Sheesh!

T5B: 1) I finally found a bus stop. 2) I had time to make my lunches for the week. 3) I only threw up once. 4) I got some treats (omiyage) from the other teachers. 5) Oikawa-s is back!!

basal temp: 35.99 (whoa!)

Some stories I forgot from before:

1. Yesterday at church, Muraki-s gave me some chestnuts. I was really excited and grateful. Me: "Arigatou gozaimasu!!! ... How do I cook them?" LOL She told me some ways.
2. Last week I was teaching my first graders how to offer food to their friends. Well as part of that, they had to offer something extra. (Like I mentioned the apple with cheese or peanut butter.) Well one boy had rice. I told him, "How about shouyu (soy sauce) or vegetables?" "Shouyu!?" "Yes!" He was incredulous. Apparently they don't do that here. I suggested butter, again, mind blown. LOL He thought I was crazy!
3. At the doctor last Friday: "Can you take powder medicine?" "Yes." "Even if it is ..." "Bitter?" "No, no. Wait, what?" "Bitter?" "Yes! If it is bitter!" LOL She automatically starts to tell me I'm wrong... psh!
4. Oh yes! Also yesterday: Elder Hakaraia was translating for me. He comes to one word (and has been talking about reminiscing - translating about) and tells me the Japanese. "What's that in English?" "Uh... YOU'RE the translator!" "I don't know the word in English!" "Nostalgic?" "Ya that's it!" LOL

Morning:
- worst sleep yet since I started tracking
- good breakfast though I wasn't hungry for it
- my lunch was moldy (in the fridge too long) so I improvised
- got ready so slowly I read my scriptures on the bus
- Oikawa-s is back!
- threw away my soy fan
- Hashimoto-s gets upset with me
1st period - taught second graders, went really well
2nd - prep
3rd - showed up late to class
4th - when the class was scheduled on my SLP! (hence why I showed up late before, doh!)

Notes: Ok, first: soy fan. So, my lunch that I threw together was to put the rest of my frozen veggies in with some rice and throw a little soy sauce on top. Well the soy sauce got all over my bag but mostly drenched my poor fan. Well the fan REEKED of soy sauce. It was actually really funny. However, a bunch of the glue dissolved and the thing just started coming apart so I had to chuck it. However before that, I was walking around fanning myself and Fujieda-sensei goes, "Hey! It smells like shouyu!" LOL Yup that's me. Next: So Hashimoto-s didn't like my worksheet. AT ALL. Completely the school's fault. IF I get the SLP on time, I can make the worksheet and show it to them! So considering they gave it to me Friday after 1700 and I'm not paid to work nights and weekends, he's lucky he got a worksheet! I was, ok still am, pretty frustrated. AARGH! Anyway, 3rd period - Hosokawa-s runs up to me, "Ann-sensei! Are you coming?" "Uh... yes!" My SLP is wrong, go figure. Not only that, the wrong teacher was listed too. Sheesh.

Afternoon:
Lunch - K (2.1) tells me my lunch looks delicious
5th - prep - was asked to do extra work for two teachers, did it
6th - prep
7th - first graders lesson that went really well - mentioned a death in the family in class, BIG no no. Oops.
- helped with cleaning time
- left early to pay what I found out is my health insurance - booked it to the bank, it was closed! Before 1700! AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!
- got lost
- FINALLY found a bus stop

Notes: I'm so frustrated. Although I am aware of the irony - I didn't pay my health insurance on time because I've been sick. :/ I'm going to ask tomorrow if I can go at lunch time. :/ I hope that's ok. Sheesh. After that, I walked ten minutes in one direction, no bus stops. So I turned around and walked 15 minutes in the other direction and finally found one. Hallelujah. However it meant I was home late as usual. :/ The bus turned into the bus station so I was confused where we were going and momentarily panicked. Made it though!

Evening:
- bought a bus pass
- made new lunches quickly
- went to tutoring
- waited ten mins, emailed my tutor, she's in Tokyo
- went back home and made stew
- had to leave before I could eat any to meet Ann (my head teacher)
- had a lovely chat with Ann and she gave me the idea of going at lunch
- finally got back home after 2000 and ate some dinner

Notes: Ann Marise is such a lovely person! I wish she lived close to me and I could spend more time with her.

As far as the whole day goes, I've been SUPER nauseous. I only threw up once though, mmm! Love to you all, XOXO, A

My sleep - 76% :/ dang it!

My leg!

Looking better?

You can see the bruise around it better now

0.o Oh man, BIG spelling mistake - it was innocent though!

Some of the extra work I was asked to do, lol "Her work cooking of patients." Yer mum does what now!? -- dang it! I made a mistake in my corrections.. this is what happens when I don't get enough sleep! :/ *sigh*

AWWWW! I'm so loved! One of my first grade girls. :D (Well it says girl... still!)

