I survive!

insect count: 0 (YAY!)

(Last night I got to talk to my maman - yay!) Today started out ROUGH. Oh man. I cried on the bus. I ducked into the bathroom to cry before my first class. But the "good" news is that my period started! So with my mom's help yesterday I figured out why I am feeling so incredibly stressed. (There's the kernel and then period=to the tenth power! It's a week early but the last one was only 7 days -an all time low for me- so here to hoping for that!)

Once I got into the day it got better. My first lesson was big numbers with one of my first grade classes. They were great! I say it all the time, but seriously, my students are so smart! One of the girls was really struggling during the listening portion and I went by her desk still talking and showed her the answer. I don't know if that helped or stressed her out, but I wanted her to have at least ONE answer written down. I also made sure to go by the desk of another student who had forgotten most of his English (he was asked by Hashimoto-sensei, "What month comes after March?" The student replied, "Friday." Funny, but sad too!) so I was paying special attention to him while trying not to look like I was doing so. I helped him with a lot of his numbers, but he got the first half of part one done! I also asked him to write one of the answers on the board. That other girl who was struggling was given chalk to do a number near the bottom of the paper. She had not yet reached it, so I gave her my paper (the answer key) and said, "Here, you can use mine!" with a big smile. She thanked me in surprise (I wanted her to be successful and FEEL successful - and most importantly for her, LOOK successful to the other students). She then wrote the answer on the board and then started showing off that she had my paper. LOL I had to track her down to get it back. I ain't even mad! Anyway, sorry back to that boy! During the listening section I was worried he would put his head down (usually he does this for the majority of the class) but instead he tried to write some numbers and mostly copied off of the kid behind him. At least he was participating! I'll take it.

I then had a prep period and I worked like a fiend to get some of the six worksheets I needed to make/finish. Today I finished the three I needed for tomorrow (mmm - and printed them), and I finished the worksheets I need for Friday. Now working on Monday. I need to hear about another one for Monday as well, but hey! Keeping up! After that, I taught 2.6. I haven't seen them in ... 6 weeks maybe? So I was a little nervous to see them again. However, they were awesome today! There were still those students who talked over me and the corner boys who REFUSE to speak any English, but our lesson was on sports and this class is a PE track class. I complimented them on their performance in the sports taikai (I know the kanji for that!), and then was able to speak to specific students during the speaking practice portions of the lesson and tell them I watched and cheered for them. They responded REALLY positively which made me happy. Also that corner of boys was still a little rude to me when I came by, but they actually wrote a little bit on their worksheets! :D YAY!! Also I had a bingo game on the back and started playing it myself and they gave me the hardest time. It was really fun. I would ask, "Do you like _______(sport)_____" And each student (without even consulting someone else across the room) would loudly say, "No!" And say no to most of the things I asked, lol. I made a big show of it too. "No!? What!? Really? Hmmm.. how about..." I really enjoyed myself. :D I had another activity planned but we didn't get to it. :) So yay, it went well.

After that I had a prep period and then lunch. I kept working like a fiend again. In fact, during lunch I was still working hard and realized that I was teaching fifth and sixth period and that I better eat! So I grabbed some lunch. My fifth period class was great! We played a review game and the students really had fun and were very attentive today which I really appreciated. After that I taught the same lesson with a different teacher. Once again the game went really well. :) During each class I took a folding chair around and would sit with a group for a turn and then go to the next group and interacted with all the students (10 groups). One group, when I sat down, was saying something in Japanese. I opened my eyes wide and cocked my head and when they were finished I said, "Wakarimasen." They all burst into laughter. I have no idea what they said, but their laughter didn't seem malicious so I laughed at their laughter. :) On the way back to the teacher's room I saw another first grader in the hall. He's one of my English lovers. Pretty sure he drew a picture of me on his last assignment. I wrote, "Self portrait? :)" Underneath it though. AHAHAHA! In any case, some of my boys have said, "I like you!" to me before but he stepped it up. "I love you!" He proclaimed. It actually surprised me a lot. However, I replied as I have to the likes, "Aw! Thank you!" Right on the ball, this kid replied, "You're welcome!" LOL I hope my students don't feel like I don't like or love them - I love them all! But it's not exactly appropriate for me to respond with an "I love you" to a student who says that to me in the hall! I didn't even go that far in my speech just in case. I said I love working at the school (which is true). Anyway...

I feel like I'm forgetting another funny story from today... sorry. When I remember it, I will write it up. Today's weather was great! It was 18-21, rainy, but SUPER muggy. I'll take it though! Tomorrow is supposed to be 29 and muggy. *stricken face* Please only one! Sheesh 90% humidity on top of 29 degrees does not sound like fun!

After that class I put finishing touches on the worksheets I was making throughout the day to be printed at home. I'm going to take my computer tomorrow (sigh - and my guitar, and I will be bringing home my shoes, lol) so I can do some more work on it tomorrow. I wish they had brought out the computer they offered to let me borrow! Oh well. After that I helped clean - actually I had to be told to stop. LOL I am very meticulous when it comes to cleaning and I was vacuuming in order to clean rather than look like I was cleaning. Well one of the vice-principals came over (Moniwa) and stopped me. Oops. Cleaning time was over. But those rows are SO much cleaner! After that is when I actually put on the finishing touches, then I grabbed my things to catch my bus.

The bus was late (which is fine but it always makes me a little nervous), and I got rained on a lot! :D I had my umbrella but the rain was a spraying mist that just got everywhere. By the time the bus got there I was pretty soaked. As soon as I got home, I grabbed a pair of pants, my jacket, my bike and back out I went. I think I told you I had to go to the office today. Well it wasn't too bad. Although I was told to do something that before I had been told NOT to do. And they wonder why I can't fill out their form! Oh well, I made it. I was given a little cake and introduced to the new guy. I felt pretty awful though and so I didn't stick around and chat. I felt really strange. I just didn't feel like myself at all which made me feel so alien and unsure of myself. Yuck. So that passed quickly and I went home. I ate the little cake (it was really good) as I made my dinner. I ate dinner and talked to my best friend. Friends and family make it possible for me to calm down. Thank you all and I love you all! It means SO MUCH to me. So right now I am in pain but I don't feel like crying until my eyes fall out of their sockets. That's something, eh? :) Wishing you the best from Japan! XOXO, A