Saying goodbye to School No. 1

I was feeling a little moody last Fri as it was my last day at my first school. After spending 2 months getting familiar and bonding with the teachers and especially the students, I had to go to my 2nd school today.

It was especially sad saying good to 3年4組, my favourite class. When I come back to this school the next year, the 3 nensei would have graduated. I wasn't scheduled to teach the third year on my last day. But halfway at the 4th period, 山田君 (left) came to the staff room to look for me and said, "Please teach me English." "Eh, now?" I replied. I thought he wanted me to teach him one to one. He then asked me to go to his class to teach for the last time as the class was asking for me. I found out later that they played scissors, paper, stone with the teacher to decide if they could come call for me. The JTE told me she deliberately lost to the class. :p So I went up to teach for the last time and I was really sad when I gave a short farewell speech.

3 年 4組 wrote their farewell messages to me on their English cards. 山田君and湯口君 wrote the most, talking about seeing me off when I return and wanting to come to Singapore to visit me. Ahh, I would miss them both very much.

Who transported to me to the mountains?

This was what happened last Friday. In fact, it was even more misty than it looked. I got the shock of my life when I left home to go to school. Shiraoka was shrouded by mist. It reminded me of Nikko, up in Lake Chuzenji. Or I could have been up in the mountains. It was dangerous riding on the road as the mirrors were all fogged up. Had to ride extra slowly and leave it to luck too! There was a mist because of the contrast of the low temperature in the morning and the high temperature in the afternoon. Can't explain this well as I'm new to this!

Give me some warmth!

Most people are impressed with the Japanese technology. But I don't understand why they suck at building houses with good insulation. Can't they apply their impressive technology when building property? It's so f****** cold in here and it's only autumn! This climate feels a little like winter in Melbourne. I miss the gas stove I had in my apartment on Haines street. It was nice sitting on the comfy couch with my flatmates in the living room when it was on. Sigh. When winter comes, what will it be like?? Sob..I don't want to know.

The teachers and students will look sympathetically at me when I say I'm cold. And I'm constantly sniffing and blowing my nose (probably also because I've just had a cold) in school. No matter how much I hate the heat in Singapore, I'm not accustomed to the cold weather. I still prefer it to the hot weather. But come winter, I may wish for the heat (but minus the humidity) in summer.

I feel 13/14 again.

I usually talk to the boys more because they like to come up to talk to me. The girls are friendly but a little shy when it comes to talking. But today, I had a fun talk with some 1 and 2 nensei girls. It was a really free day for me as all the school sports clubs were having competitions at various locations outside. After coming back from cheering the tennis club, I moved around to watch the other students practising their sports. As I was walking back to the staff room, the girls waved to me and I walked over to chat.

They were writing who they love on their drawing blocks. hehe. Being a busybody, I managed to persuad them to show me. Pity I couldn't put the boys' names and faces together, as I have too many students and too few classes with them. The girls talked enthusiastically about their crushes and were interested to know about my love history and feelings about Japanese boys and men. Haha..I didn't tell them much in case it spreads throughout the school then to the other schools and soon after the whole town will know! They wanted to know when I had my first crush, my first boyfriend and whether we kissed. Being an お姉ちゃん (elder sister) to them, I didn't say much so as not to encourage them to start dating now. Heh...maybe I'm too old fashioned! They told me that lots of the students are already dating and doing more than kissing (for the 3 nensei)!!

Together, we kept teasing a 2 nensei boy, 戸井田, who was running around the gym for his basketball practice. Whenever he ran past us, we would say something like "こんにちは", "You are ばか(stupid)", "今夜はどう?" (How about tonight?), "早く走れよ！" (Run faster!)　etc. in unison and laugh when we saw his amused expression. Although he tried to hide it, we could see that he enjoyed the attention! I hope the principal won't find out what I was up to with the girls today!

Blagh...I feel dizzy.

I was watching a TV programme on the autumn leaves in Nikko and nursing a cold when I felt the awful feeling of my apartment shaking. It was 8.44 p.m. It lasted for a minute but it felt long. There had been 2 longer and stronger earthquakes since I arrived. But both times I was in Tokyo, so I didn't feel anything. Everything in my living room was shaking along with the tremor. I quickly got up from my sofa and went to my futon which is the safest part of the room because there's nothing above. I felt a little sick from the shaking. It was like getting sea sick. News on earthquakes in Japan is really quick. The moment I changed to the NHK channel after the tremor stopped, the newscaster was reporting on the earthquake. The epicenter of the earthquake is at Ibaraki-ken. The strength of the tremor was 5 there and 3 in Saitama.

I have yet to experience an earthquake that shakes vertically. Aaack, that will feel so horrible....Please don't let me be in the shower at that time!

What do I do with 35 big kids ALONE?

I had to conduct the English class with 2-3 by myself today. I didn't have to. The JTE had to go for a meeting outside and was planning to let them study by themselves. But she thought if I wanted to, I can do the class myself and play some English games with them. I was shocked at first but I wanted to try. So I agreed, but not without a lot of reservations. Lost a bit of sleep over that because the 2 nensei are the most difficult to handle.

So I walked into the rowdy class today trying to look confident and strict. Before I started the class, I told them "haughtily" in Japanese that I hate a rude and rowdy class so please behave! The class went well and the kids seemed to enjoy the games. As it was a break from their usual textbook based and too systematic English class, I guess they welcomed the change. In fact, they behaved better than when the JTE was around.

