I love Fridays!

It's not only the end of the week, I also get to be with my Deaf kids. They are SO great! This morning started out REALLY stressfully. I didn't want a repeat of last week so I was very conscientious about my time and how much I had left. So when I was ready to go, I still had 5 minutes before I had to leave. That felt GREAT. So I went to grab my bus pass (that I always put in the same pocket in my purse everyday...) and it was gone. Oh man, I ripped my place apart in those last 5 minutes and then had to walk to the bus center feeling super stressed. And I was so stressed I was making myself ill. I said several prayers at my apartment (that card still has a little over $20 on it), and then I said some more on my way to the bus stop, on the bus, at the school. In any case, I bought a new bus pass on the bus but was only able to get the middle card (costs 3000 yen and goes up to 3300 yen) because I didn't have exact change for the card I usually get (5000 yen card that goes up to 5700). I get reimbursed for travel costs but I'm pretty sure they don't reimburse for stupidity! Well, I shouldn't say that. As I said, I always put the card in the same place, so hopefully I will be blessed to know what happened (as I remember putting it in that pocket when I got off the bus yesterday -because I've wanted to avoid this very situation) to the card or find peace some way. Of course only last night I was deciding to not stress about money anymore! Dah! So I'm down where I didn't expect it, but today is pay day so ... mostly I think it's the losing something that I've taken care of so well. It feels like I'm losing my mind. I put the card in that pocket and then it's not there. *sigh* As I said, praying for at least peace.

I tried not to stress too much on the bus. I mean, what could I do about it? The walk up to the school was okay - warm and sticky but bearable. In any case, when I got to school, I put that all behind me and got ready for my lessons.

First I taught a high school class. I had taught them last time and they didn't fully grasp the concept (interrogatives) so I was teaching that lesson again. (Ouch, my pride! lol But more than that, I felt really badly for the students. I really did try to make the worksheet easy and it appears I failed for that class :/ Sorry guys!) So I made a matching game with interrogatives and their answers. I actually made 4 over the course of the week because I would find a way to make it simpler (easier to understand) and redo it. So when I got here today, I had the cards with katakana for some words and hiragana for some others plus another game. In that class, out of the four students there is one that LOATHES English. He refused to come to class last time. The time before that he refused to participate. So today I thought, "Hey! At least he's here!" So we started the matching game and he was FORCED to participate by the teacher and the aide. Right when (and I could see it in his eyes and body language) he was going to quit and put his head down for the rest of the class, MMM, he got a match! It was a fluke (really it was a blessing), and it got him invested and playing for the rest of the game. He actually tied for second. (Which made me really happy too - no third place as one girl was absent.) Then he refused to play the second game - STILL, he played one game! Progress!!!

Next I went to the junior high. As I entered the room the boys were exercising so I joined in and then since I wore a skirt today I showed off my calves. LOL Then they showed off their biceps. THEN, they both challenged me to an arm wrestle! I won the first bout with K and then faced T. I went left-handed first since my right was tired then he demanded a rematch on the right. I won both! LOL They're pretty strong though! K especially made it hard for me to win! Then when Ito-sensei showed up, they told her how we had arm wrestled and I won. She laughed pretty hard at that. It was really fun though! Then I taught a lesson two on body parts. This time I came with the words and katakana so they could read them, etc. Class went really well. Luckily I had last minute thrown in some blank faces for them to draw face pictures if we sped through the lesson as the lesson went 10 minutes longer than the schedule said it would! They drew the best faces! I put them on my desk (under the plastic). :D T (that little boy who LOVED my lesson last time and who arm wrestled me twice today) LOVES English. He finishes so quickly and he LOVES being in my class. It's impossible for me not to love him! (I mean I love all my students but he makes me especially happy! Just like M - I can't not be super happy when I see her!) Then it was off to elementary.

Since the time was all off I didn't know when the class started. Luckily one of the girls saw me and took me to the classroom. I gave her something I had prepared for A since last time A was there ten minutes ahead of everyone else and she, I, worked on that (two blank faces but they had hair - I put that on my desk as well). Today we did alphabet stuff. We practiced writing it and saying it and then I taught them the sign alphabet (ASL alphabet). I couldn't help but think that would be more useful to them, and also here is a concrete way for them to remember/practice the alphabet they just learned. We also played some games and I had to do a little filler stuff at the end that didn't work well because again the class was longer than my schedule said it would be, however it overall went very well. Those two girls are so cute! The little boy was missing as he was in the hospital - but the teacher said he's ok and that it's an eye hospital (as if that makes it seem safer to me or something. So weird. "Daijobu, daijobu, eye byouin." Uhh.. ok? ("Ok, ok, eye hospital.") But all my lessons went well, and it was great to see the students!

On the way back to the high school from the elementary school, I saw that Nagano-sensei (funny man) was in the teacher's room. Last week he had brought some chocolate that other teachers had me try and I wanted to thank him. I ducked into the room and thanked him and he told me (in Japanese) to have some more. Then he said he would bring more! I think... he said it in Japanese. I tried to tell him it was ok and I just wanted to say thank you. He then said he English was muzukashii (difficult) and I said Japanese was too. Then he said, "English more!" And I told him, "English doesn't have kanji! Kedo, kanji o manabimashita - a few!" (I learned a few kanji.) Then I was asked by the vice-principal in that room (a lovely woman who seems to adore me) to show the kanji I knew. So I wrote a few up for the crowd to their cheers and applause. Then Nagano sensei wrote up another kanji that I didn't know and had me practice it. (Ya, I couldn't reproduce it right now to save my life! I'll have to look it up again later and learn it.) In any case, then the vice-principal wrote up some Korean and I told them I understood what she had written (it was a formal hello in Korean which I actually learned while selling pest control in California and then heard from Simone and Nadia several times) as she said it out loud. Then they all looked at me and I said, "Oh! Ok..." and wrote "bonjour" on the board. They all laughed at me and I said, "I don't know Korean!" In any case, there was much laughter and applause and one of the female teachers ran over to their little stash and grabbed me some crackers and some more chocolate and gave them to me. "Oh PRIZES!" I yelled. I thanked them profusely and said I was going back to the high school (as it is where my desk is) then ran back to say, "Otsukare sama desu!" (Which is, from what I understand, a goodbye but it is also thanking them for their hard work.) Ito-sensei was super impressed with me! She always is exclaiming, "Oh! Sugoooooiii!" Which makes me happy. Man teachers that are easy to please are the best! ;)

When I got back to the teacher's room I put those pictures under the plastic protector on my desk and started working on some things. Then M came in and brought me wakame (well brought all the teachers)! Wakame is seaweed - this stuff was fresh! That is, it wasn't dried! It was really good though. It has some sort of sauce on it and it tasted vaguely of ginger. It was only slightly slimy (which HERE is pretty great, lol). Oish(i)katta! This school treats me like a treasure and it feels amazing! :>

While I was chatting with Kawai-sensei (the girl who sits next to me), another teacher gave me some wakame! It's from her husband's farm! I asked them about the preparation of it and they gestured the things I should do. I think I'm going to make some miso tonight with it!! I also learned how to make the other wakame - the sauce was sesame oil (thought it tasted familiar!), plus ginger, another sauce (mentsubura or I can use soy sauce), and sesame seeds. I'm really excited to make it! It was really good! :D

I also found out, since Sugita-sensei is so good about giving me my schedule and I hadn't received one from her so I asked, I'm off for next week from the school! So either I will have next Friday off, or they will tell me to come into the office. I found out on Interac's copy of the SLP for Minami, they put "p"s on Tuesday so I am required to go to the school and use the time as prep time. Only they haven't given me anything to prep! Hopefully I can find out some of the lessons the teachers want me to do the following week and I can work on those. Then it will be time well spent. I like to have a little time to study Japanese, but if I have too much time I end up inundating myself with information and then not remembering most of it! So I would like to avoid THAT if possible. So, WOW! Maybe next Friday will be my compensatory day off for that other training I did and then I will have a long weekend! (I think though that Tsukasa, since she keeps saying it, wants me to visit the office and will schedule me to work there. LOL If so I'll be slightly frustrated as their office is SOO muggy and I haven't yet received the promised compensatory day off, but at the same time, I love those office people so it would be ok.

