I'm back in Boone after a month of being with my mom in Raleigh on and off, a week at the beach and a week sewing for con filled my month. During my beach trip I got my placement, which is in Izumo city in Shimane-ken. In all honestly its taken a little getting used to, because initially Izumo seems like nothing at all like what I requested/wanted. I feel a little weird about not being initially thrilled about my placement, but as time goes by I anticipate more and more pleasant things about the place. I guess everyone can't be deliriously happy about their placement. I will admit to being a very modernly minded person, and most of my academic interests in Japan lie in the effect of globalization in Japan, which will have much less relevance in Izumo. But a good thing about Shimane-ken is that perhaps I'll have a better understanding of my interests having spent time living in a more traditional culture. But it does seem like a nice enough place, and I'm sure that there will be good things about it that I just can't predict.
So now I'm getting things together and trying to find out more about where I'll be going, the kids I'll be teaching, and what my living situation will be like. I got an Amazon Kindle for my birthday, early, from my mom. That'll eliminate one whole category of things from my packing list leaving me free to bring more of other things. And it'll be very convenient for when I am traveling in Japan. Once again it is striking me how difficult it is to think of the things that I'll need for moving to a different country. And whats immediately important and what can be sent. I guess I really need to hear from my predecessor.
Aaah summer in Boone is making me nostalgic.
