Observations Month One of....many
They tell you at the start of the program , no matter where you are placed in Japan, it will soon feel like home. When I first arrived in Omagari, I thought to myself, what the fuck am I doing here! I expected to be in a city, with tall buildings, restaurants, bars, and parks. As I was driven to my new home from the airport I noticed none of the above around me. Instead it was a rural landscape filled with lush green hills, scattered dilapidated houses, and broken businesses. I got into Omagari and thought how badly I wanted to be in arizona, in the comfort of my home, my job, and my friends. But things change and although Omagari does not feel like home, I have settled into a quite routine which brings a sense of normalcy to this experience. Although I officially started work a month ago, this was the first week with the students and its been a Jekyll and hyde experience.
Observation One: Its hot as fuck! Honestly I know I keep mentioning this, but it is so humid, you az people have no idea. Its like florida in the summer, like a steam room without the eucalyptus, like a sauna full of damp, thick, humid air. I sweat from the moment I wake up until night time. By the end of the day it looks like someone sprayed PAM on my face then followed it up with a nice shower of fry grease. I mean its ridiculous, plus I m not a morning shower person at all, so there is a mixture of morning face grease, sweaty humidity face, and the days natural oils! Fucking gross
The Japanese must not have sweat glands, because they say they are hot and they act like they are hot, but no sweat pours from their bodies like mine. At the end of the day my shirt looks like I just competed in the Ironman with slacks and a button down on. Please cold weather come soon!
Observation Two: Kids will be kids, Now as previously mentioned Japanese students work harder and are more respectful than American students. Its just a part of their culture. They have to attend school during the summer, they have to study extra hard to keep up with the rest, its a “rat race” as my Japanese colleague told me. But that doesnt mean there arent what I call “chicken fucker” students. That is my term back home for those students that are just plain worthless, who have zero respect for authority, and should just turn their McDonalds application in now because they are going no where. Yea that is harsh, but teachers, you know what I mean, not everyone can be a rocket scientist or even a teacher. They are destined for a life of minimum wage and petty crimes. Well I had my first encounter with the chicken fucker student here. My biggest pet peeve is when students talk when I am... actually my biggest pet peeve is Nickelback fans and people who quote Will Ferrell movies. However my biggest teaching pet peeve is talking over me. Future students... you can sleep in my class, you can doodle, you can stare aimlessly out the window. But do not talk when I am! (Remember my classroom rules past students!) This past week, I am giving what is called a self intro to all the class to share with them some information and pictures about me and these two male students (they seem to be far worse than the females, or maybe I play favorites?) talked during the whole presentation, did I know what the fuck they were talking about? no not a clue, but they could of been talking about the Pedagogy of Education for all I know. I kept waiting for the Japanese teacher to quiet them down, but she is super timid in the classroom and didn't say a word, finally I lost it and told them the in America I tell my kids to shut their mouth when I am talking, I think the look in my eyes did more than my words. I learned quickly back home that you have to strike the fear of god in your students right away or else you lose control of the classroom very quickly (right krista?)
Observation Three: I am lucky to be in this town. Not that Omagari is this magical wonderland of fun, or this gorgeous region filled with abundant nature. But the other JET s on this program are really awesome. They are so nice... wait that is a terrible word, they are so kind hearted and fun, well except Alex (he is a little bit of a dick, but we get along great since ). There are about six others here on the program and it gives you something to look forward to , to meet socially, take classes together, or have someone to explore the area with. But most importantly , for the most part they know exactly what your going through because they are enduring the same thing (except alex, he has no feelings...jk bud I hope your reading this)
Till next week...
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