EC Finals... Check!

 Section 3 - Happiness after finishing their Final Exam for English Comprehension!  Thank you for bringing some snacks to share with the class!!!

Section 15 - Snack party time after their Final Exam.  :]  Thank you to those who brought some snacks to share!   It made my watermelon, bread and cookies seem so minuscule to the amount of snacks my students brought.  

I tried some new Japanese snacks! I brought some snacks for my students, and some of them contributed to the food pile.  I also made some "Class Awards" for my students on a card stock paper with their name, section, award, and my hanko stamp.  I think that my students are connected and are supportive of each other. It was a challenging semester, and... We survived the first semester!!! :]  Many things to look forward to for next semester. {inshallah}

I hope you all have a great summer vacation, and I hope to see you in the Fall starting in September!!! 

ありがとう

Thank you~

6 days left.

Today I went to a church service in Japanese!  I didn't know exactly what was happening, but I think I got the gist of it. There was a bento lunch after service, and then we (Christine & I) walked back to the station in the nice humid weather. The people were very nice and welcoming. It was quite a learning experience to be around Japanese people at a Christian church.

Yesterday, I went to the BIGGEST mall that I have ever been to in my life.  It was three malls combined into one shopping mall.  http://www.aeon-laketown.jp/ It was surprising how many people and how many stores there were in this shopping area.  Everyone was shopping shopping shopping and there were so many people there that filled up the walkways! It was nice to be in the AC, but the store clerks shouting "いらっしゃいませ!" took its toll after a while.

Well, the final week of classes are HERE! WOW. WOW. WOW. Final exams here we go!!!

asahi the good times roll...

After several e-mails back and forth and among various people, we finally were able to decide a date, time, and location to meet.  It was just your normal gathering of teachers in a small restaurant.  Then someone important from work joins us later in the evening.  The whole dynamics of the gathering changes.  I am intrigued how one person can have a significant impact on 5 people.  It was a fascinating experience!   I am left feeling reflective and appreciative.

the end is in sight...

Last week we had 11 new teachers visitTIU!  It was a bit overwhelming for me.  Quiet mornings preparing for class were filled with excitement and chatter of 11 more people!   This week it looked like a tornado came through my cubicle.  There were piles of papers and notes and random things everywhere!  It was a needed moment to meet all the new staff!  Two will join us in the fall semester. We had a formal business dinner on Friday, and I chatted with the hard working Toru-san.  At times I can get frustrated and complain about work, but overall I am grateful for this opportunity.  It is a once in a lifetime opportunity!  I truly appreciate all that I hope to gain from this experience.
¤2 Weeks until the semester ends!
¤1 month until Thailand!

Chillin' in the English Lounge

With the AmAziNG Toru-san!

Sunday Funday

Well, it's Sunday night and we are heading into Week 13...

The new GTFs are here and will be coming into our classrooms for most of the day throughout this week!  What a trip it will be to have another teacher in the room! I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Eep! I'm not sure why... Maybe thoughts of insecurity of not being a good teacher in the eyes of another more experienced teacher?

On another note. I'm feeling uncomfortable.  I am grateful for this job and working with great teachers.  I also have to face the reality of being one of the few POC on an "American" staff.  Already the view that most Japanese people have of Americans are the face of a "White" person, and I do not fit that. I love my students and I have faith in their potential to be strong leaders in their communities and sometimes I wonder if they think they would want to have an "American" English teacher that was "White." My issue with teaching English was the connection to "colonization" and "educating" non-European looking people with Christianity and English.  Then I thought about it and decided well, I get to build relationships with my students and support them in their education as they figure out what they want to do with their lives.  Yet, I still feel uncomfortable with teaching "English."  I understand it can help them be more hirable and impact their desire to travel and learn about other cultures.  Sometimes I realize I am living in Japan, and I am in a bubble at work... but the bigger question is how do we shake up one culture's view on another culture?  What does it take for change to happen? Should it change? Or is this all in my head?

3 Months~

Now:

[6.26.2013]

Then:

[4.17.2013]

Cheers mates!! Here to the most challenging 3 months to adjusting to a new life in Japan, and to the start of my teaching career abroad!!!

week 12!!!

Well, well, well... There are 4 weeks left in the spring semester. There is still so much to do and to think about.

Today, I said, "Good morning!!!" several times to my students until they said, "Good morning" more  enthusiastically to me. haha. Fake it until you make it~

I may have mentioned my decision to choose to be more positive.  The last two weeks or three months... felt like they were dragging along... and dragging me along as well...  Today, I had the intention to choose to be positive.  How!?  I am choosing to take care of myself better by going to sleep earlier, practicing yoga in the morning, making my lunch, and leaving work before 6:30pm.  I did that all today, and I feel better already!  Now to keep it up for the rest of the semester... haha.  I'm trying to find the right balance, and it is difficult... AND it has to start somewhere... and no time like the present.

Welcome Summer Time!!!