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| Friday, February 27th, 2009 | | 6:49 am |
iyada...tte iwaretara mukatukan?
Phew...I'm so glad the work week is over... Somehow I'm so busy that the week seems to go fast albeit stressfully while the weekends are pleasantly lazy. This week had a really crappy beginning though. I need to stop letting small things bother me so much. First I was sick all weekend, then Monday my boss told me after I'd been throwing up all weekend that one of my students parents had made a complaint... Oh man... So far I've had complaints for "playing DS in class" and "drinking tea and not sharing"(WTF?!). My boss asked me, "do you take a DS to class?" and I was like...yeah...like a month ago I took it some days because I have an hour break between classes and I plan my lessons ahead so I had nothing else to do. Plus it's my dinner break (On Tuesday I work from 11am to 10pm...whee!) so yes, I usually am drinking tea, eating and playing DS before the students show up. I always turn it off at 5 though, 20 minutes before my class starts. Problem being that sometimes, the parents are kind enough to drop their kids off 30 minutes early for a 50-minute lesson. Sometimes I haven't even arrived by then...in which case they call my boss. In which case she calls me asking where the heck I am. Dude...if I need to be there half an hour early so that parents can have me babysit their kid I should be getting paid for it. Maybe that's just a bad attitude I have, but geeeez. Times like this I miss America...dropping a kid off half an hour early for a lesson would not fly there... At least now I've learned that I can't even bring anything to class because the students look through my bags...this includes food...so much for eating anything between the hours of 4 and 10pm. Next complaint, a student's parent checked a workbook of hers and found one mistake in it that I hadn't corrected for some reason. I guess I am a horrible teacher. But I am also human. At least my pottery class is going well. I managed to make a nice vase for the first time that isn't all tilted and out of proportion. After that my Thursday lessons went better than ever due to the troublemakers being miraculously absent. Disciplining kids is hell enough...disciplining kids that aren't yours in a foreign country is worse. I know by now they have to know what "Quiet please" and "Sit down please" mean, but sometimes... The worst was one time I got fed up, said, "chanto seki ni suwarinasai!" (Basically, "Sit properly in your seats!") and they FLEW to their seats...dammit. I haven't used it since then, but that time didn't motivate me much towards the not using Japanese plan... Anyways, since they weren't there, I had a few of the most satisfying lessons I've had in a long time. The kids really enjoyed the time, laughed at my bad jokes, seemed genuinely interested...it's amazing how much they enjoy English when they actually pay attention...if only there were a way to make them without tying them to the chairs and taking away their cellphones and pretty much anything shiny/noise-making. Today I went to Okonomiyaki with a new student to a pretty cool place in the "Technology" district of Toyokawa (There are like 3 electronics stores in the same area...amazing.) After a delicious lunch I got to make cotton candy for the first time...it was pretty freaking cool! The student seemed really nice too, although she's one of those ridiculously fashionable girls who has fake eyelashes and high heels and wears the type of clothes I wear maybe once a year as well as carrying her dependable LV everywhere she goes. She mentioned that she wanted to go on a trip with me and some of her University friends sometime...that are studying English. Now I love new friends...can't complain...but when these students know that I am studying Japanese to pass 2kyu, know that I have almost no friends, and only offer to introduce me to people who want to use me for free English practice it gets kind of old. Now of course, I would be happy to hang out with her and her friends...but what will happen if I speak Japanese? Should I just go with it and speak English? I would probably still have fun...but there would go one of my only chances to speak Japanese... I don't want people to think I will only speak English to them if they pay me money though.. gah, it's ridiculous. But anyways, lunch was good and it was nice to have someone to talk to over lunch at the end of the week. She dropped me off at 2 and I had just enough time to finish doing some last minute lesson planning. Today I had two new students from the US with amazing English. My boss of course had told me to prepare an easy lesson because she said they'd only been in the US for 2 years. Well it turns out they'd been there for 4.5...and their parents also stayed to watch the lesson. Whee for stress! Still, I think it went alright. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun and the parents even laughed along with the students occasionally. I'm really wondering how I can convince my boss to let me have breaks though...aside from saying I'll quit if she doesn't fit them into my new schedule for April...she always makes excuses though. But 7 hours of solid teaching with no breaks on Fridays kills me...3:30-10:30pm... I've been spending lots of time lately (when i'm not studying for 2kyu..