It’s the weekend, so I finally have some time to write a blog entry about my first week here!

So, after my train ride up from Nagoya, the first thing I saw in Takefu was the big dragon at the station:

It’s awesome looking, but what’s even cooler is that is built from products made here in Takefu — mainly knives and axe heads. It’s a bit hard to see in this picture, but its scales are all round blades, the spikes on its back are axe heads, and its smaller scales, beard, and details are made of knife blades. Its claws are hooked scythe blades. It’s really awesome!

Anyhoo, I stayed at the Takefu Palace Hotel for a few days while the old foreign teacher moved out, and then last Sunday I finally moved in. We had a Welcome/Goodbye party on that Satuday, which was tons of fun. We went to a little restaurant/bar above the hotel, and then to karaoke afterwards.

On Monday I signed up for Japanese lessons. Takefu doesn’t have any English speakers — the city hall doesn’t even have any English information. So my classmates are all Brazilians, and all the forms I filled out were in Portuguese. My class is fun; we use the same Minna No Nihongo texts that I used in Kanazawa, so I don’t have to buy anything new. I’m going again tomorrow.

My first week at school was fairly rough. It wasn’t bad, but I did mess up twice and got pretty embarrassed. I think I’m getting into the swing of things now. Wednesday is my big day of insanity, although my schedule is really full all around. I like all my classes so far except for the preschool ones. The elementary kids are cute and fun, and the Jr. High students are a lot less difficult than I thought they would be. My adult classes are really awesome too. I really hope that this Wednesday will be a little easier though (esp. the preschool classes).

Ah yes, so here is my house! It’s small, but big enough for me. I like it, although the first night was a bit scary… the house is just a bit Ju-On-y.

The view from my peephole. That’s one of my neighbors… she usually paces around the hallway at night and sometimes scratches on my door…

My living room as seen from my kitchen.

My front hallway and my little hallway cabinet. A bit creepy when the lights are out…

My kitchen as seen from my living room. Very tiny kitchen…

Last night was fun too — my first week of classes over! I went to a beer garden with one teacher and a few of her students, and talked for a long time.

Today, I went up to Fukui City, as I heard there was a festival there. It’s called the Pheonix Festival, and unfortunately I missed the main day yesterday, but there was still lots to do and see today. Going to the Pheonix Festival reminded me how much cooler Japanese festivals are than American festivals. It’s hard to describe exactly why, but the energy and the spirit are just so much more fulfilling than at any American outdoor party. So I saw lots of little shops (and I bought the 7th Harry Potter book at Kinokuniya), ate soba (famous in Fukui), and saw a dance competition for large groups. I can’t remember the name of the type of dance, but one of my coworkers also dances this style. Anyway, it was really cool to watch even though it was super hot. Oh! And the coolest thing about the festival altogether was meeting up with Minako and Hiro from Philly. They were transfered to Fukui here at the same time I came, so they’re just as new as I am to the area. Of course, they can read and speak so they have a bit of a head up on me, but they said they’ve been lonely as they don’t have any friends here yet… I can relate to that — I was pretty terrified that I’d be alone all weekend, and only be able to talk to my coworkers during the week. So it’s great to have a friend close by. Next weekend we’re going to go to the Mikuni Fireworks Festival! Yay! Oh! And my Obon/Summer Vacation starts this Thursday, so I have a short week of work, then a nice vacation. I’ll probably go to Kanazawa, and maybe to Tokyo or Osaka or Kyoto… who knows. And Wednesday night, I will go out to sing karaoke with my coworkers again. Anyway, here’s some photos from today:

Hiro and Minako!

Tents visible across the moat from the ruined Fukui castle.

Awesome dancers! This troupe had 100 people and won 1st place last year.

I wish I could do something like this… it looks so fun.

I think I need to start keeping a record of all the amazing Engrish I’ve seen here…

I finally figured out my home phone number today… I still don’t have a cell phone, because I can’t get one until I get a bank account, which I can’t do until I get my Alien Registration Card, which I can’t get until 8/10… so I really can’t wait until then! I want a Japanese cellphone! (And a bank account would be great too…)

Okay, that’s it for now!