My plans for tonight: clean my apartment (mostly so I don't have to do it tomorrow - also it needs to be swept!), get my haircut (trimmed), and perhaps have a pizza night with some Interac people. And most important part of my night: RELAX! (Which pretty much will mean a book and some popcorn. Yep. I'm easy to please!) Hope you all have a great evening and weekend! For many of you, today will be the last day of school, enjoy it! Love you! XOXO, A

Ok update: I cleaned my place and turned my place upside down... no bus card. :( I have NO IDEA where it ended up. :/ In any case, I went to my hair cut and she talked me into getting layers. I asked if it was going to cost extra and she said no so I agreed. She washed my hair, gave me a small massage, and then cut my hair. I was there for an hour. In my head I was thinking, "Wow all this for 2000 yen!? Cool!) Then when she rings me up.. 4200 yen. Ouch. I have now paid $50 for a haircut. It was a really great haircut though! I asked her to cut off the damage and she said it would take 2 inches. "Ok. It grows back!" She cut off like 6 inches in some places! It was surprising for me, but as I said, it was a great haircut (I have pictures below). Since Tsukasa has been bugging me to go to the office, I decided to swing by there on the way home. So off I went. I spent some time chatting with them and Tsukasa said she loved my haircut. She said it was very Japanese and the color is the color that the Japanese love. In fact, she said "I love that color of hair! I want that color hair!" I thought it was a very sweet thing to say. Then when I got out of the office, disaster struck! My bike lock couldn't open. I started freaking out. I tried it for twenty minutes. And while I was doing that, I was thinking, "How am I going to get to church? What about carrying all my groceries? What am I supposed to do with the bike in the meantime? What about getting home!?" Bryan had come by and tried the lock and the key just wouldn't turn. I was praying and praying and finally the Lord told me to go upstairs to get some soap. (Back to the office) So I went up but there was no soap in the bathroom, however luckily the Japanese wash their dishes after their meals. So there was some dish soap. I put some in my hand and went down to the first floor. I put it in the lock and miraculously, it opened. (mmm!) I rode home saying thank you prayers all the way.

When I got home I started thinking about dinner and suddenly my doorbell went off. I figured it was Bruce but it was the elders! Aww! They brought me (essentially) chocolate cream puffs. They stayed and chatted and we made each other laugh. I especially made Elder Iida laugh because I used a lot of gestures and faces while I was talking so he could follow along. I used as many Japanese words as I knew in what I was saying too. It was great... then a dark shadow on the evening.. a moth flew onto my shirt. I screamed loudly and scared the elders. I pointed out that I hadn't cried though! They kindly killed the few tha thad flown into my place (as they couldn't come inside - the rules). I also promised them I would come go to the Eikawa (English class) this coming Wednesday. :) I also gave them some wakame I had. (Dried wakame not the gift that that teacher gave me.) The elder from Washington state (Elder Noruwong) offered to go grocery shopping with me too. I was like ... "Waat!?" But it's because Elder Iida can read all the labels. "Oh cool!" I said and planned to go with them after the Eikawa Wednesday night. It makes me feel great! They kept asking me what they could do and I told them I would go to the Eikawa BEFORE they had a chance to commit me to it. LOL But they were so happy that I said I would go and also they showed me how to change the batteries for the light on my bike so I will be safe going to Takamatsu at night. (Since it's pretty far away.) Then I wrote this update. -- Oh and I ate dinner. :) Yum! Have a great evening!

My new haircut - on the way to the office

present from the elders!

the back of the bag :)

A day of laughs

(Funny moments included) So today, I was teaching only second and third period. On Thursdays, the classes are longer so I had some time to kill before I taught. I popped open my computer and started working on some lessons for tomorrow. Then I remembered that I needed to make the copies and gather the things for teaching today so I stopped and did that. Then I went back to working on Friday. When the bell rang, I had ten minutes until my class started (I walk with the teacher and we always leave 1-2 minutes before the bell so we arrive when the bell sounds and start class.) So while I was waiting I read over my worksheet. Almost right away, I found a mistake in section one of the Japanese. I asked Mr. Hashimoto to be sure. "Kokonoka is ninth, right?" "Yes!" Dah! I had typed "KokAnoka (so it was an entire character off)." This was the first time teaching this lesson (and unfortunately I had already made the copies but fixed the masters for the other five classes I'll teach) and I was teaching it to my toughest first grade class. (The ones in which I had two students who adamantly REFUSED to participate and were inciting a small boycott in their area. --That is, a group of students started to refuse to do the worksheets at all.) In any case, I laughed and hoped this would show them I'm human too! So when I got to class we did a preposition practice (which we had done last time but they REALLY got into it this time, YAY!), and then I told them about my error. I could tell who hadn't listened as they read out loud my mistake. I pointed to my correction on the board and said sorry again. The boy who tried to embarrass me was one of those two who refused to do the worksheets before. However, when I went around, I saw that both boys had done it! Score! THEN, there was a section two that was fill in the blank. There were letters missing from the months (the names in English) .. only as I was putting it up on the board so we could correct it together... I noticed ANOTHER mistake. HAHAHA! I put a blank AND the letter. The teacher caught it a split second before me. He said, "Uh oh!" and then I was like, "Oh no! Another mistake! Sorry!" I explained the mistake and at this point I was feeling quite giggly. (Lack of sleep helps that.) So I wrote up the rest on the board and asked a student to write the missing letters for the first month, then to give the chalk to another student, etc. Well... guess who forgot to put a month on the board! And, it was these two boys who pointed it out to me. They said, "April MAY! MAY!" I looked over at the board, saw May was missing and just about died. I was laughing so hard it made my knees weak and I had tears in my eyes. LOL The students laughed at me too - it was good times all around! I made sure it was on the worksheet (it was) and wrote it out to the side. They were troopers today! And it took them a bit to get into our game, but when they did, it worked really well. Also! Those two boys copied the pair work (I told them not to copy, but at least they DID it ... kinda), BUT they did the production element too! I thought it would be too much to hope for that, but they did it! (I asked, "What's your favorite month? Why is it your favorite month?" -- I got some really great answers! My students are so smart!) It was a hot but AWESOME class!

After I got back to the teacher's room, I had another 8 or so minutes so I started correcting some of the worksheets I had collected. (I only checked their production element as we corrected the first two sections in class and I was more interested in them DOING the pair work then spelling every word exactly right - listening and speaking was my focus there). Then suddenly I noticed it was one minute to. That startled me and I put everything down and went over to Ms. Fujieda's desk to find her. She wasn't there! I thought maybe they had gotten my schedule wrong, but when I checked the copy room, she was there. She asked me to wait for her and to give her a few minutes at the beginning of the class. I agreed and went back to wait at my desk. As we walked to class (a little late) I mentioned it was my fear that I would forget something. And today I had a lot of visual aids to take, plus paper, plus markers, plus magnets, plus worksheets, etc. So as she is speaking to the class, I realized I had forgotten the paper. DOH! That day came much sooner than expected. AHAHAHA! I asked Fujieda-sensei, since I wasn't sure how much longer she would be speaking to the class, after she finished to get the paper. She kindly obliged and by the time she got back, we were ready for it. Whew. The class taught me about Japan and things in Japan - it was great! They are such talented artists and so funny! My students rock! After class was over I apologized to Fujieda-sensei again about forgetting the paper and thanked her. I told her the same thing I just wrote here. "I dreaded the day I would forget some material and it's already here!" She was very gracious and we laughed about it and went back to the teacher's room. Oh - before we left the classroom there was an announcement. It actually played as I was trying to end class. I wasn't sure what it was so I didn't want to talk over it if it was important. Ms. Fujieda told me that there were bear sitings in Morioka and they were telling everyone to be careful. "Bears!? I LIKE bears!That's so cool!" Her face said, "Are you KIDDING me!?" LOL

Once I got back to the teacher's room, I finished my grading then got back to my lesson planning. Holy moly I had so much to do today! HOWEVER, I finished my plans for tomorrow! Before that happened, though, I was working and then heard the lunch bell. I grabbed my lunch and went to peel my fruit (which is like a grapefruit but a little more tart and it's yellow - I don't know its name) since the peel needs to go in a special trash and I warm my curry and rice up in the microwave. When I got back to the teacher's room, I saw the vice-principals cleaning. What the!? (They usually help, but it's primarily the student's task to clean the school. So when I clean everyday, I am working with the students.) I put my lunch down and helped them finish up. Afternoon classes were cancelled today. I'm not sure what the students did. Some teachers worked on grading and perhaps planning. Not all the teachers were in the staff room and I could have asked what was going on but only 3 English teachers were there and they were all working hard and I didn't want to bother them. I can only assume that it's something with the exams next week. (Maybe they were catching up on grading. Maybe they were planning their exams. I have no idea.) Also the students were only allowed up to a white line on the floor in the teacher's room. It was all very confusing for me. In the meantime, I finished my planning (YOSH!) and worksheet making. (By the way, I have now made 40 worksheets - well a bit more than that but I have 40 of them still saved! Whoa.)

Oh! Also during my planning time, I got a phone call. That was trippy for me. This is the first time I have ever gotten a phone call at school (well on the school line). It was Interac with some information for me that I had requested. At some point Kanamori-sensei wandered over to my desk and ask me to dinner tomorrow evening. :D It was very sweet but some Interac people were thinking of doing a pizza night tomorrow. I asked her what time (I'm a people pleaser and thought I could do both.) I remembered my haircut and told her I had that scheduled and then it was like, "A haircut!? Oh, you're much too busy then." Uh... ok? Is that the Japanese equivalent of "I'm washing my hair"!? I felt really badly! But she said, "Next weekend!" And I readily agreed. So yay! One of the teachers wants to be my friend outside of school too! :)

I also got my SLP today. I have nothing written for Tuesday! Not even "prep." I'm sure it's for student testing but now I'm not sure if I'm supposed to show up or not! And I was given 3 hours to grade 240 compositions. Wow, the school believes me super human! I'll do my best! I am teaching 3 lessons on Monday, 3 on Wednesday, and then I have 3 periods blocked off for grading. I have no other classes to teach Thursday so if I need additional grading time, I will have it. (In my opinion they should have scheduled one class of grading to a block rather than two. That would be a more accurate representation of how much work I will be doing! Unless the school's faith in me is sound and I FLY through those compositions!)

