crap japanese gets you everywhere

Well the new school term started today and had to make a speech to the whole school in Japanese. Only problem is that I don't speak Japanese. I walked up to the microphone with everyone bogging at the new gaijin (white boy). I couldn't even remember the few lines I had to say, had to refer to my notes and then walked off before bowing (no one told me that I had to bow!). Anyone would say that it was a disaster but they bloody loved it! "ah matt sensei, your speech very good etc etc". Can white people do no wrong in this country? All the students were in school preparing for their sports day and despite being warned about their shy tendencies, they all seemed really confident and friendly. I think I'm gona enjoy teaching here.

Last night went for Yaki Niku (indoor japanese/korean barbecue). Bloody gorgeous! Went out with Pete (fellow first year jet), Dan, Rosie, Christine and Sarah (all second years). I'm looking forward to getting to know them better over the next year. It looks as though we've got a good bunch here in the bright lights of Hagi City and I'm really happy where i've plonked in Japan. I could easily have been in a village in the middle of nowhere with only rice paddies and cockroaches to be my friends.

Sorry nothing too carnage to report yet this week.....yet.

I'm in Japan!!!!!!!!!

Hey up, I've finally got internet in my appartment but I'm going to try and not be a geek and spend my whole life surfing (I've got a beach to do that on!!!)

I've done so much already during the 4/5 weeks of living in Japan but can't be arsed to tell you all yet as the new school term starts tomorrow, involving me making a speech to the whole school in Japanese. I don't speak any of the lingo so need an early night in order to get up and blag it in the morning.

Everything is great at the moment: partaking in a lot of karaoke, drinking and eating mostly. Hagi is a great place to live in and the other Jets are great fun (though I dont think they've seen my true drunken colours yet and we'll see if they're still my friends then).

Highlights so far have been the Isla de Salsa festival on an island off Fukuoka, winning the limbo contest at the Happy Cock nightclub in Fukuoka whilst heavily under the influence and skinny dipping at Hagi beach (though this is not advisable during jellyfish season).

That's it from me for now, I'll leave you with a picture of Hagi beach - Are you jealous?

Don't think I'm not missing everyone though. I had a briliant weekend before I left and here's some photo's (the only sober ones- very rare specimens) For anyone who's wondering, the one with the foot fetish is Greg! Weirdo!