IrishOboe

Well, I had no idea I would be so busy at school. I’m sorry I haven’t written in so long. First school kept me busy then I got stranded in Fujiyoshida last night, but first things first.

My main tasks throughout the day this week have been to plan my introduction lesson and organize the necessary materials and such for it. I probably took too long on it, but I know I’ll get better at it. The wonderful thing about the days, though, is when the English teachers come up to me and ask if I can help them with something. So far it has been valuable work that I can identify with and feel a sense of accomplishment when it’s done. I’m sorry to everyone who has a 9-5 job, but somehow that artificial structure didn’t seem like an environment where that could happen! I know I’ve just begun, but it sure is a great start. I’m very relaxed and comfortable at the school. I don’t know if it’s my alter ego stepping in for me (I know I’ve had to call upon her specifically for certain difficult situations), or if it’s just my kind of work, or what, but I’m so happy that I feel that I fit in, can make a difference, and am doing something at least somewhat worthwhile. I’m afraid I had none of those when I worked at a MechE intern. Anyway, one consequence of this kind of school day is that I hardly have time to check my email much less respond and write for the blog. I’m sorry! I had thought that I’d have some time to do such things, and I think I might eventually, but for starters you’ll have to be patient! Another consequence is a wonderful one, though. I get to school, do interesting work and then – bam – the day is over! That makes me happy! So, I enjoy my 20min bike ride home (even if I have to wear rain gear from top to bottom because my bike has no tire guards) and when I arrive I’m actually energized! I’ve been making concoctions for dinner and enjoying it greatly. Of course, I haven’t been fitting in practice time or other things that I was hoping to get in on a regular basis, but there is time and I, for once, and not going to push everything. One step at a time! I’m certainly taking advantage of many things and am only sometimes wasting my time.

Anyway, that’s school. I guess I could say that the teachers ask for my help with making handouts, planning interesting activities for drilling grammar points (gag), summarizing passages, checking papers, etc., but I want to get back to Wednesday. At the end of school the Home Economics teacher came up and helped Naito sensei and me figure out my new rice cooker. (The one Kayla had was the school's but it doesn’t work so they bought me a new one). I can cook rice in a pot just fine, but this new thing looks even worse than a bread maker. (Which I miss terribly, by the way. The bread here is yucky wonder bread-type and no bakery that I’ve found makes anything like a homemade loaf of something interesting. Of course, if I had a bread maker it would be hard to find flour. I found a whopping 3 ounce package of whole wheat at a fancy grocery store the other day, but that’s another story . . .) We managed to figure out the cooker and that night Naito sensei and Shimizu sensei brought it to my house. Then we (plus Mark) went to the landlord’s house to pay the rent. Wow, what a house. Maybe I can believe that my money is going toward their beautiful garden. I was under the impression that we’d hand over the nearly $1,000 cash (for two months' rent) get a receipt and get out, but they started talking very intensely (in Japanese, of course). I finally asked what was going on and apparently he doesn’t want us to pay by cash anymore. This went one for a while but we managed to work it out. What do the Japanese have against checks? They do not exist here . . .

That night I tried out my rice cooker, and it worked wonders! The rice was perfect and all that was left in the pot was a bit of sticky residue that was easy to clean. I guess the Japanese know how to do rice.

BTW, I’ve been packing my lunch for school. Mostly it’s some fruit and leftover dinner, but for some reason it’s been very impressive. Wow! Amazing, you’re a good cook! You made rice balls! Literally all I did was throw prepackaged spices in the rice then wrap some dried seaweed around it. You get such things at 7-11 only they have something interesting inside. Yippy. I think they’re just impressed by the fact that I like Japanese food and am making somewhat Japanesish lunches.

On Thursday school stuff was much the same thing, but 1 ½ hours before 5^th period one of the teachers asked if I would give a 5min introduction to her 2^nd year students. (I only teach 1^st years and a few 3^rd years – there are only three grades in a Japanese High School.) I said, “Sure, I’d love to!” but I thought, “This is exactly what I was afraid would happen and everyone promised would not! I don’t have anything ready yet! Argh!” Well, it was enough time to put something together and finish my other tasks, as well has have lunch with Yukiko and her friend. Yukiko was in the drama I saw a few weeks ago and she usually ate lunch with Kayla, so I said she could continue eating in the office with me. I feel bad that I don’t remember her friend’s name. I should have written it down . . . and I think I am going to learn all 230 of my students’ names?!?!?! *shudder*