My omiyage - the top one was crackers (even though it looked like salami!), and the bottom a flaky, buttery cookie (mmmmm)

Seasick

T5B: 1) I made it to church! 2) I haven't thrown up today (though once again, feels like "yet" - last night I did end up throwing up one more time :/). 3) The weather has been really nice today (warm sun but cool air). 4) I got to skype my family. 5) I know I can be with my family again.

basal temp: 36.11 (just took my temp for fun: 35.87)

Morning:
- woke up before my alarm (30 mins)
- got ready for church
- rode my bike to church (lately that's been getting harder and harder as I become more and more exhausted)
- church was good (about being a member missionary - both Sacrament mtg and Sunday School)

Notes: I brought some vegemite for Elder Norawong and his two sons. LOL He was NOT grateful. He said to me, "Do you know how much food I had to eat to get the taste of that crap off my tongue!?"

Afternoon:
- skyped my family
- received bad news
- got to chat with my sisters for a bit
- wanted to continue talking to my family, but felt really gross and needed to go home
- ate a little food at home

Notes: Today I found out that my mom's older sister had an aneurysm. I was still in shock about it. My poor mom. It feels a little unreal from so far away - and I hadn't had the chance to talk to my aunt for a while, but she was always kind to me. She was sarcastic, crazy, and fun. I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know I will see and be with my aunt again. In the meantime, I will be praying for comfort for those closest to her. I'm grateful she was part of my family and I am grateful for the good memories I have of time spent with her. Miss you already Aunt Joyce and see you on the other side.

Evening:
- had a massive meltdown
- ate some dinner
- was able to talk to Jerod

Notes: The meltdown? It finally HIT me. I wish I could have been there for my mom. I'm glad she has the rest of the family there with her though!

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of September... it's been a weird month for me - a painful blur.

On a lighter note, Jerod told me a funny story. He got up this morning, ironed his church clothes at his friend's house and then drove to church. It's only when he got there that he realized, "It's Saturday!" When he went back to his friend's house he asked him, "Dude! Why didn't you tell me it was Saturday!?" "I thought you were Jewish or something." LOL My tummy is unhappy tonight, but I'm ok. Hoping to feel better tomorrow. :/ Hope you're doing well (and those of my family - hope you are feeling comforted. I am praying for you!). XOXO, A

My bruises continue to look spectacular but I decided to spare you all - here is my sleep for last night. I have felt half asleep all day. I have this thing where when I am dissatisfied with the way my day went, I have a REALLY hard time getting to sleep. It's like my body and mind need something good or exciting or productive to happen or they don't want to admit the day is over. That being said, I did NOT get enough sleep. I have been yawning all day. :/

Ick Day

Happy birthday Adri!

Top 5 Blessings: 1) I got jalapeños from Hiroko who bought them in Hawaii for me. 2) I got my work done relatively quickly. 3) I got to message Jerod a little bit. 4) I haven't thrown up in a few hours. 5) My apartment is clean!

basal temp: 36.05 (I got a new low! ~love that song)

Morning:
- woke up early, made my body go back to sleep
- took my kampo medicine
- Bruce came by with my jalapeños from Hiroko so I didn't have to get them myself
- the elders called me and checked in on me
- ate breakfast
- felt EXTREMELY nauseous
- threw up
- lots of pain
- laid in bed on the heating pad

Notes: that says it all

Afternoon:
- made my worksheet for the first graders on predicates
- watched a couple episodes of Gintama
- felt so awful I cried
- took some more medicine
- ate again
- threw up again
- TONS of pain, used the heating pad

Notes: *sigh*

Evening:
- last dose of kampo medicine for the day
- more food
- more puking
- a little more Gintama
- was able to message Jerod
- forced myself to clean my apartment (I wanted it clean badly, just felt super icky)
- FINALLY showered
- felt even more awful
- took one of my pharmaceutical pills
- feeling super nauseous at the moment :/

Notes: Today has been rough, to say the least. Lots of puking, lots of crying, lots of despair. However, at the moment I am feeling ok. I'm still in a LOT of pain, but it really helps that I got my work done (even though it sucked to do it on Saturday), got my place cleaned up, and got myself cleaned up. Today wasn't perfect by any means, but it wasn't worthless. Also, the Relief Society message this month quoted President Monson as saying, "How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here ... that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive." -- After all this, mansion? ;) But in all seriousness, it's always good to be reminded that the trials we face in life aren't "just because." So though I don't understand the purpose of this illness, I hope that I can ... aguantarla .. overcome it (man that took me a good 45 seconds)! There we go. :)

So in other news, I forgot that my taxes are due on Monday. :c By the time I get home from school the place will be closed. :/ Oneechan, what happens if you pay late? Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! XOXO, A

My sleep - now if I can just manage to stop waking up during my deep sleep! (Today I ended up turning my alarm off an hour early - I already was able to fall back asleep after, as you can see, almost an hour. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get back down.)

Jalapeños from Hawaii! A friend bought them for me (I gave her the money - well worth it - even though I haven't really been able to eat them yet because of all the puking).

My insides!! (The MRI)

My bruise

A day of REST?