>_<) trying to figure out new ways to get students involved more in English, especially the ones whose parents are just making them go against their will. I've been trying to think of ways to teach kids English and help them to learn better all around so that they actually understand what they are reading without me telling them in Japanese...it is tough going, but one of these days (and hours of internet research and hot cocoas later) I will prevail! Note: Been talking in Japanese to some people on mixi for a while now. I just got a nudge from my new male Japanese chat buddy and nudged him back, to which he replied in English "Happppy...." LOL. Man...why do Japanese guys have to be so cute? If only I wasn't so tall and could actually enjoy guys who are obsessed with lookin good. Damn. Ah...kutakutadesu! (I'm spent!)and glass class to look forward to tomorrow!...off to sleep I go! Current Mood:  exhausted | | Friday, February 20th, 2009 | | 7:29 am |
Japan sickness count (since October): Runny nose colds: probably about 2 weeks yucky cough: 3 months (finally went away!) Stuffy nose colds: 4 weeks at least Sore throat: 1 or 2 weeks UTIs: 1 Back spasms for several days: 2 times Headaches: 3-4 times a month Vomiting and fainting: only all today Missed days work: 3 Where the hell did my immune system go?! Current Mood:  sick | | 2:52 am |
Negativity...to positivity...
Lots of stuff on my mind lately...figured I'd write it out...and maybe if I'm lucky the people who can read this will sympathize with me and not be irritated. The Ugly: I really miss American small-talk...just buying a cup of coffee you could make a friend... and hugs...even from people you've just met at a party or something...at least my little students give me hugs...lol I haven't drank more than one drink in a long time...maybe 5 months...because I have no one to drink with here. blah...why did I take a people person job? I am totally not a people person and having to act super happy all the time when teaching kids who throw tantrums and act like monsters sometimes at random while other days proclaiming "Katie-sensei Daithuki!" wears me out. I actually got mad at my students for the first time the other day and afterwards they behaved like angels...I didn't even yell or anything...Now I feel kind of bad about it though. I hate that my friend's Christmas present to me may be lost in the mail. Damn post office people. I hate living by myself and having no friends in Toyokawa aside from students who are really busy/not my age and my coworker. I hate my bills...lol...they get higher every month even though I've been using the same amount of electricity, gas and stuff ever since I got here...what's up with that? I hate that every time I try to study Japanese after work, I fall asleep. I have a love-hate relationship with my boss...who is really spastic and always forgets to tell me stuff that would be good to know like that I have an extra class to teach, or that 3 extra students will be coming...I hate being unprepared. But then she randomly does really really nice things for me...always giving me fruit and introducing me to people, teaching me Japanese and so forth... I hate Japanese weather. I hate it when people smoke indoors and Japanese TV. I hate the damn copy machine that never works when I need it to. I hate that no matter what I do to try and fix it, my SKYPE refuses to work. I hate that I never speak Japanese...it's probably my own fault too...but my boss has drilled into my brain so much not to speak it that I don't even speak it outside of class either now... I hate that all the problems are probably my own fault for having a bad attitude or not speaking up about stuff that bothers me. The good: I've had internet for a month now...and it is awesome. Which means that I can FINALLY keep in touch with everyone outside of Japan on a regular basis. I've been going to the gym a fair amount with my coworker. This is a good development because exercising generally makes me happy...not because I need to lose weight, which I don't...I will be a fat American forever and all the crazy Japanese people who think differently will not make me change my mind! I'm saving about half of my salary every month. Which is good because I'm sure I will find some use for it once I'm back in the USA. I'm happy that the yen is getting so strong so that the money I make in Japan becomes more when I change it to American dollars. I'm happy that I finally have weekends off so that I can maybe go somewhere during them. I'm happy that I finally have a few friends in Toyokawa/Toyohashi area...even if I can only see them once or twice a month. I'm happy that I have a job what with the economy being total crap. I'm happy that I could go to Tokyo and eat Shabu shabu on V-day with friends and sing karaoke looking over the city. I could go on, but since it's like 3am...(I have mixed feelings about working from 4-10pm almost everyday, but not having to wake up at the crack of dawn is definitely a plus!) I should probably go to sleep. I miss you all!^_^ | | Monday, February 16th, 2009 | | 9:33 am |
The grass is always greener...
