Brian's Japan Adventure

March 9^th, 2008

 The Last Library Day 

Went to McDonalds and had McBreakfast. I forgot about the bug I saw last week until halfway through today’s meal. Oops. Oh well, I survived. I got to the library on time and got my favorite Internet desk. I had a bunch of blog posts to make and a lot of email to answer, but I did not appear to miss anything crucial during my on-stop workweek.  I don’t have any lessons to prepare, so I spent my post-chat time looking up things that might be useful in the future, such as getting an AAA Membership and getting an International Driver’s license.  I don’t remember, but if anyone back at home still owes me a birthday present, a AAA membership would be a really good one, hint-hint.

Anyway, the library took about 4 hours of play time and research. Afterwards, I stopped by Maruzen and picked up a book for the kids. I had a choice of buying them each a book with one small story in it or getting them a large book to share. I went with the bigger book, since it’ll keep them busy longer. The book is full of classic Japanese children’s stories; it’ll be like fairy tales they’ve never heard before. I think they’ll like it, and it gives them an excuse for story time with their former favorite uncle.  I think I’ll have to regain my old title as quickly as possible. I also have a few really small items from Happy Town for the kids, so they’re done.  I also have a gift for EITHER my parents or brother & sister-in-law. I haven’t found anything better than that gift, so I think I may just buy a second one of that item and call my gifts done. I even have a certain bundle of by-request art supplies for someone who asked for them.

I then stopped by Mister Donut on the way to the bus stop. I’ve never actually tried Mister Donut before, but Marc said they were great, so I figured I’d give them a try before leaving. I wasn’t impressed. The coating on top was sweet enough, but the donuts themselves had no taste. Japanese people do not seem to be really big consumers of sugar. After this, I took the bus back to the little station and rode my bike home the rest of the way.

I finished cleaning the bathroom. It’s spotless now. I finished the living room too, and it looks nicely organized for the next person.  I don’t know what to do about the kitchen. It’s clean enough, but I have a huge shelf full of empty plastic Pepsi Nex and Green Tea bottles, as well as a few leftover wine & beer containers from Marc.  The recycle day for those items isn’t until the last Friday of the month, so I am not even close to being able to throw those out.  I guess I’ll just have to bag them up and sit them in a corner somewhere.  That ain’t good, but there isn’t anything else I can think to do with them.

 Pack Up Your Troubles 

Finally, I started to pack up my own stuff.  The first suitcase is full of clothes, and weighs in at 57 pounds. I don’t remember for sure, but I think the weight restriction was 50 pounds. Maybe it was 55 pounds.  I’ll have to go up to the office tomorrow and look up weight restrictions on the airline’s website before I start re-distributing. I filled the second suitcase up to about 70%, but I have to have clothes to wear this week, so I can’t really call it done yet.  All my electronics will go in the carry-on bag with me. It looks like I really won’t have to mail anything, which surprises me. I guess a lot of what I brought here and had mailed to me was disposable stuff. I am not taking home shampoo, deodorant, slippers and old shoes, and so forth.  There are several items that people sent to me for use in my lessons, and I’ll just leave those here for the next person.  Some of it I used, and some of it I didn’t.

 Lost Treasures 

I really should have gone through those suitcases earlier. Inside one of them I found brand new packages of socks and underwear, which I could have been using all along instead of wearing holes in the ones I’ve been using. There was an unopened pack of black dress socks. Most importantly, there were four or five fancy gift bags that I brought along with me. I can use those for my kindergarten gifts instead of the crappy ones I bought at Happy Town.  Unfortunately, I also found folded-up coffee cup gift boxes that I could have used for the two gifts on Friday. Too late!

Overall, there was nothing drastically interesting about this day. Today was really the beginning of the ending, as I continued cleaning and started actually packing.  Tuesday, Y-San has to do a walk-through of the apartment to see what we’ve destroyed (nothing) and then I have to go back to the office to get a certificate of completion of my internship handed to me by somebody important.  Probably after that, I’ll go get my exit visa with Y-San and the other American teacher.  Other than that little bit of business on Tuesday, I don’t have any special plans. Nothing for Monday either. Wednesday of course, is an all-day work day, so I won’t get anything done then in the way of packing. It’d certainly not going to take Monday and Tuesday to finish cleaning and packing. I can probably finish packing in less than an hour, and the cleaning in less time than that.

