Random Thoughts

Head colds are no fun.

Being a clean person isn’t necessarily appreciated by your neighbors. (My neighbors have a new habit of vacuuming at 12:45 a.m.)

Singing is fine. It's hard to tolerate at 2:15 in the morning though (reference to downstairs neighbors...again!).

I was finally able to become acclimated to the hot and humid weather here, so now 50 feels nearly unbearable.

I may live in a country that is superior to anyone else in technology, but the way governments work seems to be universal. (Our school’s computers are outdated. The copy machine is really old, really slow, and really noisy).

My desk is inconveniently placed next to the copier.

Head colds make tend to make things echo in your head. Sitting next to the copier promotes Tylenol moments during test week.

Sitting next to the copier is sometimes better than the water cooler. People gather to talk, so I can sometimes pick up bits and pieces of what is being said.

The copier has special powers. It may be slow and noisy, but it seems to give people confidence to practice some English.

In an unheated/under-heated building, it is nice to feel the extra heat that the copier puts out.

Test week in Japanese schools is boring for me, because I get to sit at my desk all day.

Test week in Japan means THREE visits to elementary school this week. I always enjoy my time there, but the kids have a lot of energy. It’s usually entertaining. (There were a lot of fights last week though).

I think I am not going to make it through the Japanese language course on the JET time line. I think that my brain is already full.

I don’t have enough hours in my day.

I’m running out of ideas for my Wednesday night English conversation class.

My head feels like it is about to explode. Not from information, but from my cold.

I love my special ed class. I will have lunch with their class tomorrow.

Tonight, we will go to the Chestnut Grove Café and have part 2 of Nick’s birthday celebration. Our students haven’t discovered us there yet, so that’s a good thing.

Okonomiyaki is fun. We went out last night to a local restaurant where they bring you the ingredients and you cook your own food. Thankfully, we had Iggy to help us. He’s a pretty good cook.

I miss turkey.

I miss real hamburgers.

School lunches are adventurous. Sometimes, I just want to play it safe.

I’m happy that I brought my computer to work, but I can’t get internet on it at work.

I ramble way too much.

I should update my journal more often.

This isn’t really an update; it is only a bunch of random thoughts.

I really do wish that my head would quit spinning.

Earthquakes

We've had two earthquakes this week. According to the news, they were both 4.5s.
One just happened about an hour ago. (Have I mentioned that I DON'T like earthquakes).
Granted, these are basically tremors. For the most part, they feel like a big truck drove by or a train went by too fast. I think that the reason that I really don't like them, is a fear of the unknown. An earthquake can build and be more powerful. It can be destructive. It is the unknown and potentially dangerous effect that the earthquake may have that terrifies me.
Just thought that I would share that. ^_^

Today

It is not even 7:00 am and I am already dreading today. Without going into too many details, it all breaks down to 1 b****y teacher and 1 mentally ill friend who doesn't speak English well and her new meds have her acting really psycho. (No exaggeration). I just found out last night about the mental illness (although it explains A LOT!), but the teacher situation hasn't been resolved.
I am stressing out over today, because I am supposed to be in two places at the same time with 9 classes and two lunch assignments. No matter what I do, somebody is NOT going to be happy and this teacher will blame me.

(I'm just a wee bit stressed).

Determined (Part Two)

So I guess a little continuation of the previous blog...I missed out on the awards ceremony and was really bummed about that.
Yesterday (Friday) was pretty good though. I had a pretty full day with classes and the students seemed more outgoing than usual. I had lunch with Mr. Abe's class. They were very genki.
Mr. Abe and I also had a conversation about the calendar, my schedule, and about American classrooms and school terms. It was kind of cool to get a normal conversation with a teacher for awhile.
Last night, I met with some members of my conversation group. We went to Saori's house for dinner (she cut my hair last week and came over to my place for fajitas). It was a lot of fun. We got to make takoyaki. The other ladies made so much food. Afterwards, they sent food home with me. They thought that I was being polite and that I wasn't really full, but seriously, I was stuffed!
I think that I now have a couple of "Mama-sans".
Whenever I have problems with my third year teacher, or encounter people like the old, crotchety woman on my way to school who crosses the street to avoid me, I think of all my students and all of the friends I am making here. I try to focus on their kindness, as well as their excitement to have an American living in their town. These are the people who will leave lasting impressions on me. These are the people that will teach me about their culture and help me to adjust to life in Japan. These are the people from whom I will make a few life-long friends. They represent the Japan I came to learn about. This is why I will do my best!

