You know you're in a different country
when...
...you walk down the seaweed aisle at the local
supermarket.
...the television news anchors bow at their
desks before they begin to read the news.
...signs everywhere exhort you to have a "Happy
Merry Christmas".
I spoke too soon about mastering the bicycle/skirt
thing. I wore the wrong (read: somewhat restrictive) skirt yesterday, and
fell (well, slithered, really...) off my bicycle TWICE while running errands on
the way to work and twisted my seat. The bicycle seat, not my own. Not harmful,
but deeply embarrassing. Walked home last night.
And if I hear the same speeded-up Muzak version of
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus..." again, I will SCREAM!!
Yesterday, I taught at the Shimadae office, near
the university, so I had lots of university students. Good fun, and lots of
energy. I also taught many different levels, and I'm learning how to speak to
each of them. Longtime AEON foreign teachers have reported that they have
started to worry that they are 'losing their English', because they spend so
much time simplifying their daily conversation and speaking slowly. They also
talk with their hands a lot too.
Mayumi-sensei sat in on four of my five classes to
observe. Although she was very pleased overall with my classes, that didn't stop
her from giving me pages and pages of notes, color-coded. I felt a little
deflated, looking at all of them. I still have a lot to learn. Mayumi-sensei has
been with AEON for 10 years, and is a perfectionist when it comes to her work.
but she says my classroom atmosphere is great and my error correction is good
too.
I have today and tomorrow to teach, then Saturday
is a national holiday (the Emperor's birthday), Sunday and Monday are off, and
the next two weeks are part counselling week, part week-long holiday to
celebrate the New Year. So I won't teach again until January.
I have been invited to a Japanese family's house
for Christmas. I met Michiko and her husband Shogo at the break-dancing show,
because their daughter was involved. They live in Yonago, about 25 minutes away
by train. It should be nice. They seem very friendly.
For New Years, I may go back to Okayama for a few
days. Haven't decided yet.
Someone is waiting to use the computer, so I'll
wrap up. Talk to you all tomorrow! Merry Christmas!
Sarah