No, I haven't misplaced anything. I was just thinking about some of the things that I am missing from home.
Today, I made-do with what I had/could find/was sent to me and I made "Mexican food". I say it like that because it was not really anything like what I would be able to make nor was it anything like I could find at a restaurant back home. Granted, it was probably healthier than what I would have made and it was good. It just wasn't what I was craving. :+( I was able to successfully make tortillas though, so I was happy about that.
One of my friends came over for dinner tonight. She is getting ready to go to New Zealand for a year to study English. She is very nervous and I haven't been able to hang out with her since Christmas, so I invited her over to practice English and to have dinner. She seemed very impressed with the tortillas, so I was happy to give her the recipe. We started talking about popular foods in our countries and how there usually becomes a fast food version. I was explaining Taco Bell to her and then started to think about the many different foods I can access in the US. Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French, West Indian, etc...many of which we can't enjoy here. While it's true that I miss (some of) the food back home, what I miss most, is the opportunity to make choices.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Hollie's Happenings
Yeah I know, I can't help it. I like alliterations. ^_^
Anyway, the end of February is fast approaching. While I am excited for the sunshine and flowers that March promises, I am also saddened at the thought of having to change schools.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the students from Hasuda Minami Elementary and Hasuda Minami Junior High. Overall the students and the teachers are so friendly and helpful. I will really miss them.
Today, I had my usual Friday visit with the 5th graders. The students were more energetic than usual today. My English team teacher, Mitsue-san and I fed off of their energy. It was fun, but exhausting! Unfortunately, today was my last day of lessons with this class. So I am a little sad tonight.
It seems like the past few weeks have just flown by. We are making preparations for final exams and graduation ceremonies (the Japanese school year ends in March). It doesn't feel "final" yet. The last time we prepared for finals was before winter break. I came back to the same students and the same teachers after that. Next month, everything will change. I will have a new school, new students, and new teachers. Even though I am excited for new opportunities, I am really sad that I will leave some tremendous kids behind. I'm sure that I have learned far more from the students at MJHS than I have been able to teach them.
Life is sometimes frustrating! I feel like I am finally breaking through to some of the tougher students, but I will have to leave soon. I have figured out the different teaching styles of my three English teachers. I have figured out what is expected of me. I'm becoming bolder in taking on more projects. And I've found my groove with the special ed class.
As a kid, special ed always conjured up negative images. Images of students who were slow, lazy or were very different. But mostly, I thought of students with behavioral problems. When I found out that I would be teaching special ed. classes, I was terrified! There was already a language barrier. I couldn't imagine having to deal with badly behaved kids! I am ashamed that I had judged the situation before investigating it. The special ed class is small. Most of the students in it have some sort of sickness or disease that prevents them from going to school everyday. It's true that some of the students are "slow", but some of the students are incredibly smart! The best part, is that all of these students have giant hearts of gold. Every time that I visit their class, I realize that the reason they are in a "special" class is because they are truly special and unique. They are so open and accepting. They are so eager to learn. I will miss my time with them. :+(
I had a lesson with them yesterday and I am hoping that I still have at least one more lesson with them before I have to change schools.
On a lighter but school related note, the students seem to be coming out of their shells. One of the 9th grade girls recently realized that my eyes are green. She literally followed me around school all day, asking me to remove my glasses so that she could look at my eyes! In Japan, 99.9% of the population has the same eye color. The stereotype is for foreigners to have either brown or blue eyes. She was completely baffled by the idea that other eye colors can be natural. She was also confused because she knew that I wasn't wearing glasses AND contacts. How can my eyes be that color? I find it very amusing.
Also, they have become obsessed with my hair again. They are convinced that my hair is permed. I have to explain to them that my hair is naturally wavy. It's becoming more curly, because the weather hasn't been as dry. My 8th grade classes have humidifiers in them and they are near where I stand when we have class. The boys have been distracted several times in the past few weeks watching my hair curl as it becomes damp from standing too close. I've even caught the boys moving the humidifier closer so that they can show the girls what happens. I find it amusing.
In news outside of school, I got a message from one of my host sisters today. She is engaged! I am very happy for her and wish her every happiness. I know that her husband-to-be is marrying a great woman! I love you Tamaki, my sister ^_^
Anyway, the end of February is fast approaching. While I am excited for the sunshine and flowers that March promises, I am also saddened at the thought of having to change schools.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the students from Hasuda Minami Elementary and Hasuda Minami Junior High. Overall the students and the teachers are so friendly and helpful. I will really miss them.
Today, I had my usual Friday visit with the 5th graders. The students were more energetic than usual today. My English team teacher, Mitsue-san and I fed off of their energy. It was fun, but exhausting! Unfortunately, today was my last day of lessons with this class. So I am a little sad tonight.
