Continuation of the previous blog...

Sorry, last night I had some plans which involved gambling. But more on that later. Therefore I couldn't finish the blog of last week.

I also wanna say for those JETs that read my blog, the person shouting in my face wasn't anybody of the JETs that I hang out with so no worries! Even thoughit was a bit irritating its not like I hate that person.

Anyway, on with the blog. Where was I? Oh right teaching on Thursday the 23rd.

On the 23rd I went to the Yochien (basically preschool) where I played with the children for about 2 hours. It's kinda nice to be the JET of the city and get to go the Yochien because all you do is talk and play with kids and you get paid for it. The kids are pretty cute and generally not as shy as the elementary, junior high or high school kids. After that I returned to the Board of Education (BOE) and then after work I went to pick up the rest of my comics, as they had finally arrived at the local book store. However, I'm still missing some issues in between because they can't find some of the issues, but I guess patience is a virtue and I'll wait it out just to help the smaller guy out.

Friday was really my first day of teaching class. I went to the junior high and taught my first class during the second period (9:45 ish I think). Basically I just explained where I was from, my hobbies, interests and likes and dislikes. Gave them a quiz on myself introduction. It wasn't too hard because the teacher, Kosaka-Sensei, basically lead the way.

Friday was the beginning of Furusato Matsuri (Hometown festival), but instead I went out to Akashi, a local izakaya, to eat and party with the elementary school staff. I had to make a speech, which I have no more problems with now, since I've done it soo much :(. I realize I suck at Japanese still tho, so theres still a lot to work on. The first speech I made was in English s it wasn't soo bad. The second speech, was part of a game, where I had to talk about my love life. I started in English, but stopped after Kosaka-sensei started translating my speech inproperly and made me look like some hentai pervert. But anyway I just talked about my last relationship.

Our second party was at a Karaoke bar, I forget the name. But it was just more drinking and singing. I actually ended up going the a third party with a couple of other teachers and eating Horumon (pig guts, sounds gross but its good when its bbq'd) and Ramen. After words I proceeded to go home and sleep away the alcohol.

On saturday, I did a few choirs around the house (yes, pretty rare coming from me), while waiting for Pete, the ALT in Shirataki (a city of 1500, only 30 mins away). We went to the festival for a bit and talked to a couple of people, before leaving at shortly after. We decided that it would be better for Pete to stay over for the night so he could drink and party with the people of Kamikawa, rather than return home and then come back the next morning for his Yasakoi (Japanese Traditional Dancing, although I'm not sure if thats the correct way to call it, you may want to check for yourself). So we went to Shirataki to pick up his stuff and almost ran over a fox on the way there. We came back to Kamikawa and hung around the festival for a bit.

First, we went to watch the parade, which consisted of dancing skits and the like. There were actually people from the Yakuba (Town Hall) and BOE (people I work with) doing a dance number with a Women's synchro theme. They were wearing women's swimming suits and make up. Had I not had Sapporo orientation I would've been forced to join because I promised to try it in Sapporo when I was asked. Which means next year I will be doing it for sure. It was pretty funny. They were doing something related to the naked dancing guy in Jackass, but Japanese style. One of the trademark moves is saying "Sou Nani Kankei Ne" while stamping your right food and moving your arm like pulling a lawn mowing card. And then you go "Pah pee pooh!". You have to see it, its pretty funny, if I find it on You tube I'll link it.

I also met Mama, the owner of Romance, a local karaoke bar and ate a crap load of food and drank a buttload of beer.

After the festival was done for the day, we headed to Romance and sang and drank the rest of the night away. I threw up discretely in the washroom, and then left romance soon after at about 1:00 in the morning. I actually got lost around Kamikawa for a bit before being able to stumble my way back home. Pete stayed till 3:30am apparently so I left the door open in the apartment so that he'd be able to get in.

I had to wake up the next morning at 7:30 and help my supervisor clean up the streets at 8:00am, at a place near the Gym, but I actually got lost and went in the opposite direction. I was late leaving and by the time I called my supervisor to ask him where it was, cleaning was over. He did pick me up and showed me where it was and then dropped me off at home. I actually felt pretty guilty. I was also feeling pretty shitty from being hung over and tired from lack of sleep.

When I returned home, Pete woke up shortly after, and then we headed to the Festival grounds and I waited for him to Yasakoi. In the meantime, I went home to record my message on my answering machine. I went back to the grounds and watched the Yasakoi. After that, Pete and I went to Asahikawa for a bit of shopping. I was finally able to buy a long TV cable, so that I could move my damn TV in to the real living room with a couch. I also bought a couple of things from Takeo Kikuchi and crap loads of groceries from the grocery store at Aeon and at a foreign food store. I also introduced Pete to Takeo Kikuchi, which he cursed me for. I think he'll be spending quite a bit of his money there from now on. BWAHAHAH!

We had ramen before returning back to our homes. It was nice to be back home, but I soon went back out the meet Takahata-san for the After Furusato Matsuri party. It was at Akashi again and really good. I had to make a speech in Japanese, which I toally got wrong as a result of being hung over, but I think I still made my point.

I went home at 11:00pm although Fuchigami-san, one of the employees of the Yakuba, wanted me to go to a Second party with him and Nishiki-san, at at karaoke bar. Actually Nishiki-san was pretty unwilling and told Fuchigami-san but I think Fuchigami-san suceeded in dragging Nishiki-san along. Poor guy. I just ran away and told them I had to teach in the morning (I had to be at the High School by 8:00).

On Monday I woke up early and headed to the BOE to pick up my teaching materials. However it was locked and I actually couldn't get in until 7:50. I quickly gathered my stuff and just barely made it to the high school on time. I taught my classes by doing a self introduction and a quiz. I also did a few tricks with my Hockey stick and puck. That impressed the students.

High School Girls seem pretty inquistive about my current relationship status. I told them I have 20 girlfriends back home and then all answer with "Saitei" ("You're the worst"). I just laugh it off. I also had some girls ask me to go out with them, to which I replied: "I'll think about it". This seemed to make them happy and then just ran off laughing. It's all pretty wierd and pretty funny at the same time.

Tuesday was pretty normal as I was back in the Junior high doing a classes. The kids were still pretty talkative and still treate me like I'm sme sort of star.

Today was pretty interesting. It was my first day at the elementary. Teaching was basically the same outline at the junior high and high school, just a bit simpler for the youngins. However I did have a kid ask if I had a big Pen 15. I was too shocked to answer. He just ran off and yelled: "I knew it was big!". I'm not kidding, this is a true story...

I'm also kinda sad today. I was flexing my stick today for the kids to see and ended up snapping it in half. *Sniff* there goes my Nike Bauer 190. I hope to be able to order a new one maybe this Sunday if I head down to Asahikawa. Maybe I'll get two, just as a back up. Somehow, life feels a bit emptier without a 190.

Anyway, I've finally caught up to where I wanna be. I'm gonna sleep now since I have to be at the BOE tomorrow around 8:30, if not sooner. I wanna study some Japanese and read my Japanese Novel to get ready for the JLPT Level 2 Exam in December.

Talk to you guys later, I hope the start of school isn't stress you guys out too much. If you guys are in Japan, teaching, I hope that your students make your experience enjoyable!