::@:: Reality of Dreams ::@::

So lets see, the trip down south was long but made bearable by my parents. Heathrow was busy and the security measures which were still in place caused a bit of havoc with my laptop bag. After waiting for about an hour, probably a bit less, in one of the security tents my parents and I queued in the manual check in which thankfully was quite short. The helpful lady told me it would cost me £2000 to get an upgrade to economy plus so I elected not to upgrade so she did her best and got me a seat with only one other person beside me. So after bidding farewell to my parents I made my way through the security check in which took about half an hour. I then spent nearly two hours wondering the shops of the departure lounge. I even gave in and got myself a digital camera so I can record my trip (I will try and upload photos as soon as I can).

As for the flight, well the lady I was sitting beside was moved by the cabin staff as a connecting flight hadn’t made it and they thought only fair on the both of us as I was only barely fitting… not that the absence of a neighbour did much for my room, 11 hours with a tv with bad picture quality and a remote that didn’t work meant I only saw one movie and spent the rest of the time listening to  music or trying to sleep but since I only had two inches from my crossed arms t the back of the reclined chair infront I didn’t get any sleep.

Anyway, I eventual arrive late due to heathrow problems and met up with my first contact of the new job at just around noon (Tokyo time), I think he was a member rather than staff. I then spent two hours in the car with him both of us trying to make conversation. After a mid-journey food stop (in which I tasted a rather nice doughy thingy which I should get the name of) I get to Shinjuku, which looks, well, city like. Where I meet a couple more people and find out where I am staying. Its now 4pm Tokyo time, I’ve had a shower I’m alone in the house which, by the way, I am sharing with a small family from the church (most of whom don’t speak English except one of the boys and his English is only really starting I think) and I’ve managed to email my parents however because I really have no idea where I am, and thusly don’t know where I can phone from, I cannot even really try to phone them until after I meet the main rep at 5pm. Tomorrow I meet the other teachers and the fun really begins.

I am this close to a panic attack as it all suddenly dons on me what I have got myself into. I do not think I will be able to cope, not on my own strength. Also the humidity is mind bogglingly strength sapping.

Its now 2030 over here… its still muggy and warm and my meeting with the rep went okay a nice person but I think we are going to clash on some theological points which may effect my stay here. I don’t think it will result in me coming home early but it may change what I teach. I need to think log and hard tonight which is not easy as I’m currently going through an emotional rollercoaster from high to lows in less time than it takes the Bush administration to cry “terrorist plot”.

I’ll keep you all posted as much as I can.

Missing you all.