...and I was brought here

Apple Pie made by 4 and 5 years old Kids

2008-08-04T23:35:00.000+08:00

My students are completely adorable though it can’t be avoided that they get wayward sometimes. Aside from their mischievousness, intelligence and creativity they can make “APPLE PIE”; yep at ages 4 and 5!!. Shame on me that the thing I can remember that I did when I was in kindergarten was just to eat :(

"Ok guys wait ur turn, I still have to make this dough flat and thin."

" The top design would be like this..."

"Use the tip of ur pointer finger, let's rub honey and milk on top, to make it tastier"

" Tadaaaa, there u go ready to eat...yum yum "

First Love

2008-07-28T14:15:00.000+08:00

“First Love” (background song of my blog) is one of the much-loved songs of my team teacher. I can still hear her angelic voice whenever I listen to this song. It's sad that I failed to take a video of her singing this song.
Anyway, watch my sis in the video singing other song in a karaoke club, one of the places we go to unwind. (sorry 'tis jus a very short video,ran out of space in my memo card)

P.S. The Karaoke Club we often go offers "eat all u can" soft cream. (yummy)

and I found a Second Family

2008-07-23T11:20:00.000+08:00

Have I not found a second family in Japan feeling homesick could have been getting worst.
My step mom, my step sisters and my aunts as I call them were part of God’s package to me. It’s awesome to realize that despite of our racial and cultural differences we do have the same compassionate hearts.

our principal (my aunt), my co-teachers (my sisters), our asst. principal ( my other aunt)

other co-teacher daughter of our principal and a sis ( portugues-japanese) always worried about me when I get sick.

Mother of my team-teacher ( my step mom, I call her mama)

Behind us is the top view of Kawaguchiko Lake.

With my team-teacher at Gibli Museum

God's package

2008-07-22T11:21:00.000+08:00

I should say that God has given me a package full of gifts as answer to my prayers. He did not only make my dream of working abroad into a reality but he added it with a job that made me tough, more flexible and feeling young ( you always feel young when you are with kids –“wink”) , parents who trusted my knack to teach their kids, my co-teachers who made me realized that I wasn’t alone albeit I was far from my family, and of course my bosses ( the principal and the director) who recognized my worth as a teacher.

Consequently, whenever loneliness struck me I usually diverted the feeling by relishing the gifts that God gave me.

With my ever nice and brilliant team teacher

The Kindergarten Teachers (my principal was the one taking the pic)

Giving myself an incentive

2008-07-21T13:34:00.000+08:00

Every time I had an illness or whenever loneliness hit me, the first thing that came into my mind was to go home. My 2 brothers ( very close to me) and my hubby were ok with the idea of going back home as they were also worried about me. On the other hand, the other side of me wanted also to stay or at least finish my contract. It might be a stupid decision also not to completely harvest the fruits of my endeavor. And so I prayed, “God help me overcome my homesickness and pls. I don’t want to get sick anymore.”

God was somewhat quick with his answers “Instead of just staying in your apartment on weekends and feeling lonely why don’t you explore the town and nearby places on weekends? It’s a good way of enhancing your Japanese.” And I was also quick with my reply “But God, I’m staying in my apartment because I’m saving money.” Before God could answer me, I was already on my way out from my apartment smiling “ I work my tail off in here, now it’s time to give myself an incentive."

The famous Thomas Train on my way to Fujiyushida nearby town of Kawaguchiko

here I am starting to reward myself with potatoe crisps inside the plastic bag lol

Famous roller coaster in Fujikyu Higland (nop didn't ride, i can't dare)

"Sashin onigaishimasu"-asking favor from a jap to take a picture of me.

Shouldn't be telling you...

2008-07-18T15:57:00.000+08:00

Homesickness + physical & mental stress + emotional strain = illness (colds,fever,sore throat,nose bleeds worst was my acid reflux disease came back). Although I love and I enjoyed my job my body started to give in. My emotional strain wasn’t just because of my homesickness but also there were some stuff at home that I wished to personally settle. And that included my nephew who was supposed to enroll in college but didn’t. For whatever reason, he and his mother didn’t disclose. I came to realize that the movies I saw and the stories I heard were actually happening to me.
Sad to say that some people just have this notion that when you work abroad you’ve become a well-heeled person that you can provide anything they want and when you fail they’ll get the wrong end of the stick on you.

