Sam's in Hokkaido!

So I'm finally here!! I'm writing from my very own apartment (after a distressing internet situation thankfully now rectified) and am still practically bouncing despite being here for almost 48 hours!

After flying to New Chitose airport, I met my supervisors (they are looking after my first few days/weeks, setting up bank accounts and the like)-and had a semi-interesting ride home, talking about hobbies and families. Stopped in to have Soba for lunch-when my dish came out I nearly did a backflip-it was huuuge! I was never going to finish it, and didn't. Ran into some other JETs at the same restaurant, such a strange coincidence!

Went to the Board of Education to meet my co-workers, but most of them are on Summer holidays so I only met a handful (of which, I've already forgotten names..). After that I went to my apartment!!!! I'm a little bit in love with it-it's quite big as far as JET apartments go-I've even got a spare room! There's an office/study, lounge/dining room, kitchen, laundry, bathroom, bedroom and entrance hallway (all this for $173??? Insane!) I didn't get time to explore, but had to dump my stuff and go shopping for groceries. An armful of goodies later and my fridge and cupboard are full with yummy Japanese ingredients (and some emergency chocolate!) Had about an hour to myself after that, and then was invited to a bbq-style meal with my neighbour, who also works at the Board of Education. The bbq style is called ghengis khan, and is apparently very popular in Hokkaido. It involves cooking meat and vegetables on a grate over coal, and is delicious. After beer, wine and shouchu (potato-derived alcohol) I returned to my apartment only to stay up until 2am re-arranging and decorating my new home (sticking up maps and photos-of which I probably should have bought more print-outs!) After I was satisfied that the place felt a little more 'mine', I went to bed in my DOUBLE BED!!

Woke up relatively early this morning, and had vegemite on toast for breakfast (slightly burnt, but still nostalgically tasty) and had the morning to myself to further explore every nook and cranny of my apartment. Found a whole bunch of English movies, which I'm sooo thankful for-it will be nice to understand my tv for a change! Also found a mammoth bookshelf with an infinite amount of English novels and teaching materials, and a plethora of sticky-notes left by my predecessor to help me out with things like the washing machine, microwave, etc.

I was treated to lunch today at a local ramen restaurant with my co-workers from the BOE (Board of Education). I had to sit with my legs folded under me, and owwww my feet have never hurt so much in my life!!! Plus I had no shoes or socks on, when the other ladies were wearing stockings so I felt embarassingly awkward.

I went on a tour of the town (also went yesterday but took a different route today), saw the post office and got introduced to the staff, then saw the pool and the town look out. Came back in time for another shopping trip to the grocery store!

I had the afternoon to myself and finnnnnallly worked out how to set up the internet, and now feel a little less lonely! I had dinner, which was a dish cooked by my neighbour, then went around my apartment block and introduced myself/handed out freddo frogs to the kiddies.

And now I'm off to bed after another fantastic day!!