Thursday, March 31, 2011

Preparation

Today we had very nice weather, about 16C and lots of sunshine. Since I could go to the tax office yesterday, I really had nothing to do. Did some housework and relaxed all day. We were lucky, because my boyfriend was supposed to work until 9 (he usually works until 6 pm, but when it's cherry blossom season, it gets busy) but he could come home at 3 pm.
Due to the earthquake I guess, lot's of tourist cancel their reservations. I guess people are trying to get out of here. I'm not really scared. With a physicist brother and a home country so close to Chernobyl, I don't really feel threatened. The news are pretty scary though...so recently I'm not watching it at all. It would just make me feel bad.
I feel nervous enough due to my first day at my new school tomorrow. Today the vice principal called me. I tried to reach him yesterday, but he wasn't at the school. He spoke...hmmm...slowly, I guess for me to understand. I don't really know what to think yet. I guess the best thing to do is not to have any expectations. Then nothing can disappoint you.(^_^)
Aghhh.....how much I'm not looking forward to introducing myself in Japanese in front of dozens of teachers....I always blush...not really blush, it is more like I become a lobster. But, but, BUT I bought a great foundation and concealer last week. I recommend to all the ladies: Revlon's Photo Ready Foundation (in vanilla I use) and same brand same series concealer. On the skin it looks pretty much like any other foundation, but, OMG, it looks great on pictures! First time I didn't have those huge ugly, dark circles under my eyes in a photo.



So, we will see how much it's going to be able to cover up my lobster transformation. Hopefully no pictures will be taken tomorrow. In some schools they asked for my picture to be taken on the first day, to have it on my teacher's ID card I have to wear on my chest.

I wonder if I'll be ble to sleep tonight... (>_<)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A present from my student

Because of my new job, I had to rearrange my schedule, so some of my regular students I won't be able to teach anymore at my other job. I was quite sad when I realized this.
Then, one of my students, to whom I had to say farewell this week, brought me a present! She knew I was always making my own lunchbox before (known here as bento) so she bought me something I can use in my new school. It was a pretty big bag.

What's inside? What's in it?

It's a Snoopy lunch set! OMG!

A two story bento and a tumbler       

Awww, she even remembered that I love Snoopy. How sweet! It's amazing how kind people here are.  Can't wait to prepare my first lunchbox tomorrow night!! Yaaaaay!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Not as easy as it seems...

Okay, I bet there are not too many people who want to come to Japan right now to teach English. Most people are dying to get out of here. Still there might be some people who want to come here, or just want to get insight into life here. Whichever you are, you are welcome to read this blog.

I got a new job recently. It's a senior high school teaching position, and my first day is going to be on Friday. I'm pretty excited. I've been working hard for 4 years to get this job. Being a non-native speaker of English makes you a less desired member of work force here. That's the ugly truth. I needed to get connection, luck and enough teaching experience, but I don't mind it.

The only thing I regret is that I did not quit my former job, which left me with chronic stomach inflammation, earlier. I got a junior high school job at first, but then, due to my nationality my employers forced me to teach in elementary school. All the other foreigners at my company worked at junior high and had trainings together. I was grouped with Japanese teachers and had different trainings. It was fun to hang out with those Japanese teachers, but I always felt I'm the odd one out.  It was a vicious circle, because I wanted to quit, but not many places would hire me (again because of nationality), so I had no choice but to continue.

Even though I have a degree in education and English linguistics and literature, no one seemed to appreciate it that time. It was pretty disappointing. I hated my work ...I know it's not something a woman should feel, but I hate children. Okay...I don't really hate them, but I don't like them. Due to bad parenting, recently the number of misbehaving little brats have tripled in the schools, and not only in Japan. It's a global phenomenon. I like nice kids, but to be honest, I can't deal with over 30 young children on a daily basis. It's just not for me. And, oh, those monster parents, who come in and complain when we try to teach manners to their kids...They should try just once, to take care of 30 kids for an hour, and ask their opinion after. How dare they always blame the teacher. Luckily for me, I was only teaching the English lesson, but I felt so sorry for the homeroom teachers.

So, last March I finally quit, but had no job. I become a total nervous and financial wreck by the time I could find a job at a language school. A very friendly school, with teachers from all over the world. Here, I feel I'm I'm at the right place and not the odd one out. The only problem is that it's only part time, so it was a struggle until I finally could go to the interview for my dream job, but failed. However they offered me a part time high school teaching job at their affiliated company, to get experience. Things started to get better last winter.

I went to the same interview again, this February, and finally got the dream job, the full time high school teaching job. I wanted to have this job, since I decided 10 years ago that I want to become a high school teacher, and left my country 4 years ago to teach in Japan. That's why I'm nervous too. I want to do it right, to give my best. After all, my new years resolution this year was to think positively. Apparently, I noticed that if you think positively, good thinks are going to happen to you. I decided that this year is a lucky year for me, so everything is going to be just fine, but I must never think negatively again, like last year.

A new journey is going to start from April 1st. Me living my dream!