I wonder what I should do?

March 8th, 2008

Fukuyama Finale

Nothing special on the way there this morning, I took the usual route at the usual time, and had the usual breakfast on the way. First thing, I stopped in the Principal’s Office in the administration building and handed him his gift bag containing a “Home University” coffee mug and a brief “Thank you for your help and lunches” note.  I explained it was omiyagi, and he thanked me and accepted it as expected. I then walked across the road to the Junior High and ran into the Assistant Principal in the lobby.  I handed him his bag and explained the same way, and all was well.

He asked me, “Is Brian-sensei coming back in April?” I responded that I didn’t know yet.  He followed up, “I hope you come back in April.” I replied, “So do I.”

Then I went over to the high school and taught my final two classes there.

As planned, we did a “wrap-up” class where we talked about what their homestay would be like and what to expect in an American house.  Then we talked about manners and how to behave in America. If it comes right don to it, Japanese manners are far better than American manners in general. I think the only thing I actually had to explain was noodle-slurping, which they thought was hilarious when I demonstrated.

About ten minutes before the end of the final class, the two teachers who are going with the students came into class and it became sort of a teaching photo-session. They were both all over the place with their cameras getting shots of me as well as the students listening intently to my words. It’d make a good sales brochure for the school. Hmmm, I bet they’ve thought of that!

In both classes, as soon as the final bell ran, some student jumped up and handed me a big card about 12”x12” with all the students signatures and many personal notes written on it.  The second one today even had a picture someone drew of me on it. It’s good stuff, and they will both definitely be going in my “to keep” pile.

Omiyagi Right Back At Ya!

As the two teachers were snapping away with their cameras and I was being presented with my second card, the Assistant Principal came into the room holding a bag. The bag had the name of the school on the outside and a few smaller book bags on the inside, as well as brochures about the school inside.  He handed the bag to me and said “omiyagi.” Hmmm.  I wonder what that was all about?  My understanding is that if you take someone out to dinner that is the same as if they had prepared the food themselves and you “owe them one.”  If so, then my coffee cups were in return for the lunches; at least that’s the way it was intended.  The book bag puts me in their debt once again.  I assume this is intentional on their part. Oh well, it’s a nice book bag; I wish I’d have had it six months ago!

The Assistant Principal then walked me out of the building and offered to drive me to the train station. It was a nice day (for once!), and I had expected to walk back, but I let him drive me anyway.  Waiting by the car was the “main” Principal, who thanked me and shook my hand.  They usually don’t do that here; I’ve only shaken hands three or four times since arriving, usually with other foreigners.  He then said “Hope to see you again soon,” and was off.  Maybe that was just a phrase he knew, since his English isn’t very good. Or maybe he knows something I don’t about the future.  Other than this bit of possible foreshadowing, as well as the earlier comment by the Assistant Principal, there was no specific mention at all of yesterday’s interview or the job situation.

A Saturday Afternoon That Feels Like A Friday

And then I rode the train back, arriving home around 2:30.  I made a trip to Big Boy for a late lunch and then to Happy Town for a few things. I was telling myself that it was my last trip to Happy Town, but that’s really not likely just yet.  I’ll almost certainly wind up there one more time.  On returning home, I decided to grab a sponge and some kind of cleaning chemical and attack the bathroom.  It’s done now; all I have to do is keep it spotless until Tuesday when Y-San does the inspection.  I still have to quickly fix up the living room and do a major cleaning effort in my bedroom, but that’s a project for tomorrow and Monday.

The plan for tomorrow is to go to the library first thing and deal with whatever I find in my inbox. I’m sure there will be a long chat session involved. On the way back, I want to stop in and look around at the bookstore for books for gifts. I have been looking and looking, but I am just not finding much worthy of lugging home.  I keep telling myself it’s not Christmas and one little item will be fine, but my mind doesn’t work that way.  When I do get home I am going to finally start packing. It’ll be Sunday, and anything I can’t fit in the suitcases will go in a box to be mailed home on Monday. Time is running out on this stuff. I didn’t want to pack too early and ruin my suits or anything, but I can’t really wait until Tuesday or Thursday either. I really don’t know what Monday will bring anyway; Fukuyama will be contacting Y-San then, and I may need to go get that exit visa then.  There’s no telling what else might need to be done of which I am not yet aware.

