The training has started

Hello everyone,

the real training has started on Wednesday. After a welcoming ceremony with a lot of speeches we have had a lot of courses and on-boarding exercises.
My new colleagues are great. We are around 40 people divided in two classes a 5 groups. Following the lecturer is really hard for me because it is all Japanese, but so far it has all been very interesting. Group work is even harder, I usually cant contribute to the effort at all. Even if I understand what we war supposed to be doing the discussion is going so fast I don't have time to try and say anything. My goal is to say at least one useful thing in every group work. So far it has worked out, but I feel like a hindrance to my fellow team members.

On Thursday we had a party after work, with beer and pizza and the opportunity to talk and get to know each other. For us germans that was really great, since the Japanese mostly know each other already, they have been meeting and going out the couple of month before starting to work. On Friday we went to an Izakaya with everyone and I could get to know them even better. I also try not to only talk to the same people. They all want to get to know us, and help us and at least I feel already like I belong with them. After the Izakaya about 20 of us went on to another bar. We were all already really drunk and it was nearly impossible to get inside anywhere with so many people, because it was the first Friday of April (when the new work year starts and all the new graduates start working) so it was packed everywhere.

I didn't really get to do any more hanami this week, only a little walk on Monday. It was night so the pictures aren't as good as it really looked live.

I finally got a Mixer and Rice Cooker. My first smoothy is really good (Pineapple, Orange, Spinach and Banana with green tea). Tomorrow I will cook for the first time (Ochazuke) and I will definitely take a picture and let you know how it worked out. I hope I will have time to continue cooking and maybe start bringing my own lunch to work. In japan there is a whole culture surrounding this and its called Bento.

Since Friday my throat hurts, which sucks. I have been drinking ginger tea all day, and also bought some medicine. I hope it helps.

Well see you soon!