Being sick and alone were the worst things that happened to me. I spilt hot water on my legs trying to make a cup of soap while I had nausea due to fever.

Oh! I shouldn’t be telling this stuff makes me…

Sorry this post kinda dramatic…whew

When I needed to speak japanese

2008-07-18T02:32:00.000+08:00

It wasn’t a requirement that a foreign teacher like me needed to know the Japanese Language because the school preferred that the teacher doesn’t know Japanese so that the students are oblige to speak English.

So I just studied few words that I can use to shop or to eat in a restaurant. Funny thing was, I often reminded my students to speak in sentences using English language but I didn’t speak in sentences when I used Japanese. I talked with Japanese people using just 3-4 words accompanied by sign language. When I said “ I just want a small rice” in Japanese I said “gohan tsou” (rice small) , "Let me take a look at that pls."- "Mite Kudasai" and they understood. So I didn’t care to learn further the language.

Until I got sick and I needed to explain to the pharmcist what I feel so that she can give me the right medicine. Using the dictionary would probably take us the whole day to understand each other. I had no other choice but to ask assistance from my principal to be my interpreter. The town is small and it’s rare to meet Japanese in there who speaks English.
Scared that I might get sick again and my interpreter won’t be around any time, I finally decided to study further the language. I was lucky that the town has free Japanese lesson and since it’s only once a week for just 2 hours, I also did self-study.

Man! Shocked to find out that it’s harder than English; one writer of a book even said it’s a “devil’s language” perhaps because it's kinda tricky. You need lots of patience to learn.

...and I got homesick

2008-07-16T00:52:00.000+08:00

Everything went well with my job. My bosses as well as my co-teachers were very supportive and the kids were fun. For me being a kindergarten teacher is a priceless job.

However, no matter how I enjoyed the job it didn’t kiss away my homesickness. I was all smiles in school but when I arrived in my apartment my pillow and my stuff toy were always wet with tears. It was my first time to be thousand miles away from my family and my significant half. True the internet helps a lot but still it’s different when you can hold a person’s hand and lean on his shoulder when you’re worn out from work and dine with your family while you talk about work and other stuff.

I was the only Filipina working in the school and sad to say that there were just two Filipinas I met in the town who happened to be moms of our students and it is part of the school’s policy that teachers are not allowed to mingle personally with parents.

Apparently my laptop and my huggable minnie mouse became my buddies in my otherwise very “lonely” place.

My laptop somehow eased me from loneliness

My huggable minnie always wet with tears but can't complain :)

My hubby who always find time to keep in touch

Gloria tagged me

2008-07-15T14:39:00.000+08:00

Here are the rules:
A. List these rules on your blog.
B. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.
C. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.You’ll have to read on for my 7 facts and see who I tagged.

Gloria dear how sweet of you to tag me though you’re giving me slight headache because I’m not used to telling stuff about me. I normally let you guys discover my “dark sides” lol. Anyways, for the sake of those who don’t have time to discover…

1. I love anything cold, sweet and creamy: parfait, sundae, crazy crepe name it. (no wonder why my friends who are trying to lose weight are avoiding me lol)

2. I am not choosy when it comes to food but damn this GERD( acid reflux illness) made me no choice but to choose. ( God, I miss eating spicy food)

3. I started reading horror “komiks” magazine at age 5 and I’m a fan of Stephen King always gives me a chill but watching horror movies doesn't scare me at all. ( don't know why)

4. My childhood dream was to become a nun, my fantasy is to be a fashion model and my greatest desire is to travel outer space.

