Arrival in Osaka, bullet train to Fukuoka, initial training.

I flew into Kansai/Osaka airport. I was too busy following the instructions I’d been given on how to get to and onto the bullet train, thinking three steps ahead, and double checking everything to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes to notice much around me.

Even years later though, what remains vivid is that the thing that made the largest impression on me travelling on the bullet train from Osaka down to Fukuoka was the number of tunnels and the experience of going through them at such speed. Sunlight, green and blue, black—–. Sunlight, green and blue, black——–. Sunlight, green and blue, black——.
Along with the distinctive sound changes as the high speed train and the air immediately surrounding it flew along open track, followed by the air hitting the entrance to the tunnel, the sound change running through the tunnel, then breaking back into open air.

Sitting inside the train, it was nice and quiet, both from how little sound there was from the actual train running along, and also from other passengers. It was also very smooth. I still remember this, however it’s not am impactful impression like the tunnels though, perhaps because this is how I think the experience should be for a modern, high speed train journey.

After a couple of transfers I made it to Zasshonokuma station, which would be my home station for the next couple of weeks or so, and was met by a company representative. The appearance of the station, or more specifically the big, boxy overpass, would be a major factor in helping me identify which station was my local station years later, when I could no longer remember the name of the station.

Actually, let’s go into detail on that now.

Apart from the aforementioned distinctive boxy overpass, I knew that my local station was on the line which joined with the line to Dazaifu (see the next post for more details on that).

I knew that I would get the train home from Tenjin Station without having to change lines, therefore my station was on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line in the mid section between Tenjin Station and Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi Station.

I felt that Zasshonokuma Station was the best candidate.

As it turned out, I could confirm that using the third photo that I took with my camera (which I bought in Fukuoka!), and Google Maps street view.

Unfortunately the photo I had looked like this:

Fortunately, photo processing software exists.

Still not great, but key is the sign in the bottom right corner.

If we look at Google Maps, we can see in the bottom right the same lettering for a supermarket.

Jumping from there to satellite view, and street view yields the following.

You can just see a small part of the large sign on top of the building which is the sign in my photo above.

Finally, a Google Maps satellite view.

The green circled building was my building, the blue arrow shows the direction I was looking when I took the photo above, and the red circle the foreground building and supermarket in my photo.

Naturally, some of my major introductions to Japanese culture occurred here in Fukuoka.
The ice cream vending machine out the front of my apartment building, which I used multiple times over my short time staying there. The ubiquity and usefulness of the word sumimasen (thanks Adam!). The greatness of supermarket gyoza in terms of both value and deliciousness (thanks again Adam!).

I found for me, the best way to cement new language in my memory was to use it – for it to be necessary or useful in everyday life. I quickly learned how to say “How much is this?” kore wa ikura desuka? これはいくらですか, and “Does this train stop at (my station)?” zasshonokuma eki ni tomarimasuka? 雑餉隈駅に止まりますか

I was in Fukuoka for initial training, and there was no easing into it.
After a couple of times observing more experienced teachers, it was my turn to teach a class.
As with learning in life in general, observing others gives valuable insight into both what works well, and what does not.
As someone who dreads making preventable mistakes, the first time I was solely in charge of a class I was anxious beforehand, however, thanks at least in part to the observations I had done, any initial anxiety I may have had was quickly replaced by absolute focus once the lesson got underway.

I got a good introduction to the general helpfulness of the populace when I was going to a new location to teach at a different school in order to gain exposure to a variety of students and situations. I had instructions on how to get there, and followed them to the letter only to find myself on a bus about to head over some large bridges which I was sure was not the correct way to go.
I got off the bus and asked a couple of surveyors for some assistance regarding location and directions. They proceeded to help me by driving me all the way to my destination.