With four classes today, the toughest three taking place one right after another, I was pretty busy. I had a misfire today in my last class. I was playing concentration with the students, and I had taped 30 cards up on the blackboard. During my first few classes things went fine, but unfortunately, I forgot to shuffle the cards before I taped them up on the board. One team won the game 14-1. How embarrassing for me. That’s what I get for trying to cram too much into one day.
Other than that, things went fine. Mr. Maeda, one of the new English teachers, is planning a party Wednesday night to hang out with song of the teachers that I don’t know too well. Initially I couldn’t go because of Mr. Komuri’s 50th birthday party, but at the last minute Mr. Komuri moved the day so I was available. I’m looking forward to hanging out tomorrow night – it should be fun!
After school we all went outside to set up the field for the sports day practice scheduled for tomorrow. It was pretty easy work – all we did was supervise a group of students. Even better, our group of students wasn’t responsible for anything, so it was just an exercise in looking busy.
For dinner Jane and I went out to an izakaya near the new train station that I’ve never been to during my entire first year in Futami. It turned out to be pretty good. The place was clean and nicely furnished, and the food was really good. I walked in with Jane and sat down, and then Jane and I tried to sort out the menu. When the master came by, I did all the ordering, and throughout the meal I ordered more drinks and food. At the end of the meal we were heading out, and they asked if Jane was Japanese. After all, she looks Japanese, why the heck wasn’t she speaking? Jane is used to this, and did her explanation about her mother being Japanese and her father being English. She is having a very different JET experience than me – still a positive one, but very different.
From there we walked to the local 7-11 for dessert, and then walked back. It was a nice meal out – I had fun exchanging stories with her about teaching and our students. She’s really having a good time, and I picked up on her energy and excitement – it’ll help me be more enthusiastic for my own students.