5. I don’t comb my hair when I’m just inside the house, yep even after shower just dry it with towel and I'm done.
(gross hahaha)

6. I want like any lady wants, I wear like any lady wears, but I don’t speak and act like any lady does. When I’m mad I’d prefer to punch rather than pointing finger and saying blah, blah, when I’m inside the taxi I’d prefer to talk with the driver some "guy stuff" rather than retouching my make up, stuff like that. (I have collection of make up though "wink")

7. Some people said Aquarians are eccentric and some of my friends are getting to realize I am really an Aquarian. ( but I hope their connotation of eccentric is not negative )

Tagging :

Rodnie-http://rodnieblog.blogspot.com/

Anik-http://www.fashionillustration-anik.blogspot.com/

Blaise-http://theexquisitestewardess.blogspot.com/

Carlos -http://papaxicolates.blogspot.com/

Ann-http://anngodinez.blogspot.com/

* only 5 people sorry I break one rule hehe

The essential element

2008-07-12T22:30:00.000+08:00

With constant research, thorough observation, perseverance, optimism, constant guidance and assistance of my school principal and co-teachers and of course my continued prayers the job has finally gone smooth; although there were still some things that needed ironing.

But as days and months had passed I came to realize that there was just essentially one element that I possessed that motivated me to go on lucratively with the job; and it was and still is “Love”.
My love for the kids had made me a flexible person that could cater their diverse personalities. I became a master, a magician, a fairy god-mother, a clown, a police officer, a nurse, a dancer, a singer, a playmate and etc. The sweet thing is they said that I can portray a different character because I am a Teacher. Yes a teacher who tried to always bring rainbow to their otherwise colorless day.

Dancing " I can go anywhere when I'm with you"

The artwork of my students

When you teach and love your students they'll definitely love you back and this is one of the many ways they show their love.

Kids love me...hu?!

2008-07-09T21:50:00.000+08:00

First 3 weeks of my job were merely assisting the teachers of the 3 levels. I familiarized myself the routines of the school, the various behavior and the learning styles of the kids. And I also observed the different strategies used by the teachers.

Thanks God again that I was wrong with my first impression to our school principal. True, she has this somewhat authoritarian aura but when you get to know her better she is actually cool. She kept planting in me ideas and information in handling kids and giving me assurance that I will be doing just fine.

Came the time when I was requested to man the Morning Glory Class (ages 3-4) for 2 weeks. I was told by the principal that I will be observed not only by her but also the director who happens to be her husband. “ It’s show time.” I said to myself a bit confident that it will just be a smooth sailing because in my class observation so far the kids were great.
However I was totally wide of the mark. The first day seemed to be an endless calling of the kids’ attention. Some didn’t bother to clean up their toys even if I said many times, some continued to giggle, play and talk even I was discussing, some just suddenly cried because a friend hit her/him or he/she spilled water or food on the floor and some were outside the classroom running in the hall even the class was ongoing and some were in love with me as they just wanted to play the whole day. Whhaaaaaaaa!! I asked my co-teacher how it happened when they were not that hyper active when I observed them. She said with a wink “They love to play and challenge with a new teacher.”

Four hours of being a kindergarten teacher was a very long day for me.
I arrived home so weedy to prepare for dinner. I just grabbed a sandwich from 7-eleven then I slept like a log.

Surprises

2008-07-08T10:07:00.000+08:00

The short tour was a kind of relief from the tension I had since I arrived in the town. However, when we started heading to the kindergarten my nerves were shaking again. I tried to overcome my strain by thinking how kind God is giving me these amazing things; I was hired based on my resume for a job that I didn’t have an experience ( a kindergarten teacher) in a place that is safe and beautiful. Everything seemed so favorable to me. “Oh wait! Is it? I never wish to be an elementary or kindergarten teacher in my whole life.” Then I already saw a picture of me screaming while the kids are running, messing around, fighting, crying and a principal dressing-down on me for being unable to handle the kids well.

“Oh God bless me.” I had no time for a long prayer; we already arrived in the kindergarten.

The principal met me at the office and then later on introduced me to the other teachers (all Japanese) and to the kids. And what I have witnessed was contrary to the chaotic scene I have pictured out in my mind. The kids were so adorable and attentively participating the class activities. The kindergarten has 3 levels: Morning Glory (ages 3-4) Koalas (4-5) and Wallaby (5-6)
“Thanks God this is another surprise.” I whispered my prayer with a smile.

