6th graders

Hey guys!!!

WOW I have had the CRAZYEST WEEK!!!! I taught for the first time on Tuesday. I was really nervous, but so excited overall. I had all these fun games planed and I just could not wait. I was teaching the 6^th graders and I had been warned that they were really going to be hard. But, you know, I figured I could handle it. Well my lesson fell on its face. They did not want to participate, they thought it was lame. Their teacher sat at the back and read a book giving me NO help whatsoever. I sped through my lesson and got out of there!!!! Ran straight for the bathroom and cried. I spent the next period in there, and then I had to come out and teach ANOTHER 6^th grade class. I was so upset. But I pulled myself together and went in there. This lesson did not go quite as badly, but it still did not run smoothly. At least I got them to play one of my games. But again the teacher left the room!!!! Could not believe it!! The teachers are never supposed to leave the ALTs alone with the students for a long period of time. I was really frustrated with my situation. I felt like if I had their support it would have made it easier. Anyway, I got to leave school early, (THANK GOD!!) to go pick up my alien registration card. Yes, I am an alien. I got home and just felt really badly about my whole situation. I was feeling like teaching was going to be like that every day. And that would have been unbearable. I went to sleep which is what I do when I can handle what's going on.

I got up the next day and revised my lesson plan. I usually have a few periods off in the morning which is great because it gives me a chance to prepare for the following days lessons and it means I don't really have to do any work when I get home. So I changed my lesson plan a bit. I was armed and ready for the 3^rd graders. I was ready to be humiliated and again and to run out or f there crying. But my lesson went really well. The 3^rd graders were delightful. They participated in all my games they sang along with the corny CD I used to play "my name is.." Hot Potato and they were just generally wonderful and into the whole thing. Plus there teacher was so helpful and supportive!!! She was great she explained what I wanted them to do in Japanese; she organized them and kept them from getting too rowdy. The rest of the day I taught another 3^rd grade class and a 5^th grade class as well. Both went really well. Having the Japanese teacher there to help you and support you makes all the difference!!!

So my week continued on like this. After the first week I have now taught each class once (except for the 1^st and 2^nd graders) and had a really great time doing it!!! Eating lunch with the kids is a blast too. It sucks I don't know more Japanese! They are really cute and funny and ask you the craziest questions.

My day usually goes like this:

Get to school at 8:00.

First class at 10:45

Class

Class

Lunch with one of the classes at 12:30

Then there is recess, I usually go outside and play with the kids

Then it's clean up time, I don't clean up but usually prepare for the final lessons of the day

Then I teach a class
p>Have the last period off

Go home at 5:00

It's a pretty great schedule. I usually teach 3 or 4 lessons a day. Then I have the rest of the day to prepare.

Overall I really love teaching. It is hard, but it can be so much fun. I taught 6^th grade again on Friday and they weren't so bad, so maybe I just need a little experience. I definitely need more experience. The first time I teach a lesson (I usually teach on lesson 4 times) It never goes too well, but the second time I have had a chance to think about what works and what doesn't and make the changes. So when I go in there a second time and give the lesson again things are a lot more organized and planed out. Teaching Elementary School is so wonderful, but it is really exhausting. I get home and crawl right in bed.

Last night was the teacher welcoming party. It was really expensive to go (the Japanese often entertain at restaurants so when you get invited to a party its usually going to coast you the food and drinks and coast of renting the room) It was a lot of fun though. It was one of those traditional Japanese restaurant layouts, long tables, tatame mats, soji screens and chairs on the floor, but the food was Chinese. This kind of saved me because, had it been traditional Japanese food, I might have offended my Principal (who I was sitting next to!!) by not eating the raw egg and seaweed salad. I LOVE lots of Japanese foods, there are just others that would have made me lose my lunch right there on the tatame mats!!

So anyway, it was an all you can eat all you can drink deal. The food was great and so was the beer. Suddenly the door slid open and one of the male teachers walked in dressed as a Geisha!!!! HAHAHAH it was so funny, he did this dance to a pre recorded traditional Japanese song that was about Ino Sho Gakko (my school) it was so funny. Then another teacher came in dressed as a high school girl (kinda sick I know!!) and had a big stick and was yelling at us all about something. It was apparently very funny, but obviously I did not get the jokes. But a middle-aged Japanese man in a sailor suit and a wig is funny enough for me. They also had me and the other 2 new staff, come up front and make speeches. I got a Japanese friend to help me with mine and I read from my lil piece of paper and all the teachers were very impressed. Then they brought in these HUGE flower potted things, and gave them to us, which was very sweet of them!

I got home at around 9:00 at night and crawled straight into bed. I woke up this morning at 6:00 to a slight vibration. Yes that's right folks I felt my first earthquake!!!! It was very miner, but still very exciting. I had heard people describe feeling the earthquake as being thrilling. I thought that was absolutely ridiculous, and was dreading feeling one. But its kinda true. It is very exciting to experience one!! HAHAHA I was very sleepy and stayed in bed because I knew it was a small one.

Anyway, I am going to stay in today even though it is so gorgeous outside, because I need to save my money. I am possibly going into Tokyo tomorrow to do some sightseeing.Im going to take advantage of the good weather and hang out some laundry.

Ja mata!