If I have no 5th and 6th period, I tend to get really sleepy around 2:00. Perhaps it’s because the staff room is really warm by that point? Or perhaps it’s because I’ve already had four classes in a row? Or perhaps it’s because I didn’t get enough sleep?
I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I watched the film immediately after. It was nice to get visualization, like for the setting of the town, but I’m pretty convinced that if you read a book first, you should not watch the movie. Either read the book, or watch the movie, but you’ll inherently be disappointed if you do both. The book is better if you read it first, and the movie is better if you watch it first. For example, to make the 600 page book fit into a 2 hour film, they had to alter, change, and drop many parts of the book. I’d say the movie was good standing alone, but isn’t really good if you’re trying to find a replica of the book.
Enough about that.
Now is the time that currents JETs have to decide if they’re going to re-contract for next year. I have already sent in my forms, but they’re due at the beginning of February I believe. I got an evaluation from my JTE and it was pretty good. Based off of that, I think I would get rehired. I’m not sure how the process works exactly, but I’ll let you know when I find out about the decision. During the conversation about my evaluation however, the JTE and the school principal said that I am the teacher with the most number of classes per week in the whole school. They were a little worried, because there are more first years coming in than there are third years going out, so my number of classes is only going to increase. If it gets to be too much, they’ll probably switch some of the classes for every other week to make some free time. I’m legally required to go to every class however, due to the new educational laws in Japan. The new schedule will start in April.
About my break:
I had originally planned stay in Yamanashi for Christmas, go to Nagano to ski and see some sites, go to Tokyo to catch up with old friends, and then go to Ibaraki until the end. After looking into Nagano, it turned out that the sites were closed around the Christmas/New Year’s season, and the only way to go skiing was to book a hotel, but around the ski resorts you were required to book a full three days. After all that, including transportation to and from places, it would have cost way more than it was worth. We called off the Nagano trip (and will go another time to see the sites…), and did things around Yamanashi for a little longer than planned. I did get to see some friends in Tokyo which was nice, and I got to explore a few new places in Ibaraki as well. I’ve been feeling a lot of rumbles recently, and I can’t tell if they’re shakes from the large trucks on the bypass near my house, the construction on the bypass, or mini earthquakes. I’m getting used to them anyway. I wonder if earthquakes are one reason houses are built the way they are here. It’s definitely colder in NY right now, but I think that we’re more prepared to wear warm clothes there, and our houses don’t leak so much heat. I guess I could proof my house a little better if I wanted to, but I think I’ll leave it for next year. I’m doing fine so far as it is. I think Japanese people are embarrassed to dress in too many clothes though, and might be happier if they’re cold, but look nice. They have those heat packets that they use, and many THIN layers of clothes. I’m used to hats, gloves, scarves, parkas, boots, oh well. Perhaps it’s just this area? It doesn’t snow very much here in Isawa. If I went to Hokkaido or Shimane or Snow Country, I’m sure it’d be different. I think…
The first few days back were reserved for the opening ceremony and the tests, but things are back on track now. Something happened to the pipes where they cook the school lunch, so it was a big drama and everyone had to bring their own 弁当 bento to school for three days. A bento is a boxed/packed lunch.
The first day back after break the students spent a full hour for ‘cleaning time.’ I think it had to do with the New Year. Instead of spring cleaning like we have in America, they clean right before the New Year. (The students clean their school. They don’t do a very good job so from time to time they hire real janitors. Other than that, they have the one janitor who is at the school in the morning. He cleans a little bit, but not very thoroughly. He’s here to do the odd jobs.) I was surprised when the students were cleaning windows with damp old newspapers. It seemed to work pretty well actually. Maybe I’ll try that this spring when I clean my house.
On Wednesday I was going to go straight home after work to catch up on some ‘after break’ stuff, but a co-worker invited me to a free movie in Kofu. She won two tickets to a free showing of a movie that comes out in a few weeks. It was all in Japanese, but I was pleasantly surprised to the amount that I could understand. Of course there are still large gaps in my knowledge, but I can at least see an increase in ability! Since I haven’t been in school however, doing formal assignments, my written ability has significantly decreased. When I try to write a letter to my old host family, it’s seriously like pulling teeth. I’ve been writing the same letter for months. Literally. In Japanese, I would say I can understand the language best in the following order, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. For Spanish, I would say reading, writing, listening, speaking. Funny huh?
My kindle should be coming in about a week!
On a very unrelated note, if you’re ever having a hard time with your job, you should watch the movie “The Devil Wears Prada.” There is once scene where the main character Andrea complains to a coworker, and basically he says something to the effect of, “You’re not trying Andrea, you’re complaining!” I think people should watch this scene when they need a boost or inspiration.
Ok. All for now.
Lana
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