After a long two week wait, the results were in and all my students passed level 2 of the English Step Examination. I am so proud of them. They came into the teachers room to thank me and Harada sensei for helping them. Harada sensei said this was the first time that all the students who took the level 2 test at the same time passed. I am happy to keep my clean record of passing students through English interview tests. Whew!
The student leader group lines up for their photo album pic. Anna takes a peek from the corner.
Me and Mr. Harada trained these poor kids 6 straight days in order to pass their English interview test. I am crossing my fingers for them. It was challenging and fun to work with them, they are a funny bunch of kids, they worked really hard. picture : Aiko, Mr. Harada, Yuki, Me, Marron, Lady Killa, and Daiki.
It was alot of 12 hour days last week, having regular classes and trying to prepare kids for their English Step Examination interview. Well I think I was almost last one out.
It wouldn't be Halloween without a Thriller. Couldnt use the old Snoopy Halloween for the high school kids, they a bit too old. So bought the Michael DVD/CD for $35 just to get the video, hot damn! The bootleg wasn't gonna work so had to go legit. Whipped up a listening and question class using Thriller. The English classes loved it, they were cracking up laughing, it was cool to see Michael in real life on the big screen. Two thumbs up to Mr. Jackson's Thriller for Halloween.
BANFF MT FILM FESTIVAL
初めて行ったパタゴニアのMovieイベント。めっちゃ感動的やった！スクリーンを通して迫力満点の自然を感じる事ができた。雨の中大阪まで足運んでよかったよぉ～'D機会があったらまた行きたいな♪♪
Checked out the Banff Mt Film Festival with Kayo. It was pretty cool as all of the films were outdoor films from little known people. Mr. Teranishi at school said it was a must see. The best film I thought was "King Lines" a movie about the best rock climber in the world, Chris Sharma. http://www.kinglinesmovie.com/ If you like rock climbing or even human challenges you must check it out.
The event was in Osaka, and there was alot of outdoor people, meaning it looked like a outdoor brand event party. Kinda like everyone was from REI of sorts, but everyone sported their Patagonia, NorthFace, MontBell, etc. Kinda cool, of course I even had to bring my Mt. Hardware jacket to blend in. Cool to see more laid back outdoor people, rather than the everyday stylish Gucci, Prada, etc stuff on the streets.
Its all the rage in Japan, the banana diet. Damn TV show tells everyone and before you know it all the supermarkets are out of bananas, I ain't on no banana diet, I just like eating bananas, where are my bananas!!
Mr. Rilakuma found a new home. Took a bit of work to get the big fellow, the UFO Catcher game isn't exactly the easiest thing, mmm .. think I spent like $30 bucks, damn those games, sucker me in!
Was cruising through 7-11 the other day and low and behold a new drink! I can't resist the new drinks, gotta try em all, even if they are a bit wierd like this oh so yummy yogurt flavor Pepsi drink. Well it wasn't too bad, but don't I will buy it again.
HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!!
I miss the fireworks on Lake Union. Haven't seen fireworks in Seattle for 5 or 6 years!! Japan has fireworks but its not the same. It's not a loud boom 15-20 minute free for all like in America, but the benefits of a Japanese firework show is that it usually lasts from 40minutes to one hour. A whole day of festivities including a lot of drinking and eating. It's pretty cool and unique at the same time, plus there is a firework show every weekend throughout the summer. Not just one day, but day after day of fireworks so you have time to visit them all if you really wanted.
Get your towels! Definetly a CRAZY good concert!! Funky Monkey Babys was the main act followed up by Thelma Aoyama and Satomi and Meg. Satomi was alright, hip hop and dancing but regular. Meg was some crazy J-pop techno chick with two big ass mascots hanging on her left and right. Thelma Aoyama was amazing, great voice live, funny and pretty cool. Then the final was the Funky Monkey Babys who rocked the house! Most of the people in the crowd came for the FMB and now I know why after attending my first concert with them. Funny performers who know how to rock the crowd, a little hip hop, a little rock, a little everything. They were rocking out on stage throwing towels and water bottles into the crowd. We kinda got the tickets late so we were up on the second floor, but it was pretty chill as we got seats, kinda felt like VIP. But down on the first floor was standing room only and it was packed with jumping and waving fans. Interesting in Japan how everyone waves left or right, or claps their hands above their hands in unison, you would never see that in America. But then in America fans are always hooting and hollering, but at the concert it was pretty tame with a hoot and a holler here and there. Overall a great show with the FMB and Thelma, I would for sure go again!
