The end is nearing...

So I have about 3 weeks left now which scares me so much!  Although I am excited to start the next chapter of my life back in England, I also am really really sad to be leaving.  It hasn't completely settled in yet either.

But yes 3 weeks to get my fill of Tokyo!  As of now, I am not going to have  night it - I don't have time to be wasting anymore.

School has been coming to an end now which has been more emotional that I expected.  Letters and messages from the students have made me realise that I may have felt like a human cd player in most of the lessons, but they obviously enjoyed it more than a regular cd player!  I have my Japanese goodbye speech down to a tee now and can whip it out during any impromptu last lesson.


I have started planning my goodbye Sayonara party and am going out tonight to find a nice bar to hold it.  Although I wouldnt be surprised if we end up at a Hub somewhere!!

Right so 3 weeks, the bucket list of things to do in Tokyo will follow...

Inspiration...

So my friend Tango also has a blog, and is also in Japan teaching just like me, and also travelled with me around Asia this summer.  We are basically in the same boat.  However hers put mine to shame...so I have decided to take some action, and will try to start blogging again!  Thank for the inspiration Tango!

Don't worry, I am not going to try to catch up with everything that has been going on since my last blog because that would be silly, I will just start afresh from here!

Christmas is coming up fast, and it's just a week and a half now until I go back home for the New Year!  I got to teach the little one in my elementary school for the first time this week which was soooo much fun! They are adorable to teach, so much energy and so enthusiastic, (my 6th graders could take a leaf out of their book really).  We played games, and once again I was asked every possible question under the sun in question time.. here are some of the interesting ones:

1. What is your favourite mode of transport? (surprisingly this came up in every single class!)
2. What shape do you like?
3. What is your favourite colour? (followed by...) What i your second favourite colour?..and so on...
4. What meal of the day do you like, Breakfast, lunch or dinner?

And my favourite...
5. Do you know all of the English words? (I answered with yes...although this is definitely a lie)

I also had fun decorating the classroom ...

This was a great idea at first, and the kids love it, but it has now left me with about 50 letters written in Japanese, which I really feel like I should reply to! A blanket letter to each class seem like a bit of a cop out, and I don't want to ruin anyone's Santa dreams!

So apart from making sure that every student has no choice but to LOVE Christmas, my other news is that I have found an Irish Dancing class out here!!

Unbelievable I know, but I actually have found three different classes! So after 4 hours on Sunday and 2 hours yesterday, I am pretty much paralysed from the muscle ache after not dancing for so long, but am looking forward to next class already! 

Also this week, I have managed to pull together a life plan, which is to try and get into Primary teaching when I get back to UK.  Anyone who know me well will probably have bet money on that being the last job in the world that I would do, but I enjoy it, its fun, and I will be around people who appreciate my unnatural enthusiasm for most things!  Any job that pays me to make things, decorate things and create games, rewards and lessons is the ideal job for me! ... that the phase I am going through at the moment anyway :) 

Summer Plans!

Spent the last few weeks ironing out my summer plans with my new travel buddy Tango! Getting so excited ... and have only just realised that in less than a week we leave!! As my phone will not work abroad, I will have no means of contacting anyone, apart from pay phones to make calls home.  So here is a sketchy outline of where we will be:

July 29th (+1 day)
Fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Stay in the Silka Maytower Hotel.
http://www.silkahotel.com/maytower/index.php

Very excited for this swimming pool!

July 31st

Fly to Surat Thani in Thailand ad head straight over to Koh Phangan by ferry.

Lucky for us, Air Asia had flights fo just 24quid! Bargain, and as we will be spending the resto the trip slumming it on local busses and trains, we couldn't resist to kick start the holiday off in style!

As for the choice of Koh Phangan.... I know  have been there twice before, but I couldn't resist being so close whilst there is a full moon party! Plus of all the places I have visited, this island is very near the top of my faourite list.. so as they say.. it would be rude not to!

We will be staying at Venus Resort: http://www.phangan.info/venus/ in some cliff bungalows.

While were here we plan to:

 elephant trekking

 island hopping

 waterfall day trips

and of course Full Moon!

