Big balls.

When we opened the local paper at school yesterday there was a big picture of the janitor from my other school in there(he is also head of the PTA at this school). It turns out that he has formed a band with the bloke that comes round selling stationary supplies. Half-way through reading the article (or rather, having one of the teachers read it to me) I burst out laughing. The name of their band is 'Big Ball Concert Dream' which they shorten to either 'BBCD' or 'Big Ball'. I was in hysterics! I then had to explain my amusement to the other teachers. Awkward! (the perfect word to describe this, thanks Gemma.)

I later saw the stationary bloke at school and the teachers couldn't wait to inform him of my interpretation of the band's name. OMIGOD! His face! Luckily, after the initial shock, he found the whole thing amusing (don't think the janitor will though!) He then told me why they (and by that read 'the janior') had chosen this name:

1. Ohtama (the village where I live) is built on the site where a precious stone was dug-up many years ago. When you actually got to the little museum here and see the jewel that everyone is so proud of, it's actually just a big marble! Anyway, literally, 'Oo' (or 'Oh' as they like to mis-spell it around here) means 'big', and 'tama' means 'bead' or 'ball'. And as the janitor is so proud of his English skills, he wanted an English band name and decided to translate the name of the village into English.

2. He then thought that he was being incredibly clever by changing the alphabet from 'ABCD' to 'BBCD' and so added 'Concert Dream'. However, I just found this even more amusing because now it sounds like a Chippendale-style strip show.

How I laughed! It has also kept all the teachers giggling for the last 2 days too.

Dreams come true together!

On Tuesday we had the 6th graders graduation party. This is not the actual graduation ceremony (that will be on the last day of term) but a party with all the teachers, parents, and the PTA.

When I arrived at school at 7.30am I found a giant party popper on my desk. And by giant, I mean HUUUUUUUUUUGE! The streamers inside were 3 meters long! Apparntly it was called 'DOM!', which even sounds monstrous!

It was explained to me that during the party everyone will shout the phrase 'Dreams come true together!' and after that I have to let off the 'DOM!'. Me and another teacher were in charge of the 'DOMs' and they were going to be a big surprise for everyone. I was told that they made a massive noise that hurt your ears. Great! This was gonna be fun! I'm going to hide at the back of the gym and then blast my 'DOM!' and scare the shit out of the kids! I had all morning to contemplate which child I was gonna aim mine at!

At 2.00pm each teacher was collected by a 6th grade chaperone and led to the gym. So, off I go with my little escort and 'DOM!' hidden up my jumper.

In the gym we were all shown to our seats. Each table seats 6 people - 2 students, 2 teachers, and 2 parents or PTA members. First there was the usual 10 minutes of speeches. Then we got down to the serious business of eating cakes and sweets and having the same old eating conversation; 'oishii ne.' 'oishii ne.' 'hai, oishii.' 'oishiiiiii!'

After the eating it was game time. Teachers vs. everyone else. The first game was a relay race where you had to hold a balloon between 2 people and run around a small obsticle course. That was pretty simple, but the second race was crazy! There were 2 members of the PTA stood on chairs and holding a washing line up at arms length. Attached to said washing line were bags of bread. In pairs, you had to run to the washing line and with your partner, get the bread from the washing line using your mouth. Panic struck into the hearts of every teacher in the gym! Firstly, none of them wanted to do it and make a tit out of themselves, and the ones that did, didn't want a partner because they don't do physical contact. Looks like it's just me and the Head Teacher then! He came to me and asked if I would mind if he gave me a piggy-back. WOULD I MIND?!! HELL NO! So off we go. We didn't win the race, but we got to keep the bread. Good times!

The games over, we go back to our tables and then it is announced that the teachers are going to sing a song and I am ushered to the stage. WHAAAAAT! It's the first I'd heard of this! A song sheet is thrust into my hands and the music starts. Luckily, the song is quite slow so I can keep up with the Japanese (and I made the tune up as I went). There was also a section of the song where the men sang the words and the women did a lot of 'ra, ra, ra's' so that was cool. I was especially good at that bit! The chorus was in English though, and here is where I twigged - the words were 'Dreams come true together.' Out comes 'DOM!' At the end of the song some of the teachers hold up a big banner with the phrase written on it and we all shout 'Dreams come true together!' at which point I let off 'DOM!' What a dissapointment! A slight 'pop' is all, and the 3 metres of streamers come out in one big ball and land at my feet. Booooooooooo! Still, everyone else seems to think this was a success and we are all ushered back to our seats to the sound of great applause.

