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!
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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
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