When I got home I ate some dinner and then I went grocery shopping (I needed a few things - the grocery store had given me a paper in a plastic thing and I asked Ms. Suzuki what it was today and it was a 500 yen off so I used that today too! :D). After that, I came home, printed out lesson plans, etc I've got to get ready for bed pretty quickly here. My earliest morning of the week is tomorrow. All my best, XOXO, A

P.S. I must be more homesick than I thought - a couple weeks ago, Michael McDonald was always popping in my head. The last 2 or 3 weeks I've been CRAVING James Taylor and listening to him almost everyday. Then this morning I woke up singing Paul Simon! I miss my family! Love you guys!

Wet Wednesday

Oh man! I made a HUGE mistake today. The forecast said it would rain so I wore pants. The thing I didn't realize is that rain means SUPER humidity. I was DYING today. SO hot. I ended up taking off my jacket and rolling up my sleeves. In each class I asked the students to open a window or their door to the outside. I don't know how they weren't roasting!

In any case, today was good. I taught four lessons and one was a semi-flop but the students LOVED the first half of class. There are a few real champs in that class (this is my only second grade class in which most of the class hates English) - they pay attention when I'm talking and try really hard. They make me feel so awesome! They are trying and I really appreciate that! We played a bunch of games today with comparatives and superlatives. (This class's world revolves around games - the game that we played at the beginning that they LOVED was Scattergories!) One group absolutely refused to play at all. v.v I wish they would just give me the benefit of the doubt and TRY. But, I learned and onto the next lesson!

The other 3 classes I taught today were first graders. I taught two lessons on time and one on numbers. I was able to give an explanation with some Japanese at some point (for time) and that REALLY wowed the students and that was gratifying for me.

Side note: I think I have a fracture in my left foot. Remember when I dropped my giant suitcase on my foot? Well anytime I step funny with my left foot or sometimes just randomly it will KILL like I just dropped the suitcase on it again. The pain feels like a crack in my bone, but that's just the feeling and I'm not sure. Advice? (After a few days the pain fades and I think I'm ok until something else happens and it's killing all over again. :/) -- I bring it up now because when I was stretching at the gym yesterday I stepped out with that foot and BAM! Ouch...

So yes, my lessons went well and I FINALLY did an assignment that was given to me a couple weeks ago. I was asked to write a self-introduction for the ward bulletin. Ya... ok. LOL I didn't to put it off (I was busy making lesson plans) but I finally got it done today! I'm sure the Japanese is iffy - but I did my best! I'll take a picture of it and put it up here so you can see - and those of you who read my blog who speak Japanese feel free to educate me on the places I went wrong and what to do instead... nihongo o hanasereba... (a teacher told me that THAT was how to say it would be convenient if I spoke Japanese - I had asked him if I could say, "Nihongo o hanasukoto benri desu" he just stared at me, blinked and said, "Aaahh, nihongo o hanasereba would be a MUCH better way to say that." LOL I guess I said something pretty goofy. That's SO out of character for me! ;)

Next week the school is doing exams. So Hashimoto-sensei told me that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I would be enlisted for help grading. I get to grade all the first grade compositions. That's 240 compositions. 0.o I haven't heard yet about my second grade class, and my third grade classes. Eep! In any case, it'll be an interesting change of pace. 

In any case, I survived the humidity and got home, did laundry, made dinner, ate dinner (not in that order), read some Darwin Awards... hope your day/evening is going as equally well! XOXO, A

Funny moments:

While I was teaching numbers I made a joke about a listening portion of the worksheet. I said, "Oh! I LOVE listening time! Why? Because I love to talk!" One girl laughed! So I said, "Thank you! Yes, that was a joke. Good!" LOL (And it really was! You know jokes with a grain .. or brick .. of truth are the funniest!)

Oh! Yesterday Hashimoto-sensei told me the school would be closed on Monday, June 10th. I was like, "Ok, thank you for letting me know." And wrote it on my lesson book. Then he goes, "I wonder what we can have you do?" (In my head: "Uh, STAY HOME! That's what everyone else is doing, right!?") I just ... looked at him and wondered what he was planning. LOL The ironic thing is they "owe" me a compensatory day off and this would be the perfect time to get it in.. we'll see what they eventually decide.

Here's that jikoshokai (self-introduction):

Observation! (sung to the tune of "Operation")

Today I was observed by my office AND recorded. Dah! It was actually fine, but it was the first and second time teaching the lesson so they got to see me make adjustments (work out the kinks as it were). And they mentioned that. But let me back up...

I made it to the bus in very good time (yesterday seems to have taught me my lesson, thank goodness!). I got more sleep than usual as well. I had some funky dreams too! In any case, my day started well. When I got to the school, I was able to work on lots of lesson plans. Because my office was coming to observe me, they rearranged my typical Tuesday schedule and I was teaching only 2 classes and I was teaching them the last two periods of the day. I got a TON of stuff done and it was SO nice to have it off my plate. I did as much as I could/was going to do. I'm ready for tomorrow, I need to print out the worksheets for Thursday and I'm mostly ready for Friday! Yehey! After that, I ate lunch. After lunch, even though I had more sleep, I got magnet-head. Daarrrggghhh! I took out a green card the missionaries gave me (for learning Japanese) and started studying that. I also learned how to write a new kanji. Every time I would remember I was getting observed I would start to feel light-headed and physically ill. It was ridiculous! I had planned, I had all my things together, I had a lesson plan and the handouts for them ... I just was stressing out for fun I guess. *rolls her eyes*

So the time rolls around and I go to class and teach. As I said, they saw the first and second takes. Then they offered me a ride which I gratefully accepted. It was during that ride that they gave me their critiques (which were very helpful) and we talked about some things at the school. Then suddenly Tsukasa said, "Oh! The vice-principals said that you are the first ALT to ever help with the cleaning! You didn't even have to be asked and you helped. They are very impressed. They both said it, but at different times and didn't know the other said it!" YAY! I'm making a great impression! I told them I did it for some extra bonding time with the students and also to show them that I care about them and the school and I want to help take care of it. It made me all glow-y inside. :D

Oh! Before I left the school, while I was helping with cleaning, one of the teachers told me she liked my skirt. (It's the long blue one that Annette Poulsen made for me for my mission.) I thanked her and said, "Watashi no tomodachi ha ... nuu ... nuimashita? numashita? nuwamashita?" She nodded that she knew what I was saying (which was a bit frustrating as I wanted to know which was the correct conjugation - still she understood) and then I said, "Watashi ha ... dekimasen." She laughed and said, "Watashi mo." So the gist of that was, "My friend... to sew (and then me trying to say "sewed")" "Me, I can't (which is not technically true, but I dislike sewing)." Her: "Me neither." So yay! I was able to have a simple conversation! Then she said something in Japanese at the end that I didn't understand. Also it interrupted and deflated my "I'm doing it!" Party in my brain. *shakes head woefully* lol

When they dropped me off, Tsukasa said again (she told me this a few times on Friday), "You can come visit us at the office!" She must really like me or be lonely! Maybe a combination? Still, that felt really great to hear! I told her I was going to the gym and said, "Oh! You can come with me!" "Nooo! I don't like the gym!" HAHAHAHA! In any case, mmm, I was home early and changed and took off to the gym. The bike ride today was exhausting. By the time I got to the gym I felt so drained! But I love to lift weights and jumped on those machines. It was a great workout! I tried some new machines and changed up a few things. Then when it came time to leave I checked for the route to Aiina. I wanted to go there because I had brought my books and wanted to get new ones (since it was closed Saturday). It took me a little while (as I had to keep consulting my map and had to turn around a couple times) but I got to Aiina and grabbed 5 new books. Yahoo! It feels more comfortable to me to have reading materials at hand. (At home I have at least hundreds maybe up to a thousand books now. So it's weird to only have 3 books here and I have those because I bought them here.) After that, I pedaled home.

