Oh happy day!

(Haven't seen THAT movie in a LONG time!) T5B: 1) I got to talk to Jerod this morning! 2) I got some funny pictures last night that made me smile today. 3) Everyone kept telling me how cute I look today. 4) I learned some new Japanese words. 5) My lessons went SUPER well (in spite of Sugita-s freaking me out).

basal temp: 36.47

Morning:
- woke up more than a half hour early, but feel more rested today
- since I awoke early I turned on the heater (so by the time I got up, it was warm in my room :D)
- got ready pretty quickly
- bus ride was very pleasant for me (though it seemed short)
- started working on prep
- PANIC (thought I was teaching 2nd and 3rd... nope - 1st and 3rd!)
- scrambled to finish getting ready, was a min or two late :/
1st - lesson went SUPER well
2nd - chatted with the VP
3rd - lesson went super well
4th - prep (brainstormed and started making a worksheet for Monday)

Notes: I was REALLY worried about my first lesson as the last lesson I had with this girl was good but she seemed so painfully shy and intimidated that I wasn't sure she had learned much since being afraid causes the brain to not be able to learn. In any case, today went REALLY well. I just went with my gut (read: the promptings of the Spirit) on how to teach and how long to emphasize each thing. After class when I walked out into the hall I was talking to Kanako/Ito-sensei about teaching Día de los Muertos since she didn't want to do Halloween, and then Y, and T, and R all came up to us. They asked Kanako-s if I was teaching them today and got visibly upset when they were told, "Sorry, no." AWWWW! Melts my heart. I love these kids SO MUCH! -- Earlier, (and after class) all the women at the school were exclaiming over my braids and saying I looked so cute, so pretty. :D The VP said that braids suit me. When I was visiting with her, she gave me some treats. :) -- My third period was on Relative Pronouns. At one point when I was explaining "that" versus "which" (in defining and non defining cases of relative clauses), Sugita-s made this face like, "Uhhh" (the scrunched brow). Turns out she wasn't doing it on purpose. Sheesh! I was like, "Am I not teaching this right!?" The students did really well! They know more grammar technicalities than my students at CS I think.

Afternoon:
- ate lunch
- finished that worksheet and emailed it to Hashimoto-s
- started brainstorming and making the poster I'm supposed to make for CS's festival next Saturday
- bus ride back was nice
- ran some errands
- laughed at a guy's dog

Notes: I went to the bank and paid my tithing and got out my money for next week. I haven't yet heard back from the doctor but I may be able to go pick up my new prescription on Wednesday. -- As I was walking back from the bank, there was this pug with "little dog" syndrome. He saw another little dog and went CRAZY. That was funny, but what was even better was when it caught sight of this CERAMIC dog. It went BESERK. The owner and I were both laughing so hard I believe we both shed tears. Good times.

Evening:
- got home
- worked on my school festival stuff for next Saturday
- ate dinner
- felt crappy again
- read a little bit

Notes: Re: the pain: Sorry mom :c - my cough is getting worse and now the pain is spreading. I am in flashes of agony. Then it goes back to dull pain and then *cough* AGONY! Yuck. Also my kidneys hurt more today. :c I drink lots of water. I'm going to look for Cranberry juice - as my mom suggested - when I got grocery shopping next ~tomorrow or Monday. -- Other than some nausea (just a little) and extreme exhaustion, I'm ok. I turned the heater on almost as soon as I got home. I'm going to make a ... I don't know what it's called. But there's a HUGE gap under my front door so I am going to cut off more of that towel and fold it or roll it up, guerilla-sew it and get some magnets to attach it to the front door. Like hacks! :) Love you! XOXO, A

My Go Fish games (I printed last night for today) for practicing Relative Pronouns :D

My clocks!

Last night - ready for bed

Looking soxy, I know

Burned my finger a little on the pan this morning while making breakfast

That's me today :D (Everyone kept saying how pretty and how cute I looked so I documented it for you

An acute pain

T5B: 1) My lesson went well today (aside from a slight blunder on my part, doh!). 2) My students made me laugh (stories below). 3) I got three worksheets and a game made today. 4) I made a suggestion to a teacher and she accepted my idea! 5) I finished the Book of Mormon today! :D (Restarting tomorrow!)

basal temp: 36.41

Morning:
- got ready a little sluggishly, but had lots of time
- as mentioned above, finished the Book of Mormon :)
1st-4th - all prep and I worked really hard making worksheets for tmw

Notes: I only got the rest of the materials I needed THIS MORNING to make my worksheets for tomorrow. Sheesh. Oh well. They're ready now - other than not being printed yet.

Afternoon:
- lunch was delicious, locally grown apples are AMAZING
5th - taught 2.1, went really well, they made me laugh
6th - cancelled for a second graders (juniors) meeting
- found out I get to have Wednesday as a planning day next week! AND go home a little early!
- sun set while on the bus home (this is now a thing)
- the bus had a heater - glorious!

