It's been forever since I've been here to complain about something or really tell you what's been happening. I'm not sure where to even start to recap all that's happened.
Well, lots of changes that have forced me to grow have happened rapidly. I was thrown head-first into a complicated schedule of classes that rotated between young children and older teenagers and adults. I started discovering needs I had that from which I had to learn all over again how to meet them, kind of like being a child for a second time in life. Things for the most part have been far more pleasant and enjoyable than annoying or frustrating for me, which makes all the changes I have been experiencing worth while, but...I am still at a level of inadequacy in this place. It is very humbling to have to ask for help with just about everything, even when it seems like it should be very simple. My lack of common sense sometimes makes everything even more profoundly difficult. For instance, finding the post office and trying to convince the post office that I am me and not some intruder gaijin with my passport and hanko and work visa and everything else I currently have. I am able to get places okay. So many nice people willing to help have given me such nice directions or even taken me to where I need to be. So many nice people encourage me nicely, despite my knowing my Japanese is terrible. ^_^;
Well, I seem to have made progress with the most overwhelming factor in my life right now: kids classes. Yeah, I am still questioning what I got myself into by going to a "B" school and volunteering myself for 3x the work with kids classes. See, the difference is not just student behavior. Also, after two weeks to get the hang of things, it takes me about 5-10 minutes to look at an adult class lesson and figure out what to do for that class, where a kids class requires more than just a skim over the material. Rather, you have to spend about 20-30 minutes actually writing out a PLAN and on top of that, you have to figure out games and what kind they are, therefore, where they fit into the lesson....and then materials. Tons and tons of materials....not only do I have to figure out HOW a game works, but I also have to figure out how to explain this game in five words or less with tons of gestures in order for it to function in a class that has a limited capability for mutual understanding. Well, my progress has been mostly inappreciable to me until my last class, which went more smoothly than ever expected. My "problem class." Not that any of my students are bad, not nearly as they could be...but I do still need respect from some of them. Things would be so much easier if I didn't care too much and I approached my job the same as some of my training group friends do. I can't help who I am, though. I can't help that it is obvious how I feel and that I often feel insecure and unsure. I am learning more and more to accept this and even though I will never change how hard I am on myself, at least I am more forgiving on emotions.
Other than my non-stop existence at school, I've been trying to become more "Japanese," in that I not only work hard, but I play hard, too. Wow, it's been exhausting! I've found myself in some really funny situations with people...like when I went to go visit a friend who was staying in Osaka. I traveled down to Shinsaibashi (with the help of a local, of course, since I had no idea what direction of the Midosuji line to take). In looking for clubs, we came upon a RANDOM bar that had a sign in the window (David's Birthday downstairs) Another gaijin?! Hell yeah, let's crash the party! So my friend, her 5 friends, and I went to the lower level to a small, dark room with a few people drinking, smoking, and dancing to a techno dj. The room slowly began to fill with more and more people, many who had no idea who the birthday was for, We turned at one point to look at the doorway, and in stumbled a drunk white guy with a plush crown and sash that exclaimed "Happy Birthday!" We shook his hand, watching confusion dance breifly across his intoxicated countenance and turn into a sloppy grin. "Drink! Get wasted," was all I could make out from him as he gestured to the bar and stumbled to a corner to hit on some girls. We laughed it off and stood there awhile, thinking of finding a place to sit. A Japanese guy and girl pair offered the corner seats to us, so we took a seat with them for awhile...had some interesting conversations that started with innocent talk and progressed to more prodding questions and teasing. A very interesting pair were they...it made the whole night really random. I obviously had missed my train, so I went to a capsul hotel with my friend to crash for a few hours before racing to a train the next moring .
From there, I have been out and about in Nanba area with training friends, meeting random people who happen to be associated with the same company as us and learning more and more about how easy it is to live half-drunk for almost a full day and night. Ah, my days off are a blur....I'm not saying I drink all the time, but it is time that is short-lived in between my long working hours. I need to learn more about just not sleeping and exploring my town at night. I need to learn the area and meet people. I need locals to hang out with, to learn from. I have not yet accomplished these things, and so my struggles have been a bit scathing to my already faulty confidence. I will get there, though...I just need time to do it ^^;
And lastly, the final bit of my adventures..... Golden Week. I made a mistake of booking a trip to Kagoshima for all of a.....day. Yep. Once day in Kagoshima. Not my intention. At least it has been worth it. I've had a lot of fun with my best friend and seen a completely different area and culture from where I now live. People here have been interesting....going to the Sand Festival, I felt more like I was on display. Many conversations with curious people, many many pictures taken of us, many stereotypes fulfilled...like having to pose with Coca-cola bottles because we both happen to be from Georgia...it's kind of as ridiculous as if I asked one of these people to pose with a plate of sushi and exclaim, "They're both from Japan!" Well, it was interesting. I had a very interesting soup...not sure what it is called, but it reminds me of ochazuke in that you pour the broth over rice and all other ingredients...it had rice,pork, eggs, mushrooms, seaweed, green onions, and a beef-stock broth...so yummy! Our server was very interesting...he kind of had an Osaka-jin personality, very forward and joking. He was only one of several encounters we had with "interesting people."
Until later, I think this is mostly the gist of my current happenings. Life is still mostly spent inside of a large building connected to a train station, but my pursuit to see other things is growing...we shall see where it takes me next~
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