Christmas Spirit

There is no way there will ever be a White Christmas in Shimizu, but a girl can still dream, ya?

Since the weather around here is still early fall-ish, the "Christmas feeling" hasn't sunk in yet. Yes, a few houses have lights up and Christmas carols play in the supermarket, but I just haven't gotten that bounce in my step.

Well that all changed the other day. At school, some of the third year students in the elective music course gave a performance of White Christmas on hand bells. I couldn't stop smiling throughout their performance as I was thinking of the loved ones who are waiting for me.

These kids are like my babies because we started together, and we'll probably finish together.
Love 'em!

My Own Horn

Toot! Toot!

In the previous post, I mentioned that I attended a seminar. So let me elaborate.

Every year, the JET programme has Mid-Year Seminars (MYS) for all their prefectures. In Shizuoka, all 2nd-year and above JETs are required to present at this seminar. Since I am in my 3rd year now, I had to present. I could choose my own topic, choose to have a partner or fly solo, and debate whether I should risk the success of my presentation on Powerpoint.

I decided to be old-fashioned with a handout, magnets, posters, white board, markers, and a great Vanna White audience assistant. There was some great discussions, helpful participation from the audience (primarily first-year JETs and recently-transferred or appointed JTEs and Supervisors), and a lot of laughs. The 50 minutes alloted for the presentation suddenly seemed as though it wouldn't be enough time! I suppose that's a better "problem" to have than to have 15 minutes remaining and twiddle our thumbs.

During lunch break of the second day, participants in MYS could vote for the best elective workshop/presentation and the winners would be announced in the closing remarks.
Well toot, toot, ta, toot, toot! I got 2nd!

As a teacher, sometimes I feel that my hard work goes unappreciated by those that receive it. It can be a HUGE downer over a long haul (like the current second semester) and kill motivation. So it's nice to have my efforts recognized by others who work just as diligently.

If you'd like to take a peek at my handout, it can be viewed here at Google Documents. The formatting has gone wonky and this may be because the head JET doesn't have the font I used on his computer. Ah well, he was kind enough to upload all the handouts used at MYS so I am grateful because now I have even MORE resources to pull from in the future.... like third semester.

1 week and 6 days until I am home!

Anything you can do, I can do in Japanese

I got this idea from a friend at the seminar last week. Any milestone in a foreign country is still a milestone, however big or small. I may be surprised by all that I -can- do on my own and now think that it is no big deal.

In no specific order or ranking...

1) I can order a pizza over the phone.

2) I can update my bankbook in Japanese (please see previous post about the lack of bank statements in Japan).

3) I can call the delivery man and make an appointment for him/her to pick up/deliver a package.

4) I can use the poster-making machine , copier , and fax machine at work.

5) I can fill out my own business trip form. (If you haven't seen one, they are ridiculously meticulous and complicated)

6) I can call a taxi and give him/her specific directions to my location, where I want to go, and how many people will be riding. Often times, I can even hold a casual conversation with the driver.

7) I can find almost anything at the grocery store. Corn starch still eludes me.

8) I can operate Microsoft Word and Excel in Japanese. Yes, I got skills.

9) I can read and comprehend a bus and train map and correspondingly, how to get around the stations. I have taken the wrong bus/train only ONCE in 2 and a half years.

10) I can make photo prints without assistance from a store clerk.

11) I can use the touch panels at sushi and yakiniku restaurants (pictures are very helpful).

12) I can recharge my commuter's card.

13) I can request out-of-state train tickets for regular trains, bullet trains, other luxury lines , and whether the ticket should be round trip or one-way.

14) I can have 3 drinks and not make a fool of myself. (While this is not a skill, after-work drinking is a bonding custom. To not participate in drinking may be interpreted as an indirect signal that the person does not wish to socialize. Before coming to Japan, I never drank alcohol.)

15) I can order sports tickets (specifically sumo tickets) from the ATM-esque machines at convenient stores.

16) I can tell the doctor my symptoms.

17) I can order contacts and update my prescription.

18) I can wire money home or to another account, but I have to brave the severe post office lady who raises her voice at me when I ask her to speak more clearly. I didn't say speak louder.

19) I can tell off my students for bad behavior. They seem stunned that I am capable of raising my voice since I am usually so bubbly.

20) I can write a New Years greeting card.

21) I can write a few kanji characters with a calligraphy brush. Of course, this is after practicing 12-20 times.

22) I can write my address in Japanese by hand. It takes 100-105 strokes of the pen depending on how clearly I write.

23) I can ask people to hand me items that are out of reach and to help me make change from a 500 yen coin or 1,000 yen bill.