Notes: So we were playing Scattergories for the first time, and the first category was color. The second one was animals. One boy wrote up, right away, "Orange." Oh man, Saki-s and I lost it. As soon as he got back to his row they started ribbing him and he went back and changed it. A boy in another row wrote, "Ellefant." His friend said the spelling was wrong, so he erased the two l's, wrote them smaller and then wrote, "Elleefant." Oh man, the two of us were dying. Then he gets irked, erases the whole thing and writes, "Dog." Good times.

Evening:
- made some dinner
- laid in bed
- caved and turned on the heater
- watched an episode of Gintama

Notes: I forgot to mention above, school was ROUGH. I mean, I worked hard, my class went well, but my pain... youch. I may be getting a cold, which will always suck BUT today it was torture. EVERY. SINGLE. COUGH. was like being gutted with some sort of blunt object ripping my left ovary out through a jagged hole in my body. I wanted to cry. The pain was very acute today. Very sharp. Then when I got home and laid down in bed kidney pain, in both kidneys, acts up. Please body, stop! It's very hard to teach and to plan and to just FUNCTION. I wish an end were in sight. :/ Oh well. Still doing my best. Love you all! XOXO, A

Uneventful Day

T5B: 1) My place didn't get damaged or flood during the typhoon. 2) I got to do some planning for school (decided to make my worksheets tomorrow). 3) Since my towel has given up the ghost (got all moldy), I cut off a non moldy portion and stuffed it in the fan hole. My place is already noticeably warmer (without a gaping hole to the outdoors - who knew. Sheesh!). 4) Sounds like our training next week will be our entire branch so I get to see Limor, Allie, Tom, and Sazzy! :D 5) I didn't need to go out today (it was windy and rainy and cold and WINDY).

basal temp: I forgot :c dang it

Morning:
- was woken up by my alarm (for school), turned it back off, went back to sleep
- I got SEVEN HOURS of sleep! YAHOO! Unheard of recently!
- I did dishes
- made breakfast
- watched some Gintama

Notes: --

Afternoon:
- cleaned a little
- researched and brainstormed for my lessons on Friday
- read
- made my lunches for next week
- made my lunch

Notes: So for lunch I made myself some white stew with this bag of veggies I bought at the store (I asked to make sure they were veggies). Well, turns out I don't care for Shiitake mushrooms (at least not cooked) and two other veggies. One tasted like furniture polish smells and the other tasted like potpourri smells. ICK! They were either taro, bamboo shoots, or burdock. (2 of those 3) However, I LOVE LOVE LOVE lotus root. That stuff is sooo good. :)

Evening:
- tutoring was cancelled (thank heavens she messaged, I completely forgot!)
- reheated the leftover stew from lunch
- did a little more research and brainstorming
- feeling off all day :/ I just feel nasty

Notes: Hope you all had a wonderful day. I survived the biggest typhoon in a decade! (There was flood damage, the trains didn't run, and ya.. that's all I know.n -- Also I tried to get a video of the high winds but I'd just miss it, wait, wait, wait, start to walk away WWWWWHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!! ARGH!! So no video, sorry!) XOXO, A

The only casualty I saw

Zoomed in

The emergency alert I received - I can read "community center" in three places... that's it

Those veggies I mentioned (the lotus root is that one with the holes in it)

The Typhoon is Arriving!

T5B: 1) I had a class cancellation today (makes for an easier work day). 2) I have school cancellation tomorrow!! (The Typhoon) 3) I have only two classes on Thursday. 4) I believe I have only two classes on Friday - I'm set! 5) I got to message Jerod today.

basal temp: 36.47

Funny story I forgot from last week: So I'm walking to class with one of the teachers and start to make small talk. "So do you have any fun plans for this weekend?" "Yes! Horse races! ... (In my mind: na.. he couldn't mean...) I will watch and gamble!" (Yep, he could!) It was one of those tv/movie come to life moments for me. And knowing this teacher, I'm actually not at all surprised. LOL

Morning:
- awful night's sleep (kept waking from the same nightmare all night - well 7-8 times but it felt like I would never sleep and night would never end!)
- I was so sluggish getting ready, almost missed the bus!
- chatted with J and read scriptures on the bus
- When I got to school, ow my eyes!
1st-2nd - prep and another ow my eyes stopped by (told me about Kyoto)
3rd - taught 2.5, new lesson that went fairly well
4th - more prep

Notes: So "ow my eyes!" The same VP who wore clashing patterns last week was wearing a shirt with this pattern (blue instead of black though):

and a tie with this pattern (these two almost EXACTLY, I kid you not):

Then another teacher, (no pics here sorry,) wore a white shirt with blue lines to make boxes (not full on plaid), and a plaid black and pink tie. .... REALLY!? -- So I've noticed this weird thing with space in Japan. They will stand RIGHT next to you when talking to you (typically), but then when passing you, WIDE berth. In America, I think we're the opposite. We don't mind passing close (probably from crowded schools ~ training starts early!), but we stand further apart when talking.

