A Day in The Life Of...
So today I think I'll write about something mundane, like my day. Today was not an abnormal day, but just the fact that it's a normal day for me in Japan makes it something abnormal for you. So if I process mentally like that, I think maybe my day will be something worth reading about.
Today I woke up at 7:30. Maybe a little too elementary, no? Every Friday I go to a city that's 20 minutes away, Odate, to teach, so I have to catch the train; it takes me about 20 minutes to walk to the train station from my apartment. One day I missed the train by literally 10 seconds (you could set your internal clocks by Japanese trains - unless they hit a tree - so it was my fault for missing, not the train's), and I ended up having to take the expensive train and being late for a class of worrying mothers. And there just happened to have been a couple murders in the area that week, so that made them worry all that more. That whole experience was just plain inconvenient, so now I go to the train station super early.
My first class was from 10:30 until 12:00, a pretty advanced ladies class; basically I just chat with them for half, and teach for half. We're doing comparisons right now, and a few weeks ago they told me that George Bush isn't as faithful or polite as samarai, and that chickens aren't as ferocious as dragons. Who knew?
Every week after class we have a tea time, so basically it lasts until 1:00.
One of my students brought me homemade onigiri (rice balls) so I had some for lunch, then one of my friends picked me up at 2:00 and we went to the new supercenter, because it has Baskin Robins. Right now it's buy a double scoop and get a free triple, so we did that. She's the lady I was with when I pushed the green button, and we were in the same place; today she told me to go push it again. I didn't. So we chatted and ate huge cups of ice cream, and after I played mini air hockey against her 2 year old daughter. I let her win. After we went to the hundred yen shop because I needed to buy some envelopes.
Then I went back to the church, and watched Bonita's class, which I will be teaching starting next week, along with about 4 other extra classes of hers.
At 5:30 I had my class of grade 4-5's. They're fun. Right now it's just four girls because four of the (noisy) kids are busy with manditory school clubs - part of the crazy Japanese school system. We're doing a clothing unit. Next week I'm getting a new student in that class.
Then I ate supper, which the pastor's wife at Odate church makes for me and the Nordaases every Friday. Always a feast.
Then I had a class at 7:30, a junior high class that is two girls. They're a lot of fun too.
I got another birthday present today from one of Bonita's students, so it really is the 12 Days of Erika.
And we got to go home early today (9:15) because Arnie's students didn't come. Normally we leave about an hour later than that. So we drove home.
I did some laundry, kinda cleaned up a bit, made some plans for this weekend because I'm going to Akita, and now I'm waiting for the Germany/Argentina game to start.
And that is just another average day in the life of Erika.
And now I must go rescue my laundry from getting wrinkled...
3 Comments:
hello buddy :)
grins
it's me. rachel. down in akita... and at this very moment sitting to your right. ;)
Hey Erika
I loved to hear about your 'average day'- I can imagine it quite darn well! :-) God is using you in your days in Japan, its a gift!
love Sara
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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