Freaky Friday

I call it a freaky Friday because it's been a strange day for me. Today, again, I felt like everything was sort of disjointed.

Here in Morioka, the sun rises at around 3-4 am. I think this is the reason I wake up several times before my alarm goes off: it's already light out. Then by contrast it gets dark around 18-19. That was a big change for me. In any case, I was woken up around 430 and then when I went back to sleep I had stress dreams. And one was just wacky. I have this nice floral shirt that would have matched my brown pants but my brown pants are striped. So I was going to wear them together (I started to pull them out) and then I saw that they didn't match. In my dream, I somehow put that outfit on and went to school without realizing it and the teachers made fun of me. LOL In my dream I felt like a giant idiot and it stressed me out that I KNEW better and still hadn't managed to dress myself well (I DO have a degree in Fashion after all!), but anyway, I survived.

Today I got to go to the Deaf school again! (I missed them last week because of Golden Week.) Big news... no one cried! Again. Score. (*laughs*) But I did see that same girl again today that I made cry last time and everything seems to be cool between us now. I'm not sure how they like my lessons. :/ I've been trying to really scaffold and give them the tools they need to succeed and I'm just not sure how it's being received.

I got to teach the elementary school kids today. I'm WAY out of my depth (as all my training is in secondary education) but luckily I subbed before I left Utah and often took elementary school job. Still, I felt unsure of myself. It didn't help that the JTE speaks hardly any English at all! *laughs* Still, the kids were so cute and we had a lot of fun. (I think... >I< had fun!)

One high note: there is a girl at the school, M, who is mentally retarded. She LOVES English. She is very shy though. Every time I have come she has shyly said a phrase or two to me. She is ADORABLE. And I found out that next week I get to teach her! I am so excited! However, I think she will be the only one there. So I need to come up with 40-45 minutes worth of activities and games and teaching we can do together. It's impossible to not absolutely love this sweet girl. I wish I could show you a photo of her! :/ I did get some more photos of the school though (which I cannot post).

I also got a picture of the muffin M made for me today! It was very good. :)

 
When I got home, I put the laundry in the washer and sat down to read, text friends, and wait for the laundry to finish. I had been nodding on the bus and I tried to read but I was SO tired. So finally I gave in and laid down. Then I woke up and it was dark! (It was only 1900- but as I mentioned above it gets dark early here.) It made me feel all out of sorts and then I got a migraine (I think it was my body saying, "Aha! We've missed a lot of sleep!" Either that or the lack of oxygen to my eyes, as I had fallen asleep with my contacts in, caused the migraine. It was frustrating for me, but I didn't let it keep me down. I finally got to clean my place! YAY! It took a while but it's nice and clean again which I love very much. :) Then I made dinner (didn't realize how late it was by then - 2200) and sat down to print out my worksheets and write this blog. I also just got to skype my Maman! <3 Hope you're all having a great weekend! Even though I have training tomorrow I'm planning on having a great weekend and will talk to you later. XOXO, A

p.s. All the photos from this last Sunday are finally up! YAY! So glad to be caught up!

Funny stories:

When M gave me the muffin I saw two teachers peeking around the corner watching. (They had urged her to come up to me, as she is shy, and were watching to see what she would do.) She handed me the muffin and now I can't remember what she said, but she said something to me in English and I thanked her warmly. Her joyous smile was incredible and then she turned back and tried to smile at the other two teachers and they ducked out of view. *laughs* It was a very touching scene. :)

I almost missed my bus stop! I thought for sure the guy would stop since it was the Bus Center (and surely people might have to get on), and I was exhausted but he rolled right by it! Luckily the light was red so I ran up to the front of the bus from the back exclaiming "Sumimasen! Sumimasen!" And scanned my card and he let me off. Oh man, I'm SO glad the driver was nice about and I felt a right prat about the whole situation. lol