Welcome To The Apartment-Ohtawara

I've delayed posting the concluding part of my first teaching day at school until I can find the photos to go along with it.
In the mean time, here's a few shots of my apartment: 307 Zuiko Haitsu in Ohtawara, Japan.
Unlike most people on the JET Programme who spent time in Japan, I did not have a small apartment. It's not to say I was treated better or worse than others on my program, it's... okay, maybe I was treated better.
The OBOE was pretty liberal. By that I mean they were not strict, and pretty much allowed me free reign in how I chose to live my life. And that was appreciated.
As an example, I began growing my hair during my second year, and eventually had it down past my shoulder blades, though I did keep it tidy in a pony-tail. one of my fellow AET friends told me that it was suggested by his board of education that he get a hair cut, as it was getting kind of long. It was just past the back of his shirt collar.
Heck, along with the pony-tail, by my third year I had an earring and a beard... I still recall one of the OBOE women coming up to me and telling me in Japanese that I looked cool, and all of the other men and women there nodded their head emphatically in agreement.
I did have a wonderful rife in Japan - as I hope you will continue to discover - but it certainly helped that the OBOE helped create a healthy work and living situation for me.
Anyhow, enough melodrama... check out some pics of my apartment by clicking HERE. By the way... did I mention that my rent for a 3-bedroom, LDK with two balconies, fully furnished place cost me the equivalent of $300 a month?
I did okay.
Somewhere scanning photos wishing I had digital camera in Japan.
Andrew Joseph
Title is a parody of the great Eagle's tune: Hotel California.