When I got home, I made some rice (for the rest of my lunches this week) and then made White Stew for dinner (and for the last time, I'm not racist! That's just the name! ;D). Limor called and I talked to her while I ate my dinner. Oh! I also had some milk when I first got home. It was AWESOME. Makes me think of Argentina. When I got there, I disliked peanut butter. When I left, I loved it. When I got here, I disliked milk. I'm starting to get a real taste for it now though! Funny how another country will do that to you! (er.. to me!) Still, mmm as I'm sure it was exactly what my body needed after that workout. Especially since I felt at once like sludge and energized when I got home. What a strange war my body is having. (I think it's still getting used to the humidity - and today wasn't as hot as yesterday, but I wore a skirt because it was icky out.) I hope you are all as well and happy as I am. I keep thinking of the counsel to "bloom where you're planted." I LOVE Japan and I LOVE teaching and I LOVE my students but at the same time, my Heavenly Father chose this more for me than I did. It was a goal and a dream but at the base of it, I'm too much of a homebody and thought I wouldn't make it here alone. Some days are rough and the weather is icky, but at the same time, I am determined to make the best of this amazing opportunity. I wish I could double my joy by sharing this experience with someone (here in person), but if not and that is my lot, then I will continue to blog each day to remember the wonderful memories and even look back at the hard times and see my growth. How grateful I am for a prophet and for the apostles and the seventy. I appreciate very much divine counsel that helps guide me and remind me that God is great and He and His son love me and are working on my behalf here. I hope that you all feel the same in your respective domains. Love you all so much it's a miracle my heart doesn't burst! XOXO, A

Funny moments:

Yesterday (sorry forgot to tell you), the vice-principal got a phone call and then shouted out in Japanese to the staff room and everyone started clapping and cheering. Oikawa-sensei's desk is across and diagonal from mine so he saw me look up, look around, and then start clapping enthusiastically and saying, "Yay!!!" He laughed and asked why I was cheering. "I don't know! What did the vice-principal say?" "We won track and field." "Really!?" *renewed enthusiasm while clapping and cheering, followed by Oikawa-sensei laughing at me again.

When Tsukasa and Bryan offered me a ride they asked when I usually leave. "The bus comes at quarter to five." (This was at 16h00) "Oh if you'd prefer that? We need to have a meeting with the teachers." "How about this, whichever comes first." They agreed and took off to their meeting. I helped clean and then had sat back down at my desk when Tsukasa and Bryan appeared trailing Hashimoto-sensei. I assumed they were going to have their meeting and was just chatting with them. Finally (luckily, doh) I said, "Are you having your meeting?" "We already had it." "Oh! You're waiting on me!?" Oops. So I threw my stuff in my bag and left with them. :)

While in the car I told Bryan and Tsukasa that I had learned a new kanji today. "Which one?" "Sai." "Which one?" "Oh ya, sorry, the one for age." Tsukasa: "The easy one or hard one?" I started to draw it in the air. "Oh the hard one. The easy one has three strokes." *shows me* *facepalm!* Still, now I know the, I say, official age kanji and it's thirteen strokes! So there! lol

The day my students are smart alecks...

Today went really well. Seeing as I made the bus. *facepalm* I got there as everyone was loading up. Sheesh! -I did NOT sleep well last night. I went to bed late, then I laid awake for a long time, I kept waking up and by the time my alarm went off I was so frustrated and tired! Still, I made the bus and life was good.

Here in Japan they have what is known as "Cool Biz." This means that one can wear short sleeved shirts, forgo the nylons, leave off the suit jacket, etc as soon as it gets hot. Japanese schools don't have a/cs and it's very humid here. I asked Hashimoto-sensei last week when it started and he told me that traditionally Cool Biz started on June 1st. However, he added that starting it earlier (assuming it was hot enough) was ok. Well, I've been checking the weather forecast and today's high was 28°C (82.4°F WITH humidity in a classroom of forty sweating students bodies and no a/c...). Ya, I wore a skirt today and my little sockies. (I had asked about being bare-legged too and Hashimoto-sensei said it would be fine.) I'm SO glad I did that. It was HOT but I was blessed to not get sick and was able to teach just fine (mmm). :)

I told my mom I had less lessons this week and that's true but I told her the wrong numbers. I have 4 Monday, 2 Tuesday, 4 Wednesday, 2 Thursday, and 3 Friday. I'm hoping to get all caught up. I was able to get another lesson planned out and sent the worksheet to Hashimoto-sensei to have it okayed. It was a harder lesson to make (it's on dates - as in: November 3rd ... ya 45 minutes of that! lol) and I'm hoping he likes the worksheet so I can print it and not worry about any changes. Tomorrow I will be working on word puzzles for my second graders. :) I also was able to brainstorm a little bit on what I wanted to do with my Deaf students this Friday. So my prep periods were well spent. And though I was tired I didn't play the magnet game. Thank goodness (really mmm)!

Now I'm home and feeling the distinct lack of reading. I love to read to de-stress before I go to bed and I have no new books. :/ Aww. Tomorrow I'll be going to workout so that will use up my home "free time." Hope everything is going well for all of you and that your Sunday was wonderful! All my best, XOXO, A

Funny moments:

So, first you need to know that there is a wooden riser at the front of the classroom. (I think it's the stature of the Japanese teachers that inspired it. I always feel like a giant up there.) So today I'm teaching and walking along the edge and totally wasn't paying attention. Yep, fell off the riser. I didn't hurt myself - just stepped mostly off so my shoe dropped to the floor, I staggered, and said, "Whoa!" (And if that's not an argument for not swearing ~seeing as if I swore all the time that's DEFINITELY the first word that would have popped out of my mouth~ I don't know what is!) The students who saw it happened were wide-eyed and laughed at me. The others who hadn't seen it immediately started imitating me. They started loudly saying, "Whoa! Whoa!" LOL

So this is what inspired my blog title. I taught time to a couple first grade classes today. When we were checking the listening section, I "asked" for a volunteer (I volunteered someone) and sent them to the front. When they answered number two, I asked them to give the chalk to another student. (I LOVE doing that - then they are picking on one another and I don't have to get involved! They are usually pretty funny about it too.) So student number two gets the right answer and gives me a high-five. The next student goes to do so, and he faked me out. Then the next student did the same thing. Both times I laughed, made a heart with my hands and broke it in half and pretended to be sad. I'm so glad they are joking with me! For me that means they like me and know me well enough now that they are going out of their way to tease me. Bring it!

Oh what a beautiful meeeeeeting!

Sacrament meeting and Sunday School were wonderful today! I was really rejuvenated by the whole experience. I took some notes on things I want to improve and just felt really good about the whole thing!

When I was sick a couple Sundays back, my home teacher and another guy from the ward dropped off bananas, oranges, and an electrolyte drink. The following Sunday I gave them each a handwritten thank you note and a cookie. All I was able to write in hiragana was the "thank you" part. So Brother Fujimura came up to me today before Sacrament meeting started and asked me if I had written the hiragana in the note. I said yes and he said that I wrote beautifully! :D If nothing else, I know the stroke order was correct. I was SO appreciative of that compliment though (mmm). I'm getting there. Little by little!

We have a half hour between after church and then the LEG class (Let's Enjoy Gospel). I was going to attend and then ended up talking to my mom, Nadia, and my dad for over an hour. It was really great to talk to them, but then I felt badly about missing the meeting. Also I was supposed to be visit taught. Luckily the ladies were still there and not angry with me for making them wait. They spoke less English than I do Japanese so it was a very interesting visit. :) It was very sweet though and they asked me if I had any "shinpai" (cares - I think this might also double as "worries" in this context) and I told them I wanted a ride to buy a few things I needed for my apartment that I have needed FOREVER (an iron, a rug, a pad for my bed since this hard floor is making me sleep poorly, a lamp, and a blanket ~for when winter rolls around). So Sister Sasaki said she would give me a ride! YAY! So on June 8th (since there is training this Saturday and Bryan hinted he might want me to come as I mentioned yesterday), I will be able to buy the rest of my stuff for my apartment. I'm so grateful (mmm)! --Also she gave me a piece of cake. I don't care for cake, but Japanese cake is INCREDIBLE! I don't see myself suddenly becoming addicted to it, but now I don't dread the potential "cake and ice cream" at birthdays. Now to be invited to a birthday party...

After that I rode my bike home, and made myself some lunch. I spoke to some friends and relaxed. Even though I can't do NOTHING for long periods of time, I wish I had a couple days of break left. Oh well, today WAS really great and I feel very hopeful about this week. :) 

Funny moments:

Today was HOT (and unfortunately tomorrow is going to be even hotter). So I decided rather than wear my pants (as I have done the past two Sundays) to bike to church, I would just wear my knee-length skirt. My jeans have holes on the inner thighs now, my other pants got ripped up in my bike chain... and I have a pair of shorts I wear to work out and they say "touchdown" on the bum. Ya... So I went with a skirt. Well, there was wind... LOL I called myself a "traveling-peep-show on facebook," and ya, pretty much.

I also want to share a coworker's funny moment. In the US, when you drop someone off after a date, you SHOULD walk them to the door, but if you don't, you at least watch them go to the door (make sure they get home safely). Here in Japan, the person you drop off watches you drive away. So my coworker took this girl on a date and when she got out of the car, he sat there. She stood there. And finally he realized what was going on and was like, "Oh crap!" And drove off. LOL

Busy Day

Today was busy, but in a good way. :) I got a lot done. When I woke up I wanted popcorn for breakfast, so I totally had some. It was the last of the popcorn seeds I brought here. :/ Popcorn seeds are not to be found here, but I can get pre-popped stuff. So, no worries my friends, I am not without popcorn. ;) I had planned to go to Aiina today to get new books since I was finished with 3 of mine and had only 90 pages left of the last one. So while I ate my popcorn, I finished that book and then packed my things up and psyched myself up to run errands I've been putting off.