March 7th, 2008

Interrogation Day

To begin with, I went to Fukuyama and did classes as usual. Today we did Family Trees. I guess the assumption is that when the kids stay with host families, they will understand who the father, mother and brothers and sisters are. They’ll also be able to talk about their own families when asked.  I got the impression they knew all this stuff already, but it probably didn’t hurt them any to get a refresher.

Then it was time for the interview.  I had pretty much decided that my goal for the day was simply not to be humiliated when they figured out my complete lack of sports knowledge. As long as I could get through the interview without looking like a completely incompetent fool, I wouldn’t complain too much. Usually with a job interview, I want to get the job; today I just didn’t want to hear any laughing.

I went downstairs to meet with the American Teacher, and he led me to a waiting room in the main office, since they were interviewing another candidate.  Another candidate? Drat!  Then the other candidate came out and they invited me in.

So I sat down and was introduced to everyone there. The American Teacher was on my right, next to someone whose title I never did catch, as well as the director of Physical Education for the school, The Principal, and some guy for whom even the American Teacher couldn’t explain his position, but said he was important. Besides me, there were five people there.

Now until today, I just assumed “my lunch buddy,” The Principal, was the principal of the High School.  I was wrong. Apparently each of the three schools, Elementary, Junior High, and High School, have their own assistant principal who is actually in charge of that school.  Then there is THE Principal, who is the main guy in charge of them all.  So now it turns out that the assistant principal of the junior high school is really THE man in charge of the Junior High, and the guy I thought was in charge of the High School is the main man over everything, including hiring for the Elementary.  I get the impression that he’s especially impressed with me already, so that’s a big point in my favor just walking in the door.  I’ve got friends in high places and didn’t even know it; as “High School Principal,” I didn’t think he would have any influence over anything in the Elementary School. Well, he does.

So the first thing I told them is that I have had no training whatsoever in Physical Education. I wanted to get it out there on the table right away, and I sure as heck don’t want them hiring me thinking I am a “sports person.” They didn’t care. I would only have first, second, and third-graders, so my lack of serious sports knowledge is not an issue. The point is for the students to learn English while doing real-world things, which I am completely capable of doing.  I’d be an English teacher, only doing it during phy-ed and art classes.

They were also impressed with my interest in learning Japanese, and when they asked if I would be willing to take language classes, I looked quite eager to do so. They liked that.  And of course, it’s completely true; one of my main reasons for coming over here in the first place was to learn the language. That place kind of got side-tracked by problems at the language school, but yeah, I still want to learn it.

They also liked that I said after the first year, I have nothing keeping me from renewing, like a wife and kids waiting for me back in the States for example. Of course, I have family in the States, and I made it clear that I would want to visit from time to time, but that if I wanted to stay here for, like, forever, that I was free to do so.

They made it clear that it’s not a 9-to-5 job, and there would be many other requirements, like dealing with school plays, going to sporting events, and stuff like that.  But hey, what else do I have to do? It sounds like fun.  They did mention that I would also be the new Basketball Coach, so I guess I’ll have to learn how to play basketball. Bwahahaa!

Overall, all my answers were not only completely truthful and accurate (I didn’t put a positive “spin” on anything), but apparently were exactly what they were looking for.  Nothing, and I repeat nothing, negative occurred in that interview. I have never had an interview go more smoothly.

And then it was done. There wasn’t really an opportunity for me to ask questions, and they didn’t ask anything unexpected or off-the-wall. Now it may be that their lack of questions indicates a lack of interest in me as a candidate.  It’s a possibility, but that’s not the way I read the situation.  They had four resumes, and it was clear they had at least one more guy to interview, but it would be next week and not today before they got to him. I’m guessing I was the third guy they interviewed, and it was clear from their expressions and way of talking that I was the best of the three.  But no, they did not offer it to me on the spot. They have an appointment with applicant number four, and it would be rude of them to cancel, even if their mind is made up.  Actually, they told me they wouldn’t have a decision until the 17th.  That’s pushing their luck, since that’s only around two weeks before classes start!  Of course, I’ll already be gone by then, so they made sure they had my American phone number and email.