Now was time for the kids. First they sang a song and then came the band. The band is my absolute favourite part of the school! I don't know why I love it so much? Maybe because I don't understand Japanese and the kids don't understand English so we communicate best through music. Whatever it is, I love it. They played for about 8 minutes, and the kids that didn't do the instruments were doing all the flag-waving and marching stuff. About half-way through, they played 'Oh when the saints come marching in'. It was at this point that I suddenly gained a different perspective. It was like having an out-of-body experience. I suddenly was looking at the kids in a different light. I realised that they were still only babies and yet they were playing better than any 16 year olds in England would. It was at this point that I started to cry. Blarting! I couldn't believe it! I don't even like 'Oh when the saints!'

To make matters worse, after the band, all the teachers were given presents by the students. I got a plant and a hand-made pencil case. Cue more tears and a very embarased 6th grader who was getting a big, squishy hug whether they liked it or not!

A couple more speeches from the PTA and we were sent on our way. All the teachers had to walk under a tunnel made by the students' arms. Damn! Just as I was pulling myself together!

I'm sad I won't be around for the real graduation ceremony (I will have already been in England for 3 days by then) but on the other hand, it'll save me a fortune in kleenex!

This party was at my stricter school, where I don't know the kids that well, and especially the 6th graders. I can only imagine what a mess I'll be in 2 weeks time when I have the party at my favourite school, with my favourite kids ever!

junbi, yoi, *beep*!

Today I spent the whole morning in the gym judging the skipping competition. God, it was cold! After 2 hours I could no longer feel my feet so I decided to join in a round of the competition - highly illegal, but no-one seemed to mind too much. I entered the 'how many skips can you do in 2 minutes?' challenge. Now, I know I'm unfit but Jesus! After 1 minute my head was pounding and I was sure I was gonna have a cardiac arrest! It was horrific! At the end of the 2 minutes all the kids rolled about laughing at me as I collapsed in a heap on the floor. Oh yeah! Very bloody funny! One of the teachers even took a photo thinking I was doing my usual 'clown-act' - if that ends-up in the school newsletter next week there'll be BIG trouble! Anyway, due to my serious lack of fitness and downright disgrace, I've decided to purchase a skipping rope of my own and once the weather warms up a little I'm gonna go outside and skip for 10 minutes everyday. Next year I'll show them pesky kids!

Just received a parcel from me mum. It was possibly the best parcel ever! Here's what was inside: 4 books, a bag full of Quality Streets (all my favourite flavours), 2 bags of M&S jaffa cakes, a bag of midget gems, and a bag of rhubarb and custards. My mum is the best! Official! It'll be jaffa cakes and a cappaccino for breakfast tomorrow! Mmmmmmmmmmm!

I'm sure most of you know, due to my photos on FB, but I went to the Sapporo Snow Festival last week. It was fabulous! I do intend to tell you all about it but I'm pretty beat tonight. Hopefully will get round to it this weekend.

Girl, you got a big mouth!

Woot! I'm official! Got my new visa today and a new re-entry permit, so I'm signed-up and ready for another year in Japan! It also means that my passport is all ready for my trip back home. Only 4 weeks and 2 sleeps to go! Yippee!

There was way too many exclamation marks in that last paragraph so I'm gonna calm myself down a bit and tell you about something else...

Am still ploughing through the letters I received from my students. I'm determined to read every single one of them, even if it takes me the next 10 years! Was reading one today from one of my 6th grade students (12 years old) it's quite a long letter but at the end it says that there are three questions he needs to ask me; 1. Are you single? 2. Why did you want to become and English teacher? and 3. How much do you get paid? Cheeky little swine! I couldn't stop laughing.

On Monday night I stumbled across 'Shipwrecked 2008' on the tinter-web. Wooooo-hooooo! My favourite programme in the world! I know at home the next season has started but I didn't get to see any of last years with being out here. I've only watched the first two episodes but I'm hooked already! Loving the third island scenario!

