So much happened my first week at my school but it was all pretty great! The first day I got there the teacher I was replacing invited me out with him to meet my American coworker and other people that worked for the same company in the area. We went to Futako Tamagawa and had drinks by the river under the moon watching the trains go by. It was the first time I was able to enjoy the evening/night in Japan. The people I met were really great and we've hung out several times since then.
The first day of shadowing was pretty intense. It was a busy week and most of the kids are very high energy. There are those (teens) who are very teen-like and trying to get them to speak at a normal volume (higher than a mumble) is like pulling teeth! But the young ones are awesome and so cute and fun! It's even cuter when they call me Sensei :) Gotta love that! I know I shouldn't but I already have favourites! Oops!
Thankfully the one I'm replacing is a really good teacher and set me up pretty good for what I have to do with all my students and I've been doing pretty well so far. The lessons are easier to plan now that i have time to process what I need to do and am no longer sleep deprived. Training week was all a blur but now I'm getting into the swing of things. There's still a lot to learn and lots to improve on but I've survived so far and it can only get better...I hope!
My first week alone (last week) went better than I thought. I honestly thought I was gonna mess it up so bad I'd have a stern talking to at the LEAST but not so much. I have been told several times about several things I need to do and not do. My co-worker says they are trying to make sure there are NO bad habits and nip them in the bud. I'm not a bad person or messy person or whatever but I don't think like the average Japanese person in a work environment. A lot of what they say I implement (if it's needed) otherwise I just smile, nod, agree and go about my day. I'm sure things will settle down in a few weeks after they are no longer on edge from getting a new North American English teacher who doesn't know the Japanese customs.
My fellow Japanese co-workers are nice so far and outside of the work place are much nicer and easier to get along with. They are not constantly kissing ass and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Alone they can relax and be open and funny. Contrary to what I was told about my work place and Japan in general...things are not done on time. Yes they want you at work 15 minutes early (but I had to do that in Canada anyway) and the trains are never late but my co-workers are constantly starting and ending class late and even my students are late more often than not. I'm not ragging on them or judging I just think it's funny that before I started (in training) they drilled it into our heads that things run like clockwork...not the case :)
Otherwise, my job is not so bad. There are those bad moments when I question why I'm here and teaching bratty kids that I just want to tie up with ropes so they'll pay attention and shut up...(calm down!) but I'm in a new country with new friends and I'm close to so many fun and interesting places to visit. And I live RIGHT ACROSS from my work so it takes 5 minutes to get there and it's only that long because the elevator has to make it up to the 6th floor.
I've seen and done some fun things so far in Japan and so far I'm happy with my choice of packing up and moving to Japan.
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