I'm at the Kencho today because the aviation academy is having exams at this time. It would actually be nice to come here one day a week or one every two so that I could get ready for classes; you know? prepare some lessons, do some research regarding esl (English as a second language) games and such. I'd like to come here so that I wouldn't have to do this in my time at home. But I understand that this is the life of a teacher, so I guess I should get used to it. Not that I have a lot of preparation to do anyway, but hell, any of it cuts into my beer drinking--baseball watching--internet surfing--just enjoying Japan time. Ah well, they are paying me well and really, I can't complain at all.
I had an idea today (not really my idea though). Was looking through a book I bought in Shinjuku when I first got here and there was a small section in which they printed an information card. It is designed for the students to fill out so that I can then collect them and better hope to remember who they are and what they like. For now I will just be happy to remember a few names. I have about 450 students with names like Myumi Shiuki or Takami Fujikama or Sumini Watame. Actually I made those names up, but that is what they sound like to me. And with 450 of the little buggers running around I don't stand a chance of getting their names down, especially since they are all dressed alike (school uniforms) and have the same color hair and eyes. So these cards have a small place for a passport sized photo and their names and then spaces for other information: birthday, hobbies, interests, favorite this and that, all the general stuff. So maybe if I can get them to do this for me, I can then call them by name and impress the hell out of them. We'll see.

My first class yesterday at Yuda (all girls high school) was fun. This is the class with the 71 year old teacher who my predecessor said "is set in his ways and not my favorite teacher to work with." Well, different strokes...........cause this guy is great. He and I get along extremely well and his class is always fun and entertaining for me. There are only eleven students and they are damn rowdy. But I mean rowdy in a good way. They will snap to attention if you need them too, but they have fun and seem to enjoy being there. Yesterday, before class, Mr. Tanoguchi (the teacher) came to me and gave me the general lesson plan for the day. "We will do this and this," he said, also telling me a few jokes here and there. Some of his jokes I get and others I don't. I assume they loose something in the translation but I guess maybe some of them just arn't funny. I have no idea. Anyway, we went in to class with a game plan, but as we were saying "Hello" and "Good morning" a couple of the students asked me if I was coming to their school festival. "When is it? I asked. So they told me and it turns out that I can make the saturday but not the friday as I have to be at my friday school that day (go figure). They were a little disappointed at this because on that friday is when they will be performing a song and they wanted me to see this. So then, out of nowhere, and almost as a collective identity, they all screamed (in Japanese, of course), "We can do the song now!" So after a bit of begging and pleading Mr. Tanoguchi turns to me and says, "I can't teach my class today," to which I busted out laughing and next thing I know we were all heading upstairs to the music room.
We all go into a music room in which there were those sheet music holder things and a large black piano. The students got out two chairs and told me and Mr. Tanoguchi to sit down. So we did and they all lined up in front of us with one girl on the piano and within seconds the song had started. What struck me here was the organization of the group. I've never seen that in America without a designated leader (usually an adult). But here there was no leader. They all just knew their places and went right to them. There was one sort of lead-singer, a girl on piano, and the rest were the chorus and they performed and sang damn well. They sang some gospel song, I think; the chorus part goes "Oh happy days......" Some of you might know it. It went on for about five minutes during which time I looked, listened, and wondered how the hell I ended up in Japan, in a high school classroom, with ten girls and one boy singing an American gospel song to me.

I might write more in here later this afternoon if I can think of a subject to write on. Which reminds me...if any of you want to know something, some aspect of life over here, drop me an email and I will attempt to answer you on this journal. I am getting so used to life over here that I forget what might be interesting to those of you who've never been here. So if I can, I will attempt an answer, just be aware that I've still been here less than two months and am by no means an expert on anything.