Random Thoughts:

On the subject of Harry Potter: Some students were very excited when I showed up for work one day carrying a copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. They then proceeded to become somewhat annoyed when I reminded them how long it took for the last one to get a Japanese translation.

Only one student has asked me who dies; everyone else just asks me what happens in it. All I'm willing to tell them is, "Harry Potter wa....DATE wo shimasu!" Enough to tantalize, yet not really spoiling anything important.

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On the subject of last month: Well, here's a short version of part of the story (sorry!). A while back, a university student from Kagoshima City came to school for a couple of weeks to observe, and do a little practice teaching. Let me preface the rest of this by saying that I've got nothing against Ai-sensei, she is a nice person, and I hope she succeeds as an English teacher. However, seeing her in the classroom, team-teaching with the regular English teacher, made me realize how very little I actually get to do these days.

And then, I noticed that although I couldn't do a lot of what Ai was doing (such as explaining things in Japanese), some things, such as flashcard vocab drills, demonstration dialogue, and some English game-type activities, I could do. In fact, back when I started this job, I used to do a lot more of these kind of things.

I don't get invited to go on school trips or staff functions anymore, either.

Now, this realization, combined with some other factors, really put a damper on my spirits -- so much so, that students were asking the teachers about it. But things have started to improve recently. We'll see how it goes from here.

I don't get called sensei anymore, either. . . .

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On the subject of the Saint Paul Public Schools: I don't work there anymore. \(^_^)/

Just like last year, I applied to have my leave of absence extended. This year, however, they said "no" and proceeded to offer me the following choice: Come back to work this fall, or resign. Now, even with the stuff I just wrote, this was not a hard choice.

In the short run: I'm here for another year.
In the long run: I'd better start looking for my next job now.

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On the subject of summer vacation: Last year, I spent a month sitting in the school board office doing . . . nothing. This year, I signed up for a one-month intensive Japanese language course in the city. By the end of August, I'll either be much more skilled in speaking Japanese, or I'll have gone insane with the heat.

Or both.
(^_^)

Later,
Rob