A New School Year

Januck and I start a new school year next Thursday.  We had a week on meetings with our whole school, the Immersion Teachers, our Math teams and English teams.  This year, we are implementing a new Language Arts Program, called StoryTown so there are many changes.  We are still deciding what to do about teaching Vocabulary.
All of the teachers got their next year teaching assignments the last day of school before Spring Break.  We are not allowed to tell anyone until the first day of school.  The parents and students don't know either.  On Thursday, the students find their last year's teachers and then go to an Assembly where it will be announced.
The first graders don't come until the following Monday, and the 6th graders welcome them and their families into the school.  Katoh School has a nice sense of a family.  We even have family groups from all grades that do events throughout the year and we also go on field trips together.
I will be working with another foreign teacher and a Japanese teacher.  We will be responsible for our class of 45 students.  We will always have half of the group in a lesson.  Teaching Language Arts and Moral this year.
Wish me luck,
Joanna

TOKYO!!!

This past we went to Tokyo for Spring Break. I had a blast and enjoyed spending time with my family.

 Here at Tokyo Tower!

Filming in front of Tokyo Tower was a very famous girl's group here in Japan called AKB48. Alex thought they were really cute :)

Alex and mom while at Hard Rock Cafe!

Me and my daddy

We were able to meet up with my cousin and aunt on Friday night. We had a great American dinner  and then went to a mall in Tokyo. Christianna and I played a really fun game at the arcade.

Alex arm wrestling.

Overall, we had a great time in Tokyo. We were able to go many places including Tokyo Tower, Akihabara, and Korea Town. I am really glad we could have some fun before returning school.

Tokyo! ;)

Our family went to Tokyo this past week and we also went to Akihabara for me. It was cool! There was this one street with tall buildings and electronic stores everywhere. We saw a lot of cool stuff but they were all too expensive!! :0 We also went to American Club. It is seriously just like America but there were a ton of American teenagers. All in all, it was a very fun trip with my family. I love them so much! :)

-Alex :)

Spring Break

Alex has 4 weeks off from school, between Junior High and High School.  Rachel has 3 weeks off between school years, and Januck and I have 1 week.  We go back to school,  prepare our rooms, have meetings and start the school year in April.
This week, we are still unpacking from our move, getting our tax stuff in order and going to Alex's High School Orientation.  Then, we are off to Tokyo.  My brother, Peter lives there and has graciously allowed us to stay at his apt. even though he is not there.  So we are planning on exploring a bit.  Rachel wants to go to Korean Town to get posters of her favorite KPOP group.  We thought Alex would like Akihabara, where all the coolest Electronics are sold.  We will eat at western restaurants and shop some too.
Instead of taking the bullet train, we plan to take a highway bus that stops near our house and will take us to Tokyo Station.
Miss our friends and family in the U.S., but definitely still enjoying our life in Japan!
Joanna

Graduation. Scary or Not Scary? That is the question...

I have just graduated from 9th grade and I am now about to start 10th grade next month. The school schedule is much different in Japan. We have summer break but after summer break, we have second term so we graduate earlier. So 9th graders over here are considered junior high students. We had a huge graduation ceremony. What is neat is that I got to have graduation in America and in Japan. VERY DIFFERENT! Japanese graduation was waaaaaaaay more formal than America's where in America, it's okay to yell,"WooHOO! I graduated!" In Japan, I'm pretty sure they would kick you out. -__- Anyways, there is a lot of standing up, bowing, and sitting down. <--- and do that about 30 times or so. SO, some people weren't so good standing up for a long time so we had about 4 people faint during the ceremony. One kid fainted while he was standing up so you know that word,"Tiiiiiiiiimbeeeerrrr"? Well, I'm pretty sure I could here that in my mind as he was going down and when he hit the ground, it sounded as if someone had shot a bullet into the air. It was LOUD! He ended up splitting his chin open and he was unconscious on the ground when the teachers came running over. Everyone was gathered around him or watching but the ceremony MUST go on so as people were saying,"Are you alright?","Is he okay?",etc. a voice came on the microphone and said "BOW" and everyone left the kid on the floor alone and bowed... then went back to the kid and carried him out. So I pretty sure the Japanese graduation ceremony was much more frightening than the American ceremony.
-Alex :) :0

Pics of our new house

 We are still moving in, unpacking, and need curtains!

 This is our parking spot in front our our house.

These is a green tea plantation in front our our house.

 Our front door and entrance.

Hall closet for coats, etc.

 Our new washing machine and bathroon sink.

 Big tub that heats up and stays hot when we take baths at night.

 Removable shower and mirror.

Our kitchen with our new black skinny refrig.  The freezer is at the bottom.

 Table for four and out the window is where we hang our clothes to dry on a sunny day.

 Computer area.

 Small living area with couch for three.

 Our T.V. and stand.

 Our kitchen from the living room.

 Nice wooden stairs going upstairs.

 Hall closets that we like.

 Upstairs toilet.  It is all pink!

 Rachel's room minus her futon.  She puts it in her big room closet.

 Our small room with unmade futons.  Sorry, but I have been sick with the flu.

Alex's room with unpacked boxes.  He has a place to sleep though.  It is like camping out.
It is raining today, so I can't show you our house and rock garden from the outside.  Next time...
Joanna