The Week in Review
I think the initial shock of moving and adjusting to a new environment is wearing off. Gifu is still really country and really damn inconvienent most of the time, but its easier to deal with now.
My job is getting easier. I know I still have a lot to improve on, but I have a better grasp on the basics and a clearer idea as to how to improve now. The commute to my branch still sucks balls, and I think it always will, but the students are just so wonderful and the staff is really helpful. I've only been working for a little while, but already the students know my name and talk to me outside of class. A few even try to request lessons with me, even though that is not allowed. And teaching kids has gotten a lot easier too. I taught Runa and Nagisa (and this time Haruka, the third girl in the class came so taught Luna, Usagi, and Haruka. 0.o?!) again yesterday and while we were playing our first game, throwing a ball at cards to pick which one we would learn first, I sat cross-legged on the floor and Runa just sat right in my lap. Then Haruka and Nagisa each sat on my knees and we learned all the language for the lesson. I thought I was going to cry it was so sweet.
Then of course my next class was four boys and since 'What is it? It's a toilet!' is part of the langauge this month (I know. Weird.) they just all had to pantamime just how they used the toilet for me. Oh yes. My life is complete now.
Last night I went out with a bunch of teachers and had dinner and drinks. One thing I can definately compliment Gifu on are the cocktails. Wow, are they strong. It was a nice night though. I got to meet some people and see some people I hadn't seen for a while. This guy, Takaki, who is a friend of Mayumi's came, and I think he was hitting on me! It was way creepy and I was really really uncomfortable near the end of the meal so I left early. And, thanks to Mayumi, I am getting a free bike! Yes! She even invited me to pottery classes with her on Mondays. I told her I had to think about it since Monday is my day off when I come here to catch up on internet stuffs and talk to Max, but I think I might be able to join her for the classes now because...
... I'm getting broadband in two weeks!!! YES!!! Yahoo!BB came through for me and NTT will come out on the 21st between 9am and 12pm to install the phone line. That same day Yahoo! will send the modem and I will be awesome. And the first two months of the wireless service I got are free! Hot damn. AND I can make calls to the US with a LAN phone for 3yen/1min. I know, right? Cheap! The only potential downside is that the only jacks for phone lines are in Karen's room, but she said we could trade rooms if I want. The bonus to that would be that I would have a window and porch access, but I wouldn't have a closet anymore. She also said that she doesn't mind my running cables across the room. I figure I'll do that and just tell her she can use my computer if she wants. She's moving to Tokyo in the Spring anyway, so she won't be here much longer.
I'm really happy that we're getting along better now though. Not that we were fighting or anything before, but it's not an apartment full of awkward silences anymore. Karen, Rachael, and I were all home the other night and watched a program on the Statue of Liberty and NYC. It was fun talking about our respective countries and learning more about them. Karen was absolutely shocked to the core that you could buy guns at Wal-Mart (can you still do that?). She now wants to make a trip to the US just to see that. I told her and Rachael to both come visit me and that I would show them the nicer side of America. :)
So I guess that pretty much wraps up my week. Today I get my Gaijin Card so I will officially be a person again. Tomorrow is my first Japanese lesson so that should be fun. I tested 'Advanced.' Go figure, right? Next Monday is the Ise Shrine/Edo Wonderland Tour so I won't be logging on. E-mails are always appreciated!
My job is getting easier. I know I still have a lot to improve on, but I have a better grasp on the basics and a clearer idea as to how to improve now. The commute to my branch still sucks balls, and I think it always will, but the students are just so wonderful and the staff is really helpful. I've only been working for a little while, but already the students know my name and talk to me outside of class. A few even try to request lessons with me, even though that is not allowed. And teaching kids has gotten a lot easier too. I taught Runa and Nagisa (and this time Haruka, the third girl in the class came so taught Luna, Usagi, and Haruka. 0.o?!) again yesterday and while we were playing our first game, throwing a ball at cards to pick which one we would learn first, I sat cross-legged on the floor and Runa just sat right in my lap. Then Haruka and Nagisa each sat on my knees and we learned all the language for the lesson. I thought I was going to cry it was so sweet.
Then of course my next class was four boys and since 'What is it? It's a toilet!' is part of the langauge this month (I know. Weird.) they just all had to pantamime just how they used the toilet for me. Oh yes. My life is complete now.
Last night I went out with a bunch of teachers and had dinner and drinks. One thing I can definately compliment Gifu on are the cocktails. Wow, are they strong. It was a nice night though. I got to meet some people and see some people I hadn't seen for a while. This guy, Takaki, who is a friend of Mayumi's came, and I think he was hitting on me! It was way creepy and I was really really uncomfortable near the end of the meal so I left early. And, thanks to Mayumi, I am getting a free bike! Yes! She even invited me to pottery classes with her on Mondays. I told her I had to think about it since Monday is my day off when I come here to catch up on internet stuffs and talk to Max, but I think I might be able to join her for the classes now because...
... I'm getting broadband in two weeks!!! YES!!! Yahoo!BB came through for me and NTT will come out on the 21st between 9am and 12pm to install the phone line. That same day Yahoo! will send the modem and I will be awesome. And the first two months of the wireless service I got are free! Hot damn. AND I can make calls to the US with a LAN phone for 3yen/1min. I know, right? Cheap! The only potential downside is that the only jacks for phone lines are in Karen's room, but she said we could trade rooms if I want. The bonus to that would be that I would have a window and porch access, but I wouldn't have a closet anymore. She also said that she doesn't mind my running cables across the room. I figure I'll do that and just tell her she can use my computer if she wants. She's moving to Tokyo in the Spring anyway, so she won't be here much longer.
I'm really happy that we're getting along better now though. Not that we were fighting or anything before, but it's not an apartment full of awkward silences anymore. Karen, Rachael, and I were all home the other night and watched a program on the Statue of Liberty and NYC. It was fun talking about our respective countries and learning more about them. Karen was absolutely shocked to the core that you could buy guns at Wal-Mart (can you still do that?). She now wants to make a trip to the US just to see that. I told her and Rachael to both come visit me and that I would show them the nicer side of America. :)
So I guess that pretty much wraps up my week. Today I get my Gaijin Card so I will officially be a person again. Tomorrow is my first Japanese lesson so that should be fun. I tested 'Advanced.' Go figure, right? Next Monday is the Ise Shrine/Edo Wonderland Tour so I won't be logging on. E-mails are always appreciated!