“I Will Now Honor My Good American Friend With A Meal”

They told me the interview was over, I thanked them all and bowed, and as I walked to the door, The Principal stood up and told me to go to his office and wait for him since we were going out for okonomiaki now.  Yes, he did this in front of the other interviewers. I don’t know if he was the highest-ranked person in the room, but I would guess that he is.  Appearances and demonstrations mean a lot here. I don’t really know if I had them where I wanted them before, but the okonomiaki comment will probably get me the job.

Daniel And The Okonomiaki

I waited in his office and he came in a little while later, and introduced me to a new teacher at the Junior High named Daniel. He had just transferred from somewhere else an would be coming to lunch with us. I don’t know if his being there was coincidence or accidentally-on-purpose, but Daniel made a fine translator during lunch.  He seems like a really nice guy and I got his phone number and email for use in case I do come back here. He was having some kind of problem transferring his apartment from wherever he came from to his new place in Fukuyama. His former school was for discipline-challenged kids and was starting to run into government funding trouble, so The Company transferred him to a more stable school.  They want to keep their foreign teachers busy.  I think he could be a big help if I wind up having to get settled in here at some point in the future.  The three of us went to an okonomiaki place, and it was outstanding- the best okonomiaki I’ve ever had. Oishii!  Still, the two of them shoveled it in so fast that I had indigestion before we even left the place. People back in the States tell me I eat too fast, but Japanese people just inhale their food.  After eating, he took me back to the school and I walked down to the train station and rode back to Okayama.

Because of the interview, I didn’t bring along my omiyagi gifts today. I had Daniel ask The Principal if he would be there tomorrow, and he will be, so I’ll take them tomorrow. That’s more appropriate anyway, since it’s really my last day there.  I hope it doesn’t look like I’m trying to buy his hiring vote; you and I know I had the gifts before I knew he had anything to do with hiring.

Quit Screwin’ Around And Make Up Yer Danged Mind!

My work visa is good until the last day in August, but if I leave now I cannot get back in the country without an exit Visa.  So if they hire me after I am gone, I can’t come back without one. When I got back to the apartment, I called Y-San about getting an exit visa. I think at first she thought they had made me an offer, but she still sounded thrilled that it all went well after I explained.  She congratulated me on a good interview, and said she has another teacher who needs to go for an exit visa next week too, so she can take us both together, probably on Monday, so that’s no problem for her.

She was somewhat annoyed when I told her they told me there would be no real decision until the 17th.  She called me back ten minutes later, telling me that she’d called them and they would now have a decision on Monday instead. I would love to have heard that conversation.  I am only guessing, but I think she probably told them to just make a decision this weekend and forget the fourth applicant after all.  Last week she looked at me like I was crazy for applying, but I think that now that she knows I am serious about it, she has come to the conclusion that I can make it work. If nothing else, she knows I’m a serious worker, not here for party-time.  She needs that job filled and she knows I’ll stick to it.

And that’s where I stand on things right now.  Clearly, my lack of Japanese and Phys-Ed training are a non-issue.  I do in fact have the qualifications they really care about.  I still don’t know the details about the job itself, like pay and benefits. I suspect the way it works is that (assuming they o want me) they will send me some kind of contract with all the details within and I will just take it or leave it; negotiation doesn’t seem commonplace here.  Again, I am not worried about getting ripped off, but I do have a couple of reasonable requirements that I think they will include without my even sking.  The Company is proud of its foreign teachers, and the job would be secure for a long time to come.

Now I just have to agonize over whether I really want to do this or not until Monday.  My thinking right now is that yes, I do want this to work out.  Yesterday, I just wanted the honor of being asked. Now I want the whole package.  I can make it work, and it sounds like it will be fun (and a whole new adventure) making it happen.

