Baltimore is the new Voldemort

Today was Day 1 of teaching in Japan, Day 1 of teaching at Takae (高江) school. Takae is located northeast of my apartment, reached in 15 minutes by driving along the coastal highway, Route 71. It's a beautiful drive overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the many beaches that spot the islands coast. So there I drove, starting, for real this time, my new job as English teacher and international culturizer.

Though no English classes were held, we had a nice ceremony in the gymnasium of the school. We have 14 students, assuming everyone was in attendance today. They're spread over several grade levels of elementary and junior high school, so the largest class is three students, with many grade levels containing only one student. I've imagined this to be both a challenge and a great opportunity to do some amazing one-on-one teaching; I'm sure it will be both.

I sat in on this morning's junior high music class, where the six students were practicing their sanshin, which I assume carried over from the first trimester. I joined them in their practice, and as for the first tune, I picked up the introduction pretty quickly. Takako先生 even let me take one home to practice! though I hope I can turn this into a regular thing and save the money otherwise spent on my own instrument. One of my goals is to learn to play the sanshin well and to play it often. This would expand my ability at instruments to three, two if you don't count the kazoo.

After lunch, I officially met the only first grader, Mizuki. She's cute and adorable and never wants to let go of my hand. If I do let go of her hand, it's only because I've tossed her up into the air and she is in a state of motionlessness for a brief second. She's a tiring one, but I think the energy she has will be great for doing the many games we have planned for the lower grade English classes. I'm quite surprised at how much the young ones can understand, and how much they use it! I suppose the presence of a tall, English-speaking noob makes it easier to use, and really, that's all the encouragement I need.

I had a blast today! I'm even more excited - and gladly less nervous - about teaching these kids and working with my co-teachers in all aspects of school life. Sometimes, the things that have fallen into my life have been so good as to almost seem unreal. I'm not that infatuated with Higashi that it feels dreamlike, but I do feel good, real good, a good that is real is what I mean, and I think that's the best kind of good to have. Here's to living it right and teaching the kids something special, even if it has nothing to eventually do with English. Waisu desu.