Afternoon:
- lunch
5th - prep
6th - taught another new lesson 1.4, went ... poorly :/
7th - everyone disappeared!
- after school meeting

Notes: During lunch this group of second grade girls were giggling about 25 feet from me. I was working on prep by then by must have been doing something strange (I was brainstorming atm), because when I looked up they were ALL staring at me. I waved and smiled and they all giggled and smiled back. I then heard them discussing how to say things in English. :) I hoped they would come over and talk, but no such luck. -- Between classes (right before 6th actually), this kid comes to talk to Hashimoto-s. Well Hashimoto-s says something and then just leaves. This kid jumps like he's alarmed, starts running toward one door then turns around and runs for the other. Me: !? What the crap just happened here? (TUCKER!) Anyway I ended up starting class without him because then I couldn't find him! LOL -- During 5th, Oikawa-s told me that the biggest typhoon in a DECADE is hitting us tomorrow. Whoa. 0.o -- Then during 7th there was a student council meeting and all the students went and the teachers (save one or two) and I had NO idea. I just looked up and everyone was gone (other than those two teachers). I was like, "Hello?" Oikawa-s felt badly after he came back and I said, "Where did everyone go!?" LOL Almost straight after that we had a meeting. Oh how I wish I spoke Japanese. :/ Sato-sensei was talking and he cracked a bunch of jokes and then me: *blink *blink. In any case, verdict: the school is closed tomorrow. We have a lot of students who take the train and then bike to the school (lots of kids who commute) so the administration wanted them all to be safe. I posted about it on fb and a town or two over the NS was all ticked, "What!? You get tomorrow off!? I don't!" Well, I will be using it to make worksheets. It was my heaviest day of the week (4 classes) and now I have it off. :)

Evening:
- caught my bus RIGHT before sunset
- stopped at the grocery store near my place to get the two things I forgot
- walked home
- messaged Jerod again
- put off some things I was going to do tonight to tmw
- relaxed, ate some jalapenos

Notes: I'm SO exhausted it was nice to put some things off. I have been a bit of an emotional wreck today and Jerod has been very sweet and patient. He's actually en route to Chicago right now (layover) and then FL to see his mom, stepdad, and siblings. (Please pray for Teresa!) Hope you are all doing well. I am looking forward to some SLEEP! (A little part of me is paranoid that work will call and say, "Just kidding! Go in!" but I'm hoping I get to sleep in. :) I hope you do too! Love you all! XOXO, A

A funny from 2.5 (ビル = biru = building)

Why is the worst sleep on the weekends!?

T5B: 1) I'm hoping that giving Donut some time in the sun will make him feel better (he hasn't really been eating the last week. It's really depressing for me). 2) I didn't have to work today. 3) I watched some Gintama. 4) I read a little bit. 5) I got my grocery shopping done (forgot two things though :/).

basal temp: 36.57

Morning:
- my STUPID phone would NOT let me sleep!!! EVERY SINGLE TIME I fell back asleep my stupid app would wake me back up!! I was so furious when I finally got out of bed.
- played some games
- read (tried to calm down)
- ate breakfast

Notes: --

Afternoon:
- showered
- ate lunch
- bought groceries
- read some more

Notes: Forgot two things at the grocery store :( (English muffins and gum)

Evening:
- felt disgusting
- really awful pain and nausea
- panic about working tomorrow
- tummy troubles
- realization that tmw is when my period should start :<
- so much exhaustion I want to cry (have cried several times this evening)

Notes: Tonight has just been bad. I have been retaining water (read: feeling fat - hence the selfies I took to try and boost my confidence), breaking out (sigh), and just feeling the usual pain and nausea but it's worse this evening than it was throughout the day. I'm glad I have a shortened work week. (Next week is a long work week as I will be working Saturday.) I'm seriously worried about a lot of things and I can't distance myself when I feel this emotional. I don't understand why I have to feel crappy physically and emotionally on my period. WHY!? Did God think women would never get pregnant unless they got the relief of escaping the hell of menstruation!? (Sorry, I've had so little sleep and I'm in so much pain and I just want to FEEL BETTER. I need a hug from my Maman. Every period at home when I was at the worst I would cry and my mom would just hug me and I NEED that. I've missed out on it WAY too much already.) I hope you are all doing well. Let me try to think of a funny story (even to retell) so my blog isn't all negative today...

Ok I've got one! So, yesterday when I went to go to church, I walked out and my bike was on the ground. The wind was so strong it blew it over. It seriously messed up my umbrella (which had been out there drying) though I mostly bent it back. Here I was thinking I was the only one that had suffered in the strong winds. However, pedaling to church I saw ROWS of bikes all lying on the ground. It was like a bike holocaust! THEN, on fb, one of my coworkers posts, "Great weekend hanging out with [names of other coworkers]! All good until the wind blew the door off my car." o.0 <--- I still feel that way. LOL Poor guy! AHAHAHA. It's like that joke Bill Engvall tells about airplanes (he doesn't like planes). He says an airline gave an excuse for their door falling off, "A bird hit it." His response: "I'd like to see the bird that can knock a door off a jet liner! I thought they were extinct!" So here's to pterodactyl winds and a small reason to be grateful I don't have a car off which the doors could be blown. :D XOXO, A

Donut in the sun - hope he starts eating again soon :(

Selfie (ignore the breakout please!)

Goin grocery shopping

My front door (HALLOWEEN!) and my bike