May 17, 2008

So, I've been failing at writing, so this is going to have several days of stuff to catch you up on this week.

Monday- We met with Peter, our area leader guy, at starbucks for breakfast. We asked him about our internet and he said we should get the cards that day. We also talked to him about general area stuff and the types of things we would be doing in our schools. After we left him one of our helpers picked us up and she called our schools (that had been changed twice already that day) so we could meet the principals and such. So, she calls Reina's school first and everything is all set up. Then she calls mine, and the same-easy to go and meet. Then she calls Jon's school. The principal yells at her about how she didn't know anything about Interac and the she needs authorization from the board of education first. Lol, poor Jon. So, we go to my school first. That went well. Reina translated for me, and he (the principal) seemed really nice. He was super helpful and very friendly . Then we go for some lunch (yay for spaghetti again :D) then on to Reina's school. The principal was busy so we met with the head of the English department. She seemed really nice. Jon translated for me there, and so I got an idea of what was being said. We couldn't go to Jon's school, because we hadn't heard back from them, so he was going to go on Tuesday, while Reina and I started school. So, after that our helper took us to get bikes, and we had really needed them to get to and from anywhere. We all had to ride them home because they wouldn't fit in our helper's car. Reina lived close so we said goodbye to her (and her mom came from Guam to stay with her for a while) and Jon and I took off on our bikes toward our places. Jon and Reina had been watching this Japanese drama and were always talking about it, and Jon had them on DVD with English subtitles, so he asked if I wanted to watch some that night. So, we biked to his place so he could change out of his suit and get his compy before we headed for my place. We actually stopped at KFC for dinner, which was funny cuz they have this statue of the kernel outside the door that is super creepy, lol. After dinner, (I had a chicken sandwich...that Jon actually paid for, which was nice of him), we went to Hallows (the safeway of my area) and got grape fanta and calpus pop. Jon said they taste great together. He also helped me get a Hallows card, so I can get discounts or whatever. Then we went back to my place and watched the shows. I loved them, lol. Super soap operaish. I didn't get to finish it, but I had kept Jon til 11pm so I thought I should let him go as I had school the next day, lol. (And the juice mix wasn't bad either, the calpus made the fanta kinda sweet)

Tuesday- So, school was uneventful at first. Everyone loved that I was from Seattle, and kept telling me that Ichiro was a genius. Lol. The English teacher that is over me was kinda weird, she just gave me some books to look at (their English text books) then left me at my desk. The principal came and rescued me to give me a tour of the school. That was fun, in one of the special needs classes I got to have a student show me how to make a paper crane. Mine looks awful, lol, but hey, I made it. The principal showed me that each student makes 1000 of them then ties them in a row on a string. They were going to take them the next day to Hiroshima to the peace monument. I thought that was cool. Then it was time for lunch, and that day lunch was kinda gross. It was an orange, a bowl of rice, a bowl of noodles and vinegar, and a soup of some kind with chopped up eel and some other crazy unidentifiable meat. Lol, eh, I'm going to lose weight. At about three the English teacher came up to me with a bombshell and said "You teach 7 classes a day and we give you 2 weeks to make your lesson plans.¨ I was like"K...what?" I kinda freaked when she said that. We had been told something totally different in training, so yeah. No bueno. I called Brian that night and told him about it. He said it wasn't right, and that he'd get back to me. Oh, and my bike flippin hurts my butt something awful, lol. I can't sit anywhere without it hurting now,lol. I'm glad it's only a 20 min bike ride each way...

Wednesday- I decided to spend the day at school planning my first class. So, I drew pics of Seattle, Mt Rainier, and an apple/salmon. That actually took up most of my day. I get off at 3:40 every day, so it wasn't bad. One of the teachers made this treat that they had me try. They said that in English it translates to mean milk rice cake. Only, it's not a rice cake at all. It was this super airy stuff that they whip up in a pot and roll into a ball. Then they roll it in soy and sugar. I ate two of them, but it didn't taste very good. Soy and sugar are not a good combo, lol. I've also become accustomed to being a mute. It's hard to not speak the language and want to know what is being said. I did get to meet the school's NET and he was super nice. He was from Venezuela and was surprised at the situation I am in at the school as well. But, he told me some cool things to be sure and do.

