Since I don't get asked to team-teach with my JTEs often, I asked them to hand out questionnaires to the students when they had time. The slips of paper asked "What (or who) are you thankful for?"
I received a plethora of replies, which I posted on my wall!
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| I cut each leaf by hand. Each class has a specific color/shape so that it was easy to spot their classmates and friends from other classes, too! It took a long time to make, but I'm proud of the results. :) |
I was very proud that all of my students tried their best to write something, even those who weren't very good at English.
My favorites included:
1. Will Smith
2. Toilet paper
Most common answer:
1. My family (or variants including specific family members)
2. My friends
Most profound answer:
1. Peace
Thanksgiving time is always a good time to reflect upon the things that I'm grateful for. I'm most grateful for my life.
Although I personally haven't had many life-threatening moments (though one particular moment does come to mind...Kevin might remember it hahaha), after starting to learn martial arts and watching a YouTube clip on "People Escaping Death", it's really started to hit me how fragile life is and how easily it can be taken away from someone. I've had a pretty awesome life so far...and I've gotta treasure everything and everyone in my life while we're all together!
I have a wonderful family who brought me into this world, raised me with love, support me, and give me lots of advice when I am troubled. I miss every one of them, and I can't wait to see everyone and hang out with them when I come back!
I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me very much. Even though I'm far from perfect, he accepts me as I am and readily helps me improve myself. He teaches me math/science, martial arts, life lessons, and often reminds me of information that I should've remembered from high school. He is a friend, a partner, a teacher, a master chef, an engineer, and a goofball that I'm glad that's in my life. I love him very much.
I met Sanam, who is another one of the best influences that I've had in my life who I miss very much. We pushed each other to be better people back in high school (whether it be for pushing each other for good grades, good decisions (or funny bad ones), or threatening to push each other out of moving automobiles), had loads of fun and shenanigans, and will always respect and love each other even when we're miles away from each other. She's also one of the ones who first introduced me to manga...if I hadn't met her, I might not have ended up here in Japan on the rollercoaster ride of my life!
Speaking of Japan, I'm thankful for my transfer up north to Aomori. Last year was an administrative mess...and communicating with the higher-ups was never fun. This year, the vice principal (Yamada-kyoto-sensei) and 3rd-in-charge (Saho-sensei) have been so nice to me! They do their best to include me in school-wide events, invite me to work-parties, and often give me treats. In fact, Yamada-kyoto-sensei just gave me two tickets to an AYCE Christmas buffet this Sunday! I am so grateful to have such a caring person in my life. I'm often forgotten about at this school, but people like these women make me feel appreciated and loved.
I have so many things to be thankful for (food, soccer, San Diego, etc). This experience in Japan is definitely one of them. There are days when I wonder why I'm out here, but I've got to remember that I'm only here temporarily and to keep having fun and experiencing everything that I can.
Anyways, that's all for this post. Another Facebook reporting event is coming up, so stay tuned! :)
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