So it has officially been one month since I landed here in Okayama city and I've settled in nicely, if a little financially challenged. I feel I got lucky in being offered this city. It's beautiful with rivers and gardens everywhere and has just the right amount going on. Tokyo would be fun but overwhelming. This city is nice, very safe as far as catastrophic japanese wether is concerned, and very close to plenty points of interest that I shouldn't ever get bored. I couple weeks ago they held the annual Momotoro festival here which celebrates the boy who brought peaches to the city and made Okayama famous (apparently, during peach season, you can easily spend $30 on one peach the size of your head). The whole festival weekend is filled with dancing performed by hundreds of groups from all around Okayama Prefecture and culminates in a parade that ends with the entire city in the street dancing together for an hour. My friends in America can attest when I say that US teenagers have little to no american cultural pride and often find events like this 'lame'. Not in Japan! The entire event was lead by teenagers and young adults maintaining awe inspiring excitement and enthusiasm all weekend. The people here are simply incredibly proud to be Japanese and they love to celebrate that heritage.
Aside from beautiful scenery and exciting festivals, I did come to Japan with a job to do. 6 days per week, it is my privilege to teach Okayama's brightest 4 year olds in an all english, american style preschool. These are by far the most focused and eager 15 children I have ever seen. They sit through vocabulary, math, science, geography, and spelling lessons without a complaint and are thrilled each Monday when I bring them new words to learn. It is exhausting and I have a newfound understanding of why my mother has always come home each day ready to relax and sleep (she has been a preschool teacher in the states for almost 30 years now). I am slowly but surely falling in love with each student I have, despite certain attention and behavioral issues. Some kids like to fight. What're ya gonna do?
Overall, I am enjoying Japan so far and feel certain I made the right choice in coming here. This is bound to be an exciting ride and I am happy to take you all on it with me. Stay tuned!!
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