I got my info today!!!

So I got my information from Okinawa today. My predecessor's name is Nick, his mom lives in Colorado, so maybe he’s from there. He seems really nice.

“How so?” you ask? I will explain in due time. First, about my placement.

I work from 8:15-4:00. I will forever after this read that as I work from 8:00-4:00. I hate being late :P I have all national holidays off, but on school holidays, like summer, winter, and spring break, I’m still expected to show up to work.

I will work at 5 elementary schools. That’s right, I’m an elementary school teacher, again. I am not upset about this by any means—from what I hear, this means I will be playing lots of games with kids and calling it work. I had hoped to have at least some older kids, but with my experience, I guess it was to be expected. My schools are:

Hirara Daiichi (Heiichi) Elementary School. About 8 visits/month. About 550 students at about 28/class. 1st through 6th grade. About 6-8 classes/week.

Shimoji Elementary School. 4 visits/month. About 230 students at about 20-25/class. 1st through 6th grade. 4 classes/week.

Sunakawa Elementary School. 3 visits/month. About 140 students at about 15-20/class. 3st through 6th grade. 4 classes/week.

Seijo Elementary School. 3 visits/month. About 100 students at about 15/class. 1st through 6th grade. 4 classes/week.

Miyahara Elementary School. 2 visits/month. About 20 students at about 4/class. K through 6th grade. About 6-8 classes/month.

From Nick’s apartment:

The Post office is 5 or 10 minutes by car or walking. A pharmacy is 7 or 12 minutes by car or walking. A bank is 5 or 10 minutes by car or walking. A convenience store is 3 or 7 minutes by car or walking. A hospital is 7 or 12 minutes by car or walking. A supermarket is 5 or 10 minutes by car or walking.

Nick’s apartment:

Has a bedroom and a separent living room at 7m x 3m each. A Kitchen/dining room at 7m x 7m. A shower/toilent. A private roof area. And a garage. There is no cost per month for the garage. Rent is 32,000 yen a month and the landlord is okay with grandfathering me in for no extra key money or deposit. I just have to pay Nick the deposit that I would have gotten. And I don’t get new tatami, but there is only tatami in the bedroom and living room. He’s also offering me all of his stuff at 40,000, which is a steal. And he’s giving me his car for a very reasonable price of free. I think he might be my new best friend.

Of course, I want to see pictures of everything before I commit to buying (as the JET handbook and various other JET sites have said over and over), but I’m not worried and this takes a huge load off of my mind.

Looking closer at the car page, it only comes with a cassette player and cup holders, not the pink fuzzy Hello Kitty steering wheel cover and matching accessory Hello Kitty hubcaps, which is an option on the form. Omg, I think I’m gonna love working in Okinawa! Also, his asking price (¥0), is negotiable, but I don’t think I’ll be able to wear him down any further :P

I’m so very excited. I’m gonna email him tomorrow. Not tonight, because most of this was just copying from the forms I got today, so is mindless. I’m tired. (Had a busy day), and I want to make a sane email to this amazing person I’ve never met. I need to remember to ask where I’m suppose to live while he’s still in Japan, though. I’m getting to Miyako on the 1st and he’s not leaving until the 12th . . . I’ll probably be in a hotel or somesuch (which would be fine), but it’s good to ask.