August 6th
Bus to Phuket and trip to  Koh Phi Phi

From here on we are unsure how long we will spend anywhere but these are the other places we plan on visiting:

Lang Kawi, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia

Melaka, Malaysia

Pahang, Malaysia - Elephant conservation centre: http://www.endemicguides.com/Kuala_Gandah.htm

Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Our flight back to Japan is on 24th August!

Me and my travelling buddy cannot wait!!!

"Kyushoku" - School Lunches

Money wise I am lucky as I have school lunch everyday which is extremely good value for what you get.  However, tastbud wise, it can be a bit hit or miss.  I have become accostomed to squid, and will now eat it without squirming at all!  The school lunches are served in each classroom each day, by the students:

This is a really nice idea, and it teaches the students a lot about not wasting food, sharing it between the class.  For example, if it runs out before the last person is served, everyone will put a little of their own back.  any left overs at the end are shared out equally to those who want seconds.  There is never a choice of food, yet I still have not seen a single student leave anything on their plate! Just a bit different to in the UK where we pick and choose and waste.

The school lunches look something like this:

The lunch always comes with a carton of milk as well.  Although it can vary, it is often a soup or something in a bowl with maybe some pickled salad and some rice.  Although one lunch I was treated to this:

a 'Healthy Balanced' lunch aparently!

This is supposed to be a delicacy, but amongst some of the ALTs they have the nickname of 'sperm fish' because of their unfortunate shape.  Although I am assured that mixed with rice they can be nice, I cannot bring myself to eat them! Quite easy to push to the side though!

Other lunches have included bread with nutella, hot dogs and chilli dogs, yaki soba noodles (which I love!) curry and rice, tofu, fish, meat, anything!

This Konnaku which is used a lot in different ways.  It is pretty tasteless and aparently made out of potato or something (but i have been assured there is no strange fish or meat in it).  It tastes like a very very very dense chewy jelly.  Doesn't really bring anything to the meal but is definitely edible!

Excellent value for money, my main meal of the day, and a chance to taste a lot of Japanese foods that I wouln't normally - I think they're great!

Kawaii.... Seibu Elementary School

Kawaii means cute in Japanese and it is a word that is used soooooo often!!  But the students at my elementary school really are so sweet... I absolutely love teaching there!

Favourite thing about my Elementary school
This has to be a tie between the adorable children and the freedom to be able to teach in my own way. Unfortunately I only teach the 5th and 6th graders at this school, which means I don't get to teach the tiny 1st or 2nd graders. Which I should probably be grateful for because as adorable as they might be.... I can imagine it being hard to explain games or new words to children so small. At this school my Japanese English Teacher plans the lessons and then gives me the plan to teach. This was great at first, but I have started getting frustrated with the game choices, and it had become more of a joint task which suits much better :).


Least favourite thing about Elementary school
It is very hard work at this school, as it really is go go go .... but as it is only twice a week, I enjoy that, and am happy to be so busy, so I think my least favourite thing would be that I haven't got to know any of the teachers. My Japanese English Teacher is really nice,  and she helps me with cooking recipes, deciphering what bills are, and general Japanese life. Apart from her though, I don't really speak with anyone else. Now that I am getting more confident with my Japanese, I am trying to approach them, even if it is just to talk about something boring, so hopefully, eventually I can change this.

This is the interactive whiteboard that makes teaching a lot more fun and interesting as I can show videos, pictures and maps which the students love!

I finish teaching at 2:45 yet have to stay at school until 4:45 so I use this time to decorate the classroom and make teaching materials... here are some pictures of my English classroom:

Also here is a photo of one of the first grade classrooms:

A quick catch up....

Ok so I have neglected this blog a little so say the least.. so here is a small summary of Japan so far for me.

My favourite place so far....
I have two. One which shows my culturally mature sid and one which represents me as a materialistic shopaholic!
1. Kamakura.
This place is close to Yokohama and has so many temples and shrines, and a huge bronze sitting budda called Daibutsu in a nearby town.  I went to one temple while I was here which really stood out.  It was very high up a hill and the higher you climbed, the more of the coastline you could see.  It's gardens were full of beautiful flowerf, plants, trees, and even a waterfall and cave you could walk through.  Unfortunately I am still waiting to get these pictures off my friend so will post them as soon as I have them,

2. Harajuku
This is in Tokyo and is absolutely amazing.  It is very famous so no little gem I have discovered on my own,  My favourite part is the street full of such a range of different shops, and boutiques.  They cover every type of clothing style you could ever imagine.  From goth to 'Harajuku girl' to uberly girly clothers, to hip hop rapper style clothing. 