T5B: 1) I had enough money to pay for everything (this was another miracle like the one for my MRI. I had that 2000 yen I mentioned that I made on Wednesday. I paid for my doctor's visit AND my medicine and had .33 left over. I had some change leftover from my groceries and with all that, I was able to pay for everything almost EXACTLY). 2) I made it to the bank. 3) I haven't thrown up (though it feels like "yet" the way my stomach is behaving) today. 4) Yasue and Shinoki went with me to the doctor. 5) I can email the doctor.

basal temp: 36.22

Morning:
- got up to my alarm (first time in WEEKS)
- pulled a big muscle in my back and had a hard time breathing all day
- went to the hospital with Yasue and Shinoki
- met a new doctor who spoke English
- was able to afford everything myself

Notes: The doctor had the bedside manner of an abrasive ice cube! Still, she agreed to let me try a medicine I was thinking might help AND she gave me herbal medicines (read about it here and here - they gave me "25" for daily and "68" for period). So I'm hoping that between the two (pharmaceuticals and natural), relief will be found. At this point, I GIVE UP. She said, "No endometriosis on your MRI. One inch cysts on your left ovary and your right is fine." No endometriosis!? It's like the immaculate conception. I'm miraculously cured ... only why am I in so much pain then!? I don't know what to think, and at this point, I am DESPERATE for any kind of relief. If these three medicines don't work, I don't know what I'll do. :,c I'm glad my oneechan and Shinoki were able to go with me. They helped me at the pharmicist and they kept me company. Also they let me finish my sentences! It seems to be a THING with Japanese doctors. They won't let you finish a sentence! It was REALLY frustrating to be constantly cut off. Still, I hope those medicines help. The REALLY good thing is that I was able to give the doctor my email address and get hers so I don't have to go back for repeat visits. I can email her about how the drugs are working and not miss days from the school. Hopefully this medicine works. :/

Afternoon:
- got home
- went to the bank (so I could pay back Brother Shuwa)
- took a pharmaceutical pill
- laid on the heating pad
- cried

Notes: it took me almost an HOUR to get to the bank and back because I'm in so much pain it's hard to walk. I took a pill when I got home and it helped. It took about 60% of the pain away. Best record yet! --When we were at the hospital, I got left behind because I was walking so slow. But it KILLS to walk at all when I hurt this much so keeping the jarring down to a minimum helps. The bike ride was torture. That's why I walked to the bank when usually I would ride my bike. Some kids were selling something in Sakanacho. I wanted to be interested but I just couldn't summon it.

Evening:
- FINALLY got my SLP
- couldn't figure out what they wanted
- Interac didn't help me much
- cried a whole lot more

Notes: Interac has TOTALLY had my back with this illness. I have REALLY appreciated that. However, when it comes to my SLP, it's like they don't care. I'm repeatedly having to work nights and weekends and they don't pay me for that! They promised we would have our SLPs a week early and they have yet to deliver on that promise. Well, that's not true. CS always sends my SLP early. MM always sends it late. Well here I am at home, FINALLY get my SLP AFTER 1700, and it's in gibberish as far as I'm concerned. I email back. They call me. They call the school. They call me. They send me the pages of the text since I had no idea I would need it. And I'm SCREWED. I tried to let them feel my displeasure but the office doesn't seem to care about this. They tell me, "Please rest." Then when I say, "How am I supposed to do that when I have to work most weekends?" "Oh, ok." NO. NOT OK. I'm feeling SO crappy. It feels like no one is HEARING me. Limor said I could talk to her anytime (since she's always calling me and telling me the negative things going on in her life.) Well, I messaged her and I got a, "Well, chin up." Essentially. Thanks. I'm completely and thoroughly disheartened. I'm feeling completely abandoned and I still have to make a worksheet for Monday. I'm LIVID and depressed. And I REALLY don't like feeling like this. I can barely motivate myself to get out of bed to get a tissue to blow my nose (and I've needed them from all the sobbing) and I'm supposed to make a worksheet and hopefully clean my apartment. It's disgusting - I've been working or in pain or entertaining people the past couple weekends and my place is filthy. :,c

I hope I can sleep. Hope you're all doing well. XOXO, A

One more thing: This has been weighing heavily on my mind and I don't know what to do about it. Please pray for Teresa. She's not doing well. The doctors have begun to date her and I have been praying for her, but as I said in this post, I'm not feeling "heard" lately. So please add your prayers to mine. -- She wants to give up because of all the pain she's been in for so long. I don't know what to say to her. I've been in pain everyday for only two months and man >I< want to give up. :,/

My sleep

RS a while ago - this was sent to me by Shinoki-shimai today (From back left: Yasue, me, Gas-s, Johnson-s (she's since been transferred), Hyoudo-s, Hoshino-s, front from left: ?, ?, Seiko-s, Fumie-s)

Medicine packets

On the left: three times daily everyday (herbal), middle: three times daily on my period (herbal), right: pain killer

I survive!

T5B: 1) I made it to another weekend (I asked and Interac said they called CS and CS said for me not to come in tomorrow and to take care of my health so I have tomorrow off, as it were. I am sad I don't get to see my students and my lessons are ready, but hopefully I will teach them next week). 2) My bruise keeps looking better and better (cooler I mean). 3) I got one of my worksheets for next week done. 4) My lessons went well. 5) I have now, officially, met all the class at MM.

basal temp: 36.15

Ok, so I've decided to structure my blog a little differently. I've been writing it like a journal entry to my mom. I will now bullet point the "mundane." I will then cover the highlights and lowlights in a paragraph following. That being said...

