racing toward the end
December 19 is the finish line, which means 16 more days of work to go. Half a month. And some of those days I don't even have a full schedule. Oh joy, oh rapture. In fact some of my kids are leaving next week friday for their school trips:China and Canada. I still think its strange that the French students will study in Canada... I know it's a national language and all, but they are learning standard *France* french, and I hear the canadian version can be quite different. So I'll have a week and a half without them around. They'll return just a day before I leave.
But the really sad part is that Dec. 18 is the last day I teach my Seniors. What an excellent bunch they've been... Sakura sensei and I have really learned to work together with them, and everyone is comfortable with our system. Though it's coming a little late, there is even a slow but steady out-side-of-class interaction. We watch movies, play a game, a few good conversations, much laughing, cook brownies, and today! oh today some students are going to make dango with me! Small sweet chewy riceballs with red-bean or sweet soy-sauce toppings! And the other week some other students tried to teach me calligraphy. I sucked at it for the most part, but for my last attempt I must have been channeling the Japanese spirit or something, 'cause it turned out pretty cool looking.
I'm really wishing there were a community center around here. There is a building labled as one just down the street, but it turns out to be the fire department and community *evacuation* center. I guess when they made the English sign they forgot that fairly important word "evactuation"... oh well. I want to take some classes locally, because I feel that if I decide to stay for a third year, I really need to dig into life here more. The first year I almost exclusively hung out with other foreigners. I've made progress, talking to people at the gym, work, finally learning video-store-rental-guy's name and such... but with a large number of ALTs leaving in another 6 months, I don't want to feel isolated (if I really do stay).
Oh god but the recontracting decision would take forever to explain. Leave it for another day...
Cheers!
But the really sad part is that Dec. 18 is the last day I teach my Seniors. What an excellent bunch they've been... Sakura sensei and I have really learned to work together with them, and everyone is comfortable with our system. Though it's coming a little late, there is even a slow but steady out-side-of-class interaction. We watch movies, play a game, a few good conversations, much laughing, cook brownies, and today! oh today some students are going to make dango with me! Small sweet chewy riceballs with red-bean or sweet soy-sauce toppings! And the other week some other students tried to teach me calligraphy. I sucked at it for the most part, but for my last attempt I must have been channeling the Japanese spirit or something, 'cause it turned out pretty cool looking.
I'm really wishing there were a community center around here. There is a building labled as one just down the street, but it turns out to be the fire department and community *evacuation* center. I guess when they made the English sign they forgot that fairly important word "evactuation"... oh well. I want to take some classes locally, because I feel that if I decide to stay for a third year, I really need to dig into life here more. The first year I almost exclusively hung out with other foreigners. I've made progress, talking to people at the gym, work, finally learning video-store-rental-guy's name and such... but with a large number of ALTs leaving in another 6 months, I don't want to feel isolated (if I really do stay).
Oh god but the recontracting decision would take forever to explain. Leave it for another day...
Cheers!