- I joined the volleyball club at school. In my introduction speech to my faculty I mentioned that I had played volleyball before and sure enough, they offered to introduce me to the club. Clubs here are like after school activities, there are a lot of sports, but also music, journalism, traditional japanese culture things... So although there are tournaments occasionally for the sports there is no set league. I really admire these girls because there are only 5! They are one girl short of having enough people to play in any sort of competition, yet every day they still get out there and practice hard. They practice for 3 hours! Crazy. I only stay for about an hour and a half, I’m old :) It’s really fun and they have been so nice! We just do some drills, play some games. They don’t really have a coach, because no teachers really know how to play volleyball at the school. So, the guy that sits across from me, Toyoda Sensei, was appointed to run it. He drops in from time to time, but the girls run the practice time themselves. For having so much freedom, they sure do work hard! I’m such a slacker.
- I taught my first team-taught lesson today for some prospective Jr. High School students. It was so funny. We did some introduction conversations and then to practice I wanted them to play musical chairs. The two people left standing had to do it in front of the whole class. When we started the music no body moved! Watanabe Sensei and I kept trying to get them to run around the circle of chairs, but they literally stood there. They understood what to do, but no one wanted to give up their chair right next to them. It was really funny, and even though no one moved when the music started, when it stopped different people were up each time. Shoganai (What can you do?)
- We got cell phones yesterday! Can you believe that we got one of the higher priced plans and it only comes with 300 minutes per month! They had plans starting at 25 mins per month, then 42, then 80, then 150...and so on. Who talks for so little each month!? I couldn’t even believe it, considering the lowest plan in America is about 800 minutes with free weekend and nights. This is my beautiful, large-but-surprisingly-very-light phone, complete with a little hangy thing that every Japanese person has.
As you can see I enjoy talking on it very much...
- I have to give a speech on Monday at the Opening Ceremony at school. In Japanese. Should be fun...:)
- I’m in charge of the English Speaking Society. Sounds high class, no? It’s really just the name of the English Club. I’m excited to meet them, there are only about 8 people and they all seem really enthusiastic. Hopefully I can teach them wacky stuff about culture, yada yada yada.
- I finally am starting to feel at home at work (wait, does that even make sense?). I don’t feel like everyone is watching me anymore (which they never were, but of course I felt self-conscious because I had no idea how to do anything). Now I confidently roam around the teacher’s room like nobody’s business - refilling my tea cup, going to the bathroom, ordering lunch, searching the supply cupboard, looking out the window...you name it I do it. Oh yeah, go me.
This is my desk. As you can see my predecessor left me lots of "stuff"...but it's ok. I'm accustomed to "stuff."
- In October, Shawn and I signed up to take part in Dragon Boat Races! It’s in Southern Kyushu and we are in a boat with other JETs. I’m so excited! I miss rowing. Although it’s not the same, it is on the water and that is close enough for me.
- I got a sweet grandma bike. That’s all everyone rides here. Every time I get on it I sing the wicked witch song from the Wizard of Oz to myself. You know the one - “doo doo doo doo doo doo, I’ll get you my pretty! And your little dog, too!” It is so freakin’ sweet, I can’t even tell you. So I’ll show you. Check out the cruiser-style handles and oh-so-convenient basket on front. I wish I could bring it back to the states...
- Shawn can’t seem to get to work on time. It’s quite comical actually, you should read his blog. :)
- I cooked spaghetti last night! It was quite tasty. Just like in the US. Also, I have a catalog from the Foreign Buyers Club which imports groceries from around the world! I can get French Vanilla and Pasta Roni after all. Sweet.
- Things are looking up! Of course it helps that it’s the WEEKEND! yippee! I’m takin’ my gma bike out for a cruise!
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