As much as the kids like games, the English education in Japan won't change much. It's still too grammar and exam focused. That's why many AETs like me aren't used as much as we hope to be used. I'm not complaining though. What's the point of being upset over something I can't change? I'll just go with the flow and try to enjoy whatever I can.

Sharon Au in Harajuku

An anecdote to show how small the world is! As puny as Singapore is, I've never met Sharon Au. So I couldn't help being amazed and flabbergasted when I met her in Harajuku on Sat (even though I'm not really a fan of her). She was walking with another female sharing an umbrella in front of me and my friend. Upon hearing a Singaporean Mandarin accent, she turned around to look. It was then that I realised it was her. After hesitating and whispering to my friend for a while, I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she's Sharon Au. She was friendly and agreed to my request for a photo. I thought she might be here for a holiday and was surprised when she told me she's studying here. Guess she left Singapore after me as I didn't know that she has gotten a scholoarship to study in Keio University from MediaCorp.

I hope the next time I'll meet a Hong Kong celebrity! : )

From sticky to slippery

Yeah, I finally got a new kitchen floor! It was laid with the old fashioned vinyl before. But now I get a spanking (but slippery) new parquet flooring. The おじさん who did the flooring today bought me so many chocolates and a sandwich when he went for lunch! He said "Sheesh..don't tell the landlady". Hmm...なんでだろう？

Six little chefs

I was happy when I returned from a class to the staff room. Why? Lying on a table was this. A present from 6 boys in 1年3組! They made this during their home economics class and wanted me to try. And you may be trying hard to figure out what they have made. It's boiled potatoes with salt and LOTS of pepper! Haha...they told the school keeper that they "mishandled" the pepper when they passed the plate to her. You're right if you guess that I couldn't finish them. でも彼らの気持ちをいっぱい頂きました！

Bonding over softball

After many days of rain, the sun finally shone today. But alas, it won't last long because it's going to rain again during the weekend. The weather tempted me to go outdoors and play sports with the students. I saw the 2 nensei boys playing softball at the courts and decided that I should be a good sport and join them! Since school started, I've not played any kind of sports with my students. Surprisingly, the usually hostile 2 nensei boys welcomed me and were most willing to pick the many balls that I missed. A few of the boys that I joined were the ones that are the least interested in English. So it's not me that they dislike! :p If only we can shift English class to the courts....

Rainy Nikko

Heard that Nikko is a very good place for viewing autumn leaves in the Kanto region. So I went with Rebekah and April. Rebekah took the train from Aizu and transferred to our train at 下今市. However, it's was a little too early to see the full effect of 紅葉 (autumn leaves) when we were there. Nikko is also famous for its shrines and temples (especially Tosyogu Shrine), Lake Chuzenji and the waterfalls.

Unfortunately, due to the rain, it casted a huge shroud of mist at Lake Chuzenji and we couldn't see the Kegon Falls at all!! It was raining, misty and freezing at the lake! But we still had a good time. The pension we stayed at was wonderful! And we had a really good Chinese dinner. "Real" chinese soup and char siew pau!!! I didn't know how much I missed Chinese food until I had that meal. I was so hungry and happy that I forgot to take photos of that!

I　want to return to Nikko in Nov for a day trip to see the 紅葉 and the waterfalls! But thinking about the money for the transportation and entrance fee to the World Heritage Park...hmmm....I may go back in spring if my parents come for a holiday.

The dark age of 14

I was nervous before I did my self-introduction with the 3 nensei in Sept. I heard stories about other AETs having problems with the 3 nensei and loving the 1 nensei. Strangely, I can't remember what was said about the 2 nensei. But soon, the 2 nensei left the deepest impression on me.....because I dislike teaching them! In fact, I don't have a problem with the 3 nensei. They're very friendly, earnest, and serious. I'm disregarding the boys that have the look of boredom pasted all over their faces in 3 nensei. The 1 nensei can be rowdy but they're quite genki when learning English. And they are easy to tease. :p BUT....but the 2 nensei are rowdy (in a disrespectful way), bored or hostile in class. The girls are ok but way too quiet. It's as hard to get them to talk as to get the boys to keep quiet. Sometimes I feel so unwanted when I teach the 2 nensei. They are only friendly to me AFTER class, calling out for me outside the corridor. When I'm in the class, they act differently. What's the reason? I don't know. I'll just blame it on the age. It must be tough being 14. That's why they like to make things difficult for me in class.

Speedy Wonder?!

I was the leader of the black people.
I lived in America.
I won the Nobel Prize of Peace.
I was assasinated.
Who am I?

Guess what my 3 nensei answered. "Speedy Wonder?" they answered hesitantly. The response from the JTE and me: "Ahahahaha!" Hah...it certainly sounds cooler than Stevie Wonder! But even that answer is wrong. The next group tried their luck, "Speedy Wonder" with a more confident Western accent, thinking that'll help make that answer right! : )

Perhaps the answer to that quiz below would be.......

I'm black.
I sing very well.
I'm blind.
Who am I?

Martin Luther King, Jr. (!!!!!)

合唱際Choral Singing Competition

We had the choral singing competiton on Fri afternoon. All the classes in each grade performed. A prize was awarded to the best performing class in each grade. The teachers, including myself, performed at the end. We sang the piece 心の中にかがやいて. I sang the part of the alto. It was hard when I was practising because there was the tendency to sing to the notes of the soprano. Err, I believe I was trying to sing very loud on stage because the teacher on my right is a very good and loud singer. I hope I didn't sound strange or went off key!

Now, here's a funny photo of our mouths wide open. Must be the last part when we were singing "いつまでもーーーー”！