Things you should DEFINITELY pack...

Onły 3 days to go and the serious packing has begun! 

And of course, here's a few out of the many items my mum has given me to take, because "They are absolutely essential... Particularly the squeezy marmite!"

For those who don't know the last item is a neck cushion for the plane! 

I feel much more prepared now... D:

Peppy Kids Club/ Teacher profile!

I've noticed I haven't really said much about the company I will be working for...

The company is called iTTTi Japan (Peppy Kids Club). They run a series of English language classrooms across Japan. Their lessons are after school classes, so I will be teaching from the afternoon onward, which is great because I am definitely NOT a morning person!

The job doesn't require you to have any previous teaching experience (although it certainly is an advantage), but you do need to have a university qualification and have English as your native language. 

For those without any teaching experience, don't worry! The first 2 weeks are intense training, to help prepare you for the job. I highlight the word 'intense' because I haven't even started yet and I've already heard horror stories of how tough it can be! 17 hour days... got that to look forward to aaagh! But in the end it'll be worth it, I'm not letting it put me off!!

I won't waffle on too much. For anyone interested, the company's website is:

http://www.ittti.com/index.html 

Anyway! As further preparation for the job, I've been asked to create a 'teacher profile'- something every teacher has to make for the kids and their parents to look at and think "they may not speak Japanese but they sure can Photoshop!"

Here is mine so far...

snazzy, right?

The profiles are supposed to include pictures and little quotes in English, and be colourful and eye catching! The white gaps will have text and a copy of my ID card eventually.

Well, that's it for now!

I'll be on the plane this time next week ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Ahoy Hiroshima!

Yesterday I found out my placement after training is going to be HIROSHIMA! This is very exciting, not only is the city thriving with it's history and culture, but it is in a beautiful location. Lovely southern weather and surrounded by mountains and sea- fantastic!

For those of you who, like me, are pretty clueless about the geography of Japan (brilliant considering I'm moving there in 2 weeks), I have circled Hiroshima on the map below.

Image from nationsonline.org

In other news, I have now left my job in customer service (hurray!), and it is exactly 2 weeks until I leave for Japan. The nerves are definitely kicking in now...