Longevity in Ogimi

Ogimi is known for its elderly citizens. Okinawa in general prides its longevity rates, and Ogimi has the highest percentage of men and women over 100 for its small population (3,500).

Here are a couple of links i found about their "secrets" to long life.

From GlobalAging.com
From Okinawan Cuisine

Another link added

Grading mediocre exams is really the worst possible job in the world. Well, perhaps i'm exagerating, but what if i tell you that the average temperature in the building classrooms is 80 degrees? It's painful, is what it is.

Anyways, on to JET news. Was contacted by a Prefectural Advisor today through e-mail. So more resources for me on Okinawa. He pointed me to a handy dandy website designed specifically for and by the Okinawa JETs. So check it out, and feel jelous at how gorgeous my new home will be. *evil grin*

itsy bitsy uptdates

Gabrielle is the woman who is currently the ALT at Ogimi. She extended her contract to another 2 years (that's after 3 years already spent there), so I'll be working with her and with the English sensei (teacher). Really happy about that. She has a car and will be able to show me the island before i get any sort of transport of my own. A red scooter!! That'd be fly! he he...i don't say "fly" very often.

Ogimi Village

Got an e-mail today from an ALT whose position I will be taking over. She writes to me from the village of Ogimi in the northern part of Okinawa's main island. Have a link to it; it has a few pictures of the village. It's worth checking out the website, "Wonder Okinawa." It's beautifully done and has tons of information about the islands, their culture, and nature.

boy, am i nervous. :)

So it's Okinawa

First post.
Very exciting.
I hope this blog will serve as a tool for me to effectively communicate with everyone about my experience as a JET participant during the 2005-06 contract year.

Found out today that I've been assigned to work in Okinawa, a chain of islands southwest of the Japan's main islands. Okinawa has a rich and unique history and looks as a paradise. So i'm very excited and slightly nervous; and really looking forward to it all.

First things first: i'll put up some links about the JET program and Okinawa and will add more as i discover them myself.