Visa Run

I went to Japan last week to pick up my visa. Japan was shockingly amazing, so I wish I could have stayed longer than 1 day. Fukuoka is about 3 hours by ferry from Busan. Its a great city, and different in many ways from Korea.

Coming from Korea I was struck by how modern and clean and cosmoplitan it was. Not that Korea is really backward or dirty or old fashioned, but it just isn't up to the same level as Japan as far as those things go. Japan has much more varied and interesting architecture, both modern and old. I was surprised by the "euro-style" building, I guess built in the early 20th century. Bicycles were very common compared to here, which added to the european, to my eyes, look. Canal city, a huge mall was quite a revalation, totally different from anything I've seen like that before. It was terraced, outside and in, in circular domes, overlooking an inner courtyard. Something you couldn't really have in Canada because its so exposed to the weather.

People in Japan also are much better at English, and appear less amazed by foreigners, either that, or they're just more reserved than Koreans, who not infrequently giggle and point to the funny looking foreigners as you go along, and the kids here often yell out "hello!" as you pass by, seemingly quite amused.

Japanese people smoke more, and in more public places. Everything is more expensive, though not outrageous, and food is cheap. Certainly not cataclysmic like people make it sound. Eight dollar orange juice? no. Maybe I was just in the wrong part of town. Perhaps in Tokyo it gets more so. Fukuoka had a busy airport constantly streaming traffic.

I met a couple of Canadians and an American there. The one guy seemed bitter about Korea, although he's lived there for 5 years. Seems to think they're quite incompetent, and full of themselves. If only they'd have the sense to follow the German way. The American was also kind of annoying, he was pretty full of himself, and crude. Not that I mind crudeness usually, but he really took it to another level. Also, he was a totally incompetent jackass, who said he knew where our hotel was, but he didn't actually. So we wound up walking in circles for two agonizing hours. Plus the first thing he wanted to do was eat at McDonald's, which seemed kind of lame. However, the remaining Canadian was nice, and not totally self absorbed. Thank goodness. I managed to ditch the ones I didn't like, and had a good time walking around Fukuoka on my own, which is one of the things I best like doing really.

Now I begin working, today was my first day. Went pretty well. I was able to muddle through despite being quite unprepared. My morning class seems to require more energy than the afternoon. Afternoon is split between good classes, and potentially annoying ones. Last week during my shadowing it was halloween, so i didn't really get to observe the classes as they are usually taught. Cathy helped out with some hints as to what I should do, so once I get the books straightened out, I should be good, as long as I can keep a lid on the discipline. I'll have to be vigilant not to let things get out of hand in any of my classes. Fortunately they're still young enough to be intimidated by Xs next to their name on the board.