MERRY CHRISTMAS
and a
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I've been listening to iTunes radio, 24 hour Christmas music... *sigh*
お久しぶりですね！
Well hello there!
Here is what is new as of late.
I have been doing a Special Christmas class for the majority of the classes I've seen for the past two weeks. This means that half to most of the class time is reserved for my lesson. I made special printouts and photos to help with the class, and I even made some sample Christmas cards for the students. The activity at the end was that the students made their own Christmas cards, so making the examples helped them figure out what to draw/write. I was proud of one of the cards I made though. I'll post a picture of it after the holiday season.
Writing and sending Christmas cards takes a lot of time... I can't imagine sending one to every friend or family member. Then again, I'm paying twice as much for postage from abroad, and I didn't get the numbers right the first time so half of them came back to me. Also, all of my friends seem to have rotating home addresses, so please don't be offended if your card is late, or lost in the mail, or never arrives, or was never written...
In addition to writing cards and getting some presents together (which I'm having a miserable time doing for some people...), I'm also trying to figure out if I'll go anywhere over break. I took about seven days off of work this holiday season just so that I could relax a little bit and not be obligated to go into work despite having no classes. I don't know how it works in the US, but when the students are on beak in Japan, it does not necessarily mean that the teachers are also on break. They only get a few actual days off, and otherwise they have to use paid leave. It's hard to take sick days if you're not actually sick, because you're expected to show proof of medicine/your visit to the doctor/hospital.
It's pretty cold off and on in Isawa, but it hasn't snowed yet. Because there are many hot springs in this town, I've been told that if it snows the snow doesn't really stick. That's kind of good for me as far as transportation goes, but it would still be nice to have a white Christmas.
A week ago I sent in my "request to re-contract form." I will find out in February or March if the school/Board of Education decides to rehire me. If they do, it means I'll be working at the Junior High School in Isawa for one more year, from July 2011 to July 2012. Originally my main goal was to get as good at Japanese as possible and stay as long as I found necessary, but I think that until 2012 will be long enough. I'd really like to start my career/life in NY, and at that time I'll already be 24. I'd like to start on my "real" career goals sooner rather than later. Plus, if I ever figure out what that career is exactly, I might want to go to Graduate school in NY as well, and I'd like to start that soon too. In addition to career goals, being closer to friends and family will be a major plus back in the US.
Honestly, there are a few main reasons I am deciding to stay in Japan one more year.
1) If my goal is to really learn Japanese, there is only one place to do it well... and that is in Japan.
2) If I want to pay back my loans and save a little bit of money at the same time (as well as afford to live in an apartment by myself, pay my rent and other bills...) than this job is a steady income, and can help me do that. Not many people just out of college in this economy are as lucky.
3) Putting on my resume that I worked in Japan for more than one year is certainly a plus.
Living in Japan can be quite expensive though, so if you're not careful your money can be gone before you know it.
About life these days:
I still haven't translated or written the interview I did with the school worker Mr. Sugimura, but it is in the works and something I hope to find time to accomplish. Mr. Sugimura has introduced me to the world of Japanese flea markets however, and I'm not sure I'll ever need to go back to buying things at full price. ^_^ Not having a car is inhibiting however, and means that unless someone takes me I won't be able to go. Also, flea markets are dangerous because you accidentally buy things you don't need simply because they're so cheap. Getting to know Mr. Sugimura has been interesting though. Although I only understand about 20-50% of what he says, I have gotten the impression that he is always thinking about who other people are; what kind of personality they have, what they think, etc. In his conversations he goes so far into this thought about the smallest things, that I feel I really have to be careful what I say around him. I wonder if this is just his personality, or if this is the way he thinks due to his age and upbringing? He thinks that it is necessary for people to get married early and to have kids. Why is it so important for people to have kids? Don't we have an overpopulation problem? I'm not saying that I don't want to have kids or that I won't, but why is it that we MUST? Oh well, I think this is an older way of thinking.
A quote I somewhat liked, "The problem isn't what you eat, it's how hard you work."
This happened a few weeks ago, but they were having second semester testing and after school all of the teachers were grading tests. A few of the teachers wanted to take a break so they set up some badminton nets in the gym and invited me to play. I was really happy to be invited, and to play with them. It showed me some of the more playful sides of the teachers. I was wearing all of the wrong clothes for the event, but it was fun until I overheated in my two sweaters.
Recently, my morning routine has become such- set my alarm for 5:45, hoping that I'll hit snooze until 6. I hit snooze until 7, where I decide it is actually time for me to wake up. I hope to be out of the house by 7:15 or 7:30 so I can do some things at school, like study or prep, but of course it takes me far longer and I often leave the house at 7:45. I get there in time to help with the tea at 7:50 or 7:55, and then at 8:00 I put on my makeup. It's ok that I don't put it on earlier, because my bike ride to school makes my eyes water and all the makeup would be gone by the time I get there anyway. I start drinking my coffee at around 8:05, and then the teacher's morning meeting starts at 8:15 until around 8:25. Then I have a little bit of time to do whatever until class start at 8:50. On the days I wake up earlier it's not quite as set, but this is how it has been recently. In the summer I was able to wake up much earlier. For one, the sun rose a lot earlier, and it wasn't only 5 degrees celsius outside of my covers. That's 41 degrees fahrenheit.
If I have a full day of classes, I do sometimes get tired before I'm done, but if I have a really empty day and only one or a few classes, I tend to dread getting up from my desk. I don't like sitting all day because my neck starts to hurt and I feel fat, but sitting there makes me not want to get up. It's funny how if you just stand up and face things, it makes them much easier.
Well, I think that's about all for now. I'm working on the JET Japanese learning book, but it's a bit difficult and I'm falling behind. Perhaps that will be one of the projects I attempt to catch up on over break.
Love you much,
Lana
日本人へ
もうすぐ新年になりますので新年開けましておめでとうございます！よい新年を！
