Die Mary, die!

This blog was going to be a massive rant about teenagers when I first ran the draft through my head this morning during my first lesson. But then the day actually got relatively good. So now I can't rant so much any more....

My first lesson started off a bit badly. The kids seemed to all be in a bit of a huff about something. So when I tried to make them do stuff they'd be dragging themselves...which pissed me off. Then halfway through the lesson they decided to become a little more cheery...It was the same with grade 4. They all started off in a bit of a mood. Especially the girls... they were doing their usual silent treatment routine. There were very violent scenes in my head at the time. But again about half way through they decided to just have fun. Grade 2 were awesome. They knew the damn song! We have to sing bloody "Old mac Donald had a farm" for the rest of this month. I swear I am gonna hate children's songs by the time I get back. I already hate "Mary had a little lamb"(last month)....damn her and her stupid lamb??? Why write such patronising stupid lyrics??? and why use such awful instruments????arrrrghhhhhhhhhhhh damn you Mary! and your stupid lamb! go fall in some ditch and leave me alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

breathe....

ehm...anyway. Yes grade 6 and 4 obviously hate singing the songs as much as I do, which makes it even more "fun" for me to stand up there by the board making a carrot out of myself singing. But enough about songs. Grade 2 were awesome! they did everything perfectly this lesson! I loved them. They saved my day!

So after lessons I was talking to my fave member of staff (He looks a little like this korean actor), while laminating mini cards of the alphabet for my 1st and 2nd graders. When suddenly we realised that one was stuck inside. I was like "SH SH SH F F F F F F !!!!" So there I was trying to figure out how to get this piece out. We tried first with a ruler...then he brought a knife. Then one of the other teachers came over and was told the situation. he then tried with his technique of putting in anothe piece of paper. That failed. Then another teacher came over. Soon there was a whole congregation trying to help. I was just profusely apologising japanese style. Basically over the course of 2 hours the entire male part of the teacher crowd dismantled the laminator step by step, we had various different types of screwdrivers out on the table...we had guys chit- chattering over the best course of action to unscrew everything. Then after 2 hours one of the Senseis finally got to the piece of paper and released it...he raised his arms Rocky style while everyone cheered and clapped. It was quite a funny bonding session really. The guys were actually happy to tamper away while my 5th grade teacher was trying to reassure me that no one was angry and that teachers constantly break stuff. I felt a bit like I was part of a family. It was really nice.