But Japanese grass sucks because the only places where it's the same as in America you're not allowed to walk, run, or roll in it...what a waste. I miss you...and you...and you. You know who you are :) Hope I see you in my dreams ^_^ | | Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 | | 9:45 am |
I finally haz ze internets!
Fantasmic-how to tell someone they look fantastically orgasmic without getting roughed up or possibly raped (probably) Certain people would like to add that you can't rape the willing. (/end super awesome news announcement) Can someone tell me where the heck I got this from? I must've heard it somewhere... | | Saturday, July 26th, 2008 | | 2:42 pm |
| | Sunday, May 25th, 2008 | | 10:08 am |
So I'm in Dublin right now. We have done a lot of stuff that i will have to highlight later, but so far, London, south ireland, and Dublin have been the places we've been. Most impressive by far has been the skellig island trip where the old dude driving let me drive his boat, and driving the ring of kerry on the wrong side of the road in a manual car. It was really beautiful with lots of rocky hills, beautiful views, and delapidated castles...and sheeeeeep. I only got to drive a little bit tho, but it was still cool. I was glad Shannon had a lot of experience driving manual cars. Last night we went bar hopping (picture me and Shannon running in the streets and giggling while a bunch of guys walked around in groups yelling and waving Irish flags and scarfs with noisemakers)Today we're gonna walk around Dublin and check out some major tourist stuff. Shannon posted the first batch of pictures on facebook, but hopefully i can post some of my own soon. Heard there was a crazy storm in Portland area. I doubt it affected anyone in Oly/Seattle, but hope you are all well! Gotta go catch a bus now so... <3 | | Sunday, March 30th, 2008 | | 10:51 am |
I had a dream about dating Zach Braff...it was better than eskimos...*awkward* Current Mood:  weird | | Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 | | 1:09 am |
ah, St. Patty's day...
Always reminds me of how hot Sean Connery was in Darby O' Gill and the Little People when he was young... Anyways...i won't tag anyone in particular...but if you're bored and need to procrastinate a little, join the club. 2. What is your most guilty pleasure? I have many...frozen indian curry from Safeway, sushi, bubble tea, Pho, Chai creme frappucinos from Starbucks, cheesecake, FOOD in general, playing mindless games like sudoku and mindsweeper, sleeping in, staying up too late talking to a certain gentleman. Rewatching movies like "Under the Tuscan Sun", "You've got mail", "Ever After", "Chocolat", "The Holiday", "How to lose a guy in 10 days", etc. while eating icecream or sipping cocoa or tea 3. Have you ever seen someone die? Nope...thankgoodness 4. Are you confused as to what lies ahead of you? I have ideas, but some confirmation would be nice 5. What was the last book you read for pleasure and would you recommend it? My Japanese history book in Japanese...heeeeelll no. 6. Name a personal hero. The dude who invented the microwave...college students everywhere praise ye 7. If a person you like doesn't feel the same way, would you continue to wait for them to change their feelings? Oh gosh..don't want to talk about this...fortunately haven't been in this situation for over a year now though :) 8. If a person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do? I don't...like people who are attached...what's the point? 9. Is there anything that made you unhappy recently? Just stress and uncertainty 10. What do you want most in life? Happiness for my family 11. Which of the 7 Deadly Sins do you think relates to you the most & why? Pride and gluttony? I have really high standards and i tend to hold myself and others to them...i also like my food. :) 12. What advice would you give to someone who thinks their whole world is falling down around them? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming... 13. Who is currently the most important person to you? My friends and family...not one person i know, but that's how i feel 14. What is your drug of choice? Tea 15. If you could keep any animal for a pet, what would you keep? Something fuzzy and snuggly that hopefully wouldn't smell too bad... 16. Which fictional character could you most see yourself marrying? Darcy...*sighs* 17. Would you give your all in a relationship? That's what loving is. So yes, once i find the right person. 18. Do you have a motto? Be all that you can be...err...ok, i stole...i guess more like be as good a person as possible or die trying 19. What type of friends do you like? Entertaining ones that have respect for themselves and aren't overly dramatic. Yet the kind of person who is not so wrapped up in their own life that they don't have time to hang out once in awhile. 20. Do you have an all time favorite song? Too many...I really like Ride 4 U right now though...hate the MV though 21. Name three movies I just HAVE to see. The Secret of Roan Inish, Under the Tuscan Sun, Love actually | | Saturday, March 15th, 2008 | | 3:33 pm |
