“The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final ste

the week of august 2-6

What a busy week in Omagari, if every week could be like this, I could live in this place for awhile. I have started to meet other foreigners in the area, some work for the JET program while a few others work for various English-teaching companies. I have also started to get more familiar with the town I live in , I can find the grocery store, hardware store, restaurants, bank, etc without issue. I also have been introduced to the local hang out, the Rush Bar, where I feel ill spend many a weekends. Most of the people I have met have been here for a number of years and there are two benefits of befriending these people. One they can tell you the in’s and outs of living abroad and two they truly understand your situation. They remember what is was like to move to a new country with the unfamiliarity that accompanies these types of situations. When you see the happiness that these people exude on their experience here, you can only be optimistic that you too will soon be one of them.

I spent a good part of the week going to dinner and out on the town. I had korean bbq for the first time which was delicious and went to the Rush bar as well for the first time. The beer selection is not to bad for a beer snob like me, hoegarden, bass, corona, and some great local beers.

I spent the weekend going into Akita city, I took a bus in Saturday with some students from my high school for the seventh Japanese - American Symposium, the purpose of the event was to bring the relationship between Japan and America closer. The students were invited to listen to a series of lectures and participate in a panel to encourage study abroad. My students had the opportunity to present a video they made on the various practices of a Japanese high school. Although I am partial , I have to say their video was excellent, no only because I was doing a voice over for it, but because the student who edited the video has a natural talent for such things. I then took a bus into the downtown area of the city where I was able to meet up with a friend. It was my second time in Akita City, but my first time really experiencing what it had to offer. It felt good to be in a city, to be surrounded by people, to shop, eat, and sightsee. There are also a number of foreigners in the city including other JET’s , so it was a comfort to meet others in the program. i left with a massive hangover and sleep deprivation but it was well worth it!