The Town

2008-07-05T14:42:00.000+08:00

Though I was drained from the long trip I wasn’t able to sleep deeply. I woke up early and realize that it was freezing outside. Thanks to the room heater and the electric carpet my boss had provided, I couldn’t have slept at all.
My Boss’s daughter woke up (I was already in my room when she arrived last night) and I was surprised that she has a gentle aura and soft voice with Japanese accent. But still she has a resemblance of her mom. She said that we’ll have a tour first of the town prior to go to school just to make myself familiar with the locations of the restaurants, supermarket, drugstores and department store ( there's only 1 big dept. store in the town)

Kawaguchiko is a small and quiet town but you can see tourists every now and then because of Mt. Fuji, its beautiful Lake and museum. It has no cinemas, disco clubs and bars which I found beneficial as I can cut expenses. However, restaurants are everywhere, from Japanese to Italian, Chinese, Indian and etc. Plus the 7-eleven convenience stores which offer variety of products and of course the vending machines along the streets. Well, I think this town actually knows my weakness hahaha and I was already doubtful if I can cut expenses.

My favorite "japanese canteen" as i call it. kinda similar to our canteen and the food here is yummy and cheaper. You can fully load ur stomach with less than a thousand yen.

Lake Kawaguchiko

I love their cold sandwiches

Truly convenient

The Boss

2008-07-02T22:08:00.000+08:00

After a long trip we finally arrived at Kawaguchiko station. I was on pins and needles again while we waited for my boss (the school owner & principal) to pick us up. Far from my expectation she wasn’t Japanese with a British accent nor a British nationality but a Portuguese. I silently talked to God “ She looks strict and intimidating. I hope it’s only her face.”

We exchanged greetings and had lunch, due to my nervousness I quickly uttered the word pasta before she could ask me what I wanted. “Oh so you like Italian food?” She asked. “I’m not picky when it comes to food. I can eat anything as long as it’s not poisonous.” I thought it was a dumb answer as she might think that I was trying to impress her. “Great so you’ll survive here.” She responded smiling but still I couldn’t guess what’s behind in her Portuguese face.

My sis-in-law had to go back to their prefecture she was a bit worried about me being alone and far from my family. And it was my boss who gave her the assurance that I will be fine because I’m a big girl. My throat got dry when I heard my boss saying that, for deep inside I wasn’t sure if I will be fine.

She brought me to my apartment and gave me instructions on how to operate all the stuff inside. I tried to absorb everything otherwise I will be lame since all the writings are in Japanese. But she told me not to worry as I can always ask her daughter (also a teacher) who was also living in the apartment but wasn’t around when I arrived. And after she bought a mobile phone for me since the apartment has no phone line and internet.
“Call me anytime if you need something or you have some questions. My daughter will drive you for school tomorrow. Take Care.” And she left me. I prayed again “ God please let her be a nice boss.”

and I was brought here

2008-06-29T12:14:00.000+08:00

After 2 days of staying at my brother’s place I was already set to travel for Kawaguchiko.
My sis-in-law accompanied me for I didn’t know the directions and it was also a long trip, 5 hours or so by bus and train. I was supposed to enjoy the views while traveling but my mind was preoccupied by my new work. I was delighted but also jumpy and wasn’t even sure how equipped I was to face this new and different world; the culture, the food, the language and the people. Although I had already experienced working in a Japanese firm in the Philippines but working and living in Japan is another story. What lies ahead of me? Will I live to tell the tale? these questions kept bothering me.
As the train was approaching closer to the town, my heart was also pounding more rapidly. “Dear God, please let me have a humane employer.” I uttered this prayer many times thinking the dreadful experiences of fellow ofw.

My edginess had somewhat calmed down when I started to see the amazing Mt. Fuji covered with snow. “Wow! So I’ll be seeing this mountain everyday.” My sis-in-law responded that if I get the chance, I should climb the mountain (open only on summer). The thought of it thrilled me.

Mt. Fuji in winter

Mt. Fuji in autumn ( took this photo 3km away from the school)

Mt.Fuji in summer ( I took this photo @7pm 2 meters away from my apartment)

Summer Festival in Kawaguchiko