Catch up

Monday -- Monday was my first day back teaching. It was okay. After my classes were over, I spend several of my cell phone's minutes calling around to different rental car places, getting told that it was muri at some and getting told unbelievable prices at others. I finally found one that was the cheapest in Miyako (seems like anyway) and I tried to call back and see where they were located. And I couldn:t understand a word he was saying, or rather, I didn:t have any clue where the places were. So. I ask him to hold on for a second, rush over to the jimusho and ask the office ladies to ask where the place is. They do, and one of the is nice enough to, a little early, drive me over there to talk to them face to face. We laugh about how broken my Japanese is, and how I:m apparently fun to talk to because of it. And we get the car thing sorted. I:m expected to pick up my rental car on the 6th at about noon. Yay. Now to just get rid of my old one.

Right after that I had to rush over to the hospital for my physical therapy. Which went well and he says that my next time should be my last time and gave me some more exercises to do. Weeee.

When I finally got home I felt so accomplished that I was practically dead to the world and ended up doing nothing, including my workout (as in, no, I just didn:t) and went to bed early. Good thing.

Tuesday was my Sarahama day. That:s the get up a hour early to get to the port to catch the ferry day. Y. A. Y. Because I didn:t do my workout the night before, I get myself all together and get out the door early enough to walk to the port. 50lb pack and all. I make good time and get there early enough. Then there:s the quick hop across the pond and a bus ride up to my school. When I get there it seems the new coordinator completely didn:t see the note that said that the iinkai only allows their teachers to teach 4 classes a day, and they schduled me for 5. Which I don:t mind doing occasionally. Just not every week. Not at all. My ear was blowing out by the end of the first period (I wonder if this is a sign of high blood pressure), and I told them flat out, I don:t mind doing it today, but the iinkai has a rule that I can:t do it everyday. And thank god, the 4-1 teacher from Heiichi moved to Sarahama and she totally backed me up. So the poor new coordinator is panicing, trying to see how he can fix the schedule, but I should only teach 4 classes. Yay.

After my last class, I get directions and I walk back down to the port (because I really don:t like making a teacher leave to do it, and my ankle needs to start getting the exercise), I left ubber early, because it was my first time walking alone, and I made it in litterally 15 minutes, just like they said. I think from now on, I:ll ask to leave at about 3:35, just to make sure I don:t miss the ferry, and then actually be walking out the door by 3:40. Technically anyway they shouldn:t have any problem with me leaving early, seeing how I don:t have to show up til 8:15 and I always get there around 8 because of said same ferry.

Then, after the ferry ride, I walk back up The Hill to my apartment. For a total of 3.5k. Woohoo. Next week, I:m gonna try walking to the school too instead of taking the bus. Now that I have a map, I should be able to do it. Even though The Hill on Irabu is much steeper and taller than The Hill on Miyako. It:ll be good exersice, and it:s getting hot, so I:m stinky anyway. We all are.

Later, last night, I went to my weekly bowling. It SUCKED. And I didn:t know how to tell them it was because of my personal and professional life. I just couldn:t get my focus. Ah well. I need to practice this weekend. Even if I have to go by myself. I:m gonna have to.

Today, I:m at my smallest school, Miyahara. With my 3 3rd graders, 5 4th graders, and 4 6th graders. And no, that:s right, I didn:t miss the 5th grade. It just doesn:t exist at this school. With this introductory activity it actually went pretty well. Because they:re so small (the classes) I:m considering breaking from my normal routine and really focusing on writing and reading with them. But I:ll probably just do what I:ve been doing and adapt the curriculum for a smaller class size. Changing up the games as needed. Although, with this small of a class, I really like playing go fish. I hope they don:t get sick of it. Cuz dood, it:s small enough that we CAN.

Also, this marks the 3rd day that I:ve both brought my lunch to school and have not eaten it. Because at each school they always give the teachers too much food and I was told flat out that if I don:t eat, the extra will just sit there. So I might as well. And at that argument I cannot argue. So I:ll be eating my boxed lunch for dinner again tonight. Oh, darn. It means I still have to cook. Because the day that I bank on being told it:s okay is the day that they won:t offer. So I still have to bring my bento.

Today after school, I:m gonna try to see if I can:t get my scooter fixed. I think it:s just out of gas, but I haven:t actually looked into the gas tank so I don:t know. If that:s not it, I:m gonna walk it to the shop down the street from my house. Hopefully they can fix it there. Although I:m really just hoping that I just need gas. I spent a lot of money in the last two weeks. And I:m going to Thailand next Thursday. And then maybe nap. Because I was up early because of stupid Ferry, and I was up late because of bowling and cooking. And I HAVE to do my upper body workout today. At some point . . .