Jikoshokaijyanai!

It is sufficient to say that orientation emphasized 3 things.
1) JET is a wonderful experience
2) There is a huge network for JETs- don't worry!
3) Jikoshokai or self-introduction

The first two were boring and repetitive - of course I am honored to be accepted and if I need something I will know to ask for help. The third was more useful since I was brainwashed into believing that for the first month or so of teaching, all I would have to do is talk about myself and could I please bring pictures? However, upon my first day, I realized that someone lied to me. It was already time for teach-teaching!

Orientation should have covered this topic more.

I was given a lesson plan that day and it stated that before my first class of second years (translation: 8th graders) my duties were: To make a worksheet, check an English speech, decorate an English room, record a model English speech and so one. Then, during fourth period please follow the attached Team-Teaching plan details below:

There was dead silence during my warm-up introduction. The best part was I got to use the new posters I had made during my free period:After my stunning debut, I acted out various emotions and asked questions. During pair work I walked around and helped different groups. Afterward there was JEOPARDY on the chalkboard with questions in regards to my speech (shows just how much they were paying attention) and the new grammar points. My favorite: emotions category. I would say "What am I?" before constructing my face in some ridiculous manner, waiting for a student to raise his or her hand and say "You look..."

Awesome.

The highlight was lunch and recess. No contest. The students took turns serving food in the classrooms and I swear, when I saw what they had to wear, I nearly lost it. Gillian had warned us at orientation that this might happen but nothing compares to the real deal. Long white coats, masks, and matching hats, it was a science in the making. It was GOLD.

I ordered a bento since I wasn't a regular teacher and when I opened it, it was filled with Japanese goodness:

Delicious, no?

I tried to "share" with my students, but they politely declined. Afterward I went to the English room, not realizing there was recess. Out of no where a flock of girls ran toward me, grilling me in Japanese. I tried to get them to speak in English and was asked the usual questions: "How old are you?" "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Do you have someone you like?" (the next day I was asked "Do you like to eat bananas?") and so on. The highlight was when one girl said she had a boyfriend and I was like DARE?! (who) over and over and chased her across the 2nd year floor.

Later, I was asked to correct the English homework from summer break. That took time right into clean-up period. When I announced my victory over homework, I was rewarded with a rag and asked to clean off the desktops. As I did, students helped and asked me if this was my natural hair color. Why yes, it is. Thanks.

I relaxed in the computer lab for the following hour, before my speech contest students arrived. The next two hours were spent on voice training and pronunciation.

So concludes my first day on the job. Shall we repeat tomorrow at a new school?