This week has been awesome.
I was in Okinawa until Wednesday so I only had 2 days of teaching! Yesterday was a bit hard going, as was this morning but the afternoons have been so much fun in the classroom.
I'm still surprised I've been allowed to do a Mini Olympics. Today's was so good. The teacher had made sure that all the kids had put a lot of effort into making their mascots. And I'm seriously impressed with some of them! I'm gonna take some pics and post them up because they really are awesome!
Man, I wish every week could be a 2 day week! I feel perfectly happy not stepping foot into my Junior High School!
Friday, 26 September 2008
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Shamisen
I've just got back from a shamisen concert.
It was this really famous father and son - what they were doing in Nanayama, I have no idea!
I was actually really impressed. I'd overdosed on shamisen music in Okinawa but it is a different sound altogether. Which is a good thing really because after 5 days, Okinawan shimasen became a bit too much!
It was this really famous father and son - what they were doing in Nanayama, I have no idea!
I was actually really impressed. I'd overdosed on shamisen music in Okinawa but it is a different sound altogether. Which is a good thing really because after 5 days, Okinawan shimasen became a bit too much!
You are so WRONG Japan!
I went into school day and everyone commented on my tan.
And not in a good way.
They're like 'You're so dark' in this horrified tone of voice.
Because over here black is bad. And right now I'm pretty dark. Here, the women strive to stay as white as possible, covering up every inch of bare skin in the sunlight.
They have got it so wrong. Back home, people aim to go as black as possible. People look generally prettier and healthier with a tan. Some Japanese girls are so white they could give Michael Jackson a run for his money. And what's more, they look so unattractive because they look on the brink of death.
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!
And not in a good way.
They're like 'You're so dark' in this horrified tone of voice.
Because over here black is bad. And right now I'm pretty dark. Here, the women strive to stay as white as possible, covering up every inch of bare skin in the sunlight.
They have got it so wrong. Back home, people aim to go as black as possible. People look generally prettier and healthier with a tan. Some Japanese girls are so white they could give Michael Jackson a run for his money. And what's more, they look so unattractive because they look on the brink of death.
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Recontracting
I got a message from my supervisor today telling me that my BOE are happy for me to stay on another year and that they have sent me all the forms.
It's only September!! The final decision has to be made by the beginning of February!!
At first I was a bit shocked because it seems so early for this. But then again, the deadline for transfer requests is in 2 months time and in my case, where I am wanting to transfer, it is actually a really big decision.
But I'm a bit worried about the whole transferring process. You see, you have to submit the form by the beginning of November....but then they don't tell you whether it's OK or not until 30th January! And the recontracting deadline is 6th February.
So essentially if your transfer request gets rejected, then you have just a week to decide what the hell you're gonna do next! And under that pressure, people are bound to make crazy decisions and then regret them later!
God, I hate the Japanese way of doing things.
It's only September!! The final decision has to be made by the beginning of February!!
At first I was a bit shocked because it seems so early for this. But then again, the deadline for transfer requests is in 2 months time and in my case, where I am wanting to transfer, it is actually a really big decision.
But I'm a bit worried about the whole transferring process. You see, you have to submit the form by the beginning of November....but then they don't tell you whether it's OK or not until 30th January! And the recontracting deadline is 6th February.
So essentially if your transfer request gets rejected, then you have just a week to decide what the hell you're gonna do next! And under that pressure, people are bound to make crazy decisions and then regret them later!
God, I hate the Japanese way of doing things.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Interlocking Dreams
This is seriously freaky.
So I was in bed with my man and our dreams overlapped.
I dreamt that he was strangling me (as in trying to kill me, not a kinky sex kinda way!!) and I shot up awake. Prior to that I don't remember what I was dreaming about.
A split second later he shot up awake.
We were both kinda short of breath and slightly sweating. I told him I had a weird dream and he said he did too. When I asked him what he dreamt about he said I was about to kill someone and he ran over to stop me and started strangling me.
How freaky is that?!
So I was in bed with my man and our dreams overlapped.
I dreamt that he was strangling me (as in trying to kill me, not a kinky sex kinda way!!) and I shot up awake. Prior to that I don't remember what I was dreaming about.
A split second later he shot up awake.
We were both kinda short of breath and slightly sweating. I told him I had a weird dream and he said he did too. When I asked him what he dreamt about he said I was about to kill someone and he ran over to stop me and started strangling me.
How freaky is that?!
Post Holiday Blues
I got back today after spending 5 glorious days in Okinawa.
I didn't do what everyone else does and go to the main island. I went to Miyako-jima...which boasts Japan's best beach.
And what a beach it was. Yonahamaehama beach. White sand and the sea was the same colour as a swimming pool. And completely clear. When I went to the Philippines, I went to White Beach which is supposedly the world's 2nd best beach.
I think Yonahamaehama beach is better.
It was such a nice relaxing break. I went parasailing and snorkelling, relaxed on the beach, drinking and just chilling. There isn't a lot in Miyako-jima besides beaches and water sports. The city centre leaves plenty to be desired - so ugly and smelt like a sewer but I tried a lot of Okinawan cuisine and found a really cute Caribbean bar where I listen to live music and indulged in loads of different types of rum.
