I believe all across Japan in many JHS Second-Year English classes (American 8th graders) students have been learning about E.T.
It's funny teaching kids words like alien and spaceship. One thing that would be interesting to find out is if all the hype about people seeing spaceships and Area 57 (or is it 51) that is abound in the U.S. occurs in Japan too. That will be an interesting question for my ni-nen-seis (second years) next week.
Like I said, the kids have more or less stopped using their textbooks as the school year is almost finished. Two weeks until graduation. But, the third years (American 9th graders) will graduate and not have to come to school, but the 1st and 2nd years keep coming to school until the 26th. Then they have a week and a half long Spring Break.
Anyways, as the school year is dying down my teacher decided we should reward the students with a fun class day. Imagine my suprise!! So, we took the kids down to the theatre room at school and transformed it into a movie theatre. So cool! He wanted to have the kids watch E.T. My teacher kept asking me about it and I have to say... I haven't watched E.T. in ages. When was the last time you did? I don't think I've even seen it all the way through. So, I kept having to tell him I had no idea what he was talking about when he asked me different questions about the movie.
So, watching the movie was fun. The kids were amazed by how big the house was and that they had a green front yard. And a dog! Oh, I miss Chip!!
The kids enjoyed the movie (and the boys enjoyed sleeping... so naughty!) for the most part and I did too. But, the sound track kept reminding me of Star Wars. I think the kids would have enjoyed that more. I know I would have!
Now, my kids understand why I kept saying "E.T. Phone Home" in a funny voice in class last week. Phew!
Also, T-two weeks til the parents visit. Bought our plane tickets to the mainland. The islander discount (if you live on the island you get a discount on your ticket cuz... it's the only way to get to the mianland if you dont want to take an 18 hour ferry ride) only applied to my ticket. Which sucked. I was hoping to get all the tickets for a discounted price. Still need to reserve a rental car in Okinawa though. Also, checked with almost all my schools and they are excited to have my parents as show-and-tell guests. I'll be teaching 5 classes the two days my parents are here so the rest of the time is free time. But during the classes my parents will give their Jikoushokais (self introductions). In English, though my Mom wants to be able to say it in Japanese! Exciting!!
That's all for now.
Love and Miss you,
Steph
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Long time gone
Oh, I can't believe it's already been a whole month! Time has flown by.
With the beginning of March, I now have less than half a year in Japan. That's a big turning point! 5 months. It seems like such a short amount of time. I'm happy with the decision to stay a year and looking forward to whatever's next. But, I'll certainly miss the beaches.
Speaking of beaches, while everyone back in the Mid-West and Eastern U.S. were bundling up because of the snow, I was lounging on a beach trying not to get a suntan. I know, horrible for rubbing that one in ;) But, it has been beautiful down here. The sun has been out, and as my neighbors have informed me, soon the gokiburi (cockroaches) will follow. Eeeek!!
This week has been a great one. All the weeks feel like they are going faster.
Was at my favorite school today. My kids have already finished their English Textbooks for the year. So, all the classes are more fun. Except for the third-years, my most favorite group, who are cracking down and studying for their upcoming high school entrance exams next week.
In Japan, students have to take a high school entrance exam, a seperate one each for private and public school. What school you get into can really set up what your life will be like. There are schools for just about anything. You want to work on ships, there's a school for that. Unfortunately, on Erabu we only have one highschool. Because of this, though, it's a pretty high-performing academic high school (or so I'm told). So it's a bit harder to get into. If kids want, they can try to take the entrace exam for a school on the mainland. If they get into a mainland school and can afford it, they'll be living in college-like dormitiories. Sounds pretty interesting! I can understand their desire to get off the island -- island fever, dontchaknow!
But, most of my kids just want to go the high school here. I guess, being there age, I would be afraid to go out on my own too.
The past few days have been a bit cold and dreary, but getting everything set up for my parents visit in two and half weeks has been great. Just bought the tickets and finalized what we will be doing on the island. Super psyched to see them as I haven't seem them for 7 months.
Also, lately I've been thinking about creating a seperate blog. I enjoy blogging about life here and who knows where I will be next! But, it's a great way for family and friends to keep in touch. What do you say, is blogger (what I'm currently on) or wordpress (what my study abroad blog was hosted on) better? Thoughts would be great!!
With the beginning of March, I now have less than half a year in Japan. That's a big turning point! 5 months. It seems like such a short amount of time. I'm happy with the decision to stay a year and looking forward to whatever's next. But, I'll certainly miss the beaches.
Speaking of beaches, while everyone back in the Mid-West and Eastern U.S. were bundling up because of the snow, I was lounging on a beach trying not to get a suntan. I know, horrible for rubbing that one in ;) But, it has been beautiful down here. The sun has been out, and as my neighbors have informed me, soon the gokiburi (cockroaches) will follow. Eeeek!!
This week has been a great one. All the weeks feel like they are going faster.
Was at my favorite school today. My kids have already finished their English Textbooks for the year. So, all the classes are more fun. Except for the third-years, my most favorite group, who are cracking down and studying for their upcoming high school entrance exams next week.
In Japan, students have to take a high school entrance exam, a seperate one each for private and public school. What school you get into can really set up what your life will be like. There are schools for just about anything. You want to work on ships, there's a school for that. Unfortunately, on Erabu we only have one highschool. Because of this, though, it's a pretty high-performing academic high school (or so I'm told). So it's a bit harder to get into. If kids want, they can try to take the entrace exam for a school on the mainland. If they get into a mainland school and can afford it, they'll be living in college-like dormitiories. Sounds pretty interesting! I can understand their desire to get off the island -- island fever, dontchaknow!
But, most of my kids just want to go the high school here. I guess, being there age, I would be afraid to go out on my own too.
The past few days have been a bit cold and dreary, but getting everything set up for my parents visit in two and half weeks has been great. Just bought the tickets and finalized what we will be doing on the island. Super psyched to see them as I haven't seem them for 7 months.
Also, lately I've been thinking about creating a seperate blog. I enjoy blogging about life here and who knows where I will be next! But, it's a great way for family and friends to keep in touch. What do you say, is blogger (what I'm currently on) or wordpress (what my study abroad blog was hosted on) better? Thoughts would be great!!
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