Good tears

T5B: 1) I got to talk to Jerod! 2) My Christmas package from home came! 3) I got to do a bunch of reading. 4) I have a Christmas tree and presents! 5) My kids made me cry (in a good way).

basal temp: 35.70

One story I forgot from yesterday: Kanamori-s stopped by my desk at some point. "Did you know the students are talking about you?" My blood went cold. "What class? What are they saying?" "2.4 is saying, 'Did you see Ann? She got a haircut! She looks so cute!'" Sheesh woman! You don't know how to break the news to someone! LOL

Morning:
- last night I had a hard time sleeping because I was worried and so cold
- this morning I was exhausted (^) but I got ready fairly quickly
1st-4th - I helped with rehearsals and then was a judge for their English speech competition

Notes: This was just the jhs kids. They were WONDERFUL. They fill my heart with so much joy, and I was soooo proud of them! In fact, I was asked to give comments. I told them they had done a wonderful job then I started to cry. I told them I was so happy to be their teacher and I loved them and the teachers and the school. I had to tell them (since I said "I love you" in Japanese) that even though it was kinda weird and inappropriate in Japanese (it means romantic love) that I meant it in the American way. I think they were embarrassed for me, but one girl stayed pretty close to me after everything was done. I think that she was touched. :) I joked around with T in sign language and gestures. It was just so awesome. Then they got a picture of everyone. I was very daring and asked if I could get one too - they said yes!!! So now I have a picture of me with my jhs students. :D (Which I can't post... but still!) I don't know what I'm going to do when it comes time to leave. :c I love all my students but these kids... I feel so much love and a feeling akin to a mother bear I'm sure. It's my young students. I just want the best for them and I REALLY REALLY hope they get a good teacher to replace me. I'll be praying for that.

Afternoon:
- ate lunch in the high school teachers room
- joked around with a couple of the teachers (in limited Japanese - but hey I'm being GREATLY blessed when it comes to this language)
5th - worked on a worksheet I started making yesterday, emailed it for approval to the teacher (and for kanji checking)
- watched the snow with a sense of foreboding and dread
- ran errands when I got back (went to the bank and the bus station)
- read when I got home, ate an early dinner

Notes: It's been snowing almost nonstop since yesterday morning. :/ We're getting quite the pile of snow.

Evening:
- Jerod messaged me!!! (his computer cord died - and here I was worried something happened to him... of course :/)
- there was a knock on the door and PACKAGE!
- I put up my Christmas tree and put the presents underneath
- I read a huge chunk of my book (Memoirs of a Geisha - it's turning out to be a fascinating read)
- ate the treats CS gave me (I'm so spoiled by them)
- wrote this

Notes: Here's wishing you a VERY happy Friday (the 13th)! My love to you all! XOXO, Ann

P.S. Oh dude! How did I forget this!? So.... I found a ticket online for a flight home that was less than half, almost a third, of what I paid to get here. So ya.... I bought my ticket for home! I felt crazy nervous - I ordered a ticket three times to get here and was crazy stressed and had to talk to my parents so they could calm me down. Luckily I was still messaging Jerod. I asked him to tell me to get it and that it was right. So he did. :) Thank goodness. I have trouble with big decisions. In any case... :D!!!!!! See you all (well you Utah people) at the end of March!!! :D!!!!

P.P.S. Thanks for the books mom!!! Also I got a video of snowing but it was at the school so I can't post it. :/ Dang it!

Walking to the bus station

This is a pastry that has looked very interesting that I have hesitated to try. Why? The Japanese LOVE mayo. I inspected it closely and it SEEMED to be safe. It also looked really good to me. So I bought it... ya... it essentially had a mayo filling. Think jelly filled donut but with mayo. I almost ralphed. :/ My tummy was NOT happy with me. But the few bites I had BEFORE that nasty center were awesome!

My Christmas tree and Christmas presents from home :)

I brushed my hair out and it did this - which made me think of the 50s!

This is what I imagined a 50s picture to be like :)

My eyes match my sweater!

I'm so spoiled! Oh man - you see that red wrapper? It said tako on it (octopus) and had a picture of an octopus on it. I was WORRIED. It turned out to be a little cake with marron (is that what it is in English?) filling - DELICIOUS! My favorite of the lot in fact.