Fukuoka....finally!

My volunteer partner Samantha and I had a flight this morning from the Haneada airport just outside Tokyo that delivered us to Fukuoka! We managed the complicated subway/monorail system out of Tokyo without too much trouble. When we arrived, I was met by "Ka-na-da!" (Japanese teenagers noticing the Canadian flag on my bag) and Yano san, our Lattitude Global Volunteering Host here in Iizuka. We drove about 40 minutes into Iizuka and he took us directly to the Iizuka hospital where we will be volunteering for the next 6 months. I was told to give a little speech to the staff. It consisted of most of the Japanese I currently know:

 "Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Olivia desu. Ugh....Kanada-jin desu....Err...Ugh...Nihon-go [insert hand sign for "little bit" made by the thumb and first finger]. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu". 

"Nice to meet you. I'm Olivia. Ugh...Canadian. Err..ugh...Japanese [motion meaning a little bit]. I hope to build a good relationship with you."

I received a round of applause so I must have done something right! :D

To add to the list of Japanese I know are "kawaii": cute and "oishii": it's delicious!

Yano san then took us grocery shopping and BOY am I glad he came with us. "Yano san...what is this? Yano san...can I even eat this!? Yano san....help!" Now I have a decent supply of things to eat. :) I was also introduced to a lovely Japanese woman who owns a restaurant nearby to the hospital. I'm very excited to eat there.

Finally, Yano san brought us to our apartments where we will be staying for the next six months! I find it of perfect size and am very content with it.  This is the entrance. Directly to the right is the bathroom, to the left just inside the door is the kitchen and straight through is my room.

Now, sleep. This weekend will be project unpack, explore and study Japanese (I have to give another speech on Monday for my first day and I've got loads of room for improvement from my first majorly failed attempt).