending machine with the menu options, and after selecting your meal, and paying, you’re given a receipt which you take to the counter, which you exchange for a ‘buzzer’.

Whilst waiting, a few of us talk with broken Japanese to the bus driver.

‘Welcome to Joetsu’ reads the drivers pocket electronic dictionary.

The last leg of the journey takes us on the coastal expressway, with the shimmering waters of the Sea of Japan on my right, and steep, lush mountains to my left.

‘If you haven’t done so already, please prepare your speech.’

Our first stop is the board of education to deliver our jiko shoukai, or self introduction, to senior officials, and then to packed office of staff members.

Then, we’re buddied up with a current ALT, who drives us to a center to register as citizens of Joetsu- a quick trip to the supermarket for a few essentials, and my ‘buddy’ drops me off at my apartment, though stays for a time just to setup my A/C- the last time I was in Japan, I recall flooding the hotel room with hot air…

The apartment is spacious, with a seperate bedroom/ living area, kitchen, and bathroom, connected by cool wooded floor. I’m paying something like half of what I used to pay for just a bedroom in a six person house share in Oxford…

Exhausted, I nap for a few hours, cook a simple meal, and listen to some jazz.

It’s almost as if I’m living in a Murakami novel…