It seems like the past few weeks have just flown by. We are making preparations for final exams and graduation ceremonies (the Japanese school year ends in March). It doesn't feel "final" yet. The last time we prepared for finals was before winter break. I came back to the same students and the same teachers after that. Next month, everything will change. I will have a new school, new students, and new teachers. Even though I am excited for new opportunities, I am really sad that I will leave some tremendous kids behind. I'm sure that I have learned far more from the students at MJHS than I have been able to teach them.
Life is sometimes frustrating! I feel like I am finally breaking through to some of the tougher students, but I will have to leave soon. I have figured out the different teaching styles of my three English teachers. I have figured out what is expected of me. I'm becoming bolder in taking on more projects. And I've found my groove with the special ed class.
As a kid, special ed always conjured up negative images. Images of students who were slow, lazy or were very different. But mostly, I thought of students with behavioral problems. When I found out that I would be teaching special ed. classes, I was terrified! There was already a language barrier. I couldn't imagine having to deal with badly behaved kids! I am ashamed that I had judged the situation before investigating it. The special ed class is small. Most of the students in it have some sort of sickness or disease that prevents them from going to school everyday. It's true that some of the students are "slow", but some of the students are incredibly smart! The best part, is that all of these students have giant hearts of gold. Every time that I visit their class, I realize that the reason they are in a "special" class is because they are truly special and unique. They are so open and accepting. They are so eager to learn. I will miss my time with them. :+(
I had a lesson with them yesterday and I am hoping that I still have at least one more lesson with them before I have to change schools.
On a lighter but school related note, the students seem to be coming out of their shells. One of the 9th grade girls recently realized that my eyes are green. She literally followed me around school all day, asking me to remove my glasses so that she could look at my eyes! In Japan, 99.9% of the population has the same eye color. The stereotype is for foreigners to have either brown or blue eyes. She was completely baffled by the idea that other eye colors can be natural. She was also confused because she knew that I wasn't wearing glasses AND contacts. How can my eyes be that color? I find it very amusing.
Also, they have become obsessed with my hair again. They are convinced that my hair is permed. I have to explain to them that my hair is naturally wavy. It's becoming more curly, because the weather hasn't been as dry. My 8th grade classes have humidifiers in them and they are near where I stand when we have class. The boys have been distracted several times in the past few weeks watching my hair curl as it becomes damp from standing too close. I've even caught the boys moving the humidifier closer so that they can show the girls what happens. I find it amusing.
In news outside of school, I got a message from one of my host sisters today. She is engaged! I am very happy for her and wish her every happiness. I know that her husband-to-be is marrying a great woman! I love you Tamaki, my sister ^_^
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A Good Weekend
Eariler this week, one of my conversation students mentioned that her daughter would like to take me to an ikebana lesson (flower arranging) on Saturday. I had never met her daughter, but I had heard a lot about her through my conversations with Yoko. I decided to branch out and have an adventure.
Tomoko came over on Friday night to introduce herself in person (we had sent texts a few times before). I instantly liked her and knew that we would have a fun day in Tokyo.
I met Tomoko yesterday at the Hasuda train station. We went to a famous fish market in Tokyo and had sushi for lunch. We also went past a famous kabuki theater. I took a few pictures, but we didn't see a show. Then, we went to an ikebana lesson. It was presented in English and there were a few native English speakers there as well as Japanese speakers who wanted to improve their English. It was a lot of fun.
After the ikebana lesson, we went for coffee and cake. We also went to the 35th floor of a building downtown and had a wonderful view of the city. After that, Tomoko introduced me to a bookstore in Tokyo that has the largest section of imported books. I was so happy!
Finally, our time in Tokyo ended. We came back to Hasuda and I had dinner with Tomoko's family. I really enjoyed my time. I felt like I was with family last night and I am very thankful for the opportunities that I have been given. ^_^
Tomoko came over on Friday night to introduce herself in person (we had sent texts a few times before). I instantly liked her and knew that we would have a fun day in Tokyo.
I met Tomoko yesterday at the Hasuda train station. We went to a famous fish market in Tokyo and had sushi for lunch. We also went past a famous kabuki theater. I took a few pictures, but we didn't see a show. Then, we went to an ikebana lesson. It was presented in English and there were a few native English speakers there as well as Japanese speakers who wanted to improve their English. It was a lot of fun.
After the ikebana lesson, we went for coffee and cake. We also went to the 35th floor of a building downtown and had a wonderful view of the city. After that, Tomoko introduced me to a bookstore in Tokyo that has the largest section of imported books. I was so happy!
Finally, our time in Tokyo ended. We came back to Hasuda and I had dinner with Tomoko's family. I really enjoyed my time. I felt like I was with family last night and I am very thankful for the opportunities that I have been given. ^_^
Friday, February 8, 2008
Scary School Lunches
As promised before, here's a little run-down on our school lunches.
