Today was so fun! We teach at Seido, an all-girls Catholic school in the northern hills of Nagasaki. Today we had the 9th, 4th and 5th graders. (In Japan middle school goes up to 9th grade.) They are so fun to be around! They seem to be more respectful and hardworking than American students. It's just the environment that's fostered. But, I'm afraid that creativity and originality might be pounded out of them by it as well. In any case, we introduced ourselves and did a bunch of activities and games. There wasn't very much pressure because Guy facilitated the day so we mostly just had to follow, but in the future we will have to facilitate the entire days. I am so excited to get to know the grades we didn't meet today and get to know everyone better! Because the program we're doing has been implemented in this school for quite a few years, their English is pretty dang good. They can out-speak some of the college-age conversation partners I've had. It's so exciting to see them be so enthusiastic! :)
After work we went to Suwa-jinja which is an immensely beautiful and peaceful Buddhist temple/park located literally 1 minute from our apartment. In that same area is 動物広場、doubutsu hiroba, a little zoo with peacocks/peahens, roosters/chickens, a macau, Japanese monkeys, rabbits, and a little chipmunk thing. The peacock opened its feathers for us! The shrines were so peaceful and beautiful. I am definitely coming back there often with my journal, my camera, or just my thoughts. I've been thinking about trying to teach myself to meditate but I feel like it's such a big undertaking. But maybe I'll have the time in Japan :)
We went grocery shopping which was a major fail. I couldn't read anything, don't know what's cheap/expensive, don't know how to read the preparation instructions on the back, and sometimes don't know what does and doesn't have meat inside (curry sauces for example.) I ended up getting a few fruits and vegetables, curry sauce, soba, udon, and milk which is 2.5% (yuck.) And of course, I got my favorites, LOOK chocolate and 午後の紅茶 milk tea. Just like home <3
Miscellaneous:
-Thinking about spending money to travel on the weekends, reserving tickets, communicating in Japanese to get the tickets, etc. stresses me out. But I know it will be worth it in the end when I get to travel, since I'll mostly have 3-day weekends. :)
-Paper size is different here. It is longer.
-When you want hot water you press a button in the area where you want it (bathroom/kitchen/etc.) and a screen shows you the temperature of the water until it's your desired temperature (not that I understand celsius.) Then when you're finished getting the hot water you turn the button off.
-In France I would get so excited being in my room and just hearing people speak French in the streets from out the open window, but here I seriously don't even notice. I think it's because of JSA and my being used to hearing people speaking Japanese around me all the time.
-Brighest-of-bright fluorescent lighting in my room, along with permanently frosted windows that you can't see out of: dislike.
-I think I'm still coasting on the high of newness and new experience, but sooner or later I will start feeling the discomfort of being in a foreign society and missing home. Maybe. Or maybe not!
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