A Place to Lay My Head

I am sitting in the teacher’s room at Shisui-higashi (literally – Shisui East) elementary school waiting for the daily morning staff meeting to begin. Behind me, a cock is crowing ‘good morning,’ a peacock is fluttering it’s plumage, and a jet black dragonfly is fluttering about my head. It is a typical, yet totally odd, morning. I guess that could describe just about every day here – typical, yet odd.

As I oh so subtly implied in my last post, I have been very busy the past week or so. Mostly fun busy playing with Natalie, Stewart & Nobie’s granddaughter, and catching up with their daughter, Mariko. Mark was kind enough to take me to a store off Kamitori that doesn’t ‘sell anything cute.’ It took me a second to realize that wasn’t a criticism and when we got there, I really appreciated the lack of cuteness. They sold clothes, accessories, office supplies, furniture, housewares, etc. and nothing had a brand name, wording, or pictures of any kind. I can’t wait to go back.

There has been the constant lesson-planning and preparing of materials, as well as decorating my classrooms with pictures and maps of America. And of course, my everyday teaching.

Also, I have been trying to work through all of the paperwork and red tape of living and working in Japan. Stewart was helpful in taking me to the Immigration Office to change my visa status from Temporary Visitor to International Specialist. How important does that sound? Nobie has been a veritable saint to take me to the City Hall to apply for my Alien Registration Card and register my inkan. An inkan is a small round uniquely designed stamp that I will use to verify my identity on legal and financial documents. She also helped me open a checking account at their bank. It took up a whole afternoon to do these errands and most of the work was on her part,. I told Stewart later that I would be preparing all the documents to nominate her for sainthood as soon as possible.

Of course, none of these transactions are complete. My visa change is considered temporary and I will be receiving something in the mail from the Immigration Office that I have to take back to them to get the official stamp on my passport. Then, I’ll have to take that to City Hall to update my Alien Registration Card which I will then have to take to the bank to update their records. Nothing is easy, though at least I can do most of those on my own without taking up more of Nobie’s time.

Another major occupier of my time has been moving. That’s right. I’ve now got a place of my own. I moved into my mansion a few days ago. Yes, I said ‘mansion' and no, I’m not bragging. It really is a mansion. In Japan, apartments that are owned, not rented, are called ‘mansions.’ I don’t own this one, but am subletting it from a friend of Stewart’s. She lives in San Francisco with her British husband and youngest daughter, but keeps an apartment in Kumamoto for when she comes to visit her parents and oldest daughters several times a year. It works out perfectly, because it is already furnished and utilities all set up. And unlike renting from a Japanese company, I don’t have to come up with five months rent in advance or sign a two year contract. When she visits, I will just pack up a couple bags and head back to Stewart and Nobie’s.

I was interrupted in writing by teaching a couple 6th grade classes how to ask and answer “How are you?” and then the entire school attended a program to listen to a couple of female singers and male violinist. It was hilarious and I promise to write more on that later, maybe my next post. Here’s a hint - Marty Culp and Bobby Moughan-Culp.

But, back to our regularly scheduled program - My new place is in Kumamoto, about five minutes drive or fifteen minutes walk to downtown Kumamoto. It’s added about twenty minutes to my daily commute, but that’s a small price to pay. What isn’t such a small price to pay is the price of gasoline which is about $6.70 a gallon, but I do get a monthly stipend for transportation costs which will cover a good deal of that.

Across the street from the apartment is a spot of untouched land – a rarity in Japan – tall with native grasses and trees. Around the park, as I will call it, is a walking path that takes about fifteen minutes to traverse. And wild flowers are everywhere. About two-minute walk from my front door flows the Tsuboi River. And just across the street from me and up a small slope is a fantastic view of Downtown Kumamoto with Kumamoto Castle lit in the background.

The woman I am renting from is a poet – Stewart calls her ‘The Crazy Poet’ – and her husband is a graphic artist using artificial intelligence. Their artistic leanings are clearly evident in the apartment. The building itself is a fantastic building of expressionistic modern design contrasting sharp angles with unexpected curves. I haven’t seen another building like it in Japan. The inside of the apartment, is part New York warehouse with exposed rafters and cement walls and part hobo chic with rounded corners and artsy décor. Making me feel most at home are the bookshelves that line about 70% of the wall space discounting windows and doors. It’s fantastic.

I’m still settling in. Though it is fully furnished, I still have to hit the home center about every other night to pick up another little thing like trash bags and cleaning sponges as well as a few more pots and pans. I don’t think The Crazy Poet cooks too often when she’s here. It’s getting there, though. I am simply so happy that it is all working out so well. Given my casual planning when it came to moving here, I have been insanely lucky and owe Stewart and Nobie so much for everything they have done to help me.

Before I sign off, let me leave you with a new Englishism. All of my co-workers received t-shirts to wear at their Sports Day. The shirts said, “Shisuies: Erementary School of Shisui Staff.” Read it again and we’ll discuss in my next post.

- Jenny

Oh, and to all of the guys involved in getting a copy of the KU-UNC and the KU-Memphis games as well as the 2008 Orange Bowl, my biggest thanks. I've watched both basketball games twice now and am saving the Orange Bowl for a rainy day. As it's rainy season here in Kumamoto, that shouldn't be too far into the future.