After religiously emailing my predecessor back and forth about the ins and outs of working and living in Japan, she led to believe that my apartment was going to be rather new. Usually a successor just takes over the apartment that their predecessor lives in but this was not the case for me. My predecessors apartment (or Jutaku) was so old that it was going to be torn down in the next few years so I was under the impression that the apartment I would be living in would be much newer. NOPE! Wrong-o! My apartment building is forty something years old, and the only thing new were the
tatami mats. It is located in a decently affluent area but at night it gets pretty scary since there are no lights. My apartment is on the third floor, no elevators, no screens, no nada! Sometimes it feels like camping with the heat, the bugs, the smells. The apartment wreaked of new tatami smell but thanks to six or seven air fresheners and fans, the smell was gone in a few days. My predecessor didn't leave me with a bed so I was left bedless for a week or so. That is, until I bought my BLACK DOUBLE FUTON from Don Quijote! Best purchase yet! Yes, it's a futon so that means I sleep ON the floor. I figured since I already have 3 tatami rooms, a gas stove, a gas furo, and ceilings so low my Dad couldn't come in, that I'd go all out! Why not, I'm embracing this experience and getting in touch with my roots. Plus, Costco was too expensive to deliver a REAL bed. So here it is!! Come on in!
The entrance to my apartment.
Don't let that shiny coat of paint fool you, it's completely rusted and 'nastied out' on the other side.
Ahh the bedroom. This would be my DOUBLE BLACK FUTON from Don Q.
Kitchen.
The door leads to my balcony, which holds my washer, which is currently broken. Home sweet home. This will conclude Jutaku part 1. Pictures of my dressing room, living room, and bathroom will be included in part 2!
Another first! My very first time at a Japanese festival (other than the Honpa Hongwanji Bon Dance in Hawaii). This was Yukuhashi's yearly festival, filled with food booths and fireworks, all along the river. It seemed like the whole town was there. The firework show seemed to go on forever, it was a huge production! Good food, nice people, and beautiful fireworks, what more could you ask for?
The entrance to my apartment.
Ahh the bedroom. This would be my DOUBLE BLACK FUTON from Don Q.
Kitchen.
As soon as I stepped foot onto the 8th floor of the Kencho building (Private Schools Divisions of the Fukuoka Government) I was told I would need an inkan if I wanted anything in this country. I had no idea what they were talking about but in between their broken English and a few recognizable Japanese words I kept hearing 'inkan, inkan, impooo-tant'. So later that day, supervisor took me to a stamp shop that would make me my inkan! At first I was rather excited but then I realized that my last name would have to be used (rather than my middle name, which IS Japanese). My supervisor informed me that my inkan would have to be in Katakana rather than Kanji. I hesitantly wrote my name バーゲット on a piece of paper then handed it to the worker. He looked confused but up for the challenge. The next day my inkan was finished and I was able to 'stamp' and sign important documents regarding working in Japan. I was also able to sign up for Yahoo BB (Internet), and get my iPhone! Gotta love that inkan!