I love the style in Japan so much, that I think the song 'Turning Japanese' has a new meaning.  From all the lacy, floral tops to long flowing skirts and pastely coloured blouses, I just can't stop buying things! Finished off with beautiful cute hair accessories, jewellery and shoes (unfortunately not big enough to fit my clown feet), its all just made for me! 

Most surprising thing about Japan

I think it has to be the levels of dicipline I have seen in the schools.  It really is jaw dropping.  Before each lesson, two students come to the teacher's room to carry any materials or books for the teacher, then  every lessons students all stand up and greet teacher in unison, at the start and at the end.  When a student answers a question, they stand up and stand behind their chair to answer.  It really is so strict.  Also, in assembly or fire practice, students stand, stand at ease, then stand and bow to teachers (this is both elementary and junior high).
The uniform is also immaculate.  Girls wear skirts, shirts, waistcoats, blazers and bows to fasten the top button of their shirt, and all have matching socks and matching trainors.  Boys have shirt, tie, trousers, again with matching trainors.  The PE kit is just as identical. 

I cant help but think that with Japan being such a safe, polite and respectful country, this level of dicipline and respect in schools must play a strong part. 

Equally surprising with the schools is cleaning time, in which all students take time to clean (sweep, hand wash) the floors of the school, sweep the grounds outside, and clean all desks etc.  This results in the school having only one paid cleaner, compared to the number schools in the UK hire. 

Most enjoyable evening so far...

These would have to be the work drinks.  I have been out twice and just had so much fun.  It is where I have got to try a lot of great food, and for about £35 it is all you can drink and a huge table of food.  The teachers at my Junior High are so lovely and these parties really let everyone come out of their shell.  My Japanese gets better and their English gets better, and I completely forget about the language barrier as everyone is so nice!
It has really helped me integrate at work more too, and I am lucky to have so many young fun teachers at my school!

Clubbing...

I have been clubbing a couple of times in Roppongi (which is an area in Tokyo reknowned for its night life) and one time near Tokyo station.

This is definitely the place that I have seen the most foreigners (which says something), and was very similar to clubs at home.  We went to one called Vanity which is on the 13th floor of a building overlooking a lot of Tokyo.  It was packed, hot and had fantastic music...made me seel like I was in any club back home!  Difference being, smoking allowed inside, free entry for girls, and respectful (or shy) Japanese guys, so no risk of being groped or harrased. 

I was going to write about favourite foods but I think I will start a whole new blog for that as it really is a big topic over here!!!

First day at Junior High School - Opening Ceremony

Monday was my first day at school - must say I was soooo nervous but it turned out to be a really great day! The teachers I am working with in this school are all really nice! I was about half an hour early, as I had so far to come I allowed extra time, and was hovering around the fornt gates for a while, until the principal himself came out and welcomed me and took me up to the teachers room which was really nice of him!

I have my own locker and my own shoe locker (as you must wear 'indoor shoes' inside the school at all times)., both of which had nice flowers and bows attached to them.  The opening ceremony itself was a nice welcome to the school for the new students and new teachers.  I had a fear that I would have to make an introductory speech in front of all the students and parents, but in the end I just had to bow and say nice to meet you in Japanese.  Although I wasn't ready for the giggling and muttering when I said it in Japanese, but the other teacher assured me it was only because they weren't expecting it, not because I had said it wrong at all.

I then had some time to look through all the stuff the previous ALT had left, which was nice to get some ideas, and then we had a celebratory Bento lunch with all the staff.  I was sat on the table with the principal, vice principal and a couple of other teachers, which put a lot of pressure for me to eat everything I was given properly.  Although the lunch was lovely, unfortunately there was one very suspect section that even I couldn't force down, so I managed to hide it when no one was looking - and then my clean plate gave a good impression :)

I am a lot more excited now and can't wait to go back in for my next day!

Also, I am finally moving out of the temporary accomodation, and will be in a hotel right next to where I will be living for a couple of nights as it is a lot closer to the schools and will make moving in to my own place on Friday a lot easier! So a couple of nights of luxury will be lovely!!