This story begins last year, in September, when I decided to apply for a Japan Foundation intensive language training course. This was specifically for international teachers of Japanese language to help us improve proficiency and thus be better Japanese teachers in our home countries. The application process was involved, several proficiency tests and a written section as well as school approval etc. Obviously, back in September we didn't know if we would even be in Japan, but I applied anyway, since I was wanting to improve my Japanese proficiency and this course looked like a good opportunity.
Application sent, and we didn't hear anything until March; the week before we were due to fly out. I was in! The acceptance process was nearly as detailed as the application process, and included medical approval and a chest x-ray, which I had nine days to get organised before our flight. Talk about panic mode. It wasn't exactly what I needed on top of wrapping up everything at school (assessing kids for report cards and prepping for the two weeks of relief lessons I had to leave) on top of cleaning out the house and finalising packing.
There was also a question of whether or not I could actually accept and attend. The course is designed for teachers to fly in, attend and fly out. The Japan Foundation organise specific travel/study visas for the applicants and provide all the accomodation etc. We had a bit of back and forth about my specific situation, but in the end, they said that yes, I could attend.
The timing worked out well, because we got here, settled in, the girls started school, and just as I was really starting to stretch the limits of my "what to do with free time" activities, I began. As I mentioned at the end of this post, I am living away from the rest of the family for the week (Monday to Friday) and then heading home for the weekend. Steve and the girls are doing fantastic without me.
There are 33 teachers here (including me), and we represent 11 different countries. I'm the only Aussie. There is a large group from Indonesia (18), and then a few from India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Cuba, Mexico, Algeria, Morocco, Thailand and Myanmar all have just one teacher. Our common language is Japanese, so every day is a lot of practice and improvement.
We are living in small hotel room style apartments in one building on the campus, and using the classrooms, hall, library etc for studying. The first couple of days I was very overwhelmed and thinking "why am I here?" which I'm pretty sure at least 95% of the other people were thinking too. That settled and we did some testing to be sorted into three classes of skill level. Some of the other teachers were really stressing about that testing, but I was honestly unworried. I mean, we were all already accepted, in, actually here! What came next was to help us learn and progress from whatever level we were at.
Among all the language learning, the course also includes a large amount of Japanese cultural classes. In the first week we had lessons in how to wear yukata, which made everyone else delighted - most of them have never worn one before. I struggled with that because I didn't know how to not show my knowledge and experience, especially since I was starting to realise that for a lot of people, this was their first time in Japan. Everyone had lots of fun though, in their borrowed yukata (I bought my own) and several people considered buying one afterwards.
We also took a day trip to Tokyo where we got to do a fuurin experience. We were able blow our own glass wind chimes and paint a design on them. These are very Japanese summer time things that I don't have and was hoping to get one this time round, so hooray! Afterwards we went to lunch and then Asakusa, which I've been too before, so I skipped off to have dinner with a favourite uncle of mine.
Now coming up on three weeks in (7 weeks total), things are settling into routine. Lots of lessons and things to do. We have an "Expo" to prepare for - I'm in a group who are going to showcase the oceans around our respective countries. We are doing more cultural things as well, and in our spare time we hang out in the karaoke room, play ping pong (though I did that for ten mins last night and hurt my shoulder again, gah!), or just sit around and chat. Lots more to say about this whole thing, but I'll save it for another day - this post is long enough already!
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