24) I can order anything at Starbucks (and I guess any other coffee shop).

25) I can request permission to try on clothes or shoes.

26) I can use, read, and comprehend my TV's internal TV-guide.

27) I can hook up most electronics. Laptop to projector can still be a hassle.

28) I can operate a karaoke machine , find the song I want to sing , and input it into the machine.

Wow! I can do a lot! Before I came to Japan, I could not do ANY of these things. So maybe I won't pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December, but at least I know that what I couldn't do before, I can now do. HA!

Super Mario Bros.

As most of you know, I am a video game nerd.
Zelda, Ocarina of Time for 64 redefined gaming for me. That and multi-player Tetris.

Here is an excerpt from one of my student's journals.

"Now, Mario celebrates 25 year. But I have big shock. Mario is sink man! Cool hat man I was thinking. Overalls is stylish recently, so Mario have nice sense I was thinking. Before, what I thought is now a lie! I am in a shock."

Translation:
Super Mario Bros is celebrating their 25th anniversary. But I am in shock: Mario is a plumber! I thought he [just] wore a cool hat. Recently, overalls are in style, so Mario has good fashion sense. But, now I realize that what I thought before is wrong! I am so shocked."

I had a good laugh over this.

Ugh. Ths blog stuff is not going over well, is it?

I am going rafting on Saturday (assuming I kick this cold before then) so I should have something to post.

I am so stressed at work. I am exhausted. I need more sleep.

A Good Week

I am trying to stay positive.

Last week (September 13 - 17) had its extremes ups and downs. I went to work Monday and managed to put on "the mask of duty". But really, I was panicking inside. Thank goodness my first period class was taken over by the other teacher, Ms. Kobayashi. Tuesday was exhausting because I had 4 classes and couldn't focus my head to really teach the classes all that well. I went home feeling defeated. Wednesday was much better. I had two enthusiastic first-year classes and they really boosted my spirits. Thursday and Friday almost felt normal.

I haven't told my students why I missed the first week and a half of the second semester. I feel as though I will lose my composure if I do tell them. Also, for some reason, I feel like I should be inpenetrable when I am in front of them. Since being a teacher in Japan, I have only cried twice in a pity-party sort of way due to the stresses of work, an unmanagable class, or something like that. Both times were in the seclusion of my classroom on the 4th floor of the 2nd building so I highly doubt anyone else at school was aware.
As a high school student, I can only recall one time when a teacher cried in front of the students due to her own struggle with a chronic illness. I was floored. Then again, I could fully understand everything she said to me and that wouldn't be the case with my students, especially since my English while crying isn't all that clear.

This week was even better. Monday was a holiday so I spent the 3-day weekend at my aunt and uncle's place in Kamakura. I love going there because it is so relaxing. Sure, it was busy around the station and beach, but I spent most of the time with my aunt and uncle, reading manga, listening to the birds, and watching the sumo tournament on TV.

After the 3-day weekend, I came back to a 3-class work week. This is almost unheard of for me since I have a 17-class work week. Insane. Monday was a national holiday (Respect for the Aged Day), Tuesday was morning classes only in order to prepare for..., Wednesday: the school's Field Day. I didn't take any pictures this year, but if you would like to look at previous years' picture, they can be seen here and here. Thursday was ALSO a national holiday (Autumn Equinox) and it rained all day. But with the rain came Autumn. The temperature FINALLY went below 30 C and today is very cool as well. Since there wasn't much chance of getting out, I cleaned the apartment which has desperately been needing my attention. And today, I had 3 second-year classes and we talked/wrote about movies, books, comics, and TV shows. I had a lot of fun and the students took up the writing assignment enthusiastically. Sometimes students can really surprise you!

Tonight, I will have dinner with a good friend, Joe, and then spend some time at home tomorrow Skyping and relaxing and getting back to studying for another JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) in December.

By the way, I failed the July test, but only the grammar section. I am not too surprised since I didn't feel all that confident after the test. This year, the examinee must pass all three sections of the test. I passed kanji reading/vocabulary usage and listening, but my grammar was dismal at only 30%. So I guess I know what I need to work on.

Grief still comes suddenly. Before this post, I was looking through pictures of my nephews and nieces and thought just how precious family truly is. I am so glad I will be coming home for Christmas time for almost 3 weeks. Don't be surprised if I only stick around with them. If you want to see me, you may have to come see me on my turf at 1111. I love that address...

Loss, Shock, Grief, and more

As some of my readers already know, my family has had a sudden loss.

Words seem really pointless to try to process my feelings and my grief, especially to do so on a public forum.

Now I am back in Japan, back to work, and don't feel like myself.

Deep breaths.