I believe that I mentioned before how everyone in the school (from the students to the principal) eats the same meal. As an ALT, I am also a part of this ( sometimes challenging) ritual.
Last week, on two occasions, we were served a small, whole fish. There was a slight difference in the two fish, but the it may as well have been the same meal.
The first time we were served the fish, I looked around and realized that we were supposed to eat the ENTIRE fish (yes, that means the head, too!). I found this difficult, as my fish's eyes were still staring at me. I noticed that one other teacher cut the head off and refused to eat it. I took advantage of my "gaijin-ness" and followed his example. As I continued to eat the fish, I realized that it was stuffed with fish eggs...EWWW!
Later that week, we were served another small fish. This fish didn't have the eggs inside and it was bitter. It also was staring at me. On this particular day, I was eating with a class of 5th grade students. They were making jokes about the heads and creating drama over having to eat the heads. I couldn't blame them. The girl next to me was nearly in tears and she refused to eat her fish's head. I showed my solidarity by not eating the fish's head, too. The students seemed to think that this was really funny, so they harassed me about it.
I managed to make it through this past week without any fish staring at me during lunch. I also never thought that I would see the day where I would give anything to trade my lunch for a peanut butter sandwich.
I believe that I mentioned before how everyone in the school (from the students to the principal) eats the same meal. As an ALT, I am also a part of this ( sometimes challenging) ritual.
Last week, on two occasions, we were served a small, whole fish. There was a slight difference in the two fish, but the it may as well have been the same meal.
The first time we were served the fish, I looked around and realized that we were supposed to eat the ENTIRE fish (yes, that means the head, too!). I found this difficult, as my fish's eyes were still staring at me. I noticed that one other teacher cut the head off and refused to eat it. I took advantage of my "gaijin-ness" and followed his example. As I continued to eat the fish, I realized that it was stuffed with fish eggs...EWWW!
Later that week, we were served another small fish. This fish didn't have the eggs inside and it was bitter. It also was staring at me. On this particular day, I was eating with a class of 5th grade students. They were making jokes about the heads and creating drama over having to eat the heads. I couldn't blame them. The girl next to me was nearly in tears and she refused to eat her fish's head. I showed my solidarity by not eating the fish's head, too. The students seemed to think that this was really funny, so they harassed me about it.
I managed to make it through this past week without any fish staring at me during lunch. I also never thought that I would see the day where I would give anything to trade my lunch for a peanut butter sandwich.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Wiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!
For those of you who couldn't guess from the title of this post, I did it. I bought a Nintendo Wii!
While I was home for Christmas, I was able to play a little Wii at my friends house. I had no idea how addicting it would be.
I've been thinking for quite awhile, that it would be nice to have some kind of updated game system to play with. (The "newest" system that I owned until yesterday was an N64). So I decided that I would save up some money and help the Japanese economy by purchasing a Wii.
My Wii didn't come with any games, but I bought Mario Galaxy (fun!) and Wii Sports. My friend and her boyfriend went with me to make sure that I got everything I needed as well as to help me with any language difficulties should they arise. (I'm glad they went, because the woman was hesitant about selling the Wii to me. It operates on a different region coding than the Wiis in the US. She wanted to make sure that I knew that. Of course, I did know that, but it was easier with someone helping me).
We all played the Wii for about 5 hours last night and have plans to play again tonight. I do like the fact that playing the Wii is a lot more interactive and physical than any other game. I am even thinking about investing in the "Wii Fit" later. For now though, I am enjoying my two games and the small boost in my social life that they brought ^_^
This is my happy post. Next time, I will talk about the scary school lunches of last week.
While I was home for Christmas, I was able to play a little Wii at my friends house. I had no idea how addicting it would be.
I've been thinking for quite awhile, that it would be nice to have some kind of updated game system to play with. (The "newest" system that I owned until yesterday was an N64). So I decided that I would save up some money and help the Japanese economy by purchasing a Wii.
My Wii didn't come with any games, but I bought Mario Galaxy (fun!) and Wii Sports. My friend and her boyfriend went with me to make sure that I got everything I needed as well as to help me with any language difficulties should they arise. (I'm glad they went, because the woman was hesitant about selling the Wii to me. It operates on a different region coding than the Wiis in the US. She wanted to make sure that I knew that. Of course, I did know that, but it was easier with someone helping me).
We all played the Wii for about 5 hours last night and have plans to play again tonight. I do like the fact that playing the Wii is a lot more interactive and physical than any other game. I am even thinking about investing in the "Wii Fit" later. For now though, I am enjoying my two games and the small boost in my social life that they brought ^_^
This is my happy post. Next time, I will talk about the scary school lunches of last week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
