Day 29, April 11 (Thurs)

This day went very well. I fretted over my set of classes today — not to say I fretted needlessly.

First I had the nursery school classes. This time they were much better. I concentrated on saying the words a lot and in funny ways, and in doing lots and lots of game-like things that have them moving about. I might get the hang of this.

I had my first elementary school classes today, at Sabae Higashi. Two sets of 5th-graders, so I could do pretty much the same thing with both of them, although the second teacher helped out a lot and the first didn’t do much at all, but it was an intro lesson so that’s ok.
A boy from one of my other classes is in one of my classes at this school. Another boy from another class is in... one of Chris’s classes. After class, the kid came to say Hi to me, and brought me to his classroom to meet his teacher. How cute!!!! I just love some of these kids.

Next I had the private lessons up the mountain. In a temple. It’s a cool house and the people seem really nice. I teach 3 boys, one is the son of the priest, the other two are brothers. 7 and 9 years old — but only 3 of them. They were a little wild at a couple points, but I think it will be fine, in fact I enjoyed myself.
After the lesson, the mother invited me to sit down for tea and cake. It was really nice of her, and she speaks some English, so I chatted with the mothers for a bit and for the father a little bit. But I couldn’t remember (if I had learned it) if the guest or the hosts usually say something about the time so I didn’t know if I was imposing or what, so I finally said I had to be going. I hope I didn’t give the impression I hadn’t enjoyed sticking around :)

The drive home was no trouble. I forgot to mention, but when Yuki drove me there yesterday, our way home was impeded by a driver who drove too close to the edge. Luckily the hillside edge and not the stream-side edge. The truck she’d been trying to give room for stopped to help, he had a rope and attached it somehow to the front of her car, and Yuki and I pushed, and the car was freed. I was reminded of this past winter.

But! That shall not happen to me. I drive cautiously. 

Normally I would have an evening dictation session thing at UFO Academy, but the class hasn’t settled yet so I didn’t need to be there. So I was almost late except I wasn’t for lack of a thing to be late for.

I finished the third book in the Secret Country trilogy and recommend it again to Ari and then to Mia. I miss its concise descriptions and warm dialog, now reading Dragonspell.

I have no pictures to share today, only much text.

Well. Here’s a picture of a crow I took a while back. In the background is UFO Academy on the left, the green building is the apartments.