Just a little something to help Katie keep up with all those who matter to her.
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| We're Not in Japan Anymore... Just a little something to help Katie keep up with all those who matter to her. |
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Saturday, April 24, 2004 Hi again. And sorry, again... I think almost every time I write I have to apologize for being 'gone' so long... Oh well. Well, my trip with Fusako & co. was nice. We went to a city called Hakone, which is up in a mountain. It was gorgeous day, so I got lots of good pictures. There are hot springs up in that mountain, and I ate a black egg boiled in the spring water (yes, it's that hot). It added 7 years to my life--so the story goes. (: We had a really nice lunch, too. Though, not a lot of flower-viewing, since the blossoms had fallen already... and most of our looking at anything was done from the car.... got a headache from so much driving (all twists and turns up and down the mountain). There aren't too many highways in Japan, I guess... or, maybe I've just never been on one. (: The big downside was the ladies spoke in rapid Japanese (again) the whole day... so I didn't understand anything except a word here and there, to get the gist of the topics of their conversations. So I stared out the window and enjoyed the scenery. At one point, someone mentioned that I was quiet, and I quickly replied that it was because I didn't understand anything they said. 'Nothing..?' I was asked, and said, 'yeah, pretty much nothing.' They seemed to consider that for a moment... then went back to chattering in Japanese for the rest of the day. >sigh< This week at school was nice. I enjoy working with Sueoka and Uchimura-senseis. The first year kids are a lot of fun, too. (: Even though they hardly know any English, I still visit the class. We play lots of games and get the kids shouting and moving around the room. (: It's really amazing, but EVERY student gets involved. I'm serious. When they learned how to write the lower-case letters the other day, their eyes were glued on Uchimura-sensei's chalk as he drew on the board. Every one of them. It is so refreshing and fun to see all of the students interested in English--with the feeling that they can do it. By the second and third years, I've come across kids that have given up... fallen behind... and it's hard to know what to do to bring them back in. I've had two Numazu Guide Classes now. It's going okay. I still don't feel qualified to teach it, but that doesn't matter to anyone here, I guess... Fusako had to miss last Thrusday, so another woman (Chiemi..? I forget and feel so bad!) came to help me. She was very cheerful and a lot of fun. (: I think she got the students a bit more interested in the lesson, because last time was a lot more lively than the first class. Of course... maybe the students are just getting more comfortable, too. Next Thursday is a National Holiday here, so we have no class... the following Thursday, I will be toting my best buddy, Becca, around Kyoto! I feel bad missing class... but... I'd be more upset if I didn't take Becca to Kyoto to see Madoka again. (: On Saturday I met with Ai-san again, and after that I had Japanese class. Our group is still the biggest, and it's kinda difficult. We always get side-tracked and talk about random stuff. (: Which is good for 'improv speaking' or whatever... but I'd like to get through the text, too. When Becca comes, I might miss three classes... so I want to get as far ahead as I can before then. (: Ah well.... Well, I am going out with Kazuyo for lunch, but I should have the evening to work on my site, perhaps. With Thrusday being a holiday, too, I should have some time. I'm sorry I'm so slow about updates anymore... I think I'm just getting really tired. But... I SHOULD have everything up to date before Becca arrives--cuz I'll have a lot more to add after that, I know! It would be wise of me to catch up before she arrives on May 3rd. (: Oh... I talked to her yesterday, and she was on her way to Marisha's baby shower (my other best friend).... It's sad that stuff like this is going on while I'm here... She's been pregnant for about 7 months now, and I haven't seen her... posted by Katie Suttles | 9:49 PM Comments-[ comments.] Wednesday, April 14, 2004 So I'm really sorry about not updating much at all recently... It's just like, somehow I seem to have become this hot item in Japan or something.. and everyone is asking for my time. This work-week alone I have 3 English classes (not counting the one I went to on Tuesday, which I understood was supposed to be a meeting, but I guess she just meant to call me that day...). I have had three people ask about private lessons for their children in the last month.... And this week the Numazu Guide Class will begin again, so there go Thrusday nights... And I still meet with the English Teachers once a month, to help them practice (although, I really enjoy that one). I decided I wanted to try translating this comic I enjoy reading here, since it hasn't reached America yet... but I'm finding my time is slowly being taken away from me. ): And I can't say 'no' to anyone, of course... as long as I have some time to spare. I'm here to teach English after all, aren't I...? Well, this weekend will be just as 'busy' as the last... Friday night I have a lesson, Saturday morning I have another, Saturday afternoon I FINALLY get to practice Japanese, and Sunday Fusako said something about going flower-viewing (although, the cherry blossoms have already fallen...). It doesn't sound TOO busy, but it's just about the same as last weekend... and it was busy enough to prevent me from updating.... But I will try. I hope I have something interesting for you soon. posted by Katie Suttles | 5:26 PM Comments-[ comments.] Tuesday, April 06, 2004 I had my first 'real' day at Katahama JHS today. It went pretty well; we had an opening ceremony, in which I had to give a little speech in English and Japanese (the new first year's haven't studied any English yet, so...) which probably sounded SO funny to them, then I sat around for while, then one of the secretaries had to run out and buy me lunch because I was unable to find the convenience store this morning (and I didn't worry too much because seriously, I expected to be home before noon...), and then we had the 'new students welcoming ceremony'.. or something like that. It was for all of the new first year students, and it was quite a to-do. Parents came... I saw at least one lady in a kimono... and all these educational officals were there... two guys were wearing uniforms of some sort. Funky. During THAT one, though, I just got to stand around with the other teachers, and let the principal speak for me. Yay. (: I got several excited stares today... it's been a while since I've had any, since I worked at Ooka for so long. I was in the teachers' room, using the Internet computer, and I see several eyes peeking in at me from the door to the hallway... I was smiley and cordial for a while, but when they just STARE... it gets frustrating. :P Oh well... didn't last long. Most of them waved back, anyway, and a few actually managed a "hello." Should be a nice school, though... the kids seem very sweet. (: The two teachers I work with this time are Uchimura- and Sueoka (Sue-ay-oh-ka) -senseis. They are both very nice, and speak English very well. (: I get to do the introduction thing when I start classes... so we'll see what their 'real' classes are like later. I get another day off, though... since tomorrow I guess the teachers will just be going over the general school stuff, and not really having any classes. I said I would use a paid vacation day (since I'm sure at this point that I have enough saved up to last my 4 months left here), but I get a 'free day'... since I'll be preparing for classes.... right? (: Right. The 'entrance ceremony' today was interesting. It makes me think back to my own school days and wonder if we ever did anything like this... Well, like I said, all these important people were there, and all the parents and teachers were in nice suits and stuff. All of the students had their names read off, and as they were called, each child let out a loud, clear "Hai!" and stood up from his/her chair. I rarely hear kids call out so clearly, when they are called. It was kind of moving/impressive... It made me think that they really were proud to have their names read off, there in the Katahama gym. It seemed like quite a deal, too... Cameras were flashing, and camcorders were running the whole time. (: Wish I'd'a known... I'd've brought my camera, too. (: Anyways... so I get another day off tomorrow... and after finishing my taxes ::hurl:: I think I'll try to finish up my 'Spring Vacation' pages--so you can see photos of me, my mom, and my aunt enjoying Japan! (: I'll try to get some of my cherry blossom pictures from Saturday up too! Hope you stop by! posted by Katie Suttles | 8:01 AM Comments-[ comments.] Saturday, April 03, 2004 So I've been incredibly stupid and lazy this week, so blah. How come, when I have all the time in the world, I get nothing done...? But then, when I have lots of stuff to do, I'm always trying to fit more stuff in...? Ugh. So, Thursday was my first day at my new schoo, Katahama Jr High. Thursday because it was April 1st, which (I guess) is the offical start of the new school year in Japan. I was a little nervous because no one from the new school had contacted me in ANY way before Thursday... Luckily, Sumi-sensei gave me a map, so I was able to find the building... So, here's a continuation of my week, starting from Tuesday: Tuesday and Wednesday: Like I said, I had these days off. I did get a few things done, but not much... One of those things was, though, finding my way to Katahama Jr High. I have to travel through this industrial-ish zone, though... and I'm having a hard time finding a way around it.... But I'm going to keep trying, because biking down those streets makes me feel uncomfortable... The traffic is too heavy, and the roads too narrow. Thursday: I got up nice and early and got ready for school, and biked my way there. I was a really nice day. (: Well, I arrived and I couldn't see anyone around... I had no idea where to go. I looked down the hall to the left of the entrance.... classrooms. To the right.... classrooms.... Ugh. There was a staircase in front of me so... up I went. When I got to the second floor, I saw the principal's room (thank god I can read some kanji...) and so I knocked on the secretaries' door (which is normally right next to the principal's). So I got escorted into the teachers' room. There are two English teachers at Katahama, both men... and I forget their names.... ): But I think they were rather surprised to see me that day. I was introduced to everyone, and I think I heard him say (in Japanese), "We were expecting her to arrive next week... but, she came today." Well GEEZ! My contract says I start HERE today, doesn't it, Mister? And NO ONE from your school bothered to get ahold of ME, or even someone at Ooka. :P GOD. Sorry. (: Just a little frustrated about that. Well, they had a little meeting, and I introduced myself. Then they all got busy cleaning the teachers' room; moving desks and stuff even. I was very obvoiusly lost and in the way.... so one of the English teachers said I could go home. (Actually, first he asked how many paid holidays I had remaining... ?!?! YOU are telling me to go home, and you want me to use a vacation day...??) Luckily, I just got to leave... and he said I should come back next Tuesday, when the students return from their vacation. So, here I am... Sunday morning... having gotten about NOTHING done since that day. >Sigh< I've had practically a whole week off, and I've done nothing but be lazy. ): I have so many pictures to show you all on my site, too.... BUT!!! It's only Sunday morning! I have an English lesson soon ::glances at clock:: VERY SOON!! Oops!! Uhm, well, okay... English lesson today, that's all.... I'll get home and get cracking on STUFF. (: Cleaning, web-paging, etc. I still have Monday off, after all. And I'm thinking Tuesday is only the opening ceremony, so I'll probably be home early. I have pictures from my first 'real' flower-viewing experience too! Kazuyo took me to Mishima yesterday, and we had a great time!! I'll do my best to get everything ready real soon! posted by Katie Suttles | 7:23 PM Comments-[ comments.] |
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