Pre School (not preschool):
- got up
- got ready
- bus ride was ok
- got to school much later than usual, missed all the meetings altogether

Now significant stories from that period of time: when I was showering this morning, I remembered my big scrape on the back on my right leg. I then went to shave my left leg. I finished that and moved to my right leg. *Shave, OW! *shave, OW! *shave, OW! It took me three passes with the razor before I remembered, oh ya, I have a scrape that I remembered 2 minutes ago and already forgot in the interim! (Period brain IS a thing!) LOL

During school:
1st period - prep (that's what it was and what I did)
2nd - taught first graders, the class went well
3rd - prep - Nakata-sensei gave me a gift (maybe from the PTA - all the teachers got one)
4th - prep - call from Interac informing me I wasn't working tomorrow
lunch
5th - taught first graders
6th - taught second graders (this was my last self-introduction)

During my self introduction, one boy asked me, "Do you like AKB48?" I believe they are a female K-Pop band. (I know they are a band of some sort.) I told him I didn't know them. He asked another singer. "I don't know, sorry." Then another Japanese name, "Do you like so and so?" Me: Shrug and look of confusion. Then the whole class BUSTS up. I surmised it was a student's name. Sure enough, a kid in the front laughing and blushing! LOL They also asked me, "Do you like Kanamori-sensei?" She was SO irked they asked me that. I answered yes and said, "She is very nice to me." Then a boy shouted out, "Why!?" She ran over and pretended to punch him. LOL It was Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes punching... classic. :D They enjoyed teasing her. Also at some point, one of the questions was about favorite colors. Three boys were asking K-s her favorite color. They kept guessing shades of brown (lol), "Brown? Beige!? Tan!?" I then stepped in. "Please ask me Miss Kanamori's favorite color." Proceeded to sort of butcher it. "What is Miss Kanamori's favorite color?" He asks me. "Blue!" (She's told me this previously.) She nodded proudly and the student yelled, "Usso! (lies!)" LOL I wasn't lying though! K-s told me afterwards that the class really enjoyed it. Oh good! At some points I felt like crying while teaching that class. They were SO rowdy. I know it was me (the new teacher) plus some jhs students visited so the hs students had to show off how cool they were... it was just overwhelming on my period. I was in a TON of pain today. I took the last of the pain medication Shinoki-s gave me. Unfortunately though it nearly worked a miracle on my migraine, it didn't seem to do much at all for my cramps. That was disheartening. Still, HOPEFULLY tomorrow is full of answers!

Post school:
- bus ride home was fine
- stumbled across some sort of cultural celebration or something
- was able to message Jerod
- had a good dinner
- watched a little Gintama

On the docket for tomorrow:
- go to the bank
- go to the hospital
- HOPEFULLY hear from Hashimoto-sensei who wasn't here today but hasn't given me my schedule OR the topic for the first years' lesson next week :/
- REST!!

Hope you're all doing well and find this format more to your liking. :) XOXO, A

On the way home this was in Sakanacho (no idea for what or why):

My bruise last night

One side of my right calf - from far away it looks like stitches

My calf (the picture above is on the under side - in this picture)

I think the iOS7 is mostly garbage - but I DO like the way they show weather now. It shows the sunset now! (taken this am)

Sleep graphs for the past 5 days (it will only show 5 at a time)

AHAHAHAHA a hotdog with cheese or PEANUT BUTTER? The fault is mine - well and theirs for not paying attention. My first example on the board was "an apple." So I taught them that is America we like apples with cheese or peanut butter. Looks like a couple students just copied what I wrote, lol. (first graders - second class if that makes a difference)

And here's another: some cake with cheese or peanut butter. LOL

It's so pretty! I can't get enough! This is tonight.

The gift I received from Nakata-sensei or perhaps the PTA (since she's the coordinating teacher for them) - it's a book marker with the school's logo. I LOVE IT.

I forgot to get a picture this morning - I've been pretty exhausted all day but good to know I finally achieved higher than 85% (it says in their information that "normal, healthy" sleep should be above 85 - this is the first day I have done that. Ironically I had a REALLY hard time falling asleep because of pain - and that time I was awake in the night? Thought I wouldn't be able to sleep again - I was all over the heating pad (moving it front to back, back to front) - I was in SO MUCH PAIN - still, I fell back asleep! Thanks body! :D

Desperate Measures

T5B: 1) Though today and yesterday were very hot, tomorrow and the weekend is supposed to be 3-7 degrees cooler (yesterday was 26, today 27, tomorrow is supposed to be 19 and the weekend's high is 24). 2) I only had one rough class today - and they were actually pretty good for me. 3) I met a girl in 2.2 today in the hall and told her I would see her tomorrow and she got really excited. :D 4) I made one of my classes laugh REALLY hard. 5) I was able to communicate with the nurse (who speaks no English).