So, the introduction went pretty well. They liked it when I played my whistle. I think I was still a bit too fast for the students, but they seemed to be interested in any case. After I left the classroom they wrote short essays and Sasaki sensei asked if I would “grade” them. She said, “They might have spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes . . .” and I start to panic since I figured I would not catch all the spelling mistakes because I can’t spell and I’m a horrible proofreader but she went on to say, “but please don’t say anything, just write something encouraging.” My eyes must have lit up and doubled in size and I said, “MY PLEASURE!” I like Sasaki sensei. Yippy! I get to grade papers by communicating back to the students rather than putting the dreaded red ink all over their work. I’ve been having the greatest time reading what they chose to tell me and responding with something interesting. What fun!

I went home 15min early (my hours are officially 8:30-4:15 with 45min for lunch) because Typhoon Mawar was coming. We’d been having rainy weather all week (because of it?) and it was scheduled to dump on us soon. The ride home wasn’t bad (I don’t think any place rains quite like Florida), and in fact we didn’t get much rain all night. Of course it was windy and the sky was dark but it was still light because it was day and it was exciting, just like hurricanes, but we didn’t get much of it. I’d been so crazy at school I didn’t quite know what to do with myself at home. I was a bit too wound up so I picked up the knitting project I’d worked on at the Maggie P. I had finished the pieces in the hotel in NYC, but I hadn’t touched it since. I was sewing the sleeves to the body when Mom called! I talked to Mom and Dad for a while, then I talked with Andy for a while, and I would have loved to keep calling important people but I really had to go to bed because I’ve been getting up at 6am every morning. On running days (I still go every other day) it gives me time to run and shower and on other days it gives me time to work on my place a little.

Friday: the first official class! Well, 1^st and 2^nd periods were cancled for students (teachers still had to come in) because of Typhoon Mawar. Of course, just like Florida, the day dawned bright and sunny. I hope the students enjoyed their 2 extra hours! I enjoyed my bike to school. This time I wore shorts and a T-shirt and changed at work. It was much nicer! The ride was also great because it was quite clear and I could actually see the mountains around me. I couldn’t see Mt. Fuji, but that’s because there was a spiraling cloud enveloping her! It was the perfect form of Fuji, but it was cloud! I tried to get pictures, but I don’t think it worked. Fuji ice cream anyone? How neat!

I teach 2^nd and 3^rd period with Shimizu sensei, but this day I only did 3^rd because the students didn’t have 2^nd. I was glad for this, because it gave us time to discuss how the class went afterwards rather than having to teach right away again. I could probably go on and on about how Japanese students are different and how the classroom dynamic is totally different from the US, but I’d never post this entry. I hope to write as I learn more about it, but for now I’ll just say that they are VERY, VERY shy. They won’t do anything! Afterwards Shimizu sensei said they are the most unresponsive of all my classes (I teach 10 classes of 20 1^st year students – that’s all of the 1^st years), but still. I started with an “easy” activity where all they had to do was read a question out loud and boy was that tough! They spoke fine, they just didn’t want to. I should have gotten the hint when it took them 2min to argue over who sat where in the circle of chairs . . .

So, in class I was very energetic and they were very stone still, except when they were talking to each other (in Japanese, of course). They would stop when I singled them out but it didn’t seem to bother them. Maybe I should make them answer a question in English if I catch them talking while I am . . . Oh dear, I sound like a teacher. Anyway, I had to cut and change my lesson plan because the “easy” activity was so hard. My main activity went pretty well and they seemed moderately interested and at least did what I asked – not that it was much. At one point I got so frustrated that they wouldn’t respond to anything – I couldn’t get them to raise their hands even collectively – I said, “If you think I nephew is ugly, sit still and DO NOT raise your hand.” They all stared. I knew the negatives would make it hard for them to understand (though I think they understand more than they lead you to believe given their writing ability) so I asked Shimizu sensei to translate. Even knowing the question full well, people only sheepishly put of their hands and 5 or so didn’t do a thing. Of course, it’s out of the question that any of them actually thought my adorable nephew was ugly . . .

It’s okay. I’ll get through. It wasn’t a bad lesson. It’s just going to take a bit more than I expected to connect with them. Of course, ASL was college level, but we loved to play games with the language. Hmmmm. That’s what I did so intently after the class that the other teachers thought I was upset. Darn my facial expressions! I think they’ve put me in more trouble than I know.

So, that was my first class and that’s school. I’m busy, happy, excited, and challenged!