Today was a quiet day at school, especially where I sit. I’m in the first year teacher’s section, but all of them were at Universal Studios Japan with all of the first year students. I would have gone too, but I had a bunch of classes to teach. It turns out that I was lucky I skipped it – it was raining all day and I heard it was a little miserable for the students.
I had two classes with Mr. Hayashi, and the first one was with a small group of second year students. He always complains that the class is sleeping during his lectures, but he often has side conversations with the two girls that sit in front. The rest of the class just shrugs and does other things, until he finishes his conversations. Then he tries to get them to pay attention. Sometimes he’ll only lecture for 30 seconds or so, and then he’ll talk to the girls again. The class is used to it, but it’s pretty boring for me. I just stand there and wait patiently.
The history teacher asked me to come and visit with two junior high school students that are working in our library for the week. I chatted with them in English, and the history teacher moderated for us. They had lots of questions ranging from the political (Who did you want to win the election?) to the personal (Do you have a girlfriend?). It was fun – and I asked them a couple of questions which they answered in Japanese.
Tomorrow the history teacher wants me to eat lunch with them in the school cafeteria. That should be interesting. The vice-principal is buying, though, so who am I to turn down a free meal.
After school Mr. Hayashi sat down with me to kill some time and offer me some dating tips. I listened patiently and nodded in all the right places – he’s got a pretty scary outlook on relationships. Enough said. He wants me to ask out another ALT that works with Yamamoto sensei in Kakogawa. Yikes!
I came home tonight and had a nice big chef’s salad for dinner. Oranges are on sale at Ito Yokado so my dessert was three tiny oranges – delicious. Tomorrow is a full day of classes, and then the history teacher’s party in Kakogawa.