Our parents were right...
I was reading through some old journal entries...and they made me want to break things. All of us were completely psychotic (in our own ways), crazy teenagers a few years ago... I may have been a crazy teenager...but my mom's reaction to my craziness was a bit insane as well. I'm glad we're all sane now...right? :P Current Mood:  contemplative | | Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 | | 12:41 am |
oooga chaaka
http://msn.match.com/msn/article.aspx?articleid=8718&TrackingID=523934&BannerID=566942&menuid=6>1=10886Everybody remember #8 Lol...today when i met up with "the dude" he was staring at me and smiling the entire time... Good grief...don't tell someone that you like someone else and then do that... Also accounting is a bitch, micro is tedious, and Organizational behavior is boring as all hell. Also i have the first 3 pages of my "thesis" due tomorrow at 4...crap. Our new (and last) dance is freaking badass...it's all really fast hiphop...i will definitely get a video of it up after we perform if i don't make a total embarrassment of myself! Current Mood:  curious | | Sunday, February 10th, 2008 | | 5:44 pm |
So i worked out with Shannon today...and she told me that she talked to the guy i asked out and he didn't know it was a date...and has another girl that he's into... That sucks, but in a way i'm relieved cause dates are way too awkward...from now on it's inviting people over for food all the way. Still, i wonder how he could've misinterpreted, "will you go out with me?" in any other way. Anyways, i'm kinda just glad that i had the opportunity to ask him out. My dance performance went really well too. Yay for courage :) | | Saturday, February 9th, 2008 | | 12:19 pm |
I asked a guy out today... One that i don't "like" per se...but that i could see it working out with. It seems like in the past i always would go for people that i was like...obsessed with and it would never work out because i liked them more than they did me...and then they tried to just use me as a sex buddy at which point i would cut the "thing". But man...it's such a rush asking someone out. And now i get to go on a date later this week :) In other news...i have a dance performance today at 7-ish...and i'm really nervous...like...nauseated, lightheaded, shakey, cold sweat, etc. Any advice? I think it's just the performance anxiety coupled with asking someone out that has me so worked up. | | Friday, February 1st, 2008 | | 12:11 am |
two entries in 2 hours? that's crraaazy
Internet quiz stealing is the best...i've got that giddy procrastinating feelin :) So hurry up and post it so you can help me put off my thesis ^_^ 1) Are you currently in a serious relationship? A. 2) What was your dream growing up? A. 3) What talent do you wish you had? A. 4) If I bought you a drink what would it be? A. 5) Favorite vegetable? A. 6) What was the last book you read? A. 7) What zodiac sign are you? A. 8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where. A. 9) Worst Habit? A. 10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride? A. 11) What is your favorite sport? A. 12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude? A. 13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? A. 14) Worst thing to ever happen to you? A. 15) Tell me one weird fact about you. A. 16) Do you have any pets? A. 17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly? A. 18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!) A. 19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary? A. 20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? A. 21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? A. 22) What color eyes do you have? A. 23) Ever been arrested? A. 24) Bottle or can soda? A. 25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? A. 27) What's your favorite place to hang at? A. 28) Do you believe in ghosts? A. 29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time? A. 30) Do you swear a lot? A. 31) Biggest pet peeve? A. 32) In one word, how would you describe yourself? A. 33) Do you believe in/appreciate romance? A. 35) Do you believe in God? A. 36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you? A. | | Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 | | 2:22 pm |