Determined

Every week, I am determined to write more often, but it rarely happens.
This past week was mostly really good.
My JHS was expecting English teachers from the surrounding elementary and JHS in our town. They would observe a third year English class. My third year teacher decided to step up her game and she planned activities specifically designed for team-teaching (what a concept). Monday's classes were practice classes for Tuesday's demonstration. I completely enjoyed it all. I rarely get to go to these classes and I got to be goofy in front of a lot of stressed out third year students (their high school entrance exams are right around the corner. This will literally determine the futures of many students).
The practice classes were just fine. As far as I was concerned, they were real classes and I wanted to do my best so that the teacher would want to (hopefully) use me more and that the students would ask to have me back. The demo class was fine. My third year teacher was very nervous, but I was very relaxed. The students seemed more involved because they were having fun. We seemed to forget about our observers other than the fact that sometimes they were in the way when we were trying to move around the different groups. The only times I specifically remember being observed is when our first year teacher would not quit following me and when I was talking with one of the groups. One boy was joking with me and said "Oh, Hollie! I think that you are very shy." I said something like "I am a very shy girl", I actually heard Abe-sensei snicker at the next table. Aside from that, I didn't notice being observed. I hope that is a good thing. The third year teacher thanked me for my help and that was the last conversation that I had with her during the week. I DON'T UNDERSTAND!
For the most part, the week was pretty slow. I had two visits to the elementary school. As always, they were fun.
On Thursday, I missed an awards ceremony for the simple fact that I didn't know about it. I sat in the teachers' room by myself. I started getting worried because I didn't see any teachers or hear any students. I was scheduled to team-teach a class for first period and didn't know what to do. Finally, I asked the secretary. She felt bad because she didn't realize I hadn't been informed (thanks to the third grade teacher!). As luck would have it, Abe-sensei was the first teacher to return to the room. Takamura-san explained that I had been asking what was going on. I apologized because I hadn't meant to drag him in on this situation. He apologized because he thought that it was on my schedule. For the rest of the day, he helped to make sure that I knew what was going on.
Today, I decided to be brave and ask what is happening on Wednesday because there is a big circle and red writing. He was shocked that I didn't know...I think that he is fully frustrated with my third year teacher too. Anyway, he was very chatty today and I got a LOT of helpful info from him today. He even helped me sort out the rest of my second year lunch visits. He rocks!
In the meantime, I did four Halloween lessons for the first grade. I didn't realize this until after I arrived in the first class. I made the most out of it though. We started off three of the four classes with "Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles. I made the most obnoxious gestures you could think of. The first class was so bored with the song, so I thought that I would liven things up a bit. It worked! Now the students are asking if we can sing the song again just so they can see my gestures. The new song that was chosen by our teacher is a Peter, Paul, and Mary song (I don't know how I will spice that up). I think that my first year teacher is on a one-man crusade to bring back the 60's...especially the folk music aspect of it.
My first year teacher is nice and will pretty much let me do whatever I ask, but I have realized that he really doesn't understand much English and he is really boring. What can I say? I love the second graders.
I think that I will stop here because I am really tired, but basically I wanted to say that I have determined to be happy and to do my best. My students give me joy.