Heaven.
And now I'm back. Alone. And have to go to school tomorrow.
How depressing!!
Pics to follow soon
xx
I didn't do what everyone else does and go to the main island. I went to Miyako-jima...which boasts Japan's best beach.
And what a beach it was. Yonahamaehama beach. White sand and the sea was the same colour as a swimming pool. And completely clear. When I went to the Philippines, I went to White Beach which is supposedly the world's 2nd best beach.
I think Yonahamaehama beach is better.
It was such a nice relaxing break. I went parasailing and snorkelling, relaxed on the beach, drinking and just chilling. There isn't a lot in Miyako-jima besides beaches and water sports. The city centre leaves plenty to be desired - so ugly and smelt like a sewer but I tried a lot of Okinawan cuisine and found a really cute Caribbean bar where I listen to live music and indulged in loads of different types of rum.
Heaven.
And now I'm back. Alone. And have to go to school tomorrow.
How depressing!!
Pics to follow soon
xx
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Prison Break
I hate waiting for episodes every week (Gossip Girl, House and soon Heroes and How I met Your Mother), so I decided to occupy myself with another American TV show.
I've started on Prison Break. And I'm LOVING it!!
And then I started realising how much I love American TV. And thank God for online screening!
;-)
I've started on Prison Break. And I'm LOVING it!!
And then I started realising how much I love American TV. And thank God for online screening!
;-)
No More!!!!
I have HAD IT up to HERE with the effing ungrateful teachers at one of my schools.
I've been doing a 2 part Olympic lession at my elementary schools. In total, it has taken me close to 30 hours to prepare. I made medals and everything.
So I had one class on Tuesday. It went really well and the kids had a good time.
And then I had it today at the school that i HATE with a passion. The teachers decided to combine the classes and I have 52 kids running riot in the gym. I told them that it's their job to control them. Which they didn't. This class is normally OKish but today they were such a pain in the ass. They were bending the medals I'd made and chucking them about, not listening so I told the teachers to take over because I'd had enough of shouting and wasn't prepared to lose my voice for them. No acknowledgement at the end of the class how hard I'd worked to prepare for it.
Then the cheeky 6th grade teacher (who told me again today that he had no ideas for the class 2 mins before it was sposed to start) told me that next week he wanted to fo the Olympic class I'd just done with 5th grade. I hate this teacher - he's a lazy ******. So I told him OK....and just as a big grin spread across his face, I told him that he would have to do all the prep himself because I won't have time. I told him I wouldn't make the medals. Just because I don't believe that these kids deserve my efforts on that scale. I've wasted enough on them already adn never get any thanks from anyone.
Such a contrast to the school I did the same lesson with this afternoon. They were an absolute DREAM. I've always adored this class because the kids are so smart and the teachers do so much to help me out with lesson prep. When I got there, they'd already marked out lanes on the gym floor and got flags and whistles out and music and everything! I wasn't even expecting them to do anything. And they told the kids to take care of the medals because I'd spent a long time making them all myself. How nice is that?
I don't need teachers to tell me how great I am all the time!! But I think that when you've gone to a lot of trouble to prepare for a class, it's nice for that effort to be acknowledged. I mean 30 hours?!
Well, I've learnt my lesson. I won't be putting myself out that much again.
I've been doing a 2 part Olympic lession at my elementary schools. In total, it has taken me close to 30 hours to prepare. I made medals and everything.
So I had one class on Tuesday. It went really well and the kids had a good time.
And then I had it today at the school that i HATE with a passion. The teachers decided to combine the classes and I have 52 kids running riot in the gym. I told them that it's their job to control them. Which they didn't. This class is normally OKish but today they were such a pain in the ass. They were bending the medals I'd made and chucking them about, not listening so I told the teachers to take over because I'd had enough of shouting and wasn't prepared to lose my voice for them. No acknowledgement at the end of the class how hard I'd worked to prepare for it.
Then the cheeky 6th grade teacher (who told me again today that he had no ideas for the class 2 mins before it was sposed to start) told me that next week he wanted to fo the Olympic class I'd just done with 5th grade. I hate this teacher - he's a lazy ******. So I told him OK....and just as a big grin spread across his face, I told him that he would have to do all the prep himself because I won't have time. I told him I wouldn't make the medals. Just because I don't believe that these kids deserve my efforts on that scale. I've wasted enough on them already adn never get any thanks from anyone.
Such a contrast to the school I did the same lesson with this afternoon. They were an absolute DREAM. I've always adored this class because the kids are so smart and the teachers do so much to help me out with lesson prep. When I got there, they'd already marked out lanes on the gym floor and got flags and whistles out and music and everything! I wasn't even expecting them to do anything. And they told the kids to take care of the medals because I'd spent a long time making them all myself. How nice is that?
I don't need teachers to tell me how great I am all the time!! But I think that when you've gone to a lot of trouble to prepare for a class, it's nice for that effort to be acknowledged. I mean 30 hours?!
Well, I've learnt my lesson. I won't be putting myself out that much again.
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