basal temp: 36.22

So, sorry I'll get the unpleasantness out of the way upfront (well, mostly) - my period started last night. GRRRRR!!! So Today was looking like it was going to be REALLY bad. I am in pain everyday of my period, but the first day is ESPECIALLY icky all around. I also, once again, woke up in the middle of deep sleep, before my alarm. It's funny. My new alarm has yet to wake me up. It just notices I'm awake and then goes off, as if to say, "Hey! That's my job!" This morning I woke up 25 minutes early. :/ Oh well. I took some tylenol and my temperature (so at least I remembered that). I then got ready and actually fairly quickly. I was motivated to have some time to get ready as another one of the reasons I went over my budget yesterday is I changed my breakfasts. Before I have had 1-2 hard boiled eggs plus 2 mini hotdogs or sausages. I recently added cheese to that mix but now I wanted something more. I got some lunch meat, and some English muffins. Breakfast used to cost me $4-$6 a week. Now it has gone up to about $12, but I am not having breakfast sandwiches. So this morning I toasted an English muffin (in my pan), scrambled an egg, browned the meat, and melted a piece of cheese on the eggs. It TOTALLY hit the spot. I'm excited to have breakfast sandwiches everyday from now on. As I mentioned before, it's more expensive and more work, but I feel much more pampered. It makes me feel like I'm taking care of myself much better. Plus I think it's a better mix of nutrition for breakfast.

I got out the door one minute early but realized at the bus stop that EVEN THOUGH I was ready with some extra time, I forgot my computer cord AGAIN. AARRGGHH! So that meant, once again, lugged in my heavy laptop with no way to actually make my worksheets. PLUS my phone was low on battery and I had expected to plug it in to use internet and that charges it as well. :/ Oh well! The bus ride there was .. hard. My morning was stressful and painful and my emotions were not good. When I got to the school the copy room was locked so I couldn't get into the meeting and I guess that was the last straw. I went into the female teacher's locker room and cried. :/ At least my breakfast was awesome! When I was finally able to get in, I started prepping for my lessons that day.

My first lesson was first period and it went well (thank goodness). I was in pain, but the students worked with me and seemed to really enjoy the lesson so yatta!

I then had another free period and finished getting ready for my lessons. As I was doing that, a girl approached me and said, "Will you do me a favor?" "Sure!" "Will you practice English with me?" "Of course!" She handed me a piece of paper with questions. I queried, "You would like me to ask you these questions?" "Yes." "Ima? (Now?) "At lunch! Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!" "Sure great! See you then." So yay! She may have been urged by a teacher, but she still approached me alone and asked to practice at lunch with me. Then I taught 3rd period. I looked at my schedule this morning and because of the Monday holiday, I only had ONE of my hard classes today. That class was third period. They actually were really good the first half, or I taught them well enough to keep their interest. As the end of the worksheet got hard (production), I lost them. :/ Still, it could have gone MUCH worse so I'm grateful. Right now it's worked out that I am doing thimbleful for all my first and second graders as the opening activity. This class was first graders and as we walked back, Hosokawa-s said to me (and this guy is 60-70), "That's the first time I have seen that game! It was very exciting!" Oh yay! It's like I made it up! LOL Though I didn't. But him having said that, I think that means that I'm the first NS (my title - Native Speaker) to play it here at MM.

After that class, I worked on some prep for Friday and then around 1210 (lunch is at 1230), I warmed up my lunch. I figured since I wasn't sure when that girl would come back, I should eat early so I would be ready for her. I did so - and me walking to the kitchen was just so pitiful. I was walking SO slowly. Every movement seemed to jar my body and cause immense pain. I decided the nurse MUST have some way she could help, so after I finished eating, I gingerly went down to her office (well after looking up the Japanese word for menstruation). When I got down there, I explained to her in Japanese (I think) that my period started and my pain was really bad. I asked her if she had some medicine. She pulled out some "Eve." I figured it was period specific with that name, and saw on the box (in Katakana) Ibipurofen. DAH! I double checked, asked her if it had ibuprofen, and she confirmed. I told her about my allergy. She told me that's all she had. ... So I took it. I was DESPERATE. I figured, since ibuprofen causes painful and severe cramping, that a 7-8 in cramps would be better than a 9-10. It was only 10-20 minutes after I took the pill that I thought.. "When your powers combine... OH NO!" Luckily the cramps didn't double. It took enough pain away that I was able to walk a little better. *sigh of relief --Oh and I think those happened in the opposite order sorry (pills then lunch). Anyway, also during lunch I worked on some more prep for CS and listened to students giving their English speeches to Hashimoto-s (who sits behind me) until that girl showed up. I asked her the questions and asked her if she was going to come back tomorrow. She said yes. :) I forgot to ask her name though. DOH! That didn't occur to me until maybe 15 minutes after she left. (My brain is always slower on my period. Seriously.)

I then had a class 5th period (right after lunch). I taught the same lesson that I taught 3rd period (so first graders again). There was one funny moment. They were learning how to offer their friend food and I pretended to be myself and Limor. Well, "Limor" offered me coffee or tea. Without even processing (period brain strikes again), I answered, "Coffee. NO WAIT! I don't like coffee!" The whole class BUSTED UP. They started yelling it too. "No wait! I don't like coffee!" In their defense, there was panic in my voice. It was a weird moment. I'm SO GLAD they laughed. I got a laugh out of it too.

