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!!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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
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
Monday, January 31, 2011
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
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
Thursday, January 27, 2011
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??
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??
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