Sunday…was too long ago, I barely remember what I did. Oh yeah, I cleaned, worked on my powerpoint and play games with my western comrades. Monday started with a bang and a huge stage that I had to stand on, alone, in front of 800 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. Speaking in chapel with 300 of my fellow students and professors for 15 minutes could not compare to the terror of talking to 800 junior-high school Japanese children in their black and white uniforms for 30 seconds. My teachers stood on the gym floor on the side and introduced me and then motioned me to the giant stage. I stood there alone and listened to this adorable Japanese girl give me a two minute speech in English. What came out of my mouth was a jumble of my name, state, “America,” and a nice to meet you with a very poor Japanese bow. I hope they didn’t expect more. “You looked nervous” one of my teachers told me after. Ha! You think? Not long after I had my first class with the 9th graders. Unfortunately, my hopes that “talking slowly” would lengthen my powerpoint were dashed when I finished 15 minutes before the bell. So for 15 minutes I tried to “relax” and “chat” with the students. Epic fail. I felt like an absolute moron, retreated to my desk in the giant teachers room and suppressed my desire to cry. Fortunately I was able to leave school to go to the bank, since my rent was due and I got my first big paycheck on Monday (I swear, I have more money after a month in Japan, than I’ve ever had in my life…it’s a wonderful feeling). But I got to the bank and realized that I needed my “inken” it’s this little stamp that words as one’s signature in Japan. So the very sweet teller showed me how to do my banking at the ATM. The whole bank incident didn’t exactly make me feel better, however. Let’s just say that first day kind of sucked. That night a couple of my fellow JETs who have been here for at least a year called me to cheer me up. They assured me that their first day sucked as well, and that everyone felt like a failure and I would get better…you know all those things that experienced people say to inexperienced people who are trying to sulk.
Tuesday I headed to my elementary school. I stopped at the convenience store to get a pastry and a cold coffee since breakfast had been null that morning. Naturally, I left my helmet on because I was in such a hurry. As I walked out, I saw the “no helmets” icon on the door. Stupid gaijin. When I got to my school, they showed me the lesson plan for the day. Thankfully it was the exact lesson that I had watched a couple JETs do at Orientation as an example. I taught first graders that day. I did the whole lesson almost entirely by myself. They looked on eagerly and enthusiastically entered into the exciting game at the end. No Hello Kitty, Snoopy dog, or Rillakuma Café icon can compare in cuteness to Japanese first graders. If they weren’t somewhat exhausting, I would teach first grade Japanese kids every day and love it. Tuesday was my mending day. Monday had been awful. Tuesday was saving grace poured directly on my thirsty soul. I think Dai ichi Shogako (shogako is elementary, chugako is JH, and “koko” is HS, it’s like saying “high” for HS in English) will be my favorite school. I spend a day there next week as well. Wednesday, Thursday, and today were spent back at the Junior High.
Over the last three days I have taught 11 classes at the JH. It’s a lot, and yesterday I felt like I was losing my voice, so I spent the night in with Arrested Development, OJ, tea, and vitamin C. Tuesday night I happened to by a beach ball at the store because I had found a good game with a ball that I could use to make my powerpoint longer. That ball has been golden. It has some Japanese cartoon or anime character “Doraemon” (I have no idea who it is) inside and the kids love it. I play pop music, they pass the ball and when I stop the music, the kid with the ball has to stand up and say “Hello, my name is…Miran, I have 5 people in my family.” It works great because it gets everyone to say SOMETHING AND it takes up like 10 minutes to go through everyone. I put it in the middle of my lesson to get them on their feet. I’ve been working with 9th graders and I’m told that the 7th graders get more excited, so that will be nice. It kind of depends on the class with the 9th graders. Some classes are really “genki” (happy, excited, enthusiastic) and others look like they are sleeping with their eyes open. They told us at Orientation that we might have to have the kids stand up when asking questions (the kids who answer get to sit down). It’s true, and it works! They really don’t like standing up…
I think it was Wednesday or Thursday when it dawned on me that these students were the same grade and age as my dorky, adorable, and goofy little brother. What the heck was I so scared of? Honestly, the uniforms are kind of intimidating. I’m going to be really sad when it gets warmer and they make my little elementary students wear uniforms.
It’s tiring to be a teacher though! It requires so much energy! I find myself exhausted after my last class. Yesterday, I felt physically sick, so I made sure to get 8+ hours of sleep last night.
So, as you can read, I am slowly finding my groove here. Everyone has been very great so far, my teachers, my supervisor, my co-workers, and with September coming on, it should begin to get cooler soon. I’m also getting internet at home tomorrow…so you all might be hearing from me a bit more.
This has been my first week at school. I hope you enjoyed reading.