So, first I went to the bank. I've been dreading visiting alone (I haven't been back since I got here). They were closed but the atms were open so I did a balance inquiry - luckily they have an English option. So I found out I'm in much better shape than I thought! Bills are supposed to come out on the 25th ... and that's today, so I'm not sure if those have processed yet as today was Saturday, but in any case, I was doing better than I thought and that was a HUGE relief. (I've had one paycheck but it was for an hourly rate of a week of training. At the end of this month I will be paid half of my salary as I started on the 15th of April. So it won't be until the end of June that I get a full paycheck! So I've been worried, but I was ok! mmm)

After that as I was walking back to my bike I stopped at a shop I passed WEEKS ago that had t-shirts for cheap. I got one for myself and when I went inside I saw they had belts (and I NEED one of those) so I grabbed one and YATTA! I have one more t-shirt and a belt! I also got myself a facepalm and frustration with the school. The shirt that I got is a men's L. The freakin school had me order a 4L shirt for myself! That better be a women's size as if I wear an "L" and am getting a "4L" ... AAARRRGGHHH! That will be WAY too big! However at the same time I will be able to comment to them, "This is WAY too big for me!" and perhaps have the satisfaction of their embarrassment of their assumption at my huge American size. *rolls eyes*

Then I went to run the other errand I've been putting off. However, I have to back up to last night. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, well I was ready and had taken out my contacts and was JUST about to turn out the light, my doorbell sounds. Uhhh.. (lol I had to put on pants!) I answered the door and there was Bruce! I couldn't see him very well as I had taken out my contacts. He asked what I was doing, if I had plans for the weekend and was like, "Oh were you just going to bed?" I felt badly. I was so tired though. We chatted for a bit and when he asked if I had plans for the weekend I told him I was running errands I had put off for forever. He asked what they were and I told him. One of those errands is a haircut (well a trim). He referred me to a hairstylist who speaks English and is only 2 blocks from me. YAY!

So, back to today, I rode my bike down there. They were booked for today, but (MMM!) the girl did indeed speak English and I was able to get an appointment. I was worried at first as the price sheet out front showed a haircut for women was ¥4200! (over $42) However as I only want a trim it will be ¥2000. It's about the amount I expected so that made me feel better. So this coming Friday evening I will get my hair trimmed. I would have planned it for Saturday but I may have training. Did I tell you that? Yesterday at that long meeting at the office Bryan told me that the training on June 1st would be on lesson planning. He said, "Do you want to come?" I said, "To be honest, no. I don't feel like lesson planning is a weakness of mine. However if you would like me to go, I will. Just remember my compensatory day-off! (As I have not yet received one for the other training I attended earlier this month.)" So I'm not sure if I will be asked to go or not. We lesson planned as a group last time and it was a NIGHTMARE. Our "facilitator" and the two guys in our group got in a testosterone match. *rolls eyes* They all were sure THEY had the best idea and got in a fight about it. Limor, Tom, and I kept trying to just settle on one idea. I mean... this was a FICTIONAL plan. So RIDICULOUS to fight about it, well IMO. So I REALLY would not look forward to doing that again. I think the office people really like me though. I mean, Bryan invited me to that training (he made it sound like he wanted me to come though he admitted he thought I was right and that my lesson plans are really good) and Tsukasa told me I could stop by the office any time and to please come in sometimes. Aww :) I like them too! But sometimes it feels like I'm prolonging work when I go visit! *laughs*

In any case, what I told Bryan was, "Let's do this: since you're observing me this week (he's coming on Tuesday), you'll be able to see me in action. If you feel like I need the training, I will be happy to come. If not, I will run my errands and have my Saturday." He agreed that was a good idea. Then it occurred to me that on Tuesday I will be teaching lessons that are essentially all student taught. That is, they are going to teach me about Japan so there won't be a lot of speaking from me. :/ *shrug* Oh well! I still am going to plan what I do for my warm-up and so on though. And I need to apologize to that one class for making the worksheet too hard. Anyway...

Then after I got home I realized I hadn't run all my errands. That was very stressful for me. I was back to the safety of my apartment and I needed to go back out. Luckily it was overcast today but man it was MUGGY. In any case, I kept telling myself, "You can do this!" And got on my bike and off I went into the center of town. On the way my mp3 player (whose screen is broken so I can't control what song plays when anymore) played me "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. By the time I got to Aiina I was feeling so peaceful. And then I found out Aiina was closed. DOH! I mean, the peace was still there but I was sad as I had wanted to get new books. :/ I checked a bookstore on the way home, but it had slightly questionable tastes in English books. There were maybe 50 in total and they were all books in which I had no interest (50 Shades of Grey has three books, did you know? They had all three there! Yuck). Well, there were a couple in which I had interest but without getting a recommendation from anyone, I didn't want to chance it (especially since the books I recognized were ones that I have heard are filled with gratuitous sex and violence).

So I pedaled back home. When I got home I was pretty icky (sweaty). I cleaned my apartment and then took a shower. Somewhere over the rainbow!! I had a really great afternoon. Once it was dark I ventured back outside and went to get groceries. I got some really great stuff. Getting my emotional equilibrium back helped me to grab some new things at the grocery store. I grabbed some packages of... well I don't know what they are but I'm going to try them! :) I also got a Kiwi "ice." -- A slushie bar. I was going to say fruit bar, but it's more of a slushie type thing. It had been hot today and the thought of a cold fruit bar was enough to sell me. And it was cheap too! I wanted strawberry but they had only 4 flavors. One was Cola, no thanks. I got one Kiwi and one Grapefruit. I didn't even check the other flavor as the wrapper wasn't red so it wouldn't be strawberry.

Then I pedaled my bike home. Now I have a food storage of 4 big bottles of water, a can of diced tomatoes, 3 cans of tuna, a bag of "spice" peanuts, a bag of regular peanuts, and a bag of my favorite peanut crackers. I add a bottle of water and another canned or packaged good every time I go grocery shopping. Today I thought to myself, "how much is enough?" I supposed I'll keep adding until it gets close to my departure and then I will eat that food. Although I'm going to start running out of room for the bottles of water... hmmm. In any case, I'm happy to have them and to feel I am obeying the prophet AND listening to my employer. Disasters have been fairly frequent here in Japan so they told us to prepare just in case. I am so grateful to be a member of the church. It just reminds me of all the prophetic counsel and guidance I receive each Conference. I am so blessed. I also have such wonderful friends and family! I miss everyone terribly, but I am so blessed with technology and means to keep in contact with them. :)

For dinner I went very casual. I had edamame, and that kiwi bar. I wasn't that hungry. *shrug* I had a lot of water though. I've had a couple migraines the past couple days and they're tied to allergies, lack of sleep, or dehydration. So I'm trying to do my best on all fronts! I took some pain killers today and then sat down to connect with you. :) I don't have any funny moments from today, sorry. However, please celebrate this "win" day with me as I did some very stressful things and this weekend I have been in and will contact the people I love most in my life. :D Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO, A

this statue is near Aiina :) I put it on fb and dedicated it to fellow lovers of Ghibli - I do so here as well :D

Friday at last!

Finally the weekend arrived and I was hoping it would arrive a little early as it usually does, but it didn't. :/ I had that meeting down at the office. I got down there at 16h00 and was there until after 17h30. It was really rough for me to start my weekend that way, but the people in the office are really great and I love working with them. (Also Annie ~ Ann, my head teacher ~ brought cake!)

Oops guess I should have started with the beginning of the day. I almost missed my bus. Last week I had some ten minutes left before I left my place and went to the bus stop. So yesterday I set my alarm 5 minutes later... and suddenly I didn't have any time left! It was quite the adrenaline rush. It was unpleasant but I'd rather be 1 minute early for the bus and shaking than 1 second late. Then this morning before class, I had a migraine so bad it made me violently nauseous. I'm still not sure how I ended up not puking! However, class today was great. I taught one junior high girl (the same body parts lesson from last week - she had missed it). Then I taught one high school girl who is mentally retarded and not deaf (not sure why she is at the Deaf school, still). She was SO much fun. She is the one who made me that corn muffin. She is remarkably easy to love and I am so glad I got to teach her today. After that I had lunch and then I had a self-introduction lesson with two junior high schools girls I had not yet met. They really seemed to enjoy class as much as I did. All in all it was a great teaching day! And the icing on that? Tsukasa, who works in the office and is in charge of the high school SLPs went down there today for a "hearing." The office does this at this time of year to see how the school likes their NS and the areas in which we need to improve, etc. She told me that they had absolutely no complaints and that they really loved me. YAY! The feeling is mutual! :D I love teaching at the Choukaku Shien (well, I love both schools - and they are both SO different)!

Then I got home and made some dinner and sat down and read for a bit. My phone has been angry with me and not working :/ but I think I've got it fixed! So big relief there. Oh! Also I ran an errand on the way home from the office. I didn't want to go, but at the same time I have many other errands I have to run tomorrow and I knew that "tomorrow Ann" would appreciate it. I went to the Daiso (dollar store) and got some materials. Of course I ended up getting a bit more than what was on my list, however they were things I had forgotten to write down. I was able to find everything but one thing (a magnet strip). Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. XOXO, A

Funny moments:

M (the girl who made me a corn muffin) got a HUGE kick out of our first game today. I had prepared a memory match game with animals taped to pink pieces of paper. I went over some colors with her and then we colored the sets of animals. Then when we turned each over, we would say the color and animal together. For example, "grey mouse," "purple dog." When we found a match, I would take one of the animals off the paper and put it on her vocabulary sheet so she had the word and a picture to go with it. In any case, I really wanted her to win and she took GREAT pleasure in smoking me (10-5). She was so adorable laughing gleefully at me as I sighed loudly in frustration over not finding a match. :) What a grand day! (When she went to lunch she saw me through the window and waved enthusiastically at me. She is VERY shy so even though I had just taught her, it was an extra blessing for me -mmm.)

