Day 3: Yokohama School Visit in Transit Via Taxi

We took a taxi to the 2nd school visit at the International Language School. En route one of the BOE members gave us some history about the area. We passed near the Port if Yokohama at the base of the Yamate Mountain. This is the Port of Entry for President for Franklin Roosevelt when he visited Japan after the war. 

Earlier, the first Americans to come here followed Commander Perry here and that's how the houses were westernized. Still mostly western doctors and lawyers live in that area. After Perry came the Japanese started to build a relationship with Yokohama city. The area was "opened up" and the military used the area.

Our Yokohama taxi - notice the doilies, they love them here, there everywhere!

Elizabeth, from the BOE. A Canadian transplant by marriage. She chose to stay in Japan. However she confessed in her job she supervises 500 teachers, both Japanese and ex-pats. Retention is very difficult because its so hard to adjust to Japan. It's very culturally rigid. Teachers struggle when they want to do "something" a different or more efficient way, and the answer is NO, "it' must stay the way it is."

Me and Katy

Exiting the taxi. This slender phone is the iPhone alternative... These are the most frequent phones we've seen here.

Do not close doors in taxis when you get in because it's there job to provide that service. In Japan the least important person sits in front.

Happy travels!!