TGIf

The low thoughts are covering and concealing the good times. Must stay focused and fight the negative thoughts. Don't let them win the battle.  I am content. Can't complain... I have a job and a home.  Thus far, 2.5 months working in Japan. Oooh my...  2 years to go !

Going into Week 10~

（≧∇≦）

Well, here we are again.  Another Sunday night thinking about work and what will happen this week.  I'm surprised and in awe most of the time with how fast and slow time has gone by while I've been living/ working in Japan. I have never felt this before.  The anxiousness I feel right before class begins.  And the constant thought of "Oh, my God" and "What am I doing today?" and "There's so much to do!"  

Today we had Open Campus, where we talked to prospective students.  It was a good opportunity to chat with students and get to know them.  I was at work from 11-3.  Not too bad... Others had to work Saturday and Sunday.  Luckily for me, I had Saturday  off and went to Asakusa and the Sky Tree with my mom.  

THURSday (木)

Greetings friends & family... there is so much to tell, but not enough time. Here's the quick version of the past 3 weeks.

Week of May 20-24

• 3rd orientation session with first year students about Window on Willamette - Study Tour
• Attending and leading the Seminar Group that I was in charge of chaperoning (Kind of a nightmare... There is more to the story that I won't divulge here.)
• Student & Faculty interviews regarding the WOW Study Tour

Week of May 27-June 1

• Monday - 9 hour flight with 120 students to Portland, Oregon + 1 hour bus ride to Salem!!! Orientation Meeting, mac & cheese dinner, overwhelming feelings & emotions of being back in Oregon on a work trip and wanting to see friends... Went to eat Mexican food for dinner and it was divine...
• Tuesday - Walk this way... Walking all over Downtown Salem and Willamette Campus!!!  Quick trip up to Portland (Thai food & Papa Hydn) & was pulled over for swerving between lanes because I was falling asleep. Thank goodness I was pulled over because it woke me up! Catching up with Gwen, Char & Eric~
• Wednesday - Sports Activities Day! Frisbee, flag football, and basketball.  Saw 2 ASP students. yipee! Went on a tour of the Capitol Building.  Ran errands around Salem. Spent way too much money, but it was worth it. haha.  Had ribs for dinner and went to watch The Great Gatsby. Somehow stayed awake throughout the movie~ pure joy. Felt alive again.
• Thursday - Zena Farm Forest trip~ Luckily it didn't rain too much, and the sun decided to make an appearance.  Walked to the Riverfront Carousel and had a picnic in the park.  Went shopping in Salem Center Mall with one of my students. Returned back to campus and started packing.  BBQ farewell dinner. Many TIUA staff and faculty were there. I saw 2 other ASP students. It was a joyous reunion.  Bittersweet moment to say hello/goodbye.
• Friday - 1 hour bus ride up to Portland. Checked in 120 students plus 6 teachers.  Made it all through security check! Some students had liquids and were surprised to have to take off their shoes!  Ate mahi mahi tacos and drank a Rogue beer before heading back to Japan.
• Saturday - 11 hour flight... 2.5 hour bus ride. 15 minute taxi ride. AND I made it back to my home in Japan. Showered and ate pasta for dinner at a nearby restaurant. In a hazy daze.

Now I've had classes for 4 days, and I have been in a zombie mode. My eyes are open, but my brain is slowly functioning. On top of that my Mom arrives tonight, and I need to go to the airport to fetch her.  ON TOP of that we have Open Campus this weekend. Working on the weekend when I am required to be there is rough.  I usually go in to get things done, but it is on my own accord... It's harder when they say we are required to work on the weekend...

On another note... The WOW trip was wonderful.  It was great to connect to the students outside of class, and to spend time communicating and traveling together on a social level without the umbrella of academics hovering above.  It was a low key/ almost painless trip when I think about the relationships and connections made. It was truly a WOW experience.

@ Narita Airport

On top of the State Capitol Building~

Reunion with ASP Students!

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...

1 month in Japan!

One month ago I arrived in Japan not sure of what will happen... Now that I have been here for one month, I think that 2 years will go by fast.

I arrived full of excitement and eagerness... I was preparing for this for about one year in Salem. I worked at TIUA with students from TIU, and it was a great experience. I truly value the study abroad experience because it had such a big impact on me. When I first studied and traveled outside the US in 2007, I had a new outlook on life.

I look at my students now, and I really enjoy teaching and getting to know them. I encourage them to try to do some kind of study abroad experience. I also get to meet with students that I taught and met with in Salem, because they are now back at school in Japan.

I am truly lucky for all that I have and get to learn and experience. Happy Friday!