Next I taught 6th period (same lesson as 1st period - second graders). On the way to the class a girl asked my name and I asked hers. Turns out she's in 2.2. That's the one class I haven't seen yet in the school. I told her, "Oh! I'm teaching you tomorrow!" She was SO EXCITED! That made me really happy. :) Now I'm even more excited to meet that class tomorrow. I do miss my third graders though (especially four of the classes). Anyway, that lesson went well as well. Yay! :D

After that, I worked on more prep for Friday and helped with cleaning time when the time came. Even though it's Wednesday, we didn't have the usual extended cleaning time. I was going to ask about vacuuming but then I didn't as I was in pain and I thought, "Oh well. Now I can go and sit back down." I feel slightly guilty about that, but in a backwards way I'm taking care of myself. Any other week and I would have mentioned it. :/

The ride home was stressful. I got home, left my laptop, grabbed a peach and strawberry jelly and left to go teach English. When I got there, another girl was teaching the first half hour. Sheesh! Not my fault my bus gets back so late. :/ So I had to wait. Then I taught for a half hour. I figured I would get $5 and was resigned to that and it would be $5 I didn't have before. Well, I got $20! YATTA! That's what I was HOPING I would get for an hour. I guess they didn't pay me for that girl not showing up before (for her French class). Wonder how much I would have made if I taught all three. They asked me to teach another class in October too. YAY. :) So ya, that was my night. I got home, I wasted time doing I don't know what! It was 20h00 5 minutes ago I swear! I'm not even ready for bed yet! (Well I put my laundry away, I remember that. And thank goodness.) Today was really painful and depressing for me. I'm glad my classes went well but as soon as I didn't have to be "on," gloom just dropped on me like a giant weight. :/ Hope you are all having a better day/night. XOXO, A

Stop waking up during deep sleep body!! Especially when there's still time before the alarm goes off! GRR!

The day I get groceries

T5B: 1) I didn't miss my bus. 2) My lessons went well. 3) I wasn't starving by lunch time. 4) I finally got some food. 5) I bought cheese.

basal temp: :/ wasuremashita! (I forgot)

Today, I only woke up 15 minutes before my alarm but it was during my deep sleep. I don't know why my body allowed that and I was SO tired when I opened my eyes. I totally forgot to take my temperature. I got ready but I got ready in a mental fog. By the time I left my place (and I forgot two things I needed and though they were important, I made do without them) I was afraid I'd miss my bus. I live two blocks from the bus center (which is a HUGE blessing). My bus is supposed to come at 7:50. One day it came at 7:49. I usually leave at 7:45. 7:46 feels like pushing it. By the time I left today, it was 7:47. I was in a PANIC. I jogged the last half block and I had so much adrenaline running through my veins my hands were trembling and my legs felt shaky. Luckily the bus came 45 seconds/1 minute later (so I had a SMALL cushion). And those of you who know me really well, I was kicking myself for forgetting those two things already and thinking, "I HAD time to grab them!" Thing was, I didn't remember until I was a block away. No way I'm risking missing my bus! In any case, it all turned out well even though one of the things I forgot was my computer cord to make my next worksheets so I could connect to the web (I use my gmail drive). *sigh* It sorta means I lugged my heavy laptop for nothing, HOWEVER I'm just glad I made the bus!

The bus, for a reason unknown to me, didn't drop us off in front of the school today. It stopped out at the main road and had us get out and walk the rest of the way. I don't mind at all, but I am curious about the whole thing. That's the second time they've done that and I've seen no rhyme or reason as to why. I hurried in and sat on the side for the morning meeting. Last night my pain was pretty icky and it's been icky today, but I was THANKFULLY able to teach. My hands didn't shake, and my lessons went pretty well. My first lesson was a new lesson so it was a bit nerve wracking teaching it, but it went well. The second lesson also went well. :)

The first lesson was for third period. So before that, I made my copies and got my materials together. I had printed out all sorts of pictures (as requested) and got busy labeling them and putting them into sheet protectors. I also made the copies of the worksheets I needed and the keys. Oh and I corrected the 80 worksheets I had collected and didn't have time to correct on Thursday. One worksheet cracked me up - I got a picture. Interac also called. I was confused about why they had called at first, but it was because I emailed them pictures from yesterday. I said in the email that I sent those pictures so they could laugh, but they were worried and asked if I wanted to go to the doctor. I said I was fine and reiterated it was so they would have a laugh to start their day. I then asked them about this Friday. I'm supposed to teach two lessons. One for second period and one for third. Second period starts at 945. My time slot at the doctor is between 900-930. They've already told me they'll probably bump me to the next half hour though. :/ 4th period starts at 1045. So, I asked Interac to call the school and ask them if they could change second period. Since it is a one person class, I figured it was easily reschedulable. Interac wants to send a sub. :/ As nice as it would be to have a day off, I'd rather they sent a sub to MM than CS. I have read papers and WRITTEN papers about the treatment of Deaf students. I don't want my students to go through that! Besides, I can teach! I told them I wanted to go anyway so I could use that day off later if I need surgery. I'm thinking the doc is going to say no surgery but then I'll be in trouble because the other things they want to try are hormones (no thanks) and birth control (DUR also hormones!). :/ We'll see what happens. Maybe Shinoki can just help me have a supply of that medicine that works pretty well. Ato de wakaru ne! (We'll see! ~ kinda)