Even Better day

Gonna try those photos again... YATTA!!!! SUCCESS!!!

May 17

May 17

May 17

May 18

May 18

May 18

May 18

May 18

May 18

This is that apple tart I've talked about (May 18)

The inside - to make you jealous

May 19

Sakura - Cherry blossoms at the school (May 20th)

Yesterday (May 22)

May 22

Another May 22

Yay! I had to go through a process to get these to work (upload them to facebook, then download from fb onto my comp, then upload them to here. Everything else I tried gave me screwed-up pictures!)

In any case, I've been RIDICULOUSLY busy. I worked most of last night as I mentioned and I just stopped working at some point. Then I finished the things I needed for my lessons today at school. I couldn't do anymore last night. THEN, today I got my SLP 30 minutes before I left the school. Aaaarrrggghhh! I just NOW finished with what I'm going to do for tomorrow and haven't even started on next week. It's very stressful for me.

However, my lessons went VERY well today. I taught a new lesson to a first grade class and though I've had some problems with that class in the past, today was GREAT. They were almost all involved and everyone loved and played the game! Even my reluctant students really got into it. :D (I taught "time" today.)

Then I taught a third grade class with the teacher who yelled at me since Fujieda-sensei is gone. Well I had changed the worksheet around and changed the language and he joked he ought to "have a talk with me" all the time since it makes me such a great teacher. I was FLOORED. Uhh... I'm just going to back away from that one.

Then I taught another third grade class another lesson I had prepared on making a summary. I scaffolded the CRAP outta that class and they did really well! It was SLIGHTLY boring (I mean it was about SUMMARIES), but mostly it was upbeat and fun. :) Oikawa-sensei, again, gave me a round of applause at my desk. :D YAY! I thought that the lesson wouldn't fill the whole 50 minutes so I had a game prepared but we didn't get to play it as time ran out. :/ Still, better that then have a whole lotta nothing to do.

After school (since that last class I taught was the last period), I helped the kids clean (as I always do), then FINALLY got my SLP and started trying to work on it. I was so overwhelmed I wasn't sure where to start. On top of that my lesson next week for the first graders is "dates." It's not that wide a subject, so I am trying to plan a lot of games. I'm not sure how to go about setting up a worksheet either. Yeesh. But I have faith I will be blessed with ideas. I was going to go to the gym today but with everything on my plate, there was just no way for me to be able to go AND get enough sleep for tomorrow. I'm mostly prepared for tomorrow and find myself just DONE with today. I'm currently living a fairly frustrating lifestyle. I get up, get ready for school, go to school and teach (yay for the teaching part), work my butt off during all my prep, wolf down my lunch then continue working, brainstorm on the bus, get home and work while I eat (you're not supposed to do that but I'm at home and no one will know! ... until now! lol), work until I can't stand it anymore, then blog and get ready for bed and go to bed. *sigh* I have to work some on Saturday but hopefully not TOO much.

I had a great mmm moment today too. I've been thinking about how in training Cedric (the beast, lol) told all these stories about students who would come to his desk during lunch and talk to him. I was feeling down that none of my students stop by. Then as I was waiting for the bus, as typically happens, the teams jogged by me. Two boys from Boxing Club, as they ran by, yelled to me. One said, "I like the New York Mets!" The other said, "I like the S(h)eattle Mariners!" Then it hit me: I AM getting that spontaneous conversation. Just because it didn't come the way that it came for Cedric doesn't mean it hasn't been happening for me. Also two boys (and this is the first time THIS has happened) "busted it." They started it and I was happy to bust back and they both exclaimed "Yessss!" - imitating me. Those were golden moments for me. A bright light in the ocean of work! I hope to get on top of it all soon. I don't want to feel as if I'm running alongside a freight train, hoping to hop aboard before I get to the fence in the train yard.

I'm slightly frustrated that tomorrow, on the day I get home early, I have to go into the office. *sigh* However, I'm hoping it will be productive and also not too long as I have A TON of work to do. (This is why I think I will have to work some on Saturday. Hopefully I can have all of Saturday and Sunday free. Especially since there are errands I have been putting off for a long time. *sheepish face* But it's because they're new and I can only do so many new things in a place where I barely speak the language before I feel overwhelmed and have to run home to a place in which I feel safe.)

So that was my day. I hope yours is going well/went well/will go well. :D My best as always, XOXO, A

Funny moments:

I forgot to mention one from yesterday. My new second grade class asked me, "What's your favorite music?" After I had made a face to the question, "Do you like One Direction?" I told them, and then wrote it on the board: System of a Down. Then I had this funny moment in my head imagining their faces and reactions if they bothered to look up and listen to System of a Down. I dress conservatively for school so I must seem like a grown-up (I think I've got them fooled! ;D) but if they hear SoaD.. LOL I wish I could see it happen.

P.S. Here's a picture from TODAY!

I just let down my hair from my updo and it did this - so I needed a picture! (It also kinda looks like I'm shirtless but promise I'm not!)

Better Day

This morning started out poorly. I was tired, stressed, and worried about how school would be. I got ready and got to the bus stop. When I got to school, I slipped in and sat on the edge until the main meeting was over (as I always do) and then greeted my coworkers and the principal and vice-principals and went to my desk. I had so much to do, and got started on it right away.

I believe I told you yesterday that my 2 lessons for today were cancelled and then they added a new class (another second grade class). So today, my only lesson was my self-introduction plus superstitions. It was fairly easy to prepare and I got to work on all of my other outstanding lessons (including the ones I'm teaching tomorrow). I have never been this far behind and I wasn't enjoying the feeling. In fact, it's 20h17 and I JUST finished working. (As soon as I got home, I started working here.) *sigh* I also have to go to the office Friday. I wish that when I was off from school... I was actually off from school! Sheesh! In any case, I worked until it was time to teach and then went and taught my second second grade class.

Class went really well. One girl gasped when she saw me (I scared her I guess.. "A wild Ann appears!"), and some of the boys were like, "Oh nooooo!" I just laughed at them. The lesson went VERY well (up until superstitions, then they sort of lost interest and just talked to one another :/ ... I tried to get them back with me then the bell rang). They, RIGHT AWAY, were imitating me. They asked me what was my favorite pet and so I told them how I like animals but I was allergic to dogs, cats, and birds. To help them understand "allergic," I pretended to sneeze. It was a pretty girly little sneeze. Next thing I know, there's a group of boys in the corner imitating me. HAHAHA! Those girly sneezes coming from them made my day. The class just went really well and I'm sooo grateful for that (mmm). I wonder what this means for my work load. I already am barely getting to every class each week as I have so many. If they add that class, that will make 15 classes. I don't mind teaching a lot of classes, but I can't teach, and grade, and write new text, AND do all my lesson planning for all those classes in one afternoon. Yuck. They STILL haven't given me the SLP for next week. It's really awful. I want to be a week ahead of my students (at the very least), not a day. Even at Walden where I only taught Tuesdays and Thursdays, I knew exactly where we were going and usually was at least 2 weeks ahead of them. In any case... hopefully I won't get TOO many new lesson plans to do tomorrow.

At one point during the day, the teacher that yelled at me approached me. I had a MAJOR fight or flight response. He just wanted to talk about the next time we teach together, but in the meantime... I hope I stop having heart attacks every time he walks up to me. :/ So parts of my day were tense and I wolfed down my lunch so I could keep working and now I'm working at home... At least I can take satisfaction in it finally being done! I'm finally done planning for this week two days shy of it ending. :/ I don't like that! In any case, I plan on getting enough sleep tonight that I don't wake up crying tomorrow morning.

Side note: sorry if my blog is more down than up lately. I'm trying to bounce back from yesterday and then just feeling lonely. Each day I try to improve. When Oikawa-sensei saw the lesson plan and worksheet I made for tomorrow he clapped. He said it was very good! I joked about FINALLY getting it after being there more than a month. *sigh* But still, better than any time later. --I feel like the worksheet is WAY too easy but I have been overestimating my students' abilities with English to their detriment. :/ So I keep endeavoring to do better if for no other reason to not get yelled at again! (Really, I care about the students and I want them to love learning - so if they need much easier worksheets, I will supply them as best I can!)

Congrats to all you finishing up school right now (whether teaching or a student). It's trippy being here and knowing that the school year just STARTED. I've spent the majority of my life finishing in April-June and now I'm starting in it. .. Weird. In any case, all my best! XOXO, A

Bryan Saves the Day!

