japan + first impressions

made it to tokyo safe and sound. it was a l-o-n-g flight, i think the longest individual one i've ever been on but it was okay. dont have much to say yet cause i arrived to the hotel after dark so haven't seen a real good view yet. everyone seems to be nice so far from the company. i will meet more people in a bit at training. i hope to sneak in a little exploring too. i love japanese style -especially the way people dress - everyone is so interesting to look at, it's definitely a treat for the eyes; colors, textures, things different eras, combos i would never think of, fancy, casual, dressy mixed with laid back, etc. i really like it!

last night i had mos burger which i guess is like japan mcdonalds. i will admit i am a bit more intimidated about ordering and buying things here compared my other travels but that will pass, i know cause i gotta buy stuff and eat :P (and bonus cause that hamburger was pretty good).

stress + anxiety

oh my gosh... i will be headed to the airport tomorrow in 27 hours. eeeekkksss! i am freaking out as of course, i am not done packing... lots to do today on my last whole day in oregon for a while!

had lots and lots of fun having dinner with some friends and bottomless fries at red robin last night and also hanging out at sandy hut with friends and playing some mean games of shuffle board! ok gotta get back to bizness and pack! 

tokyo + tiempo

oh by the way: here is a ticker of tokyo time if you are curious what time it is where i will be. 

+ 16 from pacific standard. pretty nuts!

last few days in oregon + packing

ok... i really did start packing today. it ain't gonna be easy but it can (and will) be done. i am feeling pretty good about my wardrobe. i actually ended up getting almost all new clothes due to needing professional/dressy attire and fresh stuff for casual/weekend. it is a little overwhelming packing for a long period of time and since i am headed to a country where mostly everyone has a very different body type than me (height/shape/size wise), i am not counting on being able to just pick something up if i decide i need it - that just might not be an option over there (from what i have read online, not only are sizes hard to find but they are also very expensive).

today i got home from a little one nighter trip at the coast 

with my mom. we left yesterday afternoon and headed to eugene where i got to pick up some old favorite foods of mine from my college days (burritos at burrito boy for lunch and a take-out pizza from bene (for dinner)) all i can say is yummm. 

then we drove over to florence and up the good ol' oregon coast all the way to our family beach house in pacific city. it was gorgeous weather (with only a few showery spots) and two of the brightest rainbows we've ever seen. it was a nice way to  spend some of my last oregon time with my ma. i also picked up salt water taffy that i am taking over as gifts. apparently if you come empty handed it is a very big no-no as gift giving is a very big deal there. it doesnt really matter what it is, just the act of it. i hope i got enough! 

this week is final errands, organizations, packing, money getting, etc. i can't quite believe i fly so soon!

visa + plane ticket

well... it is all set in stone. today i ran by the japanese consulate and picked up my shiny visa sticker in my passport. i also used a super-cheap discount travel site to buy my airfare. so yes, it is indeed, officially happening. march 29th, 2009, 2:25 pm i will board northwest flight 5 and being the 10 hour flight over the pacific to tokyo where this whole adventure will really take off.

still no new words on placement but please cross your fingers for somewhere fun with great schools, hopefully no need for a car and maybe with easy connections to some of the other nice cities in japan. 

OMG it's all happening!!! =D

photo just because i heart hello kitty!

portland japanese consulate + my visa application

my paperwork is now being processed. yay! should be back to me next week sometime. it's all becoming a reality now... i am getting a little nervous but still very excited. lots to take care of. 

2 weeks till i go!!! 

portland, oregon - noelle

well, my take-off is fast approaching. everything seems to be in order for my departure to japan. i still don't know what city i will be in yet or the details of my teaching position. if i don't find out before training, i will arrive in tokyo and do work there (either office or teaching assignments) until a position opens up elsewhere and then i would be off to wherever they put me. i would love to be in tokyo for more than just a weekend so i am okay with this plan, technically i would be considered an alternate.

last night i got an email saying my required visa paperwork was fedex-ed from tokyo. it should arrive tomorrow (it was in alaska when i tracked it today). i then take it (along with an application, a photo and my passport) to the portland japanese consulate where they process the actual working visa i will need in japan. i guess it is just a stamp in my passport. the timeline for all of this was getting down to the wire. this paperwork wasn't slated to arrive until next week so now i feel ahead of schedule! since it was such a tight timeframe, i haven't bought my airline ticket yet. after i drop my application off and know how long that process should take, i will buy my flight. the one i have been eyeing is a direct one-way on northwest leaving on march 29th. only 9.5 hours long!!! i keep telling my mom she could be there in only a half day if she really needed to see me. ok, so it isn't as easy as cruising down i-5 for a quick eugene visit but it could be done if necessary, right? ;)

p.s. - i am going to miss that beautiful view of mt. hood!