Brian's Japan Adventure

February 20^th, 2008

 Foxy Roxy Meets The Parents 

I took the Shinkansen to Hiroshima as usual. I took a slightly earlier train and got there about 20 minutes earlier than usual so I could get settled before my big performance for “Parent’s Day.” I mostly tried to stick with the flash cards that they had really, really gotten to know, pulling out everything I knew they had trouble with.

I then did the usual 5 year-old class as always, it was just another day for them. After the class, Mr. Kindergarten wanted me to pose with them for a picture, so I did that. Getting thirty 5-year-olds to stand still for a picture is an interesting project, but somehow we got through it.

Then it was time for the 4-year-old group. Today was their day to have their parents with them, and there were far more parents there than I expected. I figured five or six mothers would be there, but it was dozens of fathers and mothers; a real crowd. I did the usual “Good morning! How are you?,” to which they replied appropriately. Then I asked bout the weather. Was it raining? No. Was it snowing? No? Night? No. Hot? No. Cold? Yes! Sunny? Yes!  So we decided it was sunny and cold. This sounds pretty basic, but it took a long time to get there.

Next, we all introduced ourselves, going around the classroom; “My name is _____. I am ___ years old.” They all got it right.  Then we played with flashcards for a while.  They knew all the foods and the colors of the foods. They knew all the animals and the colors of the animals. We showed off a little bit by using “and” a lot. “Fish and Cow and Eagle,” “Red and White and Green.”  Then I asked them questions; “Where is the clock?” or “Where is the phone?” and they would all point.

Finally, I read them a story called “Foxy Roxy” about a Fox with dirty socks who had chickenpox and lived in a box. Guess what letter the book was focusing on?

And then we were done. I then went downstairs and did the class for the three-year-olds. They are the ones having Parent Day next week. I suspect they will be more difficult since they won’t want to pay attention to me with their parents in the room.  But that’s next week’s problem.

Then it was off to the Culture Center. We talked about our weeks and then worked on grammar as promised. I explained all about causative verbs and gave them a handout showing all the various rules and examples. Then we did a worksheet I had made up with about 20 examples.  I don’t know if they understood it all, but at least now I have done some grammar.

 The Point In My Story Where I Don’t Get Caught Shoplifting 

For my break, I walked over to Mos Burger again, but they no longer have the jalapeno burger and hot dog. I ate whatever they had to replace it, which wasn’t bad, but next week I’ll go somewhere else. Afterwards, I walked to the store where I bought many of the “souvenir” type things that I sent home for Christmas. They have lots of nice “Japanese-y” things, and I have to take gifts home with me. The old lady who ran the shop never took her eyes off me when I looked through the shop. When the phone rang, she switched it to wireless in order to follow me around.  She was so sure I’d steal something that it was obvious. She has some nice stuff there, but not only could I not concentrate on what I might want with her staring at me, but I didn’t want to buy anything after that. I’ll get the folks at home something from somewhere else. I am not going to miss that kind of treatment, which is really the rule rather than the exception when shopping.

For the evening class, we talked about our weeks and then worked on a worksheet about political issues, “I am for it”, or “I am against it,” or “It doesn’t concern me.” We got through the first five things on the twenty-item list when time ran out. These guys love to tell me what they think about social issues. Then it was back to the train, home, and more or less straight to bed.