World Traveler: Back to life, back to reality!

It would seem like a bad thing to go back to work, to go back to what is often described as "the drag." And when I was younger, I definitely felt that way! Younger!? Psh! A couple years ago, though I loved school, I was ecstatic every time we had a break. Going back was rough. Today I did not feel that way at all. The greatest discomfort I had today was a reappearance of my cramps. (Which really was unfortunate because of my choice of skirt. -- I have this really cute brown skirt and it is my only other "short" skirt I have here. ~it's a size 14 btw!~ Well I contemplated wearing this morning and thought, "If I have cramps, it will be torture! Otherwise it will be fine." Well mid-morning my cramps struck with a vengeance. I escaped to bathroom because I was so nauseous. However, thus far I have made it without throwing up! -- It's been a long time since I could say that! Then again I wasn't able to eat breakfast so it's not like I had anything TO throw up. I'm not counting that as cheating though! I'm winning fair and square! In any case... sorry about the tmi...)

I slept fairly poorly, to go back in time, but I've had a pretty alert day. I arrived to find large stacks of exams waiting to be graded. I got through those fairly quickly and then started planning one of the lessons I have this Thursday and then my lessons for the Deaf school on Friday. I'm finished with 3 out of the 4 of them but knowing me I will go back and add to most of them. I could roll with them as is, but I am a perfectionist!

Oh! One of my students wrote in their exam that they used to hate English but now they love it. They stated that they understood its importance and really I see these students once a week (assuming things like exams don't get in the way), but I still took a little (or maybe a lot) of pride in that change of heart. I mean, they get to hang out with a crazy American once a week, I KNOW I have forced them to love English! ;) I'm kidding, but as I said, it still felt like a victory! --Several students stated that English was their favorite subject. It was VERY hard to refrain from drawing smiley faces next to those statements. (If they were MY tests I would have done so.) In any case, painful day at school but I survived. A few times I just got up and walked around and took deep breaths. I fanned myself when I became overheated and just tried to be cognizant of my mood and the temperament of my tummy.

When I got home, I rushed off the bus, rushed home, changed, quickly ate a popsicle (I was overheating), and ran back out. I met Anna, Alice, and Annie for dinner (we were the A-Team) then we went to participate in getting ready for the Sansa Odori Matsuri! I'm SOOOOO EXCITED! I'm going to play Taiko! (The drum) -- I swear I was meant to play the drums! I understood the rhythm fairly quickly - a lot faster than the Japanese. I would look attentively at the girl as she spoke and watch her body language and motions but ya... no idea. LOL Still, I had a wonderful time with that drum! :D Hope you all had a great evening/day as well! XOXO, A

Funny moments:

As I was grading the students' written portion of their exam, I came across a student who stated that their favorite animation was "Happy Tree Friends." I burst out in laughter. My laughter interested one of the teachers and she came over to see at what I was laughing - I showed her and tried to explain. Those of you who are familiar with Happy Tree Friends will understand why I laughed. Happy Tree Friends is a horribly violent cartoon with adorable animals. It's very gruesome. I watched some at a friend's house and then, though it was a cartoon, I just couldn't stomach anymore. It was too horrid for me. So the thought of this innocent little Japanese teen watching that show... and the fact that they knew it when many of my American friends don't... small world.