Thursday- I called Interac to ask what is going on. Brian says that it's that the BOE thinks we are the same as NETs (native English Teachers) and we aren't . So, they are trying to communicate it with everyone and making sure the schools know what our job is. He said that Jon and Reina would be having the same problems and that I'd just have to suck it up for awhile but that things should be getting better. Fun. Then that afternoon I get a call from Interac saying to not come to school on Friday as I would be going to exchange the rest of my money and going for a health check. Cool, day off. Lol. So, that day was uneventful as well. Lunch that day was interesting, it was root tempura, some chicken soup of some kind and rice. I actually liked it. I didn't know it was root tempura until the teacher sitting next to me (the Japanese teacher) came and I asked her what it was. She doesn't speak very good English so she drew it for me. That was creative, lol. The teachers seem nice, so that's good. But, it's rather boring to sit at your desk all day and come up with random things to color.

Friday- Ok, so Jon couldn't go with us because he was going to start teaching so it was just Reina and I going on our little trip. Yukare (I think I spelled that way wrong, lol, it's pronounced Youcarde), our helper, came at got me at 10:30 am and we went to exchange the rest of my money. After that we went to a store to ask why my internet card wasn't working. They said it was because the card is Japanese and my compy isn't. So, it wasn't going to work. Fun, sigh. Then we went to McDonald's. The lady at the counter spoke English, so that was fun, lol. After lunch we picked up Reina and went to the hospital. That was cool, cuz they have this cool machine that takes your weight then this thing comes down and taps you on the head so they know your height. They did a vision and hearing test as well. Anyway, the main doctor spoke English and he listened to my lungs and heart and said everything was fine. After the doctor we went to city hall and applied for my alien card. I have to go back in 2 weeks to pick it up. While we were there I got a call from Jon saying that he wanted to get together with Reina to celebrate her birthday super late, lol. So, we agreed to go to Okayama for dinner. We met at the train station. Actually, behind the train station is this place called Travoli park. It's an amusement park area. While waiting for Reina, Jon and I watched this big clock tower thing do a musical thing, it was pretty cool. He told me his first day teaching was crazy, but he’s sure it will get better, lol. We ended up eating shabu shabu (sure I spelled that wrong too, lol). It’s where you get a burner with a pot of boiling water between you. Then they serve you raw beef and veggies to cook in the water and dip in one of two sauces. It’s all you can eat for a set time. It was interesting. One of the many not good but not bad foods I’ve had here. Lol. But, it was fun, we enjoy each other’s company. After dinner we heard music so we headed to this underground area and listened to a group play guitar and sing songs for a bit. They were good. Then we heard more music above ground, so we left them and went up. These guys had a beat box, so they had vocals, guitar, and drums. We all liked them better, so we stood around and listened to them for a while. One of them came over and chatted with us. They actually were super friendly and funny. We stayed with them the rest of the night. Jon plays guitar and likes to sing, so they let him play their guitar for a bit and sing some American songs. We had a lot of fun. We were there until midnight before we left for our apartments again. They were all from Kurashiki as well, so we rode the train with them. It made for a fun evening.

Saturday- So that leaves me with today…I got a call from Reina about this NHK guy bugging her for money for her tv. She makes me laugh. She lied to him and said she was leaving next week so he left her alone. Lol, wow. After talking to her I decided to hit the internet café and then go to the mall. I was at the mall for like 3 hours, just walking around. I got myself this way cute hairclip, but that was all I bought. I spent sometime in Starbucks as well, just wanting something that reminded me of home. I decided to call Jon and ask if he would help me buy a phone card, and he was happy to help. So, we met at the mall and rode to a convince store and bought one. Then he needed to go to Best, the electronic store, to order an internet card that would fit in his compy. After that we went to curry across the street. It is a whole lot more spicy than I thought it would be, but it was good. After Jon and I ate we parted ways and I went to Hallows to get me some steak. I have the kanji for steak and beef so I was set. (Thanks to Jon) I got the meat and some spices. We’ll see how it turns out, lol. That was my day, pretty boring, lol. But eh, oh well, it was relaxing.