New semester

view from my room

dining room

300 pairs of slippers

random Japanese babies, of course

This weekend was the 2008 freshmen retreat in Toba. All of the new students (around 300), the sophomore mentors (around 10), and the faculty stayed in a gorgeous traditional hotel right on the bay (literally...the tide came right up under the hotel). I had to eat snails, fish, octopus...these are a few of my favorite things ;). However, it was still an amazing dining experience...hundreds of people sitting on the floor SO systematically...I got to break the hierarchical arrangement by sitting in the second row with the mentors (not the first row of faculty).

Other than a few boring meetings I napped through, it was fun. I got a lot of alone time and strolled along the bay and bought some pearls (Pearly Island is the main attraction near the hotel). Even when I was with the students, I felt alone (mostly in a good way). Everyone spoke Japanese, so I just followed the crowd and kept to myself...which resulted in my involuntary participation in a 3-hour escapade to find the right onsen in order to bathe with my students (that definitely beats bathing with Meg and Natalie on the awkwardness scale). I also had the pleasure of giving a 5-minute self-introduction to the 300+ crowd. Luckily the lights were low so no one could see my hands shaking.

Now that it's over, the only thing left to look forward to is the start of classes. This semester will be set up differently because the school reformatted the English Communication program. I will teach 4 classes (not 2), and I will be assisting native speakers (not Dan). I'm actually excited about it...meeting twice as often means I will get to know the students better (and the teachers). Teaching alongside Japanese professors will also give me opportunity to practice my Japanese (even though they are both fluent in English). I have an absurd list of goals for the semester, like organizing a weekly Bible study, potluck dinners, and group outings - on top of continuing my Japanese lessons and beginning my 2 new adult classes. Worse case scenario is that I am extremely stressed and busy and the 4 months fly by (I like busy). Best case scenario is that I am extremely cool and collected and the 4 months float by (I like cool). Either way, I am 4 months from being home and in the meantime finally getting back to what I love (human interaction). I am excited to get off my couch and get outside. Besides, it was 70* today...it's beckoning me.