Upcoming Events:

Tomorrow is Saturday, but I have a class anyway.  It’ll be my last visit to Fukuyama, at least that I know about right now.  It’s a sort of wrap-up lesson that covers manners and how they should behave in America.  One of the items on the list is “Don’t slurp your noodles loudly.” Heh-heh. I talked here about slurping noodles earlier in the week, and now the issue is coming up again.  So far, all of these classes have gone really, really well, and I don’t expect any different tomorrow.

Oho!  Look at that clock!  It’s 6:20 pm on Friday.  That means it’s 4:20 am on Thursday in America.  This time next week I will be back in Dayton.  Will I be asleep at 4:20 am? I bet not. It’ll be days before I get back on a normal American schedule. I’ll probably get used to the time change just about the same time I have to come back and deal with jet lag all over again.

March 6th, 2008

Talking Behind My Back Is A Good Thing?

Everything went smoothly with the trains today, unlike Tuesday. I got to Fukuyama on time and walked to the school as usual.  I went inside and picked up my train tickets for the return trip and the trip back tomorrow morning.  As I came out to head to the High School building, the American teacher that I met back in October yelled to me. I walked back to where he was to see what was up.

Oh boy. Apparently the whole school, or at least everyone who has ever had any contact with me, had gotten together to talk about my application for the Phys-Ed/Art teacher position.  They want me to come in tomorrow for an interview right after my classes end.  I was in a state of shock at that time, but I think he said the Elementary School Principal and the head of the Phys-Ed department would be there. He would come along too to help translate. Since they invited him to the interview, they must be well aware of my language problems.  Since they want to talk to me anyway, that must not be a show-stopping hurdle.

I did my classes, and they went quite well today.  These students are very motivated to learn as much as they can.  They know they’re going to America very soon, and they want all the help they can get.  There’s nothing like a little terror and intimidation to inspire motivation among students. They don’t want to look bad in America. With the exception of the Hiroshima adults, these classes are the most interactive I have had here, which is good.

Okonomiaki? Not Tomorrow!

On Tuesday, I made plans to eat with the principal and vice principal tomorrow. We even planned to have okonomiaki. Unfortunately, now I can’t go because the interview is at the same time. I don’t think the High School Principal that I have had lunch with several times in the past is the same guy as the Elementary School Principal that I’ll meet tomorrow.  That means I had to let them know I couldn’t make it for lunch tomorrow. I found the Vice Principal in his office, and explained “no lunch tomorrow” with fingers crossed in an “X” shape.  He nodded; although we usually manage to communicate, his English level is pretty low. I didn’t think he understood me, but then I heard him mention the American teacher’s name, so apparently he already knew all about it.  As I said, they’d all been talking.

Omiyagi Planning

In one way, this interview is going to be bad timing.  A far as I know, I won’t see the Principal or Vice Principal on Saturday, so tomorrow is my last chance to see them.  I had planned on giving them their omiyagi tomorrow.  Omiyagi is a small gift for being a good host. They’ve paid for my lunch so many times it’s the least I can do.  I brought a bunch of stuff from the bookstore at the Home University with the school logo on it, intending to use them as gifts. There actually hasn’t been a need to dig into those things until now, but the time has come.

• •    Large “beer stein” cup… Mr. Kindergarten
• •    Small “jewelry box”… Y-San (I don’t have much good stuff, but these are nice)
• •    Small “jewelry box” … Mr. Kindergarten’s Secretary (“The Cookie Lady”)
• •    Coffee Mug… Fukuyama Principal
• •    Coffee Mug… Fukuyama Vice Principal
• •    Baseball cap… The Guy who runs the Culture Center

I don’t think it’s actually appropriate to give omiyagi to my students, but it turns out that I have exactly the right number of University Key Chains to give them out to each student, so why not?  That will leave me with only one ball cap left over with no one in mind to give it to yet.  I think there is a special way you are supposed to wrap omiyagi, but I have no idea how to do it, so gift bags from Happy Town will have to do.

Indecision 2008

OK, so now we’re back into it. They’ve all talked together, including several people who know me pretty well, so I think they know what they are getting into.  Although I did meet the Elementary School Principle way back in October, I am sure he won’t remember me personally.  I don’t know the head of the Phys Ed. department, at least I don’t think I know him. Otherwise, everyone else in the school of importance seems to like me quite a lot. I assume that includes the American teacher, whom I have had doubts about in the past. I had some less-than-generous things to say about him in the past, and I’m not really going to say I was wrong then; I stand behind my first impressions. That being said, I don’t think any of that stuff still applies. I didn’t “steal” anyone’s job, and he’s fully aware of that.  At this point, he knows the position has to be filled, and it may as well be me as much as anyone else.