Today was fairly rough. It started out well. I got to the bus in good time. I had everything I needed. I was planning on working out after work and feeling good about that. I took my computer and was planning on working on lesson plans.. everything was going my way! I got on the bus and headed toward school. It was crazy because today, for the first time since I started working at Morioka Minami, I was the only one on the bus to get off at the high school. Since it's the last stop, I was the last one on the bus for a while. I'm glad the driver saw me though (mmm) and didn't skip that stop! I got into the school, went up into the teacher's room and it was eerily silent. All the first year students were gone to a competition so the first year teachers were gone as well. I got all of the rest of my grading done in my first two periods as they were prep (hallelujah) and started working on a lesson plan for my second graders. It then occurred to me that I wasn't teaching the second graders this week. As tomorrow the second and third graders have a test all morning, my morning classes were cancelled. So I changed the first year worksheet I had been making (actually I did that before the second grade worksheet) and left a note for Hashimoto-sensei about the changes. Shortly after I realized I could work on other lesson plans I WOULD be teaching that week, the second grade teacher approached me and told me that my schedule for tomorrow had changed. They cancelled both my classes tomorrow and added a new second grade class. So tomorrow I will be doing a self-introduction lesson and she asked me to also talk about superstitions. Cool! So tomorrow is planned and I have one lesson plan to write for Thursday and a complete revamp of today's lesson because...

The first class I taught today seemed very bored. They kind of glared at me, sighed, rolled their eyes...I tried to make the worksheet fun but I also had to include the things the JTE asked me to include. Class was a bit of a torture for us all. :/ I was thinking of what I could do to make it more fun (since I was teaching the same thing in 10 minutes) when suddenly I was verbally attacked by the teacher. (I think you all remember with whom I teach on Tuesdays.) He yelled at me in front of the staff and the vice-principals. He told me I made the worksheet too hard and I refused to help the students and he ALWAYS tells me these things (not so - he always says, "Thank you." and that's it), I don't care if the students succeed or fail... it was UGLY. It was so ugly that everyone avoided eye contact with us. So no one jumped in and spoke for me, I defended myself as best I could and I was yelled over. It was AWFUL. I wanted to sob my eyes out. Only... I was teaching a class in 5 minutes... with this guy. Then he starts talking about me in Japanese with another teacher. Thanks. So I waited for him (as we always go to class together) and he told me to go without him and he would come later. ... So here I am, trying not to cry... show up to class... alone. I completely changed what I did and tried really hard to make it understandable. I'm not an uncaring teacher. If I had KNOWN the students didn't understand, I would have DONE something about it. I don't speak Japanese! In any case, he kept undermining me in front of the class and making me look like a fool. He put the class right in the middle of it. He would say to them, "Do you understand?" *the kids eyes darted back and forth between us* One kid: "No." Him to me: "You SEE! You don't help them!" It was BRUTAL. Well after that, luckily, came lunch. I headed straight to my desk, grabbed my phone, and went to the bathroom. I messaged my best friend, I messaged my mom, and I messaged Limor. All the while, I was sobbing my eyes out in a bathroom stall. Limor suggested I get in touch with the office (as I work for Interac and not the school - and the proper procedure is for any complaints to go to Interac), and so I went up to the female teachers' locker room and called the office. Bryan was very supportive and kind. He asked if there were any witnesses, "Uh.. yes. The entire teaching staff." He said he would take care of it and in the meantime, I had to get control of myself to teach another class with this same teacher. Oh man. I didn't eat lunch (I was too upset anyway), and actually I realized I had left some of my materials in the other class. So I ran and got those and went to class. Pretty sure my students knew I had been crying. They were so sweet to me today. They were very kind and attentive and tried really hard. I don't know if the word spread, or it was just my red eyes/nose, but .. they were great. The lesson went REALLY well... and then after class the teacher comes up to me again, "The lesson is too easy for them. You're not challenging them." ....!??!? Finished. Just.. finished. (And by that I mean: fsssshhhhdd! - the ASL sign) Then I start working on that lesson plan I need for Thursday and Oikawa-sensei comes up to me. He tells me, "Bryan is here." Oh no.. my heart just dropped. I don't want a scene. I don't want MORE resentment. I just want to be able to do my job. The other teacher was called down first and then I was called down. One of the vice-principals was there. I was told the ways I can improve (and not in a yelling manner - which helps me a lot) and I was told that the other teacher was handled. I hope everything is ok from now on... I don't feel like going back to the school. I was humiliated in front of everyone.. unjustly.. and I just ... I just don't want to go back. Bryan offered me a ride home (which I REALLY appreciated) and so I said my goodbyes and got to go home early.

As soon as I got home, I changed (grabbed something at the store), and went down to the gym. I didn't feel like working out, but I figured just as it is with prayer the less you want to do it, the more you need it. So off I went. The training room was HOT. It was steamy and sticky and nasty. However, I needed to work out and I was going to get that way anyway... so I worked out and did my thang! It was funny, I kept catching people staring at me. I don't know if it was the fact that I'm not Japanese, or the fact that I'm a woman (there were only 2 other women there), or the weights and machines I was using. In any case, it made me laugh and lifted my spirits even more. On the way home, I got a text from Limor asking me to let her know when it would be a good time to call (she'd said she would talk to me this evening). I was about 5 minutes out from my place and let her know I was biking home. As soon as I got home, I changed and called her. I JUST got off the phone with her. We talked for more than 2 hours. I'm so glad to have a good friend here! She was so sweet to talk to me and then we talked about our days and lesson planning and a ton of other stuff. It was nice to just talk in English about whatever! Then I sat down to write this. (I ate dinner as I talked to her -- oh and actually I had some lunch before I went to work out since I was feeling better when I got home and was STARVING.) Hope YOUR day was much better than that -- but that being said, Bryan DID save the day. And my mum is going to skype me in a little bit. And I got to talk to my best friend. So the day was a crap sandwich and luckily the bread is made of wonderful people (mmm). XOXO, A

Oh! Also, the day started out amazingly because Abbey messaged me last night and she and Tara are trying to come visit me in the summer. All of a sudden I have hope again! I'm so excited to have friends come here. I hope they can make it! :D (Oh mom! I'll ask them if they have any extra room in their suitcases if they can bring some of that stuff. Then you won't have to ship it!) --Also this makes 60 days I've been here in Japan. Crazy!

Funny moments:

This is a story from a couple weeks ago and I don't believe I wrote it up. On the way to class one day, one of the teachers (a male) asked me, "You know diarrhea?" -"Uh.. what?" (I figured I had misheard him.) "Diarrhea." "Yes..?" "What is the opposite of that?" "Constipation." "Oh, I have constipation.. FOUR DAYS!" "... I'm sorry!" LOL I was like... I thought the Japanese were reserved!?

Monday comes round again

Today was ok. I almost missed my bus because I forgot my phone and had to go back for it (I can't get any lesson plans done without it as it is my Internet source. So I had adrenaline and stress and was trembling for the first hour or so at work. I worked on lesson plans (still have two to finish by Wednesday, ick), did some grading, and looked a fool in front of the BoE. *sigh* The class that I taught and in which I was observed, I've taught TWICE. It hasn't been enough for me to gauge their level of English. So the activity I prepared was too hard and they floundered BIG TIME. I cheerfully pressed on but I felt like crying. It's the worst lesson I've taught and it was observed. *sighs again* Oh well. It's over now.

(I forgot to mention, I had nightmares all night. Dislike.)

In any case, my first two classes went fairly poorly but the third was good. I got some grading done and then realized I totally spaced a lesson for Wednesday so I will be lugging my laptop to work again tomorrow. The day was humid hut nice and overcast/rainy. So I'm very grateful for that. I'm also grateful I get to go home now and just rest my brain!

Another good thing from today: 2 classes latched onto me saying "yessss!" And kept saying it all class. I'll take it! Love it! Hope you all have or had a great day! Xoxo, A

?

I didn't know what to title today. I had a long day and it was just really stressful for the most part.

I forgot to tell you - yesterday as I was falling asleep for my nap, there was a fairly big earthquake. But all in all, nbd. Funny thing though, on Wednesay (I believe) I experienced my first earthquake at school. I was pretty sure I could feel it coming from a motion in the ground and of my chair. Then it started and I had the same reaction: nbd. About 5 minutes afterwards, 金森先生 (Kanamori sensei) runs up to me all panicked and I didn't understand anything she said to me. So I just continued to look at her, raised my eyebrows and said, "What?" She replied, "Exactly." Ya ok... Good one. Lol but as she talked some more I realized she thought I had or was going to freak out because of the earthquake and she wanted to make sure I was ok.

I hope I get a calling soon or find someone to serve. I'm so sick of being/feeling lonely.

Hope you have a good Sabbath. XOXO, A

A rest

I got up early this morning to meet with Elder Aoyagi of the seventy. My branch president told me about it last Sunday. I was excited to talk to him and meet him and hoped he spoke English. I rode down to the church in fairly hot and humid weather, but luckily it was cooler in the church. I was there a little early so I got to play the piano a little bit. My branch president found me in the primary room playing piano and showed me to his office where the General Authority was sitting. And (mmm) he spoke some English. He listened to me and then he told me I should go once a month to the English speaking ward. I will look them up and see what time they meet (they are a couple hours from me and I don't have a car, but I am eager to do what I was counseled to do). I was hoping for a little more advice, but he told me to seek my own answers with the Lord (I have been, but I guess I'm still too emotional to hear the answers).

