This week is going quite fast!
Monday, school went pretty fast, and handicapped class was alright actually. I think I was still a little pissed from grade 2, so I didn't let them give me any sugar. It worked though, even the over agressive kid didn't dare smack me when I took the annoying noise making plastic bag from him.
Tuesday was Jodie's birthday. We went to this korean grill and had lots of random dishes. Cows tongue? Not too bad actually. But I have to say I loved the pizza there...yeah I know...not exactly japanese..though where else would you get salmon and potatoe pizza?
Today I had no lessons, so I spent the day making birthday cards and materials to hang up around the school. Not that the kids care. I feel a little bit like not wanting to make the effort, because I know the kids won't really look at it. The weather is miserable again, so I cycled in the rain again. I am becoming good at cycling blindly now.
I am watching far too much 'sex and the city' recently. I am really quite addicted to it. It's such a good programme. Although I have to say..the more I am watching it, the more the characters are annoying me. They are incredibly shallow. I am sure most people will at this point shout at me and go "hello??? of course they are..why on earth are you watching that programme?" Well I like the series primarily because I love watching the four girls interact. I think it's so cool to see friendship like that, where they are always there for each other and can just talk so easily to each other about anything. But now..watching many episodes back to back...they really are quite shallow..and harsh...to men anyway. Fashion seems to rule....and men get dropped faster than you can say 'snowblowing' for the most stupid reasons. That's supposed to be the modern woman....fair enough...I guess if it works for them. I'll still watch it. :)
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Sunday, 1 March 2009
pie zoo three
hmmmmmm...grapes...
So Friday was Mikage's birthday meal. We went to this restaurant called "The blue water". It was a beautiful place! I can't believe I haven't gone earlier!!! The view was cool, the food was good the atmosphere was sophisticated. The meal was cool..it was a small affair really,but that made it good. everyone could chat and banter. We then went to "eightys", which is this small hip bar, and continued our shenanigans there. We had birthday cake and singing too! A friendly japanese guy at the bar bought us all food in honour fo the birthday child, which was really sweet. We then had some banter about the usage of swearing in language and whether it dumbs it down or not...it got quite intense really! I also got to finally use one of my awesome spiderman plasters on a victim. Luke had cut himself and had a boring plaster, so we exchanged it. He was loving it!!! yeaaah!...ehm...cough cough...I know I know..I am an utter child.
The next morning, we spontaneously went off to tokyo for a shopping spree. It was supposed to be retail therapy, but turned in to a "what the heck do we get jodie for her birthday?" spree. It was great though. Pretty relaxed really. When we got back I met up with Joe and some people again and had some chilled drinks. Again late nights! fun times!!!!
Sunday I got to finally sleep in loooong...didn't seem to help though. All it did was make me feel more tired...plew plew plew....but I got lots of things done today..so at least that's a start.
maaaan don't want school tomorrow....really don't.
So Friday was Mikage's birthday meal. We went to this restaurant called "The blue water". It was a beautiful place! I can't believe I haven't gone earlier!!! The view was cool, the food was good the atmosphere was sophisticated. The meal was cool..it was a small affair really,but that made it good. everyone could chat and banter. We then went to "eightys", which is this small hip bar, and continued our shenanigans there. We had birthday cake and singing too! A friendly japanese guy at the bar bought us all food in honour fo the birthday child, which was really sweet. We then had some banter about the usage of swearing in language and whether it dumbs it down or not...it got quite intense really! I also got to finally use one of my awesome spiderman plasters on a victim. Luke had cut himself and had a boring plaster, so we exchanged it. He was loving it!!! yeaaah!...ehm...cough cough...I know I know..I am an utter child.
The next morning, we spontaneously went off to tokyo for a shopping spree. It was supposed to be retail therapy, but turned in to a "what the heck do we get jodie for her birthday?" spree. It was great though. Pretty relaxed really. When we got back I met up with Joe and some people again and had some chilled drinks. Again late nights! fun times!!!!
Sunday I got to finally sleep in loooong...didn't seem to help though. All it did was make me feel more tired...plew plew plew....but I got lots of things done today..so at least that's a start.
maaaan don't want school tomorrow....really don't.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
simple questions
It must be my lucky week this week. I get 2 parcels! One from Garlon...filled with the most amazing things!!! Creme egg!!! niiice..be impressed guys I still ahve not eaten it...I want to save the moment...and make it truly special. I also got some bacon and egg plasters (or bandaids...as the americans would call it), which are...awesomeness!!! and some beautiful photos of Garlon`s baby (The motorbike...not one of those squishy ones). Dylan sent me a letter too with a mixed CD awwww man! music yeah!!!! the letter had lots of funny cartoons all over it too....so yes..Thanks guys for making smile a massive amount!
