夏休み

こんにちは!

I am officially on summer break!

It is a great feeling to be on vacation. I'm quite ecstatic!!! ☻

Sunday, July 27 - My last Open Campus!!!

Friday, August 1 - My last school-wide Health Check!!!

My grades are turned in, so I don't need to worry about that. There is always work to be done, but now I can complete other tasks that I need to do before my time in Japan is over. Summer break will go by in a blink of an eye, and fall semester will go by in less time than that! 

Today I volunteered passing out food in 上野公園. There were only males picking up the free food.  I wonder where the females all were.  It was with the organization called Second Harvest.  It was my first time volunteering with them, and it was a nice experience because they were well organized and needed all the help they can get.  I am interested in volunteering with them again.  It was a hot day, and we passed out 263 meals.  Afterwards, I went to the office/ headquarters to help clean the dishes.  It wasn't too long because there were many people helping. When everything was cleaned and put away, there was tea and snacks for us.  It was nice so relax and chat.  I met some really wonderful people today.  I hope I see them again someday...

Many things to look forward to this summer and for fall semester!!! Cheers!!! Keep on keeping on. 

Buddhist "Missionaries"?

It's a warm Sunday afternoon... I just returned home from a short jog/ walk... Shortly after I returned, I was on Skype talking to me sister when my doorbell rang. There were these two gentleman, I assumed salesman, and they were speaking to me in Japanese. I said, "I'm sorry. I don't speak Japanese."  Then they replied, "We know a little English." They take out their smartphones to translate something. And they asked if I was Christian. I said, "Yes," and then they asked me to go to a Buddhist event.  So were they trying to convert me to Buddhism? Are there buddhist missionaries? I apologized and said no, and then closed the door.  Then a few minutes later they came back. One gentleman had a translation on his phone saying something along the lines of wanting someone to practice English with, and if  we could be friends.  I said no, but maybe someone I know would be interested. So now I have their names and their Line IDs.  It was quite strange... Lesson... NEVER never NEVER never OPEN YOUR DOOR. I should've learned from the previous situation. It was an interesting situation though... Who would've known...

Last Week of Spring Semester '14

Well... well... well...

We are in the home stretch of the spring semester.  Next Monday and Tuesday are the last days of the semester.  I had given a final last Friday. This Thursday will be my second final.  Then there'll be five more finals and presentations for next week.

I have been such a scatter-brain this semester!!!  I think seven preps is too much for me. I like variety and change, but my oh my... I am disappointed in how some of my classes went this semester... I was hoping to have some different classes for next semester, but nope!  I allowed myself to be hopeful for something that I knew that couldn't happen... Oh well...

Don't worry... I did get to enjoy some of my classes... I'm optimistic about next semester, but I'm also freaking out about one class that I have to teach!!!

Did I mention that next semester will be my last semester in Japan? I've decided to return to the good ol' U.S. of A. I'm not sure what that entails, but I'm going to look for a middle school math teacher position.  I'm interested in teaching in the public school. I hope I can get a job lined up for Fall 2015, after I return to the States.

Recently, I've been volunteering more. It started off with the kids English Camp back in March.  Then last month I volunteered to play basketball with young athletes with mental disabilities. Then this past weekend I played soccer with kids with down syndrome.  I plan to attend other volunteer activities next month. I hope I can continue other volunteer activities in the fall after summer break.

Just Keep Swimming

Greetings from Japan! May I dare say there is about 4 weeks left in the semester? I know I haven't been updating my blog as much as I would like... no excuses... I just didn't do it...

