Oh sensei, it's cute!

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I leave for the Philippines basically tomorrow night...slightly freaking out? Nah, just the usual anxiety that comes along with traveling overseas. At least the Philippines isn't that far away nor does it require a drastic time change..just one hour behind! Woo! I'm excited to see my family and eat Filipino food! I haven't had a decent meal since I was back home in Minnesota. I rarely cook here...and I really should learn while I'm in the Philippines so I can dazzle everyone with the goodness that is pancit. Or lumpia or adobo...I'm getting hungry just thinking about this!

It is getting a little bit harder to motivate myself to work because I keep thinking I get to be in 70-80 degree weather for the next two weeks! Saw the first snowfall (I think, at least technically) the other night in the form of wet, slushyness and I was not happy. I may be from Minnesnowta, but that doesn't mean I love snow...in daily life, I find snow to be　面倒くさい　(mendoukusai = bothersome). From what I hear too, it doesn't sound like they plow the roads or the non-existent sidewalks here either so that's really not something to look forward to. I did get cute winter boots that are also warm and have a spike on the heels so I can walk on ice. Yes, it does snow in Japan, especially where I am I guess. They don't scare me with their talk of all the snow, I'm just dreading the non-plowing coupled with the lack o central heat thing.

I switched back to the smaller school, Konan about 2 weeks ago, but it has actually been very busy because I have been going to shogakko (elementary school) a lot latley and teaching them about Christmas. At one school one of the teachers even dressed up as 'Santa-san' (that's what they call the big dude in red here). The kids are super sweet here at the chugakko (JHS) and I think they are slowly opening up to me more. Especially the ichinensei (7th graders) and the sanenseis (9th graders). The ninenseis are only so-so. A couple of the sanenesei boys have taken it upon themselves to talk to me whenever they see me in the hallway. One boy, Hiroaki, always tries to start a conversation with me and even asked me during class who I was spending Christmas with. In Japan, Christmas is date night with your special someone and good ole Hiroaki was also the one who in the past has asked "May sensei, boyfriend?" and when I said no, he said "Really??" like he didn't believe me. Today at lunch I could hear him saying "May sensei, friendly" and their English teacher told me that Mr. Hiroaki has friendly feelings towards me, I'm hoping he just means I'm friendly.

The other boy, Yuki, always comments on what I'm wearing when I see him. Usually during lunch..."May sensei, it's colorful (gesturing to my shirt, which was purple). Very beautiful." Pretty much everyday..."May sensei, it's blue. It's cute!" First day I came back, both Hiroaki and Yuki said "I miss you!!" Those boys make the day a little more interesting that's for sure. Their classmates tell me "Kodani is　うるさい　(urusai = annoying or noisy). I will definitely miss these kids when they graduate. The girls are also very cute and had me sing Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" because they liked it and wanted to hear it..ha ha ha.

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Comments

[Karen Anderson]

You're a hit, May!
You're a hit, May! Watch your grammar when you reply to the flirty compliments. Have fun in the Phillipines.