Yuuki-chan

I started teaching Yuuki-chan privately when I first arrived, when she was in 4th grade. She had already been studying English one-one for 2-3 years. Now she is in the 1st grade of JHS and was one of my students at school for one semester. Her family has taken very very good care of me over the last three years. They have feed me, paid me well, and even invited me to Christmas dinner the year I didn't go home. Yuuki and I have studied about 130 hours of English together in the last three years. I used to go to her house every Thursday after school for an hour. And once a month she would come to Colare and we would eat dinner together. We went swimming together once after she completed a writing practice book. And we had a Halloween party at my apartment in my 2nd year with the other two elementary school students I privately tutored. For our last lesson, she came over to my apartment and we made cookies. We exchanged presents and ate a lot of cookie dough.

Tonight her family took me out to dinner at Nyuzen's French restaurant--a very nice place! It was a little strange cause I've never sat with her entire family before--grandparents, parents and us. They threw a lot of questions at me in Japanese and I struggled through. And then Yuuki and I would take a break and I would try to talk to her in English about school or summer vacation. And she got to show off a little in front of her family. Next year she will finally be old enough for the Forest Grove Sister City exchange trip, but this year they just drew names out of a hat...so who knows what her chances are. I suggested she come and homestay with me next August. And so during dessert we talked about her getting a passport, getting to Narita and flying on her own. I asked her if she would be ok doing it on her own and she said, "YES, it's a challenge." Her mom and I were both shocked!!! This is coming from a girl who ducked and hid behind the car as three boys from her grade cycled by as we walked into the restaurant. It was exciting to see her get excited about it! So, we will see if it happens, but it would be great! She reminds me of me--kinda quiet, shy, self-conscious, but there is so much potential there. And with the right experiences, I think she will really blossom!

They drove me home and I hadn't really thought about the good-bye moment. I hugged her and we both started crying! I told her I would see her next year and she said "yes" through her tears! Let's hope so! At dinner her grandpa said that this dinner was my 'sayonara party.' And I corrected him, it is my 'mata ne party.' It's always see you next time...and I hope we can see each other again!

Making cookies!

Taste-testing cookies!

Kimoto-sensei, her grandmother, and I!

Her family and I at dinner!

Nyuzen Eikaiwa Class

My sister was visiting, July 2005

X-mas Enkai at Sakura Sweets, December 2005

My parents were visiting, May 2006

X-mas Enkai at Chinese Restaurant, December 2006

My Farewell Enkai at Sakura Sweets, June 2007

Our last class together, July 3rd, 2007

Once a week for more than two years, I taught an Advanced English Conversation Class in Nyuzen. The class has been meeting for twenty years and they have had many different teachers from different countries. They aren't particularly interested in grammar or serious study, although many of them study at home on their own or listen to the English NHK morning radio lesson. But they like to talk and they want to talk! They love to share ideas, opinions, stories and information about Japan.

They write a zine every few months and last winter we started publishing their writing on the Nyuzen-machi English Blog. Please visit it and leave comments!

Some weeks I brought a detailed lesson plan using lots of different activities and conversation topics. Other weeks we would just talk and they would carry the conversation without any direction. I often used this class as a springboard to bounce ideas off of for issues that were raised in my TEFL studies or questions I had about Japan and Japanese culture. Every week I learned something new. I hope they did too!

I will miss our weekly conversations!

Linea's Eikaiwa

X-mas Party 2005

X-mas Party 2006

Farewell Party, June 2007

I was surprised when Linea told me her eikaiwa wanted to have a farewell party for ME! I've substitute taught for her a handful of times! And I've been to their x-mas party potluck for the last three years (no digital images from 2004)! Their parties are always one of the most delicious meals of the year! Everyone makes their BEST dish to show off! Others bring wine from a foreign country or icicles from the depths of a mountain cave (very illegal). Their parties last for hours and hours and are always on a work/school night! The farewell party was no exception! There was amazing food, delicious alcoholic beverages and hilarious conversation and stories! It's been so much fun to be included in their parties! I'm so happy we got to have one more! I wish I could eat this well all the time! I will miss their yearly x-mas parties!

Macon, GA Family

My sister was visiting and they made a birthday cake for her! July 2005

Birthday Pizza-making Party, July 2006

Birthday Pizza-making/Good-bye Party, July 2007

I met this family about two years ago. They had lived in Georgia for 5 years and both children had attended American schools. They older girl remembers a lot of English and is fairly fluent. The younger boy was too young to remember much English but because of his early exposure to it, he picks it up really fast. And his pronunciation is great!

For over two years, I met this family twice a month. It was always a challenge to think of something that would suit both their levels, but we played a lot of games and did a lot of fun activities like making cookies, making pizza, dying easter eggs, and going out for ice cream. After every class their mother would bring us tea or coffee and a snack. This was our informal English conversation time and we would all chat about their weekend plans, life in America, or they would answer my many questions about Japan. For our last lesson we made pizza, shiratama and their dad made a delicious seafood pasta. We all sat around their big kitchen table together and ate and talked about their memories of the US and dreamed of their next trip to the US, with a stop at my house of course. After dinner we exchanged gifts and then I gathered my things to leave. The family walked me to the door and as they stood their wishing me well and offering me a place to stay when I visit, I lost it. I hate that moment. I really do! I hate saying good-bye or even 'see you'! It's miserable! But it is also the culminating moment, the moment all their kindness and our memories together flash before me and it overwhelms me. And again I don't know how to express my gratitude or tell them just how important our time together has been! And I'm left with, "Thank you!"



