6 month report
I have officially been here for half a year. I can't really judge if time has flown by or gone by really slow. It varies each day. I've had ups and downs. Some days I feel great about what I do and others I want to pull my hair out. There are many things I am still clueless about and other things I am figuring out. So, I guess I will update you to my life at the moment and reflect on being here for half a year.
The craziness that invaded the month of September is settling down as the month ends. The holiday filled month is giving away to a normal work week. At least I can get back on track. My lesson plans were spontaneous and not as structured with the schedule always changing. I can settle back in better. The temperatures are going into fall mode, which I love! I was sick of the humidity and heat. I hated showing up to school sweaty and feeling drained before the day had even started. I am looking forward to seeing the leaves change color. I will go on my day trip that I had to put off. I settled some loose ends yesterday. My phone payments should be take out of my bank account now. I had set this up before but there was a mistake on Au's end. I looked at the smartphones when I was there. Yep, I am determined to get one as a birthday present to myself. I put the word out I was looking for a bigger apartment. I was asked a price range and so the wheels are in motion. I am not moving now, but it is known that I am looking. I also found out that predecessor received a bus card, already charged with money to go to the kindergartens from the school. I should have received one. So, I hope I shall get one soon. Inquiries will be made tomorrow. The school is supposed to pay transportation costs.
I have decided to study for the JLPT. It will motivate me to study and I always had a sneaking interest in taking it. I am not sure what level to start with. I think I could pass N3. Or should I start lower? I need to consider my own Japanese language background carefully. I would not take it until next year. Time to check out the bookstore at Amu. A friend of mine said she wanted to needed to study Japanese because she was tired of being clueless. I majored in Japanese and I still feel clueless. Then, she put into perspective: It's like the Japanese who study English. They can do grammar and whatever but their practical application and use sucks! I feel that way. I was taught Japanese but I never was able to use it in the way that counts. Being able to communicate in Japanese is what counts. I am also returning to Georgia for Christmas! I will be there for a little over three weeks. I have not used any days off so I will make it worth it now. I think I need to get out of Japan a while so I can reaffirm what I do love about it. Sometimes you get buried deep into a situation and it is hard to see it clearly again. You need to step back from it for a little bit. I am looking forward to being home again. I just sometimes worry about it falling apart before I get there.
I remember I went nuts when I first got here. I didn't handle it well. I know it's because I didn't handle my feelings about it before I got here. I just made myself be strong about leaving and thought my feelings would bury themselves. Nope. The jet lag allowed them to free fall. I have come along way since then. Granted, I have to hide my true feelings here but at I can acknowledge them. I feel upset about this...I feel happy about this, etc... I've learned the value of what I call "Meaningful Social Interactions". That is, being able to hang out with a friend or just talk to them over the phone. I am not an extrovert by any means. I do value being around friends. Hanging out with Tanya or going to a beer garden with new folks is awesome. I want to take trips with Emily and Lauren while I am here. Sometimes, you just need a friend.
I am not sure if my teaching has improved or not. I do see where the students are weakest. They are the weakest with a skill we take for granted: Speaking! They are too shy and too afraid of mistakes to speak. Some are just lazy and don't see the point at all in learning English. I am trying make my lessons to 50% speaking and 50% listening. I will see how this ratio goes. The issues are too many to type here.
I am stoked about going to Yakushima. 2 more weeks!
The craziness that invaded the month of September is settling down as the month ends. The holiday filled month is giving away to a normal work week. At least I can get back on track. My lesson plans were spontaneous and not as structured with the schedule always changing. I can settle back in better. The temperatures are going into fall mode, which I love! I was sick of the humidity and heat. I hated showing up to school sweaty and feeling drained before the day had even started. I am looking forward to seeing the leaves change color. I will go on my day trip that I had to put off. I settled some loose ends yesterday. My phone payments should be take out of my bank account now. I had set this up before but there was a mistake on Au's end. I looked at the smartphones when I was there. Yep, I am determined to get one as a birthday present to myself. I put the word out I was looking for a bigger apartment. I was asked a price range and so the wheels are in motion. I am not moving now, but it is known that I am looking. I also found out that predecessor received a bus card, already charged with money to go to the kindergartens from the school. I should have received one. So, I hope I shall get one soon. Inquiries will be made tomorrow. The school is supposed to pay transportation costs.
I have decided to study for the JLPT. It will motivate me to study and I always had a sneaking interest in taking it. I am not sure what level to start with. I think I could pass N3. Or should I start lower? I need to consider my own Japanese language background carefully. I would not take it until next year. Time to check out the bookstore at Amu. A friend of mine said she wanted to needed to study Japanese because she was tired of being clueless. I majored in Japanese and I still feel clueless. Then, she put into perspective: It's like the Japanese who study English. They can do grammar and whatever but their practical application and use sucks! I feel that way. I was taught Japanese but I never was able to use it in the way that counts. Being able to communicate in Japanese is what counts. I am also returning to Georgia for Christmas! I will be there for a little over three weeks. I have not used any days off so I will make it worth it now. I think I need to get out of Japan a while so I can reaffirm what I do love about it. Sometimes you get buried deep into a situation and it is hard to see it clearly again. You need to step back from it for a little bit. I am looking forward to being home again. I just sometimes worry about it falling apart before I get there.
I remember I went nuts when I first got here. I didn't handle it well. I know it's because I didn't handle my feelings about it before I got here. I just made myself be strong about leaving and thought my feelings would bury themselves. Nope. The jet lag allowed them to free fall. I have come along way since then. Granted, I have to hide my true feelings here but at I can acknowledge them. I feel upset about this...I feel happy about this, etc... I've learned the value of what I call "Meaningful Social Interactions". That is, being able to hang out with a friend or just talk to them over the phone. I am not an extrovert by any means. I do value being around friends. Hanging out with Tanya or going to a beer garden with new folks is awesome. I want to take trips with Emily and Lauren while I am here. Sometimes, you just need a friend.
I am not sure if my teaching has improved or not. I do see where the students are weakest. They are the weakest with a skill we take for granted: Speaking! They are too shy and too afraid of mistakes to speak. Some are just lazy and don't see the point at all in learning English. I am trying make my lessons to 50% speaking and 50% listening. I will see how this ratio goes. The issues are too many to type here.
I am stoked about going to Yakushima. 2 more weeks!