My first week at work is now complete. They had school on Saturday this week. This is a little crazy I think. One problem that I am facing is that all of the broken English I listen to each day is affecting my ability to talk normally. I can’t speak as smoothly sometimes. All I can hear is halting speech and a complete absence of the words to, the or am. The kids are nice though. They are so shy in class it can be painful but a few are a little more outspoken. I have two elementary schools that I visit. I went to the first one yesterday. It was so much fun! Those kids are so cute it’s ridiculous. I taught grade three, five and six. They wear different little uniforms for each portion of their day. It was Parents Demonstration Day there so the parents came and watched their kids in class to see how they are doing and then went swimming with them. These kids are so tiny! They are all wearing little bathing caps and matching swim suits. Then they change for lunch. Every student wears a white hat, apron and mask until it is time to eat, and then they take off the mask when everyone has been served. They look like little doctors. Then they put on their gym clothes for recess and then they put on their regular uniforms for class. They also have their own tooth brush, cup, chop sticks and place mats for lunch. They all eat their lunch in the same order. No one touched the water melon until they had cleared their plates for the main course. Discipline is the name of the game. When is comes to school cleaning time, all the students change from a blue recess hat to a white one. It’s pretty crazy.
Today was my Parents Demonstration Classes at Seibu Junior High. The parents all stand at the back of the class for the whole time. It’s a little intimidating. Later on, the staff will play a volley ball game against the parents. They said I can play if I want but I haven’t played volley ball since the fifth grade. Hmmm, I don’t want to be the weakest link in my first week!
I have not done too many crazy things this week. I have, however, embarrassed myself in front of my Principal (Kocho-sensei) a few times but he seems to be taking it very well. I ride my bike to school which is an old school granny bike with a basket. I park my bike on the sidewalk in front of Kocho-sensei’s office so it stays dry. On Monday, I wore a skirt and flashed the guy getting off my bike accidentally. He laughed and pointed at me. The next day, I was sitting beside him at lunch and dropped a fish in my lap while demonstrating my stellar chop sticks skills. He’s a good guy though; he didn’t take it too hard. I go to my second elementary school on Tuesday and will take some pictures of the kids. The pictures in this post are of my little back yard and some landscape shots around my neighbourhood. The first picture is of Matsumoto Castle. I have to go shame my school at volleyball now, talk to you soon!