Elementary school, pt 2.

Another two days at elementary. I love these kids. And for whatever unknown reason, they LOVE me. I think its as I stated before, I'm a big teddy bear to them.

3rd graders are awesome. It was a lot of just hanging out and just bs'ing. And then we played dodgeball. It was a lot like 4th grade, but even more energetic and more fun. They ask for you autograph haha LOVE IT.

Elementary school, pt 1.

So, I finished up my first week at elementary schools. Two schools. 3 days. 2 grades. 9 Classes. Today was 4 classes. I'm dead. I played with 10 year olds from 9:40 - 2:40 basically non stop.

They're so adorable and have WAY too much energy. Not to think highly of myself, but I never thought I'd do as well as I did. It helps that I'm like a giant play thing to them. At lunch we played dodge-ball. It hasn't been outlawed in Japan yet, thank God.

My teaching style? Organized chaos.

Trying to find NEW YORK on a map. Cute.

Ready for action. Shes stretching for her rock, paper, scissors match.

Kanoko's rock beats scissors every time. As does her top side pony tail.

Yeh yeh, I'm joining the, "posting pictures of me with legions of cute Japanese kids" club.

20 pics from the last 3 months

I haven't touched this in forever, sorry. I've been really lax and just trying to relax after coming back to Sendai. I finally bought a couch and actually had people over.

I had my first visits to an elementary school this week. It was so much fun. I have another tomorrow. I feel like I hardly teach there and simply play games... but teaching 12 year olds about prepositions isn't really the point.

The first three pictures are from a trail in Sendai on Akiu; back in late November.

Surprise party at the Sapporo Beer Garden outside Sendai.


My man Fukuda san. The janitor. Hes talked to me since day 1, and is such a nice dude.

Mountain view from the school. I really like being able to see mountains in the distance.

Assembly

Students

Taxis outside Nagamachi station

Shibuya, TOKYO

I've always liked Shibuya. It always seemed a bit seedy to me.

Only in Japan. Santa's on motorcycles.

This is after I left New York. On the plane ride back to Japan. Sayonara, New York.

Over ALASKA

Coming of Age Day. Every person on the train besides me was either a girl dressed like this, or a guy in a suit. Every year they have a ceremony for everyone who turns 20, celebrating their coming of age into adulthood. In Japan, before 20, you're still considered a minor.

Sendai's Donto-sai festival. Kind of a goodbye to the previous year. People burn things to purify their lives for the upcoming year. Really, I just think its a way to get rid of your trash.

I can't tell you how cold it was that day.

First real snow in my area of Sendai.

The entrance to the East Nagamachi Elementary school. I laughed about immediately being told to go to the Principal's office.
The Japanese says, "Welcome to East Nagamachi elem."

The sixth graders I taught will become my students in April.