So....I'm here in Akita, finally. The trip here wasn't half bad (besides missing my train and having to sit in non-reserved seats, which are no different from the reserved ones). The apartment is awesome. I'll make sure to attach pics of it real soon, in the coming blogs.

But, what I really want to go over now are two things. My first night in Akita, and my first class.

-- My First Night --

After arriving in Akita and getting everything figured out with my apartment, my PS (Performance Supervisor...aka boss) had me meet up with a few other teachers. The night culminated in meeting with a Japanese salary-man named Sona, though we all call him Elvis. We went out drinking to commemorate the death of Elvis Presley and spent the entire night drinking and singing Elvis' greatest hits. In the course of our drinking we went to two very different bars. One was called "The Duke Room" and the other was called (Insert Name Here...i forgot). In both places I quickly made friends with the bartenders and now feel very comfortable just showing up on my own whenever I feel like it. I was served a lot of Nihon-shu (sake) -- It apparently surprised the Japanese that I liked Nihon-shu and that I could drink so much of it and be completely fine ^_^

-- My First Day of Teaching --

This day did not go as well. Though I managed to get all my errands done in a timely manner (while walking two miles in a typhoon to city hall) the class itself was kind of tough. Both my classes today were filled with "Problem Children." Almost as if the gods were helping my parents get pay back for the hand full that I was....am.....

Suffice to say that both classes left me exhausted. Thought it was nice to go so far out int he countryside and get on and off at a pretty nifty rural station (pics provided).

Anyway, I'll be sure to invest more time in describing my apartment and Akita when I feel like it...since right now I just don't feel like it....so there :P