And today was going so well....

Aug. 25 Tuesday

Day where there is absolutely nothing required of me to do at the elementary school. I went to the school, sat down, and started reading books about activities I can do with elementary kiddies. There was no class scheduled for me to teach today. So I was pretty much free to do whatever from 8:30am until 1pm. So I sat there for a little bit and then remembered that I wanted to make a little mailbox so that the children can leave me messages/questions/suggestions. I looked for a cardboard box, measured everything, took a knife, and started cutting away. The couple of teachers who came in all looked at me oddly because I was in the office cutting away at a cardboard box. lol Some of the teachers asked me what I was doing and when I told them they were like "wow! That's a good idea!" And then others just didn't bother...let the foreigner do what them foreigners do..lol haha. Anyways, I finished with the cutting and started drawing crap on paper to paste onto the box, but I got a little restless and decided to take a break. I got up to go to the bathroom and ended up chatting with the super nice nurse lady in her office. Such a wonderful woman. Reminds me of my grandma. I then ran into the teacher who invited me to make parfaits yesterday who then invited me to make bead shapes with the mentally challenged students, of which there were 3. It was fun working with them making the little bead thingies that I really wasn't even sure what it was.

Afterwards I went downstairs and ran into the 2nd grade pregnant teacher who invited me to go see what the kids in her class were making in the large playroom. They were making boats out of milk cartons and were going to test them in the pool and try to ride them!!!! Sounds so fun! I wish we could've done that back in 2nd grade...Anyways, all the little kids were seperated into mini groups and all did their part in organizing the cartons, stapling them shut, taping them, and gathering more cartons. These kids were actually really efficient and clean workers! I was seriously impressed! I would walk around to each group and sit and have each of them teach me how to do it. Very patient these kids were with me. And they really seemed to enjoy my company. Or so it seems. Like I said, the girls seemed to respond to me more than the boys. Although the boys in 2nd grade were also really talkative with me. I think the boys 4th grade and under are still in the stage where gender is not too big of an issue. They were all really receptive with me. 5th graders were a little bit more shy, and I'm assuming 6th grade is just gonna be about the same as junior high boys. Ah, puberty.

So after a little while of playing with/helping the students I went back to my office desk and continued with my mailbox project. -on a side note, I just remembered that I forgot the thing at the school and can't finish it tonight..I'll have to make a trip over there to get it.- When lunch time came around I helped the other teachers in the office to serve the lunch. It was a piece of salmon steak (not really that big) fried tofu salad, and miso sponge soup with the purple colored mixed rice. It was very filling and lately, I can't eat too much rice because I've been getting full really easily. I don't know why though. Anyways as soon as I was done eating and washing my dishes I went to visit the 2nd graders. I watched as they all neatly seperated their trash, waited in line to stack their bowls in the right areas and put their tables back the way it originally was without directions or yelling or too much noise. It was an amazing sight to see. 2nd grade kids can do this?!

So after they were done with all that, they all crowded around me and asked if I can play with them. I was like "sure!" ^_^ I can always play with kids. They were like "where do you want to play and what?" I told them anything. So they said to go play with them outside. I was then thinking "oh shit! I only have heels!" But then decided to bite the dust and where my heels out to play with them. It was actually kinda funny, the situation. There are two seperate doors: one for teachers that has our lockers next to them for our shoes and whatnot, and one for the students for their stuff. And so as I was getting my heels on, the kids were plastered outside against the teacher's glass door like little zombies restlessly waiting for me to come out. lol It was quite amusing to see. =P As I ran out the little girls grabbed my hand and started steering me in the direction of the swings. On my way I passed by the little boys who were playing basketball and well on their way to become all-stars. The boys were like "Theresa-sensei! Let's play basketball!" I would say "Yes! Let's play Basketball!" And then get pulled away by the little girls towards the swing. A couple of the boys would then follow us and bring a soccer ball to play with. All the little kiddies wanted me to push them on their swings and would keep calling my name to do so. I tried my best to accomodate them all. And then the little boys called me over to play soccer with them...in my heels...so of course I did. Ah, the sacrifices I make for these children. ^^;

The school bell rang indicating that it was time for the kids to go back in. I waited behind until all the kids had gone ahead except for 3 girls that stuck to me like mochi. 2 of them were originally holding my hands as we walked back and one was behind me. But the little girl on the left asked if the girl behind me wanted to hold my hand and she would hold the girl's other hand so she would not be left behind. I was amazed and touched by the maturity and sincerity of that one sentence. These Japanese kids are teaching me new things everyday about leading a good life. I can really learn alot just by being with children. Their innocence and sincerity is what makes them such great people. Anyways, as we walked back and swung our hands up and down we sung the alphabet song because they all knew it. I was amazed. They even knew the part: "Now I know my ABC's. Next time won't you sing with me." Even the 5th graders didn't know that part! When we reached the student's doors they turned around and asked me how long will I be here for. I told them 2-3 years. And immediately they turned sad and wondered why such a short time. I told them to not think about that and don't worry. For these few years I will always be there to play with them and be with them when they need me. And it made me think about my future for a little bit. But it was just a passing breeze.