I took the long way from the church to Aiina as I can't really watch my phone (the map application) and ride my bike. (Incidentally, did you know it's illegal to ride your bike with even having had ONE drink of alcohol here? Also, it's illegal to have an open umbrella and be riding your bike. I'm not coordinated enough to do that anyway.) 

When I got back to Aiina I took back the books I had and checked out 4 others. When I was there I found out the reason my card hasn't been working: they didn't check, in my account, the box for library privileges! That was a little frustrating for me as that was one of the few words of Japanese I was able to say to that rude girl when I signed up for the card! I was REALLY stressed about having to go down and "fix" it on my own (as they hinted I would have to do) but luckily the woman called back down and said that she spoke to them and they would make the change in my account. And then I was allowed to go with my books. Whew.

I biked back home and found another blessing. My apartment faces 18° N so the front of it is in shadow during the heat of the day. --Especially since I am on the first floor the stairs and landing to the second floor add extra shadow. I'm so grateful for that!

It was cool inside my apartment and I didn't turn on the a/c nor did I turn on the dehumidifier. (I plan on using THAT during the summer and a fan.) I cleaned, started a new book, felt lonely (my major complaint to Elder Aoyagi), took a nap, and now I am writing this. I took a couple pictures as well. Oh! On the way home from Aiina I stopped at Vie de France and got that soft cheese and apple tart and pictures of it too - sooo good.

Hope you're having a great weekend! XOXO, A

---Something is wrong with blogger. I can't upload photos anymore! They all go weird and flat. How do I fix it? Anyone?

Super Friday

(Funny moments included:) Today was fabulous! It didn't start out that well (seeing as I was up late and then had to get up early) - I woke up feeling like death warmed-over. Ick. However once I got myself moving everything was fine. I got out the door and on the bus and off I went. I use my bus time to school to reply to emails and messages I received during the night. Today I didn't have any. Between being tired and overstressed I was practically crying on the bus. *sighs at herself* I had the same problem last night. Suddenly everything seemed like a big deal. Yeesh. I can't wait to have a weekend and time to de-stress and SLEEP. (Although I have a meeting tomorrow morning so I will be getting up early again. People! Let me be! lol) In any case, as soon as I got to the school... everything was great!

Outside I was greeted by one of my students, which was nice. I really appreciated it but I felt badly afterwards because I wasn't very energetic. I'm just so exhausted. In any case, I had a few minutes to make copies, drink a little "traditional Japanese tea," and then go teach 3 classes in a row. My first class went really well (and I finally was able to bring a real worksheet for them -- other times I've had to punt and I've felt badly. I've made scores of worksheets for Minami and none for the Choukaku. But today I brought two! - I taught two high school classes and one junior high school class.). The students enjoyed playing the ladder game and I enjoyed playing it with them. (I was an awful timekeeper though. I guess I can't multitask as well as I thought. I couldn't listen for pronunciation, play, prompt them if they forgot what to do, help with pronunciation and keep time all at once! I will endeavor to improve. ;)

My next class was with my junior high students. Oh man, I guess junior high students are fairly universal in their actions as my Japanese junior high school students were acting like my American junior high school students did. My jhs kids at Walden were infinitely concerned (read obsessed) with my love life. "Are you married?" "Do you have a boyfriend?" "I hope you're in love!" *rolls eyes* So today, my junior high school kids pushed this male teacher into the room and stood giggling behind the door. I have no idea what they told him but he was SO embarrassed. *laughs* I thought that I was in his room at first so I asked him if that was the case. He didn't understand me so I tried to ask him in Japanese. Essentially: I teach here? I confused him with my broken Japanese and the kids, meanwhile, were giggling behind the door. *shakes head* In any case, I have a new little junior high school boy (one I haven't met before). He is ADORABLE. He's this little chubby boy who LOVES English. Today we did body parts and I had spent a LONG time last night at my place cutting up little pictures of people so they could glue the parts on their papers. Then it had the vocabulary words scattered around the drawings and they needed to draw lines to the right part. Well I wanted them to "guess" but that's a hard concept (I've found) for all my Japanese students. In any case, I ended up writing the words with little lines underneath and I would give them most of the letters and then point to the body part and say the word for them loud and slow so they could "hear" the missing letters. (Really since they want me to teach a spoken language, I have to show them how the sounds are made.) In any case, this little boy came up to me after class and enthusiastically said, "It was very fun!" YATTA!!! (Also at one point the glue stick rolled off his desk but he quickly caught it. I noticed and said, "Wow! Ninja!" And did the gesture - not sign - that Japanese people use for ninja. I think I made his day. He just BEAMED. Jhs kids are so easy to please, I love it!)

Then I taught another high school class. This class is the higher level so we got through more of the worksheet. They played the game very well and I had a lot of fun with them today. At different times throughout the lesson I asked them about signs in Nihon no shuwa (or just shuwa - JSL, sign). Now I know how to spell my name in characters! And how to sign: My name is Ann, difficult, a little bit, easy, dog, cat, delicious, favorite, like, food, thank you, sorry, excuse me, and game. They were so excited to teach me - and I taught them the ASL signs for those things (especially since I believe that will be more salient and useful for them in their future, but that's just my opinion). Oh! Also I tried to pick questions that they would understand. Since we were doing interrogatives, I wrote: Who is your favorite teacher? I did that to tease them - and one of them actually said me! I'm not sure if she was patronizing me or not, but I appreciated the sentiment all the same. It made me glow inside - like a little glowworm! :D

So I was done teaching today at 1135. Sugita-sensei then said to me, "Thank you! You can leave!" Oh man that was SO tempting. However, I would have had to call the office and make sure and though I have worked my BUTT off this week and actually have more work than my contract allows, I didn't feel good about just taking off. I told her I would do work here until the normal time I leave. I just didn't want to chance making a mess. Besides, I would have been working there or working here. As it turns out, I would have gotten more work done at home because another teacher wanted to talk to me. Which is wonderful - it just takes time with both of us using dictionaries and gestures and trying to just get our idea across. (She's 60 years old and doesn't look it - but that was her excuse for not speaking much English. I guess I don't really have an excuse for not speaking much Japanese in THAT light. LOL) In any case, Kawai-sensei (the girl who usually talks to me here) came back and she helped since she knows more English. The three of us talked until Sugita-sensei ran over and said, "Eat! It's lunchtime!" So I was able to eat my lunch. Thank goodness!

Plans for today: I am meeting my head teacher this evening for "coffee." The head teachers help us and make sure every month that we're ok. I'm going to tell her about my workload. When I told Limor about everything I'm required to do she got really angry. She told me to call the office but I have another friend whose branch is not treating her well so it made me nervous. (She was really sick and then she was evaluated by her trainer and he said she was boring. They keep asking her if she even wants to be in Japan and telling her she's easily replaceable. That was EXACTLY my experience when I sold out in Cali. My boss treated me SO poorly because he thought it would motivate me. What a jerk move! So I was worried about "rocking the boat" if we're so "replaceable.") Hopefully Ann will pass along the news to Bryan or have good ideas about what I should do. In any case, it was Ann who got me the information for the gym and took me to that place "Vie de France." -- I haven't been back yet but their soft cheese and apple roll was INCREDIBLE. -- Side note: when everyone was here for training last week, one of the girls asked me (since I live here), "Where's a good place to eat?" I told her I had no idea. "I make my food. It's a lot cheaper than eating out." -"Oh... right." Looks like I'm the only one, thus far, who is doing that! But it's true! It saves me a bunch of money!

I need to go grocery shopping today as well. I also plan on having some ME time. I need it! Quite badly at this point. I need to read. I need to play guitar. And I need to have time to think. I was almost late yesterday because I just stood in my apartment just thinking. I totally spaced out. Guess my mind needs to stretch its legs! I'll get right on that... at least I'll try!

---
Ok I'm back from meeting with Ann. I was able to tell her about all the work the school has given me. Turns out they're not allowed to make me do half of the things they're having me do! I'm a bit torn because I want to help, but it's SO much to do. I'm also worried that when Interac says something I will get in trouble. :/ In any case, we ended up having dinner at this Chinese place. Very cheap and very good. Then I met Ann's friend Lina. She was very nice. :) We talked for a long time and I JUST got home (22h30ish) - oh, I went grocery shopping on the way home though. I have some things to get done tomorrow. I need to get up early because... I have an appointment with the area authority! o.0 My branch president got it for me since I talked to him a while back and was struggling. I'm hoping I get some really great counsel... and that the man speaks English! That would help. I also am planning on going to Aiina tomorrow since my library books were due today. Oops. :/ In any case, I had a good evening - just feeling panicky. I've been feeling very lonely and panicky lately. I'm not sure what is at the root of it. I'm hoping it's a lack of sleep and me-time. (Since last weekend was training.) In any case, other than that I'm having a good evening. :/ lol I have high hopes for tomorrow.

Hope you're all having a good Friday and that your weekend goes well. All the best always, XOXO, A

I took a few pictures of myself today but they're not loading correctly. :/ Not sure what's wrong.. I'll try to figure it out!