Anyway, by the time I was finished with all my prep, I had 20 minutes until I taught. So I used the time to zone out. Not even on purpose. My brain said, "I can shut down now!? Done!" LOL After that class, I corrected their worksheets and found another funny thing and got a picture of that too. Then some people were eating lunch by I held out another 15 minutes so it was only 10-15 minutes before lunch started. I didn't feel ravenous as I have been feeling everyday the past couple weeks. I'm not sure what changed - I thought the adrenaline would make me hungry sooner for sure. Although a fight or flight response shuts down those kinds of systems in your body, I figured once my body kicked back online, it would go through my food even faster to create more fuel to feed the previous heart racing episode. Guess not. Yatta! I like not feeling like I'm starving. In any case, I ate lunch and then ended up making a grocery list since I had a little time to kill before 5th period. 3rd period was a TV lesson and 5th was a colors and animal phrases lesson. The latter I taught last week and it didn't go well. That's the lesson when I felt the world was moving sideways and I was shaking so badly I could barely write on the board. This week went much better. I found a better way to explain the game and part 2 went MUCH more smoothly. I think the lesson was awesome. :D

After that I tried not to fall asleep at my desk. I wasn't playing the magnet game (hallelujah) but I felt like my body would just fall apart like some Tim Burton cartoon character who's threads are coming undone. I kept thinking my arm or my head might just drop off. Good news though, no body parts fell off. (Well maybe that's bad news. I'm sure they would have let me leave early if some body part dropped off. Dang it!)

Oh quick funny story - I saw a female teacher who watched her hands. Internally I was all, "Yay! One does it!" Then I thought, "Wait what if she just did it because she peed on her hands!?" LOL Possible and disturbing thought.

(A side note: the head second grade teacher is a woman after my own heart. She's already given me the lesson plans for the next two weeks. I blocked out the worksheets for both of them and will make them tomorrow. Without my cord, the internet barely functions on my laptop. Still, tomorrow or the day after ~ since I have a lot of lessons tomorrow ~ I will be two weeks ahead with the second grade classes. That makes me VERY happy. Oh and the teacher is Saki-sensei/Female Suzuki-sensei)

Today has been a very lonely feeling day. Tomorrow is a DOOZY. I have my two toughest classes, the biggest amount of classes AND I'm teaching another class RIGHT after work. And I mean, get off the bus and go straight there (no dinner until after). :/ Hope I get good sleep tonight. Now I have to go grocery shopping. :/ Hope you're all doing well. XOXO, A

Back from grocery shopping. I went about $20 over my budget. :/ However, I had to get cheese (VERY expensive here - I got a pack of ten slices and a little bag of shredded cheese: $6), and some more fresh fruits and veggies than originally planned. Since I didn't really get to go shopping for a while, I went a LITTLE over board. I think I have at least 2 weeks worth of food! But yay! Elder Norawong will be so proud.

My sleep last night

AHAHAHAHAHA Mathterd!! I love it!

They were supposed to write about their friend's favorite TV show! LOL Not sure how the last sentence even came up!

My bruise is coming in nicely, eh?

Another picture

My calf - still very welty and bruised - my arm has more scrapes than I originally thought too. Didn't take more pics of it though.

TACOS!!!

Yes, you read that right, TACOS!

T5B: 1) I had tacos today! :D 2) I got to help make the tacos! 3) I got to spend a lot of time with the members and elders and sisters and Limor! 3) I got my lesson stuff all printed. 4) NO JAMES. 5) I got to message Jerod a little bit.

basal temp: 36.57 (trippy! 75 then 57!)

My sleep was not as good last night as the night before last. I fell asleep around 2 AM and then woke up and was awake a long time and then woke up around 8h00. ARGH! Body are you kidding me!? Still, it's REALLY interesting to see the pattern my sleep is taking. Limor slept over last night and this morning I had an egg and some some of meat. She wanted donuts and coffee. So we walked down to Mr. Donut. I also grabbed a donut there (my one egg and two slices of meat made room for the donut). It tasted good but it didn't make me feel good. It's not like American donuts, but the sheer sugar was overwhelming. Still, I kept it down. THANK GOODNESS! :D After that we walked back to my place (this whole time we've been chatting). I remembered that I was going to be in the talent show today and hadn't yet practiced! Eep! So I hurried went through my song a couple times and then we drove to the church. (Limor accepted my invitation to tacos! YAY!!) I had understood that the thing started at 1300 so I said I would show up at noon to cook. Well, we arrived at the church at ten to noon. Since no one was there I opted to play piano for a little bit and Limor went out to sit by the lake. After my second or third song, a bunch of members showed up. So I went to find Limor. SO, I saw she was down on the dock. At first I didn't go down but then all these GIANT fish gathered and were gaping their giant mouths out of the water. I DEFINITELY needed video and photos of that so I hurried down. Well as I'm walking across the dock, no snap, no crack, but suddenly my right leg is THROUGH THE DOCK. INSTANT waterlogged shoe. DAH! My leg was caught and I had trouble pulling it out. Limor was maybe 15 feet away and didn't hear any breaking sound either. She just looked over and I was on the ground. She started laughing at me (can't blame her) and finally I extricated myself. I took a picture of my foot and the broken plank. My leg was already hurting badly and I took off my shoe since it was SO wet. We walked down to where even MORE fish were gathered because a family was feeding them. I took some more video there all the while in one shoe and one sock. By the time we got back into the church building, I had a giant welt and scrape on the back of my calf and a giant welt and bruise on the top of my knee. I started telling people what happened. Elder Hakaraia got a HUGE kick out of my misfortune. Most people couldn't believe it. I think now after the chin thing, me being in the hospital for testing recently and now the dock... they're worried to let me out alone. LOL Elder Norawong was especially surprised. He asked me if I had bought groceries yet (mada - not yet)... that made him mad. But I ate out! (That is, it's not like I ate ramen like he thought!) Anyway we were chatting with the missionaries and members and then after a bit we helped them get the tortillas ready (I got them the recipe and for some reason everyone thought I was a flour tortilla guru. I told them I found the recipe online. LOL I'm a quick study though and my tortillas were gorgeous in no time! :D)