So anyway, tomorrow should be interesting.  I’m usually really nervous about saying the wrong thing at interviews, but this is different, since a translator will be in the middle.  That actually makes it much easier I think.  As long as I look confident, I think that will go a long way.

All this makes it sound like I am eager to get the job.  Nothing has changed really. But I do want them to offer me the job.  That offer will validate that I have made a good impression over here.  I think I have done pretty well here, certainly as well as I was able, but it’s not like I am going to get a grade or a “score” on anything as feedback.  A “Good Job” from Y-San or deported doesn’t seem likely; I don’t think it works like that here. As long as you aren’t hearing complaints you’re doing a good job.  That’s really not enough for me right now.  I want to be offered a real job, especially after being the default second choice for staying here this summer.  Being second choice after Marc may or may not have been intentional (probably not actually intentional), but there’s enough doubt in my mind that I want this job offer too.

So, the bottom line is they more or less already know what they are getting tomorrow.  I certainly got the impression last week that there were very few applicants for the position.  I do have good English teaching credentials and references. My lack of Japanese skills does not appear to be an irresolvable dilemma, especially since it’s an “immersion” class. They know my travel schedule already; I put that right on the cover letter of my resume. I’m betting they offer me the job outright tomorrow on the spot.

So what will I say if that is the case?  As I said yesterday and earlier in this posting, everyone there seems to know me and I have already commented on how friendly they all are. It would be a good place to work.  The school is large enough that it’s well established and the job would be secure, but small enough that everyone knows everyone else. The Company has already proven itself to be reliable and fair in my mind, so I have no problem continuing to work for them.  The school only has twelve classrooms (I counted today), so there aren’t a huge number of students.

I don’t know what the pay or benefits are, but I suspect they will be reasonable; probably a good deal more than the “conversational language schools,” like the now-defunct Nova would have paid.  Minimum wage here is 250,000Y a month here I think.  Currently, I’m getting by on around 180,000Y a month, but I am in an “educational internship” not a “real job” right now, so they can get away with paying me less. Even so, I am surviving adequately on sub-minimum wage right now. I suspect a real teaching job for The Company will pay a good deal more than minimum wage.  I don’t think living in Fukuyama should be significantly more expensive than Okayama.  Come to think of it, I’m not really sure which city is larger.

Many of the objections I wrote about continuing on in the summer program do not apply to this job.  I’ll be here at lest one year, so the need to find a job in August, either this year or next, will not be an issue, since school years here are April to April.  The problem with the airfare being too much money also doesn’t apply when you amortize it over a year or six months. Also, it will be a “real job” not an internship.  A small distinction on a resume, but it counts.  It sounds pretty good just looking at these factors.

So what’s bad?  Obviously, it’s a whole year commitment, and probably longer if it works out well. It’s teaching a subject I know little about, although I can’t say that really worries me too much. I don’t have anyone like Y-San looking out for me. I’ll probably have to find and rent an apartment on my own.  I’ll have to buy a bike and cell phone.  I don’t know what is involved with renewing my visa.  I’ll need to open a bank account if I stay a year. I’ll have to figure out doctor visits and haircuts.  I’ll have to learn my way around a new city, since the commute from Okayama is too long and too expensive.

Right now, my thinking is that if they make me a reasonable financial offer tomorrow I will accept it.  I’ll still go home next week and can re-evaluate my decision after getting home and thinking about things.  If I do change my mind, I can let them know right away and they will still have a couple of weeks to hire their second choice.  Backing out on them won’t look good, but it won’t be awful either.  I suspect that after a week or two at home, I’m going to want “something more” pretty quickly.

If they don’t make me an offer immediately, I doubt they will make a decision before I leave.  That, too, would be cool.  I’d much rather get to make a decision after I have been home a few days.  Y-San mentioned that if I wanted to come back here anytime soon, I will nee to get an exit visa in order to leave and come back. The cost is 3000Y ($25). Depending on what happens tomorrow, I may want to get one of those regardless. It might take a couple of days, so just having one “in case” may be a good idea.

