Bye bye

It was my last day at one of the elementary schools today, and it turned out to be a wonderful day. I woke up actually feeling physically sick, because I was completely worried about taking this special needs class AND I was told the Board of Education was coming in today to check the school. I was just like "how the heck can all of this happen to me in ONE week?" So yeah with a massive nervous lump in my stomach I came to school, and checked out what games I could do with the special needs kids. It turned out I would need to really over think my plan...ok...I still contest that the 5th and 6th graders weren't as much fun as the younger kids...and I only had those today. So it was hard work, but the occasional naughty boy would keep me cheerful strangely enough. I was chuffed because my younger ones would shout my name and stop me in the corridor to chat to me, which I thought was lovely.

I then get told about 15min before my special class that I don't need to teach Halloween and so should just come up with something else. In my head I was destroying little cities like Godzilla. On the outside I was my perfectly trained Japanese teacher and went "OH!" ok.....right......and then set off to quickly make some flashcards on colours, create bingo sheets and make up some games. This is gonna be a great example of "thinking on you're feet, under pressure" for any job interview. The class ended up being my favourite of the day. the kids were just wonderful. Totally curious and chatty (in Japanese of course), a bit wild, but absolutely nuts - which I loved.
My favourite child was this tiiiiiny boy who seemed to only be a little slow, but he attached himself to my hand and chit chatted away as if there was no tomorrow, always with a bright smile on his face. h would take my hand and smell it all the time too. Whatever they described as special needs also did not always fit. One girl in the class would never concentrate on the task and instead home in on my bracelets and stroke them and touch them. The teachers would order her away, but I realised at the end of the lesson that she could describe all the colours on my bracelet perfectly, and not only the ones I taught but also "clear", "sky blue", "silver" etc...I was blown away.

One boy made me this massive origami cube in different colours, which I was highly impressed and touched by. I went to after school computer club, because I became friends with the maths teacher there, and it was her club. The kids were all like "eeeehhhhhh??? Eigo sensei??? Mai sensei?". The teacher explained a few things about me, and we had a question time of sorts, where I got asked stuff like what's my fave disney character (Donald!!!). Then somehow I got roped in to arm wrestling matches with every child! Pleased to say I beat all the boys (though they were only like 8 or 10 years old). It certainly upped my street credit! The boys then all became enthusiastic about playing 'Janken' with me (paper scissors rock). The kids then set off to make me a calendar and pictures on the computer for me, which I was really honoured to receive! So yeah it was a really beautiful day in the end, the teachers all applauded me at the end..which was a little awkward, there was a lot of bowing.

To end the evening, Lena, Imogen and I went to a 100 yen sushi place. It was actually named after "astroboy". The sushi was daaaamn goooood! Topped with green tea ice cream what more would you want?

I'd better pack now..gotta find my way to Chiba tomorrow, after trying to find my way to the other elementary school first! ahhhhhhhhhhhh