School Pics

Thought I would share a couple pictures from around school.




Yes, that is the Grateful Dead and a bunch of technicolor teddy bears. One of my students from my 3rd grade class (American 9th graders) owns this pencil case. However, she's never heard of the grateful dead and I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy after trying to explain that her pencil case is the namesake of a 70s band.




And that is a sideways book. Well, manga actually. Like a comic book. The title is "Macbeth". So, yes a Shakespearian-inspired comic book. The student who owns this, also from my 3rd grade class, was reading this instead of doing his in-class English work. Oops!!!

There ya go!

Check me out, I'm giving y'all more updates than you can comment on! Def becoming a better blogger

- Love and Miss you!

Steph

It's Official

Really official. Papers for going home were just sent in. Is it weird that I don't know how I feel about it? Ever since I've made the decision to only stay one year I've really been having a great time. I just don't know why I wasn't enjoying it as much before?

Anyways, this past Friday I had my first Japanese lesson. One of the women I teach English to is being kind enough to help me along with Japanese. The lesson is right after school and about an hour and a half. Check out my notes:




Need to designate a notebook for Japanese study.

I've also discovered the library in china, the town next to me, it's way nicer than the library in my town. Going to study there from now on!

On Sunday I helped the women I teach English with the English interviews for their English students. It was a lot of fun, then after us the four of us went out to eat at a restaurant where, very soon, you can see whales from!! How cool!!

Today, I was at an elelmentary school for half the day and at the BOE for the other half. The sea and sky were so pretty that I had to take some pictures!!




This is the view on the other side of the island. Check out those waves!!



This is from a shop right down the road from me. If the trees across from the apartment were shorter then I could see this from my apartment!!



Can you see the boat in the distance?



Better view of the sky!!

So, while I was taking these pictures I was approached by a woman asking me where I was from. Well we were talking and I found out she's from China! So, we're going to meet once a week or so for a language exchange. She'll teach me Chinese and I'll teach her English. But we'll be teaching each other with Japanese as the common language. Psyched about that!! Also, to make this even better, she owns one of the facial salons in the town!

As you can see, it's been really great on the island lately even though it's still cold... Think Ohio fall cold. So, I was sad sending in my papers. Such a difficult decision. I wonder if I'll ever feel completely happy with the decision. But, as much as I've been enjoying the time here lately, I know that teaching is not for me. And I don't think I could just teach for another year.

Luckily, I found an Okinawa-Ohio association in Columbus. How crazy?! I contacted the woman who runs it and they have an Eisa festival in September... That's the dance I'm learning right now. So, I think I'll be able to keep up my japanese and dancing skillz when I get back.

Off to the gym. Which I've been pronouncing as タラソ (ta-ra-so) because that's how you say it in Japanese. But just found out it's originally Greek and pronounced Thalasso... I think. Oh, japan. How you're ruining my English.

- Love and Miss you!

Steph

Black Sugar

Have you ever heard of "black sugar"? I mean, you know brown sugar, and white sugar, powdered sugar and granulated sugar... but do you recall the most famous sugar of all?

Well, maybe not famous.

First of all, black sugar is not molasses. Though, it is made with molasses, I think.

Erabu is FULL of sugar cane. And about now is when the sugar cane harvest starts.

So, I've been invited (by my Thursday middle school) to make black sugar with the second graders (American 8th graders). I am psyched!!

I'll be sure to take tons of pictures and video of the black sugar (and possibly molasses by-product) being made!

Exciting!!!

Steph

P.S. Recently, schools are so nervous about the flu that they now make students sit in rows, instead of groups during lunch. Also, no one can talk and everyone has to wear a mask. I wonder if me being so sick got them scared??

Bike!

At my elementary school this week, I asked one of the teachers if she knew a good place to buy a bicycle. It is SO nice having a car, but on sunny days and days that I'm at the BOE I'd like to bike. It'd be nice to get some more exercise, plus I really miss biking.

Anyways, she told me that bikes on the island would be expensive, but that she has a friend who's daughter has gone to university and left her bike. She called the friend and they said I could use it!

So exciting! So, today, this teacher picked me up at my apartment after school and we went and got the bike. It's old, but RED just like my bike in Osaka!! Pretty rusty, but honestly I'm so happy for getting a free bike!! I biked home from their house and holy lord I am out of shape. I mean, I've been going to the gym and all, but biking up hill.... WHEW totally different. I will definitely get my butt kicked, but that's good! :)

It started raining almost as soon as I got home (perfect timing), so no picture of the bike yet. But, I'll take one later this week and put it up.

Yes!!

~Steph

P.S. it's cold again.... I want beach weather!! :)