Narita > Hanada Airport > Oita

Thursday, March 19th, 2009, 0630 hours

My first morning waking up in Japan I realized how early the sun comes up (0530). Possibly due to the time change and the absence of daylight savings.

The previous day I had flown into Tokyo-Narita Airport, however, many of the domestic flights in Japan fly out of Hanada Airport which is about 45 minutes to an hour from the Narita Airport by bus.

I was met by a woman (can't remember her name now) from the travel agency and she accompanied me by bus from Narita to Hanada. During the trip we talked about many things, her family, baseball, English instruction, and Sumo. I asked her how much Sumo tickets cost, if they were very expensive and she was unsure of the exact costs. This really bothered her and she seemed extremely distraught that she did not know the prices, like she had failed at her job. I did my best to ensure her that it was fine that she didn't know the approxiamte prices.

Most of the trip, the woman and I were busy in conversation, but occasionally I would glance out the window, or the woman would point out famous landmarks (Tokyo Disney, Electronics factories).

The one common theme I noticed was a sense of over development. From horizon to horizon, there was not a single shade of green. From the elevated highway, all I could see on the ground were roads, rail, buildings and sound barrier walls. A grand mix of grey that reminded of the winter sky in lake-effect weather of West Michigan. From time to time we would pass over a river with clear blue water bordered by thick banks of a very grey world. Like those few blue-sky moments in the fierce and depressing West Michigan winter that emerged from the mass of grey days. The development made me uneasy and worried that I had moved to place of rampart industrialization.

But, I remembered something that I had read in the Power of Myth, a book that covers Bill Moyers interviews with mythologist Joseph Campbell. Campbell talks about the high lack of violence and crime in Japan when compared to many other developed nations, especially the US. He cites continued existence of myths and sacred tradition in Japanese society as main reason for this difference. Bill Moyers responds by asserting just the opposite, that Japan's vast development has destroyed most of the country's sacred tradition. Countering, Campbell explains that, yes there has been an intensity of development in Japan, but the traditional and mythological places of Japan remain and that today they are often found indoors.

Hoping that I would find no other answer, but to agree with Campbell, we continued down the highway past monotone structures of grey existence. We reached the Hanada airport and the woman made sure I had my bording pass and knew how to get to my gate. During our goodbyes she made a very deep bow in my honor which I was not expecting. Little did I know bowing would become part of my daily struggle to fit into Japanese society.

The flight was generally uneventful, except for the woman sitting next to me that held a small purse. The flight attendant came by to instruct her that during take off and landing the purse would need to by placed in the overhead bin (we were in the exit row without any under-the-seat space for carry-on luggage in front of us). But, the flight attendant did not instruct her, she spent 5 minutes apologizing in a very ashamed manner that the bag would have to be placed in the overhead. She exhibited the same kind of manner the travel agent woman did when she did not know the Sumo ticket prices. Nevertheless, the flight continued and within an hour we were in Oita, my new home.

After securing my luggage from the baggage claim I was met by my supervisor, Sonoda Hidemi-San. After a quick bathroom break, I loaded my luggage into our transport van and we headed to Oita City. The ride took about 45 minutes and during the trip, Sonoda-San asked me many questions about my academic background, work history and family. At times, it felt like an interview, but I was able to inquire about Oita and Japan which quelled any feelings of nervousness.

Looking out the window, the terrain in Oita Prefecture (State), was much different from the expansive grey of Narita > Hanada. The roads here were bordered by the greens of natural life. Sonoda-San explained to me that we would go immediately to the Oita City Board of Education Office to take care of some necessary paperwork. Upon arrival, she showed me the basement convenient store where I could get a small lunch meal. We then proceeded to the fourth floor and the BOE office. During my meal in the small office meeting room, Lauren, my predecessor showed up and we exchanged greetings.

Sonoda-San reappeared and asked me if I was ready to give an introduction to the office. "Sure." I responded, but I was not expecting what happened next. In the office there are four groupings of 6 desks crammed into a space of about 2800 square feet. As we turned the corner from the meeting room, I realized that all of the office workers were standing up at their desks all facing the division chief's work station. I was brought to the front of the room next to him, where he presented me with a piece of paper, announced my arrival and requested that I make a brief statement/introduction to the office. I replied with the four simple phrases I knew in Japanese, "Hajimeshite, Jeremy Kinsman desu, Amerika no Georgia kara kimashita, Dozo Yorosku Onegai Shimasu." I made a brief declaration in English which Sonoda-San interpreted. She then introduced me personally to the office employees where I once again struggled with the bowing.

After introductions, I was met by Angelo, a veteran ALT from Portugal. He helped me for the remainder of the day. We went to the bank where I opened an account and the cell phone store. The I-phone has not been able to compete with other high-tech phones in Japan, so the cell phone companies have been offering outrages deals in order to move their Apple stock. Basically I was able to get a free I-phone after signing a service contract.

Following our bureaucratic business, I was taken to my apartment, where I was able to unpack, met the landlady and rested. At night, I went out for my predecessors going away dinner and met the other ALTs in Oita City.

It was difficult to take pictures this day, but if you return soon I will be posting pictures of my apartment and Oita City nights.