KONNICHIWHAT!?: August 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Put on display

The end of August approaches and I thought, "hey, it's been a while since I wrote a new blog post", so here I am. Coincidentally, today is also the day that the Avengers comes out here in Japan. Pretty late on that right? I believe it's on DVD in the States next month. There doesn't appear to be much rhyme or reason behind when and why Japan releases certain movies. That being said, I'd like to go check it out if the opportunity presents itself. Other than that, I've been working per usual and spending my free time with my PS3. Work has been going quite well. It's nice to be back on the regular schedule after summer school. Everything just seems easier in relation and the work days go by fast. Monday is our monthly staff meeting and also the first day of parent observations. I'm not so nervous about the parents being there, but I have a couple of students who are troublemakers and I wonder if they'll give me a hard time during parent obs. Nothing quite like being made a fool by a child in front of a crowd of judgmental eyes. Now that's a good time!

It also continues to be hot and humid here with rain falling on a random basis. The sun is out one minute and in the next it's coming down hard. So that's what a Japanese summer is like. Having nearly put my first Japanese summer behind me, I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to the next. It's merciless. I would say, "bring on the winter!", but it sure knows how to get cold here and I'm sure I'll be bitching then too.

In my last bit of news, I'm still pondering a transfer here with the company. As you all know, I'm here in Oita. I've gotten used to things here and I've really taken to my students and just the way things are. However, you all also know I haven't always been stoked to be here in a rural area, as I've prefer a placement with a little more hustle and bustle. I'm really interested in Yokohama and that area because it's close to Tokyo and not too far from Osaka. In other words, it's a nice mid-way point for some interesting places and Yokohama itself is a bit city. In the next few months I'll ask about openings around the country and see what they say and whatever comes to pass, be sure I'll let you know.

Mayo flavored chips. Wack.

Peach flavored cereal.

Mentaiko (pollack roe) flavored chips. Strange but tasty.

Pretty sakura (cherry blossoms) by my place.

Air-crisp chips. Lame!

Hotel Kinsuen...my old friend.

Garlic puffs and chili chips mix. So awesomely good.

Keepin' it Mello on the way to class.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Summer School is officially over

Well my first summer school experience here in Japan has come to an end and boy howdy am I glad it's over. It wasn't so much the lessons themselves that wore me out, it was the schedule. I teach at three different schools and each school is two days of summer school with the NT (native teacher), that NT being me. Two days at each school isn't so bad, but when you have six lessons in each day, no lunch break, and only ten minutes in between lessons, you start feeling worn out early on. Those ten minutes in between lessons gives you just enough time to set up materials for the next lesson and maybe get a gulp of water. It's basically a teaching marathon. The summer school courses were broken up into A-course, B-course and C-course with A-course students being the youngest and their parents attend the lesson with them. For the most part, these lessons went well but at one of my school's, the parents had the look of statues and it made for an uncomfortable lesson. I did my best to act like they weren't even there but every time I made eye contact with them, they looked less than impressed. But who really knows what they were thinking because almost no one emoted! Not to mention, this particular classroom isn't that big and with the students and their parents there, it made for a really hot, crowded environment. However, I barreled through and found that most of my lessons were quite enjoyable and I had a good time with the kids in class. The months leading up to summer school were filled with a lot of prep, hype and stress on making it a success and looking back I feel like all the hullabaloo over it was a bit unwarranted.

In other news, I finally broke my video game sobriety and bought a white Playstation 3. Now, those of you that know me know that I don't care much for the PS3 and I'm quite content with my Xbox. However, being here in Japan, it doesn't take long to take notice of the fact that the Xbox is the red-headed little bastard stepchild of video gaming and it's hard to find products and support for it. Especially in the small area that I'm in! So when in Rome, you buckle under the pressure and get yourself a Sony product. Right now I have Street Fighter x Tekken and Batman: Arkham City. I have to admit, it feels really good to be playing console games again and it definitely gives me that feeling of home and comfort that I sometimes feel is missing from my life here. That may sound silly to some, but what can I say; I'm a gamer.

I've been watching the Olympics when I get the time and it's interesting to watch the Olympics being covered from a nation other than your own. I've only ever watched the Olympics from the American perspective back in the States, so it's been interesting to see how and what Japan on during these games. All I'll say at the moment is - South Korea knocked England out of soccer!? Are you kidding me!?

Parent observations are coming up at the end of this month so I have to start thinking of ideas in which to entertain the parents and kids as they do classes together. It feels like I just had them, but that could just be the fact that time is flying by at insane speeds. I have a week off for Obon but I'm without any plans. I may just end up sitting around playing video games so that operation: pay 'dem bills remains active. My 32nd birthday is coming up in a month and that just seemed to have come out of nowhere. Start sending your presents now!