I'm going to Joetsu!

So the other day I recieved a very official-looking document in the mail whose envelope was plastered with Japanese: it contained my contract and notification of my placement at a senior high school in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Hooray! I have a destination!!

I soon was not only hooraying but getting steadily more excited as everything I found out about the city and the school convinced me that I have landed what for me must be the closest thing to a perfect placement.

Joetsu is a small coastal city of c. 200,000 people, set within Niigata Prefecture which has over 25% of its land area devoted to National Parks. The area is famous for mountains (and skiing), some of the best cherry blossom viewing in Japan, and sake (rice wine). The Takada district of Joetsu lies inland and is the histroical heart of the town. It is home to the restored Takada Castle, which lies within the lily-pond and cherry-tree flanked surrounds of Takada Park, just down the road from my school!

Check out this promotional video for Joetsu:

The school itself is a "Super Science School", meaning they have two streams of students, one doing the general course, and one doing a science-focused course. I found an English flier about the school online which also lists the school clubs...among the usual assortment of sports and cultural subjects (including an English club) they have a Geoscience Club. Gee, I wonder why I got sent to this school...

My school

All in all it looks like a fantastic place and I'm am REALLY looking forward to settling in there and getting involved with the school and the community, and taking in the nature trails!

Oh yeah, and every year the Niigata JETs put on a charity musical...is this place me or what?!