Anyways.....so yes...I have another hour and a bit to go..before the week is finally over! Kalli is leaving tomorrow very early in the morning..but before that we are all going to Mikage`s birthday celebration meal. should be good! yesterday I stupidly ended up going to bed at an ungodly hour AGAIN. why? Because we were out in Royal host drinking thick hot chcolate and talking about random crap. It was really nice though. Met some really cool people as a result. We got talking about a strange topic..that seems to be quite different for boys and girls...and it got me thinking.....do they really get each other?
the topic was relationships...and communication in relationships. Nobody denied that communication is important...so that`s being able to talk about random topics...but also..as one girl pointed out....issues and things. Now here Doran and me got confused. One of the example questions that boys should apparently be good at to answer...but aren`t is "Why do you love me?". We were both stunned...neither of us...would know what to say in such a situation. The girl gave examples of what one could say and how she was upset that the guy couldn`t say much beyond "because its you". I had to sheepishly admit that that`s what I would say too...and Doran too.....
So what would you say to that? This is pretending you have been in a relationship for a looong time...and are thinking of tying the knot.....how could you answer such an apparently "easy" question? Is there really an answer to something like that? Love isn`t really.....planned? it just happens? Should you know why you love a person? Or should it be inexplicable?
Thoughts please.
Another question which I never even considered was from Doran...what should the ratio of talking be between the guy and girl? That made me laugh so much!!!! He said he didn`t want it to be fifty fifty....he didn`t want to talk that much...hahahahahhaha
Anyways.....so yes...I have another hour and a bit to go..before the week is finally over! Kalli is leaving tomorrow very early in the morning..but before that we are all going to Mikage`s birthday celebration meal. should be good! yesterday I stupidly ended up going to bed at an ungodly hour AGAIN. why? Because we were out in Royal host drinking thick hot chcolate and talking about random crap. It was really nice though. Met some really cool people as a result. We got talking about a strange topic..that seems to be quite different for boys and girls...and it got me thinking.....do they really get each other?
the topic was relationships...and communication in relationships. Nobody denied that communication is important...so that`s being able to talk about random topics...but also..as one girl pointed out....issues and things. Now here Doran and me got confused. One of the example questions that boys should apparently be good at to answer...but aren`t is "Why do you love me?". We were both stunned...neither of us...would know what to say in such a situation. The girl gave examples of what one could say and how she was upset that the guy couldn`t say much beyond "because its you". I had to sheepishly admit that that`s what I would say too...and Doran too.....
So what would you say to that? This is pretending you have been in a relationship for a looong time...and are thinking of tying the knot.....how could you answer such an apparently "easy" question? Is there really an answer to something like that? Love isn`t really.....planned? it just happens? Should you know why you love a person? Or should it be inexplicable?
Thoughts please.
Another question which I never even considered was from Doran...what should the ratio of talking be between the guy and girl? That made me laugh so much!!!! He said he didn`t want it to be fifty fifty....he didn`t want to talk that much...hahahahahhaha
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Don`t trust things that bleed for 7 days and don`t die.
Must....stay...awake....
Ok it is 14.08pm....2 and half hours before I can go home! Yaaaay! My lessons went well today too...It`s a shame really, that now I am leaving I am getting the hang of controlling a wild class better. Today my 1st graders were slightly high. After a while I just stopped them all mid hyper attack by going..."ok everyone!!!! breeeeeaaaathe" we all did deep breaths together...I was impressed it was working....and then I started whispering...so they whispered back...and beautiful silence filled the room....ahhhhhhhh
I also started getting the hang of demon girl`s hissy fits. I just dialed up the " I am going to ignore you" mode. It worked. I didn`t give her time to go in to full tantrum. Instead I just moved on to the next person immediatley...she started doing her whiny pitch raising number...so I was "Ok next..GO". hehehehehehe....I will not let a little spoilt 7 year old get the better of me! harharhar
yesterday was horrible though. Damn...I teach shopping to my kids here..and it all works wonderfully..the kids all use english...they understand the rules..they stick by the rules..they have fun. I try the same thing at my other school..and what? They don`t use english they mess about..they steal my play money....they have "destroy" written across their brains. arrrrrghhhhhhh...I gave up..I didn`t even go and check after a while whether they were still speaking english....I seriously couldn`t have given a flying.....monkey.