After that, I found out, this thing starts at 1500! Oh man... in the meantime Limor went back to my place to pack up her things and have a break from all the crowd (and HUGE credit to the members and missionaries - Limor was afraid they'd try to baptize or convert her on the spot and everyone was SO chill. I told her they would be really easy going and they were. I'm really grateful for that. She had a REALLY good experience at the church! Thank goodness.) So while Limor was gone (oh btw, I left my wet shoe outside out front in the sun. The members, when I told them my story all were saying, "OH! That's YOUR shoe out front!!" LOL) I helped with more cooking and chatting. I heard some people practicing (WOW) and I felt like, "Uh oh!" As I did the same thing I did at my last ward talent show - interpreted "Get Up!" by Korn and Skrillex. It went really well. Although they were an intense audience! During the bridge I couldn't take the staring so I danced a little bit and they went WILD over that. :/ It was ... odd, lol. After I finished, Terai Jun (Jun) said I was wonderful (subarashii) and had everyone clap again. It was embarrassing but very nice. Then I posted the violin and piano duet (on fb) ... WOW. Luckily they went AFTER me. Incredibly moving. I took other videos from the talent show as well. They won't fit on blogger because they're too long! So check fb for the vids. Oh! Also Yasue showed up and she saw me too! :D It was so fun to spend time with her (as always). After the talent show it was just about eating time. I found out how to say "I'm starving" (gashi shimasu) and said it to Fujimura-Kyoudai. He LAUGHED and LAUGHED. LOL .. Ok! Finally it was time to eat (sheesh - a little after 1600 but I hadn't eaten since this morning since I thought it started at 1300)! My only complaint? The salsa was sweet. Everything else was AMAZING! The meat was awesome (even though I gave E' Norawong a hard time about how he cooked it, lol), the cheese was great (not cheddar, but it was CHEESE!), the gauc was yummy, the tortillas turned out amazing.. it was a win all around! I had some peach water that was really good. I also had some "jelly" (jello) for dessert. It was good. Limor and Yasue and I chatted. Then E' Hakaraia joined us, then Elder Norawong. It was a really great afternoon. I got home around 1800 (sheesh, late!) and got on my laundry right away. I was thinking I was going to be home around 1400-1500 and be able to find a way to hang it outside to dry in the sun. Nope, sun was going down as I got home. :/ Oh well. It's just about finished now. After I put it in, I printed a TON of material (some ... 26 or so pages of pictures and worksheets) for tomorrow. I was hoping I'd FINALLY have my "me time" but I still need to make rice for my lunch tomorrow. :/ At least it doesn't need to be babysat. Just feels like.. ANOTHER THING TO DO!? :/ Still, today was PACKED but it was a good day. Hope you all have a MUCH more restful weekend than I did! I'm already looking forward to this Saturday! (Well and Friday as well so I can get my test results). Love you! XOXO, A

Oh and one more note - my pain was fairly high today. Rika-shimai asked me how I was doing and I gave her the answer I've been giving everyone - ma ma (so-so). Well, she called me on my answer and told me, "You look like you're doing really bad." :/ LOL Yep, I am in a lot of pain at the moment. Guess it shows on my face? :/ Still, doing my best! Luckily I only have two lessons tomorrow. :) Also on the plus side, Elder Norawong sent me home with a little meat, salsa, and lots of tortillas (well ... 7 - but that's a lot)!

I don't think I agree with the 83% efficiency. I wanted to cry when I woke up, I was still so tired!

The plank and my soaked foot!

The insane fish!

Fighting over bread - they wouldn't let the ducks get anywhere close!

E' Norawong and Hna Gas

same!

E' Hakaraia, E' Norawong, Hna Gas, E' Akiyama (he WAS actually on the phone)

E' Hakaraia, E' Norawong, Hna Gas, E' Akiyama

Shuwa Kyoudai singing a song he wrote himself about Joseph Smith. It was 8 verses long - he opted to sing us the first two verses.

Elder Norawong cooking chicken

LOL Madoka and her deconstructed dog!

Right arm

Right knee (it's puffy and bruised)

Right shin

The side of my right calf

The back of my right calf - YES it's ACTUALLY that swollen (see the bump!?)

My right knee from the side - so you can see the bruise a little better and the swollenness