So I've had a lot of contact with my company over the last couple of weeks, which has been strange because I've not spoken to them in almost 9 months and they completely forget I'm here most of the time (not that I mind too much - it means I can do pretty much what I want). Anyway, I was chatting away and mentioned that I had just come back from the Sapporo Snow Festival. BIG mistake! The next thing I know I'm writing an article for the Company online newsletter! I didn't even know there WAS a company newsletter! When will I ever learn to keep my trap shut?! It's only gotta be 200-400 words though so shouldn't be too much of a problem. In fact, I fear the problem will be keeping it UNDER 400 words! Although, looking at other aricles for the newsletter, they are quite informative rather than waffle - which I specialise in - so not sure how I'll get on with that. We'll see...

Love is in the air.

Today is Valentines day. In Japan the women are supposed to give chocolates to the man - and not just your boyf, but to all the men you know! One teacher at school bought chocolates in for everyone. I think my sister put it the most eloquently when she said 'they can kiss my ass!'

I did get some tomo-chocs ('tomodachi' means 'friend' in Japanese) from a teacher at school, and a lovely text from my friend Peter. You guys rock!

My 3rd grade students asked me the other day about the Valentines day customs in England. After explaining it to them, they asked how many valentines I'd be receiving this year - cue the sad, lonely face - which they all laughed at! Anyway, yesterday they gave me a valentines present in the form of a song which one of them had written and that the janitor had put to music. Now, bear in mind that these kids are 9 and 10 years old! It was called tanpopo (dandilion) and was pretty fabulous by all accounts. It made me smile, which I suppose is what Valentines is all about. :)

I love イングリッシュ!

So it is almost the end of my first full year teaching in Japan. Man, it's gone fast! Overall, it's been absolutely fantastic. Some lessons have been great, some good, some bad, and some down-right ugly! Luckily, the majority have fallen into the first two catagories.

It's difficult to know how you are doing at your job. The Japanese don't give you any feedback (unless there is a major problem) so you just have to roll with it and hope they are happy with you. I'm pretty lucky though coz in Elementary schools the objective is to get the kids to enjoy English. If they learn something while we are at it, that's a bonus. Having said that, the teachers do expect the kids to learn. This can be hard though coz at Junior High the kids have more lessons and are given homework. At Elementary there is none of that (you aren't even allowed to write words on the board) so the only thing the kids have to rely on is their memories. With this in mind, I tend to act the clown on a regular basis and encourage the kids to do the same. If they are doing something ridiculous at the same time as saying an English phrase they tend to remember it.

Anyway, yesterday I was given 48 letters from my 5th and 6th graders to say thank you for this year. The letters are beautiful. They have put so much effort into them. They have drawn and coloured pictures of us playing their favourite games in English class (which means i'll definately be playing those again next year!) and they have even written the furigana above the kanji in their letters so that i can read them. One even says 'I love イングリッシュ (English - literally 'Ingurissu') I love シャーリ(Sha-ri)' Precious! I was really touched.

Also yesterday I had to do a big demo lesson for the new curriculum next year. Every man and his dog came to see me. Literally. There were 18 people observing! I was scared to death, and so were the kids. The lesson went okay, but it could have been better in parts. I definately think the rap saved the day!

After the lesson there was a 2 hour staff meeting to dissect it. Eeeek! But, it turns out that everyone thought it was brilliant. The scary bloke from the BOE who used to be a kyoto-sensei (vice principal) and who is never, ever, happy with anything, said it was the best lesson he'd ever seen! YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! And a woman from our Tokyo training and lesson development department asked me if i'd like to go into their department in the future. JESUS! I said I was happy where I am at the moment but I'll do any trials of new ideas for them and give them feedback. Wanna take it easy for a while and enjoy the job I'm doing. No more climbing career ladders for me just yet thanks. This is my semi-retirement phase.

A great day. Really moved by the letters from my students. There is no way I can go back to England now. My schools are just too fabulous.

Blabbermouth.

Someone told to me yesterday that i had a lot to say. I'm gonna take this as a compliment, and put it to the test. So here we go...