I earned my pay check this week

I don't know about for everyone, but the last few months have been crazily busy, especially November. This past week rendered me absolutely exhausted. Monday was a full day of elementary school followed by Japanese class. I go to Japanese class directly after work every Monday and don't get home from class until about 10pm, so it makes for very long days.

Tuesday was five classes of elementary school plus kindergarten. During the final class, twenty-four observers watched Mr. Okada and I team-teach the 6th grade together. These people included every principal, vice principal, and head of teachers from each school in Kikugawa, Yokouchi-sensai, a man from Kencho, and parent volunteers. Sadly this 6th grade class is the least genki class I have ever seen. It is like pulling teeth for Mr. Okada and I to get them to react. Considering the dynamics of the class and all the observers, my nerves were a bit rattled, but I think we did well. I should have had someone take photos of us teaching together, but I didn't think about it until after. Here are a few from that day, though.

Kindergarten doing a dance for me.

Newspaper sumo. Yeah, I didn't do so well.

Singing "The Wheels on the Bus." The kids really enjoyed it and caught on quickly. The book helped, too.

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Friday I had five more classes of a visit elementary school. Laura and I did a workshop for all the teachers of this school in the summer. We had a really fun time that day teaching them many games and ideas. I even made them a CD with English songs for them to use. (Flash back to the workshop--gesh it was hot in that room, but we had an enjoyable time).

I had high hopes for this day, thinking that surely they would use one of our new/different/cool games or songs that we taught them. Needless to say, I was disheartened to see that the lesson plan showed five games of Fruit Basket. Did we do that workshop for no reason?? Anyhow, the day went well, but I was knackered after five games of Fruit Basket and shaking 160 second-graders' hands.

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The job of ALT isn't just about teaching. Sometimes public appearances are involved. Mr. and Mrs. Ok invited me to attend a special dinner at the nursing home they run. The famous sumo wrestler, Kotoshogiku, was going to be in town. About 20 people were allowed to come to the dinner. Lucky me! They thought it would be a good idea for me to go and show my face to the "high class" people of town.

Kotoshogiku is from Fukuoka. A newly turned 23-year-old, he won one of three prizes at the past tournament. His overall ranking is 8th, much higher than Shimonoseki-inaka native Homosho. Kotoshogiku was a charming fellow, completely unphased by my foreignness. He took seven onigiri with him back to his hotel room as an evening snack!! Before he left, he gave us each a calendar, a keitai charm with his name on it, and the plate below. He also gave me a wink on his way out, but I don't think anyone saw it but me. ;)