Weekly Re-cap

Since my last entry, I have experienced so much!
Last Saturday, we experienced another lovely typhoon. The ALTs did not let it stop us from trying to have a Halloween night. We went for coffee and dessert at Chestnut Grove and then did karaoke afterwards. Only a few of us showed up (those of us within walking distance), but we had a lot of fun.
On Sunday night, we had an earthquake. It wasn't too strong, but I fell out of bed because of it. I was sleeping on the edge of my bed and woke with a jolt. Since my bed was shaking, I ended up falling off the bed. Another one of my graceful moments.
Monday was awesome! For years, I have dreamed of going to Tokyo Disneyland, and it finally happened. To be honest, I could have chosen a better companion for that day, but I made the most of it and refused to let it rain on my parade. I had fun.
It seems that I have struggled for so long to make things happen in my life and the past two years have brought many good and exciting things into my life. How can I not appreciate or be thankful for what I have? I have chosen to focus on the positives rather than to dwell on the negatives.
Tuesday was another Halloween lesson at the elementary school. I LOVE my students! After my elementary visit, I went back to the junior high and finished the day. I was invited to another impromptu lesson for the second years. Since Mr. Abe (pronounced Ah-beh) is interested in teaching his students something more useful than the textbook English. He asked me about some useful slang such as, "What's up?" and how to respond to it. So I made about three pages of slang and responses over the weekend. Nothing too outlandish, but things that would be very useful if traveling abroad or if watching an American movie, etc... I gave the list to him on Tuesday and we had a lot of fun reviewing the list. Throughout the week, I have caught him studying the list. It's great to know that it was appreciated. In the meantime, he has been including me in some of the Japanese grammar part of the lessons and his students make a kanji quiz for me once a week. I think my lemons have turned into sweet lemonade!
Wednesday and Thursday were JET conference days for us. It was in Omiya, so we didn't have to leave as early or go very far. The best part about the conference was on Thursday. We were coming back from our lunch and encountered the Saitama pigeon-dove. It is our mascot and it seems to be on everything "official". So, I got to have my picture taken with the pigeon-dove. I was very happy! Yes, it really is the small things that make me happy.
Friday, I went back to the junior high and only had one class because of some work experience day. I really enjoyed hanging out with the second grade class (7th grade) and somehow found myself imitating Elmo for the students. The thing that I love most about being in the second grade classes, is that I never know what will happen there. I spent my lunch time with the 2-1 class. At first, they pretended to be shy, but they quickly came out of it. They began playing with my hair because I wore it down that day. They were commenting on how soft and long it is. When I told them that I would cut a lot of it off on Saturday, one of my quietest boys began to choke on his food and then shouted "You can't! What a waste!" After that, he quickly became embarrassed, but when I convinced him that my hair would be shoulder-length, he relaxed a little. I have passed this boy practically every morning on the way to school and I always wave or say "Hello", but he is always so quiet. Last Saturday, I saw him at Family Mart and I waved and said "Hello", he gave me a tiny smile and nodded, so I was very surprised by his reaction. Several of the girls were also shocked and said it was a waste to cut my hair and then they ran to Mr. Abe to and told him that I am cutting my hair and that he should talk me out of it (because of the language barrier). I found this amusing because the students are trying to get Mr. Abe and me together. Also, Mr Abe likes to keep his hair in a close-cut do, so the students joke about me giving him some of my hair to have a wig. He seemed shocked that I would cut my hair, but he didn't say much about it. He probably thought that I was playing around with the kids (I had just been doing my Elmo voice, so I wouldn't blame him). Anyway, it was fun. Friday was an enjoyable day at school. Even the third year teacher was nice to me. I could get used to it.
On Saturday, I actually did go and get my hair cut. It wasn't very healthy, so it needed to be cut. I had several inches taken off. It went from being waist-long to shoulder-length. Quite a change! I also had it colored. It is a dark brown. I have no more red in my hair (very strange for me), but I actually like it. On my way home, I met some of my students. They were shocked, but they said they approve, so I guess I passed some kind of test. I am sure that by the time I get to school tomorrow, everyone will know about my hair. Word travels fast in this town. In fact, while I was in the beauty salon, one of the customers came in and said "Oh, you must be Hollie-sensei!" He then turned to my friend, Saori who was cutting my hair and said something in Japanese that I didn't understand. He then tried speaking some English to me and Encouraging his 2 year old to talk to me. After he left, Saori went and got her dictionary. She then said that he told them that "Hollie-sensei is very popular with her students. They idolize her. Everyone knows who she is." I really didn't know how to react to this. Sure, it's flattering, but it's scary too. I know that I am here as a cultural representative and I really enjoy being with the students (even the bad kids...they aren't as bad as they want others to believe), but I don't think that I should be idolized. I just want to do my job to the best of my ability and have fun doing it. The students are great and they love to play around, how can I not have fun? Now though, I feel like I have to put extra censors on while I go around town because people are watching and I do stick out like a sore thumb.
Anyway, Saturday night, Saori came over for dinner and I made steak fajitas (thanks to my sister for sending me some taco seasoning, beans, and tortillas. I really miss Mexican food!). It actually turned out OK even though I didn't have everything I would normally have. Saori enjoyed herself too. It was really nice, because she comes to my Wednesday night conversation group, but she is usually too intimidated to speak in class. Last night, it was just us, so she could relax and take her time speaking. She spoke for 4 hours! It was really enjoyable and I was very happy to have had a great and relaxing day in Japan. She was really worried that I really didn't like my hair. I was the first non-Asian she had cut hair for. She said that she was worried because my hair was very soft and wavy. She wasn't used to this and she wanted to do a good job. I think that she did an amazing job and I told her as much.
Finally today (Sunday), I went to church. I can't even begin how good it felt to go to church. Three are not many Christians in Japan so finding a church is difficult to begin with. One of my English supporters is a Christian and invited me to go with her to church this Sunday. She interpreted for me when needed. It was also very cool to know the songs they were singing. I didn't know the Japanese words, but I knew the melody. That in itself was very comforting.
So that pretty much sums up my week. I know that there is a lot that I am leaving out, but this is really long already and I will try to make up that info in another blog.
When I think about how much I write about every week, I realize how thankful I am to be where I am. I am realizing that being optimistic is more rewarding than being pessimistic. I'm sure that there is something good to be had in every experience that I have, even if it doesn't seem so at the time.
With that said, I am ready to greet a new week.