October Update

Hello Everyone!

I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last posted, but it really has been busy here. I’m thinking this blog may just come to have an update every month with “bonus” updates once in a while in between.

So, what have I been up to this month?! Well, first let’s start off with another list!

1) Inevitably in Japan teaching little children… I was felt up by a three-year old girl. The teacher (a woman) just laughed at the girls antics and proceeded to poke them as well, while pointing to her own saying, “switch!”. Definitely interesting.

2) Went to my first drinking party with my main middle school staff who always seem boring at school, but are nothing but! Supriiiising!

3) Found the home-center store (like a target) on the island. I think angels were singing as I stepped in. Blankets, cooking ware, and shelves, oh my!!

4) I got the best compliment on my apartment from a fellow JET. She said, for as long as she’s been on Yoron (going on her fourth year), she’s visited my apartment because she’s known the ALT here. But, she’s never thought of my apartment as homey, until now! Yes, the apartment she said that no ALT ever felt clean in, is now homey. Thank you mom and dad for your amazing cleaning, building, and fixing skills!

5) Typhoon parties are the only logical solution to an oncoming typhoon.

6) While I am an English teacher, my written English is worsening a little. I’m trying to read a lot of English book, while simultaneously studying for the LSAT, and studying Japanese.

This month I learned to scuba dive! One of the funnest things I think I`ve ever done. And, in two weeks time I’ll have my first boat dive—exciting!

I also participated in my town’s sports day (like the U.S.’s Track and Field day). One of my co-workers asked me to participate with her on her team. I was so excited she asked and enjoyed it tons! So, why was I so excited?! Because sometimes I feel a bit isolated, which makes sense living on an island, right? But, sometimes at work, being the only foreigner can be tough. While I am learning a TON of Japanese, there are still a good amount of words I don’t know. So, when I stumble on a Japanese sentence or ask someone to repeat something, my co-workers are getting into the habit of switching to English. Only problem, my Japanese is definitely better than their English, so I get left being more confused after they switch to English than before. I’m trying to circumvent this… studying tons of Japanese and taking my time with responses, but it’s a frustrating uphill battle with my Board of Education (BOE).

As well, my BOE is VERY quiet. Which is weird because everyone on their own is very talkative and fun to be with. Sometimes, I think it’s my supervisor, M-sensei who makes the place so quiet. He’s always so stern.

BUTTTT, I brought in some homemade banana bread and I may have started working on the office. Even my supervisor, who NEVER talks, commented on how good it was and had two slices. I feel that bringing in something homemade every few weeks will continue to win them over. ;)

I also hosted my first party at my place. I invited a few JETs from the surrounding islands over and we had a great time. Having to play tour guide and show people around was great. I didn’t realize how much I have grown accustomed to, nor how great I have it here until I had them over.
I was also the judge of a speech contest, which was pretty fun! All the kids at the school stared at me when I walked in—I pretty much felt like a celebrity!

And we had our first major typhoon ALMOST hit the island. A category 3-4. My BOE was definitely bracing for impact, going as far as telling me where the emergency shelter is, if need be—definitely not encouraging. But, as soon as the typhoon hit land near Okinawa, it bounced off and we just got the outlying winds… which was still enough of a racket to make all of my indoor doors rattle and shake.

I’d definitely becoming more accustomed to life here. While sometimes the teaching can be overwhelming (the kids are super-energetic), I am enjoying it here. I’m enjoying it so much that I believe I will recontract to stay another year. The prospect of learning more Japanese (I know some of you may think, jeesh shouldn’t you be fluent in it after a year… but the writing system is soo extensive with 3,000 characters that to be fluent enough to read the newspaper, let alone a book will take some serious time and practice), studying more for the LSAT (I plan to take it at Tokyo in October), and earning money to pay off loans is ridiculously enticing. Not to mention, I live on an island! Kind of hard to say no to that.

Ok, I think that’s all I have for now. I do have a video that I took of the typhoon as well as of the Sports Days… but I don’t know where I can upload it. Any tips would be greatly appreciated (I’d rather not upload on facebook!).

Miss and Love you all!!

Steph

P.S. My work computer only has spell check for Japanese, sorry for ridiculously horrible spelling mistakes.