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