I won't forget you, please visit me in the US, or wherever I am!

Another New Blog

"Life has been busy" is an understatement. Since I got off the bus two weeks ago, I've been running from school to school, class to class and teaching almost everynight after school. And on top of that I've been trying to get back into a study routine. My only relief has been snowboarding and sleeping (more on that in another post).

But my classes are doing some exciting projects and it's always fun to work with them. My adult conversation class has been meeting for 20 years with several that can remember the first class in 1986. In addition to their weekly classes, the write, edit and publish a zine every few months on a topic that the teacher (me) usually assigns. They have reached their 25th volume and in celebration I suggested they go html and start a blog!

To celebrate their 20th year as a class, and their 25th zine, I'd like to welcome you to the
Nyuzen Eikaiwa Class Blog. They have been writing, editing, and re-writing for about two months. Their posts are their own, I have done nothing to them! While we work on editing and perfecting their essays, you will find mistakes. But this isn't a writing or grammar class, and I always stress in my class that English is about communication, not perfection!

Please, please visit their blog, post comments about their ideas--not their mistakes! And add it as a link to your favorites and come back to visit again. Their are only two posts as I write this, but their should be 6-7 more being sent in throughout the week!

(this picture was taken last May when my parents were visiting the class)

"So This is Christmas....

....and what have you done? Another year older, and a new one just begun. And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun. The near and the dear ones, the old and the young. And a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let's Hope it's a good one, without any fear."

---name that Christmas carol---

Xmas in Japan

The last few weeks have been packed full with Christmas parties of all shapes and sizes. I've eaten everything from cake to jellyfish. I've sung disney songs, traditional Christmas carols and watched almost naked men dance to "Thriller." Presents have been exchanged (and re-exchanged--shhh!!). I've given Christmas quizes at lunch, played reindeer races and dressed Santa in my elementary lesson. It's been a holiday filled month already. And I'm not even home yet. What's waiting for me back in the US...only a few hours and I'll soon find out! I got tagged by Joe, here is a list of my favorite holiday things .

The first Christmas party I attended this year, was by far the strangest! What makes it that much stranger is that it is a town hall event. This is my third year at this party and the shock value has gone down, but it's still pretty crazy to see what the city employees come up with for a little holiday entertainment! I decided to skip the pictures and go straight to video clips.
The Town Hall Xmas Party--Michael Jackson Dance

A few minutes later--Thriller (must be 18+)

My adult English conversation class went to a Chinese restaurant for our bon enkai, end of the year party. After stuffing our faces, we sang karaoke for two hours!

After our last English class for the year, their mom treated us all to Christmas cake to celebrate the holidays! This family lived in the US for several years. So, even though these two kids are in elementary school, their English is really good!

Every class is doing Xmas lessons. This is my special needs class at one of my elementary schools. It's one of my favorite classes! They are great kids and we always have a great time. For xmas we "dressed" Santa, made cards, and read a xmas book.

Every year the international cooking workshop group hosts a Christmas party. We eat temakizushi, make your own sushi, and pizza. Then we play some games, sing some songs, listen to some music, and do a present exchange. This years songs were especially pathetic. All the ALTs got up on stage and sang three horribly out of tune renditions of "Deck the halls," "Frosty the Snowman," and "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer." And then just cause JP and I are singing in a choir, we had to lead the entire group in "Silent Night" and "White Christmas." That was a sad sight too...both of us are sick and almost have no voices! But the best part of the night, my two favorite girls (the shy looking ones) were there for the third year in a row. Will there be a fourth?

The advanced elective English class at my junior high school made sugar cookies for their end of year Christmas party! Six students came after school the day before and helped make all the dough. Then during class they rolled, cut, baked and decorated about 50 cookies. The only problem was, there were another 300 that needed to be baked. Luckily, I didn't have any other classes in the morning, so I stayed and finished baking them. They all came back at lunch and continued decorating and eating! In all about 20 15 year olds devoured about 300 cookies that day! Some were really small....but they still ate a lot of sugar!! Their parents probably hate me!

After the Beethoven concert, a few of us headed to one of our favorite izikayas, Japanese pub, for some greasy grub. In the door way we found Santa greeting everyone. But the night didn't end there. Then we went to our favorite coffee shop because we heard rumors of an all-you-can-eat cake party. Turns out it was just a big potluck dinner and we only brought drinks. We were already full from the pub food, but we managed to enjoy lots of champagne, Christmas cake and chiropractic adjustments! It was a bit random, but I'll take a chiropractic adjustment wherever I can get one!

Last but not least, Linea's eikaiwa invited to their Christmas potluck dinner for the 3rd year in a row. It is one of the best meals all year. The food is fantastic and they are a funny funny group of ladies (and one man). We sat and ate and drank for over 4 hours. The night didn't end there...actually it never ended, I'm still going strong 24 hours later.

Now it's time to pack up the last few things and get on the night bus to Tokyo. Tomorrow at this time I'll be flying over the Pacific Ocean headed to the Pacific Northwest! I'm looking forward to more Christmas parties with lots of North American treats!

Wherever you are this holiday season, I wish you all a....

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS &

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!