Look At The Time!

On the bright side, it’s currently 7:30 in the evening on Thursday night.  This time next week I’ll be on my way home.  I checked on the website www.seatguru.com and found that I have aisle seats all the way home.  That’s great; my biggest complaint on the way here was being squished in a window seat with nothing to see out the window.  It’ll be dark all the way home anyway, so the window is no big deal.  On the Aisle, I can get up as many times as I want a can even spread out a little more I hope.

March 5th, 2008

My Final “Normal” Hiroshima Day

I did the usual trip to Hiroshima this morning. When I arrived at the kindergarten, they showed me a scrapbook with a note written by last year’s teacher to the “graduating” kindergarten class and they wanted me to write one as well. I wrote out a brief note which they put away for future use and then it was time to get to class.

Today was Parent’s Day for the 3-year-olds.  There were only ten students in class today, which is down from the usual 15 or so. Still, there were a bunch of parents there, and the kids performed better than I expected– better than usual even. The 3-year-old-class is the short one, at only 15 minutes, so it was over quickly. The second and third classes went about as usual. Next week will be the Parent’s Day for the 5-year-olds, the “big kids” of the group, and probably the most important appearance-wise; this one class is the reason I didn’t go home two weeks earlier, when Marc did.

I then rode the bus to the Culture Center (no mention of a car this time) and got everything ready to go. We talked about our weeks, and I told them about my decision to stay or go, and one of them already knew all; she reads the blog regularly. I didn’t really think it was going to be a surprise for her. I’m not entirely sure the others actually understood how close I came to being their teacher again next semester.  They like me, but I suspect they’re eager for someone new; they have me broken in, so it’s time for some new energy!

You’re My Inspiration!

And then the same student who read my blog mentioned that she was starting courses to learn to teach the Japanese language to foreigners. I explained to her about TEFL and told her to look for something similar for the Japanese language.  Is there such a thing as a TJFL?  I bet there is!  She mentioned that I was an inspiration to her. Whoah!  First the old man in the evening class grows a beard and now another student wants to become a language teacher. I don’t know if they are learning English or not, but I am definitely making an impression!

Did The Repairman Die?

Eventually the subject turned to me leaving next week, and one student called a local Italian restaurant to make reservations for my going-away party. They know I like pizza and wanted to get me to get a Japanese pizza.  There was a glitch though; the restaurant’s oven is broken. How lame is that?  Does it take a week (or more possibly) to fix an oven?  How does an Italian restaurant stay open without an oven anyway?  Strange.  Still, they have pasta, so we’ll be going there for pasta next week. I told them I could survive without pizza for a few more days.  I have had Japanese pizza.  I like it’s good, but it is also different from American pizza. I can’t quite put my foot on it, but there is something different.

On my lunch break, I walked over to Mos Burger again. Today will be my last time to go there, since I won’t need to get lunch anywhere next week. On my return to the center, I checked the computer room, and it was empty for once. I checked my email and read a few blog comments. There was nothing crucial, but it was good to be able to check in.

Yak, Yak, Yak-itori

Then it was time for the old folks class. It too, went smoothly, and we talked about all kinds of things.  Our lesson for tonight was “personality types,” such as honest/dishonest, humble/bigheaded, optimist/pessimist, and so on.  When we got to the point of deciding what we would do next week, we all agreed that next week we would get yakiniku.  I’ve never tried yakiniku; at least I don’t think I have. It’s some kind of spicy grilled meat thing. It sounds pretty good. I have had yakitori, grilled meat on a stick; this is different, but probably related to yakiniku.

I did finally remember to take my camera this week, and got good photos of both Hiroshima classes. I’ll post them to the gallery as soon as I get the chance.  I also finally remembered to get some vending machine snapshots. The machines all look pretty much the same, but the contents are all from different companies.

Tomorrow, I am back to Fukuyama. I am used to having Thursday off, so tonight “feels” wrong, knowing I have class tomorrow.  Tomorrow’s lesson involves describing things that the students don’t know the words for. That ought to be interesting.