"I'm telling ya...homework'll get ya pregnant...you gonna deliver a book or something..."-Myriam
I love my roommate..:) This week is strangely better than the last...I think because I've been studying so much that i don't have time to be angry, stressed or even think. Erika took her plane on monday at 4 in the morning and is safely back in Argentina...so i'm really glad that she's no longer here and depressed and is home and happy. But Sunday i felt so bad because I had this paper due, and two final exams on monday so i couldn't spend much time with her or do much for her on her last day in America... I found out i got a 78 on the first half of my management exam from friday>_< Fuck... I skipped dance on monday and now probably won't get to be in the next performance (although the one on Saturday was ok...I had fun even though getting up and dancing in front of the whole college was terrifying) I have to finish up this research paper for history which is now going to drop a third of a grade for being late...ack. Tomorrow i have two group projects to work on...and one class to attend. I forgot to turn in my cases for IB (cue me frantically running back to my computer going "oh shit, oh shit" to my roommate's amusement)and the prof let me turn it in late without docking me points...which is strange, but nice of him. I am coming home tomorrow and my roommates said they will be relaxing here instead so i can do whatever the hell i want instead of worrying about them...none of this driving all the way to Seattle and then them saying, "Actually, we're tired...could we go back to your house now?" I am coming home...Huzzah! 3 days of home with nothing to do, but enjoy! Current Mood: stoked | | Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 | | 7:43 am |
What's up....
-So my computer sucks and doesn't like my new webcam and sometimes goes into capslock permanently and logs me off msn 20 billion times -My roommates are making me sad because they hate America...or maybe just Forest Grove...even though they only have 2 classes and don't have to go to them and have all the free time in the world, but are just wasting it bitching to their home people instead of exploring Portland or joining a club or SOMETHING..I would kill to have a bunch of freetime in a foreign country. -I'm on dance team and playing intermural soccer which has me doing about 8 hours of exercise a week...which is actually pretty cool. Exercise is keeping me sane. -Grey's anatomy is causing me to fail all my classes (or would be if I hadn't cut myself off) -I've been getting no more than 6 hours of sleep a night which is making my health reeeally shitty -My 5 Classes are kicking my ass...but i'm still somehow maintaining a B average...I don't think i've ever been as busy as I am lately and i don't even have a job... -My Japanese is going away.. -There are no men in sight. -My sister is turning six in four days! aww...i'm so old >_< Dumbledore is gay?! -I missed halloween because I was too busy studying and doing homework and dance team. :( It's really sorry that i find the most motivation to write when I am feeling most bitchy. On the plus side though, Thanksgiving Day and, better yet, Christmas break loom not so far ahead! Can't wait to boogie at La Cantina tonight after i go to the Samhain event for class! Now homework time! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, dumdadadumdum... | | Sunday, July 29th, 2007 | | 1:35 am |
| | Friday, July 6th, 2007 | | 2:34 pm |
| | Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 | | 2:02 pm |
lovin the color test
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katiiiiie took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Urgently in need of rest, relaxation, peace, and a..."
Click here to read the rest of the results.
| | | Friday, September 8th, 2006 | | 9:01 pm |
Pictures of my school! I'm tired, but I'll try to put up a few captions :) ( click here ) |
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