My grade 2s at that school were angels though and saved the day as they usually do. Coming in to the room with a cheery "goodmorning!" and singing that cursed "old mac donalds" song fantastically. They also could do the shopping well....calculating correctly..speaking english...seriously they were the hit! I told them again and again how amazing they were...if only they could understand that I meant it.
The evening made everything better. We met up with the usual wednesday night crew and went for sushi. Kalli and yo yo came back that day and joined us. Kalli ate whale and loved it..while some of my friends tried pufferfish! No one died from blocked acetylcholine receptors!!!! Still..it was pretty expensive sushi really. We then all went to a bar and took over basically. It was a pretty place though and the staff were really lovely. We got chatting to some japanese guys at the bar too. I met a strawberry farmer called...Teku? possibly? He was very young (24) and looked nothing like what I expected a farmer to look like. His english was really good too! We then got chatting to the 2 bar staff who turned out to have been married for 6 years already 8and they were only 24 too). I was like "wow" That still exists nowadays????? That`s pretty bad innit? That 6 years seems to me like it`s the most amazing accomplishment.
Ok it is 14.08pm....2 and half hours before I can go home! Yaaaay! My lessons went well today too...It`s a shame really, that now I am leaving I am getting the hang of controlling a wild class better. Today my 1st graders were slightly high. After a while I just stopped them all mid hyper attack by going..."ok everyone!!!! breeeeeaaaathe" we all did deep breaths together...I was impressed it was working....and then I started whispering...so they whispered back...and beautiful silence filled the room....ahhhhhhhh
I also started getting the hang of demon girl`s hissy fits. I just dialed up the " I am going to ignore you" mode. It worked. I didn`t give her time to go in to full tantrum. Instead I just moved on to the next person immediatley...she started doing her whiny pitch raising number...so I was "Ok next..GO". hehehehehehe....I will not let a little spoilt 7 year old get the better of me! harharhar
yesterday was horrible though. Damn...I teach shopping to my kids here..and it all works wonderfully..the kids all use english...they understand the rules..they stick by the rules..they have fun. I try the same thing at my other school..and what? They don`t use english they mess about..they steal my play money....they have "destroy" written across their brains. arrrrrghhhhhhh...I gave up..I didn`t even go and check after a while whether they were still speaking english....I seriously couldn`t have given a flying.....monkey.
My grade 2s at that school were angels though and saved the day as they usually do. Coming in to the room with a cheery "goodmorning!" and singing that cursed "old mac donalds" song fantastically. They also could do the shopping well....calculating correctly..speaking english...seriously they were the hit! I told them again and again how amazing they were...if only they could understand that I meant it.
The evening made everything better. We met up with the usual wednesday night crew and went for sushi. Kalli and yo yo came back that day and joined us. Kalli ate whale and loved it..while some of my friends tried pufferfish! No one died from blocked acetylcholine receptors!!!! Still..it was pretty expensive sushi really. We then all went to a bar and took over basically. It was a pretty place though and the staff were really lovely. We got chatting to some japanese guys at the bar too. I met a strawberry farmer called...Teku? possibly? He was very young (24) and looked nothing like what I expected a farmer to look like. His english was really good too! We then got chatting to the 2 bar staff who turned out to have been married for 6 years already 8and they were only 24 too). I was like "wow" That still exists nowadays????? That`s pretty bad innit? That 6 years seems to me like it`s the most amazing accomplishment.
Monday, 23 February 2009
oddness
So I wake up this morning, and hear the rain smashing down on to our roof. My heart sinks. I do NOT want to cycle to school for 25 minutes, and then arrive wet as a fish. Plew...So I decide to be damn cheeky and .....take a taxi. Yes yes I know...spoilt! But hey....if it had been my other schools..I would have cycled. Because I would have been taken care of by the lovely staff once I arrived looking like I'd drowned. But not at this school.....
It was worth it!
Aaaanyways. I discovered the miracle cure...or the holy grail of dealing with handicapped class!!!! Are you ready for this?.....drum roll......board games! Seriously it worked like the teensy bit of rum you stick in the milk for the baby, so that it sleeps through the night. The start fo the class was the usual shenanigens....them not listening..not responding...doing their own thing bla bla.....and then after about 15 minutes of torture I brought out my snakes and ladders game I made for this particular topic (stationary and "what's this? , It's a .........."). It was amazing. They actually settled down and played. The class was quite quiet and peaceful. Even the teachers said they had fun today....because the kids enjoyed it. And I finally had a good handicapped lesson.
so that was the first odd interesting thing.....the second was a tantruming child that started having a screaming match at the teachers room. She started screaming "sensei" several times....the teacher wasn't answering...so she got louder and louder. Then...she started going full blown mad. It was highly entertaining....though a little awkward. Again it made me wonder about this trait of drama in children. Where does it come from? Where does this sense of drama come from? Why do children ahve to be so loud? attention seeking? and obvious about things so that everyone can see how they feel? I guess adults do this too....but then again...why is that?....do we like that sort of thing? I wonder if there is some sort of evolutionary significance to that. mjaaaaa
totally addicted to sex and the city, it makes me giggle with girlish delight...ohhh dear
It was worth it!