Holy smokes! 100yen sushi!! my favorite cheap place to eat SushiRoll just got better as this week they had a special on "daitoro" or basically big fatty ass tuna. Usually this tuna is pretty bling I would say from 700yen a piece and up, but today it was only 105yen! yeah baby! chomped down on 7 plates. Just checking out the sushi parade as it rooooolllllls by. A limited 10 day special the customers were wall to wall, crazy for sushi.
check out that fine piece of fish on the far right "大とろ" only 105yen !! For only 10 days, better get your eat on!
This morning I came in a little late as usual to the staff room, but something was a little odd. There was somber mood in the air, then in the discussion I heard Miyamoto sensei's name, and I looked over at his desk and I didn't see him there. The talk continued and it sounded as if he died? But I thought that couldn't be true, he was always happy, people don't just die. But to my horror it was true after some teachers and staff came up to me and told me the bad news. He passed away just last night, due to a heart attack I was told. How sad it was, Miyamoto sensei was an English teacher and I always talked to him, he was always cheerful and we always talked about food and students. I knew he loved his job and his students, he was always looking out for them. I teach his homeroom and he always hints to me to help their grade a bit, ya know, just for university he said. He always used big words and funny phrases and always worked hard at everything. He had a full plate at work, I don't know how he balanced it with his home life. At school he was a homeroom teacher for the special English class, always keeping his students in check, he coached karate and was always proud of his student being the best in the Kansai area, I remember him trying to figure out how to use the video camera just to video his students. Then during the cultural festival he was always busy running around with his students, I remember helping him take down the photos of the kids trip to Australia. We always chatted about catching a drink or seeing the baseball game together, but he was always so busy we never got around to it. He didn't say much sometimes, but you could tell by his actions that he cared about what he did for his students. I remember talking to him just the other day in the sofa room, he came in a bit tired, I knew he just came back to school after a bout of the flu. He was massaging his back with a long rod, I asked him you've been gone for a bit are you alright? He responded that he just got over the flu, and it was the first time ever to get the flu, and it was the first time ever in 30 years to miss work, he was the ironman just like Cal Ripken Jr., he was always there, always first at school and last at school. He told me he was stressed about being the meeting chairman, he had to chair the upcoming meeting about the big entrance exam for the junior high students to be held this weekend. He was stressed that he didn't know what to do. I thought he could do it, so I just told him to just relax and everything would be ok, and just do it. I was thinking of giving him some advice on how to conduct the meeting but I was hesitant because sometimes I feel funny telling older people what to do. Later on we chatted a little more about work, but then I wished I had a time machine to go back and chat with him more, to know he was ok, to know if I could have helped him. But I don't, only Doraemon has a time machine, and life goes on. Miyamoto sensei was always so kind to leave me some goodies in a bag under my desk. Randomly when I arrived at school I would find a treat of beer and sake and other goodies courtesy of Miyamoto, he said it was just a little thanks for helping him out. I was looking to repay the favor, looking for some fine sake to give to him, but I was a little too late. I felt bad I couldn't have given him his sake. At school the teachers were in shock, a moment of silence was given to Miyamoto sensei during homeroom. Talked to some teachers a bit, but everyone deals with death in their own way, plus the cultural barrier, sometimes I was at a lost of what to do. I just remembered some of the photos I took of Miyamoto and his students, and collected a few last ones as I walked by his homeroom. His desk was decorated with flowers, the table top clean with books filled up high. I always remembered his glasses, suit, and Zippo slippers, and the notepad he carried in his pocket. He was a busy man and always checked his schedule with his notebook. Even going to the cafeteria today the cafeteria ladies asked about who died today, I gave them Miyamoto's description and the replied with a sad awww , they called him the udon man. Udon was a favorite of Miyamoto sensei, I will miss those times talking to him over lunch. He always looked out for me from day one, he gave me his number and said if I ever get into any trouble to contact him, he said he knew some tough people in the city, tough as in karate masters and yakuza which are always good friends to have anywhere. Anyways there is so much more to say, but I will leave it as is .... Miyamoto sensei I will miss you, your laugh, your smile, your kindness, you can't be replaced, you will always be in my heart, I'll do my best to help your students because I know thats what you cared about most ...take care, til we meet again someday in another time ... may you be happy wherever you are ..
Powered by ScribeFire.
