I bought my plane tickets today also, so I thought I would put them up so you'll know where I'll be.
United Airlines
Flight: UA7776
Depart: Nashville, US (BNA)
21-Mar-10 (Sun) 06:29a
Arrive: Chicago OHare International Apt, US (ORD)
21-Mar-10 (Sun) 08:14a
Flight Time: 01hr 45min
All Nippon Airways
Flight: NH11 overnight flight
Depart: Chicago OHare International Apt, US (ORD)
21-Mar-10 (Sun) 10:45a
Arrive: Tokyo Narita Apt, JP (NRT)
22-Mar-10 (Mon) 02:00p arrives next day
Flight Time: 12hr 15min
I've been looking around the websites for United Airlines and All Nippon Airways and it looks like both of them have some sort of flight tracker, though it won't be relevant until it starts updating a day or so before I leave. But you might be able to check throughout the day once I'm up in the air and track the plane as it makes its way across the arctic.
Alright, I think that's it for now.
See you soon!
24 February, 2010
23 February, 2010
Late-February News
Hey guys :)
Well, I haven't updated in a while because there hasn't been a ton of new information, but I did find out some more things recently so here we go with a short briefing.
It is definite now that I will be in Niigata-shi, and that I will be leaving Huntsville on March 21st to arrive in Tokyo, Japan on March 22. There, I'll have four days of orientation and training while staying at the Narita View Hotel. Then I'll be given a ticket and shown to a train station where I'll make my way north to Niigata. I'll be met by someone either with Interac or someone from the local community who knows English and can help me out with getting a cell phone, a Japanese bank account, how to turn on the heat, that sort of thing. There will probably be further training when I get to the Board of Education in Niigata and get my assigned schools and that sort of thing.
I had to get a TB test recently (it came back negative), and I'm getting an international driver's license as well as my visa, since my Certificate of Eligibility came in the mail recently. I actually won't be dealing with the Nashville Consulate, either, because Alabama is under the jurisdiction of the Atlanta Consulate. And I will definitely agree with something Lauren mentioned one time: when you get passport photos taken, go ahead and get about six of them. You'll need them.
Other than that, mostly I'm just preparing to leave and wrapping up things at work since I let my managers and some of my co-workers know that I'm leaving. It's surreal to think that a month from today I'll be back in Japan. I guess it's about time to start packing!
More soon. Thanks for reading!
Well, I haven't updated in a while because there hasn't been a ton of new information, but I did find out some more things recently so here we go with a short briefing.
It is definite now that I will be in Niigata-shi, and that I will be leaving Huntsville on March 21st to arrive in Tokyo, Japan on March 22. There, I'll have four days of orientation and training while staying at the Narita View Hotel. Then I'll be given a ticket and shown to a train station where I'll make my way north to Niigata. I'll be met by someone either with Interac or someone from the local community who knows English and can help me out with getting a cell phone, a Japanese bank account, how to turn on the heat, that sort of thing. There will probably be further training when I get to the Board of Education in Niigata and get my assigned schools and that sort of thing.
I had to get a TB test recently (it came back negative), and I'm getting an international driver's license as well as my visa, since my Certificate of Eligibility came in the mail recently. I actually won't be dealing with the Nashville Consulate, either, because Alabama is under the jurisdiction of the Atlanta Consulate. And I will definitely agree with something Lauren mentioned one time: when you get passport photos taken, go ahead and get about six of them. You'll need them.
Other than that, mostly I'm just preparing to leave and wrapping up things at work since I let my managers and some of my co-workers know that I'm leaving. It's surreal to think that a month from today I'll be back in Japan. I guess it's about time to start packing!
More soon. Thanks for reading!
03 February, 2010
Placement
Well hello!
This probably won't be a terribly long update, but this concerns the next stage of my journey to Japan. I received a phone call from Interac's Tokyo branch tonight regarding my placement. The way placement works with Interac is that when they find a location open to hiring me on as a teacher as well as being a place that fits my preferences, they call and offer it to me as an option. I can decline if I decide it doesn't look favorable but the longer I take to decide, the more difficult it becomes to place me.
I've been offered a position teaching elementary schoolers (possibly junior high as well but likely only elementary) in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. I'll be towards the north of the central island, up in the mountains, and I will definitely be seeing four seasons! Niigata is known as "Snow Country" and the prefecture is famous for its onsen (Japanese hot spring resorts) and its ski resorts! Please excuse the prevalence of wikipedia, but you might find this to be an informative link. Also, I will be fairly close to a shinkansen (bullet train) station, and apparently it's only about a 2 hour's ride to Tokyo. Niigata is on the coast of the Sea of Japan, so it looks like fresh seafood should be available and they also produce a lot of rice locally. The prefecture is also known for its flowers; namely azaleas, tulips, and lilies.
I've also been notified that I will be driving while in Japan, so the company will be assisting me with the rental of a car (helpful with driving to ski resorts). I'll have at least 2 schools, and the average number of schools is about 5, so I can expect to be traveling between about that many schools. There are quite a few other Interac teachers living in Niigata City as well as nearby Sanjo City, and apparently they get together every so often and have a great time, so I'm looking forward to the camaraderie.
After looking over the information I could find about the city and the prefecture, I've decided to accept this placement, so that's where I'll be living in two months! I'm really excited; it sounds like a great place to live and you're all welcome to come check out the skiing with me!
I'll be receiving an email soon with more information, so expect more updates in the next few days! As always, thanks for sticking with me!
This probably won't be a terribly long update, but this concerns the next stage of my journey to Japan. I received a phone call from Interac's Tokyo branch tonight regarding my placement. The way placement works with Interac is that when they find a location open to hiring me on as a teacher as well as being a place that fits my preferences, they call and offer it to me as an option. I can decline if I decide it doesn't look favorable but the longer I take to decide, the more difficult it becomes to place me.
I've been offered a position teaching elementary schoolers (possibly junior high as well but likely only elementary) in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. I'll be towards the north of the central island, up in the mountains, and I will definitely be seeing four seasons! Niigata is known as "Snow Country" and the prefecture is famous for its onsen (Japanese hot spring resorts) and its ski resorts! Please excuse the prevalence of wikipedia, but you might find this to be an informative link. Also, I will be fairly close to a shinkansen (bullet train) station, and apparently it's only about a 2 hour's ride to Tokyo. Niigata is on the coast of the Sea of Japan, so it looks like fresh seafood should be available and they also produce a lot of rice locally. The prefecture is also known for its flowers; namely azaleas, tulips, and lilies.
I've also been notified that I will be driving while in Japan, so the company will be assisting me with the rental of a car (helpful with driving to ski resorts). I'll have at least 2 schools, and the average number of schools is about 5, so I can expect to be traveling between about that many schools. There are quite a few other Interac teachers living in Niigata City as well as nearby Sanjo City, and apparently they get together every so often and have a great time, so I'm looking forward to the camaraderie.
After looking over the information I could find about the city and the prefecture, I've decided to accept this placement, so that's where I'll be living in two months! I'm really excited; it sounds like a great place to live and you're all welcome to come check out the skiing with me!
I'll be receiving an email soon with more information, so expect more updates in the next few days! As always, thanks for sticking with me!
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