Aaaanyways. I discovered the miracle cure...or the holy grail of dealing with handicapped class!!!! Are you ready for this?.....drum roll......board games! Seriously it worked like the teensy bit of rum you stick in the milk for the baby, so that it sleeps through the night. The start fo the class was the usual shenanigens....them not listening..not responding...doing their own thing bla bla.....and then after about 15 minutes of torture I brought out my snakes and ladders game I made for this particular topic (stationary and "what's this? , It's a .........."). It was amazing. They actually settled down and played. The class was quite quiet and peaceful. Even the teachers said they had fun today....because the kids enjoyed it. And I finally had a good handicapped lesson.
so that was the first odd interesting thing.....the second was a tantruming child that started having a screaming match at the teachers room. She started screaming "sensei" several times....the teacher wasn't answering...so she got louder and louder. Then...she started going full blown mad. It was highly entertaining....though a little awkward. Again it made me wonder about this trait of drama in children. Where does it come from? Where does this sense of drama come from? Why do children ahve to be so loud? attention seeking? and obvious about things so that everyone can see how they feel? I guess adults do this too....but then again...why is that?....do we like that sort of thing? I wonder if there is some sort of evolutionary significance to that. mjaaaaa
totally addicted to sex and the city, it makes me giggle with girlish delight...ohhh dear
Sunday, 22 February 2009
videos that I wanted to put on here
Hmmm....let's see if this works.
there are a few videos which I have wanted to put on here but wasn't able to due to whatever reason....
So let's see....one is of our trip to Kyoto (Anthony and me) during x-mas.
The others are videos of karaoke in Hakone..which made me laugh A LOT! especially Capt'n Maney's amazing dance.
there are a few videos which I have wanted to put on here but wasn't able to due to whatever reason....
So let's see....one is of our trip to Kyoto (Anthony and me) during x-mas.
The others are videos of karaoke in Hakone..which made me laugh A LOT! especially Capt'n Maney's amazing dance.
Lake hunting
well well...It's been a pretty busy week/weekend! I am so close to going home...it's scary actually. I am really loving this country, and I am also aware that I will probably miss a lot of things once I return to england. It's gonna be a culture shock. Who knows...maybe I'll go so mad that I'll just have to return! hahahah anyway.
School was going well mostly. Apart from horrible wednesdays where i nearly killed my 6th and 4th graders. Gawwwwd teenagers are so darn dramatic! What is it with the exaggerations??? I swear if I have kids and they do this whole drama number..they're gonna be shipped off somewhere far away till they learn to get over it. My handicapped class was the worst class on monday. I really want to give up with that. It's unbelievable how much mess 7 kids can make, and how frustrating they can be. It's so scary. I wonder if I would ahve the strength and patience and love to deal with a child like that 24/7 let alone 45minutes once a week. It's pretty amazing really. Hats off to those that can.
Friday I got to leave early because we had a big ALT meeting. I do love those meetings. It makes me feel like I am part fo something important. It's also great to meet all your "colleagues" and talk about how school is going for them. It makes you feel less alone with the little daily struggles.
Friday night was a chilled night with Imo, Capn Maney, Jeremy, Hannah and me. We started off in an izakaya having some random food and the most gorgeous pudding. We then moved on to playing pool (I actually didn't TOTALLY suck...just mostly), and then went off to karaoke. It was a dingy little place but quite fun! I found some bravery and sang a song...I was shaking all the way through it but hey! I managed! be proud of me! The guys were lovely bout it and applauded me! yaaay. Saturday was immensly chilled out and involved a lot of scrubs.
Sunday, I had Franny call me through our slidey doors checking if I was awake. We went on a road trip around the lakes in this area with Rudd and Joe. It was really fun! We basically made a round trip of Mt Fuji, seeing it from angles we had never known existed. The lakes looked beautiful too. It was strange Japan felt so empty today, we were often the only ones around. It was cool though. There were remnants of snow all around the area, and we also saw these amazing snow/ice....sculpture thingys? The day was rounded off with a hyaku yen sushi visit....mmmmmmmhhhh........there's one thing already that I am gonna miss. The list goes on.
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