Another Manic Monday...

oooh ooh! One more week, and we are flying up in the sky to the state of Oregon.  Who would've known when I first signed the contract last summer...

We are taking about 170 students to Salem, Oregon, USA for about four days. We depart Tokyo Monday, May 27, and we return Saturday, June 1.  WOW // on many levels.  The trip is called "Window on Willamette" (WOW) Study Tour.  Myself and my colleagues will be in a whirlwind of event after event on those 4 days.

Today was the start of the week, but I feel like it should be the end of the week. Rough day... Nothing in particular with the classes, but the fatigue and stress. I hope things get better... In my classes we are focusing on diversity, culture, tradition, language, etc.  It was a great start today! I'm curious how the rest of the week plays out.

Below is a video that a TIUA '12 Alum made of his experience in Oregon.
   

Week 6?!

Wow... About 12 more days I'm flying back to Portland, Oregon with 120 college students from Tokyo International University... wow...

I have been truly grateful and lucky to have such thoughtful and loving people in my life. My partner Saud came to visit me!  My first visitor in Japan.  I received a wonderful care package from my dear friend Rosa.  I also received a very touching card from my dear friend Ashley. 

Last week and this week has been super busy.  Some nights I stayed at work in the office until 9 or 10pm.  Tonight was the first night in one week to be home by 7pm!  Only because I had to come home and wait for my package to be delivered. If not I would have probably stayed until 8 or so. Oh my.... Working in Japan is a lot of work!   Especially, piloting a new program, teaching 6 different classes, working English speaking hours, grading, planning lessons, helping students... I may have mentioned this before.... Sorry, if I did. I guess I can't get over how much work there is to do and always more to do and even more added to that!  haha...

My package from Rosa.

My card from Ashley.

Saud & I. <3 

Golden Week

It is the last night of the holiday vacation.

Golden Week started last week with the Emperor's birthday. Yesterday was Children's Day and Boy's Day. So many festivities for this holiday. Many students went home. Some stayed around. I was fortunate to have my first visitor.

The English Plaza is about ready to open up next week. It will be a grand event. We went in to work on Thursday to get photos taken with the chancellor and for the ceremony of the plaza being finished. It was a nice small event.

This week we have four days of classes! Another short week, and then we have about three weeks until we venture off to Oregon. Oh my! Here we go...