Today I'm compelled to share my experience going to the swimming pool at the local "sports club" AKA gym.  I finally decided to go, and I decided to only use the pool.  There is the option to use the community bath house and the pool. I opted to use only the pool.  I walked in and there are these tiny lockers, and not a lot of space to change... I thought for a second, am I in the wrong place? Will I end up walking out into the basketball gym instead of the swimming pool?  Luckily, it was the pool, and I looked around, and I'm not sure where to go. I tried to ask one of the staff members for help, and of course he explained everything in Japanese, and I smiled and nodded pretending to understand. I caught a few words like "san" and "co-su," which is three and course.  So there are three lap swimming lanes, a walking course, and a hot tub.  I take my chances of lap swimming with a kick board for about half an hour... Then I decided to swim freestyle. It was great!!! Then I realized, I wanted to leave the pool, but what do I do??  I tried watching people to see what they do as they left the pool.  Most people went upstairs to where the shower rooms were... I made a move and went back to the locker room where I originally started.  As I made the homestretch to the locker room, there were tons of mothers there waiting for their kids. I realized that the swimming class finished just at that same moment. There were naked little kids running around and mothers waiting patiently for the other kid to come out of class... I'm dripping wet ( I guess I should've taken my towel?) and walked in front of this mother and her kid.  I felt so uncomfortable. I quickly grabbed my clothes and towel and go to the only bathroom to change as fast as possible.  Some things I won't be able to understand because I don't know the language... sigh...

It was a refreshing experience to go swimming!!!
Gotta keep at it...

Happy Sunday.

Sunday morning going into Week #5!

I caught a cold last week... and my body is still fighting it off as best it can do... I've been sick for 6 days so far! I went to work sick and it was difficult to get through, but I did it!  We can't really have a "sick day" because no one can cover our classes. Isn't that crazy?!  Last semester I tried to get a day off because of the cast on my ankle and it was difficult to go to work, but they said NO and I had to go to work anyways.  They let me leave early, but that didn't make any difference because the issue was trying to get to and from work. Oh, well... So I've been home all weekend trying to get better... I think for the most part I am, but I still feel like BLAH.

This semester has been a rough start, but when I look back time is going by quickly!  Soon we'll be in the halfway mark of the semester.  I am already looking forward to summer vacation!!! I was thinking a lot lately that I just want to travel and go to various countries to volunteer as a teacher.  That would be an amazing experience.  How do I do that?? I should look into that. :) I'm a nomad. I can't stay in one place for a long time. I'm always on the move to the next adventure and next place in this life.  I feel content with my students and classes this semester and I am looking forward to my last semester in the fall. It will be difficult to leave Japan, and I am ready for what's next...

Week #2 (Year 2)

We are coming up on the middle of the week for the second week of spring classes.  It's only the beginning and I am feeling apathetic towards my classes. For the most part I enjoy my time with my students, but this year is leaving me feeling unenthusiastic. Why?  Well, I guess compared to last year where everything was new and fresh! This year is less exciting... I actually have more classes to prepare for. I have a total of eight classes that I do separate class planning for... Maybe my approach to students figuring out the answers isn't the best as well. As a student, I bet they just want the answer given.  Is my whole view of classwork, pair-work, and group work a total bore to the students?  Is maybe my lack of interest rubbing off on the students? School can be exhausting, and I do assign homework every class.  I'm exhausted and it's only the eighth day of the spring semester!!!  Well, where do I go from here??  Stay positive ?  Think of the students' perspective ?  Get more rest ? (11 more months to go.)

Never stop exploring!!!

April 1 ~ Opening Ceremony

Global Teaching Fellows at TIU [Kasumigaseki, Japan]

Today marks the beginning of the academic school year.  Japan is quite unique as it follows the spring season as the start of the school year.  There are plenty of opening ceremonies going on across the country to welcome the incoming students to the school.  Our university held it's opening day today, and it was encouraging to see all the freshmen in their regalia.  It was a glimpse into the future of seeing them graduating in the future... :) 

This year we have 10 additional professors!!!  We look like quite the force of English Language teachers! :)  It will be another thrilling semester full of falls and hiccups.  I will be teaching 8 different group of students... 6 different courses... students of various departments.  It will be a nice variety of students. I'm looking forward to this school year after having one year under my belt.  I'm curious to meet the students and to see what this school year has in stored for us!!!