By that time, I really needed to make a move on to go to the high school or else I would be late. So I bid everyone goodbye at the elementary and headed off to the high school on my bike. When I arrived it was before 1:15 which was the designated time. I literally gave myself a pat on the back for making it on time. As I parked my bike I heard some boys on the second floor calling my name. I looked up and over and saw a couple of the boys hanging out the windows to say hi to me. haha. It was cute! I guess they saw me ride in on my bike. I walked into the teacher's room and said a hearty "konnichiwa" and just got blank konnichiwas and odd stares...I was wondering what was wrong. I sat at my desk confused until Mr. Gorgeous came over to my desk with a schedule in his hand....And I dreaded something. He showed me the schedule which said I was supposed to be at the high school in the morning. But my original schedule said I would be at the elementary and even my supervisor told me that I would be at the elementary this morning. So I was very confused and now know why all the teachers were looking at me weirdly. It was because I was supposed to be there this morning but was given the wrong info! I felt so bad and apologized profusely. Mr. Gorgeous said it was fine and that it wasn't my fault now that he knows what happened and explained it to the head teachers for me. He wasn't angry or anything with me at all. Just sweet and level headed. After that the teachers went back to being normal with me. I was so scared for a while! I was like "please don't hate me and ostracize me!!" >.<

It was still lunch time at the senior high and so I decided to walk around the hallways. I bumped into a lot of students to which majority had no idea who I was until I said "Hello/Hi, nice to meet you!" And then they would laugh and say hello back. Some of the students would stare at me for awhile because they weren't sure who I was. I guess cuz I'm shorter than all of them and kinda look like them...There were a group of girls that looked a little gangster who I thought were going to beat me up when I said hello to them. They just gave me these cold stares and then once they realized I was the ALT laughed and said hello back to me. I was so relieved. ^^; lol Some of the female students would pass by me and said I was "kawaii". Heh. I would even poke my head into some classrooms where the cool kids were hanging out and say a big hello to them to which they responded with blank stares of confusion and a silent awkward moment. lol And then I left them...lol As I walked down the corridors the boys who I was supposed to teach today saw me and were like "Are!?" and would laugh at me. I think it was because I didn't show up to teach them and am now here....lol Everyone would laugh at me as I said hello or hi to them. It was a jolly feeling. I don't think many teachers walk around like this during their lunch time. I just really want to get to know the students and check out if there are any hot ones of which there are...I just don't teach them. They're all in 2nd grade.

And when I went back downstairs to wander the halls down there I ran into a very important man of whom I still don't know who he is. He just introduced himself to me in English and said something about the prime minister. I knew there were special visitors today, but I wasn't sure who they were. His English wasn't terrible, but I couldn't really understand him that well. I just did a very normal greeting with no flourishes or formalities to a very important man...eheheh....I hope he doesn't remember me...>.> Anyways, come 4pm I left the school partially because everyone had gone to a teacher's meeting without me (which is fine because I wouldn't have understood it all anyways) and it was my off work time. As I was about to leave I heard different boys calling my name this time. I looked up and over and 2 boys were leaning out the 2nd floor window trying to say bye to me. I smiled/laughed and waved and said bye. They kept saying bye to me as I was riding my bike off the campus and around the corner. haha. It was cute and funny. The boys at the school are really interactive. The girls a little quieter. I guess puberty is over huh?

I saw two of the high school boys walking home as I was biking back and decided to bike over to them and say bye. They were really surprised to see me and just did a shocked goodbye. And I rode on ahead. I then heard running footsteps behind me and looked behind to see the boys running behind me. I stopped and wandered what they wanted. They ran up to me and stopped and said a breathless "goodbye Theresa" and that was it. lol That was their whole purpose of running up to me. haha. So cute and funny. And I realize that they actually live near me! Anyways, it was a good day until I had found out that I missed a class, but then the students made up for it. hehe. ^_^

Otsukare-sama for reading! Thanks for keeping up with me btw. I appreciate it muchos. If you guys have any suggestions for games using English or lesson ideas or whatnot, just post it and I'll be much obliged! Luv ya al!