Ok. I'm back.

Ummm... Happy New Year.. 2012... In March... Ok I am late.

Wow! My last post was in November… and now its March.  Well, the lazy award goes to me for not updating my blog.  Like most of my journal entries of past, they were abandoned after a few months, but I still hang on to them… I don’t know why.

A nice little snack with the wife and mother-in-law.

Ginza

 

Ye ole mini tree

Christmas was pretty good actually.  This being the first holiday season away from my family, but we had a video skype Christmas.  I was on the computer watching everyone open presents, which was kind of cool.  I also got to have the first Christmas alone with my wife, which is closer to the Japanese image of Christmas anyhow.  Christmas not being a family occasion, but rather a romantic thing.  I did set up a very mini tree and put presents under it though.  My inlaws also came through and took us into Ginza for dinner and some shopping and then to a jazz show at the Cotton Club Tokyo.  I had a great time there.

  Anyhow, in November, I hadn’t been to all my schools yet, and didn’t have a proper feel for them like I do now.  So now I do… Let me make fantasy names for them and describe them.   The fantasy names shall be:  Oomaru chu (chu being short for Chuugakkou, or junior high), Nakamaru chu,  Shomaru Chu, and Chibimaru chu.  There are infrequent trips to elementary schools too, but I won’t go into that.  Here is a video that shows pretty much what all my students are like:

Oomaru has the best view from the bathroom!

And for the schools, let me start with the biggest… 

Oomaru Chu.  This is absolutely the largest school I have worked in.  When the teachers meeting happens, it’s kind of like a model United Nations… Everyone barking over each other and shuffling around.  Each grade has 2 English teachers for a total of 6 English teachers.  The vice principle there is really cool, but the principle doesn’t like me much.  Its creepy kind of.  He avoids eye contact even when interacting, and I don’t mean by looking at the floor, he looks in the opposite direction.  One of the teachers told me that he really dislikes English and Music, so gets kind of an attitude there.  I still really respect the guy though, he is very active in the school and is constantly on the move, as opposed to most principles who aren’t really seen that much by the students.

Classroom from Nakamaru Chu

Nakamaru chu is one of my favorites.  All the teachers are really cool except for one.  That teacher is nice, but always seems to clash with the kids.  They don’t want to deal with the teacher and so act out when she is around, but are a little nicer with me.  I like that teacher, but working with them is hard because the class is rebelling.  The first year teachers there are really creative and always think of really fun things to do with the students, and they respond in good way too.  The vice principle is great there too.  He is the most laid back Japanese man I have ever seen, and in a relaxed, cool way.  Not a lazy way.  The students there are almost all really friendly.

Shomaru chu is the school I am at the most, and is also the most hostile of the four.  I don’t mean in a ‘Dangerous Minds’ kind of way, but in comparison.  There is almost always an incident going on were a student has destroyed something or got in big trouble.  Last week, one of the teachers was attacked in class, and the kid is still in school.  That particular kid is a Mega-douche too, and is the only one in the school system that has shown open hostility.  Usually it’s just noise making and being annoying.  The Japanese school system is unfortunately very fluffy and doesn’t punish kids for things which would be jail time in the US.  Some of them run rampant through the school and the teachers office with impunity.  Those kids are just a loud minority though.  There are plenty of really bright and fun kids as well.  Being outside the Japanese mind set though, I am not a target, and when I do talk to them, they aren’t sure what to expect.  

This particular spot on the way to Shomaru Chu has got to be one of my favorite photo spots.

Chibimaru chu is the smallest school and my favorite.  I just enjoy small schools more.  The corp de esprit among teachers is just amazing!  They are always cutting up and laughing.  It’s just an awesome work environment.  The kids here are a riot too.  I am rarely at this school however, and that’s a bit of a disappointment.

Let me make one thing clear though.  I love the kids at all the schools, and the teachers are, on a whole, awesome!

 

So… what has been up since November.  Well, I had a huge break where I did nothing but sit at home.  My wife lost her job, so we are just working on my income now, which is a little harsh.  She runs the finances though, and she is pulling it off.  Not sure if we are saving anything though.  Now that the school year is winding down, I am looking at another long break and a new contract with the city.  I got a promotion to head teacher now, so we will see how this goes.  I don’t know what to expect, but I hope I don’t become one of those people who is given a little bit of authority and drops the ball.