Through the Mist; Getting to Mori

Let's play catch up shall we? As you can tell I am writing about events a couple days behind. I will try my darnedest to get it all done while its semi-fresh, although there is ALOT to talk about. So lets get to it.

Leaving Tokyo
So my last day in Tokyo began early. My dear roommate was leaving at a shocking 7:10 AM and I really wanted to have breakfast with her. I also really wanted to see the other Kansas girls before I left and I figured that being up early would give me more time to look for them. I parted with my roommate and went up to grab my bags---let me backtrack and describe something I failed to mention in the previous post.
Our hotel was HUGE. We were in room 1723---and the hotel's rooms went up into the 40s and had two towers. There was a room open 24 hours for computer use and ironing (I used that) and a room open 24 hours for skype (had to be under three minutes though) for JETs only. The support for both the JETs and the JET Programe was AMAZING. They really took care of us, and everything was on a tight schedule. There was only limited time we had to explore Tokyo and most of that was in the evenings. So when they said to be there at 8:15 or they would leave you, they meant it. Seriously. So I was super paranoid about being on time, which was yet another reason to be up early. I can be a bit of a bear in the morning so the more time I had to wake up the better off I am.
We had to leave our bags in a room the night before, so all we had to carry was our carry-on (for those taking buses or planes) and our personal item. We had a few minutes to shove things (like PJs) into our checked luggage at the airport. Anyway, all of our Hokkaido group made it, and as we were marching to the bus, one of the girls from Kansas called my name I was able to say good bye and give her a hug. Marching out into the heat we boarded the bus for Hanada airport (the domestic airport in Tokyo) on our way finally to our destination.
Waiting in line at Hanada Airport to drop off our luggage. I was one kilo over weight but they let me slide. Look at the man who's job is to carry the 'end of line is here' sign.

And here is the plane I wish I went to Hokkaido on......

And my last taste of Starbucks. The only one in Hokkaido is in Sapporo. I had Dark Orange Mocha Frapp . I got orange sprinkles. Happiness.

And so I got on the plane and sat next to two absolutely great people who, by chance or design, are very close neighbors of mine. Hopefully, once things are a little more settled and they get their net (by sheer dumb luck I got to keep my pred's internet--who knows how long that will last) we can meet up. We talked the whole time, about previous Japan adventures and what we think our classes might be like. I had discovered that I would have to take a four hour car ride to get to Mori so I expressed my worries about the car ride to them. They were absolutely great at settling my fears and encouraging me. I was extremely nervous about my level of Japanese and my Supervisor's level of English and the potential for awkward silences. As I mentioned in the previous post, I was fidgeting over everything, especially my clothes, for my first meeting. First impressions are lasting impressions and they are extremely important in every culture, Japan is no exception to that rule. In fact they take first impressions very seriously. But my two seat mates were great at relaxing me and we laughed it up.
Here is my first view of Hokkaido.

And here is the welcome banner that, erm, welcomed me to Hokkaido.


And then, all of sudden, it was there. That moment of separation from my fellow Hokkaido JETs and the beginning of my very own path, one that no one else tread on but me. People, nervous was an understatement. And I can't tell you how immensely relieved I was when this foreign girl approached me with my supervisor. My poor, tired pred, who came straight from HEC camp, had come to meet me at the airport with my supervisor. Honestly, I can not, can never, thank her enough for the lifeline that was her mere presence at the airport. Could I have met my supervisor alone, yes, I could have. I am a big girl and like to think that I could have handled it, but frankly; with exhaustion lingering from jet-lag and my stretched nerves, having her there was a blessing. My supervisor can't speak very much English and with my brain fried, having my pred translate was awesome.

We had a four hour car ride from Sapporo to Mori. My sweet sweet supervisor was so very terribly excited to show me how wonderful Hokkaido was. So what was suppose to be four hours blended into five cause we did a little sightseeing on the way home. And I fell in love. These pictures don't do it justice.

This was a lake, it was the first lake we went to and the only place we stopped at. Hokkaido at this time is green. Gloriously green and, when it rains, creates a mist that gives it an air of mystery.

At least its mysterious until we came across these. Then it was just plan awesome.

This is me and my supervisor-- with the swan boats.

Here are the mountains we rode though! Dad, Gina what you wouldn't give to ride this!! A-freaking-mazing

Look at this! Sorry that it is so blurry but it was so cool I really wanted to share it-- this water is HOT. Its from hot springs and it was actually steaming! Its rust colored from all the minerals from the underground spring.

And this is at the second lake we went to- it had islands in the middle and it was...it was...I have run out of cool words to describe how beautiful everything was.

And see this! There is STEAM coming out of this mountain---only its not a mountain, its a VOLCANO. And things just got intense, cause yeah, apparently according to my fellow JETs in the town, my volcano is overdue. Yippy skippy. I need to buy a hard hat.

In fact, most of the lakes around here are volcanic craters. This lake has very jagged islands. Absolutely stunning--again, remember a mist hung low all over the entire area, creating this wonderful other worldly atmosphere.

So what was something I had been dreading and worrying about was an unforgettable drive with breath-taking scenery that would satisfy the imagination of any Tolkien fan. I half expected to see elves and centaurs in the forests, frolicking and disappearing into the mist. And it was with this sense of wonderment that I meet Mori and the sea.

Volcanos and the sea! What more could a girl from flat, land-locked Kansas wish for? Next post--let's see what other delights Mori holds when I describe my new town and my new home.