It's hard to think of apt titles quickly

Insect count: 0! (mmm)

Today started well. I got ready, got to the bus, the bus ride was pleasant, and because of the rain lots of MM students were on the bus with me (15 to the usual 1-3). Because of the rain, the bus got to the school late. I couldn't get in the teacher's room because they had locked the copy room door too. So I had to wait outside. Then I remembered the full length mirror and acted on opportunity. I present to you my current figure:

(just in case you couldn't tell... front.)

side - my shirts are getting SOO baggy!

Oh - I'm not sure why I thought of it now, but I remembered why I laughed so hard in my class yesterday. We played a new word game and when the students thought of a new word they could sit down. When they sat down, they could include their row, their line, or decide for only them to sit. Well all my other classes (to a certain point) have been really nice. I told my first graders about 2.6. They were like, "Only me!" "Only me!" LOL Very funny. Those boys are a riot! (There are four girls in that class and they do their best to not interact with any of the boys.) So, I taught the first three periods today. My first class was chaos. This class is getting harder and harder to handle. They constantly are yelling over me. I stopped and waited and the students would hush those who were talking, but then as soon as I would start talking they would start again too. *sigh* I almost lost my voice! That worried me because I had two more classes to teach! I survived...

My second class was my most calm class of first graders. They're almost comatose! In any case, it was big numbers with Mr. Suzuki's class (they are one of two classes that are two weeks behind). Well Mr. Suzuki forgot he was supposed to talk to the students first. Although, on the way to class (to remind him), I said, "I will tell them the goal then turn the time over to you for your portion of explaining in Japanese the difference between Japanese numbering and English numbering." He agreed but when I actually did it and sat down he sort of freaked. LOL His eyes went really wide and his jaw dropped and so I jumped up quickly and said, "I can try to explain it! It won't be in Japanese though!" I'm so glad I got to watch Mr. Hashimoto explain Japanese numbers because I based what I said off of that. I didn't understand what Mr. Hashimoto said but I took in everything he wrote on the board (minus the kanji I didn't know). I even got to crack a couple jokes (at which some two students laughed, lol). For example, as I was covering Japanese numbers (who use 4 places where we use 3), I got to "man" and said, "I think this is the kanji," *drew it* and the class nodded approvingly. When I got to "oku" though.. ya I don't know oku. So I scribbled on the board and said, "That's oku. Sorry I don't know the kanji." A girl in front giggled at me and another student laughed. (I laughed too.) As the students were working on one portion of the worksheet Mr. Suzuki came up to me and said, "That was a very good explanation. The students understood what you said." Hallelujah and thank you to my HF and Mr. Hashimoto!

My third class was one of my favorite third grade classes. There are these two boys (D & S) who love English and as it turns out, ASL. Last time I taught them "See you later" and "Bach." (They are the ones who taught me, "Oko!" ~ And did I tell you, yesterday as I was walking by their classroom I stopped and made the oko motion to them and they cracked up. :D) Since they had shown interest in ASL, I printed off the ASL alphabet from the net and gave them each a copy. After I started them on their worksheets, I went by their desks and said, "Present." They were thrilled which made me so happy. I went through the letters once with them quickly (I couldn't help it! I love ASL so much!) and then I said, "Practice!" while spelling it. They both exclaimed at my speed, "Whoa!" Part one of the worksheet was a crossword that had keywords and they asked me for help with number one. I told them it started with t. Then they said, "Hint, hint!" I then spelled it in ASL (fast) and said, "That's the answer!" They both laughed and said, "Whoa too fast!" I referred them to their textbooks in the meantime. The lesson went really well.

After that I had prep (as SEPs are still on). I did lots of prep and then I was done. I have more prep to do, but there's only so much prep I can do in a row before I'm finished! At one point I went into the lady's locker room and practiced a little for Sansa (taiko). A funny thing occurred to me during lunch. I made spicy okra chicken curry, as I mentioned yesterday, and I forgot to cook the okra seperately at high heat to reduce the slime. So my curry was pretty slimy but it was fine. However I have heard several of my students say they don't like okra. Well, okra is as slimy (maybe a little less) as natto HOWEVER, it does not taste like regurgitated vomit. You read that right. Vomit that has been vomited up again. Natto is seriously rank. (I've tried it twice and thrown it up twice.)

After school I took the bus home. I got a few feet from the bus when I remembered my umbrella was still on the bus. I walked back quickly and said to the driver, "Kasa!" while making an "opening an umbrella" motion. He just stared at me and I entered the side door (the entry) and grabbed my umbrella. It occurred when I got off the bus that I know how to say "I forgot." Doh! Oh well, I still have my umbrella and that's what counts! It was kinda weird saying "kasa" though as "casa" is the Spanish word for house. (I'm starting to mix the two - though I'm not sure how that's possible!) When I got home I ate some dinner, read a couple short stories, did a little cleaning, snapped a picture, washed my face, and here I am. I want to practice a little more for Sansa, I will practice my guitar and then I will head to bed. I have been over-tired this week so I need to get into bed as soon as possible (since tomorrow is my earliest day of the week). Have a great day/evening! XOXO, A

(sorry some photos removed)

my crazy hairs when I let them down for the night :)