The last Toki Tuesday

Insect count: 0! YATTA!

T5B: 1) I taught a class solo and it went really well. 2) I got more sleep last night. 3) I was given a very nice compliment today. 4) I made it to the bank! 5) I'm home now.

basal temp: 36.35 (wonder if the drop means anything)

Last night I took a three prong approach to my non-sleeping habit. I took allergy medication, primrose, and tylenol PM. I was determined to sleep no matter what. And it worked pretty well! I only woke up twice during the night, I fell asleep after only one panic attack, and woke up only 15-20 minutes before my alarm went off. So I count it as a major win. I got up, I still was slow moving because of pain but at least I wasn't completely dead on my feet. I got ready, and I got out the door.

The bus ride was good (I read a book), and then after the meeting, I started working on lesson prep for Friday. I got my ASL lesson for my jhs kids blocked out and then it was time to teach. Toki doesn't like to walk to class with me (he always sends me ahead alone) so I took off when it was time and started teaching. As the lesson progressed he didn't show and didn't show. He never ended up coming. It actually was a relief for me - and the lesson went really well. However I wondered. It's a liability issue and they are supposed to do any disciplining so I was torn about what I should do (as far as reporting it). As I was musing over this at my desk, he walked up to me. He just sort of looked at me expectantly so I said, "What?" "Class!" "I just taught it." Ya turns out he was confused about the schedule. Then he apologized profusely. Ah ha! Now Ann has power over you! I can get you in trouble! That's really not me - but if it makes him not yell at me, I'll play that card! I worked some more on my lesson and prepared some materials. I then looked at the worksheets I had collected and shredded them. (YEEHAW! No correcting today - since I gave them a pretest. I wanted to see how they did, what they missed and what they had chosen instead, etc. I then shredded them as exams are next week.) Then it was off to teach 4th period. It went SUPER well. We had so much fun together! They loved the games I had prepared and really got into them - which makes me feel awesome and it's so fun!

Next was lunch time. I ate my lunch and looked at the second class's worksheets. I shredded those and talked to Toki-s about what he wanted me to prepare for the test. He told me 10 questions, and no more than 5-10 minutes. So I threw out two questions and went and recorded the listening portion of the test on my phone. I then reported back to him: it's six minutes long. "Great!" I told him which questions I had thrown out and then went back to my desk. I had a little time to kill before the next class so I made a little name card for myself (for my desk - in my little craft :D). Then the last class. It didn't go as well as the second class, but it went better than the first class. It was a good class. They were fun today. :) I had neglected to mention to the other classes (mostly because I had forgotten) that it was my last day teaching them. :/ Toki-s told 3.6 (this third class) and they all clapped for me. It made me blush and when they saw that they started clapping and cheering louder. LOL Those funny kids - I already miss them. :/ When I got back to my desk, I found it was cleaning time. 0.o When I saw the fukukoucho senseis grabbing the bins I said, "Ima!? (Now?) What about 7th period?" No one answered me and I got to work helping. Then the bell rang for the seventh class. So what happened is that because exams are next week, teachers are planning their tests. The students are not allowed very far into the teacher's room (I described this after the first term's exams) so we (the teachers) do the main cleaning. Today I think they planned it this way so when cleaning time actually came around, we were ready for the students. :) I helped during that time too. Oh! During the first cleaning time, the Social Studies teacher (who knows a little English - more English than I know Japanese!) stopped me. He told me he had asked his students to write about summer vacation and their English was very good. He attributed the credit to me. I gestured no, no, and then thanked him. (I really CAN'T take credit - their teachers teach them the main topics. I show up and get to cover certain topics or play games. So ya... Still, I appreciated very much that he thanked me.) Then it was eventually time to leave and off I went.

The bus was late which was REALLY stressful for me. I have SO much to do this week. Sure enough, the things I had planned to do before I was supposed to go to Zenrinkan weren't going to happen. Then suddenly I was informed that the 1800 class was cancelled. Tonight I was supposed to go meet some of the French students. :) (This is a class I will teach from time to time when Bruce wants a Tuesday evening free.) So I ate some dinner, read for 10 minutes and went to the bank that is 5-10 minutes from me. I got about two blocks from my apartment when it started to rain. DOH! I love the rain, but it's hard to see when you're being pelted in the eyes with water! Still, I made it to the bank, was able to get my grocery money, and then headed to run another errand. Turns out I didn't have enough time so I changed directions and went to Zenrinkan. I told them I didn't plan on staying long (I was soaked and in pain). I chatted and answered questions for about 30 minutes and then came back home. But not before teaching all the ladies (there were four female students) how to say "period" in French. LOL I figured they didn't know - and that Bruce wouldn't either... so I taught them all something! Uh oh.. it just occurred to me that that's probably something Japanese women might not share with one another. OOPS. :/ I hope I didn't mortify or offend any of them. Sheesh.

After that I went home, and just wanted to melt into a puddle. I'm just weary. Weary of being ill, feeling ill, having a migraine (I have another one today), being in tons of pain... I just would like to have peace in my body and mind again. I had grabbed something quick and small before so I was hungry when I got home again. I made some popcorn and had some ramen peanuts. I just couldn't convince myself to make anything harder. Too much effort. I'm exhausted. I will take the three prong approach again tonight - it's so nice to not wake up and be in so much pain I can't sleep. My body has to sleep through it. Today's pain was high but not as high as yesterday - so either the sleep REALLY helped (which it definitely has to some degree) or the mountainous pain is winding down. This last month+ that I have had cramps almost everyday - most days they were at a 5-6 out of 10. These last 6 days they have been at 7-9. And my body has figured out how to NOT throw up when I'm in that much pain. I don't think that's a good thing. Throwing up at least gave me some measure of relief in the past. (Though the pain really spikes so maybe that's why my body has given it up. Instead I just feel like I'm going to vomit at any second all day. Improvement?) Hope you're all in better health than me! XOXO, A

p.s. Please mention my teachers in your prayers. There have been more family and friend deaths and one teacher started to cry today. My heart goes out to them and I want them all to feel peace during their various hard times. Thanks! XOXO

Now I'm off to burn those exam cds. Have a great whenever you read this. :)